Bloggity Interviews

Looking to find out more about Canada's (and the world's) most intresting celebrities? You've come to the right place!

Interview: Peter Chao breaks big!

For the past year, Canada has been keeping a dirty little secret.

His name is Peter Chao and whether you like he him or not, he has become one of our country’s biggest YouTube stars. And when I say you might not like him, I mean it. His sense of humor would make Sarah Silverman shutter and even George Carlin would tell him not to swear so much, but youtube viewers don’t seem to mind!

In his videos, Chao talks about anything that is on his mind. Sometimes he rants about dating, Kanye West, Twilight or even his small-penis. Like I said, anything.

His videos regularly attract more than a million views and in a little over a year, he has become the fourth most subscribed personality of all-time!

Chao is based in Vancouver and often gets stopped on the street by screaming fans. I recently got the chance to chat with the rising-Canadian star about where he’s been, where he’s going and what how he plans on getting himself on an Olympic medal!

***a little bit of a warning, the content is definitely for grown-ups, maybe you should watch one of his videos first, just to know what you are in for!***

What was Peter Chao doing two years ago?

Two years ago, PChao in HK going to college and my mark go down from A+ to A- and Mama Chao say how am I going to be so smart if I don’t get Straight A+. So that prostitute tell me come to Canada where even if I get A-, I make all the White ppl look like certify retard.

Do you have plans for the Olympics?

I have plan to hit up the medal ceremony! I wish I can knock over the winner and stand on top of podium but then I will get kill by policeman and security. That’s no good.

What is your idea of a great first day?

Fucking.

You’ve just released a line of t-shirts, what is next in the Peter Chao line?

More and more design to come – I work with very talent graphic designer and we work together on the ideas. I want to give all my fans the choice, not just one shirt or two shirt like all other YouTubers.

Mama Chao has already made an appearance in your videos, will we be seeing other members of your family?

If I ever find my asshole father, I try to see if he want in the video. Maybe I find him at Olympics.

What’s the craziest fan encounter you’ve had?

All my fan usually pretty shy but I guess the guy that shout out to me from his BMW – he was pretty hardcore. Of course a lot of female fan want the date with me. And if they not so ugly – I say YES!

You love The Arka Teks, what other bands to you listen to?

I listen to a lot of rap, I can relate a lot with Kanye because he a big asshole just like me! I love myself! And Tik Tok by Kesha – that shit stay in your head for long time! Anything with poppy commercial sound make me groove better!

Follow Peter Chao on Twitter

or check out the rest of his videos….if you dare!

Categories: interview,peter chao
Tags: ,

4 Comments

Interview: Farber for Life

It’s no secret that being a Canadian actor is difficult. Any actor who’s landed one role on a t.v. series will tell you how grateful they are. Rarely does it happen twice, especially before you’ve turned twenty-three years old. Unless, of course, you’re Stacey Farber.

Most people know Farber as the emotionally turbulent Elly Nash on the long-running show Degrassi: The Next Generation. For seven years she was a fan favourite as Canadians watched her grow up on stage. But now her fans can catch Farber on the new CBC series 18 to Life. She and co-star Michael Seater (Life With Derek) play a couple who decide to tie the knot at the tender age of 18.

Four weeks in, it looks like Farber can add a second television hit to her resume. And she couldn’t be more excited. “I’m thrilled, I knew the show was good when we shot the pilot two years ago. I’ve been working on it for a really long time and I’m excited that people finally get to enjoy it.”

And CBC seems to agree: although word on a second season won’t be official until April, you would’ve had to have been under a rock not to notice Farber and Seater’s faces plastered all over the country. “It is so embarrassing, it on subways, billboards, magazine, it’s everywhere. I got into a taxi the other day and there was a magazine that was lining the floor of the cab. The magazine had our ad on the back and I got to put my dirty boots on my face, I thought it was funny or ironic, or something like that.”

It’d be impossible to talk to Stacy and not bring up Degrassi. “I loved being on Degrassi and I really liked playing Ellie.” And what about the difference between her character on 18 to Life? Jessie hasn’t tried to do bodily harm to herself once. “Now that my run on that show is done, I can look at it like this complete thing, from start to finish. I can break down the character for the good and bad things. If I could have picked a character, I would have picked Ellie. I had the best storyline in the movie and it all concluded there. But Jessie is definitely different!” So what if Stacey had an 18-year-old of her own? Would she let her get married so young? “Oh my god, I can’t think about that. Probably not no, but she’d be a legal adult. That’s the trouble in our pilot.”
What makes 18 to Life so strong is its supporting cast. Jessie and Tom’s parents are played by Canadian stage veterans Peter Keleghan, Ellen David, Al Goulem, and Angela Asher. Combined with Seater and Farber, that’s a lot of Canadian talent! “It is an interesting dynamic, Michael Seater is a real pro and more experienced than I am, he’s gone through series to series since he was eight years old. And I definitely have a lot more experience than most Canadian actresses, just from being on Degrassi. We bring a unique amount of knowledge about the industry. And in some ways even though the actors that play our parents have been doing this for a long time, we’ve experienced some things that they haven’t. We learn from them in terms of technique or acting within a scene, but I feel they were impressed with how much we knew how the industry worked.”

