Category

Rapid Fire

Rapid Fire
Lou Barlow – Under Fire
01.26.10
Set in the depths of Club Soda to an audio back drop of muffled sound checking, the tick tock of a clock and the squeaking of a black marker, cornershopstudios caught up with Lou Barlow, founding member of groups Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh and the Folk Implosion. Here’s what we uncovered…

Question: Was low-fi rock created or simply discovered?
Answer: Discovered. It’s like discovering recording

Question: Is audio introspect a virtue or curse?
Answer: Both. You make great intimate music that way but it tends to complicate your life.

Question: If Goodnight Unknown is the last thing one would say before falling asleep… What would one say when waking?
Answer: Bad day known

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Gumption

Question: Who’s Lou Barlow when no one is looking?
Answer: Little Louie
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Rapid Fire
Grand Analog – Under Fire
01.18.10
It’s not every day you meet the members of a critically acclaimed Canadian hip-hop group playing leap frog after dark in a Montreal parking lot. It’s been said that Grand Analog knows how to balance the principles of rhyme, rhythm, and wit. With Alister Johnson off pondering life, cornershopstudios rounded up Odario Williams, Ofield Williams and Warren Bray and grilled ‘em, Rapid Fire style.

Question: Who set Metropolis ablaze?
Answer: The grandest of Analog vibesmen.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer (Odario): Word

Answer (Warren): True

Answer (Ofield): Flow

Question: If video didn’t do it, who killed the radio star?
Answer: The iPod.

Question: What word best describes Canadian hip-hop?
Answer: Diversity. Without question. I was gonna say second-generation kids, but that’s three words. That’s my real answer.

Question: What’s the one thing that makes music worth creating?
Answer: The relationships between human beings. The communication between humans. Everyone listens to music.
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Care Failure – Under Fire
12.08.09
She’s toured the country with Marilyn Manson and shared the stage with Guns N’ Roses, but can Die Mannequin’s Care Failure endure a grilling round of rapid fire with cornershopstudios? Breaking our gentleman’s code, we approached the 23-year-old singer in the loo to find out just how whimsical an interview can be.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Debauche (ry).

Question: Plastic body, real heart? -OR- Real body, plastic heart?
Answer: Real body, plastic heart! Duh. Plastic heart, real gun…

Question: What’s step 1 in the instructional manual of How To Kill?
Answer: Get a paper napkin and write your plan for world domination on the back of it.

Question: Does it take much care to fail?
Answer: It takes a lot and not a lot. You’ve gotta be very empathetic and very sympathetic at the same time. Good thing I’m bipolar.

Question: What’s your number one Bad Medicine?
Answer: You don’t wanna know . . . music.
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
LIGHTS – Under Fire
12.01.09
Ontario-native LIGHTS, the new princess of Canadian pop music, was all smiles before show time as she stopped in for a little heart-to-heart with cornershopstudios about sights, smells and sounds.

Question: What color is the brightest light?
Answer: The brightest light is the light meter on my Apogee Duet interface. When it clips it turns red.

Question: What scent floats in the February Air?
Answer: A snowy winter scent.

Question: What would Valerie Poxleitner say to LIGHTS if they met at a show?
Answer: “Hey, we’re the same person! Only you’re future me.”

Question: Would The Listening end with the knowing?
Answer: The Listening would end with slight understanding. It would take ten more ‘listenings’ to get to the knowing.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Elixir
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Jonah Falco – Under Fire
11.25.09
Prior to things getting way out of hand on stage, with the night yearning for a whole new level of insane, Fucked Up’s Jonah Falco momentarily grabbed the spotlight as cornershopstudios quizzed the deft drummer on highly scientific matters, and some scholarly type topics.

Question: What’s the formula to The Chemistry of Common Life?
Answer: The disharmony and opposing forces that cause the right rifts that rub together that put forward our collective big bang… For better or worse.

Question: What would your porn name be?
Answer: The Mad Mink

Question: What do you do with a sneaky Camel?
Answer: Slip across the Arctic undetected.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Slam Skank USA

Question: Fucked up?
Answer: Wednesday
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Rapid Fire
Melissa Auf der Maur – Under Fire
11.24.09
Montreal’s bass baroness Melissa Auf der Maur took a moment to explore abstract concepts with cornershopstudios in keeping with the theme of her upcoming project Out Of Our Minds, which is described as an “ALBUM-FILM-COMIC-WEB experience”, that is set to be released sometime in 2010.

