Montreal Full-On Rockers YOUR EX AND I Release Debut Single “For All the Loves”
Your Ex And I are a band in it for the right reasons. The Montreal-based rock group comprises five pals with very positive musical chemistry poised to explode on the scene with the debut single, “For All the Loves.”
The mysterious comrades in Your Ex And I, comprised of frontman/keyboardist Danny, lyricist Gor, bassist Guillaume, guitarist Frank, and drummer Simon, have all paid their dues playing and working in musical fields and are suitably realistic about their motives and goals.
“We are not kids dreaming in technicolor,” said Danny. “We came together with the right people and the right vibe, so it was ‘let’s all have fun with this.”
It’s that approach that organically expanded as the band realized the strength of the material they were creating. After intensive rehearsals, recording sessions followed at La Salle des Machines, Simon’s East Montreal, a studio filled with vintage analog gear, tape decks, and tube pre-amps.
“When we started jamming and rehearsing around 2018,” said Danny. “We weren’t planning an album, but the more we worked together, the more people heard our tunes and said, ‘Guys, you have to release this.’”
Your Ex And I recruited top producer/engineer Pierre Duchesne to mix their self-produced tracks. The result is a high fidelity and radio-ready wall of sound that is dark yet danceable, polished but never too slick. Opening with insistent piano, the dynamic cut integrates interlocking synths and guitars that give it an ‘80s British synth-rock feel, while Danny’s dramatic vocals explore the moments at the end of an affair.
“For All the Loves” will accompany an eye-catching video that incorporates footage from the German horror film Nosferatu, a classic that turns 100 this year.
“We had a low budget, so we needed to find something in the public domain that was royalty-free,” said Danny. “Gor pushed for Nosferatu for the video. He spent countless hours chopping up footage to fit with all the lyrics.”
The material on the forthcoming Your Ex And I EP contains an irresistible mix of melody and muscle. Two more singles from the upcoming debut EP will be released in February, with more tracks released later in 2023. The combination of ’80s synth lines, fat bass hooks, driving indie rock guitars, and skillful use of both vintage analog and modern instruments and recording gear will reaffirm the potential of a band with a coherent and compelling sound and vision.
Watch the lyric video for “For All the Loves” below and learn more about Your Ex And I via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Yes.
Tell us about the process of writing “For All the Loves.”
For All the Loves is the byproduct of too much heartbreak and alcohol. Kidding aside, it started out as a ballad nicknamed “Thunderhook.” Danny wrote the main piano part, but it quickly transformed into a pumping upbeat indie tune once Guillaume got hold of it. With that vibe in place, it was all up to Gor to figure out what the melodies meant. Having just separated from a very intense relationship with someone weary of commitment, the words essentially wrote themselves. As for the rest of the tune, we just asked ourselves, what would The Police have done?
What’s it like being a musician in Montreal?
To be honest, answering that seems like looking down when climbing a mountain. Before forming Your ex and I, many of us were part of cover acts in Montreal. It’s always been our favorite city to perform in; everyone’s wild. However, it can become overwhelming fast when you start thinking of making a living from it. Everyone has heard the tired trope of “follow your passion no matter what.” It’s an adorably romantic idea, but production, advertising, and venue rentals aren’t free. It’s an unprecedented time to be an independent artist with so many avenues available to promote your work. However, it’s also terribly easy to spiral out of control without direction.
Who was the first Canadian artist to blow you away?
That’s a very tough question to answer. There are so many that come to mind, but to be honest, one band that really blew me away at a young age was the Barenaked Ladies. It’s so common to write them off as a poppy comedic act, but they have a lot of deep tracks with incredible lyrics, chord changes, and melodies. Underrated, overrated band IMO #bringbackstevenpage.
As for new artists, the last artist that completely blew me away was the Fast Romantics. Toronto-based band that I saw in a small local venue with only 20 people there, but the energy and tunes fueled my faith in new music.
You’ve been making music for while now. What’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Try not to overthink the creative process. It’s always those melodies that sneak up on you at the oddest of times that’ll stick months later. Just keep your voice memos handy, hahaha. In terms of production, a good song is always paramount, but always put in the effort and work with people that’ll bring out the most from the songwriting, even if you clash creatively at times. Whether it be musically, in the mix, or in production, the combination of perseverance, collaboration and conflict always pay off.