Q&A
Q&A with Eternal Now
Indy-How did the band form?
-The current lineup came together spring of 2022 after trying to lock down a new drummer after transitioning Jordan a.k.a the Gentle giant from drums to Bass, Jordan is the top bass player in Manitoba and possibly Canada, and we wanted to utilize his talents. We then added a rythm guitar player by Keith to compliment James' leads. We then came across Ryan Simon a professional studio drummer and everyone clicked, thus creating Eternal Now and it's new improved sound.
Indy-How did you come up with the band’s name?
-Singer/songwriter Chantelle Night "I came up with the name for the original lineup back in 2015, it's name holds a special meaning to always live in the moment, to be present in the now as it's our only place of power!" The name can hold a different meaning to each member and fans alike and can be interpreted in many ways.
Indy-Which song does the band like playing live the most?
- Our favorite song changes on a weekly basis and after every new song we create lol I think right now it would be Devil's on The Loose. Rockin tune. 🤘
Indy-What process do you use when writing and recording?
-We use a few different processes when it comes to writing/creating, sometimes we start with a whole riff or song concept that the very talented James Amero will pitch and we jump in and let the music take the lead, often we jam out something while noodling around and Chantelle leads with vocal melody she has in her head. It always happens very organically and we never try and make the music, we allow it to flow through us. Recording happens after we have solidified the songs and we will lay down tracks individually in studio and layer our creation.
Indy-What was the best gig you’ve ever played?
-Best gig I've ever played was at the Burton Cummings theatre, the stage and the sound and the experience was a dream, but every show where the fans are having fun and we get to rock on stage is the best!!
Indy-What was the worst gig you ever played?
-Im sure this will happen once we begin touring, but so far it's been a blast..
Indy-What advice would you give new rock musicians forming a band?
-Be a family, talk about everything, take everything with a grain of salt and never pay to play!!
Indy-How do you balance band life with your home life?
-Dedication. If you want it you make the time.
Indy-What has been the band’s biggest challenge to date?
-Just finding the time to get together with everyones schedules and home life and personal issues. But there haven't been many times.
Indy-What changes would you like to see in the music industry?
-local scene could use more supportive venues like Bulldogs Event Center where they support the artists and not vice versa. Wpg venues have created a bad scene where they ask the bands to support the venue and pay for the space rather than being hired by the venue to bring in patrons. Good bands will never support this scene and they miss out on having quality performers which would build a reputation for providing quality entertainment, rather they loose buisness by being a place where anyone can pay to get on stage and chase the crowd out the door.
Indy-Any last words?
-Dont stop Rockin, no matter what fight for what you believe in.
INTERVIEW WAS WITH:
-Chantelle Night of ETERNAL NOW
Indy- How did the band form?
Blade- It’s been a long time since I have been wanting to form a hair metal line up. During the 2020 pandemic, I was working on few songs & already had them recorded in my home studio. I posted some of those recordings along with an ad on social media and it was just couple days after when Fangs (bass) & I crossed paths. Soon after, we started writing some songs together & later on, Flash (drums) joined & then Jagur (vocals) came on board & completed the lineup.
Indy- How did you come up with the band’s name?
Blade- It was easy! We wanted something catchy and easy to remember, something Canadian you know? Lÿnx just went perfectly with our theme!
Indy- Which song does the band like playing live the most?
Blade- Honestly we love playing all our songs live! But if we gotta pick one I guess it’ll be Long Live Rock n’ Roll, we all love it & live by it!
Indy- What process do you use when writing and recording?
Blade- We work as a team! Usually I first come up with the idea/topic & compose the song accordingly. Fangs then writes most of the lyrics to match the theme. Jagur & Flash then share their ideas & feedback & eventually it somehow gets done I guess haha!
Indy- What was the best gig you’ve ever played?
Blade- We played quite a few! Most of them were great as we really enjoyed playing for some of the best crowds! It’s always great fun on stage!
But the best one for me will always be our first show which was on Halloween 2021 night- that one is always special & one to remember forever!
Indy- What was the worst gig you’ve ever played?
