Chapter Three
1: Preparing the Encore
('07-'09)
('07-'09)
After tracking down the original Supertrip line-up, Jared made plans to produce new recordings for the band. Conveniently, the "Search for Supertrip" ended during the year before the band were to celebrate their 10th year of existence. It seemed like the right time to do something special. However, with Taniela living in Australia and Luke in Nelson, it would be either difficult or impossible for them to take part. In the end, they were unable to get involved with the project. By this time, Rasjad was more involved with family life and opted for a more private lifestyle, which was accepted with respect. The only other members who would've been able to take part at this time were Stephen and Jonathan.
Jared set a deadline for completing the recordings in September 2007, as it was roughly around the month of October of 1997 when the band wrote "Rock Me". October 2007 was reserved for the big release. However, due to busy lifestyles and other commitments, this deadline was never met. Instead, October 1, 2007, was the date the project would be announced rather than released. It was then a question of how long it would take to get the songs finished.
Most of the recordings were being made by Jared on his own. Jonathan showed interest in taking part, but never stepped forward to help out for unknown reasons. Stephen would eventually be able to help out, but because he was so busy with his own commitments, he was only able to make it on 2 occasions. The first to go over the project plan (sometime in 2007/08), and finally in January 2009 to record his vocal tracks. Sadly though, due to time restrictions, he was only able to record 2 songs - "Rock Me" and "Untitled" (the only recording of this song ever made). Stephen was also a day or so away from moving to Australia at this time, which meant this would be his last contribution. During these last days, Jared reached out one last time to Jonathan to see if he could help towards recording guitar tracks. It was here that Jonathan said he was soon moving to Thailand, but would only be able to have time for a jam session. Sadly, this jam session never took place.
The very next day, Jared released a 4-track EP under the name "Encore", featuring "Rock Me", "Reggae Blue" (the only recording of this song available), "Untitled" and "I Know" (an instrumental demo version). The rest of the songs ("Pete", "Got to Get Away" and "A Little Bit Naughty") had been started, but due to the circumstances they ended up being cancelled altogether. "Encore" was released online on 20 January 2009.
Jared set a deadline for completing the recordings in September 2007, as it was roughly around the month of October of 1997 when the band wrote "Rock Me". October 2007 was reserved for the big release. However, due to busy lifestyles and other commitments, this deadline was never met. Instead, October 1, 2007, was the date the project would be announced rather than released. It was then a question of how long it would take to get the songs finished.
Most of the recordings were being made by Jared on his own. Jonathan showed interest in taking part, but never stepped forward to help out for unknown reasons. Stephen would eventually be able to help out, but because he was so busy with his own commitments, he was only able to make it on 2 occasions. The first to go over the project plan (sometime in 2007/08), and finally in January 2009 to record his vocal tracks. Sadly though, due to time restrictions, he was only able to record 2 songs - "Rock Me" and "Untitled" (the only recording of this song ever made). Stephen was also a day or so away from moving to Australia at this time, which meant this would be his last contribution. During these last days, Jared reached out one last time to Jonathan to see if he could help towards recording guitar tracks. It was here that Jonathan said he was soon moving to Thailand, but would only be able to have time for a jam session. Sadly, this jam session never took place.
The very next day, Jared released a 4-track EP under the name "Encore", featuring "Rock Me", "Reggae Blue" (the only recording of this song available), "Untitled" and "I Know" (an instrumental demo version). The rest of the songs ("Pete", "Got to Get Away" and "A Little Bit Naughty") had been started, but due to the circumstances they ended up being cancelled altogether. "Encore" was released online on 20 January 2009.
2: Two Decades of Decadence
('17)
('17)
A decade had passed. Nothing new had happened for Supertrip during this time. Taniela and Stephen were still in Australia and Luke in Nelson. The whereabouts of Jonathan was uncertain for some time up until 2021 when Jared finally reconnected with him for the first time since 2009. As it turned out, he had also moved to Australia. Meanwhile, Jared was making plans to celebrate Supertrip's 20th anniversary with a new idea, which would be more of a solo project under the Supertrip name.
The idea was to film a documentary about the band's history, taking the camera to all of the band's most significant locations around Christchurch, including the ones that are no longer there. After all of this, the video would have a soundtrack made for it. Not only would the film feature all of the previously available recordings, but also some brand new ones. With the magic of digital music software on the PlayStation, Jared planned to record all of the 7 Supertrip songs and any other songs written for the band that never got used. All of which would appear in the film and on a new album release, "Supertrip 20". However, unforeseen events in Jared's personal life got in the way of the making of much of this project, which led to only one song being composed by the September deadline - "Rock Me 20".
"Rock Me 20" would get released online on 15 October 2017, just over 2 weeks later than the original planned date. To make up for the lack of material for the 20th anniversary, it has been decided that the documentary film and its soundtrack may see the light of day for the 25th or 30th anniversary, depending on what life has in store in the near future.
As far as future reunions are concerned, Jared has since accepted the fact that there may never be another gig, recording or jam session involving the original 5 members. But that doesn't mean it's out of the question if the idea ever comes up again. Christchurch is the home city of all band members after all. Sometimes people return home to visit family. If each member happen to be in the city at one time in the future, either nothing or anything could happen. We may never know.
The idea was to film a documentary about the band's history, taking the camera to all of the band's most significant locations around Christchurch, including the ones that are no longer there. After all of this, the video would have a soundtrack made for it. Not only would the film feature all of the previously available recordings, but also some brand new ones. With the magic of digital music software on the PlayStation, Jared planned to record all of the 7 Supertrip songs and any other songs written for the band that never got used. All of which would appear in the film and on a new album release, "Supertrip 20". However, unforeseen events in Jared's personal life got in the way of the making of much of this project, which led to only one song being composed by the September deadline - "Rock Me 20".
"Rock Me 20" would get released online on 15 October 2017, just over 2 weeks later than the original planned date. To make up for the lack of material for the 20th anniversary, it has been decided that the documentary film and its soundtrack may see the light of day for the 25th or 30th anniversary, depending on what life has in store in the near future.
As far as future reunions are concerned, Jared has since accepted the fact that there may never be another gig, recording or jam session involving the original 5 members. But that doesn't mean it's out of the question if the idea ever comes up again. Christchurch is the home city of all band members after all. Sometimes people return home to visit family. If each member happen to be in the city at one time in the future, either nothing or anything could happen. We may never know.