Backstage
Winnipeg
Interviews
Interview with LOVECHILD
By Cindy Massey
Lovechild is...
Stefan: Vox/Bass
Dave: Guitar/Vox
Dan: Drums
BSW: There does the name Love Child come from?
Stefan: It was a name that I liked for a while, but didn’t have a band to slap it on. I like it because it can be taken literally and be a beautiful thing like a child of love. Alternatively, it could be perceived as an unwanted abomination.
BSW: Where were you all born?
Stefan: The Grace hospital in Winnipeg? they don’t deliver babies There anymore tho...
Dan: The Saint Boniface hospital, Winnipeg.
BSW: Do you think where you were born, or your heritage has something to do with your musical style?
Stefan: I don’t think I was born with very much musical style or talent. I think any musical style or “talent” that I have come from a mix of Life experience, personality and training. Compared to some guys on the rock scene, I’m trained to the teeth.
Dave: most of my ‘training’ so-to-speak has been trial by fire, I’ve taken minimal formal lessons, so my skills are all self-taught. I think that has contributed a lot to my style.
Dan: I agree with what Stefan said but I also believe that growing up in Winnipeg while listening to the music that came from this city (Chad Allen and the Expressions, The Guess Who, Neil Young) had a huge impact in where I ended up today.
BSW: What about a show gets you really fired up? Where do you go for your adrenaline?
Stefan: The entire aesthetic of the show environment excites me. I’m a bit of an attention whore sometimes and the stage makes it acceptable. There is so much adrenaline involved in performing. The average person would rather be dead then caught in front of a crowd.
Dave: its nice to work with an attention whore sometimes, it gives The people something to watch. personally I’m happy just being onstage and rocking out, although I’m a strong believer that rock and roll is as much about the show as the music.
Dan: Music is my aeroplane
BSW: Where can we see you play next?
Stefan: We’ll be playing at Academy Bar & Eatery on July 15th with Pink Flamingos and Colin Peterson. Check out our website lovechildband.ca for more details.
BSW: How do you write songs, what is your process?
Stefan: Thus far in the band, I have written all of the songs by myself with a nylon string guitar and a pick - very taboo. I’m pretty prolific and write a lot because it helps me figure out what’s going on in my life. If I come up with something that could be good for the band then we bring the whole band in. Usually, we take the song as-is but experiment with different feels, tempos and vocal harmonies. Subtle things like tempo can take a song in an entirely different direction.
BSW: What is your best stage experience?
Stefan: When people are dancing and feeling the live music. For some reason my eighty-something year old grandma feels live music harder then most young people today. I hate in when people sit down at rock shows and go comatose like they’re watching TV. Our first EP won’t be out till late June, but I’m looking forward to hearing people sing/scream the words with us. I hear it’s a really cool feeling.
Dave: you know you’re affecting people when you stop hearing voices in the crowd, when people stop their own conversations to listen to you. that’s how I gauge the impact of the songs that we play.
BSW: Do you all hang out as friends as well as playing in the band together?
Stefan: We get along well, but don’t really hang out that much yet. With Dave and Dan finishing high school and me being in university, it’s not that convenient. But I think things will change this upcoming year when we’ll all be at the same school again.
Dan: Stefan never calls me, and when ever I get a hold of Stefan, Dave’s never around.
BSW: What would you tell someone who’s just getting into the music business, what’s your advice?
Stefan: If you’re young enough to take advantage of a school music program like band or choir or musicals or whatever, take it. It’s free. Take private lessons, listen to lots of albums, and learn how to shake hands. Remember that it’s the music-business and it has two parts. Work on your weaker part.
Dan: Chops are over-rated, Get your groove down, then get the chops.
Stefan: I second that motion.
BSW: Where do you all want to be in 5 years?
Stefan: Realistically, I can’t even begin to think five years down the road. But, I’d like to be Touring, recording, playing, living... I wantto be able to live comfortably off of music and not have a day job.
Dan: Where ever life takes me, if it was meant to happen, it will happen, you cant force music.
BSW: If you could change something about the music business, what would it be?
Stefan: I think I would like to change the fact that no one will book You unless you’re already booked, no one will sign you unless you’re signed, and no one will listen to you unless they already are listening to you. It’s a really strange paradox, but this stupid mechanism is everywhere in society. No one wants to be your girlfriend unless you already have one. Nobody wants to take a chance.
BSW: What kind of message are you trying to send out with your music?
Stefan: It IS possible to do it yourself. We have done everything ourselves so far because if we don’t - no one will. We did our own engineering, producing, website, booking, writing, CD design, posters etc. and we’ve only started.
BSW: How would each of you describe your personalities?
Stefan: I’m different in different environments. Within the band, I’m The “executive” and make sure everything is “going”. At shows I’m pretty in-your-face but otherwise I’m an eccentric recluse.
Dave: quiet, a closet weirdo, but willing to do just about anything onstage.
BSW: Thank you very much for the interview. If there is anything else you would like to say to our readers, please do so here. Look forward to seeing you play one day.
Stefan: Come out to a show and dance with us! But if you’re lazy and lethargic then look us up on the internet at lovechildband.ca or make friends with us on myspace at myspace.com/lovechildband. peace.
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