Blade- Well, there’s quite a few here too haha. But in my experience, there’s not any bad show that I’ve had with Lÿnx. I actually had some bad experience with my previous band. We played in a sketchy bar in front of 3 or 4 drunk people. There was no stage or anything, it was dark & the place smelled funny. That has to be my worst live playing experience till date!
Indy- What advice would you give new rock musicians forming a band?
Blade- A band is a team work, so it’s really important to involve the right people from the get go. Plan everything & set your goals before forming a band. It’s fun, exciting & hell of a ride. So be yourself, stay motivated & trust me the end result will be worth it.
Indy- How do you balance band life with your home life?
Blade- It’s definitely tough & can get challenging when you’re trying to juggle both. But it’s a matter of balancing everyday. Also, I feel I’m lucky as my wife is very supportive & tries her best to help me out in this journey as much as she can which makes things really easy for me.
Indy- What has been the band’s biggest challenge to date?
Blade- To keep each other motivated! It can some times get tricky. As I said earlier, a band is a team work & a long journey which begins with the common love of music & passion but requires a lot of commitment from each member. It’s a bumpy ride for sure! The downs can demotivate you quickly. So we always try to motivate each other by keeping ourselves busy, whether that means coming up with new stuffs or prepping for shows.
Indy- What changes would you like to see in the music industry?
Blade- Well, just like everything else music has also evolved with time. Presently technology has taken over everything. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against technology. But I feel like people should learn their craft solid and then use technology to their advantage. But nowadays people are just using technology without learning the craft first. I’d love to see that shift in the industry where learning the craft is the first priority.
Indy- Any last words?
Blade- Thanks for the interview. Long live Rock n’ Roll.
INTERVIEW WAS WITH:
Blade, Guitar player of Lÿnx
With Wabash & Lake
Indy-How did the band form?
-We started as an acoustic project based around music that my wife Krista Lundemo had written, and before long she mentioned wanting to go heavier. Tom Smalling, and I have a long background together playing music in metal bands, so it felt right. I moved from playing bass back to guitar, and then we added Jay Smalling into the bass position. From there we started writing new material and even turning a couple acoustic songs into bangers.
Indy-How did you come up with the band’s name?
- Tom is a big fan of The Matrix, and in the first movie they use the corner of Wabash & Lake as an exit point. He mentioned that he always thought it would be a cool band name. At the time we felt like it matched our acoustic vibe, and when we went electric we stuck with it.
Indy-Which song does the band like playing live the most?
-I can't speak for everyone, but our song "Ghosts" is probably my favorite to play. It's got a cool vibe and it works well for me to just jam out on. It's got a lot of cool backing tracks also which always makes it feel like a much bigger song than it is haha.
Indy-What process do you use when writing and recording?
- Writing generally starts with either an idea that Krista has vocally, or a guitar riff or even whole song that I have. We try to take a "vocals come first" approach to our writing, it's really what the general listener is there to hear. So once we feel like we've got a good foundation, we'll drop it on the other guys. Sometimes we've got a drum idea or general feel we hear and Tom and Jay bring that to life. The whole process is also demoed as we write, we use clicks live so it helps to go ahead and nail those things down.
As for recording, our good friend Dustin Ridder of Bullet Ride Productions does all of our producing/recording/mixing/mastering. He also plays a big role in all of the cool extra layers of synths and effects in our songs. He's the 5th unofficial member I'd say.
Indy-What was the best gig you’ve ever played?
- I'm going to have to say Gunsmoke Sessions 2023. It's awesome to be around and share the stage with all the incredible talent from Kansas and surrounding states.
Indy-What was the worst gig you ever played?
- You know, I don't think we've had a bad experience yet. Though we don't play out that often, we've always been surrounded by killer bands and a good community here around the Wichita Area.
Indy-What advice would you give new rock musicians forming a band?
- Stick with it. Practice on your own, practice together, practice with the metronome. Take your time and don't get ahead of yourself. If you're writing music that you enjoy then you're winning, and there's bound to be someone out there that enjoys your music too. Have fun!
