Where have all the decent female fronted alternative bands at? Well do I have a score for you, Courage My Love, a young alternative band hailing from Canada. After making it recently into the Alternative Press' '100 Bands You Need To Know In 2012', they have been galivanting around the country with many large named bands including The Pretty Reckless. Releasing their brand new EP very soon, I decided to catch up with front woman Mercedes Arn-Horn about Music, Touring and Paramore.
For someone who has never heard
of you, how would you describe ‘Courage My Love’?
It's almost impossible to try and describe your own music, but I'd say we're influenced by a lot of punk, pop, and hardcore...
It's almost impossible to try and describe your own music, but I'd say we're influenced by a lot of punk, pop, and hardcore...
How did Courage My Love all
begin?
Courage My Love started with my sister Phoenix and me as a writing project when we were 14. We started playing shows locally and built a bit of a local fan base, but didn't really start taking ourselves as a band too seriously until David joined in 2009. Since then we've been touring across Ontario and Canada, joined forces with a manager and producer, and with their help landed a distribution deal with Warner.
Courage My Love started with my sister Phoenix and me as a writing project when we were 14. We started playing shows locally and built a bit of a local fan base, but didn't really start taking ourselves as a band too seriously until David joined in 2009. Since then we've been touring across Ontario and Canada, joined forces with a manager and producer, and with their help landed a distribution deal with Warner.
You’ve recently been touring
with The Pretty Reckless, which is a pretty big deal. Out of all the bands
you’ve worked or toured with, who has been your favourite? Did you learn
something from them? Were they inspirations? Show you a good time?
We loved getting to jump onto that tour. It was a great experience for us in every way. It's always great for a young band to have the opportunity to learn from people who have been doing this for years. Everyone we meet has different things to teach us, a different vibe, so I can't really choose a favourite. So far I've loved them all!
We loved getting to jump onto that tour. It was a great experience for us in every way. It's always great for a young band to have the opportunity to learn from people who have been doing this for years. Everyone we meet has different things to teach us, a different vibe, so I can't really choose a favourite. So far I've loved them all!
You released your debut EP, For Now, late last year. Can you tell us
a bit about it? And some of the songs meanings? What were your inspirations for
the EP?
For Now was our very first time in a legit studio and our first time sitting down and writing specifically for a record. I think it taught us a lot about the industry we were getting into, and actually about ourselves. At that point Courage My Love could have gone in absolutely any direction, and this being our first release it was our opportunity to show ourselves to the world for the first time. The EP is called "For Now" because I think the main message we were trying to get across was a message of impermanence and hope. We only have so much time, so try to make the most of every minute. The songs sort of keep that in mind, as well as more specific songs about relationships and friends. But most of the songs are about overcoming negativity and shedding the people that will try to bring you down.
For Now was our very first time in a legit studio and our first time sitting down and writing specifically for a record. I think it taught us a lot about the industry we were getting into, and actually about ourselves. At that point Courage My Love could have gone in absolutely any direction, and this being our first release it was our opportunity to show ourselves to the world for the first time. The EP is called "For Now" because I think the main message we were trying to get across was a message of impermanence and hope. We only have so much time, so try to make the most of every minute. The songs sort of keep that in mind, as well as more specific songs about relationships and friends. But most of the songs are about overcoming negativity and shedding the people that will try to bring you down.
Are there any plans for a full
length album soon? Are you currently writing?
We're releasing a brand new EP this summer. We're currently writing and recording songs for that EP!
We're releasing a brand new EP this summer. We're currently writing and recording songs for that EP!
I know a lot of female fronted
bands get compared to Paramore a lot, does that happen to you much? What are
your thoughts on Paramore?
It happens, but I just take it as a compliment. Usually the people who compare us to Paramore are fans, and it's because there aren't a lot of popular female fronted rock bands out there for them to reference. While it can be hard for the rest of us to live in their shadow, Paramore have had a lot of success, they all have chops and are great at what they do, and personally if we get compared to them, I think that is a good thing, even though we don't really sound like them.
It happens, but I just take it as a compliment. Usually the people who compare us to Paramore are fans, and it's because there aren't a lot of popular female fronted rock bands out there for them to reference. While it can be hard for the rest of us to live in their shadow, Paramore have had a lot of success, they all have chops and are great at what they do, and personally if we get compared to them, I think that is a good thing, even though we don't really sound like them.
What are the band’s musical
influences? And band’s you personally enjoy listening too?
I'm one of those annoying people who, when asked that question, always says "I listen to everything." It's true! I love all kinds of music of all different genres. Lately, I've been listening to a lot of punk, hardcore, and indie music like Set Your Goals, The Devil Wears Prada, Deftones and The Joy Formidable. Basically anything that is musical, I'll like it.
I'm one of those annoying people who, when asked that question, always says "I listen to everything." It's true! I love all kinds of music of all different genres. Lately, I've been listening to a lot of punk, hardcore, and indie music like Set Your Goals, The Devil Wears Prada, Deftones and The Joy Formidable. Basically anything that is musical, I'll like it.
Can you give us an inside scoop
of what else is happening for you guys this year?
We're going to be touring across Canada, playing lots of summer festivals, releasing an acoustic version of all the songs off of "For Now" and releasing a new EP with new songs. I also aspire to finally get my driver's license and beat Dead Space.
We're going to be touring across Canada, playing lots of summer festivals, releasing an acoustic version of all the songs off of "For Now" and releasing a new EP with new songs. I also aspire to finally get my driver's license and beat Dead Space.
Where do you hope to see this
band in 3 years?
Honestly, I have no idea. I want to be as successful as possible and as happy as possible, and give back to all our amazing fans who have helped us get where we are and will carry us even further. It would also be pretty cool if we got to meet Ellen...
Honestly, I have no idea. I want to be as successful as possible and as happy as possible, and give back to all our amazing fans who have helped us get where we are and will carry us even further. It would also be pretty cool if we got to meet Ellen...
I’m from Australia; do you have
anything to say to the Australian Courage My Love fans? Do you think you might
visit us one day soon?
Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU! We love you all and your support means the world to us! Yes, we'd love to visit Australia, as soon as I overcome my fear of giant man-eating insects. ;)
Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU! We love you all and your support means the world to us! Yes, we'd love to visit Australia, as soon as I overcome my fear of giant man-eating insects. ;)
Check out some of their catchy music you might just fall
in love with!
Thanks to Mercedes for having a
chat with me! Wishing them all the best for the future!
Tori Hyland
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