From indie to orchestra, Shayne P Carter finds truth in music

Since the 1980s, Shayne P Carter has been seeking music that speaks to him. His four-piece indie rock band Straitjacket Fits (1986 to 1994) is considered one of the most influential bands of the ‘Dunedin Sound’ era. The era began in the early 1980s and is considered by many to have helped establish indie rock as a genre. His tastes have now widened, but he still seeks the same truth in all music.

“It’s an umbrella term for bands in the thick of the post-punk movement.” Says Shayne when explaining the Dunedin Sound, “It allowed them to make music without formal training. They had attitude, they had juice”. Heavy reverb on guitars and sometimes indistinct vocals were trademarks of the sound. At the time, it played on the fringe to a small audience — now Shayne is preparing for a gig with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at the Michael Fowler Centre. The collaboration REforms sees previously recorded solo songs like If I Were You and Crystallator arranged for orchestra. It seems an unlikely pairing, yet it’s a natural progression for someone who doesn’t see music as siloed. “I don’t tend to ghettoize music. I look for truth and how it transmits feeling.” 

Shayne’s interest in classical music has developed over the past decade. “I knew it was an unexplored wing of the music museum for me. I wanted to write for the piano for an album, so I started listening to the solo piano canon.” He discovered classical composers, string quartets, and lieder (German song) that conveyed the same truth he has always sought. When discussing the conversion of his songs into a classical format with arranger Tane Upjohn Beatson, Shayne cited Schubert’s song Der Dopplegänger. “Liszt arranged the song for orchestra, and it remained so true to the original. My brief to Tane was to keep the integrity of my tunes — just delegate sounds around the orchestra.”

Until early 2026, Shayne had been living in Wellington and enjoying the city’s dynamic live music scene. He spent three years in Left Bank off Cuba Street and found the city so convenient. “Sometimes I’d struggle to leave the two-block bubble around my apartment. I’d think — Briscoes? That’s too far!” He regularly went to gigs at the Michael Fowler Centre, Meow on Edward Street, or caught improv bands at Pyramid Club on Taranaki Street. 

“Wellington offers my demographic so many things to do. I worked from home during the day, so if I needed a break, I’d just wander two blocks up to Lighthouse Cinema.” Another popular haunt was Little Penang, and he says he’ll be dropping by when back in the city for the Lōemis Festival. “You should see their Mee Goreng — the servings are huge.”