Music Interviews

Where are you currently based?

We are currently based out of Toronto, Ontario.

How did you first start playing music?

I always had a love for music and melody and I was often found singing and dancing around the house as a child. Thankfully my parents encouraged my passion and enrolled me in singing lessons when I was 12. I eventually picked up the old acoustic guitar in my house and started writing my own music. Soon after I met a few of the other guys and we bonded over our love of rock music and decided to form our own band.

What’s been happening recently?

As of recently we’ve been busy in the studio creating and recording our newest songs. We just released our song “Cut Me Loose” to which we are getting a great response online. We are always trying to keep up with our fans on TikTok and Instagram and can’t wait to get back out there to play some live shows and showcase our new sound.

Your new single ‘Cut Me Loose’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

We wanted to take our sound to a more professional and modern level without losing that raw energy and bluesy nature. I think we’ve retained that passion and created something sonically pleasing to both young and old and most demographics!

How did you go about writing ‘Cut Me Loose’ and what does this single mean to you?

John actually pitched the song to the band and we all immediately loved it. We posted a video of us performing the song online on TikTok, and it successfully went viral overnight racking up about 2 million views. A lot of people all over the world were asking for it to be released, so we knew we had to. We began playing the song for folks online and almost everyone was convinced it would be a hit. I’m really proud of this song because of how well it showcases our newest sound and how hard we’ve been working together as a band. It’s very well crafted and has so much energy to it, you can’t help but headband along.

Where and when did you record/produce/master the single and who with?

Much of the recording process and production of the song was done back during June in our home studio at Cosmo Cat Records. We got in touch with Canadian producer Tawgs Salter who was excited to work on the song. We sent the session to him for more production and the final mastering was done by Tokyo Speirs.

How did you approach the recording process?

A) We had been playing “Cut Me Loose” acoustically on Tik Tok for about a month so we already had a pretty good feel for the tune. It was just about taking it to the next level and letting everyone’s ability’s shine on the final product. We had recorded a few early demos during the lockdown in an older studio, but really worked and refined the core of the song at Cosmo Cat Records studio . We have a great set up in our studio so it was easy to do most of the recording and engineering ourselves before we sent it to Tawgs for further production. Recording is something that we really enjoy and do on a daily basis, and we are learning and growing everyday.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

You can expect tons of new music and hopefully some announcements for Canadian show dates for later this year. We are releasing a live action music video for “Cut Me Loose” in a few weeks and are already planning for our next singles and hope to release them in the upcoming months.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

You can usually find me listening to Supertramp or some sort of classic rock band but as for current music I’ve been listening to a lot of The Blue Stones. I really dig their music, it reminds me of what we are sort of doing with our music. It’s awesome they are a Canadian band as well, modern but still incorporating those big riffs and that bluesy rock vibe.

What do you like to do away from music?

When I have the time I really enjoy cooking and making food for the people I love. Anytime you can bring your friends and family together to have a few laughs and forget about the stress of daily life.

Favourite food and place to hang out?

My favourite food has got to be tacos. I just always feel like it’s a party when Mexican food is in the mix. I’m a sucker for a good hot sauce, I love the spice. Sneaky Dees has great food for that. We love getting out and exploring new places and cities, especially getting in touch with nature and the great outdoors. We are always on the lookout for a good time. It’s been difficult with the recent lockdown but hopefully we can get back out there with everything reopened.

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Where are you currently based?

Australia!

What’s been happening recently?

Well… without sounding negative, we had a whole tour and a bunch of other things planned that all got taken away a week out from doing them because of a recent outbreak of COVID in Aus, so we’re just trying to keep writing as much as possible and do anything we can to stay busy during lockdown 2.0 haha.

Please tell us about how you first got involved with Fender Next and your experience to date:

I kid you not, we have always played fender. It’s always been our number one company we wanted to get involved with. We’ve been approached by other guitar companies and we’d decline so when we were lucky enough to have been contacted about being a part of Fender Next, it was an absolute no-brainer. 

What does being involved with Fender Next mean to you?

As I said before, we’ve always been huge advocates for Fender. They are so versatile and never fucking break no matter what you do to them. The first guitar I ever bought was a Fender Telecaster Blacktop. I saved up all my money and bought it like 10 years ago and still use it to this day with only one modification. We use it for everything from recording to live shows. It’s never failed me despite it being through the absolute ringer while touring. To be a part of Fender Next just seemed like destiny if I’m being completely honest.

