Quick & Dirty - Library Voices
By: Cheryl Stornelli
Much like the hidden gems of music venues within Regina's deteriorating downtown, Library Voices are a ten-piece colourfully bursting out of their overpopulated, yet inviting indie music scene. Amidst low-income housing, pawnshops, drugs and crime the home of dozens of inspiring bands are crammed into a few city blocks.
With the closing of a grocery superstore that brought people and jobs to the downtown roughly ten years ago, the city has essentially left the core in pieces and with very few resources. Each day, Michael Dawson (guitar, organ, synth) watches as people crawl into the city for their day jobs and crawl back out, never breaking the cycle that is crippling the downtown. Yet out of this spawned a spectacular music scene.
"Regina is a ten city block with like 20 bands in that area. They stretch boundaries; it's hard not to be inspired by them. It's a very supportive scene for local music, it doesn't feel competitive (and) everyone takes turns playing with each band," Dawson explains. "However, we're about ten blocks away from what's deemed the worst neighbourhood in Canada. There's a ridiculous amount of drug use and crime. Our city is split down the middle in terms of a moderate amount of young families and crime."
Adding unbearable winters to the mix, there doesn't seem to be much to do in a city like Regina. Most bands hibernate and lock themselves away to make music and record. It's a bit ironic for Library Voices that they began in the summer and plan to tour out west in February and out east in May.
Luckily, having shared a stage with high profile indie outfits like Broken Social Scene, Stars and Plants and Animals, Library Voices were fortunate enough to have their turn and get an up-close look at what these bands "twist into each song". With a loose, fun vibe and a different level of professionalism, it quickly became an enlightening experience for the band.
"We just watch in awe of how it comes together for these other bands. I like to find out that they do a lot of things similar to your own band," says Dawson.
A great song or a great band may stem from a simple melody or small verse, but what's important to remember is the majority of the time it was never pre-meditated to sound a certain way or evoke specific emotions.
"The nature of art is that you stumble upon your best ideas; no one wants to admit that. But it's when you're not paying attention and fooling around that something great comes out of it. It's when the best ideas fall out of you," Dawson claims.
"The first song of our six-song EP came from ideas when we were just sitting around. We went with what felt right. When we went back to work on new stuff the songs almost set the tone for the band."
Though falling under the large pop umbrella, Library Voices carry an upbeat, dance style with an overall ‘60s feel. However, rather than falling into "bubblegum pop," their sound is self-reflective, ironic and sincere.
Their full-length, set to be released in January 2009, carries a more mature sound combined with the parts the band loved from the EP, Hunting Ghosts & Other Collected Shorts.
In a way, Library Voices prove that some hope and inspiration can be brought to decaying cities that used to overflow with life and opportunity. As unappealing as Regina and its deteriorating downtown may sound, hidden within the run-down buildings, empty streets and crying babies lives a thriving music scene filled with artistic gems, offering a glimmer of light in hard times.
