INTERVIEW: Big Lonely — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Big Lonely

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IT has been cool speaking with…

Jake of Big Lonely about the new single, Ticket, and how the Canadian band found one another. He talks about the upcoming album, Bad Magic (out on 12th October) and what inspired the music; how they have evolved as a unit since the start and whether any tour dates are coming up.

The band members each select a song to end with; Jake picks an album that means a lot to him; which approaching artists are wort checking out; how he spends time away from music – he provides some helpful advice for musicians coming through.

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Hi. How are you? How has your week been?

We are great! This has been a very excited week for us having just released our new single. Feels good to release some music again.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

We’re a band from Burlington, Ontario (Canada) called Big Lonely. Pleased to meet you.

Ticket is your new single. Can you talk about its background and story?

I wrote the first incarnation of Ticket three years ago. It’s about one of our original band members (T.J. Bowman) who left the band and what it was like to go on as a band without him. Years before Big Lonely started, T.J. and I were in high-school together. I was very new to writing music, and T.J. was one of the few people who I trusted enough to show the first songs that I ever wrote. He told me I would be his “ticket to the top”. I wasn’t. (We’re still best friends).

It is from the album, Bad Magic (out on 12th October). What sort of themes and ideas influenced the songs?

The main theme of Bad Magic is misplaced belief: the morality of allowing others to believe in you, while you don’t fully believe in yourself. A lot of the album is about the idea of asking everything of someone and just hoping you’re worth the time and effort given.

Can you talk about how Big Lonely got together? When did you meet?

T.J., Cole; Ciaran and I all grew up and met in Burlington. We started the band in 2012 in London, Ontario together while we were in college. When T.J. left, we added our new college friends Taylor and Andrew.

In terms of music; what did you all grow up around and idolise when young?

We all come from different musical backgrounds and tastes, but I think Radiohead is a common denominator.

How do you think you have developed and evolved since the start of your career?

Our first two albums dealt a lot with heartbreak and angst. Now that those things are no longer present in my life, I have to deal with everything else. Bad Magic is a mature progression of lyrical themes and personal growth. Musically, I think, over the years, we have become a little less sporadic and introduced a refined focus on rhythm and groove.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of 2018?

Releasing our album this October will be a big milestone for us. We hope to bring it to as many people as possible and in as many ways as possible.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

A few weeks ago, we rented a school bus filled it with fifty of our closest friends and fans; drove everyone out to an isolated barn in rural Ontario and hosted an intimate album preview show called The Bad Magic School Bus. It was probably the most unique experience we’ve had as a band and one we won’t ever forget.

Which one album means the most to you would you say (and why)?

Building Nothing Out of Something by Modest Mouse stuck with me all through high-school and helped carry me through the aches and pains of being a young, angsty teen. It was also a major inspiration for me, musically.

If you guys could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

We would support the Baha Men (of Who Let the Dogs Out? fame), and on our rider we would ask only for the dogs to be let back in.

Can we see you on the road this year at all?

Yes! We will be touring throughout the fall in support of our new album. All dates can be found at www.biglonely.com

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Be nice to all that you meet.

IN THIS PHOTO: Pineapple Girls/PHOTO CREDIT: @L.A. West

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Elementals, Pineapple Girls; Fonfur, Sweet and Lowdown; Clementine, Huttch and Thick Picnic.

IN THIS PHOTO: Fonfur

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

Whenever we get the chance, we vacate to our drummer Cole’s cottage and play copious amounts of ‘Spikeball’. Though I wouldn’t call it unwinding, we take it more seriously than we take music.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Elementals – Angel Static