Interview – Rattlesnake Choir

By: Heather Young

Toronto’s own Rattlesnake Choir has recently released their third album entitled “The Prospector’s Curse”. The album was born out of a soundtrack to a film with the same title. Although the album goes in a different direction than fans are used to from Rattlesnake Choir, it is being very well received. We got the chance to catch up with the band to learn a little more about the adventures of this album and their music.

Tell me about the different writing approach you guys took with this album.

It started as a soundtrack for a short film called The Prospector’s Curse. I began putting together the music for that. Some pieces were brand new, some I’d had for some time. For film, the music has to fit the length of whatever scene it’s for. This meant shortening and simplifying many of the pieces. Afterwards I wanted to hear the songs flushed out in terms of length and instrumentation so we re-approached the music with a mind towards putting it out as a record.

What made you decide to turn this adventure into a full length album? 

I was very happy with the material and like I said above, many of the songs were not presented in their full form for the movie so I wanted to see what we could do with it. Whether ot would stand on it’s own as a purely musical presentation.

What are some of the challenges you faced while putting this project together? 

For one thing, the instrumental (soundtrack) part was only about half a record in length. I also had about half a record’s worth of lyrical songs that we’d already been playing so we decided to do a record in the style of David Bowie’s “Low” that has two distinct sides.

What are your favourite tracks off of this album, and why? 

Well you know, we love all of our children equally but if pressed, I would have to say like the title track “The Prospector’s Curse” and another of the instrumentals “The Posse”

What’s next for you guys? 

We play regularly in Toronto but it would be great to get out of town for some shows.

Here at Canadian Beats we like to include a just for fun portion to help our readers and your fans get to know you better, ready?..

If you weren’t doing music, what would you be doing? 

Gardening

What are the most played songs on your playlist? 

If you mean the band: “The Last Sexy City” and “Like A Train” get played at pretty much every one of our shows.
If you mean a personal playlist: CBC Radio 2 – great listening all day long.

With the New Year just beginning, do you have any New Years resolutions? 

Not really

If you could play a show anywhere and with anyone, where would you be? And who would be sharing the stage with you? 

I’d want to be playing somewhere warm (Italy or the southern states) and I think Patti Smith would be a fun person to play with.

And last but not least, do you have anything you would like to say to your fans? 

Thanks for listening!

Heather Young

I’m Heather Young. I am 29 years old and from Calgary. I’m the mother of a 6 year old boy and I work with children as a developmental assistant. I have always had a passion for writing and music so working for Canadian Beats is right up my alley. I love every genre of music as long as it catches my attention, it’s on my playlist, from rap to country. When I’m not working or writing I love to spend time outside with my son playing games or going for walks.