What have been your musical epiphany moments?
When I was 16 I picked up Led Zeppelin II on a whim, the summer after grade 11. I listened to that album front-to-back on repeat for months. It changed me, and transported me to a time that even though I didn't live through, I felt like I started to emulate. I grew my hair, felt a new swagger and ease enter my world, and I became forever inspired by Jon Bonham's drumming. It was one of the most influential albums not just on my musical tastes, but on my outlook on life - to wander, love, and be free.
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?
It always starts with a riff for us. Someone brings in a concept, we all play to it, build it collaboratively. Then a month later we change absolutely everything ;)
Once the music has organically developed a particular vibe and energy, James will bring forward one of his sets of lyrics that might match. Then the song develops and changes more. It also isn't uncommon for our studio versions and our live versions to be different. We continue to refine and change our songs even after they are released, so what you hear on stage and what you here on Spotify might not be the same.
Who has influenced you the most?
For Dave (drums) it is Led Zeppelin, Mitch Mitchell, Dave Grohl, Josh Homie
For James (lyricist and guitar) it is Ben Gibbard, The Killers, Brontide
For Dan (Bass) - Flea, Rage Against the Machine, The Misfits
For Graeme (lead Guitar) - Joe Satriani, Jon Petrucci, Alex Lifeson
Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?
Life in general. A pretty standard answer we suppose, but really we find that for a song to be authentic and ring true, it needs to come from a lived experience, a memory, an idea we hold, or an aspiration for the future. Most of our music really comes from experiences of human connection, like the exhilarating feeling of new love in our upcoming "Midnight Island", or the feelings of strife with a family member in "Fire". The band's music has been fairly a-political in the past, but that might change in the near future.
We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in the music?
The band comes from four different cities - Three Canadian and One Australian, but we all came together in Vancouver, Canada. What is reflected more in our music is the nomadicity and sense of adventure that leaving your hometown brings. A word we've used a few times throughout this interview is "nostalgia". While the word anchors you to the past, it also comes with a sense of adventure. The adventure of the past if you will. A moment in your prior years that came with exhilaration - so important that you will never forget it. THAT is what our music is meant to capture.
Colour Tongues takes a lot of its musical influences from progressive and math rock bands. The band name is taken from a song title of one of our favourite influential math rock artists "Brontide".
You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?
The next season of Stranger Things.
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?
Pink Floyd's "Echoes" because it will essentially be a H.P. Lovecraft story but with a happy ending, and that has never happened before!
Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you and for your fans?
Playing live is the best part of the band, and is really why we put in all the work! The experience of touring is something most musicians don't get to do. It is hard to plan, exhausting to do, but worth every ounce of fatigue, sweat, and in our case, a head-on collision! Playing to an audience is incredible. They watch, they dance, they fall in love with the music. We need each other, and without the audience, without someone to listen, does the music even really exist?
What makes a great song?
A great song for us skirts the line between familiar and unexpected - like having just a single note that goes against the song's key signature, or changing the time signature during a bridge. But it's important not to get too weird either, because we want to be able to dance, and follow the emotion that the artist is trying to convey. A great song is no different than a great story or film - it needs to engross the audience and take them away from the world. Anything too jarring, too vulgar, or too boring and it snaps them right back to reality.
We want you to daydream while you listen to our music and get lost in it.
Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?
The first song James wrote was about a girl. One that he lost. He doesn't sing that one anymore.
What piece of your music are particularly proud of?
We are particularly proud of an unreleased track "Ashgrove". It will be featured on our upcoming debut LP "Midnight Island". It has such a nostalgic energy and the song will bring you back to your young and inner troublemaker.
Who writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?
Answer to both "Queens of the Stone Age". They are the best at both.
Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?
Vinyl - classic, timeless, best quality sound, and the best way to present the visual art that accompanies the music. Nothing better than a wall of vinyl to make a home feel like home.
Whiskey - great for having fun - great for brooding - the two modes of a musician ;)
We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. What's your hometown, and when we get there, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?
Neptune Records - hands down!
What's next for the band?
We are currently trying to get a show organized to help celebrate the health care workers as we come out of the pandemic (Dave is a registered nurse and has been on the front lines this whole time). Stay tuned for that.
We are also lining up our DEBUT LP for release in September entitled "Midnight Island". We are beyond excited for this, and can't wait to share it with the Waveriders!
Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?
Keep listening and supporting independent artists! We love you!
Comments