Interview: Mother Mother
MYATS: So, how did your new album EUREKA end up the way it sounds? It’s a little more quirky, and a little different from what you normally sound like. We wanted to know how you came to conceive this album’s sound.
Ryan: Well, it was a stormy night and… We had a few too many glasses of wine– No, I think the truthful answer is that we had to emulate Oh My Heart with the likes of synthesizers and keyboards, because there’s a lot of external orchestral colours on that record. So it was that classic conundrum where you find yourself a little befuddled about how as to recreate your record. We brought in more instruments into the fray, and as a by-product the band kinda turned into this electrified, synth-driven ensemble. And so when it came time to make Eureka, and instead of reaching outwards to find other people to create to those colors, we just thought we would embrace this new formula wed stumbled upon. Its really an accidental way of how the record took its shape.
Ali: Yeah, that’s just how it happened. There was some talk of you know, going for richer sounds and something more thick sounding. Like a really rich, tasty meal with a lot of flavoring to it. We definitely thought of that for a lot of the songs, we really wanted them to bounce out of the speakers and hit your ears in just the right place. So to some extent, there was a lot of conscious effort on that part. There was the endeavor to explore our new, more multi-instrumentalist side.
MYATS: How do you guys find it to have three of you singing– do you ever have ego battles, or conflicts?
RYAN: Hmm.. not really I mean, I write the songs so I can be pretty guilt-free in claiming the lead role. But that being said, there are certain songs that really speak to having the girls sing them. Over the years, you sort of let the ego dissipate in matters of trying to find whats right for the music. Its kind of nice to be there, you know? Were listening more to what the song is asking us rather than what our egos are asking of us.
MYATS: Definitely! That’s what makes your albums so great. So, three of your songs have all appeared on the alt rock/rock charts. Are you guys excited about this accomplishment?
RYAN: Yeah, totally! The music’s finding its way out there, thats always a good thing. I mean, you know those ratings dont necessarily equate to rampant success. It’s definitely a milestone, and definitely elevates the band enough to get excited about it, but it’s not like buying your parents mansions; its just another stepping stone to getting out there.
ALI: Yeah! It feels good to have that vehicle to expose our music.
MYATS: Do you guys find anything changed after you were named one of the top five bands out of Vancouver in 2007?
RYAN: It’s another ‘thing’ to flaunt in your adventures of shameless self-promotion! Its just another resume tid-bit. Its not like that kind of stuff redefines the playing field, you still have to go out there and slog it out– or we have had to do that. You know we’ve built our career one fan at a time, it feels like we’re just hitting the markets over and over again, doing it in real time. It doesn’t feel like anything fast tracked, so yeah I mean were very grounded and realistic about our laurels. It’s so about what are portals to success, and what aren’t, and I guess perceptions of the public regarding all that and how theres some serious disconnect there.
MYATS: You’ve played a lot of festivals over the past few years– is there one you preferred the most?
RYAN: Osheaga! I love that festival, it’s amazing.
MYATS: Haha, trying to please us!
ALI: Yeah, that one was a blast! There are few that compare. There was the Ottawa’s Blues Fest; although we lucked out on that one! The stage collapsed the very day after our show. They shut down the whole festival– we were so lucky to even get to play.
MYATS: That’s terrifying! We’ve had so many this year.
RYAN: I mean, the Osheaga festival was great because we’ve had to work very hard in this city.
MYATS: Yeah, we’re very cold… (Laughs)
RYAN: Finally it came to us, and like tonight’s a shining example of the dued diligence paying off as our first time selling out a bigger, quality venue in the city; Osheaga really felt like a catalyst to that. It was a really electrifying show with a full house, so it was nice to finally feel like we’ve surpassed the hump in this market.
MYATS: I think Chad VanGaalen said the same thing! He had a sold out show at one point, and said “Montreal’s never treated me this way… You guys are just weird!”– We are pretty snooty.
RYAN: Yeah, you are a bit weird. It’s so alluring.
MYATS: (Laughs) So, you’ve recently wrapped up a european tour, im sure one of many to come! Do you have any adventures or touristic mishaps that have happened?
RYAN: Jasmine got attacked by a band of gypsies out in front of the Notre Dame, they atually physically retrieved her iPhone from her purse and she wrestled them down, and she’s petite! I was so shocked and entertained at the same time, I just had to watch Jasmine take care of the situation and procure her iPhone, and come back with a pretty hilarious story.
MYATS: Any cities in particular that you enjoyed?
RYAN: Berlin was crazy, that was a really packed house. There’s a really potent feeling in that city, that’s really heavy and dark. But also really full of life and really recreational so the show was firing on all cylinders.
ALI: Which tends to be the case, there’s always a lot of people in European show.
RYAN: Yeah, we were actually struck by the quality of every given situation that we stumbled into. I mean usually when you go to a market for the first time, it’s like… Okay, you’re paying your dues; this place is crusty, the promoter hates me, whatever: You gotta do what you gotta do. But it wasn’t like that over there. Every show was like a celebration of the band coming into the market for the first time, and a celebration of music.
ALI: But that’s how it is over there– its like the mentality. They’re very enthusiastic about music, even if they dont know the band. They’re adventurous enough to go to a bar where they know they often have good bands, and they’ll just go there with a bunch of friends and have a few drinks. Its generally a very welcoming situation, they’re attentive and they stay.
MYATS (Amelia): That’s my favorite thing to do though, that’s why I love this website! I get to see so many bands that I’ve never heard of before.
MYATS (Sarve): Last question! If you were stranded on a boat at sea, without a paddle, and if you had the chance to call just one Canadian band or artist, legendary or blossoming, who would it be?
ALI: Ryan, get me outta here!!!
RYAN: God, I mean who would even want to hear from me in that situation? I would call my buddies from Rococode, because we’re great pals and they would be full of consolation.
MYATS: And you, Ali?
ALI: …Ryan, get me outta here! I can’t swim!
RYAN: I actually can’t swim. Actually. I kinda just float there and exert a lot, but don’t actually go very far!
MYATS (Amelia): I grew up at the pool! That’s so funny.
RYAN: You grew up at the pool, aww yuck! Aw gross, little kids!
MYATS (Amelia):Yeah, its great to stumble on the Oh Henry! bars in the pool.
RYAN: Aw, the Big Brown Shark!… That’s from Delirious. Do you guys know what Delirious is? Probably not, it’s way before your time…
MYATS (Mike): (Laughs) Don’t worry, I’ll show them what you mean.
MYATS (Sarve): Are you guys gonna hit up Schwartz’s Deli after this? A lot of the BC bands do when they come.
RYAN: We’re gonna go protest the Schwartz’s, we’re all flaming vegetarians!
MYATS (Amelia): Oh then you guys should go to Dep Le Pick-Up! They’ve got really tasty pulled-pork sandwiches, and it tastes just like the real thing!
RYAN: Is that the Occupy Schwartz’s? Haha that sounds great!
MYATS (Sarve): Alright, well I guess that’s it! Thanks guys!
RYAN: Thanks! (sings) Who wears Schwartz’s Schwartz’s?
-Interview conducted by Sarvenaz Amir-E. and Amelia Robitaille
-Photography by Michael Colatruglio
