D2UR Is The Right Band For “Right Now”
The Rock group D2UR (pronounced Detour) is following up their critically acclaimed 2020 single “Slippin’ Away” with a continuation tune, “Right Now.” Married duo Diane and Mike Isbister lead the group with vocals and guitar.
“During 2020, when the pandemic was at its peak, we hunkered down to write new songs. At the time, we latched onto a song now entitled “Slippin’ Away,” written about the pandemic and our way of life changing before our eyes,” D2UR said. “Right Now” is a post-pandemic song seeking the truth behind what happened and what caused the pandemic. We all search for answers and places to find them. Maybe one day we will find out.”
Diane and Mike mentioned,
“The lyrics for the song were influenced by the continuation of the pandemic and the rules for conduct that had been set in place by the authorities. As the lyrics developed, we latched on to the idea of fixing it ‘Right Now’.”
“Right Now” is a rock venture complete with longing electric guitar licks. Diane’s leading vocals croon over light cowbell-esque sounds and a stable guitar pulse. Her unwavering rock vocals mesmerize the listener with feelings of curiosity. The drum beat shines behind Diane’s grungy, full vocal impressions, and the lower guitar octave matches the grit as you’re thrust into a full-on rock show.
Diane invites David Sikorski-Thorn’s electrifying guitar solo with a nudge from her powerhouse vocals between the second verse and the chorus. Diane shines with a profound sostenuto in the final chorus, ending the lead vocals on a quite literal high note. She backs off lead vocals for a few bars while emitting airy breaths, which back the guitar solo.
The song resolves with a choral chant from all vocals of the phrase “Right Now” and some high-energy guitar riffs.
Additional musicians involved in “Right Now” production and creation include Sikorski-Thorn on guitar and backing vocals, John Colburn on bass guitar, and Stephen Broadhurst on drums.
Three additional songs were written and recorded at the same time and will be released in the upcoming months: “Live Again,” “Remember My Name,” and “Wasted Time.” The band is set to continue recording another four songs immediately and rehearse for their own show at the Park Theatre in Winnipeg in the spring of 2023.
Listen to “Right Now” below, and learn more about D2UR via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
D2UR is a Winnipeg-based band that writes and records their own brand of original rock music. Diane and Mike Isbister are the nucleus of the band and are rounded out by a talented team of David Sikorski-Thorn on guitar, John Colburn on bass, and Stephen Broadhurst on drums. During the day, Mike is a partner at the Winnipeg-based LM Architectural group running the interior design department, Environmental Space Planning. Diane runs her own aesthetics business, Cosmetic Touch, out of their home during normal business hours.
What’s it like being a musician in Winnipeg?
Winnipeg has an abundance of talented musicians, artists, and producers. For a rock-based band, there are not many options for performing original music in the city. Being a nontouring band, we find it advantageous to put our own shows on when warranted. We simply rent out a suitable music venue and sell tickets to our shows. Our following has been very supportive and sold out our events so far. Our next live performance is slated for April 2023, where we will introduce our recent new singles.
How did you two meet, and where did writing and performing music come into it?
We met one day while a drummer friend and I were looking for a new female vocalist. Diane had been involved in the Weekend Warriors program, where our drummer touched base with her, suggesting she try out for our then cover band. We hit it off and soon after began writing some music together. Oddly enough, I(Mike) went to high school with her brother….small world. As our band evolved, we began working some of our original songs into our sets. Eventually, we focused solely on writing and performing original music. Finding the right band members to round out the group took a while, but now we have a very gifted group of players supporting our efforts, which we are very thankful for.
Who was the first artist to knock you out?
Mike: The first artist I can recall making an impact on me was seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. Seeing the fans screaming was very inspiring. In my teens, I became attracted to more primal and heavier music and was fortunate to stumble upon AC/DC during their early days. They truly hit a chord in me, and I was pretty fanatical about them during their run with Bon Scott.
What’s the one album by a Canadian artist that everyone should have in their collection?
Mike: It’s gotta be the Hip…..any true-blooded Canadian has been touched by Gord Downies’ lyrics and stage antics. Any of their early albums stand up against anything. Secretly though, I was a big Teenage Head fan and loved their Frantic City Album. I was fortunate to see them many times on their way through the Peg and was in awe of Gordie’s raw, pulverizing guitar and Frankie’s onstage antics.