Since she and Seater are playing a newly married couple, their dialogue switches pretty frequently between talking about homework to arguing about morning sex. Should her younger Degrassi fans take note? “I did think about that, but I’d be more concerned with Michael’s fan base is even younger because of Life With Derek. That is a much more clean-cut show than Degrassi, where as my younger fan-base has already seen me to do really racy things on Degrassi. The topics on that show were far more controversial than anything we would show on 18 to Life. There is a lot of kissing and reference to sex, but it is a pretty wholesome show.”

With the first season complete, the recent university graduate is like so many other Canadian actors: looking for work. “It seems that there isn’t that much to audition for in Toronto right now. I’ve never really done the whole ‘professional actor-waiting around thing’ before, so this is the first time and from what I’ve heard, things are really quite during the winter.” But it hasn’t been a complete dry spell: Farber just filmed two high-profile projects, a new movie for MTV called Made and an episode of the CTV hit Flashpoint.

Like many actors, Farber has begun using Twitter (@staceyfarber18) to connect with her fans. And as for reading blogs and googling herself? “I used to when I was in university and I would spend lots more time on the computer, but now I spend way less time on the computer, but I haven’t been that good at following websites or reading blogs.”
Lastly, I know that Degrassi fans would hate me if I didn’t ask the inevitable question: have we seen the last of Ellie Nash? “I don’t know, I don’t think so. They are still going, but it’s always open-ended, but I haven’t been on contract for that show for years. I wouldn’t say it is over for good, but all my story lines were wrapped up in the movie, so I would be hesitant to go back from some fluffy b-plot in an episode.”
What is exciting about Stacey is that even though we’ve seen her do so much already, you get a sense that she is just getting started. She is definitely one to watch…..tonight….on 18 To Life….on CBC.

Categories: interview,stacy farber
Tags: ,,

1 Comment

Interview: The Republic of Allan Hawco

>


You’ve never met anyone as driven as Allan Hawco. The star of The Republic of Doyle also created, writes and produces the CBC’s newest drama, which premieres on Wednesday night. So how did he do it? Surprisingly, he didn’t have to sleep with a single person at CBC. Seriously. I asked.

“I feel like the luckiest freaking guy in the world. My lawyer and co-executive producer of the show Michael Levine played a huge part,” said the rising Canadian star. “We pitched CBC a number of shows to them and this was the one. I dusted it off before the meeting. I loved it and I pitched after the other ones bombed.”

The show, about a father-and-son private investigating firm, was filmed entirely in Saint John’s. Allan’s character (and series namesake) Jake Doyle is as Newfoundland as they come. But don’t expect the series to play into any Newfie stereotypes. “When it came to stereotypes, I had a notion of what I didn’t want to do. But for the most part, I just try to tell the story from an authentic place for me. Let’s find the comedy from places that are authentic scenarios, from places that anyone in the world would find funny.”

As with many Canadian stars, Hawco has been working long and hard. Having graduated from the prestigious and impossible-to-get-into (believe me, I know) National Theatre School, Allan moved to Toronto only to discover that the theatre wasn’t exactly for him. At the behest of his agent he tried doing film and television work, and he hasn’t looked back since. And at the same time, he hasn’t completely turned his back on theatre, either. “I wanted to be the master of my own destiny. So we started our own theatre company too.”
When talking with Allan, you get the sense that he knows he didn’t get to where he is on his own. He is quick to name his good friend Shamus O’Reagan (Canada AM), who introduced Hawco to his lawyer. And he also makes sure to give everyone credit for the work they’ve done on the show. But what about his old buddies on the island? “Yeah everyone says they want work, but they are just fooling around. What’s the old expression? ‘It is show business, it is not friend-business.’ But everyone knows what is going on–they are great supporters.”

Since beginning production back in July, the show has been building its own buzz. Thanks to CBC’s relentless promotion of, Republic of Doyle is poised to make a big debut on Wednesday.

So far one of the highest compliments he’s received came from his own provincial government, whose funding allowed the show to be made. “After the funding was decided, the finance minister said to me, ‘We’re making this decision because we believe in it culturally.’ That’s pretty sweet; that is something I never thought I would hear. When I was younger, I was very skeptical about politics. And I never thought I would in the position to hear that from my government.”

With the hours ticking down to his show’s debut, Hawco is reflective about what it took him to get here. “All I can do is focus on what I want to do. You go after what you think is going to be a good TV show and hope that it works out the way you want it to.” Like many Canadian actors, his path hasn’t always been clear. “There was a time when I was sitting in bars complaining about shit all the time. But I get really depressed; when I’m not happy, I get really sad. So I have to push myself and I have a lot of great support.”

I’ll have a full review of Republic of Doyle tomorrow. I can assure you, however, that Allan Hawco has nothing to be depressed about.

Categories: interview,republic of doyle
Tags: ,

No Comments

Interview: Newest VJ Liz Trinnear

>

Seven days ago Liz Trinnear‘s life changed forever.

That is because, last Friday, the 21-year-old London, Ontario, native became the envy of the thousands of Canadians, by winning the MuchMusic VJ search.

