Quick & Dirty: Diving Into The Wet Secrets
By: Cheryl Stornelli
When it comes to Edmonton's The Wet Secrets, it's likely a good thing there's only a kernel of truth to their quirky, unconventional lyrics. Coming up with song titles such as "Grow Your Own Fucking Moustache, Asshole", "I Tea Bagged Myself" and "Anal Rape Santa", they're sure to raise a few eyebrows under any normal circumstances. The band, however, never blinks an eye when their eccentric personalities spill into their music. With more than a few Canadian tours under their belts, the funky five-piece is quickly grabbing the attention of the Canadian indie scene.
"We're all kind of quirky and the songs are often a reflection of our collective sense of humour," says bassist Lyle Bell. "Often it's just us coming up with ideas, having a few drinks and everyone just chimes in."
By taking only a small piece of truth from their otherwise normal, everyday lives and "making it a little more poetic and not as blunt," they end up with their recordings. "Grow Your Own Fucking Moustache, Asshole" was written about a friend at a party who was, "very regal about his mustache and was screaming at everyone who had fake mustaches," Bell reflects.
Although the band may come across as regal when it comes to touring, the idea is often misinterpreted. With five band members' full-time schedules and side projects to work around, The Wet Secrets have still managed to obtain a following.
After putting in more than a few hours touring across Canada the classic way, "slumming it, sleeping in a van and coming home malnourished without showering for three weeks," the band feels that smarter touring (think planes and hotels rooms) would mesh into their lifestyles more easily.
Bell says it is possible to experience this type of touring in a band that's just starting to make waves in the music scene. "You can get a foothold in places where you haven't been because of things like MySpace, YouTube or Facebook. You don't have to do it like the old way and play the same place over and over just to double a crowd," says Bell.
The Wet Secret's first album and first show took place within just one week of forming the band, mirroring their ongoing, somewhat peculiar tendencies. With the second album, Rock Fantasy, taking roughly two years to produce, Bell plans to go back to the one-week style and focus solely on recording The Wet Secrets.
"The last record was bogged down with everyone being scattered and having to come and go. Trying to re-record a vocal track from six months ago is hard when you can't remember where you left off," says Bell. "It's really fun and challenging to do it in one concentrated burst with your head completely in the creative process."
If it took The Wet Secrets two years to come up with their bizarre lyrics and unusual music on Rock Fantasy, fans can only imagine what's in store for the next one-week recording. With a half-written Spanish record and another carrying an outer space theme, it's not out of the question that some old tracks could resurface. "Once we sit and get a couple of drinks in everyone, who knows what could happen!"
