Heavy Static are a young, upstart band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Labeling themselves as a "terrorist glam rock" band, we had no idea what to expect. With a Queens of the Stone Age sound and "fuck you" message in the lyrics Heavy Static's sophomore EP "Here Comes the Fear" is something you definitely need to hear.
Crowdsurf Central: How did the band form?
Heavy Static: I had to distract myself from all the reverb-laden garbage emanating from the stages in and around Toronto. I was literally sick of modern indie music. I had to show people how guitars should be played and help people to rediscover vocal melodies that stick in your head for days. Dave (bassist) hounded me for close to a year in hopes of convincing me to form a band together. I never felt ready. I didn't feel like I had anything to say. I hadn't experienced a crisis in quite some time, so it was difficult to feel inspired. A good crisis always inspires. When things started to crumble in my life, only then did I begin writing music again. I wrote a bunch of songs in a matter of days and then I called up Dave and said "It's time."
CSC: What is terrorist glam rock?
HS: It's a term I coined about Heavy Static early on. It's a call to arms and a revolution. It's a jihad on those that are content with middle-of-the-road bullshit music. It's also an ironic term in that it implies a much heavier sound than we actually have. But that irony is the dichotomy of our sound in general. We don't represent one single genre, but are part of something bigger and unilateral in the world of rock and roll.
CSC: What was the recording process like with HCTF?
HS: To put it mildly, it was a nightmare. The kind of nightmare you have but are pleasantly surprised when you wake up to find it's over. It was a very difficult EP to record in that I did it almost entirely myself in my living room over two months in January and February earlier this year. It was difficult because I didn't have anyone to police my crazy ideas. It was a free-for-all in terms of being able to explore ALL of my ideas. Although I'm super happy I got to experiment wholeheartedly without watching the clock at a real studio, it made things difficult and frustrating because it took far longer to record than it really should have. That being said, it's exactly what I hoped it would be - so the nightmare turned into a pleasant dream in the end.
CSC: Where was it recorded?
HS: I'd say most of it was recorded and edited at my home, while vocals and drums were recorded at Morph Productions in Toronto with Ashton Price. Ashton is more of a synth/electro/pop kind of guy, but I saw a kindred spirit when I worked with him on the first EP Face The Night. He seemed to get what we were trying to do and he knew how to properly hone our guitars in just the right way. He's also very honest about shutting me down if my ideas are stupid. I like that. Though I could have used him for shutting some of my ideas down when I was alone at home, it all worked out in the mix.
CSC: What's the local scene like in Toronto?
HS: Saturated. Some years back, there were only a handful of bands in Toronto. It's blown up to the point that everyone who thinks they can DJ thinks they can and should be in a band. It sullies it for real musicians, but if you can fake it ... why not? Chicks dig a dude in a band. And dude's dig a chick plugging away at an instrument on stage. If it helps you get laid, why not? That being said, if there is a "scene" in Toronto we aren't part of it. I can name one or two bands who kind of do what we do, but even then that's stretching it. We are the only terrorist glam rockers in town!
CSC: A lot of Canadian bands (like Pacific, Rarity, Seaway) have recently found success in the US - do you wish to follow in their footsteps?
HS: I'd be lying if I said I didn't. But I'd love to etch our story on European soil first. I think we are a really European sounding rock band. Everything we do is based in melody - from the vocals to the chord structures to the guitar solos. It comes from my many years living abroad and touring with Swedish bands and artists. That being said, it's rare for a Canadian act to really break it without breaking it somewhere else first. Just look at friends of ours in Crystal Castles; if they didn't resonate in Europe and the UK I don't think they'd have the same clout if they just remained local. It's a classic Toronto music problem. No one ever takes you seriously when you're a local band here. That's why we try to play outside of Toronto as much as possible. I could set myself on fire on stage in Toronto and I'd be lucky if someone uncrossed their arms long enough to hand me a fire extinguisher.
CSC: What's your reaction to being named "Artist of the month" by The Deli Magazine?
HS: It's super cool and it was a really nice gesture. Hopefully there are more accolades to come!