Interviews
Nightshifts – Rest
By: Jamie Steinberg
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) I make chill indie rock using guitars, synthesizers and drum machines.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) The Strokes, Beach House, Radiohead, Tame Impala, Phoenix, Caribou, MGMT and Leif Vollebekk are some of my all-time faves.
Q) A lot of popular new artists are coming out of your hometown of Toronto. What do you think it is about the music scene there that has made it so popular?
A) I find I am most inspired at the time when the seasons change. We have very drastic seasons, and I bet other artists are fueled by this change as well. Also, during the freezing winter months, there’s not much else to do other than create. We also have a very supportive government granting system that helps fund a lot of our artists.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Rest.”
A) I started writing “Rest” the night I got back from a long tour with Wild Rivers, a band I play guitar in. I was completely exhausted and was anxiously replaying random situations over and over again in my head. I finally fell asleep and the next morning I realized how trivial my worries the night before were. I wrote this song to remind myself that when I’m really worked up about something, I may just need a good night’s sleep!
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I’m not sure that they have connected to it yet! Still early days, but hopefully the lush production brings them in!
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) It is different every time. This one started with the synth sound you hear at the beginning of the song. I built this one up piece by piece; lyrics and vocals were last.
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) This song was co-produced with Jason Kick. I had a demo of the song for a long time, and it never felt fully finished. I sent it to Jason, and he polished it and his buddy Friendless Summer add some additional instrumentation. I love to produce my own music, but often a trusted outside perspective is what gets it to the finish line.
Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?
A) Yes, my debut album will be announced soon! [smiles]
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) I love Austin, Texas. It is just a cool city with some great tacos, bars and venues. I also love to play here in Toronto as I get to see my friends and family.
Q) With concerts having been on hold, what have you missed most about being on stage?
A) I miss the adrenaline and the challenge of being outside of my comfort zone. I also miss meeting new people who love similar music.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) I would love to work with Caribou. His productions are crazy!
Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) I have been listening to the new Rostam album non-stop. I have been a fan of his for a while. Another producer I would love to work with! I dig him because he challenges every recording convention. His music sounds simultaneously polished and ragged.
Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?
A) I don’t love using social media generally, but it is a great way to chat with people who have found my music. It is great hearing positive feedback, and there have been some messages that have been the catalysts that encouraged me to finish a song.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Well, first I would say thank you! It is wild to me, with the endless amount of entertainment options, that anyone listens to my music. It means the world to me. I would also say, I’m not quite where I want to be musically yet. I know my potential is higher than I’ve reached so far, so just stayed tuned and stay along for the ride! <3
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