When Wintersleep’s Paul Murphy notes that “the interest level has been pretty gradual” in his Nova Scotia band it seems an incongruous statement for any 21st century Canadian widescreen indie band to make. We’re used to the booming hype economy surrounding earnest, dramatic North American rock via the galvanizing success of Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, and the Arts and Crafts milieu. Thus, 2008’s New Group Of The Year Juno award victory for Halifax’s Wintersleep was the curious success of a slow-growing entrepreneurship amongst a consortium of fast-burgeoning businessman. ‘New Group’ was greatly misleading – Wintersleep’s debut self-titled album hit the shelves in 2003, the first of three albums on their steady climb to alternative popularity.
Now that their stock is sufficiently high enough to launch European business trips, Wintersleep plan a stopover in Dublin this 12th February. A tip to any investors looking for a blue-chip band to see them safely into spring: These Canadians are rock-steady and rock heavy. Guitarist and vocalist Paul Murphy talked to us about recognition, reward, and why their impending Dublin visit will be just like being home again.
The last album has been in the ether for two years now, have you begun work on a fourth one?
I guess we are kinda always writing. This record seems to have a bit more life than we ever could have imagined so we’ve been touring pretty much non-stop since the release date. There hasn’t really been time to iron out specifics to a forth yet. I think we are taking April off to flesh out existing early stage ideas for that.
How consuming is the album-making process for Wintersleep? The albums to date seem like hard work have been a big part of their formulae.
We put a lot of work into the records. Try to demo as much as possible. Make sure all the songs that end up making the cut are the best foot forward. It’s a big part of our lives. We’re trying to always think about the next record. There isn’t much more to my life than friends and family and touring and the next record at this point. As forward thinking as we try to be, there’s always what we’ve done before. What worked and what didn’t. It’s a learning process. You want to be sure you’re learning. There is a lot of pressure. It is time consuming and it’s hard, mentally and emotionally and physically, but it is what we’re passionate about, so worth every bit of time and effort.
How much of an impact does Nova Scotia have on your music?
It’s a place where I grew up so there is a big connection – family and friends. It’s home. I write a lot there. It lends itself really well to playing music in general I think – just a really relaxed place to be, kind of similar to Dublin. I would say Ireland but I’ve only ever been to Dublin. But yeah, Halifax and Dublin are kind of similar.
In comparison to other similar Canadian bands you haven’t focussed as much on building up a fanbase in Europe. Are you more outward-looking now in terms of spreading your music?
With 147 we’ve finally gotten the chance to tour in Europe. We’re really excited about that label in general. They’re really great people to work with. We tour as much as we possibly can.
Wolf Parade once told me they wouldn’t want to ever win a Juno award. What was your attitude to winning ‘Best New Group’ having been putting out music for 6 years or so, and is that kind of recognition a vindication of what you’re doing as a band?
It certainly helped us become more recognizable to a larger audience in Canada. Actually, a lot of press people ask us about that award so maybe it has a farther reach than just Canada. I don’t think that type of recognition is particularly vindicating in and of itself though. It is a nice gesture on behalf of the Junos. We appreciate the nod. But we certainly don’t do this for recognition alone. Awards are really odd to me. I felt like we were a sports team or something when we accepted that award. Just some of the questions from the press about how it felt to be a winner. I didn’t feel like a “winner” in any way after winning that.
Have you found you’ve had a lot more interest in the band since winning, and how are you dealing with it?
I think the interest level has been pretty gradual. Something like a Juno certainly helps but it takes a lot of work, plain and simple, before and after something like that, to get people interested. We just try to keep writing good music and to then play that music well to as many people as we can.
Wintersleep play Academy 2 on Thursday, February 12th.
Words by Daniel Gray
