!earshot Top 200 of 2021

An Interview With As The Poets Affirm

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Anne: Do you guys ever do fully improvised sets?

ATPA: With our music being so structured and ridged we never, ever improvise. Each track is performed the same every time. If you see us perform a song differently at a show, it probably means we spent hours reconstructing it. All the songs are so ingrained into each of our minds through constant practicing and listening that in those rare moments where something different happens it just doesn't sit right and all kinds of alarm bells go off in our heads. We tend to be giant control freaks.

Anne: Are your songs refections of anything? Themes of events or other?

ATPA: Our songs are mainly reflections of the group's ideas and feelings which, in turn, creates a collective consciousness. Whether we're striving for independent artistic goals or lending to enhance the group dynamics, the final product reflects the conscious (and unconscious) minds of seven musicians in their environment. Sometimes we draw on themes we find around us as starting points for new ideas. For example, when Gary brought in an idea for a song with three different movements, we used the story of The Rocket (considered the forerunner of the first steam locomotives) and it's early trials as a thematic narrative for the song. The result was �Rocket Through� on The Jaws That Bite, The Claws That Catch .

Anne: When songs are written, does each member write their own segments or do they add to current structures? Explain me your music writing process.

ATPA: A stripped down framework for the song is usually brought in and from there we generate different ideas. We always do our best to have all seven of us present for the writing process which gives us that much more room to breath life into the music. The final product of a song (whether it takes 5 hours or a year of tweaking) is basically seven layers of sound based off the individual writing of each member and the addition of that to the group. As far as recording goes, most of us are present to discuss what we can add to the sound.

Anne: Please list the names of all the poets.

ATPA: Gary Udle, acoustic guitar , classical guitar ; Nathan Gara, percussion ; Kina de Grasse, cello , rhodes , vocals ; Ryan Griffin, electric bass ; Ryan Patterson, electric guitar ; Ben Belanger, trumpet , rhodes , electric guitar , synth , vocals ; Adam Saikaley, bass clarinet .

Anne: To my understanding some of the poets have other projects or artistic involvement of sorts. What do you guys do outside of the poets?

ATPA: Outside of the group I think everyone is secretly wishing they were back with the group in the studio writing music. On the off chance one of us is actually thinking about "real life" we find ourselves involved with many different things. Some of us are taking classes in arts or maths, learning new instruments, working day jobs, not working day jobs, reading, etc... Kina has been doing some art commissions (www.kina-ink.com) and Adam is furiously composing (www.amathea.ca). I really do think that most of our day involves thinking about writing new music and being back on the road playing shows.

Anne: Tell me about your last tour and the awful broken bus.

ATPA: Instead of a long and depressing tale full of gore and pirates, I offer up the following mathematical equation: bus + london - lots of transmission fluid + repair time - repair fees - three days + north bay - alternator - all bus operations + alternator repair time - alternator repair fees - one day = tour gone bust. The good news is everyone stayed extremely positive the entire time and, as sad as it was to be home, we immediately put all our energy into writing the new album. Needless to say there is definitely some edge to our new songs.

Anne: What influences you guys musically?

ATPA: This group is composed of a lot of very different people. One member's tastes are often vastly different from the next and this can, and has, lead to conflict, but ultimately I feel it's one of our strongest points. When everyone is bringing something completely different to the table it helps make sure the music doesn't stagnate. If three punks get together to make music it's going to be punk rock, which isn't a bad thing, but it's not what we want to be doing. We never know how to classify our music because we feel it has elements of all the arts throughout the ages. What influences us musically? Everything. For one it might be Big Beat , for another it might be the mighty Inbreds .

Anne: Tell me about your recording process. Do you find it challenging to record your very full set-up?

ATPA: Our first two records were recorded live off the floor, which was more or less easy for us. Our songs are so structured and rigid that playing straight and feeding off everyone else's energy was a very natural process. This next album we're recording one part at a time, which will be a challenge, but we're optimistic. We're just going to have to rely on the strength of the structure of each song and hope for the best.

Anne: What does the future hold for As The Poets Affirm?

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