So last winter I made a holiday mixtape (or CD, rather) by tag surfing on Bandcamp, clicking on anything that said "holiday," "Christmas," "snow," or what have you, and then listening to the bands that came up from those searches. One of my best finds was a musician named Paul Cook & The Chronicles, who I opened the mix with. I barely promoted the mix, as I was so frustrated with the website I used to make the streaming version, that once I posted it I forgot all about it. 

Little did I know, Paul would find out that I had included his song on my mix, and half a year later, email me in May with his new EP, Radar. It sounded much too familiar, and after doing some research, I realized his email wasn't as random as I thought! So I am pleased to present to you both his new 3-song Radar EP and his latest single, "Come Out Wherever You Are," which is currently a free download - for the next few weeks at least. The track was produced and co-written with Todd Roache, who also worked on Radar with Paul. 

Paul was also kind enough to respond to some questions via email, which are below. Get to know him better by reading the interview highlights, liking his Facebook page, and checking out the many other releases he has, all onhis Bandcamp! 

KS: Are there any specific musicians whose sound have greatly influenced you? or unrelated favorite musicians?
PC: Simon & Garfunkel, Elliot Smith, and Gram Parsons, but with a huge dose of huge pop music. With Radar I'm trying to bring back some of that Indie Pop vibe. 

KS: What has gone into the making of this EP? Any specific inspirations or ideas, events, etc. or anything in the process different than previous releases? 
PC: ...I’ve been doing the folky/country acoustic guitar thing for a while but I noticed at a recent gig that every one of the ten songwriters playing had this same finger picking style and ernest delivery. I just found it all a bit dreary as no one really stood out. So I wanted to get away from that for a while so I can hopefully approach it with fresh ears/eyes if I feel the need to put some new heartbreak into a folky tune. So with this one I approached this guy I know called Todd Roache who was in an incredibly underrated band by the name of The Heart Strings... it was great to send him some rough ideas and see what magic he could work.  

KS: Anything else that we should know?
PC: ...Probably just the fact that there are going to be more tracks/EPs on the way very soon. The lead track on the next EP is a song called "A Real Thunderbolt" that I can't wait to get out there - I'm hoping we might have it streaming in July some time if we can get it done in time.  So keep your ears peeled for that people of the world! 

Just being in the same room with Inga, I could feel the vibes - the excitement, the anticipation, the pure fun she was having performing with her bandmates for us, in a chilly cement basement in the dead of winter. This was how we first met, The Parlour Suite performing a small show for Sofar Sounds Minneapolis in early 2013, and me, part of the crew there to listen and review. Now over a year later, I'm pleased to once again write about this charming band of Inga and Joel Roberts, and Joshua Caro for their latest release, Vibes. 

With both having musical backgrounds, being married led Inga and Joel Roberts to create and perform music together between projects about five years ago. This new experience carried into 2012, when they met Joshua Caro; both were in groups opening for Radiation City at the Turf Club in Saint Paul. He joined their tour for Everyone's Looking, and has been The Parlour Suite's drummer ever since. Then after an extensive year of touring before she and I met, Inga says their writing style just "naturally began to gravitate towards a more electronic sound," and at Sofar Sounds they were already into this new writing process. Because "It was such an exciting feeling to tap into a new vibe," they started recording in April 2013 and finished throughout that summer at The Hideaway in NE Minneapolis. The addition of well-known producer Grant Cutler and their new move to Los Angeles has taken The Parlour Suite into a new realm of sound and possibility. 

The album starts off with Inga and Joel taking turns with vocals, setting the example for both the rest of the album, and how the pair functions in the writing process. Inga said it best herself: 

"There's a lot of ebb and flow between us, when writing. Each song is different... but usually one of us will write the core of the song, and bring it to the table. We really embraced the alternate vocal performances on this album. We really identify with that style of performance of give and take, and allowing each other to shine as individuals. I do really love that in "The New Midnight" we sing together... but in a separate way. That song really represents our style of writing and the sonic tone of the album Vibes."

This collaboration and the catchy beat continue through "Haunted (Vis a Vis)" and builds into "Tribes," with Inga's vocals hooking the listener in, leaving them in suspense during the verses and rewarding them warmly in the chorus. Minimalistic and classic 80's synth themes permeate Vibes, both mixing in modern elements and isolating each sound or feel for a time-bending effect. The only example of too much 80's and too little in-the-now sound is on "Wrong Number," in which Joel sings "have a nice dream" before the cheesy bass line takes over with a bit too much "whomp" for modern day. Yet there are great elements in the song that are clearly contemporary and unique to the band, and for every other tune on the album, that most fine of balances between decades-old and new sounds is toyed with and perfected. 