From early on, it was easy to tell that she would be hard to beat. She’s stylish, relatable, talented, kinda-nerdy and knows her music. Already industry insiders are saying that Liz’s win marks a bold step forward for Muchmusic: To be cool again.

I got a chance to interview Liz this week about what it was like winning, especially as the first girl ever to do so! I was also curious whether or not she was going to be able to handle being an instant celebrity herself, and what was her plan in case she didn’t win.
Describe the five minutes leading up to you winning the VJ Search.

The entire day was a blur. It was so nerve-racking that it became surreal and it didn’t register until we walked down to make-up and then it clicked, “this is happening. I either walk out of here with a new career start or go back to school and move on to future endeavors.” I re-watched the episode and all my nervous feelings came rushing back, even though this time I knew the outcome. I had intense butterflies in my stomach during the show, and I remember staring at the floor while repeating “please say Liz, please say Liz” to keep from falling over.
You are the first girl to ever win the VJ search, do you feel extra pressure to represent all the girls who watch Much?
It’s quite crazy when you put it in those terms. It’s a weird feeling. No matter who won this competition, male or female, the pressure remains the same to do your best and put your best foot forward. For me, I am just like any other kid. I have lived through high school and gone through the normal day to day challenges that teenagers deal with. My life experiences have made me who I am today and have got me this far. The pressure for me is to stay true to myself on screen and off screen. If anything, winning this competition should be an inspiration for teens to just chase their dreams.
You got to work with past winners like Devon and Tim, what kind of advice did they have for you as a contestant.
Both of them gave me excellent advice throughout the entire week. They agreed that it’s important to stay yourself, have fun and work hard. Devon noted that “regardless of who wins, this is a huge accomplishment to make it this far.” He also said that we should take a moment to sit back acknowledge how far we had come and that this is not the end, only a new beginning. Tim’s expertise helped it came to my nerves with his little tips and tricks on calming the mind and staying focused. They’ve both been in our shoes before so it was comforting to hear they went through the same things as we did.
How integral was the use of social media to you winning?
For me social networking platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube all played a major role in connecting with MuchMusic’s audience and fans. We are living in a digital era and social media was essential in showing MuchMusic that we were received and liked by the audience. On a personal level, these networking sites and fan forums helped keep my thoughts positive. When you get home from a day of competing and you open your inbox and see someone from across the country, that I would never normally have the chance to talk to, is interacting with you – that means a lot. Their kind words of encouragement make your day, and keep your ambitions high. I am a huge fan of Twitter and Facebook so it was great to focus on a competition that was “with it” and very relatable to today’s youth.
Did you have a plan of action in case you didn’t win?
I had a back-up plan all along because honestly, I was never fully confident that I would be the next VJ. My competitors each had a lot to offer. It’s important to stay optimistic but realistic at the same time. Needless to say I am beyond stoked that I can live the dream of being a VJ. For me, this is a new learning platform that I am thrilled to indulge myself in.
The Muchmusic VJs have always become celebrities in their own right, are you looking forward to that aspect of the job?
You know, I absolutely love what MuchMusic has to offer. A career with music and pop culture surrounding you at all times, is my dream. I know with this job, comes a lot of responsibility and “limelight” that I am not used to. However, I plan to remain myself and remain grounded by my friends and family. It’s surreal when people ask for my picture or autograph. In my head I’m still the same person and not a “celebrity.” I’m just a kid whose fortunate enough to have a wicked job!
As the new VJ, you have are given a unique voice to talk about music. Are there any artists or bands that you think all Canadians must know about?
One thing I love most about Canada is our music scene. I follow many local acts and think its important to support them. If I were to say a few bands off the top of my head I’d say:

And there are so many more! On that note, I always tweet about music and update my music blog on a regular basis, so I plan to keep doing that. (Follow her: I appreciate a WIDE spectrum of music and I hope I can share that love with MuchMusic fans.

*********************************************
And with those choices, none of which are in the music station’s rotation, I think we can all see how great Liz is going to be for MuchMusic. Let’s just hope they are ready for her!

Categories: interview,liz trinnear,muchmusic,vj search
Tags: ,,

No Comments

My lunch date with Erin Karpluk!

>

Guess who I just had lunch with…..

Swoon. Drool. Palpitate. It’s Being Erica’s Erin Karpluk.
Best lunch ever? Probably. Correction, Easily.

For two hours we talk about all things Erica, including the horrible wig she wore during this week’s futuristic episode. If you haven’t seen the wig, it was bad. Like really really bad (see below.) We also had a good laugh over next week’s episode which involves Erica catching Ethan doing “you know what” to his “you know what.” Another example of how Being Erica isn’t your mother’s CBC drama.

