WHO: Staggered Crossing
WHERE: WSSF Mainstage
WHEN: Wednesday, April 18
Toronto’s Staggered Crossing is one of Warner’s latest investments, a five-man band turning out edgy, radio-friendly rock reminiscent of Counting Crowes and Tabitha’s Secret (Rob Thomas pre-Matchbox Twenty).
Doing a little more research on the band, I couldn’t help but draw similarities between Staggered Crossing and Whistler’s own Whole Damn County (who just happen to be opening for Staggered Crossing on the WSSF mainstage). Although their styles of rock are a few shades apart, their stories are very similar: a group of friends brought together by the desire to play music. Staggered Crossing has been playing Toronto gigs as long as Whole Damn County founders, Pete and Chad, have been kicking around Whistler. Both acquired a ferociously loyal following early on. Both have developed high quality songwriters and an undeniable stage presence.
So what sets these two bands apart, that one should catch the ear of Warner Music? I’d hoped to find the formula with the opportunity to speak with Staggered Crossing’s vocalist/songwriter, Julian Taylor. Seems JT isn’t giving up any secrets, but this 23 year old’s infectious humour and light-hearted approach to the industry must certainly have something to do with the band’s growing success.
Pique Newsmagazine:
"So, I’m curious to know, what do you think has separated Staggered Crossing from so many other bands that are out there right now, playing the same style or genre of music?"Julian Taylor
: "Oh, we’re so darn good looking, Shari!"Pique:
"Well, I can see that! I have your photo."JT
: "I’m not sure exactly. But that’s definitely been the main focus. We’re just so darn good looking. (laughs) I don’t know… what separates us? We put in a lot of time. There are a lot of bands out there doing what we do. They play a lot. We play a lot. I think we just got noticed at the right time."Pique
: "Do you remember when you first found out you were being considered by Warner?"JT
: "Yeah, I do actually. That was about two years ago. We had shot a whole bunch of demos at the record company and they seemed kind of interested. And we noticed a couple of the companies were following the band around, EMI, Warner and Sony. It was kinda cool. Then one night they (Warner Music) invited us out for sushi."Pique:
"Sushi?"JT
: "Yeah, sushi. It was good."Pique:
"And…"JT:
"And they offered us the contract and we were all very excited. It seemed like the best idea."Pique:
"A lot of bands these days, especially in Canada, say they almost prefer to stay independent. You guys haven’t released an independent album. Was that ever a thought?JT
: "Yeah, it’s not a bad idea to stay independent. But we just didn’t have the resources ourselves. So it’s kinda cool that we get to keep playing our music and Warner’s helping us out."Pique
IQUE: "The first thing I noticed about the CD was the obvious desire to keep a live sound to the music. Is that because you had played strictly live for so long?"JT:
"Yeah it was the natural transition. We wanted to keep a certain amount of control over our music. Although we had a producer in there with us, we were always asked for our input. Sometimes they listened and sometimes they didn’t."Pique
: "And how do you feel about the finished product now?"JT
: "Baby steps! It was all a learning experience and we’re still learning as we go along."Pique
: "Now you say baby steps, but making an album with Warner must have been a huge hurdle that you thought you might not have the chance to jump. I can’t imagine that it’s an easy ride now though."JT:
"No, it’s not. I haven’t eaten today, Shari."Pique:
(laughs)JT:
"And we’re tying to hook up our stuff in the hotel room right now, our Play Station and I can’t seem to get the Internet to work."Pique:
"Are you in the middle of an extensive tour for the CD? Where are you now?" JT: "We’re in Sault St. Marie. Not an extensive tour though. About five weeks."Pique:
"That’s a pretty decent haul. Do you feel there’s more pressure to succeed now that you have the backing of a label?"JT:
"Um, yeah. But we have skipping ropes."Pique:
"Skipping ropes? That keeps you all busy and stress-free?"JT:
"Yep, stress-free. The whipping aspect is something that we’re exploring. I hear that can keep you very stress-free."Pique:
"We’re not going to have a serious conversation, are we?"JT:
"Well, Shari, the one very funny thing is that I’m not that serious. (laughs) If you’d like me to be serious, I could try."Pique:
"That would probably be even funnier, wouldn’t it?"JT
: "Yeah, it would."Pique:
"I guess I cold talk till I’m blue in the face about labels, but at the end of the night, you’re still just five guys on a stage having fun.’JT:
"Yeah, we are."Pique:
"Is it still fun at this point?"JT:
"Yeah, it is! But I’d love a bus! We’re driving around in a van right now. You know it’s eight guys, with the band and crew, so it’s kinda cramped. We’re working on it though."Pique:
You have a video out already for Further Again. You seem like a fun guy, so shooting it must have been fun."JT:
"It was, except that we were on a gravitron for so long. It was fun at first and then people started getting sick from spinning around for the whole day."Pique:
"You included?"JT:
"I didn’t get sick. I learned how to walk straight up on it horizontally and just walk around. I have some carnie guy trying to contact me for a copy of the video!"Pique:
"Was image important to the band heading into the video?"JT:
"I like to think that we’re incredibly stylish."Pique:
"Well, we already know that your darn good looking! Were you just anxious to get your faces out there to the world?"JT:
"(laughs) Yeah! We’re just so stylish! Especially Bruce. Everything he wears is better than Versace. On any given day, any of us are fashion trend-setters, even the crew."Pique
: "Anything else you’d like to talk about?"JT
: "Well, I’m working on kicking Jeremy’s ass in Play Station hockey."Pique:
"You get a lot of time to do that in between shows?"JT:
"Yeah, that and we’ve been to some really crazy strip clubs."Pique:
"Hmmm, that’s interesting."JT:
"Yeah, there’s lots of interesting stuff out there. We’ve been to Wawa, where I took a piss beside a guy who claimed he wrote Smoke on the Water. And that he did it for his kids. And I can tell you he wasn’t Ritchie Blackmore. He was just a Wawa guy."Pique:
"Well, I can hear you stirring your coffee, so I’m gonna let you go eat now."JT:
"Oh I don’t get to eat yet. Still a few more interviews to go. All the other guys are at the buffet, eating their croissants."Pique:
"So they get fed but you get all the fame and glory?"JT:
"(laughs) Yeah, it’s just because I’m so darn good-looking."
