Reflective Rockers From Across the Sea
Childhood friends, turned pop-electro-indie extravaganza The Coast, released their first self-titled EP back in 2006 and have since been making waves in their home country of Canada as well as Europe. With their first full length album “Expatriate” already released in North America, the catchy-tuned, thoughtful and fast paced foursome are set to make their mark in the UK. XYZ caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist, Ben Spurr, ahead of their Brighton gig at Audio.
XYZ: If someone had never heard your music before, how would you describe it to them?
Ben Spurr: Canrock indietastic
What are your expectations of the English audience?
I think the English crowd is a bit more savvy than those in the rest of Europe. After all, you guys invented modern pop music. In Berlin or Oslo, I think people are just kind of impressed that you’ve come all the way from North America. It’s a tougher sell in the UK.
Your live shows are described as pretty dynamic. What is the experience of a gig like for you?
Playing live is probably the best feeling we’ve ever had. That’s why we do it so much. We’ve played these songs a lot now so it’s easy to just get lost in them and have fun.
Is there anything in Brighton you’re particularly excited about seeing or doing?I hear the Brighton Toy and Model Museum is sure to delight visitors of all ages.
What are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to the Handsome Furs quite a bit lately, which is an offshoot of Wolf Parade. Also, The Walkmen put out a record last year that I can’t stop listening to.
So, the new album “Expatriate” is released in the UK very soon. Do you have a favourite track?
I think maybe the first song on the record, “Tightrope”. I don’t think it really sounds like anyone else and it’s probably our funnest song to play and listen to.
The title “Expatriate” suggests a sense of sadness, of leaving things behind. Is it a strange experience being propelled out of the comforts of home and into the big wide world?
A lot of the album is about not being home in Toronto and what it’s like to live in self-imposed exile. Before last year I don’t think I’d been away from home more than two weeks at a time. Then all of a sudden you’re gone for half the year and in a different city every night. It’s pretty disorienting, but after a while, it kind of feels like you’re not travelling at all. It’s like watching everything from a car window or something, you basically stay in one place, do the same routine every day. Only the scenery changes. It is bizarre. Every once in a while, something punctures that rhythm and you find yourself in a really amazing place.
The Coast’s album “Expatriate” is released on February 9th 2009 and they headline Audio on the 4th of February 2009.
Words by Rose Hales, February 2009
