Shapes and Sizes: unwrapping the mystery

Montreal quartet Shapes and Sizes’ voyage to La Belle Province took them on a long and winding road, beginning in their hometown of Victoria, British Columbia in 2005, then over the channel to the wilds of Vancouver rock city and finally, three years ago, to within our own walls. Along the way they logged thousands of miles as a tried and true touring unit, capturing the attention of one Sufjan Stevens, who happens to have a cool little label called Asthmatic Kitty. He was struck by the band’s warped pop, lean stylings and art-rock melodies, and re-released their eponymous debut album, as well as its follow-up Split Lips, Winning Hips, a Shiner, and the brand new Candle to Your Eyes. Although firmly ensconced in our local scene, one gets the impression that Shapes + Sizes (Nathan Gage, Caila Thompson-Hannant, Rory Seydel, Jonathan Crellin) are still in the process of exposing their excellent wares to Montreal folks, still a mystery to many a listener.

Can you take us into the creation of Candle to Your Eyes?
Rory Seydel: Hmm…meal meal, beer beer, sing sing. Just kidding! It has been so long. I’ll try to recall and recap: some of these songs are ancient seeming. I can barely remember their inception. Maybe that’s what’s best about them. These songs are disconnected from their makers and now exist in their own space.

Are you finding it more difficult to make music as S+S given everyone’s busy musical schedules? (ED: Caila Thompson-Hannant is now also a member of Think About Life)
RS: To be fair only half of the band keeps busy musical schedules. Honestly, two out of four members are not really active in the indie-rock recording/touring circle. Jonathan, who plays drums, is studying and practices drums in a record store basement. I record music at night but I wouldn’t say it hinders my schedule. We have shows planned for the summer so I guess I would say no, it’s not difficult. What can be difficult is wanting to make music as S+S. I don’t think many bands would admit to this but it can be hard to find the incentive to make music as a band after a long time of being active. It’s like a marriage, there are ups and downs, some people get divorced. I’m pleased with our pace all in all. I think anything else would seem forced. I think I’ll really appreciate our music in 20 years.

Has the band’s continued association with Asthmatic Kitty been a bonus? Do they still continue to support you as they first did?
RS: Absolutely, most labels would have dropped us ages ago. Emotionally and financially they’ve been very supportive. 

The band seems to be one of Montreal’s best kept secrets in its own adopted hometown. Are you thinking things are about to change with the new record?
RS: Shucks, thanks! I’m really not in any place to say. If I knew what it took to get ahead I suppose I’d be there already. But that’s the nice thing about Shapes and Sizes; it always comes from an honest place and I think where we are at is a realistic reflection of what we’ve accomplished. We are only a secret to those who haven’t taken the time to realize what is under their noses. Isn’t that life? 
 

Shapes and Sizes
July 28 | Sala Rossa
4848, Saint-Laurent
with Braids
www.myspace.com/shapesandsizes