by Tina Whelski
“Music can’t live in a vacuum,” says Metric front woman Emily Haines. So along with guitarist Jimmy Shaw, drummer Joules Scott-Key, and bassist Joshua Winstead she looks forward to road-testing new songs before they record their fourth album, due out next year. Haines talked to me about the current tour, the bands first in over a year.
Are you just anxious to start playing the songs or will the audience reaction affect what you’ll eventually record?
Songs have a life of their own and I am interested in how they evolve over time. Sometimes I feel like rushing to record a definitive version of an idea chokes the composition.
Can you talk about one or two of the new songs you’ll be playing?
One of the new songs is called “Stadium Love.” It came out of nowhere. When I was writing the lyrics I was picturing mutiny in the natural world, all these animals turning on each other. Then I saw the cover of the new Les Savy Fav record! I guess it’s on everybody’s mind. Another new song is called “Up In Flames. It’s scrappy and it cooks.
In what ways do you find yourself grow as an artist on this album?
The four members of Metric have a serious pact. Our commitment to each other requires that we all make space inside and outside the project for each of us to keep developing beyond the identity of the band. The writing process so far has been about all of us looking forward not back and getting turned on by the unknown.
Jimmy Shaw has said that you’re going to invite fans to write the set lists among other things? Can you describe how this tour will be more interactive?
There has been a lot of discussion in the band lately about wanting to reconcile our love for live music and travel with the mind-numbing boredom of touring. It isn't natural for an artist to lock themselves in the studio putting ideas in stone and then turn off the part of them that is spontaneous in order to repeat those ideas over and over on the road. We keep looking for ways to break the old model. The way I see it it’s the people that go to concerts that are keeping music alive and frankly I value the musical opinion of an audience member over most industry experts obsessed with trying to predict the next trend. We are encouraging anyone who is thinking of coming to a show on this short U.S. run to let us know what they would like to hear in advance so we can practice it and not ruin their favorite song by fucking it up. I’m also just really curious about how requests will vary from place to place. Writing the set list is a big part of every show and if the crowd could do it for us I’ll have one less thing to think about. (laughs) We are going to be writing a lot on the road this time too so we may ask for input afterwards from people who were at the show. If we disagree with them we will ignore them all! The best thing about getting advice is knowing when it is valuable and when it isn’t.
Metric performs September 21 at Webster Hall.
Watch Metric perform "Monster Hospital."
And the acoustic version.
Interview originally published in The Aquarian Weekly (September 12, 2007).
Are you just anxious to start playing the songs or will the audience reaction affect what you’ll eventually record?
Songs have a life of their own and I am interested in how they evolve over time. Sometimes I feel like rushing to record a definitive version of an idea chokes the composition.
Can you talk about one or two of the new songs you’ll be playing?
One of the new songs is called “Stadium Love.” It came out of nowhere. When I was writing the lyrics I was picturing mutiny in the natural world, all these animals turning on each other. Then I saw the cover of the new Les Savy Fav record! I guess it’s on everybody’s mind. Another new song is called “Up In Flames. It’s scrappy and it cooks.
In what ways do you find yourself grow as an artist on this album?
The four members of Metric have a serious pact. Our commitment to each other requires that we all make space inside and outside the project for each of us to keep developing beyond the identity of the band. The writing process so far has been about all of us looking forward not back and getting turned on by the unknown.
Jimmy Shaw has said that you’re going to invite fans to write the set lists among other things? Can you describe how this tour will be more interactive?
There has been a lot of discussion in the band lately about wanting to reconcile our love for live music and travel with the mind-numbing boredom of touring. It isn't natural for an artist to lock themselves in the studio putting ideas in stone and then turn off the part of them that is spontaneous in order to repeat those ideas over and over on the road. We keep looking for ways to break the old model. The way I see it it’s the people that go to concerts that are keeping music alive and frankly I value the musical opinion of an audience member over most industry experts obsessed with trying to predict the next trend. We are encouraging anyone who is thinking of coming to a show on this short U.S. run to let us know what they would like to hear in advance so we can practice it and not ruin their favorite song by fucking it up. I’m also just really curious about how requests will vary from place to place. Writing the set list is a big part of every show and if the crowd could do it for us I’ll have one less thing to think about. (laughs) We are going to be writing a lot on the road this time too so we may ask for input afterwards from people who were at the show. If we disagree with them we will ignore them all! The best thing about getting advice is knowing when it is valuable and when it isn’t.
Metric performs September 21 at Webster Hall.
Watch Metric perform "Monster Hospital."
And the acoustic version.
Interview originally published in The Aquarian Weekly (September 12, 2007).
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