How is the Toronto music scene lately, anything we should look out for?
Toronto’s music scene(s) are kicking it right now! So many undeniably talented musicians and bands in multitudes of genres, It’s such a huge list, it would be hard too choose just one. I Guess cold winters here shack us up with warm amplifiers.
How did you first start playing music?
Day one, noise and blisters on a acoustic guitar
Day 2 – one chord,
Day 3 – 2 chords,
Day 4 – 3 chords
6 years – bar chords and augmented such and suches
And so on and so on and so on for many years later.
What have you been working on recently?
Always something. Every show is different. We play quite a few, so there is always a new work to be produced, a new vision to come to fruition, people to play with and for. Music has become often then not an audio visual experience for me and I spend a lot of time in that realm collaborating with mulitmedia artist Saúl Le
You have a very unique approach to music and stage performance, how did has your approach to music and stage performance evolved over time?
Hmm, my philosophy these days: Embrace change and strive to evolve or else you’ll disappear like the dinosaurs.
Who or what influences your music and stage performance?
Many things. Anything or anyone that makes me feel something, weather it’s the goosebump sensation of seeing something inspirational, the feeling of anger or joy in everyday experiences, current affairs and the energy created by collaborating with others.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Honestly, I rarely listen to recorded music, and barely listen to music at all at home. But on an occasional heavy day I will never get enough of Nina Simone, Radiohead or D’Angelo. Listening for me mostly is about seeing live shows. I see a lot of stuff in all kinds of genres. And like I said there is no shortage of amazingly talented musicians in Toronto. If a great musician is in a band because they want to be there and not just because it pays big bucks then it probably will be a good project. These are just the first tonne of names that came to mind of such musicians from Toronto…
Karen Ng, Christine Bougie, Thom Gill, Ryan Driver, Tim Posgate, Vivienne Wilder, Gordon Hyland, Maya Kiltron, Rebecca Hennessy
What do you find most rewarding and challenging within your musical career?
Rewarding: The process of creation, presentation, collaboration, and audience participation.
Challenges: Money
What has been your most memorable and also craziest performance mishap?
There’s been a few, but this one popped into my head first so….
Me: For half a set, I kept thinking that I had peed my pants on stage while in the midst of a performance, but was so confused as I didn’t feel like i had to pee. Only right after getting off the stage, a person from the audience came running up to me to say how they really were affected by the performance art and how “brave” the bloody symbolism on the back of my white pants was, and how much it meant to them. A happy accident?
Is there anything that you want your audiences to take away from your live performance?
To be affected in any way really. Too much apathy these days.
Does the current political environment influence your music or stage performance?
Sometimes and sometimes.
What do you like to do away from music?
Chillaxing, I admit I like to be lazy. Summer is coming so some patio time, some cruising the lavender fields outside of Toronto, risking my life riding my bike in Toronto, and chilling with friends and family.