MAKING THE BAND [05:03:08] BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE If there is a way to make music, it has to be the hard way - just ask Broken Social Scene's founding member Brendan Canning. His Toronto indie-rock collective (which he started with friend Kevin Drew in 1999) has no permanent line-up. Instead, they rely on an ensemble of 19 musician friends to keep their sound intact. “It is hard to bring people together for this, but we have managed this far,” says Canning from his Toronto home. “Our recordings usually start as casual affairs and then we slowly pull in everyone when they can fit it in. It's a very unorthodox way of working, but we feel we have a lot to say as a band.” The most recent recording to escape from the BSS camp is a solo effort by Kevin Drew which features members Ohad Benchetrit and Charles Spearin. The album is entitled 'Broken Social Scene presents Kevin Drew Spirit If…' It is intended to be the first in a series of 'Broken Social Scene presents' albums, with a similar follow up by Canning to be released in May. “I wrote some of the songs on Kevin's record, but I was off making my own,” says Canning. “We are going to tour mid February to June and what we serve up is anyone's guess. We are coming over to promote that record and to showcase the new band which actually includes old members.” Canning says his new material is a slow indie affair. There's some funk and transient sounds with songs titled 'Churches Under the Stairs', 'All The Best Wooden Toys Are From Germany' and 'Hotel'. “I am just about to finish my record. We are in the last stages and also filming a documentary about the making of it.” Canning and Drew (who incidentally are sharing a home together until Drew finds another place to live) share a chemistry that still works outside of the studio as it does inside. “Judging by the rehearsals that have been happening I think we still have a lot to say as a band,” says Canning. “A lot of our shows are very celebratory and we all have a relatively good time when we are together. I don't think it's time to hang the boots up just yet. Everyone goes off and does their own thing but then when we come together everyone is happy to be with the band. People have other outlets to express themselves but at this stage we are having fun.” Jane Rocca 'Broken Social Scene Kevin Drew Spirit If …' is out now on Shiny Records, through Inertia. back to top ^

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