Pleased To Meet Me: The Meringues
Introduce yourself... (Where are you from, what band do you play in etc..)
A: Amanda Pants from Kingston Ontario, co-lead singer / songwriter in The Meringues.
T: My name is Ted Evans. I'm a songwriter, performer, and producer from Kingston, ON, Canada. I play guitar and sing in The Meringues. I'm also the frontman for a band called Shook Planet.
J: My name is Jackson Baird I am from Kingston and I play bass for The Meringues, Shook Planet, Rogue Rising, and have previously played for various other bands in the past few years.
AM: Hey! I’m Alastair, I play drums for the Meringues! Born in Wolfville Nova Scotia, but currently living in Port Hope Ontario!
Why do you play music?
A: In different ways, music has always been a part of my life from a young age. Music's influence extends beyond entertainment, it helps people to feel connected, process emotions, relieve stress, reflect on life and experiences, etc. The list is vast. Music also pushes me out of my own comfort zones. I enjoy having a platform where I can express myself in ways that I wouldn't do in my daily life, even outside of the music and lyrics themself. I mean, I don't get to run around work giving the finger and making rude wrist flick gestures, even if I wanted to. I would argue that the power expressions hold, such as the middle finger, reveals a need for raw and honest communication, and points to a fundamental human desire for self-expression.
T: I've been around music and instruments my whole life. I have 2 uncles who played bass in bands, and that's essentially where I started too. My first instrument was a bass guitar, and I started my first real band when I was 19. I spent countless hours listening to and watching live performances from over the years, and from a very young age knew that was exactly what I wanted to be doing.
J: I play music because it's basically the one thing I'm really good at, besides math I guess but that was boring. It's also something I do because I like playing a supportive role in other people's creative process if possible, which is a big reason I find the bass guitar to be my most fulfilling instrument.
AM: Music was always a big part of my life, my dad played in bands throughout the 70’s, and was adamant about his offspring knowing the basics. And then, when I was about 5 years old, I heard our neighbour, a teenage skateboarding, drummer, always playing across the street. So, We arranged for me to start taking lessons, and he taught me the basics. I was vey fortunate to get started learning early!
What was a major influence on you as an Artist/Band?
A:My mom was my first and biggest musical influence growing up. She played keyboard and sang in many bands and taught me my first songs on guitar. She made music a part of my life growing up and helped foster my love for music and the community that comes with it.
T: For me, one of my biggest and earliest influences was the Rolling Stones, and specifically Mick Jagger. As far back as I can remember, I've been singing along to stones albums with my Dad, and can even remember being about 5 or 6 and trying out a bunch of Mick's classic stage moves in my living room.
J: As a bassist, my first big influence was John Paul Jones in Led Zeppelin for how versatile he was and was the first musician to make me think about what notes I'm not playing, as well as making me appreciate the idea of not necessarily being heard by every listener, but being felt in the low end.
AM: For me personally? There’s no bigger influence than Sum41. They’d have to be the band I’ve listened to most in my life. The First cd I bought was their first album, first song I played live was In Too Deep, they’ve had a massive impact on my life. Im a huge, huge fan. The pop punk of the early 2000’s really portrayed a lifestyle that I’ve always found to be fascinating, relatable, and inclusive.
What’s a favourite book or film?
A:My favourite book is called Rant by Chuck Palahniuk.
T: My favourite movie would have to be the 1994 classic The Santa Clause with Tim Allen. Quirky, I know, but I absolutely love it. It always takes me back to a really special place in my childhood.
J: My favourite author was Michael Crichton, and my favourite novel of his is probably The Andromeda Strain. He had a scary ability to create science fiction that's so accurate to reality that his stories are scary in a way that I find impossible to achieve with the supernatural.
AM: I’ve always loved the movie “American Gangster”. To me it’s about someone who takes advantage of opportunity, and is able to succeed by working hard to uphold his own standards. I find it also speaks in a candid manor about some of the history of police brutality and corruption.
Do you prefer the recording process or performing live?
