Cherry Chapstick hail from Kingston, Ontario and consist of Julian Flavin, Evan Mullen and Nigel Ward. The trio celebrated the release of their debut EP Silencer last weekend at the Wolfe Island Music Festival where I had the opportunity to meet up with the guys and talk about what’s going on.
The band were open, humble and really excited to be there; in my mind all of the necessary hallmarks of great musicians or great-musicians-to-be. These guys have been playing together for a few years – in fact, they met back in high school, but have only existed as Cherry Chapstick for the past three months. Three months isn’t long, but while the rest of us were playing in the sun, the trio have been busy writing and recording an their excellent EP, booking shows and winning lots of hearts. Including mine.
The music is incredibly well-mixed, well-balanced shoegaze or electronic indie dance. A couple of tracks have a touch of a disco beat which have won me over heart and soul. The band cite Fred Falke, Daft Punk, the Radio Dept, M83, French House, and the 80s in general among their influences. In short, they’ve got taste.
For now, Chapstick are going to be taking an eight month hiatus come September (something about education and future careers), but will be back sooner than we know it with a full album that will be knocking us off our feet and taking our breath away. “We’re planning for World Tour oh-eleven,” Evan told me, and I’m going to hold him to it. By then they’ll hopefully be able to incorporate some new sounds including one from a crazy synth Nigel told me about that “sounds like a tiger or a chainsaw, just more major.”
Cherry Chapstick – The Drop
Cherry Chapstick – Silencer
Whatever happens for Cherry Chapstick, I’ve got faith that they are going to get far, so long as they do all the things they’re doing now and sticking with what they love. I’m finding that the EP is one of those that’s setting a precedent for all the other music I’m listening to – I’m asking why everything else isn’t as good as Cherry Chapstick. And a good friend who has the most exclusive taste in music imaginable says that Chapstick has the potential to be the best band of the decade. Or at least in the top five. If that’s not good feedback, I don’t know what is.
7 Comments
Small correction – the band will be continuing to tour throughout the year as oppose to taking a hiatus; pretty good news.
— Megan, August 17, 2009These songs are rad. It’s pretty hard to believe that they made this in Kingston known more for her folkier musicians. These tracks sound like they come straight from Sweden. Awesome stuff.
— Daniel, August 17, 2009There’s this great break in the middle of the ‘The Drop’ which sounds exactly like New Order.
— Daniel, August 17, 2009ugh, this is so awesome. i esp love the drop!
thanks so much megan!
The Drop is pretty alright. And I don’t like anything!
— Kevin Kania, August 18, 2009Holy f-bomb- Megan this is pure gold. Never heard about the earlier iterations of these guys while I lived in Kingston but they sound like money in my ears. Love the Drop.
— Sal, August 18, 2009I heard these guys while selling our home made concrete garden art at the Kingston Market with the sound reverberating off the buildings,r it was great! One of my customers was kind enough to go & buy the cd for me, I listen to it over & over. I hear Joy Division/New Order Kraftwerk Techno Great sound never did see them on stage, for 3 guys good stuff keep it coming, Thanks
— Brian, September 17, 2010