The second season of the show has already wrapped filming, but don’t worry we still have five episodes to get us through the Fall. I don’t know what I can necessarily talk about, without incurring the wrath of CBC publicists, but Erin said that the season finale shocked even her. Will it be as shocking as last year’s episode, when Dr. Tom quit? “It is a different kind of shocking”, she teased. We will also see the return of huge guest character in the finale, one that many people will be happy to see return.
But we didn’t just talk about Being Erica. Now that the second season is done filming and she awaits word on a third season renewal (hopefully by January), Erin is busy filming another TV show called Life UneXpected. The show is filming in Vancouver and will be airing in January on the CW. Sadly, Erin doesn’t have the lead role, which is seem to sorta be happy about. She seems perfectly content to have someone else carry the show for a while. For now, she’ll be a recurring character on the series that also stars Kerr Smith (Dawson’s Creek) and Shiri Appleby (Roswell).
And even though the waitress kept trying to give us the bill, I couldn’t possibly end the conversation. Erin had lots of really interesting things to say about the industry and why she has devoted her life to it.
We talked about how important it to set goals and and to keep focused, especially when it comes to your career. Erin was also really honest when it came to talking about the sacrifices she has made for her work including jobs, weddings, reunions and even relationships. (Yes, gentlemen and my roommate, she is single.) But for now she is focused on acting and knows that she wants to have a career when she is sixty. That is something I don’t think a lot of actors think about. They tend to live in the right now, but Erin doesn’t seem that way at all. She loves her job and it shows.
I think one of my favourite parts of our chat was when she said that she really hopes that she wins the Gemini for Best Actress next week, so she can take the time to thank all the people that help behind the scenes. She learned from her Drama degree to appreciate everyone that works on the show and that’s not just about the actors.
Seriously? Swoon. Drool. Swoon some more.
With that, the waitress finally and rather aggressively put the bill on the table and our lunch date was done. She’ll be back in Calgary next week for the Geminis and you can catch Being Erica every Tuesday on CBC. Life UneXpected debuts on the CW in January. And if she isn’t busy enough I’ve instructed her to start watching GLEE and to try to get a role on Grey’s Anatomy when she moves to the States next year. All in a days work for Erin Karpluk.
***
Want more Erin? Check out my interview with her on the set of Being Erica.

Categories: being erica,CBC,glee,interview
Tags:

1 Comment

Interview: Puppetry of The Penis

>
It’s hard to ignore any press release that starts with: “Calgary Loves The Penis.” Assuming it wasn’t about one of our alderman, I continued reading.

Since the, I’ve been struggling all week with how to describe Puppetry of The Penis. I’m mean sure, the title says a lot, but does it say it all? I’ll let the perfectly worded press release speak for itself:
“Requiring amazing concentration, astonishing stamina, an unbelievable stretch factor and a remarkable level of testicular fortitude, this show leaves women and men gasping at over 40 heroic and hilarious penis installations including the Pelican, The Windsurfer, The Eiffel Tower, Loch Ness Monster,and their signature installation, the hamburger.”

Intrigued? Horrified? I think I’m a little of both. And in case you are wondering, they classify the show as an adult, non-sexual show. So use your own discretion. This also means that for me and my friends, it’s a must see.
Puppetry of The Penis is currently on a cross Canada trek and because I was desperately curious, I got the chance to ask Puppet Masters Rich Binning and Christopher J. Cannon, a couple of questions about their seemingly questionable career choices.
Obviously it must take a lot to make you blush. What exactly makes you blush?
Rich Binnging: Honestly, I hate people looking at my bare feet. They’re not gross or anything, but I get really uncomfortable when people look at them. Sneakers are the only thing we wear during the show, thank God!
Chris Cannon: Because there are times during the show when I have my back to the audience, I get self conscious when people yell comments about my butt. Thank god I can turn around and show them my dick instead.
How did you introduce your career choice to your parents?
RB: My mom had never heard of the show before, so I started by explaining that I got offered an off-Broadway and U.S./ Canadian tour contract for a comedy show…. oh, and I’m naked…. the whole time…. and I’m making shapes out of my genitals. It kind of blew her mind, but she flew out to New York to see it. She was very proud of me. She’s also taking a busload of people from my hometown to see us in Chicago.
CC: I actually saw this show with my mother several years ago in Portland. I’m sure there was the element of surprise when she saw her own son, but she was happy for me and has seen the show a few times with me in it.
Do people ever try to show you their own penis installations?
RB: Hardly ever. We try to get guys to join us on stage to make a hamburger, but they usually get shy. Maybe only 25% of the time does any guy join us on stage. But we encourage it, and we’re all about seeing some new installations!
CC: Once a guy came and joined us on stage and he was trying to get hard. Very weird… actually it was beyond weird.
Are there any installations that you are currently working on that you can’t seem to figure out?
RB: Currently we’re working on a couple new prop tricks, an E.T., which will require a red light to shine through our scrotum. Also we’re working on a Dolly Parton. We haven’t found the right wig yet, but our balls will come in handy to create her boobs.
CC: A typical day consists of Rich running into my hotel room with a new trick. Every now and then we unveil one for an audience.
Are there other types of puppetry you are interested in trying? Marionettes perhaps?
RB: My old college roommate is really big in the real puppet world. He got me interested in puppeteering while we were in school. I doubt he would consider what we do in the show actual puppeteering, but it sure is creative! I’m a little nervous about tying a string around my penis, but doing a little marionette routine might be fun.
CC: Are there other types of puppetry you are interested in trying? Marionettes perhaps? Penis Puppetry is good enough for me! Just working on my ventriloquism.
Tickets for PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS on Wednesday, October 28th at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in Calgary are available at EPCOR Centre or at ticketmaster.ca
Other upcoming dates will see PoP doing shows in Winnipeg, Kitchener and Hamilton.

