In this interview, we chat with Montreal based Folks & Pines about their newest single, what attracted them to this style of music, and the challenges of surviving as an indie band in this digital world.
Full Q&A as well as a stream of their new single “Where Have We Gone” below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
Hey, Alex here. We are two songwriters in Folks & Pines for the moment; my brother and I. We have been very attracted to the same songwriting techniques, as we wrote most of our first songs together, way back then. Our guilty pleasures have always been slow and deep alternative/rock tracks with meaningful lyrics.
How long have you been creating and sharing your music with the public?
Our first project together dates back to 2009. I was 19 and my brother 14. Since then we have been recording and performing under different names, Folks & Pines being the latest, since I moved back to Canada and invited our sisters to join us.
Who or what influences your playing and/or writing? Also, what motivates you to keep going?
Any good song with real emotions. Whenever I hear a song that immediately digs into my chest, I know I need to do exactly that. Music does lift your soul. I guess we want to inspire the people around us and will keep doing what we do for this reason. In terms of songwriting, we love Ben Howard, Angus & Julia Stone and Bright Eyes, to name a few.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
Our first EP had a very RAW feel to it, which was intentional because we recorded everything in one take in a country house in the woods. It had that natural vibe. We went for a quite different sound on this song only to explore more textures and look for more depth in the music. I think the story of the song directed the production. I should also mention that we produce and mix everything ourselves.
What was the last song you listened to?
Into The Sea, by Port Blue (My alarm in the morning)
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
I think a good and well produced song will translate everywhere. I would say that the context in which you hear the song will have a much greater impact on your listening experience than anything else. but if you give me the choice, of course, just give me the best possible quality!
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
SoundCloud has been our favourite home 🙂 In terms of purchasing the music, Apple is my preferred service.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract listeners to your music?
I heard many times that there is a public for everything, you simply have to find it. We’ll always stay true to us. But if more people can relate to what you create and are attracted to it, your chances grow. We’re putting our hearts out there and exploring ways that can hopefully hook people in. Then, visibility depends on who decides to share what you do.
Do you gig, tour or perform? Do you ever live stream? Where can music lovers see you live?
We performed our EP at different venues in Montreal over the last year and we are now in a more creative phase. We do love a good gig and you can follow where we’ll play next on BandsInTown.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more of your music?
Our Facebook page is the best way to follow us on a more daily basis 🙂 We share pictures, thoughts and news there!
Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?
“If you can touch only one person with your art, your job is done.” I’m pretty sure someone once said that. Thanks for the interview Joshua! We like the ideas driving the blog!