Please tell us about your thoughts on the Fender Artist Playbook:

I think it’s great and I wish there was something like that from actual musicians when we were younger. The tough thing about navigating the music industry is that, although there are some key things that you need to have in order, there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rule and every artist’s story is different and that’s what makes it so hard, I think. So, it’s great to have something concrete and spelled out like – ‘these are essential’. 

What’s planned for the band for the rest of 2021 and going into 2022?

This year we’re focusing on releasing new music, and 2022 will be nothing but touring. Can’t wait to be back on the road.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I find it hard these days to find stuff I really like, maybe I’m too cynical and jaded now haha. Having said that though I’ve been getting into Kid Laroi quite a bit, Phoebe Bridgers, the new Turnstile record, Teenage Joans – a young band from AUS. I’ve actually going back and listening more to the artists my dad would play for me quite a bit as well like Nirvana, Hendrixx even Janis Joplin. The classics are just where it’s at for me right now.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love art. I love creating things whether it be graphic design stuff or just fooling around in photoshop doing dumb things to keep my mind active. It’s so hard to feel inspired at the moment but I’m trying to stop that muscle from dying haha.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favourite food will always be chocolate I don’t care how basic that is. It was my first love. But I really love ramen, Indian food, Thai… ill find most things delicious… favourite place to hangout is a great bar with my mates BUT since we’ve been unable to tour for so long I would literally settle for a shitty greenroom in the middle of no-where at this point haha.

Where are you currently based?

I’m based in Vancouver, BC!

How did you first start playing music?

For as long as I can remember I’d always loved music, but I didn’t start performing until I was 9. I first started with singing competitions in my area and then worked my way up to solo gigs in bars and restaurants where I’d sing and play the guitar for a couple hours at a time. It’s very funny being a young performer, sometimes you’re not actually allowed in the spaces you’re performing in. Once I had to be walked by a chaperone between the stage, green room, and bathroom so the bar wouldn’t get in trouble for having a 15 year old wandering around by herself.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been?

Recently I’ve been writing and planning my future releases after ‘False Love’ drops. Pre-Covid I was already a bit of a social recluse, so not much has changed socially for me, but I’ve really missed performing. I’ve done a couple outdoor and online shows, but it’s not quite the same as things were before the pandemic. 

Your new EP ‘False Love’ will be out on July 30, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

While writing this EP, we (myself, Tavish Crowe, Ryan Stewart, and Troy Samson) were inspired by a lot of different artists, including Dua Lipa, PVRIS, Doja Cat, Carlie Hanson, and Tate McRae. Writing this EP was a learning experience for me. A lot of personal and musical growth happened for me throughout its creation and I think you can hear that throughout the tracks! In two of the songs on the EP (Is It Cool If We’re Lonely? and Nothing To Bleed For), I started dipping into a slightly darker pop sound, which is something I see myself continuing with in the future.

How did you go about writing the EP?

Spending lots of time in the studio! I like to think of myself as a pretty quick songwriter, all of these tracks were written in under five hours. ‘Is It Cool If We’re Lonely?’ Was definitely the fastest, Tavish and I wrote it over Zoom in less than two hours! We’re both pretty efficient songwriters (when we’re not getting distracted on random tangents), which makes working together very quick and fun! I believe that over thinking your music takes away a lot of charm and authenticity. Worrying too much about whether or not other people will be able to immediately understand a lyric or if a melody is catchy enough distracts from the process, and can make songs sound kind of rigid and flat. I tried to apply that philosophy to every song on this EP, letting the song tell us where it wants to go, instead of forcing it to be something it isn’t.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and with?

This EP was mainly produced by the incredible Ryan Stewart, except for ‘Is It Cool If We’re Lonely?’ Which was produced by the also incredible Tavish Crowe. I always think that once you find your people you should stick with them so your music doesn’t start to sound disjointed or repetitive. All of the songs on this EP were written and recorded in Vancouver, with the earliest song (Scar Tissue) recorded in early 2019, and the latest (Is It Cool If We’re Lonely) written in February 2021. The songs were mixed and mastered by Jason Van Poederooyen (aka JVP).

