High Waters
Photo Credit: Meagan Lapointe

COUNTDOWN TO OTTAWA’S DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL – INTERVIEW WITH HIGH WATERS

High Waters Plays Tim Horton’s Ottawa’s Dragon Boat Festival on June 22 at 7:10 pm

High Waters, an Ottawa indie rock band formed in 2009, crafts melodious music that captures the ineffable. Their 2015 album, Goodnight Mara gained nationwide acclaim, leading to extensive tours. The current lineup features Derek Connely, Martin Villeneuve, Matt Speedy, Brandon Walsh, and Joshua Hofmann.

Known for their delicate balance of somber and serene, their latest EP, Not Dead Not Alive releases in January 2024, promising more evocative soundscapes that resonate deeply.

First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?

We’re an Ottawa-based indie rock group consisting of Derek Connely, Josh Hofmann, Matt Speedy, Martin Villeneuve, and Brandon Walsh. Our music speaks to the human condition and is dotted with sonic creations that evoke the ineffable. The band has been described as making a habit of turning eerie, somber sounds into beautiful music, and walking the line between chaotic and serene through its storytelling.

Tell us about your most recent release.

Our most recent release is an EP titled Not Dead Not Alive, a collaboration that was conceived amid the highs and lows of recent years. Prior to 2020, we began to pour every ounce of creativity and effort into this EP. Suddenly, in the wake of the pandemic, everything from the writing, refining, and final editing of these tracks was a lifeline while the world held its breath. The songs symbolize resilience, but we found that they also distill the essence of hope that sustained the human spirit during those trying times. At its core, Not Dead Not Alive represents one’s ability to navigate the tumultuous seas of love and life while waves of conflicting feelings form the root of endlessly evaluating the status quo. It’s an anthology of our rawest moments and a soundtrack to the solitude of the world in lockdown.

Our single off the EP, “Strange Love,” speaks of resistance against estrangement in a time where codependency has become pervasive. It’s a contemplation of the true meaning of togetherness. The music video for this single was conceived by longtime friend, filmmaker, and writer, Adrien Benson and filmed in beautiful Perth, ON.

What excites you most about performing at the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival?

It’s a free and accessible concert, which means all can attend. It’s an opportunity for us to share our work and passion with everyone, including some who might otherwise not get to see us performing live. Some of us have young children who will finally be able to see their father hit the stage. Having a forum to creatively express our music while witnessing and experiencing our audience’s reaction to it is a privilege. Above all, we feel fortunate to be included in this spectacular event with such a powerful and uplifting impact on the Ottawa community.

How important is it for you to play at festivals like Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, who promote Canadian music exclusively?

There’s a vast and diverse ecosystem of remarkably talented artists right here in our own backyard. When festivals like Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival recognize and honour this, it sends a positive message–not only to the artists themselves but to all Canadians: by elevating Canadian music, we are forging a sense of community and belonging. For that reason, we’re grateful to be performing at this year’s festival!

How do you engage with a diverse festival audience, which might include people who are hearing your music for the first time?

We want first-time listeners to fully immerse themselves in the experience, so we try to represent our songs faithfully and as authentically as possible in the hopes that they feel what we feel on stage. By staying true to ourselves and our music, we strive to deliver a performance that will resonate with our whole audience, no matter who they are. We admittedly aren’t the greatest public speakers, so we’ll let our music do most of the talking.

Are there any other acts or events at the festival that you’re excited to check out?

We’re definitely honoured to be sharing the stage with The Blue Stones on Saturday night. They’ve been all over our local radio stations lately and rumour has it that they put on a great live show!

Last but not least, besides the music portion, what part of Dragon Boat Festival piques your interest?

We’d love to catch some of the Dragon Boat racing! Seeing how entire teams can row in unison to reach a common goal will energize us to give our best possible performance.

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