. And not a moment too soon! Some days can feel like a musical apocalypse out there. The radio airwaves are dominated by songs with oh-so brilliant lyrics about being “irreplaceable” and “shoving your things in a box to the left, to the left,” and “bringing sexy back” when really, was it ever gone? Reigning strong are rock bands that all sound alike and the “raw”, “indie” bands that are studio shined, gleamed and polished. Then there are artists who come up with the bright idea of resurrecting music samples from the Sound of Music. Oh joy.
So when singer-songwriters like Andrew Rodriguez are up for the challenge of making “smart music”, it is refreshing, even a blessing. The former front man of Juno nominated band Bodega just released his long awaited solo debut appropriately entitled Here Comes the Light.
Rodriguez’s album is a sophisticated pristine psych-pop gem that echoes all that’s good in John Lennon and Neil Young without ripping off the legends. This D.I.Y. multi-talent has a lot to offer, and does it on his own terms with his own distinct sound.
Here Comes the Light sounds like an original tribute and homage to great song writing. No imitations here, just Canadian song writing at its best. From start to finish Here Comes the Light is packed with rich elements of guitar, synth, piano, organ, horn, string, and percussion.
This one’s worth a million bucks.
You were formerly leading the band Bodega, what fueled you to go solo?
My ego! [laughs] No, I considered myself somewhat solo before, for me this wasn’t a huge leap. This was a very personal project. I recorded it by myself over the course of a few years. I put my heart and soul into it. Though I had a lot of help from some brilliant musicians, it is a solo project.
Brilliant Artists? Like who?
Angela Desveaux. She is breaking out on the scene right now. She is a very talented singer-songwriter. She sings backups and “Come On In” on the record. I love the song coming from a female perspective. It breaks up the record really nicely and I’m so happy to have her voice on it.
Then there is Jason Kent, another talented solo artist. Watch out for him! I can’t say enough about both of them! They’re both just so talented. There are great musicians from Montreal and Toronto and on my album I get to have both worlds. It’s a pleasure.
You album resonates of the 60s. What is it about that era that has an impact or inspires your music?
When it comes to pop music from ’64 to ’74 I would say is probably my favourite time zone. A lot of really great pop music happened then. A lot of brilliant musicians, brilliant song writers, mainly British, but just a lot of influential artists came out of that time.
Your music has been described as The Beatles-esque. How does that make you feel?
It makes me feel chuffed! [laughs] That’s a British term for good. So it makes me feel good! The Beatles are the greatest band of all time as far as I’m concerned. Any comparison to them is great! I have a few songs on this album that do sound Beatle-esque, but I think I sort of deviate.
What does Here Comes the Light signify exactly?
It’s not a religious thing but I do see it as a spiritual thing. It’s a light from within. It encompasses how I feel about the record and the time we’re living in. It’s a bid for optimism; it’s a bid for peaceful feelings.
So you’re an optimist?
It’s increasingly hard to be an optimist, but I do consider myself one. I can only feel what I feel. It would just be too easy to slip into a negative way of looking at the world. I have a song on the record called “Only Human” and I guess that is as direct as I can get about how I feel about our situation as human beings. I think that everything is so backwards that it can get really disheartening. It’s kind of hard to know what to do. But we have to do something whether it’s any kind of positive action or just maintaining a positive attitude. I don’t know. I haven’t figured it out myself but there is hope! As long as we have our souls there’s hope.
You seem very head strong, ready to do it all yourself. Are you that independent and orderly in your personal life?
Oh! Independent? Yes. Orderly? No!
Is it easy being so independent?
I just want to make music and hope to be able to continue making music. I do the best I can and I try to survive the best I can just like everybody else. I haven’t had an easy time. If there is a perception that it’s been easy, you can wipe that away because it’s been very, very hard. It can get very demoralizing and tough. Any musician out there right now who is struggling understands that. I hope that if any of them are reading this that they see they’re not alone. It’s just something you do because you believe in it and that’s all you can do!
I read that before your musical career you were a death-defying bicycle-courier?!
Wow, I’ve never ever had someone know this much info! Yes I was for quite a few years in Montreal. Many close calls. I was hit by a car once and a few narrow escapes but it was good times. A very dangerous job Especially in winter, I don’t recommend it!
So you wouldn’t do it again?
God no!
Why did you move away from Montreal?
I went to Toronto to record the first Bodega record. I had an opportunity to record in a very funky studio there for a very good deal. I was there for months working on the record. It wasn’t really a conscious thing. I was in a position that I was just free enough to do that kind of thing. My girlfriend is from Toronto and we just ended up staying.
Born again and now Torontonian or forever Montrealer?
I’m a Montrealer and I defy anyone to tell me I’m not.
I’m here quite a bit. Not to get all mysterious on your ass, but I’m here when people don’t even know about it! But really, I was raised here and anyone raised in Montreal understands that when you’re raised in Montreal, you are a Montrealer through and through forever. There is no way I could have moved to Toronto and become a Torontonian.
You can be a Montrealer masquerading in Toronto like I am.
So you’re enjoying Toronto life?
Toronto has a very “go, go, go mentality”. People are working their asses off there. That doesn’t really suit my personality. You don’t have to be working all the time to be successful. I think Montreal has a good grip on that. Still, I do like Toronto. It’s big, multicultural, exciting and there’s a lot of art. But if you asked me to make a decision, that I could live in only one city, ‘where’s it going to be?’ I’d say Montreal.
Andrew Rodriguez releases his album Here Comes the Light at the Main Hall, 5390 St. Laurent Sunday, March 4 at 9 p.m.
