SONIC SUGGESTIONS: Broken Social Scene interview

02.13.11: BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE: FIRESTONE LIVE (click for more info and tickets)

“Each gig we’ve played down here is special, the fans are special, the state is like ‘Forgotten America’ to us…” Andrew Whiteman, Broken Social Scene

Canadian indie rock champions, Broken Social Scene, is an ensemble that consists of anywhere between 6 and 20 rock industry heroes at any given time. Seemingly friends with every rock star we know and love, Broken Social Scene have brought us the likes of Metric, Feist, and members of Pavement, to collaborate on at least one of their four studio releases. Their latest, Forgiveness Rock Record, is up for the Alternative Album of the Year Juno Award along with the groups other 4 nominations including Best Alternative Artist. Just into a ten date US tour, Andrew Whiteman, sat down to chat with us to give us a closer look into what makes the band the powerhouse that it is. You can see Broken Social Scene, this Sunday the 13th, at Firestone Live. Tickets are available at the door.

aXis: Broken Social Scene has a central mainstay of members, but is well known for its revolving cast of musicians, how would you say this influences the creative process? Or, perhaps, the creative process influences the lineup?
Andrew: Well, we are very digital during the recording process. Everyone gets a chance to throw themselves on the track, and later on after theres 69 tracks on a particular song, finally someone yells “stop!” and then it gets pealed back to a greater or lesser degree. Most of it is about who happened to be there at that particular moment. Hopefully it sounds epic and intimate at the same time.

aXis: The rise in use of file sharing and music piracy in general is changing the music industry in many ways. What is your take on the situation?
Andrew: I steal as much stuff of the interweb as the nearest teen. What we use becomes us. We are amusing ourselves to death. Musicians must go out into the world and destroy it by driving in order to pay their rents. In the past sometimes records sales did that.

aXis: We can only imagine how trying it can be to get everyone together to create, record, and especially, tour in support of an album. You’re only playing a handful of US dates this tour. That being said, are there any plans brewing for the future? Any chance of more dates being added to the current tour?
Andrew: Nope. We played a lot in 2010, we don’t wanna wear out the welcome so many people have so generously given us.

aXis: Being a live music fan in Florida is a labor of love. Most bands don’t stop in to say Hi very often, if at all, because we’re mostly out of the way. You guys are making 3 stops in Florida this tour. First off, thank you! Secondly, any significance behind this ?
Andrew: Well it was part of our plan we made last year: A special run down to FLA in feb of 2011. This will be our third time.  Each gig we’ve played down here is special, the fans are special, the state is like ‘Forgotten America’ to us: not many box malls get built here it seems - at least not as much as the rest of North America; the yuppies haven’t ruined Florida; the renegades are still here; its a tippy place. There is an energy palpable when you come to gig in FLA.

aXis: We’ll wrap it up on that note. Thanks again for taking the time to talk with us.  I can confidently say on behalf of Orlando that we’re all really looking forward to Sundays show. Take care!
Andrew: Thanks for having us.

For more interviews and other aurally stimulating materials from Tiffany go to AdiosAmbrose.com!