When the three (recently down from four) members of Close Talker get together, you know it’s going to be a good time. The indie rock trio of Canadians know how to bring the musical party, with a rollercoaster of emotions and auditory experiences going through each of their tracks.
Ahead of their third album, Lens, dropping next month, Myspace caught up with guitarist and keyboardist Matthew Kopperud to talk about the upcoming record and a whole lot more. Hop to the next page to read the full interview.
Hometown: Saskatoon, Canada
Can you explain how the band chose its name?
We wish “Close Talker” had this deep meaning surrounding the name, but the truth is there isn’t a really juicy story behind it. We all love the show Seinfeld which features a well-known episode showcasing a “close talker” and when asked if we got the name from Seinfeld, we typically say yes, simply because we’re too lazy to explain our lack of reasoning around the choice. Sometimes, we fabricate a backstory about how our old bass player Jerms dated a ‘close talker’ and it went horribly. Although entertaining, that usually spirals into hyperbole real quick. In short, we simply thought the name was sticky and memorable. Everyone knows or knows of a close talker in his or her life. Matt’s butcher in Saskatoon is very much a close talker, and he has a lazy eye which is a wild combination making it difficult to know where to look due to the physical proximity and the eye(s). Matt has no plans of becoming a vegetarian though, so he will tough it out.
How would you describe your music to people who had never heard it before? For someone who has never been to one of your shows, what can they expect to see at a performance?
Our music is quite dynamic as our live show is always a rollercoaster sonically. There are high highs and low lows, but it is all part of the experience to hopefully draw everyone in (ourselves included) to a place where we can let go of reality or stress — even just for an hour — and hopefully leave the show happier than we came. Our live show is really set apart from our records, as we've recently become a three piece [band]. This has caused us to be creative how we approach our set and recreate our new record, Lens, live. Will now plays some key parts in addition to guitar and lead vocals. Chris plays both the drums and drum pads, while also singing, and Matt plays guitars, Keys, and the bass with his feet (bass organ pedals), while also trying to sing. The live show is captivating firstly for its sound, and secondly because we always have at least 9/12 limbs working full-time.
Who are some of your musical influences? What aspects of their music drew you all to them and in what ways have they inspire you all?
Lately we've been spinning a lot of DD Dumbo, Klangstof, Lowly, and Royal Canoe. I think we're drawn to artists for their unique characteristics and what sets them apart. I always appreciate when a song takes a turn that your brain didn't anticipate. Those moments are really rewarding for me. Typically pop music does something that you "want" which is rewarding in its own way, however I think we're more drawn to what is unique about an artist and what sets them apart. All of these bands offer something that the masses wouldn't have guessed, asked for, or anticipated, and I think that is why we respect them so much.
What was it like recording two full albums and touring the most of world in just a few short years?
It has been a little bit of a whirlwind to be honest. During the majority of this time we've also been either students finishing up our respective courses or geographically-challenged. Both Will and Matt lived in BC and Chris in SK, and then Chris and Matt lived in SK, while Will lived in BC. Matt got married in this timeframe, as did Will. Now we're all together in Saskatchewan which is handy. Touring has always been a highlight. We're very grateful that people take a chance and come and see us live. There are a hundred things competing for people's attention these days, and we really are grateful when they choose to spend an evening with us and take part. We always appreciate meeting new people and building relationships wherever we are. We're not really a "stay in the greenroom" kind of band. We like to mingle.
What’s the story of your 2017 album, Lens?
Lens will be released April 21 worldwide alongside a pretty aggressive tour. We're excited to release these songs into the world as it has been a long time coming. We recorded the majority of the record well over a year ago and wrote the record over the past two years. These songs are our best foot forward and mark where we're at during this era for Close Talker. We feel there has been a healthy evolution in our abilities and vulnerability as artists, and we're excited to showcase these songs. Lens symbolically talks about one's point of view and bias as to how they view things through their own 'lens.' The album sort of surrounds this theme and dialogue in being self aware to these biases and how to navigate one's personal development.
What was one of the band’s favorite/most memorable performances?
We played a theatre show in Victoria Canada that was really fun. Another show that sticks out was in Brighton, UK as it was the sweatiest show we've ever played. We were soaked to our undies, and the room was packed beyond capacity. It was a special one.
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from Myspace - Editorial http://ift.tt/2mMFiUG
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