Where are you currently based?
We are based out of Nova Scotia, Canada’s Ocean Playground.
How did you first start playing music?
Music and entertaining was something I enjoyed since I was a young kid. I picked up the guitar at age 12 when a couple of my good friends started learning guitar and bass while my best friend has been playing drums since he was five. Shortly after that we started a band writing our own material and covering songs from rock n’ roll heavyweights like Rush, Guns N’ Roses and Motley Crue.
What’s been happening recently?
A few weeks back we released our final single “Homesick” before the album release. This song features Christopher Thorn of Blind Melon and has been getting great reception from radio, and our loyal and new fans. We have also been busy planning and prepping for the album release. This includes rehearsals, social media connection, booking gigs, and lots of press. We recently had our song, “Overtime” off our new album play on the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs during a montage going into OT during game 4 where the Montreal Canadiens (our favourite team) won the game.
After a long hiatus where entertainment wasn’t allowed because of the pandemic we are thrilled to be able to start playing shows again in support of our new album.
Your new album ‘No Fools No Fun’ will be out on July 9, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I had an interviewer a few weeks back ask a similar question. He said very animated, “Where did you come up with this sound?!” Then began to describe what he was hearing to me in a perfect way. The interviewer at the time noticed the 60s Brit Rock vocal stylings combine with the 70s and 80s rock n’ roll attitude that was blended with a 90s image and 90’s/2000’s pop/rock sound. That was all mixed in with some doo-wop style vocals and harmonies that could work for a country band. This can be called, “Grease Coast Rock N’ Roll” which is our signature genre that is easiest describe as “Southern Power Pop Rock.”
How did you go about writing the album?
The album is all based on experiences I’ve had in my twenties. A huge growing decade where in the second half I found out who I really was and why the places I’ve been were so instrumental (pun intended) to the journey and my growth as a person. Songs like “Homesick” highlight my life on the road as a musician and sheet metal worker while “Sympathy Card” and “Read Between The Lines” are songs that are a “look in the mirror” kind of tracks; take ownership of your wrong-doings and don’t put blame on anyone but yourself. It’s an album of hard work, perseverance and to make sure you have fun in the meantime while doing all of this.
Where and when did you record/produce the album, and who with?
We recorded the album at Chalet Studio in Uxbridge, Ontario. A beautiful, secluded spot in the country that included our lodging for the duration of tracking. We began recording in the spring of 2019 where we tracked half the album then and the other half in fall of 2019. The album was produced by Brian Moncar (Alice Cooper, Our Lady Peace) and had guest producer John Angus MacDonald (The Trews) who produced ”Sympathy Card.”
How did you approach the recording process?
We wanted to create an album that best represented the energy we bring at our live shows so we did the album live off the floor with everyone tracking together at the same time. The vocals were overdubbed afterwards so there wasn’t any bleed into the tracks. This is definitely the way we’ll be recording for the rest of our career because it is the most genuine representation of who and what we are as a band.
What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the album?
The most challenging thing was holding off on releasing the album. We had initial release plans of a Spring 2020 release, but the pandemic put that to a screeching halt so we had to go back to the drawing board. We worked hard to stay creative to not only to keep momentum but build our fanbase while not being able to perform live. We had the intention to release the album to go hand in hand with our live show so naturally that meant touring the album. With the world opening back up and our new release date of July 9th it seems that our patience will be worth the wait. The most rewarding part about it all was having a dream come into fruition. We collaborated with a slew of fantastic industry professionals on this album and the end product is something we can be proud of forever.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
The latest Foo Fighters album, “Medicine at Midnight” has been on heavy rotation for me for the last few months. They’re such an inspirational band. The good guys in rock n’ roll who we strive to be like. Good role models, amazing vibe and fantastic music.
What do you like to do away from music?
Honestly music consumes my brain a good 90% of the time. When I’m not doing music, I like to create posters/graphic work (that usually is for the band or my own solo work…whoops, haha.) I love to adventure and see what nature has to offer. Living in Nova Scotia we have such a beautiful landscape where hiking, road trips, and one-off breweries pop up from town to town. Adventuring would be my favourite pass-time besides music.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?
The remainder of our year consists of touring Canada in support of the album release. We’ll be doing multiple dates in the Maritimes all summer before heading to Ontario in September for gigs and some unfinished business. This trip will also include planning for album number three and a live album in between the two studio releases.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I just moved to a place called Stellarton in Pictou County and coincidentally down the road from my house is a spot called, “Andre’s Pizza.” I obviously was intrigued because the spot had my name which isn’t a popular one in the area so the first day here I stopped in. It turns out the restaurant is a music themed place that has a jukebox from Elvis’ Graceland collection, some of my favourite records displayed on the wall autographed and the best pizza you can sink your teeth into. I’ve been back there more than a handful of times and know it’s going to be another home for me, haha. On the other side of things about 10 minutes in the opposite direction is the studio we rehearse at called, “Sea Level Sound.” The band has been going here since 2016. It inspired a lot of songs from the album; “The Swedish Motel” and “Labels” in particular. The owner, Gord Stensrud is a great friend of ours and was also a guest on the “Labels.”
Twitter: @APandTheGiants
Facebook: /andrepettipasandthegiants
Instagram: @apandthegiants
Website: www.andrepettipasandthegiants.com