Categories: interview,puppetry of the penis
Tags: ,

No Comments

Interview: Erin Karpluk

>
You would have to be living under a rock to not have heard of CBC’s Being Erica (Soapnet in the States). Posters are everywhere, commercials are non-stop and the ratings? Well, like all cult-ish shows, the ratings aren’t amazing. But they were good enough for CBC to bring the show back for a second season, of course it helped that the critics and fans of the show would have rioted worse than they did when they got rid of the Hockey Night in Canada song. Plus I’m sure the show’s nine Gemini nominations didn’t hurt. The show’s star, Erin Karpluk and Michael Riley, both picked up nominations for the awards, which are handed out next month.

I had the opportunity to visit the Being Erica set. I also got the chance to chat with Erin and she literally couldn’t be nicer and more gracious. I was interested to see how Erin was dealing with the rocketing popularity of the show, what it was like to be Canadian actress and most importantly what was in store for the one and only, Erica Strange.

Now that you are almost done filming the second season, how is the experience different than filming the first?
It wasn’t so different, I kind of felt like I was coming home. I had no idea what was in store for the second season, but it felt very natural to come back. I was excited to get going, especially once I started reading the scripts. They took it (the show) in such a different direction. I felt like if Erica kept going in the same direction, how many regrets can this girl have? When I read the first script of the second season, they blew open the doors of the show and I was really excited!
Between Erica’s co-workers, friends and family, the show’s cast is quite big; is that something that continues in the second season?
Absolutely. Whenever Erika travels time-travels, the same people need to be there for certain points in her life. Ethan, Judith, Jenny, Katie are there. Plus some of the guest stars like Alex Berlin and Zack from Erica’s High School are back too.
I have regrets all over Canada, but Erica’s seem to be mostly in Toronto. Will Erica be doing some traveling?
A lot of them are at University, Camp, she goes to Taipei as an ESL teacher.
One of the show’s most popular episodes was Everything She Wants, where Cassidy, a girl from Erica’s past, tries to seduce her. Anna Silk is now nominated for a Gemini for her portrayal of Cassidy. Will there be more to that story?
Well actually, there is a post-card from Cassidy that is on Erica’s Desk. She gave it to her at the end of that episode. It’s there if you are really looking for it. So Cassidy is never far from Erica’s thoughts. That is by far my favourite episode of the season. I wasn’t sure about it at first but, the message that you can give your body but not your mind, you can give your mind to somebody but not your body. But who do you give both to? If you are going to watch one episode of the first season, I always tell people to watch that one.
This year’s Geminis are going to be in Calgary. Since you were born in Jasper, what does it mean for you to have the awards in Alberta?
So Amazing! It’s my home province. I’m just so happy that the show is nominated. My family is my date, so it’s good for them too. I have lots of friends there, so I can get some visits in at the same time.
Being Erica has a huge online following. What is Erin Karpluk’s life like online? Do you google yourself?
When the show first came out, I read a couple of reviews of the show. And then I got away from it. It’s better for me to stick to my job and do my best. We’re so lucky because for the most part, it’s all positive online. There is a facebook site that is dedicated to Erica Strange, but I don’t run it. Although, there is an Erin Karpluk fan page that I have someone help me with.
What do you think of the recent resurgence of Canadian shows, especially south of the border?
It’s always a hard question for me, because I’ve made my living doing Canadian television. And I’ve been apart of wonderful Canadian shows like Godiva’s. The cast and crew was awesome on that, and I thought the production values were great. I get the compliment that Being Erica doesn’t look “Canadian”, but it’s double-sided for me. Because I’m so proud of the work that the cast and crews have done in the past. But yeah, we definitely can compete with American shows. Everything about the show is Canadian, the actors, the crew, quite a lot of the music. It can definitely stand on outside of Canada. And I like that they use Toronto for itself, so that’s exciting.
As a Canadian actress, do you have a preference to work on Canadian or American projects?
Unfortunately, you go where the work is. There are projects that I’d want to be of more than others, but I think that is sort of standard. And that’s the thing, I don’t really get the East cost, West Coast rift. And I certainly don’t have any quams with the States and Canada. If you are an actor, you go where the work is. I love that I get to travel for my job. You’ve had so many great things come out of Being Erica.
What was your first “pinch me” moment with the show?
There are so many. When we wrapped last year, we were shooting all day and then the producers came down with champagne for everyone. The whole crew was in the studio and I was shooting up until the last second. I love our cast and crew and they gave me a little gift, and I just felt overwhelmed by how much we had accomplished in five months and by how much I was supported by these talented people and being so grateful for their professionalism, I was going to say something, but then I got a little teary eyed, so I just said “Let’s Party!”
Being Erica airs Tuesday night’s on CBC. You can watch full episodes for free on their website.

side note: It should be pointed out that I have Erin Karpluk on audio saying that she reads and loves Mike’s Bloggity Blog. I can die a happy bald man.

