Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: We’re based out of Antigonish County, Nova Scotia and are currently residing in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. My love for music started at a super young age. I credit Our Lady Peace for my first introduction into being obsessed with music. It all started at age 6 when I’d borrow my older sister’s Columbia House CD collection. I heard songs like “4am” and “Superman’s Dead” and loved how unique Raine’s voice was. I have always wanted to be an entertainer and couldn’t see myself doing anything else for the rest of my life. There is nothing that compares to the energy tossed to and from the stage during a live show. That is one of the biggest factors in wanting to pursue music as my career.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: My musical taste is vast. I usually throw on my weekly “suggested for” playlist on spotify and let the algorithm do the work then pick my favourites and add them to my playlist called, “Dre-Dar.” I am super excited for the upcoming Foo Fighters album. Dave Grohl is one of my biggest influences and the strength and passion that band has is admirable. The loss of their drummer and best friend, Taylor really hit close to home for me and watching them navigate forward with the best intentions is inspiring.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: My main initial influences were Our Lady Peace, Nirvana and Blind Melon. That quickly began building with bands like Matchbox Twenty, Goo Goo Dolls (90s pop/rock) that were guitar driven and had hooks for days. I think Much Music’s Big Shiny Tunes: 2 album played a huge role in my musical tastes. Those compilation CDs back in the 90s really helped broaden my musical spectrum and the material still holds up to this day.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Definition Of A Dweeb’. Is there a story behind it?
A: The story of ‘Definition Of A Dweeb’ stemmed from a time in grade 9 where I was giving myself a mohawk for soccer provincials. To make a long story short I ended up trimming a spot close to the middle of my head without a guard on. My brother (our bassist) had taken the guard of the clippers when he thought I had finished the job. Little did I know of this action. I went to school for the next month wearing a toque (I shaved the remainder of my head bald.) I always tried a little extra to make my hair stand out and this event seemed like the end of the world to me at that time. My hair gel obsession as a young teen was probably a bit much, haha. I wrote the song as a bit of an anti bullying theme. The visual which is reflected in the music video (due June 9th) is meant to hit on those younger teen years. I took influence from shows like Degrassi Junior High, Dawson’s Creek etc.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Our third studio album, “Under Control” will be available worldwide on July 7th. This album was recorded at The Tragically Hip’s studio, The Bathouse during summer of 2022. The overdubs were then completed at Shoebox Studios in New Glasgow in Fall of 2022 with our producer, Brian Moncarz.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: Passionate and honest. These songs, lyrically and sonically, are like a diary of emotions and used as the biggest outlet to combat the obstacles we’ve withstood individually and as a whole over the last decade. We wanted to focus on vulnerability with this album to show a deeper side of the band to be able to grow with our fanbase. This album’s sound is heavily 90s pop/rock based with a lot of that classic rock influence throughout. It’s got a southern flare and is our most accurate depiction to date of how I envision our band. Moncarz absolutely killed the mixes. There are some dead ahead rockers (Knock ‘Em Dead, Ignorant Slumber) and some of the softer side (Misfortune, Obstacles, See You Later.) We’ve taken our influences, thrown ourselves on the road chasing the dream and are ready to become that much closer to making it a reality with this album.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: Man, it’s a lot of work. 90% of the time you are not fulfilled and searching for more but when you get that 10% that makes you feel on top of the world it all makes it worth it. At the end of the day I can’t see myself in a regular 9-5 job. I was born to perform and entertain. We spend way too much time in our lives worrying about paying bills and showing face. We need to make sure we are staying true to ourselves and fulfilling the dreams that started at a young age before adulthood told you that you had to be just another number in society.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: Like most things in my life, it is ALL over the map. Some songs have started because of a line I heard in a movie or conversation while others from just noodling around on a guitar or piano. Other times they can be fully completed lyrically before a melody even comes into my head. I think some of the favourite pieces we’ve written are off the cuff. “Borrowing Happiness” off the upcoming album stemmed from an early afternoon jam with the full band where we wrote 75% of the song during that hour. The songs don’t stray too far structure wise from the original demo. I think if you spend too much time beating a song to death it takes away its initial intent and integrity. The Giants are amazing at rolling with whatever I bring in musically so it’s so easy to have a good creative atmosphere with them.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: The death of Ben Kelsey continues to be one of the biggest things that keeps me going on the daily. Ben was the drummer for my previous band, The Odd Bit. He was in a motorcycle accident that tragically took his life 8 years ago. The way Ben lived his life so care-free and rolled with the punches makes me shoot for the stars everyday. He taught me more than he’ll ever know musically in my early 20’s while we played together. His ability to keep things interesting while not overcomplicating a progression is something that has stayed with me to this day. We pay tribute to Benny on this album with a track called, “See You Later.”
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: I think I’m most proud of my band in general. These guys are like brothers (one is an actual blood brother) to me. We’ve had so many highs and lows throughout our time as a band but one thing stays consistent throughout; the comradery within the group. We’ve worked with a number of our heroes, recorded a live album together, toured internationally to name a few highlights. We’re all in it for a common goal and try our best to help each other out as we grow and take on new territories. I’m proud of this journey we’re on and can’t wait to see what this album has in store for us.
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