Saturday 26 August 2006
ohbijou: "love is sweet espionage"
I’ve had the distinct pleasure of of working on my first exclusive interview for Quick Before It Melts with Casey Mecija, vocalist and guiatr player with Toronto’s ohbijou. The band are preparing to launch their new CD, Swift Feet for Troubling Times, on Friday Sept. 1st at the Drake Underground, Toronto. Also on the bill is The Acorn and The Phonemes.
QBIM: Thanks for agreeing to the interview, Casey. So tell me, who’s in the band?
Casey Mecija: There are six of us in ohbijou. Casey Mecija, Jenn Mecija, James Bunton, Anissa Hart, Ryan Carley and Heather Kirby.
QBIM: Where did you get your name? What does it mean (if anything)?
CM: The name is from a moment I had with someone…I couldn’t quite describe it’s meaning. The moment was fleeting but was gorgeous.
QBIM: Ah, very mysterious and intriging. Describe your music as it sounds to you.
CM: Our music is orchestral and sparse…It sounds hopeful but lets in a certain amount meloncholy to keep the songs a float.
QBIM: Which is your favourite venue to play in?
CM: We like playing outside…Tantramar Farm is a beautiful place to play.
QBIM: What song do you wish you would have written?
CM: Right now I wish I wrote Wild Is the Wind. Performed by Nina Simone. Composer: Dimitri Tiomkin. Lyricist: Ned Washington. This song is perfect.
QBIM: Here’s a chance for shameless self-promotion: Why should people listen to your record?
CM: People should listen to our record because we worked hard on it. A lot of love was put into this project and we have a lot of love for eachother so hopefully it shows in our recording and our performance.
QBIM: Other than music or other artists, what influences ohbijou?
CM: The woods, the weather, children, animals, folklore, our friends who are so stunningly creative. Many things influence us. We just try to soak in all aspects of everyday and whether it be consciously or unconsciously it comes out in the music.
QBIM: Yeah I can tell from the tracks I’ve heard so far. What’s your scariest childhood memory?
CM: Almost drowning with my little sister when we were camping.
QBIM: Oh man, that’s frightening. Greatest invention of all time?
CM: The picture frame…hmmm I’m not actually sure.
QBIM: I like that answer, it’s a tough question, I’ll give you that. What’s the lamest record in your collection?
CM: There’s no such thing as lame records.
QBIM: You said it! What was your best subject in school?
CM: English.
QBIM: Mine too. Your favourite Toronto hang-out is…?
CM: My house.
QBIM: Cool. So, you want to go to the movies, but there’s only two to choose from: “Snakes On A Plane”, or the new Hillary Duff movie. Which one do you go to?
CM: Ooooh I’d go to the drive-in where they were double billed. YES.
QBIM: Ok, I’ll give you that. When was the last time you got in a fight?
CM: A month ago. It was horrible. We made up though.
QBIM: That’s good to hear. What’s the last song you downloaded?
CM: “Petunia” by The Blow.
QBIM: Favourite breakfast food?
CM: I like english muffins. A little butter, a little jam.
QBIM: Strangest moment while on tour?
CM: Being locked in our hotel bathroom by a ghost.
QBIM: That sounds freaky. If you could pick the line-up of the best concert of all time, who would be on it?
CM: The Acorn, Germans, Alight, We’re Marching On, The Vermicious Knid, D’Ubervilles, Forest City Lovers, Snailhouse, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Kim’s Country Band, Final Fantasy, Sebastien Grainger, Friday Morning’s Regret, Nich Worby, Jonas Bonetta… Too many?
QBIM: Not at all. It’s your show after all. Any vices?
CM: Those are secrets.
QBIM: Fair enough. What were you doing a year ago toady?
CM: Hmmm…interning.
QBIM: And where will you be a year from now?
CM: Everywhere.
QBIM: Last question, this ones for my fellow bloggers on Elbo.ws–Cats or Dogs?
CM: DOGS DOGS DOGS!
[MP3] ohbijou “Steep”
[MP3] ohbijou “Misty Eyes”
[ohbijou official and on Myspace]
[Find more mp3s at the Hype Machine!]
Postscript
Originally, this was to be the first of a new regualr feature on QBIM that I was planning on calling “22 Questions”… but I got beaten to the punch! It’s cool though, we’re still friends… but my cat’s cuter than hers.
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