Counterparts

Ontario hardcore outfit Counterparts are preparing to release a new studio album in 2013. Beforehand though, the band come down under for the first time to support In Hearts Wake this month. Killyourstereo.com catches up with frontman Brendan Murphy to get the lowdown on preparations for the tour, wanting to hold a koala, and totaling your tour van after hitting a deer.

Thanks for doing the interview today Brendan. How has the month treated you so far?

It’s been a good month so far man. We just finished recording, so now we’re all relaxing at home getting ready to come over and hang with you Aussies. Should be fun.

As you just said, coming here. Australia for the first time this June. I know we’re excited to presenting the tour. What is exciting you most about getting to come down here?

Koalas. The first chance I get, I will pay any amount [of money]  to hold a Koala. I’ve wanted to do that since I was a little kid.

What are the expectations going into the run of shows?

Honestly, I have no idea. I don’t even know if anyone in Australia has even heard our band before. We’re just going to come and play, and have fun. If people like it, that’s awesome. If not, we still got to come see the country that wanted to kick Bart Simpson’s ass, so I feel accomplished regardless.

I know on your Facebook page you remarked how coming here is an expensive trip. It’s something a lot of bands note. How hard is it to manage the finances and stay on top of things when you tour a country such as ours?

Man, I don’t even know how we’re going to pull this money together. It scares the hell out of me. Money sucks. I hate the fact that we work so hard and we still have to ask our friends for money all the time, and we still owe my parents thousands of dollars, and we’re still always broke... and then you have bands that don’t lift a finger and have more money than they know what to do with. But hey, that’s music, right?! I knew how bullshit this industry was before I dived headfirst into it (laughs).

Pre-production is done and you guys are tracking for the new album. How is everything coming along so far?

We wrapped up recording a few weeks back actually. The record came out great. Definitely the coolest thing we’ve ever done as a band. I can’t wait for people to hear it.

What are the aims and goals going into this release?

Honestly, I don’t think we have any. We just wrote a record that we knew would make ourselves happy, and we did that. If people like it, cool. If not, fuck it. We’ll be happy with it regardless of how it’s received.

What is your impression and knowledge of Australian music?

Obviously we’ve been jamming Australian bands since back in 2006 when we started and we wanted to sound like Parkway Drive (laughs). Australia seems like it has a wicked scene. I can’t wait to come over and check it out.

Can you fill us in on your working relationship with Victory Records?

Victory are a cool label. They were pretty much the only label that didn’t try to give us some bullshit deal. They saw promise in us, and it’s cool that they didn’t try to dick us around too much. They let us do our thing, and we’re thankful for that. I’m sure at times we piss them off though (laughs).

What are your thoughts on the ‘heavy’ music scene in Canada currently?

Canada’s music scene is cool. It’s always been one of the best in my opinion. I rant on it all the time, but I don’t actually mean it. I feel like every scene is full of those wang kids who change their favourite band every month, and trade in their Devil Wears Prada shirts for the rare tie-dye core band shirts that go for $300 on eBay. But what can you do? Those kids forget all about hardcore when they turn 19 and break edge, so fuck them. People come and go, but it’s the kids that stay put that shape the direction of a scene. Canada’s got some good kids.

What is the worst thing that has happened to the band while touring so far in your career?

Hitting a deer in Virginia probably takes this one. After sinking almost a grand into our van, we were finally finished and heading to Canada to start our record release tour with Structures and A Sight For Sewn Eyes, and bang, we hit a deer and it totaled the van. Luckily, we have a good friend named Adrian who came and picked us up.

If we crystal balled, where ideally would you like Counterparts to be in about three years time?

I’d like to have at least $50 in my bank account. That would be sick.

(laughs).

Just some easy ones to finish off with:

Favourite album of 2013 so far?

Turnover – ‘Magnolia’ takes this one so far. Wicked band. Check them out.

Stuck on a deserted island, what three albums would you choose to listen to?

Smashing Pumpkins – ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness’
The Used – ‘The Used’
The Secret – ‘Solve Et Coagula’

Favourite song to blare in the tour van?

To keep from falling asleep I usually put on Seahaven and sing along.

Worst CD ever purchased?

Prophets

Most underrated band?

New Radicals

Meal of choice when on the road?

Chipotle,Chick Fil A, [and] Steak N Shake.

Favourite gig you’ve ever attended?

I saw The Used, Underoath and Alexisonfire in 2005. The best. Forever.

Thanks for the interview Brendan, really appreciate it. See you when you guys hit Melbourne.

Anything for you.

Catch Counterparts on tour with In Hearts Wake this month presented by Killyourstereo.com. Dates and details here.

https://www.facebook.com/counterpartshc