Head or Tail
Nick MacMahon, Staff
Kayla Luky
CD release party: March 1, 8 p.m. @ Academy Food, Drinks and Music in Osborne Village
What’s your musical philosophy?
Music has the ability to do special, magical things inside of your chest.
What’s your musical style?
Simple, honest and natural.
Who or what are your influences?
Everything and anything in the world around me. Whether it is people or places, family or friends, feelings or experiences — they are all influences. Just living and experiencing life.
What inspires you?
Whatever influences me, inspires me; how I interpret those things is what seems to come out in my music. Major themes that tend to surface include: nature, people, relationships and faith, among other things. Great music also inspires me, especially live.
Who’s in the band right now?
I don’t have a band. I fly solo.
Does mainstream music set the bar too high with its overly polished or produced sound?
No, not at all. I think it can taint some people’s perception of good music. No amount of polishing and producing can hide good music for those who are willing to appreciate it.
Is lyrical censorship ever necessary?
For the most part, artists’ lyrics are what they are and shouldn’t be hushed up, but for me it depends on the audience. I would use some lyrical censorship out of respect. That’s just how I was raised. I wouldn’t throw F-bombs into care-home or elementary-school crowds, even if they have heard it all before.
Is there enough government funding for the arts?
I’ve never tried to get it and I’m not too familiar with it. For me, pursuing music is even more rewarding to do it on my own. However, I think funding could be more balanced for the little guys like me. It seems a lot of government funding goes to already well-established acts. A lot of the time it’s going to the wrong people, I think.
The Liptonians
(Responses by Bucky Driedger.)
CD release party: March 9, 7:30 p.m. @ West End Cultural Centre with Patrick Keenan.
$10 tickets @ Music Trader in Osborne
What’s your musical philosophy?
Music is the greatest social activity I participate in. A moment of clicking musically with other musicians gives me a high for days because it pulls me into something bigger than myself. Whether it’s two people in different places being comforted by their same favourite song or people dancing together in a club — music connects people. It makes them feel things together.
What’s your musical style?
Rock/Pop/Folk.
Who or what are your influences?
When I turned 18, Christmas time often consisted of drinking a beer with my family and watching Woodstock or The Last Waltz. Rooted in that tradition, I fell in love with bands like Wilco, who in later records blended their rugged folk roots with dissonant noise and angular guitars. The Pets, a now defunct Steinbach band, were also important. They recorded this 72-minute epic pop album on a shitty computer in their basement . . . and it was brilliant.
What inspires you?
Friends and family — being rooted in tradition and having a sense of community definitely shapes lyrical content. There are also a lot of amazing songwriters and musicians in Winnipeg. Playing with them, writing with them, chatting music over beers — it helps us egg each other on to keep creating.
Who’s in the band right now?
Myself (Bucky Driedger) on guitar, Matthew Schellenberg on keys, Darren Grunau on bass, Terrell Froese on drums, and Mike Petkau playing guitar and organ. Lead vocals are shared by Matthew and myself.
Does mainstream music set the bar too high with its overly polished or produced sound?
The bar is only too high if you aspire to jump over it. Ha! Polished albums can sound nice if you need to communicate something clean and clear. An overtired musician coming home and laying down a great song on a four-track recorder might be what the song needs. Good songs are good songs and how they sound should serve what the song needs to communicate.
Is lyrical censorship ever necessary?
I’m not about to drop the F-bomb in a Christmas song for my grandmother. Even if it makes perfect lyrical sense: “Grandma, I love my stocking filled with treats/Candies, chocolates, yes, all those f***ing sweets.”
Is there enough government funding for the arts?
I feel ill-equipped to answer this question. I’ve never pushed through the paperwork for a recording grant. I know many local artists who have and received chunks of money from the Canadian government that gave their projects legs to stand on. Is there enough? I don’t know. I know I’d rather have more good albums, galleries and venues than a water park downtown.