Categories: being erica,CBS,interview
Tags: ,

2 Comments

Interview: Dallas Green

>Check out my review of the City and Colour Concert



Dallas Green has two very distinct groups of fans. Those who love the scream rock of AlexisonFire and the others who love the often sad and poignant songs Green releases with City and Colour. But for the Canadian musician, who has been playing guitar since he was eight years old, he is just happy to be playing music at all. Especially for his fans, who are driving force for the busy singer/songwriter. The Juno Award winner appreciates the awards, but casually admits that they don’t mean much to him. His fans are the reason he stays so motivated. 

Dallas Green is currently playing a series of sold out shows across Canada. Hours before his show in Calgary, I got the chance to sit down with him and talk about the being called lucky, guilty pleasures, facing his roadblocks, American Idol judges, being young and stupid and what he hopes to being doing in 50 years.
Tonight you are a playing a sold out venue that seats 2400 people, when you began releasing City and Colour discs, did you expect all of this? 
No! I didn’t even really expect to play that many shows, let alone at a place like this. These are places that I never thought that I would be able to sing in, but now I can, so that is really cool. Is selling out venues across the country, what you deem being successful? Yeah, the awards don’t really mean anything to me, but the fact that I can be playing and people can come to the show and have a moment together, as opposed to accolades, makes me feel like I’m doing something right. 
So are your show’s interactive? 
I try to yeah! I try to keep them as loose as possible, as much as a comedy show as possible. I tell stories and interact. The songs are sad in a way, so I like to try and balance that and be as goofy as I can. 
You have fiercely loyal fans who often pick two or three different editions of the same album. What is that like for you?
 The cool thing about nowadays is that everybody expects more. We put out the record, and then re-released it with different artwork with all the demos that we made, so people can hear how the songs were created. Then we did the Itunes Session where we played five or six live songs. It’s like re-recording the album but with different interpretations. I think if you are willing to put yourself out there, the mediums are there to do the extra stuff that people expect. I think you have to use the internet to your advantage. Now you have things like the exclusive Itunes sessions or bonus songs for pre-downloading the record. There is so much an artist can do now. 
Having been successful in two very different genres of music, how do you set goals for yourself now?
 I think my main goal in life is to continue to make music. It’s not really a sense of “I’ve done that, now I have to do this.” I’m not really good at anything else, so I never really thought about a back-up plan. I plan and hope to be doing this a long time. I think my main goal is longevity. I love music so much that I want to play music until I can’t anymore. 
What sort of roadblocks did you encounter in becoming a musician?
 The biggest one for me was getting over the fact that nothing was going to happen for me. I had to go and work for it. When I finished high school, I thought “okay, I’m going to be a musician and play in a couple of bars and things are going to happen for me.” But that was because I was young and stupid. But then I realized that that is not the way it is. There is a lot of luck involved to become a successful entertainer. Think of all the very talented people out there, who just never get a chance. 
So are you okay with people saying that you are lucky? 
I totally am. I’m very lucky to have not only one, but two successful projects. I believe that I do work hard at what I do and that I try my best. But at the same time I am lucky, people appreciate what I’m doing and because so many people don’t have that opportunity. 
So what do musicians have to do who are now where you used to be? 
You just got to go and play for people. I feel like Canadian and American Idol, excuse the idea of what fame can be. I think it has given people a lot of hope that they can just stand in line and sing for a bunch of idiots and that’s it for them. But that’s not what it’s about for me. It’s about honing your craft, not singing karaoke.
 So is it frustrating for you?
 It’s frustrating to see kids believe in that. But I feel they should spend time learning about music, not just trying one thing. They should have an open mind. Back when the classics weren’t classics yet, they didn’t have everything to look at. They just had a couple of different kinds of music. But now in 2009, kids have a barrage of music to listen to. They can be influenced by so many different types of music, it just don’t make any sense to be closed minded. 
So do you think we can expect different types of City and Colour albums in the future? 
I’ve always been attracted to sadder types of songs. I do write all my songs in a down trotted manner because of my voice, but just because they sound said, doesn’t mean they are. Everyone imagines that my song “Waiting” is sad because I say “we are all just waiting to die”, but it’s not about that. It’s about living life and not being caught up in all the small things, because we do not need to rush through things. But because it’s written the way I it is, people think it’s a sad song. 
Do you find you have to explain your songs a lot? 
Sometimes, but most of my songs are pretty straight forward. I’m not really known for the words that I write. That’s fine because I know I’m not a brilliant writer. I just try to describe situation as simple as possible, because I’m just a simple guy.
 So are your parents happy that they can choose the lighter sounding City and Colour?
 My parents love AlexisonFire. My dad got the new album the other day and he was telling me about all the songs he likes. They really love both. My parents are big music fans,
and that is one of the reasons I got into it. They are the ones that got me guitar lessons even though they never really played music, but I know they always wanted to. 
So what other creative outlets do you have? 
I am terrible at art, probably one of the worst artists there are. My favorite hobby is skateboarding. It’s a passion. I love skateboarding. But I’ve toned it down now that I’m older, because when I fall it hurts a lot more. I think music and skateboarding go hand and hand because you all you need ist just that one thing. To make music, you don’t even need a guitar, you can just sing. One thing I love about skateboarding is that I’m a really big worrier, I worry about everything. But when I’m skateboarding I worry about nothing. I just think about how much fun I’m having. 
Any guilty pleasures you want to admit to?
See for me, I don’t believe in guilty pleasures. For you to like something is your own business. You shouldn’t feel guilty about something you like. If you have your Ipod and your earphones, then it’s just you and your music. I have a Fabulous Female playlist with Beyonce, JoJo and Mary J Blige, if I like the song, I like the song. I don’t feel bad about it. Music is the most subjective thing there is. So what’s the point of having a guilty pleasure. 
City and Colour (listen here) has shows in both Montreal and Toronto later this week. 
AlexisonFire’s (listen here) next album, Old Crows/Young Cardinals is out JUNE 23, 2009.

