Mainstream music has seen a surge in the genre of folk-pop with the recent success of big-name acts such as Mumford & Sons and the Lumineers. This shift in popularity has certainly been a plus for even smaller indie folk-pop outfits such as local quartet the Treble who have been garnering much attention lately.
With the use of clever social media tools such as Facebook and video blogs to promote their music, the Treble has certainly been turning heads with performances at showcases in the U.S., a tour of Eastern Canada, and most recently a successful trip out to Toronto for Canadian Music Week. Not to mention that the band has been collecting some good karma through a few fundraisers for Winnipeg Harvest, the Canadian Red Cross, and the United Way of Winnipeg.
Now the band is ready to release their second EP, entitled Northern Lights, recorded at NB Studios and Empire Recording. Judging by their former album, Northern Lights will likely be heard on a radio station near you in no time at all.
The Manitoban was able to chat with vocalist Mark Brusegard about the Treble’s upcoming release and here’s what was said.
The Manitoban: How do you feel that this EP measures up to your first release?
Mark Brusegard: Our first release was written when we were a three-piece acoustic project, with just a guitar and piano. It was during the recording of our first record that we began to develop a full band sound. Since that release we’ve played just about every show we could, in just about every type of venue, from small bars and coffee shops to the Bombers’ stadium. As a result I think we’ve created a record that really showcases who we are, both as a live band and as songwriters.
M: How was the experience of recording the album?
MB: Chris [Burke-Gaffney] is a great guy, and has had a very successful career as both an artist and a producer. We also recorded our first album with him, so for us, he’s a great ear to bounce ideas off of as well as a trusted source of advice.
M: Why the decision to release another EP rather than a full-length given the amount of attention the band has been garnering lately?
MB: For us, this record is a collection of our best songs. Our first album has been out for almost two years now, so it was definitely time for something new. It was tempting to make it a full-length record, but even though we’ve achieved more than we really ever thought possible with our first album, we still feel we aren’t quite at the stage in our career to release a full-length.
M: The band recently put together another 24-hour charity event in support of Winnipeg Harvest. How did this idea and initial event come about?
MB: This year we completed our second “24 Shows in 24 Hours” event. The first was held in October 2011 in support of the Canadian Red Cross (CRC). The initial idea came from a UK singer-songwriter named Frank Turner, of which we are big fans. He’d shot a video using that concept and when we were trying to organize a famine relief fundraiser for the CRC, we thought it would be a fun idea to give it a try ourselves. We ended up having a blast and raising a bunch of money for some great causes. We’ve corresponded with Frank since, and have swapped some “24 in 24” war stories.
[Overall] this has been an absolutely amazing year for us – we’ve met some great people along the way and have had some awesome fans who have helped us achieved more than we could have dreamed of.
Join the Treble for the release of their new EP Northern Lights at the West End Cultural Centre on Apr. 22 with Maxine Peters and the Proud Sons.
