Advertisement

Music

Com Truise

COM TRUISE with DAKOTA and BRANDON OLIVER at Wrongbar (1279 Queen West), Saturday (January 28), 10 pm. $13.50. RT, SS, TW. See listing.


Picking a name for your musical project is a bit like getting a tattoo. Something that may seem fun in the moment can lose its appeal a couple of years later. Com Truise (aka Seth Haley) discovered this too late, after spoonerisms became de rigueur in the underground electronic scene. (See Wevie Stonder, Mord Fustang, Joy Orbison, Jichael Mackson, Ponty Mython.)

“This all happened so fast for me,” Haley explains from his parents’ house in upstate New York. “At first I second-guessed the name, and now there are so many spoonerisms out there, which makes it even worse. I made the decision, though, and I guess I have to live with it.”

The cheeky stage name doesn’t do much to counter the perception of some critics that his reimagining of synthy 80s film score sounds and computerized funk are more an ironic joke than an honest artistic statement. But Haley insists his interest in Reagan-era electronic music lies in the sounds more than the symbolism.

“There are definitely some references to the 80s, but for the most part I’m focused on the technology and the production techniques of that era. I don’t really care about the neon glam vibe, and I’m not being jokey about it. My music is semi-serious for the most part.”

Despite the confusion about his intentions and motivations, Haley had an extremely good 2011. He got signed to Ghostly International, enjoyed rave reviews all over the world, did a remix for Daft Punk’s Tron soundtrack (which sounded more appropriate than their original score) and finally quit his day job in advertising and design.

But while most musicians pray for the day they can concentrate fully on their art, Haley has encountered an unexpected side effect of his newfound freedom.

“The more I think about it, the more I realize that I actually miss the advertising world. It was easier for me to write music when I had a full-time job. It helped me focus, which I have difficulty doing now that I have all this extra time.”

benjaminb@nowtoronto.com

Advertisement

Exclusive content and events straight to your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By signing up, I agree to receive emails from Now Toronto and to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Recently Posted