Categories: city and colour,interview,montreal
Tags: ,

2 Comments

Twitterview: Jann Arden

>I was late to the Twitter era, but I think I’m finally warming up to it. I see now that Twitter gives us unprecedented access to those we have always admired and those that we admire but with overwhelming embarrassment. However, as I recently learned, perhaps the greatest part about Twitter is the twitterview.

The twitterview is a relatively new experience for journalists because it’s the rare form of interview you can in your underwear. You can do it while you are vacuuming or while your waiting for the movie to start. You can do it while you are breaking up with someone or even while sitting on the toilet. An interview like this can work because it works on both your schedules. You get around to it, when you get around to it. Plus the 140 character limit stops artists from yammering on about things to the point that even you forget what the question was.

The subject of my first Twitterview was the always hilarious Canadian songstress Jann Arden. Jann has a loyal group of just under 1000 followers. Jann is a regular updater on Twitter, which is a must for any twitterview to be successful. Jann seems all to happy to hand out advice, tips or jokes with any of her fans that that @ her. As I twittered Jann over the period of four days, we talked about collaborations, reality shows, wasted jokes and most importantly, Twitter.

@jannarden Do you have a dream collaboration?
@mikesbloggity I would have loved to have worked with the Carpenters….but, ….such is life.

@jannarden I have 25 emails from fans that “love you”. Gay, straight, boys, girls. Why does your music have such broad appeal?
@mikesbloggity I think I have always written about simple human sentiment. I am not political, I am emotional. Humor helps as well.

@jannarden How important is the internet for you as an artist? Twitter? Myspace? Blogging, Facebook etc.
@mikesbloggity I think it’s very important to have a presence on the “Net”…it’s where people are getting their news. Paper is gone….

@jannarden Do you have a “holy shit I can’t believe this is happening to me” moment that sticks out the most?

@mikesbloggity Meeting Richard Carpenter.

@jannarden Why is it important for you to stay based in Alberta and with your family?
@mikesbloggity It’s where I belong. I am part of this land and I am drawn to it like a ship to a lighthouse. My family is my home.
@jannarden Having accomplished so much already, do you still have unachieved goals? How do you set new ones?
@mikesbloggity I am not a goal setter at all! I just wake up and deal with the day. I know that’s not a great plan, but so far, so good.

@jannarden yes it has. Do you hate wasting a joke on someone who didn’t hear it or didn’t think it was funny, as much as do?

@mikesbloggity A joke is never wasted! it lingers in joke heaven until you can unleash it on the next unsuspecting fool. Ultimate recycler!
@jannarden: Where do you see the future of Canadian music?
@mikesbloggity: The future is going to be dazzling. Canada is a country full of brilliant singer/songwriters who will continue to rule!!

@jannarden: What CD is really turning your crank nowadays? What about TV?
@mikesbloggity: I am loving Adele. I love BBC mini series of any kind. I love the NY times book reviews on Sundays. “The Glass Castle”..book

@jannarden: I always forget about books. Lastly, words of advice for artists that depend too much on reality shows for making it big?
@mikesbloggity Fame is fleeting. Real artistry comes with much time and perfecting of one’s kraft. It’s not a contest. Never will be.

*******
Check out other interviews (of the regular nature) with Matthew Barber, Sarah Slean and Carly Rae Jepsen

Categories: interview,jann arden,twitterview
Tags:

No Comments

Carly Rae Jepsen: Anything but Idle

>
You don’t often hear much from any of Canadian Idol winners after the confetti slowly stops falling from the rafters. You hear even less from the runner ups and third place finishers. Luckily Carly Rae Jepsen seems to be bucking the trend.

When the 5th season of Canadian Idol came to an end, Jepsen had many opportunities in front of her, she could have made some rash decisions. Instead she took her time. And now, two years after her Idol run, the BC native has her first independent CD, Tug of War and a slow-burning single that currently sits on the Top 20 lists across Canada.

Jepsen is currently on tour with fellow Canadian acts Mariana’s Trench and Shiloh. At her recent stop in Calgary, I got the chance to talk to Carly Rae while sitting in a dark stairwell about life after Idol, traveling the country and why she threw up the first time she heard her song on the radio.

