Polaris Nominee Q&A: Chad VanGaalen + Patrick Watson

September 17th, 2009

091709-polaris

The coveted Polaris Music Prize will be awarded on September 21, and until then we’re celebrating with some fun Q&A with all the nominees! Previously we’ve seen riveting installments featuring Metric + Joel Plaskett as well as F***ed Up + K’Naan. Aaaand now, two more nominees get snappy! Don’t forget, we’ll have tons of Polaris action here on the blog next week…

More after the jump…

CHAD VANGAALEN

Where was the nominated album recorded? How long were you in the studio?
In my basement over a period of 6 months with all my own recording gear. It’s a lot different recording in your own space and relying on yourself to keep you motivated. Though, I think I thrive in that sort of environment.

What’s your best memory about recording this album?
Getting ‘er done… My daughter was born during the recording process which was amazing. It was a totally crazy experience recording the songs and looking over and seeing my newborn daughter. The anticipation of knowing my daughter would be born during the album was an incredible feeling. Just waiting… wondering…

Which is the album’s stand-out song and why?
I think the albums stand-out song would be ‘Frozen Energon’, the last song on ‘Soft Airplane’. If I had my way people would be into that song and I could have the freedom to create noisy, stoner jams all the time… I love those types of songs.

What career other than music would be ‘you’?
I think I’d definitely chose being an illustrator or making comic books or be an animator full time. So, definitely still making art and letting my imagination run wild.

What is your most treasured piece of your memorabilia – and why?
Unfortunately, I don’t collect my own memorabilia. I wish I had a hot knife. Maybe, a fork? They’d sell at a merch booth, right?

What is something fans don’t know about you?
I never really went into arrears with my student loan from Art School. I’m proud of that.

What is your guilty pleasure?
cakefarters.com

What was your first concert? What was your favourite concert?
I went and saw Radiohead on ‘The Bends’ tour in the mid-90s. It was at Mac Hall Ballroom on the University of Calgary campus. Pretty intimate venue to see Radiohead. I went and saw The Pixies on their re-union tour. Those were my first real rock concert experiences.

How old were you when you started playing music?
Probably 18-ish. I think I started late, too. A lot of my friends were already ripping at that point. They could play circles around what I was playing but I guess I stuck to it.

Who is your biggest inspiration? Why?
Robert Crumb is one of my biggest inspirations. He seems to manage to exist outside of the art world but still blurs the line between high art and low art. Or, Mark ‘Gonz’ Gonzales, a rad skater in my mind. A lot of my inspirations come from outside of the music world.

Do you think you can dance?
No. I can’t dance. Not at all. I only dance to draw attention to myself before I moon people.

PATRICK WATSON

Patrick Watson (Piano/Vocals)
Simon Angell (Guitar)
Robbie Kuster (Percussions)
Mishka Stein (Bass)

Where was the nominated album recorded? How long were you in the studio?
The recording was done in Montreal at Breakglass Studios, but the songs where composed on tour, in Iceland, the American deep South and France.

What’s your best memory about recording this album?
One night we left our hotel in Iceland at 5 o’clock in the morning to go trekking in the hot springs.

Which is the album’s stand-out song and why?
Fireweed. It’s one of the only ones that we all agree on.

When did music become your ‘life’?
Robbie: It happened over time

When was the current line-up created?
2001

What was your most embarrassing moment on stage?
Patrick: I did a flying 360 when I was with Gangster Politics, and knocked my keyboard in the audience.
Simon: In Germany, tried to smash my guitar, and did not succeed…
Mishka: Threw up behind an amp
Robbie: Got so stoned at a New York gig that I didn’t play a beat the whole night

Who’s the funny one?
Simon

Who’s the serious one?
Mishka

Who’s the tyrant?
Patrick

Who’s the Doosh?
Robbie

Favourite song of all time?
Pat: “Day in the Life”
Simon: Impossible to answer
Mishka: Too many

Favourite band of all time?
Simon: Beatles
Mishka: Too many

Favourite singer of all time?
Simon: Patrick Watson
Mishka: Freddy Mercury

What band would you love to share a bill with?
Bjork, Radiohead, Grizzly Bear, Thus:Owl, Ringo Starr, Neil Young, Mike Patton

What career other than music would be ‘you’?
Simon: Cooking
Mishka: Japanese Pornstar
Robbie: adventure tourism guide or teacher

What is your most treasured piece of your memorabilia – and why?
Patrick: James Brown and Co autograph poster from our tour with them
Simon: Guitar that Marc Ribot gave me
Robbie: my collection of backstage passes

What is something fans don’t know about you?
Simon: I gotta keep some secrets
Mishka: Nothing and many things…
Robbie: I love cheeze

What is your guilty pleasure?
Patrick : Supertramp
Simon: Supertramp
Mishka: Purple Rain

What was your first concert?
Pat: Hudson Town talent show, 11 yrs old
Simon: Hudson Variety show (different one), 13
Mishka: High School Dance at Dorval High, 15, we played Taxman (Beatles) over and over
Robbie: Parksville Middle School (PMS) stage band concert when I was 12

How old were you when you started playing music?
Patrick: 7
Simon: 12
Mishka: 12
Robbie: 12

Who was your first music teacher? At what school did she/he teach?
Patrick: Mr. Cobbatt, Church choir
Simon: Mr Findley, at Hudson High in Montreal
Mishka: My Russian piano teacher…
Robbie: a boring Swiss private piano teacher

What instrument did you play in the school band?
Patrick: Piano
Simon: Percussion
Mishka: The Recoder (that little flute thing)
Robbie: Simon’s been banned from playing shaker in this band.

Who is your biggest inspiration? Why?
Simon: My dad, he let me make my own mistakes
Mishka: My Mom. Giving me the freedom to decide, and spoiling me.

What bands are you listening to now?
Simon and Garfunkle
Grizzly Bear
Midlake
The Tiny
Moondog
Deerhoof
Enio Moriconi

Do you think you can dance?
Pat: I was a swing teacher in another life
Simon: I have 3 left feet
Mishka: I have a dream of being on Soultrain (if they let white people on).
Robbie: mmmmmmmmmmmm

Tags: Chad VanGaalen, Patrick Watson, Polaris, Polaris Music Prize, polaris music prize 2009