Ruby Coast, Coast to Coast
By: Cheryl Stornelli
Hand-drawn stapled cover art, a mere 28 hours of studio time and burned copies of laptop recordings are what Ruby Coast's first two EPs consisted of. But now, the over-simplified days of get-in-and-get-out-style recording sessions are long gone. The Aurora-based five-piece have put together Projectable Collections, an EP to be proud of.
The record is jam-packed with quirky, hooking vocals laid perfectly overtop danceable indie rock. For an instant boost of energy all you need to do is hit play, turn it up and dance to wherever you need to go.
The EP all started with an offer from Dave Monks of Tokyo Police Club to re-record their previously released songs. Ruby Coast and Monks settled into Chemical Sound, a great recording studio run by Jay Sad and Dean Marino. Finally able to get a taste of what actually goes into the making of an EP, the guys were able to experiment and find the right sound, rather than just throw together a few songs for a last-minute tour.
"The other EPs were kind of sketchy, they were made quickly for short tours. We'd just quickly make some songs so if people would remember us we'd be able to give them out or have them pay what they can," explains Justice McLellan, guitarist and vocalist. "This EP is a lot more detailed."
Take the captivating, ever-changing tune "More Than Television"; McLellan doesn't hesitate to agree with keyboardist Keith Bradford that it stands out the most on Projectable Collections. A clear pop feel runs through it from start to finish, but the song purposely avoids the typical structure of a pop song.
"Nothing comes back around in the song. It's consistently changing. There's no real hook that repeats itself. That's what makes it kind of special. I like to experiment with song structures, otherwise it'd get boring" states McLellan.
With a half-and-half ratio of songs above and below the three-minute mark, Ruby Coast have adopted a hit-and-run style similar to their live shows. The catchy pop-like songs on the EP have a leave-them-wanting-more feel. But don't get your hopes up because you're certainly not going to get more just yet.
"We just released our EP and no one wants to hear over half an hour of songs," says McLellan. "It can all just mould together and sound the same. When you're starting out, I think your set is better in small doses to keep people intrigued. You don't want the audience to be drowned in the set."
Don't be mistaken – the band didn't adopt the hit-and-run style because it works for other bands or because they want to stand out in the eclectic Toronto music scene. Their goal is simple: To play what they, as musicians, are inspired by. To be different and to enjoy it. Unlike some bands, Ruby Coast don't care if they're compared to similar bands. In fact, they like it.
"I think it's nice to be compared to bands like Tokyo Police Club," says McLellan. "People used to compare them to The Strokes. I like Tokyo, so why should it bother me? We've also learned a lot from them; they're wicked guys."
Song choices for albums, live shows and EPs can be daunting, especially as a new band stepping into the music scene. On Projectable Collections Ruby Coast have developed a sound that's both magnetic and distinctive, injecting excitement into the audience during shows. Add a charismatic lead singer and Ruby Coast are free to invest their time into recording songs that keep their energy high and keep you hooked.
"It always takes some time to know if you're satisfied with your songs," says McLellan. "You could be really excited about one for a bit but it all depends on how quickly that excitement dies down. If it stays when you're playing them you know it's a keeper."
That's the stamp of approval a song must receive before the band makes a set-list or track listing. Maybe it's a newfound taste for professional recordings or the endless possibilities of where their indie rock sound could go, but the bottom line is that the music needs to make them feel good before it's going to reach your ears. "We've gone through so many songs that when I think back to them they could have been alright. But nobody wants that," explains McLellan. "You're an artist and you're trying to bring the best you can possibly bring. There's no reason for settling for something mediocre, especially when music is your passion."
Aspiring and working toward futures as respected musicians definitely rules out the slight chance of getting by on mediocre quality. To McLellan and Bradford, success doesn't have to mean mansions and fancy cars, personal drivers or private jets.
"Being a successful musician is to be able to take a bus somewhere and just live. It's getting by, even scraping by, but playing shows," states Bradford.
Agreeing, McLellan adds, "It's being able to eat and not be homeless, being able to have groceries. I don't want to be 40 and living in my mom's basement."
"I'm either going to be a successful musician or not," says Bradford. "But at least I'm getting to do what I love to do, everyday."
"I was thinking about it the other day. And I was like, what do I actually love? And music was definitely a for sure. Playing shows is the best. It's my favourite thing to do," says McLellan.
With untainted certainty propelling Ruby Coast forward and a solid EP turning heads across the music scene, it doesn't seem this band will miss a step anytime soon. And with Ruby Coast picking up speed and progressing musically, it's seems likely that laptop recordings and stapled cover art are a thing of the past.
Video: "Neighbourhood" by Ruby Coast