Your first tour across Canada was with your Canadian Idol finalists. And now you are touring with Mariana’s Trench and Shiloh. How is this tour different?
You can’t compare it to the first one, it’s so night and day. It’s a different ball game, I’m promoting my own music, I’m touring with a very successful band. I’m learning about merchandise, about audiences, about what it takes to get from hotel to hotel with a sketchy GPS. It’s a little more gruelling, it’s not as cushey the Idol Tour.

Some people regret being on Idol what are your thoughts?
It was a great opportunity to meet everyone in Canada and get my name out there. But, it wasn’t representing the type of music I planned on making. It was more playing covers and being on a tv show. But also I write songs and I kinda of have a style in mind. I loved Idol. But I don’t want it to be the one thing I did in my life, I want it to be apart of my story. I don’t deny it, I know a lot of people have a full on hate on for the show once they are kicked off, I don’t feel that way. I feel like it would be silly to not recognize it as a great opportunity. I hope I can look back in a few years and know that I used it properly.

Creatively, were you happy not to win?
Yeah I felt that way. It was a blessing in disguise. I don’t think I would have been very happy doing cover songs. I enjoyed having more time to work on my music. Writing my own music was a critical factor for me. That is why I’m with the manager I’m with. I knew I wanted to put out something original.

Do you have many HOLY SHIT moments?
Everyday. I’ve been very blessed. I get to live my dream life. It’s exciting because there are unexpected parts and there are some tough parts. But at the end of the day, you weigh it out with the gain and the gain for this career is totally worth it.

What have been the biggest challenges?
The business side to it all. You can’t really play dumb if you want to have longevity. You need to start thinking about what your getting yourself into. I won’t pretend I know more than I do, I’m still learning. I’m proud that I’ve taken on learning everything from song writers credits to merchandise. One of my idols is Jann Arden because she is such a business woman. Half of this tour is also a learning process. I get to travel with some great artists and I pick their brains about how they’ve done this because they really have developed a loyal fan base from level 1.

Coincidentally, you are signed to the same label as Jann Arden.
Actually, I only have a promotion and distribution deal with Maple, I’m actually still unsigned. Which is so rare nowadays.

WHAT?! But you have a hit single!
It is a decision I made right after Idol. After the show, Theresa Sokyrka (Canadian Idol 2 runner up) suggested that I talk about getting a promotional and distribution deal. Because this day in age with the record companies crashing, we weren’t necessarily sure if signing would the smartest deal.

So how did Tug of War become such a hit?
I have two amazing managers and a great group of people who are guiding me. I do everything I can. Whether it’s going to radio stations, doing the one on one thing or signing autographs things like Juno Fan Fest.

What’s it like hearing your single on the Tug of War on the radio?
It’s a thrill every time I hear it! The first time I heard it is was actually hilarious. I had just gone out with my friends and I tried gin martinis for the first time. We were heading home and I got car sick at the same time that my song came on the radio. My friends were howling, it was hilarious.

On this tour, you are doing show 6 nights a week. How do you keep up?
It’s my favorite type of lifestyle. I love it, I don’t ever want to stop. Yeah it’s crazy because every day is a little different, but it’s my idea of heaven. My worse case scenario is the 9-5, monotonous over and over. Waking up and already knowing what your day is going to be. I love the spontaneity and the chaos of this lifestyle, I love the rush, I love that there is always something to do. I love meeting and having conversations with people who are passionate about what they do.

Is there anyone you dream of listening to your music?
JOHN MAYER! I wanted to write a record that was sort of a girl version of John Mayer’s music. He is just so relatable to so many people. If I could be a mix of Feist and John Mayer thing, I would be happier than anything. I would lose it if either of those two guys listened to it.

Since Canadian Idol has gotten canned, what advice do you have for young artists who were counting on the show for their big break?
I’m still working on the formula. But the best advice I could give would be to do whatever it is that makes you different as an artist. Whatever you have to offer that is unlike anything, make that your ticket in. Anyone can sing, so what is it about you that only you can do? Follow through on every business card you get, knock on every door. Follow every road, some will pan out and some won’t. But you don’t know until you try. I knew I had a limited amount of time that came with being on Idol and I didn’t want to throw it away. I wanted to look back and say that I did everything I could. I’m trying as hard as I can.

Do you get recognized anymore?
No so much anymore. During Idol it was crazy. I don’t think I liked that. It was fun for five minutes but then it freaked me out a little bit. I didn’t expect that I wouldn’t like it, it was a little crazy. People would be like “You look like that Carly Rae Jepsen girl” and I would say “Weird”. It’s very excitng now when people come up, because it’s not for Idol. It’s because of my music, it’s so flattering and s
o wonderful, I can handle that. I would be happier if I could have a career in music and no one new my face. It’s sort of an impossibility but maybe in baby steps.
*****
And almost like clock work the bar’s manager walks by and says to us: “If you guys aren’t with the show you have to leave.” Carly laughs and I quickly respond: She is the show.

Carly’s debut CD Tug of War is available on Itunes.
Check out other interviews with Sarah Slean and Matthew Barber

Categories: carly rae jepsen,interview,Music
Tags:

No Comments

  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4