Interview: Octoberman (June 2009)

This interview is part of a series of interviews conducted via email with a bunch of Vancouver/Victoria bands who will be heading out to Toronto in mid June for the NXNE Festival (North By North East Festival). They were selected to play at NXNE by applying via their Sonicbids account. Hmm technically they aren't a Vancouver band anymore.



Please identify yourself(ves) for those reading, what you do in the band, and who else plays in the band

Joining me (vocals, guitar) for the NXNE show will be: CL McLaughlin (guitar, vocals), Tavo Diez DeBonilla (bass), Marshall Bureau (drums), Shaun Brodie (trumpet, keyboards), Randy Lee (violin), Leah Abramson (vocals)


Tell us a little bit about the history of your band.

It started off as a solo project to record a bunch of songs I wrote while traveling. I now invite a lot of my friends to help the songs come to life.


How would you describe your sound?

Octoberman kind of has a split personality. On one side there's a 6-piece rock band that includes drony violins, Mexicali trumpet lines, crunchy guitars and lots of harmonies. The other side comes from more of a quiet/spare, folk-pop background. The line-up depends on what part of the country we are playing and who is available to join in.


You'll be traveling to Toronto to play at NXNE in the middle of June. What makes this festival worth crossing the country for or is it just another show?

Um, CL, Shaun, and I actually moved out to Toronto from Vancouver fairly recently and have a new Toronto line-up of players for all of our Eastern shows. We are looking at NXNE as just another show.


What's your favourite song from the 80's?

Currently it's "Just What I Needed" by The Cars. Followed closely by "My Best Friend's Girl" by The Cars. I might have to put that record on right now.


What's the coolest thing you've ever bought?

Probably that Cars record. It was 3 bucks.


For the people who've downloaded your album, tell us why they should check out your live show.

The live show is always very different from the recordings. Also, we will be playing lots of new songs and maybe even a Bruce Springsteen cover. We should really learn some Cars tunes too...


Thanks for doing the interview. You have the last word, say what you want to say.

We miss our Vancouver friends and collaborators.


http://www.octoberman.ca
www.myspace.com/octoberman