What are your names?
The current Live band is composed of Josh Mover, Joseph Landau, Will Hunter & Andrew Heule
The musicians on the record are Josh Mover, Joseph Landau, Mat Wronski, Benjamin Reinhartz and Clara Klein,Will Hunter.
What is the band’s name?
Josh Mover & The Shakers
How did you come up with the band’s name?
I was born with the last name Mover, and after years of toying with the idea I finally accepted that not fronting a band called The Shakers would be tantamount to denying destiny. At first, it was Mr. Mover & The Shakers, but I decided to go with my first name instead because Mr. seemed too formal and serious, and that is not at all me. So there you have it.
What is your genre of music?
Idioteq.com wrote “Despite the indie tag, the band seems to have little interest in settling into any specific genre, incorporating bits of blues rock, rock’n’roll, and other moods into the mix, which results in a very worthwhile jam.” Let’s go with that for now.
Give us a little bio about you as individuals and as a band.
I met Joseph through his mom in a way, as she was my high school photography teacher. I played bass in his band called The Formalists along with Will Hunter. I met Andrew at a language school where we were both teaching. That’s how the live band all knows each other.
As for the band on the record, I know Ben Reinhartz through the group of musicians that came out of Thornhill. Him and Mat Wronski played in a band called Courtesy Blush; they were kind of the catalyst for a lot of musical activity that sprung out of the sleepy suburb of Thornhill. Clara Klein and I met in elementary school and we stayed in touch all these years. As a band in general I would say that Josh Mover & The Shakers are an indie-rock outfit that aren’t afraid to wander in and out of various genres. I think we try to write music that we would want to listen to and has a playful side to it.
Describe each other in 2 words.
Josh describing Joe (categorically whimsical)
Joe describing Josh (lead singer)
Josh describing Andrew (best hair)
Josh describing Will (most chill)
What made you go in to music?
I have been writing songs since I was 13 and the compulsion has remained. My interest in songwriting started with the Cal-punk explosion that was happening in the 90s, but that interest has expanded into many genres and now I just want to make good music that is fun to play – whatever that may mean, it’s always changing.
Are you a signed?
Negative
Your single ‘When I Steal Your Heart’ is out, tell us more about it.
At the time that I wrote “When I Steal Your Heart,” like the other songs on this record, I was trying to come to terms with a relationship that ended; I was also listening to quite a bit of Tom Lehrer. I particularly liked how he subverted the expectations of the genre he played in – singing really dark, often tongue-in cheek lyrics over these poppy, piano arrangements. So when I heard his tune “I Hold Your Hand In Mine” the idea came to me to write an anti-love song from the perspective of a psychopath who’s going to take their lost love’s heart, and sell it on the black market.
What was the naming process like?
It’s the main line from the song, so I just decided to go with that. It’s deceptive enough that if you don’t pay attention to the words at all you might just think it’s another love song.
What was the writing process like?
I wrote all of the songs off of the record on the ukulele. Much to my astonishment I sort of started playing the ukulele after breaking a string on my guitar and just being so damn lazy and unmotivated to fix it, I started writing tunes on the uke. I worked on lots of the songs while I was either procrastinating or taking breaks while completing my master’s degree.
What was the recording process like?
We recorded it in two days after a handful of rehearsals. Ian Gomes was behind the mixing board and I am very grateful to have had his guidance, as well as the help of some very talented friends and musicians.
Take a listen here;
We will also be seeing a NEW EP ‘ Into A Ghost’, what can you tell us about it?
The EP is five songs about longing, loneliness and rejection. They are all more or less break up tunes, with the exception maybe of box in the sky – which is a bit more forward looking, however creepy. It’s our first offering as a band and we hope to follow it up soon with new songs that cover new topics.
Describe each track in two words.
Box in the sky = peeping romance
When I steal your heart = psychopathic ballad
Park benches = loser anthem
How can I compete with that = rueful ode
Into a ghost = ethereal acceptance
The EP release show is also soon, let your fans know when it is and where to buy tickets.
It’s on February 23rd, at the Monarch Tavern, doors open at 9,
and it’s 10 $ at the door.
Do you play any other instruments?
As mentioned earlier, the ukulele, I can also sort of fake play the bass. I want to learn the accordion and the keyboard, but we’ll see if I get to it.
Who are your influences?
Musically, I guess the big ones are: Sparks, The Vandals, early Elvis Costello, the Magnetic Fields and Ween.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Good question. Sometimes I just want to tackle a topic that I don’t think I have ever heard being explored in a song. At other times, it just sort of springs organically from my lungs and fingers because of something that I am trying to deal with in my life.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Sleeping on 800 thread count sheets
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
When I am not doing music I am teaching.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
Hmmm…I don’t know if it was a particular song, but seeing bands like the Descendants, Toronto’s very own The Almighty Trigger Happy and countless others live gave me the bug for music, and I knew that it was something that I would love to do – -move people and bring a sense of community.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Wear protection
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Do your own thing. Tell your story. Only you can.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better” – Samuel Beckett
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
If you’re up in Thornhill and you’re looking for a burger, you should probably go to Golden Star. If you find yourself in Toronto and you’re looking for breakfast, I recommend El Trompo.
You’re straight off tour;
1/ where do you go? To my bed
2/ who do you see? I wanna hang out with my friends and family
3/what do you eat? Probably some good Japanese food.
Where is the go to place to go in your hometown?
In Toronto, in the summer, the go to place for me is to just go to Trinity Bellwoods Park and read a book and watch all the dogs and people do their thing.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
How to play my songs
Several guitar picks
Back-up strings
To make it fun
Thank the bar and staff
If you had to give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Start sooner!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Josh Mover & The Shakers Website