How did you approach the recording/production process?

Throughout the writing process for ‘False Love’ I gained a lot of confidence in my abilities as a songwriter and contributor to the final version of a song. Most of the time, I would send a couple references to Ryan or Tavish, and they would come up with a track that took inspiration from that. I learned over time how to express more specifically what I wanted things to sound like, but I’m still not super great with a lot of production terms, so a lot of the time I just have to badly beatbox and hope they understand what I’m going for. On a high note, I’ve gotten pretty good at singing like a distorted bass haha.

What programs/equipment did you use?

Ryan and I use Logic, while Tavish prefers Ableton. For the most part I only really record myself for covers and demo vocals if I’m writing over Zoom, but my mic is an Aston Spirit. I don’t know what microphones were used for the final productions as all the songs were recorded at very different times and in two different studios, sorry!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been going through a bit of an emo revival recently, so a lot of My Chemical Romance and Paramore, but I’ve also been really loving Olivia Rodrigo, Willow, and Måneskin. I’m loving this late 90’s to early 2000’s rock/pop punk revival as that’s a lot of what I listened to growing up!

What do you like to do away from music?

I love photography, photo editing, and creating videos. Those interests are very helpful with creating content for my music career, so I spend a lot of time on both sides of the camera and hunched over my laptop. I actually created the art for the EP myself with a projector, my camera with a self timer, and many hours of photoshop. 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

More music! I hope to release at least one more single before 2021 is over. I’m really excited about the new music I’ve been creating recently and I can’t wait to share it with my listeners!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

This might be a little bit weird, but I’m kind of obsessed with fried cauliflower. Something about it is addictive and I can eat so much of it. It’s kind of like the best of both worlds: it’s yummy and deep fried, but also a vegetable, so I’m not being too unhealthy when I eat an entire plate of it myself. My favourite place to hang out with a friend is thrift stores. I love that every time you go in, there’s different stuff to look at, and a lot of it is really cool or funny. It’s also much more sustainable than shopping for new stuff all the time, and super rewarding when you find a really good item.

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Where are you currently based?

I’m born and raised in beautiful Calgary, Alberta (Canada)! 

How did you first start playing music?

Music has been with me as long as I can remember. Ever since I could talk I would sing, and I’ve always loved writing poems and stories which became songs around the age of ten! My dad has always been a lover of music and sings as well, so it’s been in and around me forever! 

What’s been happening recently?

I’m so happy to say my debut single “Blame it on Me” has been released! The song also has a music video to accompany it! All in all, I’ve been writing music constantly and working with incredible artists and producers who continuously challenge me to create a better song than the last, every single session. It’s been a blast! 

You’ve just released your single ‘Blame It On Me’. What influenced the sound and songwriting?

I owe the sound to the incredible Jackson Willows, who I personally believe to be a total wizard. He has such a strong vision for the music he works on, much like myself when it comes to lyrics and storytelling and I think by working together we created something really special. Joseph of Mercury was also on deck and the three of us clicked in such a great way. I can’t imagine this song coming about with anybody else! Dan Kurtz also jumped in for insight and by the end of the songwriting and musical journey I was so happy and eager to release it! 

 How did you go about writing ‘Blame It On Me’?

Jackson Willows and I were actually jumping into another song for that session – we were circling back to a tune that we thought might have some potential but needed tweaking. However when we got in, both he and I felt it just wasn’t clicking. And personally, I believe that when creativity comes to a place where it needs to be dragged through the mud and forced, it’s no longer genuine. And that’s totally okay! So we decided to start a new song, and that was the start of Blame it on Me. We finished the majority of the song and that’s when Joseph jumped in to help wrap up and tie up loose ribbons and give the song his magic touch. When we decided this was going to be the first single, that’s when Dan Kurtz came in for a session to give his thoughts. After that, we were off to the races!

Where and when did you record/produce/master, and who with?

I recorded physically at OCL studios in Calgary with wonderful sound tech Josh Gwilliam, and through super cool technology, I had Jackson Willows and Joseph of Mercury in my ears listening to and directing the session. Jackson Willows produced, and Jay Dufour mixed. Finally, Alexis Psaroudakis mastered the song! 

 How did you approach the recording process?

