“What can you tell us about your next album?”
2019 has been all about laughter, simple joys, and dance for me, and this new album is going to reflect that.
A Taste of Madness was fun. It was dark, both heavy and light, and it was driven by the purpose of expanding Rutherford Manor. We’re going to take the “fun” from AToM and go in a different direction from that. I can write broody/dark pieces or ballads all day, I want to challenge myself by writing things that are upbeat, uplifting, or dare I say it: happy.
My best contribution to my previous rock band (Savage Playground) was that super catchy pirate piece called “This is the Life”, but it never got finished with Savage. So I adopted it back as my own, put a larger ‘Infamous’ spin on it, and it will be on the first full-length album. There’s also a very dance-y number that’s all about the heavenly connection you feel when you dance with someone, and it may or may not get debuted in November.
So as a whole – this new album will be fun, palatable, singable, dance-able…it will retain the theatric-rock sound of the Infamous while bringing people a new sound altogether, and it will foreseeably come out in 2021.
“What is your involvement in Rutherford Manor? Any teasers?”
I was at the 2019 Edmonton Expo advertising the Rutherford Manor Haunted House. I love what Hugh and Thérèse do with the Haunt, they volunteer so much of their time and sanity into building something that can scare, entertain and create joy. It’s so well done. And it’s all for a great cause – 100% of the proceeds go towards the Food Bank and Second Chance Animal Rescue. Yay puppies and kittens! This year I’ll play a character that has never been included in the lore before; one of the two children of Nox and Lilith Flesher.
As for the Rutherford Manor expanded universe – This year I wrote an acoustic folk song with Konnor Miskiman on standing bass, which serves as an “origin story” for the character of Spalding Savidge. It should hopefully be out before the end of the year. There’s a super in-depth card game that’s coming out as well, and a few other things. And because everyone wants to know about the TV series – Preston Ewasiuk has so much in the works that I don’t know half of it. Nothing gets announced until it’s set in stone, but I will say this – there’s some very exciting conversations that are being had.
“Any final thoughts before we convene?”
Yup! I want to thank all the friends and family who have been around this year to keep me sane, positive and inspired. Congratulations to Matt and Lauren/ Sharayah and John for their
marriages, and I issue a challenge to my friends!
In September I went for my 15th blood donation at Canadian Blood Services. I’m trying to beat my family record of 52, so if you want to donate or are curious about it, totally reach out to me and we’ll talk! If schedules work, maybe we can even go donate together.
It’s a super good cause, and they always need more donors.
On behalf of John, Jeannine, Alex, Konnor, Paige, Lindsay, Jackie and myself:
Thank you for reading this article, supporting The Edmonton Muse and other local art!
See you in November.