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Music

Lioness

LIONESS with RITUALS and HOLLOW EARTH at the Horseshoe (370 Queen West), Friday (April 13). $12. 416-598-4753. See listing.


Four years between putting out an EP and releasing your debut full-length album is an eternity by 21st-century standards, but sludgy dance-rock trio Lioness had their reasons for taking their sweet time finishing The Golden Killer (New Romantic).

Blame the hype machine in part. It affected not only the members’ previous bands, which included dance-rockers controller.controller and soul-punks No Dynamics, but also led to premature burnout for many of the acts they played alongside.

Stepping out of the indie rock hamster wheel to record at a more relaxed pace was a luxury they couldn’t pass up this time around.

“When we thought we needed some time away, we just took it,” explains drummer Jeff Scheven. “It can be really beneficial and extend the life of a band. Had we rushed into it, we might have broken up by now.

“Instead, we’re super-stoked and excited about everything that’s coming instead of dreading another tour. That old way of getting in the van and burning yourself out to make it doesn’t seem necessary any more.”

In 2007, when Scheven and bassist Ronnie Morris joined forces with vocalist Vanessa Fischer, Lioness enjoyed considerable buzz. But when the time came to start recording their full-length, it became apparent that blog hits weren’t going to pay for studio time.

“All the hype and momentum had come to a stop,” Scheven recalls. “We didn’t get the money to make the record when we originally wanted to, and you can only tour an EP for so long.

“The truth is, we’ve made pretty much all our money from licensing. You don’t sell records unless you’re Bieber, and you don’t make a lot live. We love playing Canada, but it just doesn’t make sense. We end up losing money every time unless we’re sleeping on people’s floors.”

benjaminb@nowtoronto.com | twitter.com/nowtorontomusic

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