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The Velveteins

August 23, 2018

Soaked in the bright psychedelia of the 1960’s and dipped in the indie rock explosion of the new millennium, The Velveteins are best described as a bridge between the two. Inspired after living out of a campervan on the beaches of Australia for a year, frontman Spencer Morphy returned to Canada and started the band with co-songwriter Addison Hiller in 2014. The duo wrote five songs in two weeks and scraped together just enough cash to fly to Nashville and record their first EP with producer Lincoln Parish of Cage the Elephant. Afterwards they wasted no time cramming into a Pontiac Montana with new found bassist Dean Kheroufi and toured across the country. In April 2016 they signed to Fierce Panda and their first EP ‘A Hot Second with the Velveteins’ was released. Following this the band wrote and recorded their first full length release with producer Colin Stewart (Black Mountain/Sleepy Sun), ‘Slow Wave’ released May 2017.

Tell us a little bit about yourselves and what you do.

I’m Spencer, I sing and play guitar and alongside with Addison who plays drums, we formed the band into the form you see today. As for what we do, we enjoy ripping hard when we play live and shooting our adrenaline out our eyeballs at people as well as lie in sweet relaxation on a summers day and write jangly pop songs.

Photo by Sebastian Buzzalino

Can you describe the writing/recording process on your most recent LP, ‘Slow Wave’?

The songs were written fairly quickly within a few months leading up to the sessions. In between tours and whatnot we managed to scrape up the songs and mould them mostly before diving into the studio. Addison and I would sit together on an idea, and once almost fully formed bring it to the live shows and see how it blasts off.

What are some recent, upcoming or current projects you are working on?

Right at this moment we have a growing collection of new songs ready to be mutated further in the studio. Early recording stages though, early recording stages.

What is one of the bigger challenges you and/or other musicians are struggling with these days and how do you see it developing?

I would say the hardest part is affording to eat when starting off, in the beginning of being a full time or even a semi full-time band. We relied on our family and friends a lot in the early days and we are so so stoked and grateful for them and their love.

How has living in Edmonton affected your music?

The isolation forces people to be more introspective I suppose, which maybe helps clarify their body of work. Also, there is an amazing music scene of really supportive people in Edmonton.

What kinds of music/what musicians are influencing your work right now?

Older country music and newer bands coming out from all over the place. Mostly that.

What are you listening to right now?

I’ve been listening to a lot of the Everly Brothers. Also, Jo Passed from Vancouver and the Babe Rainbow from Byron Bay.

As your band will be on the road a lot this summer, what interests you most about touring?

The buzz from just being around people at all times, always going somewhere, always doing something just always ripping at all times. That can also be the hard part though because you get tired awfully quick.

What do you do when you’re not working on music?

I like to surf and live in my campervan.

If you hadn’t become a musician, what do you think you’d be doing?

Definitely surfing and living in my campervan.

Photo by Evangeline Belzile

Can you share one of the best or worst reactions you have gotten as a result of your music?

A best reaction is once a lady told me she plays our songs to put her newborn to sleep some nights. If a babies feelin it, then I’m happy about that.

What are you really excited about right now?

Very excited to get into the studio very soon and start the writing process all over. We also have some pretty hectic touring coming up, so that as well.