Question: What does the perfect song taste like?
Answer: A dream

Question: Does music make the experience, or does experience make the music?
Answer: In my case experience definitely makes the music. But it depends on the maker, if they are a left or right, an up or a down, it could be the opposite.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Wierd

Question: Neutral like Switzerland? Or confrontational like Germany?
Answer: I have a Swiss passport and my family are founding fathers of Switzerland. However, neutral over confrontational but not passive. Passive is not good and aggressive either.

Question: Out Of Our Minds? Or clarity through insanity?
Answer: It’s the same thing. You travel out of your mind meaning insanity brings you clarity.

Bonus Québec native question:
Question: Best poutine?
Answer: I have a soft spot for Chez Claudette on Laurier.
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Sarah “Sin” Blackwood – Under Fire
11.17.09
In Montreal for The Creepshow’s current cross-Canada tour, rockabilly singer Sarah “Sin” Blackwood gave up some pre-show relaxation time and treated cornershopstudios to some action shots, acting lessons, and a few answers about all things sinful.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Touché

Question: Does sin find you or do you go looking for sin?
Answer: I’d say both. It used to find me but now that I’m in a band I think I go looking for it more.

Question: When you Run For Your Life where do you run to?
Answer: My van! Usually if I’m ever trying to escape it’s to my van.

Question: What does your soul cost?
Answer: I would sell my soul if I was really old to get everything I wanted in life. If someone asked me now, I don’t know if I would. But if I was like 85 and someone asked me to, yeah I’d sell it for everything I’ve ever wanted.

Question: If The Creepshow could play a show in Hell, who would be sitting front row, center?
Answer: Satan man! The devil! It would be cool if he was pissing me off and I got to kick him in the head.
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Alexandre Désilets – Under Fire
09.27.09
On a delightful sunny afternoon, cornershopstudios sat down with Alexandre Désilets in his Montreal apartment in front of a cup of tea to discuss Kino, deforestation in the Outaouais and the state of the media in Québec… but that was just a preamble to the real questions! Catch Désilets live as part of Pop Montreal Sunday October 4th, 2009 at the Ukrainian Federation.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Duck!

Question: What inspires you the most?
Answer: Movies and photography.

Question: How do you fly without wings?
Answer: Traveling is the best way for me. I lose myself in my thoughts when someone else is driving.

Question: What are the idées folles (crazy ideas) you refer to in your song J’échoue?
Answer: Ideas that are “out there” that become a heavy weight on your day to day reality.

Question: Do you control the outcome of your life or is it all up to fate?
Answer: I believe in a balance between both; there are certain things on which you don’t have control that influence your present the same way your present choices will influence the way the universe responds.

Bonus Québec native question:
Question: Best poutine?
Answer: Casse Croûte Bam Bam in Gatineau.
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Band of Skulls – Under Fire
06.19.09
Enveloped by the light of a bare bulb and the decor of a life size dollhouse, Russell Marsden, Emma Richardson & Matt Hayward huddled quaintly back stage as cornershopstudios observed the thoughts of a Band of Skulls.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer (Russell): Reverb

Answer (Matt): Rider

Answer (Emma): Blood

Question: Word association:
Answer (Emma): Swim Team => Medals

Answer (Matt): Tennis => Pressure

Answer (Russell): Ace of Spades => Car Accident

Question: Where does one go when “Fleeing New York”?
Answer (Emma): Montreal

Question: You’re single is named I Know What I Am. What are you?
Answer (Russell): An adjective

Question: Baby Darling Dollface Honey… What’s the mushiest nickname someone has for you?
Answer (Matt): Shmatt Bastard
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
An Horse – Under Fire
06.14.09
This week cornershopstudios pulled on the reins and sat down with the charismatic Australian duo, An Horse. The twosome’s Damon Cox and Kate Cooper shared their thoughts on sleeping positions, being awkward and the woes of being Australian. An impromptu prop manifestation would surely ensue…

Question: Is your sound more of a trot or a gallop?
Answer (Damon): A gallop
Answer (Kate): But if we were trotting, it would still be more of a gallop.

Question: What position do you sleep in?
Answer (Kate): I am a righty
Answer (Damon):I am a lefty

Question: What facial expression do you make in an awkward situation?
Answer (Kate): I have an amazing poker face
Answer (Damon): I frown

Question: Favorite word?
Answer (Damon): Totes
Answer (Kate): Flat White

Question: Oddest comment you have heard about Australia?
Answer (Kate): Australia’s right next to the UK right?
Answer (Damon): Do ya’ll speak English down there?
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Mark Kupfert & David Buzaglo – Under Fire
06.09.09
Mark Kupfert & David Buzaglo of The Lovely Feathers proved they are smarter than the average bear when they recently stopped on a seafood store window sill with answers to cornershopstudios’ questions that could only be described as knowledgeable and indeed rather scientific… in a factual kind of way…

Question: Where is Daniel now? (My Best Friend Daniel)
Answer: He’s in Australia. We went to McGill together and then he met an Australian girl and moved there.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer (Mark): Organic
Answer (David): Blue Cheese

Question: Which bird has the loveliest feathers?
Answer: Bird of Paradise

Question: If time travel was actually possible, where and when would you go?
Answer: An aristocratic farmer in 16th Century France.

