Interview: Two Door Cinema Club

Intro by David Thai, Interview by Alicia A

Two Door Cinema Club has been on the rise since their inception back in 2009, granted not everyone may be familiar with the band, but they would recognize their songs as they’ve made appearances in countless commercials and television shows. Personally I remember receiving their EP from Kitsuné back in January of ’09, not giving it much thought I gave it a quick scan and was thoroughly impressed with the initial offering and since then they’ve remained on my radar. Spending the past year or so touring and especially putting in a ton of work in the North American market in support of the album Tourist History, we were lucky enough to get an opportunity to chat with TDCC. Here’s how that conversation went…

What’s difference between touring North America and the rest of the world?
When we first started touring America obviously it’s was not as good as everywhere else for us. But now we’ve been to most places around the world and doing the small shows and building it up slowly, which is something we’ve always been very passionate about doing, starting small in every territory. So I guess there are some places still where we’re not very well known asides from Dublin and London. But we’ve been to some cool places, like our show in Rio for example, it was our first time there and it was just crazy, one of the best shows we’ve ever been to. The crowd there just went nuts.

What’s the music scene like back home, is it much different than say in North America?
Yeah I think we have a really strong music scene, there are loads of bands that we grew up with over here that kinda only did well in Belfast and Ireland. So we were lucky in that we had a lot of extra different bands that the world didn’t know about. I think the trouble is being from Ireland it’s still kind of remote, like it’s still separate from the UK so a lot of bands still don’t get noticed by the industry in London, only if they really move over and do lots of tours in the UK , so it’s real unfortunate that a lot more bands don’t get discovered. With the Internet though, it’s hard for people to ignore the music scene.

Interview: Diamond Rings

Diamond Rings is literally as cool as ice (and by ice I mean the kind that rappers rap about, the diamond kind that glitters…a lot). I had the chance to briefly speak with him a little while ago right before his epic Vancouver show. It was refreshing speaking to someone who really doesn’t care what people think because at the end of the day, what people think doesn’t define him: he defines himself and being himself makes him happy and creative, and in turn, brings us fans some rockin’ electro-pop ear candy.

Hi! How are ya? How’s the tour going?
Amazing, having a good time. I’m with PS I Love You. It’s great.

What’s it like being on tour all the time, city to city, culture to culture?
It’s kind of like being in the circus. I don’t know. It’s so many things. There are so many responsibilities every day. It’s a really big balancing act but it’s fun.

What’s the most important thing you get out of touring?
Probably just the feeling of being able to express myself fully and honestly every night to a room of people who want to see me be me. That’s the reward at the end of the day.

On the subject of you getting to be you every night, how would you describe yourself and your music and what do you think attracts your fans?
People are attracted to seeing something exciting, different, and unique but also something that is real. I guess realness is an ambiguous term, you can’t really explain. Some people just have it and are able to express themselves that way.

Interview: From Acoustic to Electric…this is Anya Marina

Not going to lie…I didn’t know who Anya Marina was until recently. Well actually, I did. I had heard her music but didn’t know it was her’s. After scoping her out on MySpace and doing some research, it became apparent that though we may not recognize her name, you’ve probably heard her music via Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, or the Twilight Saga: New Moon. I got the chance to talk to her the other day about having her music on said shows, her latest release, and the importance of staying grounded in the music industry.

First things first, do you ever get a break? From the looks of it, you guys are touring every day!
Anya Marina: Yeah, today is our one day off! It’s pretty crazy. I thought I would have lots of time to myself but you find that while on a bus with so many people it’s fun and you actually develop this pack mentality where you all sort of move together or you have this unspoken language if someone needs alone time.

Despite the fun, are you craving being back home, having alone time?
Anya Marina: I’m looking forward to getting back home and finishing a couple mixes for my full length album, I was almost done before this tour came along. I’m really enjoying myself on the road. It takes a few days to get into tour mode but once you get used to it you think, I always want to be touring. Then when you get home and have been there for a few days you think, I want to stay home!

Interview: Grace of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

The other day I had a lovely chat with the vivacious Grace of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. We chatted about the intentional sexy style of the bands last self-titled album and her musical curiosity. It was truly a pleasure speaking with someone so enthralled with the effects of music on humans. You know when she’s composing music, she’s really got her listeners interests at heart.

So how’s the tour going?
It’s been amazing. This is our first time as a band really gunning it, going for the bigger venues, and selling them out. It feels very fulfilling.

