CHANGING THEIR TUNE
Courage My Love has new, more eerie sound
A Canadian punk band transformed themselves into a horror-inspired pop act, and that metamorphosis was a successful one.
Kitchener, Ont. synth-driven rockers Courage My Love will be at The Exchange on April 15 to show off their new sound. Their latest album, Synesthesia, came out in February.
The three-piece group, consisting of Mercedes Arn-Horn (vocals and guitar), her sister Phoenix (drums and vocals), and Brandon Lockwood (bass and vocals), broke through in the mid-2000s with a string of hits and were nominated for a Juno in 2014. Still, frontwoman
Mercedes ArnHorn said it was time for a change.
During a phone interview while driving through Nebraska on their latest U.S. tour, she said, “We’re going for a dark pop vibe. The esthetic for this album is from ’70s and ’80s psychedelic horror movies. There’s no blood and guts, but it has a lot of soft lighting and synth tones.”
She mentioned the hit Netflix show Stranger Things as a modern point of reference. That change took a long time to realize, according to Arn-Horn. She called the transition, which was two years in the making, natural.
“We’ve been doing the same music for our whole life as a band and we wanted to step outside
of that box. We really wanted to see something different. We’re really happy with the way things are.”
The current album is called Synesthesia, a condition in which a person’s senses are combined — they might see colours when listening to music, for instance. Arn-Horn said, “It’s a metaphor for being overwhelmed and being lost in your emotions and discovering who you are.”
That theme plays out on several tracks like Drowning, which talks about mental health issues, and Two Headed Monster and The Year I Disappeared, which deal with failed relationships.
“We wanted to be really honest in the songs,” the lead singer said. “Drowning is about being on the other side of mental health issues and trying to pull someone through that … All three of us were going through some rough breakups during the writing.
“I’m almost thankful for that because it helped with the creative process,” she said, laughing. In previous interviews, Arn-Horn has talked about dampening her social justice motives in her current music, which is not to say she still doesn’t believe in those issues. Rather, she said, “I don’t think those feelings will ever die, but sometimes other topics are more prevalent when you’re writing an album. We just happened to be going through an emotionally turbulent time with this album.”
The group is looking forward to playing Regina because they don’t often get to see Western Canada. Arn-Horn said audiences can expect a lot of new songs and few older selections.
“This is my favourite set we’ve ever done on tour. I’m pumped for that. I’m also proud to say, the three of us always hang out with our fans before and after the show.”
COURAGE MY LOVE with The New Electric
When: April 15 Where: The Exchange