“We’re hell-bent on making new music,” says Bruce Peninsula’s
singer-guitarist Neil Haverty. Although still riding the success of its
Polaris Prize-nominated debut album, A Mountain is a Mouth, the
Toronto band has postponed tours next year to start writing again.
What form those new tracks will take is anyone’s guess. But for a
band that has been an indie darling since stepping onstage as an
11-piece with mini-choir three years ago, it’s an opportunity to shake
media hype.
“We just don’t want anybody to say ‘Bruce Peninsula is this,'” says
Haverty. “People are trying to tell us what we are, but we’re the band
and we don’t even know yet.”
Besides, like its sweeping music, Bruce Peninsula is all about
changing dynamics. Although built upon a five-member core, many others
have found success in solo careers, like Timber Timbre, or in groups,
like Ohbijou. New members are recruited as needed.
Moving forward, Haverty isn’t dwelling on the group’s novelty as a
21st-century urban soul choir. People are listening and that’s what
matters. And there’s no predicting the response.
“I’m surprised when people dance. It’s like, ‘Really, you’re dancing
to this weird prog-rock stuff?’ Personally I don’t go to shows to
dance. I go to listen. I always thought music was meant to be absorbed.
Not that people shouldn’t dance. Please, dance.” But Haverty would like
to shake Bruce Peninsula’s “big band” image—“so far I don’t think
there’s been anyone disappointed when we show up with seven people
instead of 11.”
As for any sophomore jitters, Haverty says if there are any,
those will be handled behind closed doors. Although he’s not worried.
“Sophomore jitters is only applicable if you really care that the album
is the same as the last time. We want to surprise people.”
This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2009.