On Song :: Wintersleep

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As we continue with our new On Song feature, we caught up with hotly tipped Canadian indie-rockers Wintersleep who are marking people here at TLOBF Towers make suitable agreeable noises… And it’s very rare for us to agree on ANYTHING around here… Though, I’m slightly put off by their Rod Stewart connection…

What was the first song that really caught your imagination?
Well,, sounds really strange but “Rhythm of My Heart” by Rod Stewart blew my fucking mind when I was younger.. I think I cried the first time I heard it. I was probably on heavy doses of cough medicine or Ritalin or something at the time. My mother told me that I used to dance to Thriller by Michael Jackson too. “Friday I’m in Love” was probably the first song I liked that I still like now.. Well, Thriller is still pretty rad..

What was the music your parents liked and do you think it’s influenced you at all?
Other than lots of classical music, Cat Stevens.. And for better or worse, yes I think it has:) Actually Buddy Holly was another one, which is pretty awesome. And Bob Dylan.. Oh yeah, an insane amount of Boney M.. Maybe they were the first to capture my imagination actually. Real weirdo stuff on that record.. FLEETWOOD MAC!! Almost forgot.. Pretty heavy rotation on the old record player..

What posters did you have on your wall as a kid?
I had not very much things on my wall. Mom would sneak images of saints in my room while I was sleeping though which made for some pretty horrifying middle of the night wake ups actually.. I think I was always turned off of the idea of scantily clad rockers staring down at me..

Which songs or albums would you play at a party?
Anything by Rod Stewart. ‘Rhythm of My Heart’ or the one he did with Glass Tiger.

Which songs remind you of a rainy day?
Anything by Rod Stewart. ‘Rhythm of My Heart’ or the one he did with Glass Tiger.

Which album do you seek solace in when you are feeling sad?
Neil Young? Maybe Rod Stewart is the best answer for this too.. Whether you like it or not there’s no way the sad emotion gets triggered when it/he’s playing. Or maybe it does but if it does you’re one sad bastard. It’s like eating an ice cream and being in a bad mood.. The things just don’t go together. Is this a trick question?

Which album would you play when you wanted to get down to some lovin’?
Sade is the sexiest woman in the world. Juliette Binoche is actually, but Sade has the best voice and makes great albums and Binoche I don’t think makes music so… Sade.. the one with Smooth Operator of course.

What music was, or would be, the “first dance” at your wedding?
Oh lordy, these questions are making me feel sappy.. Ummm.. something by Hank Williams or Johnny Cash or Neil Young.. Actually there is a song by Tragically Hip called Bobcaygeon..

What was the first gig you went to as a paying customer?
A band called Burnt Black from Yarmouth although I knew all of the members and I think they should have put me on the list in retrospect.. Eric’s Trip was another band with maybe a more familiar ring to it int he UK.

Name the one song you think everyone should hear.
“Parade Day” by Christopher Robin Device.

Which one artist do you think not enough people know about?
Dog Day

What’s the best thing you’ve heard recently?
Neil Young is playing in Montreal tonight so I’ve just been listening to him for the past 5 hours.

Dead or alive, what 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival?

The Cure
Radiohead
Hot Snakes
Hank Williams
Neil Young
Would have said Led Zeppelin but was worried that the Steve Tyler version might show up instead.. Beatles too but then all their crazed fans would show up and shit the bed for everyone else.. Marvin Gaye would be another one.. I saw Neil Young last night so maybe Marvin Gaye can take his place. Wow I feel pervey trying to organize something like this in my head. I thought about this seriously for like 25 minutes.. I drew up graphs and tentative set lists..

We’d like you to make us a mix-tape. Pick five tracks with a theme of your choice.
Canada Music Mix 2008.. Lame theme I guess.. Definitely a bad title for the theme. Fuck.
Parade Day by Christopher Robin Device
Vancouver Divorce by Gord Downie
Oh Dead Life by Dog Day
Follow by Eric’s Trip
Trans Canada by The Constantines

And finally, who would win in a fight: a stoat or a goat and why?
Goats are fierce motherfuckers. They eat picker bushes.

Wintersleep on Myspace