INTERVIEW:
Basement Revolver
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IT is an exciting time for Basement Revolver…
what with an album out and tour dates coming. Chrisy from the Canadian band discusses Heavy Eyes and what sort of themes influence the album; how the band got together and what sort of artists/tones inspire her.
The band each select a song to end the interview with whilst Chrisy highlights upcoming artists to watch; how it feels getting big love from the press; the one album that means the most to her – she provides some useful advice for artists coming through.
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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?
We are good! The week has been a little bit hectic - getting ready for Supercrawl and our upcoming dates but that is a good kind of hectic!
For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?
Hi! I’m Chrisy. I sing and play guitar in Basement Revolver alongside my pals Brandon on Drums and Nimal on Bass.
How did Basement Revolver form? When did you all meet?
I met Nimal when I was about eight-years-old when his family moved to Canada. Brandon and Nimal met at college - and then I met Brandon through music things! Basement Revolver started when I decided to experiment with guitar pedals and effects instead of making Folk music and Nim helped out for a battle of the bands. After that, Brandon joined and we’ve been going hard ever since.
Heavy Eyes is your debut album. Are there particular themes that have gone into the record?
I guess the general theme is tiredness? I don’t know that I have a word for it, but that feeling that you have after a long year; the calm after the storm.
The press and fans have really reacted to your music. How humbling is it to know they love what you do?!
It is very weird and kinda cool? I don’t think that we ever expected B.R. do go as well as it has and I am so, so thankful that it has. I really wouldn’t want to do anything else!
Do you remember the artists you followed growing up? Who do you rank as idols?
Aaron Weiss from mewithoutYou. One day I *dream* of playing a show with them. They were a very foundational band for me.
What do you hope to achieve by the end of 2018?
Hopefully, just to keep some momentum going into the New Year and to keep writing songs!
Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?
Brandon sleeping in the car. He always falls asleep. It’s a classic move.
Which one album means the most to you would you say (and why)?
I think that Pale Horses by mewithoutYou is the best album I’ve ever heard. It is just all around the perfect record for me.
If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?
Here is my list of top people I dream of supporting one day: mewithoutYou, Japanese Breakfast and Jay Som. I think those are all the bands I would undoubtedly fan-girl over.
We have watermelon candies on our rider! That’s what’s important (smiles).
Might we see some tour dates coming up? Where might we be able to catch you play?
We are supporting Amber Arcades for a bunch of dates in October.
Will you come to the U.K. and play? Do you like British music?
How could you not like British music?! Ahah! We are supporting Amber Arcades around the U.K. in October.
What advice would you give to new artists coming through?
Just keep going! It can be a bit of a rollercoaster: don’t let the quiet times get you down. There is always gonna be quiet times - it doesn’t mean that you’re a failure!
IN THIS PHOTO: Ellis/PHOTO CREDIT: Ariel Bader-Shamai
Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?
Not really. Haha. I have three jobs to support my music endeavours. Hopefully, someday soon, I can pull back on some of that but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Finally, and for being good sports; you can all choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).
I’m gonna choose The Drain by Ellis - and I’m gonna choose for the boys too!
Nim is gonna choose Walkaway by Weaves
Brandon is gonna choose Blue Boy by Mac DeMarco
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