Interview – The Kents

Photo Credit: Nicholas Castel

I recently had the opportunity to ask Lindsay, Ontario’s The Kents about their music, recent release of their Waking EP, and upcoming tour dates.  Continue reading to find out more about the band and connect with them on their social media pages.

First off, can you introduce yourselves to Canadian Beats’ readers?

Hey all! We’re a four-piece indie pop band from Lindsay, Ontario, fresh off the release of our debut E.P, eager to play everywhere we can. Warren Frank – Vocals, Tanner Paré – Drums, Freddy Kwon – Guitar, Luke Shauf – Bass.

Who are your influences?

Between the four of us we could list off a novels worth of influences, but if we had to name five, we’d go with (In no particular order): Arkells, Needtobreathe, Paul McCartney, Tame Impala, Jack White.

How did you meet?  When did you begin playing together?

We met in a guitar class at our highschool. We started playing together for an assignment where we had to cover songs from different eras.

Whom, or what, are your inspirations for your songs?

We tend to take advantage of how cathartic of a process writing can be. On listening to our E.P “Waking”, listeners will easily infer that we’ve drawn from some relationship struggles. We also talk a bit about the process of developing as a band.

What were the most memorable aspects of recording your Waking EP?

We got to spend a week in Toronto at Fox Sounds, working with Derek Hoffman. The whole week was unforgettable, but working with Derek is something we will never forget. Being in the room with him was a learning experience for all of us, as musicians and writers.

Did any tracks stand out in particular on the EP? Why?

We all really want you to listen to our single “The Stakes”! We think it’s the best example of the direction we’re heading, sound wise anyways.

What has been the fan response so far?

The response has been incredible. Our hometown has rallied around the music in a majorly humbling way, and the tunes are starting to spread!

You have various tour dates coming up (see below).  How would you describe your live show for those who have yet to see you perform?

We try to make our shows a mutually enjoyable experience. We want to have fun playing our songs, but we want the audience to be right there with us. Get ready for some group vocals!

What has been your most memorable show to date?

We played two release shows for our E.P, and they might be tied. First we hit the Horseshoe in Toronto, and then we played a follow up release show in our hometown. We’ve never played to more excited audiences. Unforgettable.

Are there any stops on the tour that you are most excited about?

Montreal! We’re real excited to play our first show outside of Ontario. And we hear great things about the bagels.

At Canadian Beats, we like to include a section of the interview that allows fans to know a bit more about you.

Who are your favourite Canadian artists?

(In no particular order) Joel Plaskett, Arkells, Hollerado, BadBadNotGood, Shad, Constantines, Basia Bulat, City & Colour, Northcote.

What was the last movie you saw?  Would you recommend it?

Autism in Love. Recommend!

What is your favourite summertime activity?

It’s a tie between bonfires and playing catch when we should be practicing.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Warren is really set on us touring the southern states so we can eat some BBQ. Honestly, we all could go for some BBQ.

What is one thing that fans would be surprised to know about you?

Warren and Luke met before guitar class when they worked in the deli department of the Lindsay Loblaws. They bonded over their mutual dislike of “Olive and Pimento Loaf”.

Finally, is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?

Don’t try Olive and Pimento Loaf. It’s not worth it. (Also we hope to see you at a show!)

Upcoming Tour Dates:
06.29 – Peterborough, Ontario – The Spill
07.07 – Guelph, Ontario – DSTRCT
07.08 – Windsor, Ontario – Phog Lounge
07.09 – Hamilton, Ontario – The Baltimore House
07.13 – Courtice, Ontario – Tooley’s Mill Park
07.16 – Kingston, Ontario – The Mansion
07.28 – Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario – LopLops
07.30 – Thunder Bay, Ontario – The Foundry
08.06 – Lindsay, Ontario – Rugby Club
08.11 – Montreal, Quebec – Casa De Popolo
08.12 – Wakefield, Quebec – Blacksheep Inn
08.20 – Peterborough, Ontario – Peterborough Folk Festival
08.24 – Toronto, Ontario – Rivoli
08.26 – Ottawa, Ontario – Rainbow Bistro
09.03 – Coboconk, Ontario – Pattie House

Connect with The Kents at:
Official Website
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Remington Fioraso

Hi Everyone! My name is Remington Fioraso. I am a graduate of the University of the Fraser Valley’s Bachelor of Arts program in Sociology, Anthropology, and Media and Communication Studies. Within my program, I focused on social media, learning about contemporary and classical sociological theory (Including Marx, Foucault, Bourdieu, and Durkheim), and communicating effectively in various modes and for different audiences (including oral communication, business communication, academic writing, entertainment media, and presentations utilizing visual media). Within my program, the question arose for many courses, “What is the relevance in the real world?” Stepping (temporarily) away from being in university, I gained an interest in Latin American development, social movements, and business. Sooner than later, I will be applying for post-grad programs to dive further into LA development and social movements to gain a theory-background in addition to a personal perspective onto the topics. In my free time, I love to travel, consume media, eat, listen to music, and write. Listening to music and writing led to my interest in working with Canadian Beats! I have been a part of the team since April 2014. A few of my personal highlights of interviews include ones with some of my favourite artists – Sumo Cyco, Madeline Merlo, and High Valley. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!