August 31st, 2010
Though their recently released LP Say Us (Arts & Crafts) was their first, Zeus is far from green. In fact, the Toronto-based band made up of Mike O’Brien, Carlin Nicholson, Neil Quin, and Rob Drake have been flaunting their hook-heavy brand of pop rock since their days as Broken Social Scenester Jason Collett’s backing band. These are musician’s musicians, the kind who can pulverize the rickety walls of a nondescript dive bar or conquer the sweeping grandeur of an arena with equal amounts of ease. In the second episode of our original series of video portraits ON TAPE, we sat down with the rock gods-in-training to discuss the first time they ever picked up an instrument, the perils of heartbreak, and of course, those other seminal Canadian rock icons, The Barenaked Ladies.
“ZEUS” On Tape Corduroy Magazine from Adam Beck on Vimeo.
-Daniel Barna
Tags: Arts & Crafts, daniel barna, Jason Collett, On Tape, Say Us, Zeus
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January 26th, 2009
Last week we had the chance to sit down with Ellen and Aleksandra of the upstart UK rock band Los Campesinos! who were in town promoting their second full length LP We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed out on one of our favorite labels, Toronto-based Arts & Crafts.
Braving the sub-zero temperature, the guys were more than gracious in accompanying our photographer to the edge of the Williamsburg shore, where the frigid weather was especially brutal. After a quick photo session with a vibrant mural as the backdrop, we found comfort in the toasty confines of Williamsburg mainstay Sound Fix, an independent record shop where the band was scheduled to perform later that evening.
As the rest of band perused the eccentric collection of records, we chatted with Ellen and Aleksandra about the band’s sudden success, their beginnings in the blogosphere and their place within the sphere of indie music. “We’re not trying to be different,” they told me. “Otherwise it would sound like we’re on some sort of a mission. We’re not. We just make music that we know how to make and that we actually enjoy making.” With two heralded albums out in less than a year, and an upcoming North American tour to boot, these guys are just getting started. Be sure to check out more of our time with Los Campesinos! in our upcoming Spring issue!
- Daniel Barna
Tags: Arts & Crafts, daniel barna, Los Campesinos, Sound Fix
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