Question: Best way to make a paper plane?
Answer: (SEE PHOTO)

Bonus Montreal native question:
Question: Best poutine in Montreal?
Answer: Blanche Neige on Côte-des-Neiges.
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Trouble Andrew – Under Fire
06.08.09
Up to no good in the swank crevices of a plush hotel, cornershopstudios rapped with Trouble Andrew about a little of this and some of that. Due to strong language and graphic content we strongly urge you to check it out!

Question: Which best describes you, “trouble” or “in trouble”?
Answer: Trouble… straight trouble.

Question: How is snowboarding like sex?
Answer: I get off when I do it.

Question: Is Remixed & Remastered better described by the 70’s neo soul feel of 8-track tapes or the vintage sincerity of vinyl?
Answer: I’d have to say vinyl… I grew up with them.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Shred

Question: Simon says _________?
Answer: Fuck man.
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Jez Williams – Under Fire
06.05.09
Pre-show at Le National, on a sunny Montreal afternoon, cornershopstudios lured Doves guitarist, Jez Williams around a corner to get his thoughts on love, life and technology… here’s what Jez had in mind…

Question: Is love merely a chemical reaction that guarantees the procreation of the human race?
Answer: Yes, well it’s a nice feeling too. It’s pleasurable.

Question: Deciduous or Evergreen?
Answer: Evergreen. Because it’s fresh and invigorating.

Question: Worst name you have ever heard for a pet?
Answer: My neighbour has named her Yorkshire Terrier, Gatsby. Actually come to think of it, that’s quite a good name.

Question: If you could claim any invention of the modern age, what would it be?
Answer: It’s gotta be the internet, its connecting people around the world. It’s a marvelous thing.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: PURE… It’s undiluted, natural, has no pretense and is full of meaning.
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Dallas Taylor – Under Fire
05.29.09
In a room lit by the glow of a warm lamp and filled with the southern soaked afterglow of a dynamite rigged set, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster’s front man Dallas Taylor let cornershopstudios peruse his thoughts… Well… five of them anyway.

Question: What’s the biggest difference between the North & the South?
Answer: Hospitality… Real kind and laid back in the South.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Heck Yeah

Question: What’s your biggest fear?
Answer: Fear of dying. I write about it a lot. It’s not so much death itself; it’s more about leaving people behind.

Question: What makes the world go round?
Answer: People trying to make it a better place. Love… without it there would be chaos.

Question: Where’s your favorite place to be?
Answer: Home
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Rapid Fire
Brann Dailor – Under Fire
05.07.09
With the rookie heat of a May sun warming the city streets, cornershopstudios sought out a back alley refuge for a few words with Mastodon’s Brann Dailor. The tusked foursome’s power house drummer scratched his head and let the answers fly.

Question: What defines the human soul?
Answer: The want and need to be accepted by other souls… The want and need for love.

Question: What part of you does The Elephant Man represent?
Answer: Empathy

Question: What does a cracked sky bleed?
Answer: Rainbows

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Afterparty

Question: What tattoo would mother earth wear across her chest?
Answer: Is it hot in here?
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Toby Martin – Under Fire
05.02.09
Throned upon a buttery brown leather couch in the gully of Les Saints, sound bled through the music affectionate walls as cornershopstudios spoke with Youth Group’s front man Toby Martin, gaining some insight into this, that and the other thing.

Question: If you could assign a color to your music, what color would it be?
Answer: Navy Blue

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Clovelly

Question: What would the film about your life be titled?
Answer: Postcards

Question: What turns brilliance into insanity?
Answer: A lot of work to do… A creative outlet.

Question: What cartoon character best represents you?
Answer: Charlie Brown… He’s a worrier.
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Charles F & Pat Sayers – Under Fire
04.14.09
In the belly of Club Soda, cornershopstudios opened fire on the singing Wurlitzer wizard Charles F and the beat keeping power pack Pat Sayers of Winter Gloves… We laughed we sighed, we crawled we cried…

Question: Do you ever feel in the dark concerning where you’re going, or do things seem quite clear?
Answer: It used to be clear, now it’s a little more mysterious. We just want to tour and play. We’d love to hit Europe and Japan… maybe with You Say Party! We Say Die!, who knows. Its hard to see the big picture sometimes, its easier to set short term goals.”

