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Interviews : “The future is really coming through Asia” – An interview with Client Gough (Like Thieves)

By on May 5, 2018

Like Thieves – Clint Gough

Like Thieves are modern rock/ metal band hailing from Brisbane. Clint Gough is the bands bass guitarist and was available to chat about the bands epic new single, “Never See It Coming”, what the future may hold for the band and his thoughts on obtaining an audience in the Asian market.

For those familiar with the band’s breed of modern rock, “Never See It Coming” is a definite turn to a heavier sound via a djent inspired breakdown riff that helps introduce the cut. Gough explains that he initially had mixed views on the new sound.

“When we went into production, being completely honest, I wasn’t the hugest fan of it but as we got through and recorded it and the producer got his hands on it, the track just came into itself and I started liking it. It seems to be really well received. Although it’s heavy, we’ve managed to put a hook on it. Embracing the eight-string guitars sort of lent itself naturally to being quite heavy. The feedback’s been really positive.”

Adopting the menacing tones that an eight-string guitar can deliver on the cut may indicate that “Never See It Coming” is indicative of a significant change in the overall direction of the band.

“It’s interesting that you say that because it’s very different to what we expected to put out. We’ve got quite a few songs in the arsenal. There’s a mixture of something that’s heavier than we’ve ever done before to something that might be a little bit rockier than we’ve done.”

I have discussed the topic of reaching into the Asian market with many Australian artists. Like Thieves are one of the few bands that have actively sought an audience in the emerging market that promises so much for Australian bands of all genre’s. The journey, however, may hold both surprises and disappointment as Gough’s cautionary tale describes.

“From the word go we were interested. Clint (Boge) left (The Butterfly Effect) and joined us, it’s been a once in a lifetime opportunity to have someone like him come and join your band. We’re like let’s do this. Immediately we started looking into things like Asia. Found a booking agent, booked a tour in China. It was like three festivals and a few club shows, enough to pay for everything. Then about a week before we went to go, we got burned, and it cost us (a lot of money). It took a long time for us to pay it back. It was simply a language barrier. It caused a little bit of strain on the band, but we just sucked it up and kept going.”

Revered German thrash purveyors, Destruction, recently had some shows cancelled in Beijing and Wenzhou. It can and will happen to bands, however, Gough is still optimistic about the territory.

“I think that’s something that a lot of bands are going to struggle with as well is that there’s a big process to get into somewhere like China as far as translating lyrics to get government approval, then you’ve got the language barrier and cultural barrier, but it didn’t stop us. I was up there, I got a film project in China, and I was up there in November just investigating all that and just saw how amazing that country could be and how much they love all music.”

After some discussion about the broader opportunity North America can also present, Gough’s final statement on the Chinese experience is a pointed one that many emerging artists should heed.

“… the future is really coming through Asia.”

Listen to the full audio of the conversation here. 

Catch Like Thieves on tour this May/June. Tickets on sale now via Oztix.

About

Andrew is a musician who has spent many years performing on the stages of the pubs and clubs of Queensland. A devotee of the broad church that is rock, punk, funk, jazz and of course all genres of metal... he now shares his enthusiasm via a burgeoning pursuit of music journalism. Follow him on twitter @andymckaysmith