Intervju: Bravestation

Runt påsk kunde ni läsa om bandet Bravestations intåg i mitt liv - Bandet som inte bara satte ord på de tankar jag haft utan som också gjorde att min nyfikenhet växte när jag fick nys om historier kring såväl bandnamn som texttolkningar. I förra veckan fick jag tillfälle att byta ett par ord med Derek Wilson från bandet, ett tillfälle att komma männen bakom ljudet närmare.

I've heard at least one of you has a connection to Sweden, could you tell us more about that?
I was born in Växjö, Sweden. My dad was playing pro hockey over there for a few years, I haven't been since but hope to make it back some day.

Tell us a little about how the band was formed.
Devin, Jeremy and I played in bands for years under a few different names including The Blazers & Arizona Ice - it wasn't until we moved to Toronto for recording/producing & graphic design schools that we met Andrew while working on our demo for a year end school project.

Your bandname is inspired by Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World and Robert J. Hastings essey The Station - can you explain it?
There are some riveting themes in Brave New World; the idea of using social satire through concepts like reproductive technology and sleep learning to convey a dark futuristic vision has been very influential on our lyric writing. Hastings' essay just has such a positive message; the notion that you can't let fear of the future or regret of the past control your life is absolutely massive.

Is there a song on the EP which you are particularly proud of?
White Wolves definitely captures a certain energy and darkness that we really identify with; it has both a haunting and hopeful quality to it that really resonates with us. But I think we're equally as proud of Clocks & Spears and Colour Us With Youth as each of them take you into their own perspective worlds.

As you already know Colour Us With Youth is a favorite of mine - therefore I have to ask, what went through your minds while writing it?
The song is about not letting age define you and the possibility of creating a place in your mind that allows you defy time and space. It also touches on some other themes though, like the lyric 'I will be cultured and you will be tricked' expresses the idea that there's a certain naivety that exists within all of us. The overarching theme of being young, and then growing old is just so profound - Colour Us With Youth tries to capture that and make time stand still.

You are now on a UK tour - how has your music been recieved? and when will you visit Sweden?
Our UK tour has been an incredible experience to date and we've played to some awesome/receptive audiences - it's our first time playing outside of Canada and touring, so we're really enjoying the peaks and valleys that life on the road has to offer. We just played Evolution festival in Newcastle, UK, and that was absolutely surreal sharing the stage with Iggy and The Stooges, The Kills and Two Door Cinema Club. We're hoping to visit mainland Europe in 2012!

Mention some band/artist that the readers of bakomljudet should check out.
Freedom or Death, Nightbox, Young Empires.