What are your names?
Hi I’m Lee Rose! Also in the band with me are Anna Mernieks and Jody Brumell
What is the bands name?
Ace of Wands
How did you come up with the bands name?
The band’s name is a tarot card whose meaning revolves around a burst creativity and inspiration, fire and potential. When I pulled the card out of the first tarot deck I ever had, I knew it was telling me something significant. became the band’s name!
What is your genre of music?
We play ‘Dream Rock’ which to us means a lot of reverb, chorus and fuzz effects swirling around catchy melodies, emotional lyrics, and intense dynamics.
What made you go into music?
I’ve been playing music since I was a kid, and I ended up going to university for a music degree in classical violin, so it’s been a running thread in my life for as long as I can remember! I feel like I started thinking seriously about pursuing music when I began to play violin at a higher level. There was a point when I was playing a particular violin piece by Telemann when I had this out of body moment – where it didn’t feel like work or effort, it just felt like being. That’s probably when I subconsciously decided to pour myself into music completely.
Who are your influences?
My influences are pretty varied when it comes to song writing. I’ve got a lot of love for the left of centre songwriters that write lyrics that get under your skin… for me that’s Vic Chesnutt, Fiona Apple and Patti Smith. And I’d say I’m a bit all over the place with musical influences. While writing the first AOW album I was listening obsessively to Blond by Frank Ocean and PJ Harvey’s Hope Six Demolition Project. I love listening to music that will unexpectedly inspire me.
Are you a signed?
Yeah! We’ve signed with Fortune Stellar Records for our new album and couldn’t be happier about it.
You released your new single ‘Black Bird, Black Heart’, tell us more about the single and the meaning behind the song.
When I wrote this song, I saw so clearly the image of a bird caught on an updraft, soaring over the rooftops of my neighbourhood, and looking for me. The sparkling melody and the imagery of the song are all metaphors for releasing a tense grip on a feeling and finding you can float with it. It’s about feeling an enormous paralyzing fear but seeing the freedom in a path that can fly through it.
Describe the track in two words.
Float. Lift.
What was the writing and recording process like?
This track was beautiful to record. We laid down the bed tracks and overdubs in just a few quick takes, and Josh Bowman was able to mix the sound into the kind of soaring catharsis I was looking for. When you listen to this song, I hope you’ll feel the bass and drums deep in your gut, while the melodies of the vocals and guitars will feel like flying. Writing the song came quickly too. I’m not sure why some songs take a little more massaging to get the vibe and feel right, but as a band we came to the tones and parts pretty quickly.
Who did you work with on the single?
We produced this track ourselves, and Josh Bowman mixed it. Since we were working on this album over COVID, I ended up doing a lot of the overdub tracking at home myself – including the vocals and all the synth overdubs.
Will we see a music video for ‘Black Bird, Black Heart’ and if so what can we expect from the creative process?
We’ve got a lyric video for this track done by our video-collaborator Samuel Scott. We’ve worked with Sam on every video we’ve ever done for Ace of Wands and he’s got a wonderful sense of how to translate our music to film. We collaborate a lot on the initial concept, but he really takes the creative side and runs with it.
Will we see an EP or Album and if so, what can we expect from it?
Yes! Our second full length album ‘Desiring’ is coming out on March 31 and this is our third single from it. The album’s sound is complex, varied and incredibly personal. It more honestly captures our energy as a live band than our last album and the arrangements are more mature. I think we’ve hit on something pretty special with it.
Do you have any live shows coming up and if so where can we see you live?
We have a string of Canadian and US tour dates around the release of the album, with more dates TBA:
Mar. 24 – London ON – Palasad Social Bowl
Mar. 26 – Owen Sound ON – Heartwood Concert Hall Mar. 30 – Toronto ON – The Velvet Underground (record release)
Mar 31 – Detroit MI – Bowlero
Apr. 1 – Youngstown OH – Westside Bowl
Apr. 3 – Brooklyn NY – Gold Sounds
Apr. 6 – Montreal QC – La Sotterenea
Apr. 8 – Sarnia ON – Maud’s Variety
What else can we expect in early 2023?
We’ll be touring and releasing so much new music!
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Hopefully playing great shows around the world, working on our 4th album and collaborating with more amazing musicians.
What else can we expect in early 2023?
We’ll be touring and releasing so much new music!
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Hopefully playing great shows around the world, working on our 4th album and collaborating with more amazing musicians.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
I am not really one for sayings… I suppose the closest thing I’m working on lately is trying not to care so much what other people think about me.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Having forgotten all of these things at one time or another, here’s what’s most on my mind for this tour. Not too exciting, but practical!
1. Violin
2. Midi cable
3. Guitar stand
4. Spare strings
5. Shoes
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
We’re everywhere! Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok etc. Go to aceofwandsband and you’ll find us
