Getting to Know: BC Folksters, Mellomanic

Posted by RiffYou On November 27, 2014 0 Comment

In today’s Getting to Know, we meet Mellomanic, a funky folk rock collective capable of turning a night of beer drinking into an impromptu jam session. If you are in an up and coming band that would like to partake in a Getting to Know feature, contact editor@riffyou.com to receive the questionnaire and instructions. Thanks!

Band Name: Mellomanic
Band Members: Joshua Larsson (vocals), Megan Chilibeck (vocals), Ryan Krumins (guitar, keys), Clark Buchanan (bass), and Sam Buckle (drums).
Years Active: 1
City of Origin: Vancouver, BC.

Who are you and what do you do?
“We’re a group of friends who have been playing music together for the last 10 years. It all started when Sam introduced Josh to Ryan back when we were teenagers on Kits Beach in Vancouver. We started jamming that night and something clicked. Best friendships ensued; Sam went travelling with his girlfriend Meg, while Josh, Clark and Ryan played in another band. When they came back, we all started writing the songs that would become the beginnings of Mellomanic. We play vocally driven folk/funk/reggae.”

What is your latest release and how would you best describe it to someone who hasn’t heard your band?
“Our latest release is a two-song single that is available on our Bandcamp and Soundcloud pages as a free download. We recorded it with producer Tyler Johnson (Bestie, Bear Mountain, Young Liars) at Monarch Studios in Vancouver. The singles are vocally driven folk rock, reminiscent of The Lumineers or The Head and the Heart.”

When making an album, which aspect of the process do you put the most time into and why?
“We’re currently working on our first album, and we’re taking a break from rehearsing and playing shows for a few months to focus solely on song writing and arrangement. We’ve found that by taking away the stresses of rehearsing, it’s really allowed the creativity to flow. We like to mix up how we play our songs before settling on the ‘way’ that we play them for a recording, and that takes lots of rehearsal time. We hope to write as many songs as possible so we can narrow it down to our favorites for the album.”

What is the best part about your band and why?
“The best part about Mellomanic is that we’re all good friends, which makes rehearsals that much more fun. We all have completely different day jobs, but when we get together we all connect on a musical level. Casual beers can easily turn into a jam session, which may turn into a new song.”

What makes your band unique from the rest?
“We have two lead singers, Josh and Meg, which allows for lots of harmonies and interplay between their voices. Musically, we try and mix up our rhythms and write songs in a variety of genres, from Reggae, to Folk, Dance and Funk. This question is hard to answer without sounding douche-y.”

Would you rather be critically-acclaimed; rich and famous; or an under-the-radar band with a dedicated fan base?
“We’d rather have a dedicated fan base, as there’s nothing better than knowing that people are really connecting with your music, rather than listening to it because it’s the flavour of the month. Being rich and famous would be nice though!”

If you’d have to compare your band to another one out there, living or dead, who would it be and why?
“I was watching an interview with The Head and The Heart, where they said that people always think they’re a folkier band than they are until they see them live. I think Mellomanic has the same issue. A local radio DJ asked us to open for their band, but then change their mind after they saw a live video of us. We have a few energetic/danceable songs that we haven’t recorded in a studio yet, and that takes people by surprise.”

Which band/musician would you like to share many drinks with? What would you talk about?
“We’d love to hang out with Alt-J. We’re huge fans of their music, and would like to talk to them about music, life, and how they come up with their crazy music videos.”