Interview with NATURE OF WIRES + MACHINA X (Part 1 of 2)

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An ’80s classic with a fresh, darker twist: With their interpretation of Icehouse’s “Hey Little Girl,” Gary Watts (Nature of Wires) and Annie James (Machina X) give the well-known song a unique, intense touch. Read our two-part interview here.

Orkus: What inspired you to cover Icehouse’s “Hey Little Girl”?
Annie James: I love going to a concert where an artist suddenly and unexpectedly plays a cover song—and, more importantly, really makes the song their own. Of course, with a classic of its time like “Hey Little Girl,” you have the added advantage that it immediately conveys that sense of familiarity. Plus, it fit well into our setlist of original songs. A good cover is always a positive thing—after all, people like to hear songs they know. I do think, though, that we both have to like a song for it to work well for us. Actually, there’s another cover song I’d love to do with Gary, but I’m not going to reveal anything about that just yet.
Gary Watts: That was Annie’s idea; I just went along with it. (smiles)

O: How did you approach this song? Cover versions can be tricky, because you want to preserve the character of the original while also making something new and unique out of it …
A: Absolutely. None of us sees the point in covering a song if we don’t feel like we can do it justice—otherwise, it’s just karaoke, right? With cover versions, it can sometimes take a while to convince Gary, but with this song, it just felt right. The female vocals also give it a different, darker perspective: the dynamic shifts from an encounter between two people to a more introspective, even self-accusatory tone. In my mind, it’s like a conversation with oneself—as if the girl were looking at herself in the mirror.

When I can already “hear” another version of a song in my head, so to speak, there’s a good chance it’ll work—a bit like with “Feeling Good.” Then it’s just a matter of convincing Mr. Watts. “Hey Little Girl” was a perfect fit for a darker, slower, more haunting, and minimalist style. It was distinct enough from the melancholic pop of the original while still fitting our current sound.
G: When it comes to remixes and cover versions, I always try to arrange them the way I would have if I’d written the song myself in the first place. As Annie said, I’m not always a big fan of doing covers, but with this one, it felt right pretty early on in the process. At first, I sampled the “Hey Hey” chants from the original, but that sounded kind of cheesy. The song is easily recognizable even without them, so we were able to make it even more our own.

O: What does this song mean to you personally?
A: It’s a song I’ve always loved. If you have a habit of learning life’s lessons the hard way, lyrics like these can really strike a chord, haha! I’m also thinking of the song “Messy” by Lola Young, which came out recently. Aside from its very distinctive sound and those captivating bossa nova beats, it’s essential for a singer that the lyrics of “Hey Little Girl” are relatable and tangible. That’s the only way to convey the right emotions and shape your own version of the song differently enough to, in a sense, make it your own. And even more importantly: A well-executed cover can draw the listener into that shared space between artist and audience and engage them more deeply—and in doing so, possibly spark an interest in lesser-known songs.
G: I still remember that song from back then. The lyrics aren’t something I can really relate to, but I’ve always focused more on the instrumental side of the music anyway.