James Blonde Capture the Healing Magic and Allure of a Night Out with “Back To Life”
Niagara Falls-based alt-rockers James Blonde encapsulate the restorative magic and magnetic appeal of the nightlife with their new single “Back To Life.”Because no matter how dull and lackluster – or depressed and lifeless – one might temporarily feel, everyone knows that the best cure is a well-timed night out.
Kicking off with pulsing waves of electronic sound, “Back To Life” is a stomping, guitar-heavy groove that’s bound to energize pretty much anyone as the song describes a life-giving scene in a bar with a live band. It’s pop and dance-y, but also jagged and edgy, and James Blonde are here to ease you into the atmosphere:
You may have come just for the beer
But you’re staying alive now the gangs all here
So get in close; feel what you hear
And tell your friends there’s no one you’d rather cheer
They know that
The chorus is the simple earworm of “You bring me back to life,” and we begin to understand that the song is not only about going out and hearing some life-giving music but also basking in the company of the one you love – “We may have had a messy year/ You brought me be back from what I once feared/ But now we’re back, we’re in the clear/ Let’s make tonight the one that won’t disappear.”
“Back to Life” is merely one single (the first!) from a forthcoming LP due out this winter. It’s the latest project in a flurry of activity for the band, who, over the last two years, released five new singles they recorded with JUNO-winning producer Gus Van Go while writing the album.
Watch the video for “Back to Life” below and learn more about James Blonde via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Philip Taylor. I’m the drummer & singer of the latest James Blonde single, “Back to Life.” I specify this as the band has three lead vocalists, which means it can change one song to the next! My two other bandmates are Neil Carson on bass/keys and Steph Mercier on guitar.
Tell us about the process of writing “Back to Life.”
Well, this was an interesting one in the way it came about for us! We had just picked up a new keyboard, and Neil was messing around with it during band practice last year. I brought up this beat I wanted to do something with, which inspired the chorus bassline. Steph had a guitar riff he was sitting on that also worked perfectly with the part! In that one session, we wrote almost all the instrumental parts, with the verse funk/groove coming together that same day. We did a quick recording, and later that week, while driving, I heard the news on 102.1 the Edge that real concerts were coming back for the first time since early 2020! I got so excited about it and the fresh jam we had recently recorded that I pulled over and wrote the lyrics and melodies to the song right there!
What’s it like being a musician in Niagara (Falls)?
It’s a good place to be for a musician! There’s a great scene in the region with the epicenter for original music in St Catharines and an incredible market for cover bands/musicians wanting to make a living between the Falls tourist area and all the wineries/ microbreweries. We’ve been incredibly lucky to be offered a permanent position as the house band in one of Niagara’s busiest tourist bars: SpYce Lounge at the Fallsview Hilton. We play a different kind of show there: catering to tourists from around the world by playing our favourite covers. It’s really one of the few places in the world where there’s this much work for musicians to make a living while being central for touring opportunities, being right on the border of the US, and where the cost of living still makes sense for artists! But we don’t often say it too loud, or more competition might move down here!
Who was the first Canadian artist to blow you away?
Billy Talent was probably the first big influence on both Neil and I. We’ve been huge fans since before we met in High-Scool, and used to cover so many songs of theirs during our lunch break at school. They managed to sound so heavy yet so catchy at the same time and had an original sound like no other. Fun Fact: our band name James Blonde was inspired by them and specifically Ian D’Sa! Neil met him at CMW back in 2016 at a bar and, while chatting, mentioned an old band name we had: Ian said we should change it (something that had been on our minds for a while!). He cited how changing from Pezz to Billy Talent helped their career, and we could benefit from a better name. So when we finally decided to be James Blonde in 2017, we took inspiration from the “People name for a band” like Billy Talent and our other favs Franz Ferdinand!
You’ve been making music for while now. What’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Do it because you love it, and everyone’s path is different! There’s no single path to success – do what feels right and pursue the opportunities your way.
Connect with James Blonde:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram