| November 2010 |
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| Interview: Hayley Stark |
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What got this band together and started in this business?
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We (Monica and Jen) played together in several hard rock bands in the past.
Monica on drums and Jen on lead guitar. We decided, being the main songwriters
in most bands, to form a duo and write together with our acoustic guitars. That
way, we could be in full control!
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Who writes and produces all the material for the band?
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We write both together and on our own and bring the pieces together to create
the full songs. Our producer, in terms of recording, is Sean Gregory of The
Recording House in Scarborough, Ontario.
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Has the band played in front of or with any acts our readers would
know from the mainstream?
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Not yet! But we will!
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Where can people access your music on the web?
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Our MySpace is www.myspace.com/ilovehayleystark
and we are on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/let-me-go-tonight/id329677177?i=329677181&ign-mpt=uo%3D4.
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Any embarrassing moments on stage?
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Hmm... the sound cut out during a Canadian Music Week gig last March. We stood
there for a second, feeling silly, and then decided to play a song acoustically
in the middle of the bar so everyone could hear. The sound person fixed the
glitch by the time that tune was over and everyone said it was their favourite
part of the show. Go figure!
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Any good stories you want to tell us?
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On our first little tour, just this past July, we hit several towns in Ontario.
In one particular town, the booker scheduled us to open for what we thought was
going to be a 50s and 60s style doo-wop sort of band... it would have been a
good fit. Turned out it was a 70s classical rock cover band... and their fans
were all males over the age of 60. We had to work pretty hard to win them over
because they were all excited to hear their Led Zeppelin and Eagles songs.
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Who are the band's musical influences?
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We are influenced by everything. Monica is a drummer and listens to lots of
metal - Meshuggah, Protest the Hero, etc. plus pop - she adores Katy Perry.
Jen took jazz guitar lessons in university and loves country as much as she
loves rock. Together, we are influenced by singer/songwriters like Elliot
Smith and Damien Rice plus pop rockers like Panic! at the Disco plus other
duos like Tegan and Sara.
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How did the band get together?
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Monica is a self-trained drummer and picked up the guitar at a young age.
Jen's been taking guitar lessons since she was little kid. We now take vocal
lessons every now and then because neither of us were ever serious vocalists.
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Any other members in your family that are musicians?
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Monica - nope! Jen - my dad is a drummer and my sister is getting her doctorate
in bassoon performance!
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What is the top reason why you want to play music?
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To be rich and famous, of course.
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What has been your best show?
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We got to play at an outside theatre in Niagara Falls this summer. The stage
was huge and the sound system was awsome and had 4 monitors. Those of us indie
musicians know that having any monitors at all (and being able to hear yourself)
is a treat. 4 monitors is a a luxury!
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