It's the tunes in the middle of the album, such as "In My Head," their single "Pressure," and "Bali Hai" that are true declarations of The Parlour Suite's talents, strengths, and ability to create catchy pop songs with darker edges and deeper meanings that hail back to older times without ever leaving the present. "Pressure" is the album's single and its shimmering success, Inga both a star in its fantastic music video and with her glorious vocals throughout. Inga is the group's not so secret weapon, with stark and beautiful musical tones, and matching features. Her sound is infectious, and although it too is edited through software like all today's singers, it remains more real than most. 

Then Joel incorporates the 80's feel marvelously in "Bail Hai" with well timed drums and minimalistic guitar, and at a time soloing with just drums and completely rocking it. "Fencing a Sword Swallower" gets into that ballad feel - you could be running around town late at night with this one, it's nostalgia just waiting to happen. In this and "Bali Hai" Joel shines, these two are where he gets to show off. "Bury You" carries the listener into full-blown ballad mode; a melancholy but romantic statement about death in which Inga and Joel share vocals equally, proclaiming their love to a "you" that is no mystery between them. "Release My Body" channels their vibe into a slow and steady exit, with Inga's rich and pure vocals leading the way. This is actually one of my favorite songs on the album, with every repeat of the lyric bringing you more and more into it, until it's gone. 

For now they'll be hanging tight in L.A., promoting the album at shows, but The Parlour Suite would like to be back in their native Minneapolis at some point this year. Until then, check out their Facebook, Soundcloud, and of course, the album on iTunes. Thanks again to Inga for being in touch, answering all my questions, and being such a badass. 

2013 has so far been the year of Canadian bands. From Half Moon Run to Young Galaxy to Royal Canoe, my love for our northern neighbor’s musical contributions to this year’s soundscape has only grown. A perhaps lesser known act hailing from Montreal is The Franklin Electric, who gladly agreed to be interviewed for a feature. They recently released an album in June, I discovered it in August, and then couldn’t stop listening. There is something clean and fresh about the composition that leads one to feel a strong sense of purpose and direction behind the songwriting. The Beirut-like sound from keys and melodic trumpets throughout the album creates a sense of familiarity, and although this is some of the newest music out there, it makes you nostalgic and sentimental. Take a listen to This is How I Let You Down and read up on what lead Jon Matte revealed about the band. 

How did The Franklin Electric come about? Who is the band?

About 2 years ago I (Jon) started playing around town in some local pubs trying out some original songs, always calling on my musician friends to sit in on the odd gig until I kinda felt I had a good group of friends -players for the songs. We went from there: Martin Desrosby (bass), J-S Leblanc (guitar), Johnny Griffin (Guitar), Katie Mcnally (back vocals), and Kevin Warren and Mark Wheaton have both been around playing drums, and now [plus] Francis Leduc Belanger (trumpet). And me, Jon, as singer/trumpet/piano and producer of the musics!

[We’ve played] basement demos to small gigs from Montreal to Toronto, but the real magic happened as I wrote the songs from This is How I Let You Down and we all found that we had something unique blending pop with some folk and orchestral vibes - it was ours!

What are your musical influences and what current bands do you listen to?

I enjoy Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain a whole lot these days but I’ll go from Older Kings of Leon, Jeff Buckley, to Devotcka! I have a fond place in my heart for good old school hip hop to some jazz into some Sufjan Stevens to Winter Sleep then some Elton John – I’m all over the place.

Who does the songwriting? 

Most of the stuff comes from a strong personal feeling of mine or I’ll just hear something, melodies and some words, the story and song basis. I guess mainly from me and then I work with the guys for arrangement stuff and a few extra parts as well. They help make sense of my messy ideas. Once in a while me and one of the guys write something from scratch together which is always fun as and I feel more and more that’s going to happen!

What were some of the strongest influences in the making of this album?

Well I guess there are a lot, but referencing some of the bands mentioned above as well as a strong lyrical themes, such as ‘this is how I let you down,’ around the concept of facing yourself and truly seeking a honesty within your heart and mind allowing your inner demons to exist and not avoiding them as many do daily. It’s inevitable that the voice inside us all haunts us and some may be better at escaping it than me.  The voice is loud in my head.

What’s a favorite song to perform live?

 I speak for us all when I say “Unsatisfied” is always a satisfying tune to play live, as well as “This is How I Let You Down” and “17.”

Tell me more about the Canadian music scene.

The scene in Canada is pretty cool. We get a lot of support from some radios as they like to support other Canadians that are doing their thing properly, but the industry is so saturated and Montreal being a city where everyone’s an artist of some sort it’s really nice to play out of country. We hope to do a lot in the U.S. - I’m curious about Austin, Texas (hmmm the next mission).

What’s next for the band?

A remix project live in-studio with an small size orchestra remixing “This is How I Let You Down,” “17,” and “Unsatisfied” with a video montage and a live stream where fans can tune in to the recording session and listen in as we perform the songs even hear us stop adjust some things live. It’s something very special for me to have the orchestral side of things and feature the brass! More touring in Quebec and Canada …and also another video in the works.

We are overwhelmed and humbled by the natural evolution and support of this debut album, and a huge thanks to people like yourself who help spread the word.