Like I said, I was physically in Calgary recording, while my producer Jackson Willows and co-writer Joseph of Mercury were in Toronto. Technology is so advanced now that we were able to hear each other while I recorded in Calgary, and the two of them directed the session while Josh was there to facilitate and physically record. It was a super interesting experience! 

 Who are you listening to at the moment and who influences your sound?

I’ve been loving JP Saxe recently, as well as Conan Gray, Ruston Kelly and Lennon Stella. It’s hard to pin down who influences my sound as I feel I have a real unique vibe going that’s a combination of folk, pop, alternative and singer songwriter. I’m super inspired by Stevie Nicks though and older 70s 80s music and putting an organic and modern twist on it! 

What do you like to do away from music?

I have all kinds of creative outlets like drawing, painting and writing – but I have a huge love and passion for photography and visual content creation. Being the creative director behind all of my music promotional images and aesthetic has been so fun, and doing that for other people is always so rewarding as well! 

Does songwriting come easy?

For me personally, I would say yes! Of course everyone gets into creative ruts or phases of writer’s block, but in general I would say that writing has always come very naturally to me. Whether it’s poetry, story telling, essays or songwriting, stringing words together to create an image is one of my favourite things to do. 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

I will be releasing a second single this Fall! And hopefully an EP will be coming shortly into the New Year. Stay tuned!

 Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favourite food has got to be potatoes. In any form. They’re just so versatile haha! 

My favourite place to hangout is wherever my favourite people are. I’m very lucky to have found a group of friends who are so joyful, driven and loving. I am my best self wherever and whenever I’m with them. 

Twitter: @jennieharlukmu1

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Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based on the forever buzzing King Street in Newtown, and have been for the past 5 years.

How did you first start playing music?

I started singing when I was a kid. I was that annoying kid that performed at all the end-of-school celebrations and talent shows, hah. I started writing my own music when I was about 14, but back then I didn’t have anyone to write with so I’d hopelessly try to strum on my dad’s old and out of tune guitar (with no talent for it whatsoever).

Since then I’ve been in a number of different bands, mostly back in Sweden, but because of different priorities and moving locations, those projects didn’t last long.

I went solo about two-and-a-half years ago, which has been wonderful. I still collaborate a lot, but it’s been great to have the control to keep things going, taking me to where I am today.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve been working away on everything that compliments the music for the release of my debut EP, ‘Do You Remember That?’, and I’m so excited to share the images surrounding the EP.

I’ve also been working on sharpening the live set, adding live bass and drums. Previously it was just me and my collaborator Simon Brock on stage. It’s been so great to hear the music reach another level by adding two incredibly talented musicians to the mix.

Your debut EP ‘Do You Remember That?’ will be released on July 30, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Having removed so much of the regular joys this past year due to Covid, I’ve been reflecting on some of the most impactful moments in my life. It’s been a journey taking me from the highest highs to the lowest lows in the past 15 years. Because of this, I wanted the whole EP to be drenched in nostalgia. I hope that the listener can feel those big swings of joy, to anger, to desperation, to love.

How did you go about writing the EP?

The writing of the EP started a year ago, almost to the day. Me and my partner and collaborator, Simon, went away for a long weekend to a super cute AirBnb in Wollombi. I tend to write best being out of the city, away from any distractions.

It would’ve been soon after the first Sydney lockdown had lifted and we were craving inspiration more than ever. I can clearly remember writing ‘Daughter’, track four on the EP. The song is an emotional and desperate call for normality, and the song unfolded late at night.

From that point we wrote additional songs from our home in Newtown, drawing inspiration from past life experiences.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?

All of the vocals are recorded in our little home studio (bedroom) and all the tracks are produced and mastered by an absolutely incredible and wonderful LA-based producer called HVTCH. We’ve built an amazing rapport with HVTCH, who did an incredible job elevating the songs with lush production. It’s been such a wonderful experience adding a third person to our little writing team and getting a fresh perspective on how the songs could sound.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the EP?

It’s definitely been a double-edged sword sorting through my past experiences, some being so beautiful to revisit and others more painful. I think It’s allowed me to process things that I didn’t realise I was still struggling with.

It’s been so joyous to have HVTCH join us on the execution of this EP. I love that he’s added part of his sound to this record.

What does this EP mean to you?

