Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
Steve: We are both from Toronto, Canada. Music has always been a passion and our music is certainly informed by where we are from and experiences living in Toronto.
Rick: Music has been an incredible way for me to connect and communicate through.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
Steve: There are a wide variety of artists that I listen to regularly and I enjoy everything from classic rock to more contemporary artists. Three recent albums I have been enjoying are Will of the People by Muse, Under the Midnight Sun by the Cult and A Light for Attracting Attention by the Smile.
Rick: July Talk, Metric, Dear Rouge, Big Data, Mother Mother. A lot of Canadian bands.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Last Night at the Cinema’?
Steve: My first exposure to popular music was the Beatles. Building on that my strongest influences have always been rock artists with a strong melodic component to their music. In terms of the name Last Night at the Cinema, it is symbolic of the never ending changes and evolutions that society is going through. People don’t go the cinema any longer unless it is a special effects blockbuster. Most of the really thoughtful dramatic work is now done via lower budget movies that might never play in a theatre and television shows on streaming services. The same is true of how people consume, enjoy and discover music.
Rick: Same as Steve, The Beatles and all the New Wave stuff. Cinema has an emotional resonance for me. Music and Cinema work together to tell a story. Last Night…can mean two things…the “other night”…and something leading to finality. I like that mystery.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Promised Land’. Is there a story behind it?
Steve: Promised Land started from an instrumental that Rick wrote. The energy and modern feel of the music really inspired the lyrics, which deal with ideas like generational frustration and hope, the disinformation we are all subjected to on a daily basis and how nefarious actors often use words like God and freedom for their personal gain or to push a controlling agenda.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
Steve: The songs we have released thus far will be part of a full album that we hope to release this summer or fall. The full album is called Truth, Lies and Everything in Between and it will contain 10 to songs that share common themes and that sit next to each other well in terms of the musical styles.
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?
Rick: Well…we try to weave sounds from our past and present and hopefully produced songs with decent a outcome. People are saying we remind them of old U2, The Alarm, The Cure, etc. I’d think we’re a bit of electrorock perhaps…but honestly, this is where we’ve been “led” so far. It might change down the road 😉
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?
Steve: Yes. The process of songwriting and recording is fulfilling in and of itself. We certainly hope that there are people out there who will enjoy listening to our music and that will identify with it. Everything starts with a love of music and the desire to express ourselves and play music that we would like to hear ourselves.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
Rick: Pretty standard. Steve may have an idea…a guitar progression, a lyric. I may sit down on the guitar, bass, keys, drums and see what’s appearing at the time. Lately, I’ve been writing from the bass. Steve and I will present ideas to each other and pick away until we have something we feel should be finished.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
Steve: I don’t think I could pinpoint one thing myself. Life is both a beautiful thing and a constant struggle for everybody. Interestingly, I think it is the difficult and turbulent aspects of life that often result in the most interesting and beautiful music.
Rick: Staying relevant in both life and music. Maybe it matters, maybe it doesn’t.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
Rick: That Steve and I still write and play after all these years. We’re excited to see what the next chapter has in store.