City And Colour Q&A

How does it feel to be getting your new album, ‘Bring Me Your Love’, out?
Like a weight being lifted off my shoulders. It’s pretty amazing.
 
Some of the songs on the record have been heard before - what’s the oldest one on the new album? And which was the last to come together?
The oldest song isn’t what you think it is. I bet you think 'Forgive Me' or 'Confessions' is the oldest. It’s 'Sleeping Sickness'. And that was actually the last one to be properly finished too - I’ve been writing it for 10 years and could never come up with the hook. Then it came to me one night and there you have it.

Do you have a favourite of the new ones?
'What Makes a Man?' is my jam.

Did you write lots of songs and pick the best or write until you felt you had a solid album?
I just wrote a bunch of songs and once I had what I felt would be a good record I stopped. There was only about three songs that didn’t make the record and two of them will end up being bonus songs.

Do you put specific time aside to write, do you have to be in a particular place for inspiration, or do songs just come to you?
I was on the road most of the time I was writing this record. So my place for writing was always at night in the back lounge of the bus.

Did you learn anything from the actual recording of your last album that inspired you to do things differently in the studio this time?
Yeah, I wanted to take my time this time. When I recorded 'Sometimes' I went in the studio for a day or two in two separate months. I took a solid couple of weeks to do it this time and didn’t rush anything. I also wanted the record to sound live. People always tell me that I sound better live than on any recording, which is a weird sort of compliment in a way, so I took a lot of care in trying to capture that sound. I wanted it to sound like I was sitting in the living room with my guitar playing for whoever was listening to my CD.

And that's something that you've very much achieved. It helps that the album sounds more like a country or folk record than, dare I say it, an emo or indie one. Do you hear that change yourself?
Yeah. I mean most of those other, older songs were written when I was 16 years old. It’s been over 10 years. I hope I’ve changed in that time.

So changes have come with maturing, rather than from listening to more music, or from somewhere else?
Well I take inspiration from all over. I mean I am writing about different things because I am in a different place in my life now. And I’m always listening to music, but really my tastes haven’t changed all that much.

Whatever the inspiration, do you know immediately which act a new song belongs to? Have the rest of the band ever fought to have something you’ve written for City and Colour on an Alexis album? 
That’s something that’s never happened – fighting over songs. Sometimes I write something for City And Colour- I did it for this record in fact - I write something but don’t record it. We might add more to it and change some parts and it’s the beginning of an Alexisonfire song. And sometimes I take Alexisonfire songs and change them and strip them down and cover them when I perform by myself. Last tour I covered 'Boiled Frogs' and 'Happiness By the Kilowatt' before that.

Obviously while Alexisonfire are touring and writing and releasing records, City And Colour can’t be a full-time thing but does it feel like more of a concern now than in previous years?
No, I’m not really concerned with that either. But not getting time off gets a little tiring sometimes. For now, I’m lucky to be doing one, never mind both.

What do you get from being a guest on other people’s records that you don’t from City And Colour or Alexisonfire stuff? Would you sing on anyone’s stuff or does it have to be music you dig?
I’ve only ever recorded with friends. It’s a nice excuse to get to see your friends that are in bands and never around as much as you are. I mean when I sang on the new Every Time I Die record, I took off when Alexisonfire had two days off during a USA tour and flew out to record with them. Then I flew back to the next Alexis show.

You seem to have found firm friends in the ETID, Moneen, and Johnny Truant boys - is it rare to find people in this business that you can talk about more than music with and actually become such close friends?
It isn’t rare, it's easy to spot the genuinely nice people, which is good because you always need those people in your life.

Have you come to terms with fans seeing you as more than ‘just another dude’ yet? Do you think you’ll ever be able to fully accept that people see you as an artist on a pedestal?
Don’t ever put me on a pedestal. No, I’ll never get used to that. I’m just a guy. Seriously. When I come home from tour I sit at home and watch movies and clean the bathroom. I have been shovelling snow a lot lately. That’s what I do.

But away from the tool shed, back on tour, have you got used to playing big solo shows? Is there a size of venue you’ve found yourself most comfortable with playing alone?
I don’t really get nervous anymore. I don’t know if I have a certain comfort level with the size of a venue but I definitely prefer theatres over bars. I like the idea of people sitting.

Who would be on your dream tour package?
Neil Young.

Are you hoping to tour the UK again soon? 
I am playing again soon. The tour is onsale right now actually. I think it starts April 1st. I’m really excited about it. It’s been a while.

Do you think British listeners will take to the new songs in a different way than Canadian folks?
It’s hard to say. I don’t think I sound Canadian or anything. So far the comments through my website and myspace have all been pretty similar no matter where the person is from.

Are there any new UK bands on your radar? Anybody you’d be hoping to see when you make the journey here?
I hope to see the Truants. My first show is in Brighton so I’m sure I’ll see them. I won’t get to see them play, but seeing them will be just as good.

Are there any bands from back home in Canada that we should be listening to?
You should be listening to Attack in Black. But I can help you with that because they’re coming with me to the UK and opening the shows. They’re a good time. And good guys.

Can you give us any news on Alexisonfire, any hints on how the new material is shaping up? 
New songs are just in the very beginning phases. I can’t say much but I will say that there is a song where George plays an instrument – I'm not gonna say what – and he doesn’t scream.

When you and the rest of Alexis got together did you ever think your guitar was going to take you across the world?
Who knew? It is surprising everyday. I mean next week we’re getting on a plane to go to Australia. I’ll be playing twice a day, once as City and Colour and once with Alexisonfire. I mean you lose a day when you fly there. That’s how far away it is. That is amazing to me.

Where do you see City And Colour in ten years?
I’ll still be here, just a guy, writing music and putting out records.

City And Colour's 'Bring Me Your Love' is out now and Dallas graces the following places with his lovely presence in April:
2nd April Brighton Komedia
3rd April Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
4th April Nottingham Rescue Rooms
5th April Glasgow Oran Mor
6th April Leeds Brudenell Social Club 
7th April Birmingham Glee Club 
9th April Colchester Arts Centre
10th April London Union Chapel
11th April Manchester Royal College of Music