Q&A: Dinner Belles Augment their Roots
In Hamilton, Ontario – a land usually dominated by rock n’ roll – folk-country collective Dinner Belles have managed to make
just as much noise as their community counterparts.
Described as “a family of fast friends,” the band – Scott Bell, Brandon Bliss, Greg Brisco, Jonathan Ely Cass, Brad Germain, Terra Lightfoot, and Melanie Pothier – have followed up their well-received 2011 debut, West Simcoe County, with a pleasing rootsy-country experience known as The River and The Willow (released October 28 through Sonic Unyon).
Recently, Riffyou.com spent some time with Germain and Lightfoot to discuss sleeping in a barn, expanding musical horizons, and making sure listeners draw their own conclusions.
RY: West Simcoe County obviously helped build awareness regarding what Dinner Belles are all about. How did having an increased audience impact what went into the making of The River and The Willow?
Brad: “I don’t think an audience changed what we were going to do too much. We knew it had to be better than the first one. I think as artists you always have to just trust yourself and let the rest sort itself out.”
Terra: “We were more interested in collecting songs and making them work as a whole on the album. We wanted each song to fit. I guess for us it’s more about doing what we do; playing at our speed…that could be why we had such a nice response to the first record.”
RY: During the recording process, many of you stayed on the grounds and slept in an old barn. Do you think that experience lent something to what people hear on the album? If so, what?
Terra: “Oh certainly. There are some solos that were interrupted by shots of whiskey, and some songs members slept through while the rest of the band played. We all cooked and ate together. It was a lovely time. I think you can hear us smiling and hooting and hollering on some tracks. And likewise, you can probably hear Brad shushing us into passivity during giggle attacks…which have happened on several occasions.”
RY: Some people like having separation from a creative project each day. Why did some members want to essentially dedicate 24/7 to this album and not go home?
Brad: “Sometimes you just want keep working, or keep in a creative head space. Also the studio was in Cambridge, Ontario, which is just far enough away from Hamilton that staying there was a good idea.”
Terrra: “If we didn’t have anything particularly important to go home to, we were always happier staying, listening to the day’s tracks and coming up with new ideas for the next day…and using Andy’s sky-high projector to watch cat videos. Well not cat videos, but definitely some weird stuff.”
RY: You all come from an array of music backgrounds and projects (Monster Truck, The Marble Index, Tongue Fu, solo careers, etc.) How have those experiences helped make Dinner Belles what it is today?
Brad: “I think we all had a good sense of who we were as musicians coming into the band. This allowed us to grow together as one. We all bring something a little different into the collective, and it benefits from the varied experiences.”
Terra: “Our musical differences could have been a point of contention before. Though we didn’t fight, if someone brought a song we weren’t into we just wouldn’t talk about it. These days we’re just really appreciative to still have the time and desire to get together on Wednesdays or Saturdays to sing and catch up with each other.”
RY: Based on the other projects your members are involved in, many could be surprised by your appreciation for folk, roots and country music. What is it about those forms of music that intrigue the band?
Brad: “It’s where all modern music comes from. Trace back the roots of rock and roll music and you’ll end up with people like Woody Guthrie. I also think the honesty and sincerity and deeply personal and spiritual nature of folk music is very intriguing to us all. It’s an intrinsic form of music.”
Terra: “We like to respectfully pay tribute to where it came from wherever possible. Though certainly… most purists might not be into what we do. We love good songs. And songs that have been around for over a hundred years usually stick around for a reason.”
RY: In your bio, it’s suggested that the band would rather not provide the outside world with too much information regarding what it’s about. But, at a certain point, isn’t it wise to let people in, beyond the music?
Brad: “To a point, but then it becomes about things not related to the music, and that’s something we’re trying to avoid. I want us to be judged only on how our music makes you feel. That is the most important thing.”
Terra: “People’s attention spans have shrunk immensely in the past decade. So I guess that was our way of saying, ‘we aren’t trying to trick you… just seriously listen if you want, and decide if you like it.’”
RY: You guys have also noted that people should ignore what others say about your band. But surely, doesn’t word of mouth – at least the good kind – help independent bands bring in more listeners and likeminded folk?
Brad: “I guess so, but I think it’s good practice in all situations to make up your own mind, and don’t let folks tell you how to think and feel. So much in modern society is sorted out for you. That can be a disadvantage, and can ultimately make you more closed-minded.”
RY: At the end of the day, this is your second album and there’s a big path ahead of you still. Where does the band hope to travel from here?
Terra: “I want to buy some land together, actually. We’ve talked about it. But honestly we’ll just keep making tunes. We’re already talking about album number three.”
-Adam Grant
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