IMPOSTER(S), with DEEBS, BETA FRONTIERS, WAXLIMBS and MICHAEL IMPERIAL at Tattoo (567 Queen West), Thursday (August 28), 9 pm. Free w/ RSVP. fieldtriplife.com
Very little information has come out about Canadian duo Imposter(s) since their first three-song maxi-EP, First, was released last fall. After Second (Rare Beef) came out in May, rumours started circulating that at least one member had previously done time in a successful rock band.
Maybe they wanted their combination of deep house rhythms and indie rock vocals to be judged on its own merits rather than their previous work?
But my phone shows a Los Angeles number when their unnamed singer calls for an interview, making me wonder what parts of the narrative are actually true. Are they even Canadian?
“Um, I guess we can say that,” he answers tentatively. “We’ve recorded music and travelled, but we’ve definitely done a lot of it in Canada.”
The label’s warned me not to ask direct questions about their identities, or about the formation of the project. Since that makes it pretty hard to put them into any larger context, we’re forced to talk more about their unique approach to the songwriting process.
“In a weird way this project is about compromise. We try not to get into the same room together ever, so my partner sends me a track, and then I manipulate that track and cut it up, record some melodies and lyrics, send it back to him, and then he does the same thing,” says the singer.
“We don’t ask each other to change things or redo parts, so we have to trust that what the other person is giving you is their best.”
They’re almost finished the third maxi-EP in the series, and according to the label, those nine songs will be turned into a proper LP afterwards.
Unsurprisingly, the band is noncommittal about that.
“I guess, yeah, I think that’s what you do. Sure.”
Like the duo, we’ll just have to trust.
benjaminb@nowtoronto.com | @benjaminboles