A:I prefer performing live. I love the energy that comes with the live show. I love the rawness of our live shows. I love the fact that whatever happens, happens. You can't take it back, you have to just keep going.
T: Performing live! I love the studio too, and all the wild and fun things you can get into while recording, but for me it's all about that feeling I get on stage!
J: I don't really have a preference between recording and performing as a musician, since I basically approach the two exactly the same. I think the best way to record any music is to capture a good performance, which obviously is easier in a studio environment because everything is isolated and you have more than one chance, but if it takes more than 2-3 takes to get a part down then that tells me you weren't ready to go into the studio to begin with.
AM: I really enjoy them both, it’s hard to put one over the other in my mind. I find performing to be a fantastic outlet where I can let loose and have fun. Recording involves more focus, and perhaps a little more stress, but I find it incredibly rewarding. Especially recording somewhere as professional as the Metalworks Studio. I’m a lot more familiar with “home recording” than I am with the calibre offered at a top tier studio. It was a really amazing experience, and for sure changed, and improved, my understanding of quality audio.
Describe a favourite album.
A:The New York Dolls self-titled album - I have listened to this album countless times. Given accolades as one of the best debut albums in rock music, one of the greatest rock albums of all time, and an influence to the 1970s punk scene - if you haven't listened to it you need to go do that now!
T: I love Exile on Main Street. Every single song is special for me and puts me on another level.
J: A very influential album on me is Whatever & Ever Amen by Ben Folds Five. I really like the approach to the production, as it was all recorded in a house with no more than 3 takes per day of each song, capturing a performance of everything together. And Robert Sledge is probably my favourite bassist of the 90s, he has a great sound and undisputably the best energy for that kind of music. I recommend them to anybody who both likes jazz and has a lot of angst.
AM: All Killer No Filler by Sum 41 is an ideal album in my mind. As the name suggests, there aren’t moments of silence at the start and end of their songs, it is a constant barrage of catchy guitar riffs and thought provoking lyrics. They harmonize with each other beautifully, while also highlighting each of their voices at different times. Truly sharing the spotlight with each other, making it not just a phenomenal listening experience, but a window in to a lifelong friendship amongst brilliant musicians.
What's your favourite local haunt?
A: Broom Factory - one of, if not the only, place is Kingston supporting All Ages shows. It is essential to music to provide youth with opportunities to access the community. I highly respect what Broom Factory and its founders have been doing for the Kingston music community and the work they put it.
What's your strangest experience while performing live?
T: My strangest experience playing live was a few years ago with the Meringues. We played in a movie theater in Toronto and just the venue itself was so odd. I loved having a huge screen behind us with visuals, but it was just a weird place to play.
J: During a performance we had a guy run up on stage and buy something out of a vending machine that was also on stage, for some reason. I was really curious what he ended up getting but I couldn't quite tell.
AM: I really enjoy them both, it’s hard to put one over the other in my mind. I find performing to be a fantastic outlet where I can let loose and have fun. Recording involves more focus, and perhaps a little more stress, but I find it incredibly rewarding. Especially recording somewhere as professional as the Metalworks Studio. I’m a lot more familiar with “home recording” than I am with the calibre offered at a top tier studio. It was a really amazing experience, and for sure changed, and improved, my understanding of quality audio.
What are some of your favourite aspects of being a musician in Kingston?
A:You get to meet a lot of really cool people. There are tons of creatives and people interested in various forms of art in our community. We live close to other major cities and have a college and university here which brings in different people and the opportunity to showcase your music to fresh ears. On the other hand, Kingston can sometimes be a bit of a "safe" city, and has even recently acknowledged in a music strategy for the city, a lack of acceptance for what might be consider more "edgy" music (ie. Punk, Rap). I have to admit I enjoy getting to push and challenge the boundaries of societal norms through music.
T: I like Kingston for its proximity to other, bigger cities with better scenes. I love how quickly we can get to Montreal! I've met some great people here too, like the rest of the Meringues!
