The Dears: "The cool kids don’t call us…and I like Celine Dion"

TLOBF caught up with Murray Lightburn to ask him about the Canadian music scene and whether he gets fed up of being compared to Morrissey.

To the rest of the world, Montreal seems to be producing some of the most acclaimed music in years. Do you see yourselves as part of that scene? And is the Canadian music scene as cool as people make it out to be. After all, it spurned Nickelback and Celine Dion.

The Dears have and always will be outside of the ’in crowd.’ The cool kids don’t call us…and I like Celine Dion. Apparently she is nice and doesn’t seem to be terribly concerned with being cool. Nickelback, on the other hand, are poseurs.

Have you thought about the follow up to Gang Of Losers yet? How are you planning on approaching the recording next time around?
I’m smack dab in the middle of writing what will undoubtedly be yet another epic based on the fall of man. I would like to use the original demos and just clean them up, in an attempt to capture the initial feeling of the tune…

Do you get annoyed with the constant comparisons to British acts such as Blur and Morrissey?
I don’t really care that much; either modern life is rubbish or we just haven’t earned yet, baby.

Gang Of Losers was recorded all live in single takes. Was it more difficult to work that way and what inspired you to do so?
We just tried to keep it as natural and organic as possible. In a strange way it was just more fun that way. No Cities Left was the total opposite: Not natural or organic and not fun at all. Maybe that’s the way it should be?

How were you approached by Bella Union? Had you heard of the label before?
Never heard of them until Simon emailed after seeing us at SXSW. We were in the middle of the worst tour ever, it was my birthday and we had spent the day drinking vodka. That night we played and Simon was there. We went over our curfew and they were turning on the lights and stuff and we just kept going.

Has Simon given you any words of advice or encouragement?
Simon is a great man.

How does it feel to be on a label that advertises itself as giving its acts full artistic freedom whilst recording? A rarity nowadays don’t you think?
The Dears keep their ‘artistic freedom’ under lock and key with snipers on the roof and laser security systems and guard dogs and stuff. We wouldn’t work with anyone that couldn’t understand that…

Which Bella Union act would you most like to collaborate with?
I like the Midlake. But nobody ever wants to work with me so that settles that.

How does it feel to be part of Bella’s 10th Anniversary celebrations? Have you bought them a card?
To be honest, it’s a bit weird. When you really think about it, it’s just weird.

Exclusive Bella Union material
Stream a version of The Dears Ticket To Immortality