Does that fulfillment come from your sort of new found freedom based on the recent realization that you guys don’t fit neatly into a music genre so you might as well just let the songs happen without over-thinking them?
Absolutely. For years we felt we were being pushed into a corner; like the jam band or blues band scene. We’re none of that but all of that and it’s great to expand and add character. The road is wide open and it’s a great place to be.

How did you guys come to that realization? Did something in particular bring it to light?
There was never one moment. I think it’s just about growing up. You grow up and realize you don’t want to be one thing and luckily for us, we realized it before we hit anything big time. If you hit it big time as a pop princess, then you’re going to be a pop princess forever. If you hit it big time as a real deal rock ‘n’ roll band, then you have a lot more access and ability to take it in multiple directions.

Interview: Robyn

Robyn: a little, blonde doll with a soft, buttery voice laced with a Swedish accent, and with a pleasant aura about her that makes you want to linger around her…and possibly just hug her. Prior to her Vancouver show a few weeks ago, I had the chance to sit about a metre way from her to chat about her latest effort, Body Talk, the series it stems from, and her growth as an artist.

So how’s the tour going?

Very well. It’s really nice being here. We came out  to Canada at the end of the summer for a tour with Kelis but we didn’t play the west coast. This is more like a traditional tour, in the sense that we’re not doing festivals and we’re playing cities where we haven’t been before. It’s the same audience everywhere which is really mixed: the gay crowd, people who knew me from 15 years ago, hipsters, ghetto kids, nerdy goth kids…it’s a really eclectic mix which I’m happy about.

Have you had any musical epiphanies while on the tour? Anything that will translate to new songs being recorded right away?

Maybe, I don’t know. Maybe something will stick. I collect memories and impressions but it’s hard to say what will become a song later on. I’m inspired by the audience. These people are responding to something simple: we don’t have fancy light shows and pyrotechnics. We have a simple plan which is to make people dance; it’s a club show. I’m inspired that people are responding to that, that what I’m doing naturally reaches people in the right way.

Interview: Boots Riley of the Street Sweeper Social Club

In case you hadn’t heard, the Street Sweeper Social Club is pretty damn epic. Made up of Boots Riley from The Coup and Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine, the band has shit they want to get off their chests and they’re doing it their way instead of to the beat of the music label “let’s make stars” machine. They recently released their Ghetto Blaster EP featuring a bunch of covers you’ll be sure to love. I got to chat with Boots about the EP as well as what you can look forward to from him and the Street Sweeper Social Club.

What compelled you guys to cover M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes”?

We were putting our show together and when we first started, we had a whole bunch of songs that no one knew so it’s an easy trick to play a song that everyone knows [in between the new songs]. We changed the force of “Paper Planes” so much that we started making it our own and people requested a studio version of it so we did it.

Can you tell me about the new EP Ghetto Blaster?

 

We knew we weren’t going to put out a whole album but that we wanted to put something out quick, something that was a snapshot of where we are now. We started jamming together more on tour and we wanted to make something a little bit rougher than the last album. Our last album was pretty put together and polished and overdubbed; Tom played bass and guitar and then I came in later to do vocals. For this album we basically did it in a smaller studio, live, everything at the same time, five of us sweating it out and rocking out hard.

Is there a reason behind wanting a less polished album?

Because that’s how we come across on stage. On stage the energy is amped up twenty thousand times, not like the album.

Interview: Naughty By Nature are Back and Ready to Attack

Before their Vancouver show, I had the chance to chat with Treach, Vin Rock, and DJ Kay Gee of Naughty By Nature. Over licorice, we chatted about their soon to come album Anthem Inc., what they think about the current music scene and collaborations, and how it feels to be back.

So where you guys at? What’s it like to be back full-time as the orginal trio? Everyone’s stoked to see you guys tonight!

Treach: We back in business. Me and Vin we’re still touring when Kay wasn’t with us but now it’s like the original elements are back. The fans were asking for it so we had to do it. Fans were telling us they weren’t feeling much of the new music that’s out there and that they we wanted to hear our original sound. We felt like we owed it to our fans.

You guys haven’t really taken a break because you’ve all still been dabbling in music, etc. What’s different this time around?

Treach: We’ve matured. Before, we didn’t know how to make hit records. We thought we were hot shit. Now, we’re like ninjas. No more karate kids, we’re Mr. Miyagi’s up in here.

You thought you were hot shit? You guys were hot shit! You guys are hip hop legends!

