We Are The City

watc — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:23:52 +0000

watc — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:33:12 +0000

Photos of our stay in Magic House (the name we colloquially gave to the house we lived in for three months and wrote the majority of our next album) are now all in one place.

To read the journal entries about our stay in Magic House go here.

All photos by the magical Kirsten Berlie.

watc — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:02:54 +0000

We are learning Norwegian. Made its way onto our local whiteboard.

watc — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:20:43 +0000

We’re keeping busy this summer. On top of going into the studio to record our sophomore full length, and a secret project, we’ll be playing a handful of shows in Western Canada!

July 6 | Kelowna | Habitat (Keloha After Party) | More Info Soon

# with The Zolas
% with Wintersleep
^ with Hey Ocean
* with Tokyo Police Club

watc — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:42:07 +0000

Blake Enemark, a man we got to know very well last year, has released his debut LP under the name Snoqualmie. And it’s absolutely spectacular. We wrote and recorded High School together, toured Canada as brothers, and spent days upon days alongside each other without fail.

I’ve got so much love for him and for what he does.

watc — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:46:41 +0000

Photo by Kirsten Berlie.

Last night I couldn’t get to sleep. There were ideas and problems and solutions circling around my mind and it was like a list was laid out before me that I had to go through before I was able to fall asleep. My mind was keeping my body hostage, saying “Listen to me or I won’t listen to you.”

So I listened. I grabbed a small bit of paper beside my bed, scribbled in the dark, then fell back onto my pillow. When I awoke I found a box of writing filled with references to other artists or songs, loose descriptions, and nonsense that only I could make sense of.

“clap on one. stick it to whatever Dave V says about how you can never clap on the one. beyonce”

“new terrain sounding beat over ambience”

“single line, big drums”

“don’t forget eno progression!”

I can still hear what these sounded like at 2am when I was drifting off. I did, however, forget a melody that I thought of in the bathroom today. You win some and you lose some.

watc — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:33:08 +0000

The demo folder continues to grow, working titles and all. We’re a just over a month out from entering the studio and in good shape, but there’s still a ways to go and therefore no time to relax.

watc — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 23:58:58 +0000

We moved house and the fridge came along with us.

Video by Elissa Crowe.

watc — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:28:17 +0000

Photo by Kirsten Berlie.

My worries and my unnecessary search for gratification. Sometimes I think we put too much pressure on ourselves, which can be a double edged sword. The pressure is a constructive weight to create under, as it really pushes one to finish only something that they are completely satisfied with. But on the other hand, if nothing satisfactory comes up after a day of hard work then there is much disappointment.

Forget not caring about being unsatisfied, let me do away entirely with this whole system of pressure!

Two days ago we started working on something that we’re all really liking the sound of, a great feeling. Yesterday we ran in circles. It’s amazing for me to look back on the amount of music and pieces we’ve constructed for this album it reminds me that if I discipline myself and spend time in front of my instrument, something will come of it. It’s encouraging and I suppose a testament to anyone reading this who feels frustrated in their own creative process. It will come. It does. Just spend as much time as you can working on it and not wasting your time in front of screens. And, perhaps more importantly, spend as much time as you can in silence — particularly outside.

the day we went to Twin Peaks and Deerhoof

watc — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:25:01 +0000

Woke up early, drove to Snoqualmie (more commonly known as the place where most of Twin Peaks was filmed) and spent the day scouting out some of the filming locations whilst reciting lines and taking photos for Kir’s school photo project. We then ended the day in Seattle at a Deerhoof show. Deerhoof opened for Of Montreal, and as much as I enjoy Of Montreal’s studio songs we decided that the day had a perfect climax with Deerhoof’s set and the best fit for a dénouement would be the drive home, so we left right after their set and a few vinyl purchases. A beautiful day and an insanely inspiring show — I don’t want to get crazy here, but quite possibly the best show I’ve ever seen — and now it’s back to reality.
Cayne in front of the falls and the Great Northern Hotel. Cue the baritone guitar. Cue the theme song.

At The Double R Diner. I had to order the cherry pie and the coffee. I suppose the coffee was damn fine but the cherry pie, hilariously enough, was not great (perhaps not even good). The most worthwhile disappointment.

The Roadhouse.

What’s left of the Packard Sawmill.

The Sheriff Station. We drove by but there was a man shooting strange looks and we didn’t want to be “those guys taking photos”. Interestingly enough, the sawmill is just down the slope from here.

Too bad Donna got really weird in Season 2. Actually, so did James. Match made in heaven. JAMES <3 DONNA 4EVER.
On our way to the show. Kir took this one for instagram.
My favourite shades. Bollé. Sweet. (another one by Kir)
What a night. Legendary in my mind.