Question: If your music were a body part which would it be?
Answer (Pat): My cock. Playing music is so emotional and filled with climaxes that its pretty sexual… so yeah… my cock.
Answer (Charles F): My cock and a nervous ankle.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer (Charles F): Passion
Answer (Pat): Freakout

Question: A life is only worth living if you can ______…
Answer (Pat): Freakout
Answer (Charles F): Crawl

Question: If you could score the apocalypse, which of your songs would be playing as the world ended?
Answer: Jump

Bonus Québec native question:
Question: Best poutine?
Answer: La Banquise
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Mathieu Cournoyer – Under Fire
03.28.09
If a musician is questioned backstage and no one is around to hear him… did he make a sound? Malajube’s Mathieu Cournoyer sparked a smoke and sipped a beer as cornershopstudios fired off some questions… fortunately for us the Montreal bassist came packing some answers.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: ASSWIPE

Question: If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
Answer: I guess I would still be a bike courier. J’ai faite ça pendant quatre ans… I liked it a lot.

Question: How would you define the purpose of your music in one sentence?
Answer: It’s all about fun for us, and everyone else.

Question: What’s your general mood?
Answer: Relaxed… Ouais, pas mal ça.

Question: What’s the last thought to cross your mind when getting on stage?
Answer: I should have peed… I always have to pee when I get on stage.

Bonus Québec native question:
Question: Best poutine?
Answer: La Banquise is good… mais des fois c’est trop. I think I’d have to say Lafleur. The last poutine I had at Lafleur’s was really good.
- SpreadTheWord
Rapid Fire
Jimmy Urine – Under Fire
03.17.09
Big Apple electro punks Mindless Self Indulgence recently ripped through Montreal and with a steady stream, Jimmy Urine answered cornershopstudios questions as he prepared for the show. Due to graphic content and inappropriate language we urge you to check it out.

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: SEX

Question: Best album released last year?
Answer: “Mine, ‘cause it paid me money”

Question: What movie if any best describes your musical direction?
Answer: “Definitely The Rocky Horror Picture Show, that’s what this show is, all kinds of weird shit and different genres coming together… Kids singing along to the songs. I mean look outside at all those freaks.”

Question: Word association: Lyn-Z?
Answer: Pregnant

Question: Compare writing a song to fucking?
Answer: “They’re not the same at all; it’s more like how are they different. First of all it takes way longer to write a song than to fuck, and you write a song alone so I guess it’s more like masturbation. Writing a song is like trolling the Internet for free sex sites for hours and hours.”
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Rapid Fire
Anya Marina – Under Fire
02.21.09
Hailing from L.A, singer/songwriter Anya Marina has been riding the highway to give some fresh ears a taste of her latest indie folk rock effort, Slow and steady seduction: phase II. And in a dark corner, on a dark night, in a dark club, cornershopstudios swung with some questions… Anya hit back with some answers.

Question: Favorite hand gesture?
Answer: (There were a few of them… Anya flashed them for the camera)

Question: Favorite word?
Answer: Itinerant

Question: Do you hide behind anything when it comes to your music, or is what we see what we get?
Answer: If you mean, content-wise, lyrically, then sure, of course, though I wouldn’t call it “hiding,” I would call it being inventive or imaginative and telling a story or creating a mood that doesn’t have to have anything to do with what I’m experiencing at the given moment. But if you’re getting at music and performance being a cloak for who I am–in some Marilyn Manson kind of way of creating a persona–then, no.
Sometimes I wish I was better at being reticent or mysterious, but none of that interests me at all. I feel like music–and, in particular, performance–have helped me to find and become more essentially myself.

Question: Bending spoons with my mind, manifesting men of all kinds in my spare time… What do these lyrics mean to you?
Answer: Aren’t they self-explanatory? OK, well, you have to take them in context with the next line which is But oh, how I’ve struggled in vain to solve this riddle with my brain/ when the answer’s in my hands.
I think that lyric is talking about control. “I can bend spoons, I can manifest all the things I want out of life with my mind! And yet, I can’t solve this riddle: I can’t figure YOU out.”
Did I ruin it for you?

Question: Public Enemy said “It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back”… What holds you back?
Answer: “Nothing… Nothing holds me back.”
- SpreadTheWord