Indy-How do you balance band life with your home life?
- Well every one of us has a full-time job, families, kids, etc. Krista and I have been married for over 10 years, Tom and Jay are brothers, so family Matters a lot to all of us. Just try to make the best out of it and get together as often as we can. And then really try to hit the practice outside of band practice. We don't get to play out a lot but that makes every time we do even more special.
Indy-What has been the band’s biggest challenge to date?
- Covid was probably our first Big Challenge. We had a few dates lined up, we were writing and recording music and then we had to stop. Then in 2022-2023 Krista and I had our 3rd child so we went on a hiatus. But we're back now, and ready to go!
Indy-What changes would you like to see in the music industry?
- Us in it! Lol
Actually I'd have to say the artist taking the backburner to the money. If you can't afford to sell your own merch due to venue merch cuts, and your not making money off of royalties/streaming, it's not reasonable for a lot of artists to keep going. None of us personally depend on money from our music, it's more of a life long passion and weekend warrior type situation for us. But it's a real problem that needs a solution.
Indy-Any last words?
- We are just excited about our future as a band and getting our name out there. We appreciate you taking the time to interview us!
INTERVIEW WAS WITH:
- Eliot Lundemo, guitarist @ Wabash & Lake
Indy-How did the band form?
- I wrote and recorded an 11 track album. In 2016, I placed an ad on an Adelaide musicians facebook group. Looking for bassist, drummer and a keyboardist. Jona and Dave replied, we met up at Sunset Rehearsals for a jam and clicked.
Indy-How did you come up with the band’s name?
- Used an online band name generator, it was the first name it generated and I liked the way it sounded. There’s also controversy around how it’s pronounced “Lead” or “Led”. This has resulted in the creation of some funny memes.
Indy-Which song does the band like playing live the most?
- I’ve always wanted to write my own “Smells like teen spirit” song and came up with “I Crave You”. It has a classic grunge cleanish intro that breaks into a heavy guitar distortion vibe. Lots of fun to play and always has a great sing-a-long atmosphere with the crowd, even if you don’t know the song.
Indy-What process do you use when writing and recording?
- Mostly start with a guitar riff or keyboard sample and then see what emotions it evokes and then that dictates the lyrics and melody. We kind of had a 3 minute rule, no song should be longer than that. We don’t always stick to that rule if it’s a natural progression and the song takes a different direction. All our tracks are recorded on a very simple amateur home studio. They don’t come out perfect because of this, but it’s debatable whether to record professionally and the songs/album make no money and you lose. We’ve got a lot of songs and just want to get them out there.
Indy-What was the best gig you’ve ever played?
- We’ve played on big stages but it’s always the smaller intimate venues that stick. A particular gig at the Colonel Light hotel stands out. We had a lot of mates in the crowd singing along and then the venue switched the power off because we had gone past the curfew time. That created a small riot.
Indy-What was the worst gig you ever played?
- It was February 2020 and the Covid Pandemic had arrived in Adelaide and was all over the local news. We were playing a gig and somehow knew that this might be our last gig for a while. There was a lot of uncertainty and a weird vibe, everyone stopped shaking hands or hugging each other. It felt like the end of society was upon us.
Indy-What advice would you give new rock musicians forming a band?
- There’s no exact science on how to make a no. 1 hit or becoming a rich and successful rock band. I’ve wasted a lot of time trying to figure that equation out. So just fearlessly be yourself, do what feels natural and have fun doing it. Also, a large part of why people come to your show after you’ve managed to drag them away from Netflix, is to be entertained, and the size of your ego will never compensate for that.
Indy-How do you balance band life with your home life?
- Realising that trying to commit too much time to band and music to make quick progress is no substitute for lost time spent with family. This is something you unfortunately always only realise too late. Find ways to incorporate the two together. I drive my family nuts by involving them in recording projects and turning and sounds they make into samples for dance tracks.
Indy-What has been the band’s biggest challenge to date?
- We’ve changed band members consistently over the past 6 years. Trying to keep everyone happy and interested while life happens on the side is challenging. It’s awesome when everyone has the same vision and expectations but maintaining that illusion is tricky as reality always sobers you up.
