Category: Interviews
Straight from Spygirl's own bio: Spygirl plays lush, melodic, elegant, and dark pop/rock. If Spygirl were a martini, they’d be equal parts sonic assault, naked duets and lush harmonies with a dash of drum & bass, and garnished with a twist of Canadiana - shaken vigorously, of course. If Spygirl were an outfit, you’d look geek-slick, full in all the right places and your ass would look hot.
If only I had a description like that. Busy with their new album, pieces of evidence, and their upcoming March tour, I managed to 'sneak in' (har har) a few emails with the Vancouver-native Spygirl for this Project Opus exclusive interview.
OPUS: Thanks for doing this with us! First thing - I’ve been curious about your name for a long time. Why Spygirl?
Jane: Because we ARE spies. If we told you any more, we'd have to kill you.
OPUS: Ahh... eh … you (Koralee and Jane) worked together in Time Waits, right? How did everyone else come together?
Koralee: I think we were all drawn together because we were, and still are, a group of musicians and songwriters that want to play original music. We've always been on a quest to find out what kind of music we make together and that's evolving all the time – it’s a living breathing process.
Jane: Jon, James and Eduardo also did stints in Time Waits. I already knew Jon from our band Blue Plate Special that we formed while in music college. James we knew also from music college, but really got to know him at the South Hill Candy Shop (RIP) in Vancouver where he worked. He gave us our first gig, cooked us amazing nachos, and then offered to play with us. Eduardo we picked up at a bar on Granville Street and Al offered himself up to the cause just when we needed him most.
OPUS: I see, I see. Things must be busy with the release of ‘Pieces of Evidence’! Congratulations! How was it like working with Tom Rothrock?
Koralee: It was good…great. I highly recommend it. He gets what we’re laying down so the process flowed freely.
Jane: It was like a musical vacation. Being placed in such capable hands allows you to focus purely on your performance and the overall vibe and feel, rather than technical or logistical details. Tom is also great to hang out with and just shoot the breeze – a very laid back guy with a lot of great stories.
OPUS: So, what can we expect from the album?
Jane: 10 songs weaved of heart, sinew, magic, and hope.
Koralee: You can kick back, relax, slide the headphones on and drift away. It's a lush album...lots of ear candy, lots of emotion – lots of beauty. It’s also good traveling music…music to live by.
OPUS: Of your latest songs, which is your favourite?
Koralee: Oh wow, that changes all the time...but right now I think I'm infatuated with “Dust”. I've heard it hundreds of times and I still find it incredibly beautiful, it moves me.
Jane: It's hard to say – almost like choosing a favourite child – it’s just ain't right. However, if pressed, I'd say that this hour's favourite is "Where did those stars come from" because it's message is timeless and it also has a great middle bit where we all have a free improv freak-out – tons of fun.
OPUS: If you could do something different with your music, what would it be? Do you have any early plans or concepts for your next release?
Koralee: We have some really solid, fun songs ready for the next recording – I can't wait to get into the studio again. Our making music together is always a journey, so the “something different” just happens naturally. I love that.
Jane: I'd get people to switch up instruments from time to time and play something they don't know to play, so that we're all playing at the edge of our capabilities more often. I think that might take the music in unexpected and joyous directions. We have many songs waiting to take their rightful place on the next album. It's going to be fun to do a follow up to “Pieces of Evidence”.
OPUS: When you’re writing songs, do you have a process?
Koralee: Usually the person who writes the song brings it to the band and we learn it, we contribute where contribution is welcomed by the songwriter – some parts of ideas are flexible, others not as much. We just play the song and see if it has a spark for the band – if it doesn't catch fire we leave it behind.
Jane: Yeah…we all try it out…"Spygirl" it up...in other words, we all participate in the arrangement. After that we bat ideas around and usually the song gets slightly modified here and there. A nip...a tuck...etc. If there's enough wine and time at rehearsal we might even re-write an entire bridge! We record our demos and listen back. If it's a keeper and we all fall in love with the song, we then play the heck out of it until we can't stand ourselves any more.
OPUS: Where do you turn to for inspiration? What drives the team behind Spygirl?
Jane: The team is driven by teamwork, collective inspiration, and admiration for each other. We are all inspired by similar things: music, art, nature, experience, family, food, friends, loss, laughter, and coffee.
Koralee: There are so many musicians that inspire me. Often the times I’m most inspired to make music and to keep working at being a better musician are after I’ve seen and heard live music. There are few other things give me such a feeling of elation – and when we’re playing music together on stage, in front of people, that takes me there too.
OPUS: What was it like touring in the UK? How different was it from Canada? Where do you plan to go this time around?
Jane: The UK was "absolutely brill". They welcomed us warmly and we'd love to go back. There was very little attitude there from the bookers or the fans. People are really really into their music there, and they are well-educated about it too. They know a farce when they see one, and don't suffer fools nor fakes. This is a good thing. In the short term we're playing Eastern/ Western Canada, but I'd like us to go to France and other parts of Europe as well. Then perhaps Brazil...then Japan.
Koralee: I loved touring in the UK. I love the history there – I like being with the band far from home, strangers in a strange land.
OPUS: To you, what makes the ultimate fan?
Jane: Someone who loves and respects the music you play, and who wants to share it with others.
Koralee: Right…anyone who comes out to see us live, buys our albums, visits our site – cares about what we do – is the ultimate fan.
OPUS: Do you have any advice that you’d like to pass along to aspiring artists?
Jane: Be yourself, work hard, learn your craft, and absorb yourself in the music and art that you love. Learn all you can about it, and play until your fingers bleed.
Koralee: Be fearless with your music, be limitless with your dreams and be very good at what you do. I try and remember this every day.
OPUS: Last question - what’s in store for Spygirl in 2008?
Koralee: More touring, more exploring, more recording…..and every once in awhile an afternoon nap in the sun, maybe a nice Manhattan.
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