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Ladyhawk - Interview : Roots Rock Revolutionaries
Loosely-affiliated to sublime Canadian rock behemoths Black Mountain, Ladyhawk arrive in the UK this week to play a rash of tiny showcase shows. Fresh Deer Meat briefly switched off the amazing new Ben Weaver record to catch up with front-man Duffy Driediger to chew some roots rock fat. Here's what he had to say...
FDM : To those not familiar with Ladyhawk tell us a little bit about your history? How has the band got to this point?
DD : We started this band in the winter of 2004. We just wrote music and played in Vancouver for a little over a year. After we recorded our first album we started touring; we have toured North America 9 times now I think. We are all really looking forward to our first time in Europe (first date - Brixton Windmill, Tuesday 23rd Sept).
FDM : From a British point of view the Canadian music scene is extremely fertile. Do you recognize this and does it inspire you on to be surrounded by such a glut of quality artists and musicians?
DD : It has been really inspiring because for years Canadian Bands never tried to leave Canada. I think we all thought there was no real point. It feels like we are all working together now to bring music to the people.
FDM : Tell us a little bit about the recording of (new album) 'Shots'. Did you have a game plan going into the studio to create a specific sounding record or were things a little more organic that that?
DD : Our plan was to do it all in this old farm house we rented. Other than that we just let the sound of the house do the work.
FDM : You've been compared to everyone from Neil Young to Wolf Parade. Where would you fit yourself in on the current musical landscape?
DD : I'm not sure we do fit in that well. I think we would have done better in the 90's. It seems to us that we sound pretty 90's, but never trust a band for an opinion of what they do.
FDM : Tell us about what inspires you. Are there other bands out there that you creatively draw from and does this inspiration extend beyond music?
DD : As far as the visual art goes we usually trust our friend Jason Nocito. He is a great photographer and he likes the band so we trust his vision. It's really hard to find inspiration in the music world these days. I just think we try to keep each other positive so we can continue to make music.
FDM : Finally, before you leave us are there any of your peers that you'd like to recommend to FDM readers?
DD : Attach In Black (www.myspace.com/attackinblack) are a great band from Eastern Canada and they are great friends of ours. We love the Constantines too; more great friends from the East.
Ladyhawk's album 'Shots' is out now through Jagjaguawar.
www.ladyhawkladyhawk.com
Stephen Jasper
FDM : To those not familiar with Ladyhawk tell us a little bit about your history? How has the band got to this point?
DD : We started this band in the winter of 2004. We just wrote music and played in Vancouver for a little over a year. After we recorded our first album we started touring; we have toured North America 9 times now I think. We are all really looking forward to our first time in Europe (first date - Brixton Windmill, Tuesday 23rd Sept).
FDM : From a British point of view the Canadian music scene is extremely fertile. Do you recognize this and does it inspire you on to be surrounded by such a glut of quality artists and musicians?
DD : It has been really inspiring because for years Canadian Bands never tried to leave Canada. I think we all thought there was no real point. It feels like we are all working together now to bring music to the people.
FDM : Tell us a little bit about the recording of (new album) 'Shots'. Did you have a game plan going into the studio to create a specific sounding record or were things a little more organic that that?
DD : Our plan was to do it all in this old farm house we rented. Other than that we just let the sound of the house do the work.
FDM : You've been compared to everyone from Neil Young to Wolf Parade. Where would you fit yourself in on the current musical landscape?
DD : I'm not sure we do fit in that well. I think we would have done better in the 90's. It seems to us that we sound pretty 90's, but never trust a band for an opinion of what they do.
FDM : Tell us about what inspires you. Are there other bands out there that you creatively draw from and does this inspiration extend beyond music?
DD : As far as the visual art goes we usually trust our friend Jason Nocito. He is a great photographer and he likes the band so we trust his vision. It's really hard to find inspiration in the music world these days. I just think we try to keep each other positive so we can continue to make music.
FDM : Finally, before you leave us are there any of your peers that you'd like to recommend to FDM readers?
DD : Attach In Black (www.myspace.com/attackinblack) are a great band from Eastern Canada and they are great friends of ours. We love the Constantines too; more great friends from the East.
Ladyhawk's album 'Shots' is out now through Jagjaguawar.
www.ladyhawkladyhawk.com
Stephen Jasper
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