A Ripple Conversation With Fade Awaays

What have been your musical epiphany moments?

When I heard crazy hazy kisses by the flat duo jets. Had never seen so much energy come from such a small group.

Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?

Usually someone has a riff or Dunc and I have a cool groove. A lot of it happens spontaneously from just jamming together

Who has influenced you the most?

The Beatles to pick 1. But I also love Dylan, Jimi Hendrix (Especially Mitch Mitchell) and Buddy Rich on a more percussive level

Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?

By continuing to listen to new music together and trying to adapt our own personal feel on what we hear.

We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in the music?

Mimico baby. Our group is spread out all over the city but Mimico is the Fade Awaays homebase. I guess it helps being in the burbs cause we can blast amps and bash drums and the neighbours just think it sounds cool.

Where'd the band name come from?

There are a couple streams of thought. We love that legal green so its kinda like being 'Faded'. Reid Mac came up with the name cause he said he kept seeing the phrase pop up in music and thought it was a really cool sounding name and we all agree. We also love the song Fade Away by Twin Peaks so we just wanted to pay homage to our boys.

You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?

Snakes on A Plane.

You now write for a music publication (The Ripple Effect?).  You're going to write a 1,000 word essay on one song. Which would it be and why?

Bob Dylan's Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie if that counts.

Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?

Had to opportunity to chat with the late, great Gord Downie (rip, love you man). Id booked his sons band to play at the lola bar in Kensington market with another group of mine. Its the tiniest, dirtiest bar you'll ever see but there he was in the fedora. After id played my set he shook my hand and said "Haven't heard something like that in a long time" and he patted me on the back and took of in his suv.

Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you and for your fans?

Playing live with Fade Awaays is an out of body experience for me so I might not be of much help haha. I get in the zone and just shutdown any other areas of thinking except for the beat. Its funny, I always come back down to earth at the very last chorus of get along when everyone's screamin'.

The fans love it or at least i hope they do hahaha. It seems like we have a particular knack for getting a crowd moving that I think is super cool. We meet so many sweet people too and I love getting to know new people every show. Love the fans <3 p="">

What makes a great song?

I'd say you can tell its a great song if you're already knocked on your ass after 10 seconds of a band starting. I think Lou Reed or Danny Fields said that. Watch Danny says, great fucking movie.

Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?

The first I personally ever wrote was called Shelby and it was about this girl I had a crush on in the 7th grade.

What piece of your music are particularly proud of?

I have this new song I'm really happy with but you'll hear about that one a little bit later ;) I think Seal Beach Saint is one hell of a song. I didn't write it bit Reid crushed it and its my favourite to play live.

Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?

The Dirty Nil writes such great music and they've had such an awesome progression through their career. Master Volume is one of our band favs right now. Its just that perfect mix of kick ass and melody that makes your soul shine.

Also love Ty Segall, Twin Peaks, The Beaches and holy fuck Thee Oh Sees are so dope.

Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?

Vinyl yo. Ya can't beat it but ya can't afford it either.

Whiskey or beer?  And defend your choice

I'm a beer guy. For now its just easier cause you get the choice of casually sipping or just all out chuggin'.

We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. What's your home town, and when we get there, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?

Sonic Boom in TO is a breathtaking sight but if you're looking for the real underground stuff than head on over to Faith/Void at College and Dovercourt.

What's next for the band?

We're trying to gst this ep out to as many people as we can really. We're also always writing and we've been filming some nifty video entertainment.

Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?

Keep riding that wave readers. Love ya, appreciate ya, have a good one 🙏 Come check out some rock and roll with the Fades sometime.