Treach: Yeah hearing that is beautiful but we had to build to that.

Vin Rock: It’s crazy. I remember us doing high school talent shows, competing at Club 88, putting out records, etc. Everything’s been a blur. It’s when we slowed down that the “legend” accolades starting coming. We never knew we were building what people call a legend. Getting the accolades is…wow, especially when we started as kids up on Kay’s second floor balcony fucking around. Next thing we know we’re a global legend.

Interview: Melissa Ferreira of Adehsif Clothing

In a time where being green is mandatory, Melissa is finding ways to bring new life to old garments and fabrics that you probably wouldn’t think to salvage. We talked about her roots, inspirations, and how you can make a few quick fixes here and there to breathe new life into your possibly stale wardrobe.

How did you decide to get into fashion and sustainable fashion at that?

I’ve always been resourceful. It was the way I was brought up: to not use more than you need to and not waste anything you’ve been given. Growing up and even now, I’ve always liked looking different and having my own personal style. With that said, I used to wear a lot of vintage clothing. Eventually I ended up working as a vintage clothing buyer for a True Value Vintage and a number of other local companies. I was able to fine-tune my eye in terms of finding old fabrics. The skills I learnt in those years really helped me in terms of what I do now; it was a huge learning process.

Back then, I used to find a lot of fabrics that weren’t usable by the companies I worked for so they would let me buy them and refurbish them myself. Dream in Vancouver was the first store I started selling to. I realized that I was onto something. When I started, being green wasn’t as big as it is now, so now everything has catapulted into having my own business, store, etc. Everything was a fusion of my lifestyle, expression, etc; all of those things pieced together.

If I wasn’t making clothing out of recycled materials, I don’t know if I would specifically be in the fashion industry. I like the process of making everything one of a kind and special. I feel like everyone in the world has a special personality and that’s how I feel about the clothing I create. It’s fun to see who gravitates to what. It’s not just about buying a shirt, it’s about an experience.

Interview: David Morico

 

In this technological age, we rarely stop to appreciate the finer things in life. David Morico is here to help us.

“My paintings consist of positive energy where I create non-representational images of the “Glimpses”, based on landscapes or the second of what we see or think we see. The viewer sees images or senses a certain familiar feeling that they can relate to. Once that connection is made, I the artist made my accomplishment.” -David Morico

So let’s start from the beginning….You studied art right? And you were working as an Art Director, but are you still balancing a full-time job with painting or has painting become your current full-time profession?

I have a BFA in Graphic Design and Fine Art. I’ve been doing graphic design and art directing for the past 15 years, but in the past seven years I’ve started picking up my painting career. I started painting and getting familiar with the brush. Then I did a few art shows here and there to see where it would take me. I had a really good response so I ended up doing the Art Expo in New York and that went well so I did the Las Vegas one as well. Things just started to take off. It did take time but it’s really been worth it.

There’s an artist guild in my neighbourhood. We work out of an old vacant mansion which has been turned into an artist guild. The space is amazing. We started off with five artists and now it’s expanded to 12.

Right now I’m doing freelance graphic design but pushing the art on a full-time basis. Even when I was working in design full-time, I was still painting full-time: painting is an overwhelming experience, getting feedback from people is reassuring.

Interview: Mandy Stobo

About a year ago, I wrote about a wonderful Canadian artist: Mandy Stobo.

Just recently, I interviewed her. I must say, of all the people I interview, it’s always the painters who are most passionate. They inspire me to hit the ground running with courage, no matter what I do. Stobo was no exception.

What are you working on right now?

I’m focusing on inanimate objects with emotion for a show in Calgary in June.

I’m also working with Jackie Bagley who does head sculptures which are incredible. She also does photography. She is blowing up some of her photographs of Berlin and I’m going to graffiti and paint on top of them.

What inspired the inanimate object project?

I don’t know. I think my need to see empathy and compassion in things.

What are some of the inanimate objects that come to mind?

A lot of chairs, kitchen utensils, blenders, all with my graffiti behind them.

How did you get into art? What’s your background?

It’s always been in my life. The one thing I wanted to be growing up was an artist. I forgot about it for awhile and went travelling. I got into some bizarre situations internationally and when I came home I decided to appreciate the moment and do what I love. I went and bought as many supplies as I could and started painted.

So originally you were influenced by your travels?

Definitely! Painting is the only way, even as a kid, that I feel I can communicate with people. Art has always been there; I just never respected it or paid any attention to it.