J: My favourite part of Kingston is that all of the venues that are really worth playing are all in pretty close proximity, most of which are downtown. The waterfront is nice, and I've been impressed by how much interesting original music is being made here. You have to dig quite a bit for it, but there's a lot to discover here.
AM: I moved out of the city a few years back, so I don’t feel I have the most current information. The rest of The Meringues are very kind in giving me updates here and there, but I haven’t spent much time in the city recently, outside of practices and pain treatments.
Did the pandemic and quarantineinfluence your creative process?
A: I think at first it slowed me down. I didn't really do much when it all first started happening. It felt like we hit a brick wall in a way with the momentum we had been building up to that point. It did allow for us to reset - and we came out of the pandemic with Jackson and Alastair who were the exact two members we needed in tow to Kickstart the next album.
T: The pandemic struck our city the night we were supposed to premiere a music video at the 2020 Kingston Canadian Film Festival. Our video still ended up winning Best Music Video, but the live premiere that was lined up at a huge venue in town had to be cancelled. It was sad to have to miss that experience, but we got used to missing things over the next couple years. Much like everyone else, we were BEYOND excited to get back to playing live shows again.
J: The pandemic didn't affect my music much as I wasn't actually performing or recording with any bands at that point. I listened to a lot more music than I actually wrote or performed, which was helpful for me in the sense of learning what I liked and didn't like about my favourite artists. I was in a bit of a slump creatively, but I know by the summer of 2021 people were going out more, and I basically owe it to Ted in this band for getting me back into playing since he recruited me into Shook Planet around that time, which later led to me joining The Meringues too. So that's pretty cool.
AM: Absolutely. In the months before the pandemic really took off, I was diagnosed with stage two hodgekins lymphoma, cancer. I was diagnosed December 23, two days before Christmas, needless to say, I wasn’t feeling my jolliest. I had to go the ER, and was admitted to the hospital in January, where I started emergency chemo suddenly. So when the pandemic hit in the following weeks, I had already had to put drumming on hold. I deal with chronic pain, but the cancer I had caused my neck to swell up, which made the pain so intense that I couldn’t take care of myself properly, let alone play an instrument. So when the world started shutting down, and things changed for everyone, I was already bed ridden and receiving chemotherapy. Being in hospitals constantly whilst my immune system was heavily compromised, during an epidemic, was really scary. After finishing treatment, it took years before I was back to playing drums. I had to overcome atrophy, and then rebuild calluses and muscle to get back to a point where I felt up to playing an entire set. After being unable to participate in most of life, for years, when I was able to play again at all, my focus shifted from playing as fast and as complicated as possible, to playing as solid and “in the pocket” as possible. I’ve begun really valuing that old saying that “less is more”. After some years of rebuilding, I’m still not back to where I was in terms of stamina, but, I think my playing has improved in terms of locking in and keeping the tempo steady.
If you weren’t playing music in Kingston where would you be?
A:I've always wanted to live somewhere just a little more exciting, a little bigger. Maybe Montreal, or even Toronto. But who can afford that these days? And I've heard in Montreal you have to move every year? The anxiety that would cause me.
T: If I weren't so tied down to Kingston with family and other factors, I'd most likely be in the UK or Europe.
J: I would be playing music in either Toronto, Ottawa, or maybe Vancouver because there's more of an actual music industry there.
AM: Nova Scotia is where I was born, it’s where I call home, I think there’s a strong chance if I wasn’t rooted in Ontario, I’d quite like to go back.
Any sage advice for young musicians?
A:I would say just stay true to you and your art. Do the things that make you happy. Love the process and have fun along the way.
T:My only advice for people who want to play music and want it to be the basis of their lifestyle is just DON'T STOP. Don't quit. Don't ever stop. Just keep playing.
J: Not really since I am one of those young musicians haha. Basically just keep doing it, practice your instrument and be courteous to people. Not much else to it, also try to have fun that is important.
AM: Go for it. Try new things. Be kind to each other. Don’t worry about mistakes too much, practice will make you better. Life is way too short to sweat the small stuff. You’ll do great things, just have to go for it.