Here at Pebble Studios we’ve been lucky enough to have a front row view of the new Wild Love album as it was created and we can’t wait for the rest of the world to hear it. Not only was it an absolute pleasure working with Wild Love but they were also kind enough to sit down during one of their recording sessions here at Pebble Studios and allow us get to know them a little bit better and chat about their new album, check it out below. The album officially drops on July 7th but until then you can satisfy your Wild Love cravings with this here interview and give it an early listen exclusively on Exclaim.
Wild Love is…
- All three members of Wild Love have played in several local bands throughout Ottawa over the past few years. What brought you guys together to form Wild Love?
We’re actually on the third incarnation of the band. I originally started it with other members of old bands, but it didn’t work out so Chase and Mat stepped in. Since we finished recording Chase moved to France and Cody and Nat have joined the band. The whole thing just sort of shifted from one set of old band mates to another, and then back again, and it all worked out pretty well. Since we had all played together in one band or another we were already comfortable with each other and we’ve worked well together.
- How did you go about writing this record?
I would bring some of the songs in fully written and the guys would give it some more life and shape it into something bigger and better. Life Without and Everyday Ache, for example, really came about from more of a traditional singer-songwriter type of angle. Others started with a guitar part, or a drum beat, and we would just play and see what happens. Lonely Road, Saint of Saints, and The Way It’s Always Been were improvised for a number of takes until we got into a patterned groove and worked it into something cohesive. Lyrically, the record covers a lot of ground, both contextually and chronologically. It deals a lot with existentialism, self-reflexivity, and how one fits in amidst their worlds, whether big or small.
- What was different about this record from previous experiences?
The project has always been a ticking time bomb. We knew one of us would probably be skipping town pretty soon – and that happened, since Chase moved to Paris a while ago, long before the record comes out – so early on we established that this would be more of an artistic project with a limited and defined scope. I think in a way that freed us up to try something new, to put a lot of thought and work into this record, because it might have been the only one. As it’s evolved I don’t think that’ll be the case, but at the time we had that voice telling us to make it count.
- The band’s sound is very unique. From track to track, the sound appears to change, but it still carries the same general theme. How would you guys describe it and do you think you could classify the sound into one specific genre?
I don’t think it’s up to us to classify or categorize ourselves, or to tell people what we sound like, really. It’s always interesting to hear other people’s thoughts and comparisons, because it all depends on how they’ve experienced music up to this point. We’ve heard comparisons to Daisy by Brand New, and even Queens of the Stone Age, which are both humbling. One of our friends called it “western drone,” which seemed oddly fitting. One thing that was different from previous projects is that we never really pointed to our influences and said, “Let’s make something that sounds like that.” We just wrote rock songs, very fluidly and organically. We really wanted the heart of rock ‘n’ roll, but exercised a lot of restraint and suspense. It’s a record that whispers as much as it roars.
- What was everyone’s favourite, and least favourite part of the recording experience?
The best part was just being there all day for several days, all together, doing our thing, like a retreat of sorts. The worst part was also being there, and suffering through the fact that each of us exists.
Random question time:
- What are all your middle names?
Bry, Johann, Charles. Not saying who’s whose, though.
- How do you like your coffee?
Chases likes his black. Mat gets the Tim’s double-double. I’ve always hated coffee.
- If you were on a tour, where would the majority of your meals come from?
Mat would force us to eat McDonald’s three times a day like we’re goddamned Morgan Spurlock.
- If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which song would you choose?
Chase says his would be the theme song from Too Many Cooks. I don’t know what that is or why he wants to listen to that for the rest of his life so I’m just not even going to both answering. And I’m going to assume Mat would pick Taylor Swift.
- Which superhero would each member of your band be?
Honestly, based on the way each of us has attempted to answer this question, I don’t think any of us could name and describe more than a few superheroes.
Be sure to show the boys some love!
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Album Stream: http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/wild_love-wild_love_album_stream