I am so excited to finally release my debut EP. It’s been a long time coming and I’m ready for the world to hear it! It’s such a personal selection of songs but I hope that people can still relate to the words. You’ll find anything from newfound love and self-affirmation to heartache and loss. I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve and it’s never felt so good.

Please tell us about any upcoming live shows:

I will be doing an EP launch party with a full live band at the Oxford Art Factory Gallery Bar on October 1st. If you’ve seen me live before, it’s nothing like it will be for this show! Because of Covid restrictions there’ll be limited tickets available so get in quick!  

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Right now I’m obsessed with Telenova, Mø and Oh My My. They are constantly on repeat.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love photography and it’s what I do for a living outside of music. I tend to do all the concepts and lighting for my artworks and PR shots, and usually get help from a friend to shoot it. For the EP photoshoot I got Simon to shoot it (he knows very little about photography but I’m training him, hah). I also had help from epic creatives Olivia Waugh and Hamish McIntosh.

Other then that I love sunshine, wine and cheese!

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

I wish I could say, but the future is very up in the air at the moment. What I will aim to do is play more live shows in, around, and outside of Sydney. I don’t have much hope of this happening this year, but as soon as possible I will get back to visit my family in Sweden. I don’t think I can stop writing about the longing I have for my family until I get to see them again.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Cheese platter or pizza! I’m obsessed with the potato pizza at Bella Brutta or the Village Green at Epic (add chilli/chilli oil of course).

For hangouts I rarely leave Newtown/Enmore/Erskineville to be honest. You’ll find me at Camperdown Memorial Park, Jacoby’s, Queen Chow, Newtown Hotel, Martini,The Erko or on my balcony.

‘Do You Remember That?’ EP Out July 30

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What is your name and role within Spillage?

Tony de Pasquale and I’m the bass player

Where are you currently based?

Essentially Brisbane but Sam lives on the Goldie and Nathan on the Sunshine Coast. David’s in Brissie too.

What’s been happening recently?

Just finished recording the new album. It’s getting mixed now. We had a single launch (You Said No) a few weeks ago at the Greaser that went really well. We’ve got our 2^nd single launch (Unawares) at King Lear’s Throne on the 14^th of August.

How did the reunion after two decades of not playing together come about?

Asho (from Footstomp) suggested it to Sam one night and he asked all of us and we all jumped at it. There’s nothing like being in a practice room making noise with your mates.

Please tell us a little about your history as a band:

Well…..in a galaxy far far away………it feels like that sometimes.

We were a 3 piece back in the 90s. Sam and I are brothers so we grew up playing music a lot. (My first instrument was an accordion when I was 5!) Played a lot of gigs with a lot of different bands. The main venues back in Brisbane were The Zoo and The Orient, the Roxie, The Funkyard and Metropilis. We played pretty much every other week for a few years. We put an album out in 94 and it sold about 14 copies. We were big in Ballscratch, South Australia.

Your live shows are as tight as ever, was the chemistry right where you left off?

We were a bit rusty at first but it came together pretty quickly. It helps that we’re not super stoned all the time like the old days.

We asked Gorky (David Gaukrodger) to join. We always wanted to be a 4 piece with the extra guitar. We’d known each other for years and he fit right in.

Your single ‘Unawares’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

I think you’d have to say the influence for the sound came from one of our fave bands of the ages: Husker Du. The lyrics are about living in a drug fuelled fog and wondering why your life is such a shit sandwich. Then turning it around and really seeing that the world can be a beautiful place.

How did you go about writing the track?

Sam came in with the song and we all added our little sparkles. It just seemed to get better and better and when we recorded it, it really jumped out. It goes off when when we play live as well.

Where and when did you record/produce/master?

We recorded with Jeff Lovejoy at Blackbox Studios and the mastering was done by Matt Gray at Matthew Gray Mastering

What can we expect from your upcoming album to be released in October?

A mixture of songs. Although our roots are rock/punk/grunge there’s a few different sounds emerging. A few of the tracks are from the old days but the majority are all this century.

How did the new grunge sound come about?

Similar to the old grunge but new and improved!! I think as you get a bit older and you listen to a whole lot of different music, your taste widens and you can draw from a wider sound palette. Our roots are still guitar based rock but we like to throw a few spanners in the works to make it exciting.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I can’t speak for the other boys but 2 bands I’m into at the moment are Badflower and Cleopatrick.

