land of talk

We physically can’t stop listening to Applause Cheer Boo Hiss by Canadian indie-rock trio Land of Talk. So we tracked down singer and guitarist Liz Powell and had a little chin-wag about her career.

What do you like best about the album? “What I like best about the album is that it was the first thing I've ever done from start to finish. Like, seriously. I never follow through with projects that really truly interest me. Before Applause Cheer Boo Hiss I could barely get through a novel regardless of whether or not I loved it. Or I would start dance lessons and quit three weeks in. Or I was always beginning songs and never finishing them. I think the only reason the record got made was because there were more people involved and invested in the outcome than just myself. Now I find it slightly easier to follow through with things.” What was it like recording on the cheap? “It was a necessity. And to be honest I didn't find $1,000 that cheap. (Still don't!) The monetary constraints obviously led to time constraints which led to intrinsic decision-making on everyone's parts, whether it be which takes to keep or how fast to play the song etc ... And a lot of the lyrics were written on the spot while recording the vocals.” What's your routine like on the road? Are you living the rockstar lifestyle or keeping up with beauty sleep? “If by ‘rockstar lifestyle’ you mean ‘having some beers and smoking a spliff most nights’, then yes, I am living the shit out of the rockstar LS. I can't comment on what the boys do with their time on the road because that's their private business. Just kidding. They're up for a beer or two each night but no Class-A shit or promiscuity. We've been pretty big on dignity these past couple of tours.” The album is pretty upbeat - do you think of yourself as a peppy/positive person? “Ha ha – yes and no. I go through bouts of darkness like most people I know. Some worse than others. I have been laughing a lot more lately (mainly at myself). I think the darkness comes out lyrically and the lyrics are virtually indiscernible so all you hear is the CRAZAY rock guitar, drums and bass which is usually quite a positive force. I tend to write guitar parts that make me happy and the lyrics inevitably exorcise the demons so the end result is bit of a bi-polar combo.” Do you collect anything? “I used to collect life-like mice dressed in costume (ballerina mouse, baseball mouse, old man reading paper mouse), but that was when I was really little. I guess now I collect lip gloss and old books with pretty covers.” What do your parents think of what you do? “They love what I do. I think they're more proud of me than they should be. Unless they're really good at faking pride. In which case I guess I have absolutely no idea how they think of me!” What ambitions do you have for Land of Talk? “It would be nice to keep making albums and touring (less than now, but enough to get to all the places that want to see us). I have a dream of winning a Juno in my home country of Canada. The Junos are like the Grammy Awards of the States. Feist took home three Junos this year, I think. And she performed ‘Sea Lion Woman’ like a fuckin' wizard that night, too. She's incredible. You know what? I like her career. If Land of Talk could do half of what Feist has accomplished I would be satisfied.” What's the dorkiest thing about you? “That last sentence.” What else should we know about you / the band / the album? “Not much except that WE LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE COME TO OUR SHOWS. It means a heck of a lot to us when people make the trek to come see us. As incentive we'll put the first five people who write to us on the guestlist for our next Australian shows!”