I stole the festival flag.
Liam O’Neill talks about the new album SUUNS is ending, why Road to Hypnosis It is the opportunity to hear that material live before it comes out and what those who do not go to the show on September 18 at ORB.
SUUNS For almost 20 years he has been building a sound that lives between post-punk and dark psychedelia, between krautrock and something that still has no name. The Montreal band does not allow itself to be fixed: each album progresses, demands more, and their live shows are the only way to understand what they really want to say. They have played in Mexico before: the first time was at the festival Ceremonyand Liam O’Neill He went home with the festival flag that said “SUUNS“. The second was two years ago in Hypnosis.
Now they return to him Road to Hypnosis with something different: new, unreleased material, from an album that is not yet finished but is already alive on stage. On September 18 they play at ORB. Liam spoke with Indie Rocks! about what to expect that night.
Indie Rocks!: Thank you very much for taking the time for this interview. How excited are you about new music and plans to perform?
SUUNS: It’s always exciting for us to come to Mexico, and I say that with complete honesty. We don’t get the chance to do it very often and we feel very lucky. But it is also an incredible country, and Mexico City is an incredible city. So yeah, it’s beyond exciting. It’s probably going to be the most important moment of my year.
GO!: Do you remember the first time SUUNS came to Mexico City?
S: Yes, perfectly. We played at a festival called Ceremonia. Is that the one you’re talking about? Yes. Do you know why I remember it very well? Because it was our first time playing there, and I also stole the festival flag that said “SUUNS”. I took it home.
GO!: Do you still have it?
S: It’s in our studio. There it is, for sure.
GO!: And the last time they came?
S: The last time was two years ago. We played at the festival Hypnosis.
GO!: There are festivals and festivals: those of variety, with all types of bands and styles, and those more specialized in one type of music, where perhaps SUUNS fits better. Which ones are more difficult? Which ones do you prefer?
S: Very large festivals can be complicated because many people probably don’t know us. They’re going to see a lot of things, and maybe they just know who the biggest artists of the day are. So you feel like you’re at an audition, trying to win over people. By that nature I think they are more difficult. Of course, if you’re in a small club or a festival where they know you, it’s much easier. It’s an incredible feeling.
GO!: This time they return for a specialized audience, as part of the Road to Hypnosis. Do you think it’s a good time to share something people haven’t heard before? Are we going to be able to listen to new material?
S: Yes, absolutely. We’ve always been a band that’s constantly working on new material. And now, approaching twenty years old, we’re making a real effort to play a lot of new material before finishing the album. We’re working on a new album and playing a lot of that material. We’re not going to just do new songs because it might be boring for people, so we’re going to mix it up. We’ll play some old stuff too. In a way, that’s why we do it: it’s why we play music. To move forward and do new things.
And I also understand that people want to hear certain songs, and we will play them. It is different to plan a setlist for people who know us deeply, who have been listening to us for perhaps twenty years, to put together a set that everyone likes. It’s hard to please everyone, and we don’t try. But we also don’t want to ruin anyone’s night. We understand that putting on a show is entertainment. We’re not trying to prove a point. We want to have something for ourselves and also something for the public.
Nowadays it is very difficult to keep people’s attention. And if someone knows us very well, they can also be picky because they want specific songs, maybe rarer cuts that we haven’t played in a long time. So we tried to put together a very good show with songs like “2020” and others, but also putting in new material and, hopefully, some weirder songs. That would be a treat for the ears, no doubt.
GO!: They are part of the family Hypnosisthey’ve played there before. Now they return as part of the Road to Hypnosis. What words or memories describe the vibe of that festival?
S: It was extremely positive in every way, even with the planes flying overhead and the crowds and the heat. The vibe of the festival was so good that it left us with an incredible feeling. I think it represents Mexico City very well. Everything was very well organized.
It’s funny because as a musician you look for certain things or certain things that make you feel good at a festival, and that’s different from being part of the audience because you’re working, you have to be in the audience. backstage and do all that. And I feel like that festival had everything figured out. It’s boring to say, but if all the logistics the musicians need to make things flow are done right, it’s generally a good festival. AND Hypnosis Not only did it have that: it had an incredible location, that baseball stadium. I found it very exciting. It’s not in the middle of nowhere, it’s right in the city, which is pretty rare. I don’t know many festivals like that, honestly.
GO!:And the vibe in the backstage?
S: Brilliant. Was gang of fourof course, but we also talked to a lot of musicians and bands. And that’s what’s really cool about festivals for musicians: meeting people who, since we’re from Canada, we don’t always have around. There isn’t that much of an atmosphere there. It’s an incredible opportunity to meet people you admire and see them play too. Because sometimes I don’t go to many shows myself. So it’s something very special. They were also Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Leclercall those bands that are really, really big.
GO!: Last question: what would someone who doesn’t go to the SUUNS show at the Road to Hypnosis in Mexico miss?
S: I don’t know exactly, but I think about this a lot. I’ve been trying to go to more things, because seeing bands play live… isn’t always something you can take for granted. Anything can happen in the world. So I’ve been really trying to seize the moment and see artists that I like or that I’m curious about when they come through town, because not only do it take a lot of work for musicians, but festivals and organizers spend months and months and months to get those people to come, whether it’s to Montreal or Mexico or wherever. It is a huge effort by many people. Then it’s the only chance.
And I already told you: we were there two years ago, but before that it was a long time without returning to Mexico. So I would say: seize the moment, go out into the world, put the phone down, listen to music. Have a beer. Don’t know.
GO!: Thank you so much. I can’t wait. We are very ready to listen to the new album. Congratulations on the music and see you here.
S: Thank you. I appreciate it very much. See you soon.
