The latest Canadian export to grace our sun-filled shores, Krief is an artist bringing forth a sound rattling with raw emotion and heartfelt lyricism. The Montreal native has a knack of seamlessly intertwining indie guitar flecks with enchanting (and often haunting) melodies.
It’s something we’ve come to know and love about this wild Canadian – so much so, we caught up with him ahead of his London show to talk everything from lessons learnt and on-stage disasters to his new album, Automanic. Be sure to catch him tonight (19th April) at London’s Thousand Island.
1. Hi Patrick, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. First of all, how are you finding the tour?
We’ve just arrived in Oxford, our first show is tonight, and the jet lag is real!
2. Any touring tips you’ve picked up whilst on the road?
Over the years we’ve developed some rituals and routines that help. The latest tip is… drink LESS!
3. Care to divulge any of those pre-show rituals?
I try to get back to the room for a power nap. Then we grab a guitar and sing some tunes to warm up whilst having a drink or two.
4. You’ve just unleashed your new album Automanic; Its tracks feel story heavy – what were the inspirations behind the album?
The most recent album, Automanic, was inspired by a series of losses in my life. The album is divided into two sides, red and blue, which I see as a higher energy album (red) and a more introspective sound scape album (Blue).
5. The album’s got a beautifully raw edge to it; can you tell us more about the recording process?
The process is typically the same on all the albums. I get a bunch of song ideas floating around in my mind for months leading up [to the release]. At some point the compulsion to have those songs materialise gets strong enough for me to get in a room and record them. From that point forth, it’s a matter of getting the recordings to match what I have in my mind. On most of the records, I play most of – if not all – the instruments. I start with drums, and often keep a lot of the tracks from the demos on the final. I’ve often found that something intangible gets lost when redoing demos, so I try to stay true to the original takes. Once the album is close to done, I hire a string, and brass to lay down all the orchestral elements. From there I spend a couple weeks mixing the music in my home studio.
6. Any tales of live disasters or unexpected happenings?
I recently got an electric shock on stage that made me forget I was on stage. It was comical and terrifying all at once!
7. I can imagine! Looking back, are there any lessons you’ve learnt (other than ones involving electricity) that you’d wish you’d have known starting out?
Leaving imperfections on a recording makes for better albums, and striving for perfection is both impossible and a sure fire way to make something boring.
8. What record would you tell your younger self to listen to on repeat? (and why?)
Pet Sounds – and I’d tell myself to pay close attention to the arrangements.
9. We always ask artists to sum themselves/their sound up in three items, they can be as weird or as whacky as you want, what would you pick?
Film, pastels and fog.
10. Interesting, yet slightly cryptic… So, after London, what’s next for Krief?
We will continue on to Nottingham, then Leeds. From there we hit France, Belgium and Germany!
