Sebastien Grainger

In October 2005, an album of Death From Above 1979 remixes was released. A bunch of people took songs that were already fairly danceable, and made them even more so. It was the last release we'd see from that band, as they announced they were breaking up a few months later.

Now, Jesse F. Keeler, who played bass/synth, has become quite successful with his electronic music project MSTRKRFT, while Sebastien Grainger, who played drums and sang, has layed low, until now that is. A few weeks ago I saw him at a Jewish Legend show, and later on while I was checking out their MySpace, I found a link to his. Turns out they're about release a split 7" together, and he's gettin' a solo album ready. He's also involved in the 'Friends In Bellwoods' compilation for the Daily Bread Food Bank, along with our friends from Durham, Jonas Bonnetta, The D'Urbervilles, and Forest City Lovers. How exciting!

The songs he has up on his MySpace skip the rock and go straight for the dance. Which is alright since I enjoyed that remix album...

You say you're recording a solo album. Will it sound like the songs that are currently up on your MySpace?
Sebastien: The songs on MySpace are tracks that I’d made in the spring in my living room... the songs for the record will be more live sounding, band oriented songs... I’m building a studio with Jimmy Shaw (of Metric) and we will record the record there... in the chalet.

You've been playing some shows again lately, can you tell me about what those are like? Is it just you on stage?
Sebastien: I played one show last week... it was just me and a guitar presenting a couple songs that I’d been working on for the record as well as couple that I’d written during the year. My next show will feature some big guns on drums and bass...

How has the music community in Toronto changed since you started a couple years back?
Sebastien: A couple as in five? Well, five years ago I had four friends and none of them were in the "Toronto music community" and one of them was Jesse... now, almost all my friends are somehow involved in the music scene whether it be producers, musicians, filmmakers and the like. To answer your question though, I don't know what the Toronto music community was like back then, I wasn't involved. Now it's a bunch of people with a few bucks in their pockets drinking too much.

How did you become involved in the 'Friends in Bellwoods' compilation?
Sebastien: Since I came off tour last year I became friends with the dudes in Ohbijou. When Leon Taheny was producing their record he used my living room to track their drums... so last winter when I was busy beating THE WARRIORS on PS2 with my girlfriend, Jamie Bunton was tracking the drums in the other room... that's more or less how I became involved... I am a 'friend in Bellwoods'... I just live on the other side of the park. Dig?

Since 2006 is almost done, what music have you really liked from the past year?
Sebastien: Justin Timberlake- futuresex/lovesounds, and old stuff.

Tunes: myspace.com/sebastiengrainger
Friends In Bellwoods