Indy-What changes would you like to see in the music industry?
- Big Day Out is a good example. That gave local bands aspirations and an opportunity of playing at the same festival as other major acts and then it stopped and nothing has really replaced it. Here’s another idea and maybe a controversial one, but I’ve always believed in not charging your friends and family to come watch you play at a gig. These aren’t the people you should be making money from, they’re the ones that should always be coming and creating a crowded atmosphere. Looks great for gig photos and for the venues marketing vibe.
Indy-Any last words?
- All the new artificial intelligence stuff happening in the world now has opened some interesting doors and enabled a lot of people. Looking forward to seeing how the music industry evolves around them. We definitely enjoy the new concepts and got some music videos coming out that utilizes them. It’s been fun playing with them. What a time to be alive.
INTERVIEW WAS WITH:
- Michael Van (Vocals, guitar)
Cheers.
Michael Van
INTERVIEW WITH
TAYLER "IZZY LYXX" MORGAN
OF DEAD LEVEE
Indy-How did the band form?
- The band formed back in December of 2017. At this time I was just meeting the guys in the band, touring around the prairies playing the opening set of each show. By 2019 I joined the band as the bass player and as of May 2022, I’ve been taking on
Lead Vocals as well as Bass. With Ray Klapatiuk on Lead Guitar, Rylan “Buck” Dusyk on Slide Guitar, and Preston Laschuk on Drums.
Indy-How did you come up with the band’s name?
- From what I’ve gathered over the years, Ray and the guys were on the way to the first day of recording the first record and they needed a different name due to a singer change. The band was listening to Led Zeppelin’s “When The Levee Breaks” and Ray suggested Dead Levee, and everyone was in agreement of the name.
Indy-Which song does the band like playing live the most?
- Shout has been getting an amazing response since it was released. Though, there are a lot of unreleased songs that we’re performing that have been getting lots of love too.
Indy-What process do you use when writing and recording?
- It usually starts with a riff idea or a hook then we jam it, gradually finding an idea of where it’s going. Then we record a quick demo of it, take it home, think of pieces and parts that would complement the riff or hook and bring it back to the group. Ray and
myself are the main songwriters / lyricists of the group so the lyrics are generally written by both or either of us. Whereas Preston and Buck are great at coming up with music pieces and bringing great ideas to the songs.
Indy-What was the best gig you’ve ever played?
- There are lots of incredible shows we’ve got to be a part of. So far as this 4-piece lineup, Tralapa Music Festival was one of the overall better ones, personally. Great people running the show over there, as well as a great stage and we were lucky enough to have played the direct support slot for one of our favourite canadian rock bands, Monster Truck.
Indy-What was the worst gig you ever played?
- We’ve played a handful of “worst gigs” in the past 6 years, but that’s part of touring as a newer band. You’re going to have to cut your teeth a few times to figure out what works and build a reputation in different cities and venues.
Indy-What advice would you give new rock musicians forming a band?
- Create often and don’t doubt what you’re creating, Then tour the hell out of it.
Indy-How do you balance band life with your home life?
- It can be extremely tough but it’s something we all love to do and I can see it on all of the boys' faces during shows or when we’re creating something real cool. We’re passionate about it and you can tell when we perform on stage.
Indy-What has been the band’s biggest challenge to date?
- There are definitely a lot of challenges that we’ve had to overcome. From member changes to manager issues, but one of the bigger challenges is touring in a vast area where the next nearest big city, Saskatoon, is 260 kilometres away. Market size is spaced out in the prairies, but the long open roads are also some of the more beautiful views I’ve seen across Canada and we have had some of the best shows in
the prairies.
Indy-What changes would you like to see in the music industry?
- Not that it’s all about the money, but the vast majority of musicians go out of pocket and some go into a hole trying to showcase their art and hard work. The best way to support touring bands is by purchasing merchandise at their shows and sharing them
on socials.
Indy-Any last words?
- Give a listen to Dead Levee’s latest single and come check out a show if were in your
city!
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