By ERIC SCHELKOPF
As demonstrated on its latest album, "Small Reveal," Canadian quintet Aidan Knight continues to make introspective, intelligent music.
The band, www.aidanknight, will perform March 27 in a sold-out show at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, supporting James Vincent McMorrow.
I had the chance to talk to frontman Aidan Knight about the album and the band's current activities.
Q - Great talking to you. You recently premiered the video for "Margaret Downe," which was directed by William Wilkinson and Oliver Brooks. What was your vision for the video and do you think the end result fulfilled your vision?
Will and Oliver can take all the credit for their amazing work in that video. They put all of it together in about 2 weeks, and shot it in two days.
It's incredible to me that we live in a time where it's possible to put something like that together so quickly.
Q - What was the thinking in recording "Small Reveal" in 10 different locations? How did you think that helped the album's overall sound?
http://aidanknight.bandcamp.com
It's a common thread in creative people: how can we make this thing great, in less time, for less? We had some kind friends and family who allowed us to use their spaces to destroy sound in.
It shaped the overall sound in the sense that we had to put things back together afterwards.
Q - I understand that part of the album was recorded in a cabin and that you had to create a makeshift studio. How was that process?
Long. Many wheelbarrows. No cars on the island.
It sounds romantic - the concept of it, kind of a Canadiana/Bon Iver/vacation but the reality was swimming in the ocean everyday, recording while looking into the woods and cooking whole fish with your close friends.
And then you tear it all down in wheelbarrows and take a ferry home.
Q - You have referred to "Small Reveal" as being the first full collaborative effort with your band. Do you think that was a natural evolution of the band? Was it a more fulfilling experience for you working that closely with your band, as opposed to working on your own?
It was natural, yeah. The guys (Olivier, David, Colin, Julia) and I have been touring and making music since 2009. There's a closeness and natural collaboration that happens when you play together longer and longer.
I can only imagine a family band must be an intense musical bond.
Q - I am sure you have heard your music described in many ways. How would you describe your music and who are your biggest musical influences?
I don't describe my music much anymore, but I do count many musical heroes: Constantines, Julie Doiron, Wilco, The Clash, Broken Social Scene, Emmylou Harris, The Band and David Bowie.
Q - Do you have any dream projects or collaborations?
Any of those guys up there would be dreamy.
Q - What can we expect from the band after the current tour ends?
I think the expectation is to write more music and record it, but we'll have to see what life brings. It's already been a great year, wouldn't want to overdo it.
No comments:
Post a Comment