Close Talker: A New Chapter

Please introduce for me the members of Close Talker…

William Quiring: Lead Vocals, Guitar.
Matt Kopperud: Guitar, Keys, Vocals.
Christopher Morien: Drums, Vocals.
Jerms Olson: Bass, Vocals.

How did the four of you actually come together to form the group?

Chris, Will and I had known each other for a long time both musically and socially. Chris and I grew up together since kindergarten and picked up our first instruments in grade 6 and learned [Deep Purple’s] “Smoke on the Water” together. Shortly after, we met Will who eventually joined a band with Chris. After high school, a mutual friend asked us all to form a band to play cover songs at a wedding dance, which is where we met Jerms, our bassist. We only had time to plan a hour-long set which we stretched into two hours, playing songs such as a groovy version of “Sunday Morning” by k-os and straight up hick version of [Lynyrd Skynyrd’s] “Sweet Home Alabama,” which we had to play again so the groom’s dad could bust out an organ to play a solo over the intro. Jerms was one of the groomsmen and was the life of the dance floor with his infamous finger-wag dancing. That night was definitely a catalyst — chemistry reference for Jerms — for starting the band.

…The night was fun enough to make us consider pursuing an open mic in Saskatoon, but we needed a bassist…So we got a-hold of Jerms and here we are three years later still playing “Sweet Home Alabama” every single set. Just kidding!

Where do each of you hail from? And, in having said that, growing up who all did/do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?

Chris, Will and I were all born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Jeremy was born in Estevan, Saskatchewan and grew up there and in Regina, Saskatchewan. Contrary to what you may believe coming from such a location, our musical influences were not of the bluegrass or country variety, except maybe Jerms a bit. Jerms grew up in the busy punk rock scene of Saskatchewan in the ’90’s, and he has both cool and uncool tattoos to prove it, listening to stuff like No Use for a Name, Diesel Boy, Propagandhi and other aggressive music.

…Chris, Will and I grew up sharing music with each other. Chris went through a heavy jazz phase in high school, which definitely influenced his drumming. Will can rip a good blues line on the guitar; he used to listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix and things like that. I didn’t get into electric guitar until grade twelve, and grew up playing finger style from listening to Don Ross and Andy McKee. Some bands we listen to together in the van include; The National, Local Natives, Royal Canoe (and) Radiohead.

How would you all describe and/or define the style of music that you all create and perform?

As all bands, we get asked it often, and like most bands, we don’t have a good answer. If someone described us as ambient indie pop-rock, we wouldn’t disagree.

Individually, what do each of you bring to the “proverbial table,” both personality and professional-wise, when it comes to the overall “vibe” and/or sound of Close Talker?

Through the studio, we became more collaborative in songwriting. Everyone gets a vote on artistic ideas and everyone definitely owns their own parts. Chris is an intricate and percussive drummer, as opposed to an obnoxiously loud rock drummer. Jerms plays bass with more attack and is a straight player. Will is passionate about making unique chord structures, progressions and melodies, trying to make unpredictable turns in the songs, trying to combat the seductive generic pop machine that music can be today; I bring an ambient element to the songwriting by using effects and noises to change how the notes sound, in a way.

…I am excitable and often get caught up in planning. I get the best fuel mileage, self-proclaimed anyway.

…Jerms brings dry wit and the old bitter voice of reason. He’s the navigator.

…Chris makes it happen and is probably the most lovable. He deserves a shout out in the professional side of things, as he is a Microsoft Excel wizard. Without him, all of our cash would be stored in a sock in a shoe-box in the glove compartment.

…Will gets the good times going and sleeps a lot.

With that being said, where did the moniker Close Talker originally derive from?

We get asked this a lot and don’t have a good answer, so we often make one up. A good myth is that Jerms once dated a “close-talker” which went horribly. Though Seinfeld wasn’t directly what inspired the name, we embrace the idea and greatly appreciate what Seinfeld has done for all of humanity.

What particular string of events led to your current inking with Nevado Records?

We played shows with Library Voices in the audience, including our manager, Mike Dawson, who is now part of their management team and our own. Later, we played with Royal Canoe who was also signed with Nevado. We have big respect for both bands professionally and musically, so from their recommendations we pursued those avenues. After some good Toronto parties with some of the Nevado guys, it generally sealed the deal.