What do you like to do away from music?

I like to spend time with the fam. I’m a Dad so there’s always sport with the kids on the weekend. I coach my daughter’s Netball team and my son’s cricket team. I like to get out and see local bands and comedy when I can.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

We’ll finish mixing the album, get that released and hopefully get a little tour going (Covid permitting).

Plus we’ve already got a bunch of songs for the 2^nd album so we’ll keep working on them.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Being Italian I’m a big pizza fan. But a close 2^nd is Vietnamese food. Fave hangout would have to be the praccy room with the crew. As far as clubs/bars go – Greaser Bar and the Jolly Roger in the Valley. Plus Blutes on a Sun arve.

“UNAWARES” IS OUT JULY 28

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Where are you currently based?

A) The village of Canning, Nova Scotia in Canada.

How did you first start playing music?

A) 12 years old, acoustic guitar, learning Beatles tunes.

What’s been happening recently?

A) Parenting, pacing, hovering, drinking, stewing, and whining.

Your new album Dusted III is out on the 23rd of July, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

A) I wanted to capture a handful of songs, to sort of cleanse them from my busy mind. I wanted them to be recorded simply, naturally, the way I play them at home. The songs and lyrics come from a ten year period of my life, but the final selection seems to have an overarching feeling. It went well with all the transitions in my life- moving, returning to the province of my youth, saying goodbye, and embracing something new.

How did you go about writing Dusted III?

A) I write all the time, so this selection was more to do with curating a digestible handful of songs. I didn’t overthink which ones I picked. I still have a few more records like this that I hope to finish. This is a step towards that goal.

What does the album mean to you?

A) Leaving things behind, and stepping towards the unknown.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?

A) I booked Palace, a studio in Toronto, ON, the first few days of March 2019 and recorded everything there, live-off-the-floor, engineered by Chris Sandes. It was mostly vocal guitar, but also bass and wurlitzer. I then brought the album with me to Nova Scotia where I finished it in a makeshift home studio. A final drum and horn session was booked again in Palace when my other band Holy Fuck went to Toronto to do a CBC session. That was just before the pandemic began. I sat with it for a few months doing nothing, just settling into a weird time. And then I got cracking on the mixes. I sent them around to a few people, but luckily found a guy named Shuta Shinoda to do the final mixes. I have one song mixed by Dave Newfeld and one by Jarvis Taveniere.

How did you approach the recording process?

A) We set up many mics, more than we’d need, but that allowed me to go through and select the few that I liked for the mood and tone, depending on the song. I like field recordings, demos, very natural and unadorned recordings, so I just followed that instinct. The benefit to finishing this in a peaceful environment in Nova Scotia, Canada, was that I got to capture the sounds around me to give the album a sense of space and time – birds, rain etc.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

A) I had a DJ gig last week where I played a lot of my old disco and breakdance/ hip hop records. Last night I played a board game with my folks listening to Black Sabbath. The usual I guess. 

What do you like to do away from music?

A) Escape to nature!

What’s planned for 2021?

A) Get this record out and hopefully play shows! I have another thing, a four piece called Quilting, that is hopefully releasing something, definitely playing shows in the fall, and maybe some Holy Fuck thing.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

A) I haven’t really lucked out with that here. I miss traveling. The Valley in Nova Scotia, where I live, is known for vineyards, but the dining scene is geared for students and tourists, but has shit-hours. Nothing is open late, so I mostly put on my headphones and walk around my backyard in the evenings when my daughter finally sleeps. 

Twitter: @totallyDusted

Facebook: @totallyDusted

Instagram: @dusted_brianborcherdt

Where are you currently based?

I’m living in my hometown, in Orillia, Ontario.

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing piano when I was 6, and singing in school talent shows a couple of years after that. I got a guitar for Christmas in the eighth grade and taught myself how to play so I could write songs with it. It wasn’t until high school that I started playing my own songs in front of people, which quickly became my favourite thing to do at every coffee house/ open mic I could get myself on the sign-up sheet for!

What have you been up to recently?

I have been pretty consumed with getting my new EP ready to release– making videos, doing photoshoots and all of the administrative stuff that comes along with being an independent artist. It’s pretty all-consuming, but it’s been really exciting for me! I’m also starting to write again and enjoying some time in the sun hanging by the lake!

