Pleased To Meet Me: Private Lives
Introduce yourself… (Where are you from, what band do you play in etc..)
CH: Chance Hutchison. I play in PRIORS and Private Lives currently.
D: I’m Drew and I play drums in Private Lives, PRIORS and eventually Plastic Act
JB: I’m Jackie from the band Private Lives.
J: Josh, Ottawa, Private Lives and Plastic Act
Why do you play music?
CH: Music is life.
D: I play music because it’s the one action that allows me to connect with myself (my body, my emotions) in the most direct and honest way. Same goes for connecting with my band mates and any one who comes to see us play.
JB: I play music because it’s fun, first and foremost, but also because I deeply believe in the value of all art - both as a personal creative outlet and in the context of society as a whole.
J: It's somethin' to do
What was a major influence on you as an Artist/Band?
CH: Growing up poor and abused.
D: I learned how to play drums when I was like 8 and played mostly jazz until I was a teenager. At the same time my dad listened to a ton of rock music so I was really taken with all those showboat rock drummers like Keith moon and Jon Bonham etc so I like to hit hard and fast with some swing
JB: A major influence on me as an artist is a tough one to nail down, because I take influence from all kinds of places and people. But I would say in general, sixties pop and early punk are my biggest, longest lasting musical influences. I’m also influenced by the paintings of the great Otto Dix, which are such a perfect example of how the beautiful and the grotesque can come together to reveal so much about the human condition. When I’m writing, I’m always striving to walk that line. Whether I’m successful or not is another question.
J: My friends
What’s a favourite book or film?
CH: I like everything PTA (Paul Thomas Anderson) but more recently I've been watching a lot of Jacques Demy. I really enjoyed The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
D: I have this Jorge Luis Borges collection Labyrinths that I’ve re-read many times. His writing style is very hypnotic to me and I like getting lost in it. It’s hard to name a favorite film though, I feel like every movie is my favourite right after I watch it.
JB: favourite book of mine is A Coney Island of the Mind, Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s most influential book of poetry. My favourite movie is a tie between Vertigo and Wayne’s World - I like a high/low dichotomy.
J: As of late, Abolition Democracy
Do you prefer the recording process or performing live?
CH: As time has gone on, I now prefer the recording process. I still get a kick out of playing live but it's not like it used to be.
D: I prefer recording to playing shows because you get the chance to experiment and bring something to life out of nothing vs playing the same set for the 8th time. Also my favourite way to record is live off the floor, which is kind of the best of both worlds because it feels like you’re trying to catch lightning in a bottle but it’s more of a performance than a take.
JB: I think recording can be fun, especially once everything starts to come together and you’re working on all the extra bells and whistles, but for me performing is where I really thrive. You can’t beat that adrenaline rush.
J: The writing process!
What would be a dream collaboration?
CH: My dream collaboration has come true. It was to collaborate with my wife and partner, Jackie Blenkarn.
D: Writing and playing music with the people I love is my dream collaboration.
JB: My dream collaboration? I haven’t dreamt it yet.
J: Gil Scott Heron and Lenny Kaye
Describe a favourite album.
D: Since I Left You by The Avalanches is a record I could listen to ten times a day. The entire piece of work is made with samples and every second of it is something new and magical. Every track has a larger than life cinematic feel and when I listen to it I go through a range of emotions. I’ve cried and laughed at it and there aren’t many records I can think of that connect with me on that level. It’s crazy that it’s almost 25 years old it feels timeless.
JB: A favourite album of mine is Kevin Ayers’ Bananamour. I love the way that this record blends pop and soul elements into its very own version of artsy rock and roll. The melodies are always interesting and the songs get stuck in your brain. It’s fun while also being a bit melodramatic at times. I think it’s a perfect record.
J: It has a banana on the cover
What's your favourite local haunt?
CH: I like my backyard.
D: When I go out I’m usually only going to shows that my friends are playing in the Plateau, so all those venues.
JB: My favourite local haunt these days is a small, quiet beach within biking distance from our house in the suburbs.
J: Bar la remise
What's your strangest experience while performing live?
CH: I've had many as I've been playing live shows for 26 years. Bandmates falling off stage mid set, getting completely naked with audience members etc. Good times!
D: One time we played at a squat near a train depot in Giessen, Germany. Every time a train came by it would cause this interference through our amps and made this insane alarm sound that was difficult to listen to and we had no control over it.
JB: Once when my old band opened for Boss Hog, Cristina loved my thrifted shirt so much that she tried to buy it off me for $60usd, which I declined. Then she asked if we could swap shirts for their set, so she went onstage wearing my shirt and I wore hers while I watched from the audience. We swapped back at the end of the show, after one more failed attempt to sway me with cash. It will always be a funny memory for me.
J: A panic attack
What are some of your favourite aspects of being a musician in (your city here)?
Montreal definitely had a major influence on me throughout the 2010's. I learned a lot and met a lot of folks who were doing really cool things. I like that we still have small venues but not so excited by the fact that all of them have to survive by ending shows early to play bad music for the normal crowds. We used to rock n roll all night when I was coming up.
D: My favorite part about playing music in Montreal is seeing the support from all corners of the scene. There is a warm and welcoming community of artists here that give a shit and go out to all the shows.
JB: I love being a musician in Montreal because for so many years, this was the last affordable big city in the country so all kinds of creatives flocked here. Unfortunately I don’t think we can say that anymore. This city is packed with so much Canadian talent, it really is inspiring and makes me want to produce quality art just to keep up. I love that music of all kinds is such a big part of the vibrancy of this city.
J: Meeting other folks at shows
If you weren’t playing music in (your city here) where would you be ?
CH: If I weren't in Chateauguay I'd be in Montreal.
D: There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, this is one of the greatest cities in the world.
JB: If I wasn’t playing music in Montreal, I would probably want to be living the bohemian lifestyle somewhere in Italy.
Any sage advice for young musicians?
CH: Advice for the kids? Believe in what you're doing first and foremost. LISTEN TO ALL GOOD MUSIC and let it influence you. Current mainstream music is trash. Make records not singles. Have fun but make sure not to waste time. I spent too much time getting fucked up when I could have been writing.
D: Don’t stop writing music. Your craft gets better the more you work at it, and if you don’t push yourself to keep creating something new it will start to feel like a chore and get boring.
JB: What I want to tell young musicians is to make art that comes from the heart. You can be successful emulating somebody else’s sound if you work hard enough at it, but don’t be scared to put your freakiest visions out into the world. The unique sounds are the ones that stand out over time.
J: Don't take too many lessons.
Check out Private Lives’ Bandcamp below!
You can order Private Lives “Hit Record” on vinyl from FEEL IT RECORDS shop HERE.