Canadian rockers The Trews released their third album, No Time For Later, this year. It did not take the album long to climb to #4 on the Top Canadian Albums charts. Although some critics believe that the music on this disc shows a 1980s rock influence, the band’s frontman Colin McDonald, revealed that the band was inspired by music of the 1960s and 1970s.The problem The Trews will have to solve in order to conquer American audiences, is proving enough interest in their songs to mark them apart from their rivals.
The Rocker and I spoke with The Trews frontman, Colin McDonald who gave us the low down on the band's latest release and how they plan to make it big in America. Here's what he shared with us...
AAM: First off, thanks for sharing your time with us. Second, great to hear that your new release, 'No Time For Later' is getting a U.S. release, finally.
Colin McDonald: Thanks so much guys. Yeah, we are really excited about getting the new record released in the States.
AAM: Talk to us about the new record. Did you guys do anything different this time around versus with your previous releases?
Colin McDonald: This time around we wanted to change things up and recorded everything separately. We recorded all the drums in Toronto. John Angus and I went to New York with Gus and Warner, that's where they are based at, to record the vocal and guitar tracks.
AAM: So, your previous releases were recorded live?
CM: Yes, on our last two records everything was recorded live and off the floor. We just wanted to try something different this time around. Bringing a different angle as far as recording with this album and those that are to follow. It was really a different approach for us this time around.
AAM: Do you think that it may alienate you from your fans by re-inventing yourselves with each new album?
CM: Yes, that can be dangerous. We just wanted to give our fans something different. I believe you should always keep your fans guessing. By not putting out the same record over and over again. We want to re-introduce ourselves to our fans with each album we release. On 'Den Of Thieves' we had that southern rock vibe, then on our new album with writing songs about paranoid freaks and gun control. At times we sound like CCR, then at other times we have the heavy sludgy rock sound. It's us experimenting and re-inventing our wheel so we can write good songs. I find that writing the same songs over and over again gets hard.
AAM: Are you satisfied, now that the record is done, how the record turned out?
CM: Yeah, I feel that we have definitively taken our stuff out. I find that with every album we’ve put out, with what our goals are artistically, it’s definitively our best album. Who knows how it’s going to do. It’s still selling well, and the singles are doing well in Canada. I think it’s our strongest effort yet. I think the lyrics are better. I think that the arrangements are more compelling. Over all, the songs, I think are more consistent than on 'Den Of Thieves. We definitively went in this recording trying to make the best record we could.
AAM: You have new producers on this album. What is it about producers?
CM: (laughs), Yeah we have gone through a few haven't we. On our last two albums we've relied alot on the producers philosophy.
AAM: Really? How so?
CM: With Gordie Johnson (of Big Sugar and Grady fame) he kind of taught us everything we knew. At the time, we were just a bunch of kids that didn't know how to put a record together. Gordie is a genius guitar player and one of best in the world. Then with Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, John Lennon), he was all about experimentation. Now, Gus and Warner were really strict with us in the studio. It was like, 'No, we have to do it this way. You have to record the guitar tracks fifty times today.' They were very direct and to the point. Working with those guys was great, but after we finished the record, I didn't want to step into another studio again (laughs).
AAM: While we are on the subject on producers. Any other producers you'd like to work with?
CM: There are a bunch of guys we'd love to work with like Rick Rubin and Bob Rock. Those guys that have huge sound. I would really love to see what their approach with be with us. That would be really cool.
AAM: As far as touring goes, what do you like the most and what you hate the most?
CM:I enjoy visiting all the different towns and cities across the country, and seeing the sites. It’s always nice to get to new places and shake things up. The hard part, I guess, is the lack of sleep and the plane traveling. I don’t like flying very much, so that might be the worst part.
AAM: Who would you guys like to tour with when you come back to the States?
CM: We would love to play with any band that draws a big crowd. Last time we played the House of Blues with Ace Frehley. It was really cool touring with Ace, we had a great time. Really as far as doing shows we want to tour with bands that have huge followings so that we could play in front of their fans and hopefully convert their fans into our fans. In May we'll be doing a tour here in Canada with Buckcherry and Papa Roach. We love to tour with bands like that in the States.
AAM: Does touring inspire you as far as writing music?
CM: We kind of write our best stuff when we just get off tour, when we are still fired up from playing live every night. It kind of gives you a better gage on what we do best as a band. If you sit around too much thinking about it, sometimes you drift away from what you are naturally really good at. I find that being on the road definitively helps us hone in on our talents.
AAM: We heard that you are big Randy Newman fan? True or False?
CM: Very true. A lot of people recognize him from "I Love L.A." and "Short People", but I recommend those people to listen to his album, 'Sail Away' from beginning to end. Randy Newman is a musical and lyrical genius.
AAM: What about Canadian musical influences do you have any?
CM: Oh yeah, big Neil Young fan as well a huge fan of Burton Cummings and The Guess Who.
AAM: What can we expect on the next Trews record?
CM: I’ve been writing a little bit. I don’t really know. We’ll have to see in the next year or so where the songs come or where the songs go. We really want to make an impact in America and in Europe, hopefully radio and other media outlets play our music and get the word out. That is what we really need. The more people that know and hear our music the better. We’ll see how we feel at the end of all that.
AAM: Colin, thank you so much for sharing your time with us. Any parting comments:
CM: We're very proud of this album and we can't wait to share it with our American fans. We spent a good year touring our last album in the U.S., and we really look forward to returning to those great American cities and towns with our new sounds. We hope you will like this album as much as we do!
With a rapidly growing fan base, upcoming shows slated for America in May and a seemingly endless amount of time to continue in their development individually and collectively, The Trews are truly a band to keep your eye on in the weeks, months and years to come.
NEW ALBUM "NO TIME FOR LATER" IN STORES April 4th and the band's new single, "Paranoid Freak" is out now.
The Rocker and I, along with All Access Magazine would like to thank Colin McDonald for sharing his time with us. We promise to get the word out for you Colin.
Cheers! - The Atomic Chaser and The Rocker
For more information about The TREWS, visit www.thetrewsmusic.com