What influenced the sound and songwriting on your new EP Enough?

I started writing this EP right around the time that I was dropped from my previous label deal.  I felt like I hadn’t gotten personal enough in my prior releases and really wanted to get uncomfortably honest in my writing. All of the songs are relationship-focused and autobiographical– covering breakups to being in love again. I went into recording just focused on making something I was excited about, and wanted to try new things and have fun in the process. The sound was born out of a mix of contemporary pop influences with pop punk influences that I grew up with. 

How did you go about writing the music?

I write about my own experience and that’s always been important to me. I fell in love with music because I found solace in the words of other artists who wrote really personal lyrics. Growing up, I was always posting song lyrics to my MSN status and Facebook wall about how I was feeling *SO CRINGE*. 

Now, if I’m writing for myself, I like to use songwriting as a way to sort through my head and whatever I’m going through… (call it cheap therapy).  Most of my songs start with a few lyrics, or a small poem in my notes app that I’ll eventually revisit and turn into a song when I am a little more removed and have a clearer headspace to sort through the feelings/ emotions.

Where and when did you record/produce/master, and who with?

Some of the songs were written as early as 2018, but I started recording these songs in 2019.  The EP is 100% female produced– Hill Kourkoutis produced ‘Unsolicited Contact’, ‘I Don’t Trust Anyone Anymore’, and ‘Darkside’ in Toronto, and Robyn Dell’Unto produced ‘We Might Break Up’, ‘I Don’t Hang out with My Exes’ and ‘Enough’ in Nashville. They’re both so amazing at what they do and it was a dream working with them. Jason Dufour from Toronto mixed the EP, and Emily Lazar did the mastering.

How did you approach the recording process?

I had worked with only male producers previously, so I wanted to work with female producers on this project (especially because it came from such a personal, female perspective). It was such a different experience being in the studio with all female energy. Hill and Robyn are so talented, and I felt really comfortable to just be myself and try new things. I felt free to be creative, experiment and be vulnerable, which was crucial for this EP and made it so much fun to work on. 

What does this EP mean to you?

“Enough” is a collection of songs that focuses on relationships, and explores both dealing with heartbreak and finding love. I understand that, thematically, the two don’t go together, but I’ve found in my experience that love and heartbreak aren’t sequential. It’s entirely possible to experience feelings of heartbreak and longing while being completely in love with someone new. 

In the case of the title track, it’s about finding love and wholeness—acknowledging that real love, above all else, is enough.  In the songs about heartbreak, the title is more about closing the door behind me and saying things that I didn’t have enough courage to say before. It’s about saying enough is enough to those feelings. 

This project also acknowledges my journey as an artist and all of the self-doubt that has come along with my experiences. Throughout the making of this EP, I was able to remind myself that I could in fact do things my way, and that the work I created— despite my fears— has always been good enough.  That I’m enough. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

My favourite band right now is Winnetka Bowling League– I love all of their songs and think Matthew Koma is a lyrical *genius*, but ‘On the 5’, ‘are you okay?’, and ‘Slow Dances’ are probably my favourites… It’s the type of songwriting that makes me want to be a better, more honest writer. 

What do you like to do away from music?

I love spending time with my friends and my extended family– that’s where I’m happiest (and also why this last year has been particularly difficult for me to manage). When I have free time I love sewing, crafting, and getting active– playing tennis, rollerblading, and running. 

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?
A) Lots of fun things to come alongside the EP release — a couple more videos and even some merch.  Beyond that, I’m excited to take a bit of a breath and recharge after the release. I’m looking forward to writing more again, doing some travelling, and hopefully making up for some lost time with my friends and family! 

Favourite food and place to hangout

I have the biggest sweet tooth… anything baked. There’s a place called Mariposa Market here in Orillia and if it was acceptable to eat donuts for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I would eat their Texas donuts until I literally turned into one.

I’m not the biggest fan of going out– although after this year I’m sure my friends and I will be doing lots of that… But to be honest, my favourite place to be is at a friend’s house– hanging out and having a few drinks (and a lot of laughs) with my favourite people around a table, on a basement couch, or on the living room floor.  Can’t wait to get back to that!

