As opposed to making an EP in a studio, Ottawa band StillNative looked back to the sounds of nature and decided to record in a forest, said lead guitarist and vocalist Patrick Bourget.
“We also just wanted to go away for a bit and be isolated and have some time to really put some of the material down,” Bourget said.
While some bands might think the only way to get a good quality recording is by renting a high-tech studio, it seems going back to making self-produced albums is also an option.
Alternative rock/post-grunge band Foo Fighters recorded their third album There is Nothing Left to Lose in lead singer Dave Grohl’s basement, and their latest album Wasting Light in Grohl’s garage.
The Afro-beat inspired StillNative, made up of Bourget and Maxime Lalonde, played one last show at Zaphod Beeblebrox Sept. 15 before taking some time off to concentrate on recording and producing their new EP, which is set for release sometime in the spring.
“This EP will be representing what we do live and what we want to be doing in the studio eventually with a big band. You’re going to hear two completely different sounds. One side will be grungier, maybe more funk inspired blues-rock stuff. And on the other side you’ll hear the major scale afro-beat,” Bourget said.
Surf-punk Ottawa band The Wooka Tribe also played the Sept. 15 concert. The band also takes note of nature and describes their sound as “slipping down in the undertow, or being ripped into an atomic wave party” on their website.
The Wooka Tribe is made up of Mike Powers, Derek Muldoon, and Carleton student Kieran McKinnon. Although the surf-punk music scene isn’t as big in Ottawa where catching waves to ride is basically impossible, Powers said it makes no difference because music is music, no matter where you are.
“Surf music has been done all over the world, so it doesn’t really matter if you’re near water or not. We just like punk music. We’re doing what we like.” he said.
