INTERVIEW: Moscow Apartment — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Moscow Apartment

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MY attention turns to Brighid and Pascale…

of Moscow Apartment as they discuss their new single, Be You, and what their next moves are; how they started making music together and some current newcomers who warrant some more time and acclaim.

The friends talk about music arriving in their lives and what the scene is like in Toronto; whether there be any gigs coming up; if they have favourite memories from their time in music; whether a U.K. stop-off is a possibility – they reveal what they do away from music.

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

Brighid: We have had a great week. It has been really hectic because we were working on a lot of end-of-year assignments and getting ready for the tour. Last weekend, we got to play the CBC Music Festival which was amazing. We get back from our tour the day before we start exams. But, we get to be on tour with such an amazing band. The Good Lovelies have been incredible to us and we are having so much fun and learning a lot on tour.

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

We are Moscow Apartment. We have been friends since we were five and six and sang in a youth choir together but we fell out of touch and reunited almost two years ago when our parents had a dinner party with the intention that we might start doing music together. We quickly became best friends and started singing together and writing together almost immediately.

We formed Moscow Apartment in February 2017 and things have been pretty wild ever since. We started off with a very folky vibe and are increasingly more Indie-Rock.

How did Moscow Apartment get together? Were you part of other acts before getting together?

Pascale: Like Brighid said; we knew one another from choir and then lost touch. I went with my mom to see Brighid perform when she released a solo E.P. when she was twelve and then I went to Girls Rock Camp where she had been going and started taking lessons with her music coach Kritty Uranowski.

Brighid: Oh yeah - and then you started coming to the open mics I was hosting and I was in awe of your songwriting. I have been in a bunch of bands but none of them was long-lived: it is hard to find the right people. You want to have good collaboration and respect and trust. I was in another kid band called Kingdom of Birds. It was much more one person’s project - with other people really there as support, but it wasn’t necessarily clear.

I wanted to be a part of a project that was really collaborative and where we all brought our ideas and energy. This has been so special and I love working with Pascale...

Be You is your new single. What is the story behind the song?

The song is about when you get bad vibes from a stranger. We wrote it about a year ago. I think I came up with the seed of the idea but we had both had similar experiences and wrote it together. It was a super-fun process to write it and it was a true collaboration.

Your music has plenty of passion and intensity to it. Do you think there is enough real expression in music at the moment – or has it become rather safe?!

I think there are lots of really intense people out there making intense music and expressing themselves in every genre. That’s what good music is. I think if it really connects with people; it has that kind of honesty. There is a lot of canned, clichéd music too that follows a very predictable structure and uses tons of clichés, but I don’t think people end up with an emotional connection to that music.

Toronto is where you are based. What is the city like in terms of music and opportunities?

There is a really strong community here and such a thriving music scene. We are both really influenced by this city and our lives in the West End. Large community.

Pascale: The city is so good in terms of music. There are so many good bands, especially in the young emerging scene: bands like Lula Li, BBQ Pope; the Kitsch, Rikashay; Pins & Needles (before they broke up), Goodbye Honolulu and solo artists like Georgia Harmer and Deanna Petcoff are working hard to make the scene really inclusive and are all going to go on to do amazing things. We do have a challenge that a lot of all ages venues have closed, so putting on shows for younger people has become a bigger challenge.

Can you remember when music came into your lives? Which artists inspired you to go into music?

Music has always been in my life. My parents are both Jazz musicians. My folks inspired me. The artists who have inspired me the most are Joni Mitchell and Big Thief.

Brighid: I think I have always been inspired to go into music and have been talking about being a musician since I was a toddler. My parents took me to a lot of music festivals growing up and I was exposed to lots of different kinds of music. Probably the artists who have influenced me the most are Joni Mitchell, Regina Spektor; Serena Ryder and Feist.

Where are you heading on tour? Where can we catch you?

We are touring across Western Canada with the Good Lovelies until mid-June and then we have a bunch of shows in Toronto this summer - and we are doing our first show in New York City in July.

Do you reckon you’ll come to the U.K. anytime at all?

Pascale: We would really like to. We love all things British.

Brighid: Someday, that would be super-cool. We dream of an international tour and stopping in the U.K would be a must.

PHOTO CREDIT: Melanie Gordon Photography

What do you hope to achieve in 2018?

A new album is in-the-works. We are also playing at a lot of festivals and are hoping to do a few videos. We really want to build some new audiences and get to play shows with more of the amazing musicians who have inspired us.

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

I have been to too many amazing concerts to name just one but, certainly, seeing incredible musicians live is so memorable. Lorde, Metric; Arcade Fire and July Talk are the artists who have inspired me this year.

Pascale: Probably the Phoenix concert at Field Trip last summer. I love performers who create an atmosphere and they are so good live.

PHOTO CREDIT: Melanie Gordon Photography

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

Both: Lorde, Good Lovelies (we are right now!) and Joni Mitchell…

(As a rider) Purple socks (Pascale); a room-full of puppies (Brighid).

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Both: We are pretty new artists so we are still getting mentored ourselves but believe in yourself, work hard and find people you enjoy working with.

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Georgia Harmer, Ben Heffernan; The Lifers and Jenny Banai are all young artists we have played with recently. The Good Lovelies and Samantha Martin are incredible and have mentored us really well!

IN THIS PHOTO: The Lifers/PHOTO CREDIT: Nicolette Hoang

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

Brighid: Bike riding, photography. Walks in nature (Pascale). We both love T.V.; sometimes, even trashy shows. Painting my nails and skin care (Brighid); Playing with Neko, my little brother, who is not quite two (Brighid).

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).

Brighid: Funeral by Charlotte Day Wilson