Twitter: @cassiedasilva

Facebook: /cassiedasilvamusic

Instagram: @cassiedasilva

TikTok: @cassiedasilva

Website: www.cassiedasilva.com

Head Of Clouds is a Spanish artist and record label project based around cinematic sounds and compelling melodies both poignant and uplifting. Their first release “Almond Eyes” is out now and their second release “When Magic Happens” is out on the 12th of July. Excited to learn more about this stunning project, we decided to catch up with Head Of Clouds and ask them a few questions…

Where are you currently based? 

I am based in Barcelona, Spain. 

Could you describe your style for those who have never heard your music before?

I would not define my music with any concrete style. This is why I would tell those who have never listened to me to forget for a moment what is established, not to think of any musical style, simply to feel the music and enjoy the experience. I understand my music as a language, a different way to express my perceptions.

How did you first get into electronic music?

I have been familiar with electronic music for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a home where luckily Enigma was one of the classics. That says it all. 

All that love for electronic music that I have been experiencing over the years awakened in me an early concern to explore the world of music production. At the age of 13, I started creating my first tracks.

What’s your local music scene like at the moment?

After this pandemic year, the scene has been really affected economically and emotionally. This emotional change has been reflected in the music, from productions to the musical criteria of the DJs. I think this change made an improve to our scene, since many artists have been able to remove the standards from their heads and finally do things with their hearts. Let’s not forget that music is art and not maths.

What inspired your artist alias?

When I began to articulate the project, I had in mind that the artistic name had to reflect in some way the essence of what I want to convey. I was constantly looking for inspiration in different artistic fields. Coincidentally, on a visit to the Dalí museum in Figueres, the inspiration I needed came in a painting form. When I saw “Man with his head full of clouds” I felt instantly identified and felt that the project should mention this beautiful piece and Dalí’s philosophy.

Have you released music under any other names?

Yes, but I prefer that no one knows that Spiderman is Peter Parker haha. 

The objective of this project is to bring all the focus in the music and not on the artist identity. I do not want there to be any kind of prejudice for whoever is willing to listen to me.

How did you approach the recording/production process? 

To compose each track I base myself on a perception of reality, how can I capture it through music and how can I cause this feeling to the listener. I am never thinking if the listener will like my music, I am just worried about if the listener will understand what I want to express.

Once I have the track in my head, I sit at the piano to find the chords that make me feel what I want to express. The rest is simply transferring the instruments in my head to the DAW.

There is no element in my songs that is randomly placed, everything has a meaning and a reason. And that’s how the creative process of these two tracks has also been. For the nerds, in my social networks I will go into the details behind Almond Eyes and When Magic Happens.

For finalizing the process of both tracks, I needed a very concrete texture, a full-bodied, sweet and creamy compression that I could “only” achieve with a Fairman TMC. So this is why I decided to visit The Mars Citizen Studio, who has one of the exclusive units we can find in the world. David, the owner, was also in charge of mastering the two tracks, and the result speaks for itself. He is one of the bests.

What equipment is in your studio?

My setup it’s very simple for now. The digital tools are very powerful.

Universal Audio Apollo Quad Firewire (Audio interface)

Casio Privia PX-S1000 (Digital piano)

Adam Audio SP-5 (Headphones)

PRS Standard 24 Limited Edition (Electric guitar)

2 x WARM AUDIO EQP WA (Analog Pultec style EQs)

JOEMEEK SC2.2 ver. 4 (Photo optical stereo compressor)

You recently launched your new label, could you tell us more about the project? 

Head of Clouds is not only my artistic identity, it’s also a way of perceiving and expressing art. The alias and the label are merged with the intention that Head of Clouds Records will only release my music not focused on the dance floor. Each track is released with a piece of art made by another artist in his field, expressing his/her perception about the track concept. This artist can be a graphic designer, a photographer, a poet, a filmmaker or whoever makes art.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love doing myself reiki, it’s just a space where I can have a date with me. Nowadays we spend lot of time with other people and we forget ourselves.

I am also a big fan of riding motorcycles and travelling.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2021?

During this year the main project is and will be continuing making music with different artists, which result will be able to start listening from 2022. With these collaborations I intend to bring naturalness and new sounds to electronic music.

From September a monthly single will be released until the end of the year. 

Stay tuned! 🙂

https://www.beatport.com/artist/head-of-clouds/983300

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