Your 2nd single is entitled “Heads” — Tell me about this particular track? How did it actually come to fruition?

“Heads” was the first song we wrote for Flux and marked a new chapter in our songwriting; more collaborative and extensive. The song structure is a bit ADD, which is ironically fitting with the lyrics and where we were with the band, and still are. We wrote it during a lull after our first record had been out for a bit. We wanted to make a video, and needed to write a few new songs. Started with Chris making a beat in ¾ and Will making a simple guitar part. I’d just gotten a new guitar pedal I desperately wanted to use, and my main part was based on this ice delay with weird harmonies, which gave it that ambient and spooky sound.

“Heads” comes courtesy of, technically, your sophomore LP, Flux — Conceptually, what does that title represent both to and for you all?

Flux means being in periods of change. This album is that for us. It marks a change in the band in writing style and sound, but also how it has affected our immediate lives and perspectives and plans and futures. Tour affects our relationships with people and how we relate, which has changed things for us. So this album is a way to mark a change in the band, in a smaller scope of songs and styles, but also in a larger scope.

How does Flux either differ and/or compare to that of your debut?

We wrote and recorded this album much more intentionally, which is the word we often use; intent. For the first two years of the band we were split up; myself and Will in BC and Jerms and Chris at home in Saskatoon, so it was written quickly and recorded even more quickly, in eight days when we were home on a winter break from school. The new songs, lyrics, and parts were much more collaborative, intentional, and arguably more mature for that reason. Timbers songs were safer, more hooks and sing-alongs and anthems. This time, we wanted to make sure the songs were sustainable for the band, instead of making poppy melodies our moms would like. Although Flux may not have the same hooks and catchy melodies that Timbers brought, it’s much more personal to us; music that puts our best foot forward and music that we truly enjoy playing, which makes the album more rewarding and hopefully long-lasting.

What are your future plans and/or goals for sustaining longevity in music?

Just recently, we started going for runs together as a band to combat the unhealthy lifestyles that come with touring. We also recently listened to a BBC version of the entire (The) Chronicles of Narnia, featuring voice actors and a full orchestra to stimulate the brain on long drives. We try to catch any live sports events that we can on tour, or surf. We’ve been watching lots of the MLB postseason, and have been cheering Kansas City Royals. We want to constantly write music that is challenging to us, with meaningful lyrics, so as not to tire of what we do and to focus on progressing together. We want to push the envelope a bit to string our audience along to what we feel is relevant and challenging to us, instead of playing what’s easy. To achieve longevity, we’ll likely be selfishly creative; focusing on what we want to do.

Do each/any of you all have any other outside/additional aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?

Jerms works a real job in a research facility in the field of chemistry, so he has aspirations in that…Chris has aspirations in saving the earth…Myself in ministry…And, Will has aspirations in calculating heights of bridges and trucks.

To date, what has been your biggest career moment(s), at least thus far anyway?

Kamloops October 14th 2014, where we got free bowling with our set! Golden, BC, where our hotel had a big screen TV and blood on the bathroom door. Touring with Royal Canoe this fall in Western Canada was a major high for us; the shows were all great and the Royal Canoe guys were amazing to tour with. Playing entirely for strangers in Europe was really cool; instead of playing for friends of friends in Canada because people came out to see us without any outside connections, just to see some skids from Canada. We actually had two guys from Amsterdam drive to Cologne just to see us. That was pretty cool.

Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you all see yourselves?

We don’t even know what we are going to do for our next meal or place to stay or what we are going to do when we get home from this tour, but if I were to hazard a guess, I will likely have 5 (to) 7 kids in ten years; I am getting married this year. Jerms answered quickly that he’ll be in rehab, either that or he will be in a wheelchair and have just met his 15 year old son for the first time. Will will have the heights of all trucks memorized. We all hope to continue creating music; ideally in Close Talker, but if not, in other projects.

As for the immediate, what’s next for Close Talker?

Lethbridge tomorrow! Currently on tour, back out to Saskatoon where we will take two weeks off. Flux (came) out November 4th, 2014, which we will be on tour supporting that release for November and December. We hope to get back to Europe in the start of 2015 and plan to tour hard in the spring and get to hop a few festivals throughout the festival season.

Any “parting” message(s) for our readers?

This one goes out to Golden, BC!

– @closetalkerband

By: Todd Davis