Eric Montpool and Christian Strong never expected to be in a band. The two had met as students at Carleton University in 2022, bonding over shared music tastes and demos sent back and forth.
That all changed after a half-drunk performance of Carly Rae Jepsen covers at a Christmas party.
Three years later, their band — Noise Hotel — dropped their latest single “Burning Pictures” on Nov. 14 and embarked on a tour that took them across five cities, including Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa until Nov. 23.
Noise Hotel is an amalgamation of indie-rock and “DIY” production. The four-piece craft their identity against the backdrop of a faux hotel, where they each play concierge, accountant, valet and — obviously — head chef.
The band includes Montpool on vocals and guitar and Strong who plays bass. Brendan Vandepol, plays drums and does production, and guitarist Matt Scharfe joined later.
“I got to see Noise Hotel live before I joined … I just thought if I were gonna be in a band, I’d want to be in a band like that,” Scharfe said of his bandmates.
Scharfe joked that it took what he described as borderline stalking to get his hat in the ring of interested guitar players — but it worked.
On the other hand, Vandepol knew of Montpool and Noise Hotel from a friend of a friend. After a couple of rehearsals, there was no question about their chemistry.
The band grew up with a CD of Queen’s greatest hits, The White Stripes, and Scharfe’s almost religious watching of The Last Waltz concert movie in middle school for inspiration.
The group also credits Led Zeppelin and the Smashing Pumpkins, but they don’t want to get lost in the muddle of bands that simply aspire to mass appeal.
“When you’re making music, you’re not thinking, ‘I want to make something that sounds like the Pixies because then you’ll just make derivative crap,” Montpool said.
“When you sit down to write, you just write.”
While Montpool has semi-regularly taken the reins on the lyrics, much of production is attributed to Vandepol.
“My work has been cut out for me since the last album. I have to hold myself to that standard,” Vandepol said.
Former member Kieran Isley rendered the tracks on the band’s last album, Poolside Fantasy, released in August 2024.
“Generally, whoever’s sort of song or predominant idea it is, they have the final say… It’s tough for me to be in the band and produce because I want to make sure my ego stays out of it,” Vandepol said.
“I’d like to think of my creative direction for the band as a gentle hand that is guiding them. In a way, I’m guiding them to answers that I want us to get to.”
Although there are creative differences within the group, Noise Hotel shares the same sound. The latter may, hopefully, entice a dream collaboration with big names like Denzel Curry, Joni Mitchell or Tate McRae.
For now, the band has cultivated a rap sheet of Ottawa-based collaborators like hannah vig and The New Hires.
“Everybody is so supportive,” Montpool said. “You have to hold yourselves to a high standard, because nobody wants to be the s— band on the bill.”
But Ottawa’s friendly scene also has a competitive edge, and Noise Hotel knows they aren’t the only ones with the same dream and slots.
“Competition breeds innovation … you need to make sure that you’re doing something different than those other bands, and you’re doing something that sets you apart,” Montpool said.
After doing monthly performances, small stints and opening for other bands, Noise Hotel’s Burning Pictures tour took place in November.
“This past year, we’ve really figured out our (performing) dynamic. It’s the subtle things,” Montpool said.
“You learn how to send those non-verbal signals to everybody else … a knowing glance, or you move your guitar in a certain way, and everybody just kind of follows.”
“Burning Pictures” is a departure from the band’s previous sound, leaning further into their recent life experiences and circumstances.
“Our last album was less of an ‘album’ and more of a time capsule of the stuff we were doing when we lived together in Ottawa … I think it is a departure, like spiritually and also sonically,” Montpool said.
“It’s indicative of what we want to do moving forward … It’s a new thing for us, and just hold on, stick with us and see where we go.”
Noise Hotel added they don’t see themselves signed by a large record company in an ideal world.
“[Our] dream is to have something that’s entirely our own,” Montpool said, adding they would still consider a strong offer from a record label.
“Our goal is to actually get in with a booking agency because that way we can retain all of our creative control and promote ourselves in ways that are true to us.”
Playing into the hotel world they’ve created, the “Burning Pictures” room would not pass any health and safety inspections.
“If the single were a room, it would be a navy dark room with reddish orange pillows and pillowcases. Very dark and spooky. All the lighting is warm, so no big overhead lights,” Vandepol joked.
“It’s dark all the time there. It comes with [your chosen memories] on the wall, but they will be pre-burned before you check in.”
Featured image provided by Noise Hotel.
