October 28, 2009 - After a four-year hiatus, Our Lady Peace is back. With the release of the band's self-produced album Burn Burn back in July, ACRN snagged an interview with the Canadian rock-group�s bassist, Duncan Coutts. He filled us in on the long wait and what changes he has seen in the music industry over the years.

ACRN: How is the current tour going?

Duncan: We are actually in Anaheim right now, right outside of Disney World Animation. We were able to use Disney�s sound check.

ACRN: I know you guys played at Dayton�s X-Fest not too long ago. For many, it was like seeing the return of Our Lady Peace. Would you agree?

Duncan: For us it doesn�t seem like a return because we live it everyday. However, when you think about how long we�ve actually been away from touring, it is a bit of a return. X-Fest was a weird show. We were by far the lightest band there; the lightest band with Alice in Chains (laughs). It was great though and there was a cool crowd.

ACRN: You guys have been around since the '90s, over a decade in the music industry. What is the biggest change that you have seen in music and how did that affect your music personally?

Duncan: I think the biggest change is probably in the business of music. I am so glad we came around when we did because there was a lot of money to support us. The money is not there anymore [for new bands]. Whether or not that affects our music, I don�t think so. It�s not like we use some formula to get on the radio station. Music comes from the soul.

ACRN: What happened to your recurring album cover model Saul Fox?

Duncan: The last time we heard from him he was quite ill in health and I think he has passed on. I�m not sure about that, we never got confirmation. He was an awesome guy. The first time we met him it felt like we had known him for years. He had so many great stories to tell about his past, his youth and hanging out with Ayn Rand.

ACRN: What makes Burn Burn unique from the previous albums?

Duncan: It�s the first thing we self-produced. We didn�t have to compromise on the record. There wasn�t a record company saying �you guys are way over budget and you gotta wrap it up.� It allowed us to carry on a little too long in the studio, but it was the album we needed to make for ourselves. I know that sounds clich�, but I think it�s the closest to what we live.

ACRN: Could you elaborate on what it is capturing? Is it rawer?

Duncan: No, it�s a little bit more stripped down than raw. It was just the basic guitar on the left and right, bass and drums in the middle. You know, we put a piano in here or there, Steve played a few of his stringed instruments. It all sounded like it was organic. It was probably the easiest record to produce.

ACRN: How is the reception going for Burn Burn?

Duncan: Great so far, the shows have been awesome. I think it�s great to play live. We�re back to being a 4-piece live. We haven�t toured as a 4-piece since the album Clumsy. It just feels great to get back there.

ACRN: I believe �Burn, Burn� was a quote from Jack Kerouac�s "On the Road." What was the reason for naming the album under that specific quote?

Duncan: It had to do with the mindset we were going through. It�s about not compromising, living life to the fullest and doing what you want to do. That is my interpretation of the quote.

ACRN: It must have been nice to take your time on this record.

Duncan: It was a product of producing it ourselves and being worried. The danger of self-producing is that you don�t get any perspective with the music you�re making, right? You�re in this cycle of getting together. Steve, our guitar player, would come up to Toronto and we would write together and show each other what we had written. Then Jeremy would come in and we would flush his ideas out. Then we would go to Raine�s house and record. Ten days was the longest stretch we ever did. We would then go away, anywhere from 6 weeks to 4 months so we would come back and listen with fresh ears. It took a long time to make, but we really only spent 7 weeks recording this record, which is quick.

ACRN: What is down the road for Our Lady Peace?

Duncan: More touring for a few weeks in the states and then we�re taking a few weeks off. After that, we�re going to do a Canadian tour, then head to Europe. We�re going to try to write some new material as well and try to get another record recorded; much quicker than last time.

ACRN: Is it somewhat hard for you to take a lot of time off after a ten-day stretch?

Duncan: I may have a different answer for you next time, but this time it just feels natural. We were all doing our own projects outside of the band, and I think we all had much more material. More colors to paint with when we were working with other people. When you come home to your family, your band and your pals, it just creates a layer of musical dialogue.

ACRN: Do you have anything you would like to add?

Duncan: If you want to find anything about us, go to www.ourladyofpeace.net. That�s the website we control and our new video has debuted there. That is definitely the place to find out where we�ll be.

Our Lady Peace will be at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio this Thursday at 8 p.m. - ACRN - The Rock Lobster


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