Review Fix Exclusive: Bass Lions’ Nathan Stretch Talk New EP, ’Dynamite Quartz’ And More

Review Fix chats with Bass Lions’ Nathan Stretch, who discusses the band’s new EP, creative process, origin and single “Dynamite Quartz.”

About the EP:

This project expands on the inventive, cross-genre process members of the community of musicians in Waterloo Region have been developing. Collaboration between symphonic and “rock” musicians has already resulted informative and enlightening workshops featuring a wide range of formally and informally trained professional and semi-professional musicians, and a well-received concert of original arrangements of classical music performed in a modern venue for a discerning, and enthusiastic audience.

For More on the Band, Click Here

Review Fix: How did the band get together?

Nathan Stretch: We formed, as bands often do, out of the break-up of another band. Also, many of us are related.

Review Fix: What makes your brand special?

Stretch: We think we have established a reputation for skillfully and collaboratively crafting indie-pop-experiments and then releasing them in a flurry of syncopated enthusiasm. We are known far and wide as “The World’s Most Amicable Opening Band.”

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

Stretch: We made this record in close collaboration with members and associates of the KW symphony, experimenting in and exploring largely instrumental music in the classical canon. “Threes” represents the opportunity for classically trained musicians to work with independent “rock” musicians to create and record hybrid arrangements of classical music and contribute to original composition.This project expands on the inventive, cross-genre process members of the community of musicians in Waterloo Region have been developing.

Review Fix: What makes this EP special? How was it written?

Stretch: We worked together with Dave Mansell (Wilfrid Laurier Faculty of Music), and members & associates of the KW Symphony Orchestra to arrange and perform classical music in the spring of 2015. Mansell arranged for the collaborative project to take place as part of his thesis work towards a Masters of Community Music, and brought together musicians representing both classical and indie-rock musical backgrounds. Emphasis was placed on genre experimentation – musicians were given few working rules but tight timelines for arrangement and rehearsal.

The pairing resulted in very strong, original arrangements and performances of music in the classical canon. We refined our arrangements and recorded three songs live off the floor at Escarpment Sound with members & associates of the KW Symphony Orchestra. “Threes” – which is our fourth release – is produced by Ian Smith (The Miniatures, Spirits) and supported by the Waterloo Region Arts Fund. It features three tracks, original arrangements of Holst’s “Jupiter”, Bach’s “Prelude 1” and “Dynamite Quartz” an original composition by Bass Lions’ Nathan Stretch and Kitchener musician/songwriter Duncan Nicholls. Carleigh Aikens (Paper Bird, ex. Bahamas) joined the band in studio, adding a dynamic vocal on “Dynamite Quartz”.

Review Fix: What makes your latest album special?

Stretch: It’s made up largely of instrumental music – a genre of music we all enjoy, but haven’t previously contributed to.

Review Fix: How do you want your music to affect people?

Stretch: We want people to connect with the music in an emotional and meaningful way that brings joy and is evocative. This is pretty thoughtful music – hopefully people find there are layers to peel back over repeated listening.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Stretch: We would like to continue to make this kind of music and see what kind of doors this opens for us as we consider more collaborative music with classical bodies and musicians.  There is room to expand on these arrangements for more complex orchestration – it would be fun to play these songs with a full symphony orchestra.