The Singing Lamb: How was Record Store Day for you guys?

Andrew Kekewich: It was lots of fun; just cool to actually sell some CDs of the full length for the first time. The Criminal Records people were really nice and it was a good show!

I heard you sold out of CDs that day! Congrats!

Lowell Sostomi: Yeah! We only brought 15 or something but it’s nice to sell all of them!

Did you actually celebrate Record Store Day in any way?

Andrew: Yeah I bought a bunch of stuff; I guess that’s how you celebrate it, yeah?

I guess!

Lowell: We played a show, so that counts as celebrating in some way.

What did you buy?

Andrew: I got the new Bill Callahan; it’s amazing.

Lowell: I didn’t buy anything. I got a free poster though!

Free stuff is always good!

Lowell: Yeah!

Are you excited for your CD release (at the Horseshoe)?

Andrew: Yes, we are! It’s exciting because we’ve sat on the record for a couple of months now so it’ll be nice to celebrate with family and friends and get in the spirit of the record again. It’ll be a great and fun night!

How would you describe your new album, Speak of Trouble?

Andrew: Our first EP, well our only EP, was recorded when we weren’t fully a band, at that point. We were just writing and recording those songs simultaneously and all the members weren’t in the band yet. With this record it’s really showcasing a unit and we recorded the songs together as a unit. We’ve been playing live together for so long too so it’s really more of a band record. (turns to Lowell) Do you want talk about the songs themselves?

Lowell: Not so much. All the songs, lyrically, are really personal; really kind of relevant in my life, still. Most of them are from the past few or so years so yeah, most of them are just about stories like that.

Tell me about your upcoming tour.

Andrew: This record has sort of given us the motivation to go out and go on the road to support it. We’ve been mostly playing in and out of Toronto for the past two years or so and now we’re going to go out east and out west and make a go for it around Canada which is going to be nice.

Do you have a favourite place to play in Toronto?

Lowell: I find it’s not so much the place. You can always find a place that has nice sound and everything but it’s the crowd that makes it.

Andrew: The Boat is a good one though.

Lowell: Yeah, the Boat has become like a second home to us. They throw a dance party there, monthly and we’re really good friends with the guy who organizes and promotes the Boat. So when we play the Boat, all of our friends come out. So I feel like if we have to pick a venue, the Boat is the most fun because of the people that come.

Is this going to be your first time around Canada?

Andrew: Yeah, it’s going to be our first time!

Oh, that’ll be really nice! I’ve haven’t been outside Ontario and Quebec.

Andrew: Same! I’ve only been to Winnipeg once, when I was ten or something; I don’t really remember it though.

Lowell: Yeah it’s exciting since Andrew and I just literally finished university; we both did four years at Ryerson.

Awesome, Ryerson student right here!

Lowell: Really? What are you taking?

Journalism!

Andrew: We’re in RTA (Radio and Television Arts).

Oh, we’re not supposed to get along!

Andrew: Oh, okay then – bye! (Stands up and pretends to walk away) Yeah, we’re done.

How was it?

Andrew: It was good…

Lowell: University was just not for me.

Andrew: I was ready to leave at this point. So we’re done now and we’re ready to go.

Lowell: Nothing is holding us back!

What have you learned or taken from your experience in university?

Lowell: I met Andrew from the program and I met Gavin who recorded our album and is a great friend of ours. Those are probably the most noteworthy things that happened to me.

Andrew: Those things are all about the people you meet and the connections you make while there. More than what you can learn from classes.

I agree. Final question – if you were a singing animal, what would you be?

Lowell: I’ve been told I look like an otter. That might be the logical choice. I feel like I want to resemble the animal of my choice.

Andrew: What do I look like?

Lowell: You kind of look like a small bear…

A little!

Andrew: Okay, that’s works! A small bear!

For more Great Bloomers, check out
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/greatbloomers

Also, make sure to check out Great Bloomers at the Horseshoe this Saturday at the Horseshoe for their CD release, along with Sports: The Band, Modernboys Moderngirls, Gavin Gardiner. Tickets are still available for $8.00; this show is 19+.