Montreal’s own Plants and Animals are no strangers to the music scene. The talented trio, consisting of Warren Spicer, Matthew “Woodman” Woodley, and Nicolas Basque, met at Concordia University and took what seemed like the natural step forward to form an indie-rock compilation.
In the beginning, the trio was heavily reliant on improvisation, taking small stages around Montreal. Spicer (vocals) was quite shy at first, and it was only when he allowed his silence to grow into his signature melodic vocals that the band really took off.
“We’ve become something like a chicken sandwich. Warren is the meat, Woody is the bread that holds us all together and I like to think I’m the sauce that tends to get all over the place,” says Basque.
The majority of their inspiration stems from music in the ‘60s, as well as modern theatre and dance.
“It’s really tough to pinpoint what inspires you musically as a band,” says Basque. “We all have many creative friends, such as Katie Moore and Michael Bryan, that radiate wild, loose, and experimental waves. We find that kind of exposure very healthy.”
Since their formation in 2002, Plants and Animals released a self-titled debut album, in 2003, followed by an EP and three full-length albums. Basque explains that the band’s three newest albums are meant to resemble the transitions between childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
“Parc Avenue (2008) definitely has a naïve aspect to it, along with it being precious and welcoming. La La Land (2010) is much darker and psychedelic, and reflects the experimental stage in someone’s teenage years. We then finally arrive at The End of That (2012), which radiates a certain sense of nakedness, maturity, and simplicity.”
Though each album’s sound was developed quite differently, each one is recorded close to home.
“We love to record and rehearse at the Treatment Room here in Montreal. All of our gear is there, we know the place like the back of our hand, and we know the people so well. It’s home to us,” explains Basque.
When asked to describe Plants and Animals’ signature sound in a few words, Basque calls it a “vibrant and real with an organic quality.” It is something that “moves a lot, and moves together simultaneously as the chemistry is sonically dynamic.” Compression and saturation in order to please radio standards is something they shy away from, and instead strive for the notions of experiment and surprise.
The End of That sparked an undeniable buzz in Montreal, as well as other provinces, eventually catching on across borders. Previously touring with Wolf Parade, Gnarles Barkley, and Grizzly Bear, Plants and Animals have shown a ready appeal to national audiences.
Following the end of their tour, which winds down in mere weeks, the trio plan to buckle down and get back to rehearsing.
“The direction in which our sound is now going is really exciting for us. We want to try to do something with more texture and depth that is challenging both for us and our listeners,” says Basque.
No matter where this new direction takes them, their sound is nothing short of accessible. What will remain constant are the recurring emotional curves that emerge when listeners least expect them.
“Our ideal fan is someone who can party to one of our groovier songs, and mellow out during a slower one,” Basque says. “Whoever can keep up with the highs and lows of our pieces is welcome at any show of ours.”
Plants and Animals are playing Nov. 16 at The Corona Theatre (2490 Rue Notre-Dame West.) Tickets are $20.
