Big Little Lions – Are We There Yet?

By starrymag | August 24, 2020

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

 

Q) Tell us the story behind your latest single and video “Time Doesn’t Stop.”

 

Helen: The story behind “Time Doesn’t Stop” was the realization that time was still ticking on while we were all stuck in a kind of stasis. We had the chorus repetitive because sometimes it feels like we are in Groundhog Day doing the same thing over and over. We chose to use my cat for the video because every day for her is Groundhog Day. Sponge is nineteen years old and in the last few months of her life, so she pretty much sleeps 23.5 hours a day, so we thought a video of her hanging in different places conveyed the lyrics of the song.

 

Q) The lyrics for “It’s Amazing” are so hopeful and positive. How has writing this album has helped you to get through the pandemic?

 

Helen: When anything major is happening, either personally or globally, it always helps to write about it. It’s a way of getting repetitive thoughts onto a page and out of our heads. We are both pretty positive people so always try to inject that somewhere in our songs.

Paul: Writing this album has definitely been cathartic and has caused me to focus on the things in my life that have been truly changed by the pandemic. And it has given us a reason to keep writing and recording, even though the bleak prospect of no touring for some time looms heavy.

 

Q) I absolutely love the music video for “Rise.” What made you to decide to use stop-go animation in the video?

 

Helen: I was looking at an old dollhouse that we have and had the idea of doing a stop motion video of people going about their lives stuck at home, but then it occurred to me that I could make the video about Paul and myself, which lead me down the path of making miniature versions of our live performance set-up. It was wonderful to have a project to fill the long days and take my mind off not being able to tour.

 

Q) Which song on the new album Are We There Yet? was the most personal to you?

 

Helen: The most personal to me is the last one “Choose Forward.” I feel so strongly that there needs to be a titanic shift for the BLM movement and I want to do anything I can to help move it forward. I live in rural Canada so the only thing I can do is donate and write. So, I do that.

Paul: I think “Upside Down” is the most personal one for me. It’s quite a departure from our sound and I love pushing that envelope. And the message in the song has probably been the closest to how I’ve felt since this whole pandemic started. It really did feel like I woke up one day and the world around me had gone topsy-turvy.

 

Q) You created and recorded the album remotely, which is something you have done prior to the pandemic. If someone were looking to do the same, what advice would you give them?

 

Paul: Yes, the process of recording remotely is pretty much second nature for us. So, we have been extremely fortunate during this whole thing. Any advice I can give would be, use Dropbox. And if you aren’t comfortable playing to a click track, get yourself used to it.

 

Q) What do you hope fans take away from Are We There Yet?

 

Helen: I hope people find some comfort in the songs. We are all having a weird shared experience so I would imagine the songs apply to pretty much everyone right now. The album changed as the times changed, so there is a final tune dealing with BLM and how we as white people can help amplify their voices. So, we would like the audience to feel that change and who knows what’s coming next.

Paul: I hope fans can come away with a sense of hope and can find something that they can relate to during these uncertain days.

 

Q) As live music is currently on hiatus, have you taken to performing virtual concerts for your fans?

 

Paul: We finally played our first virtual concert on the 23rd of July and it was fun. I hadn’t performed in any capacity since our last show in Canada on March 16th. And it felt good to perform something again. We plan on possibly putting on a virtual show once a month.

 

Q) What do you miss most about performing live?

 

Helen: I miss playing with Paul. We are in direct countries so it’s impossible and we have no idea how long it will be until we play together again. I also miss the adventure of tours, meeting new people, new places and then looking forward to going home. I miss the variety it brings.

Paul: I miss the almost effortless chemistry Helen and I have on stage. And I miss performing for live people. And, of course, I miss the travel.

 

Q) If I were to take a peek at your music collection, what would I be surprised to find in there?

 

Paul: Oh my, I would probably throw you a few curveballs – AC/DC, Hank Williams, Sr., The Black Keys, Robert Johnson, Webb Pierce, the entire Police collection, Rush and early Genesis.

 

Q) Who would you love to collaborate with in the future?

 

Paul: That’s a tough one. I already collaborate with a lot of people. I really only wish to continue my collaboration with Helen and my other songwriting friends. If someone else comes along that I feel I could really gel with, I’m not opposed to entertaining that, as time and schedule allows. Big Little Lions always comes first though [smiles]

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of your music?

 

Helen: I would like to say a huge thank you to our listeners and supporters. I hope they are all doing okay in these weird times and hope our music helps them through it.

Paul: I would like to say to everyone, thank you for taking the time to listen! I hope we can continue to entertain, inspire and hopefully surprise you. And I hope we can provide a pleasant distraction during this. We’ve got no reason to stop creating new music.