Metric

There is some instant auditory encompassing bliss to be found in the keyboard melodies that soothe that part of you that wants to relive those memories of instantly appealing pop songs, and Metric weaves these sounds in almost every single one of their pop anthems and guides you through them with easy to understand lyrics which seem like they have a point to them, if you’re prepared to think about anything political. Every time I put on a track like ‘I.O.U’ I’d get asked by who ever was in the room what was playing and I’d reply with something sarcastic like, ‘Oh it’s just new Ace of Base!’

I sometimes lie. Emily Haines spoke with us after Metric’s series of TV appearances and shows opening for the Rolling Stones. She was in New York.

L: How have you been spending the morning?
E: Just chilling out, this is my first day with no obligations in about 2 weeks. We got the Stones shows, Conan O’Brien, a few shows with Broken Social Scene and another date with Conan and an early photo shoot with the New York Times. Today’s the first day where I get to do nothing.

L: How was the show you played with the Rolling Stones?
E: There were two, at Madison Square Gardens. It was like one of those milestones you have in your life and we had a really excellent time. They treated us really well. Everyone warned us, a lot of bands go in with an attitude and they think that they’re better than they are. That stuck with us so we delivered, we’re a rock and roll band, that’s what we respect about them and that’s what we try to do ourselves.

L: What was meeting the Stones like, was it your first time?
E: They have a really formal way of being approached and meeting people, which I understand because I’m already kind of like that. They were sweet. We got a photo, which I have yet to see, it’s probably pretty funny.

L: What was the crowd like; did they seem familiar with your music?
E: It was mixed and they definitely were not familiar with our music. Later on, the second night, I went up into the bleachers to the balcony and a bunch of people who brought their kids were coming to get pictures which I thought was cool. That younger generation who were tagging along with their folks.

L: You’ve lived in New York, Toronto, Montreal, London. What was the cause of all the changes of scenery? You seem pretty nomadic.
E: That’s just the way that we are. Joshua and Jules were the same way, they lived in Michigan, Texas, Brooklyn and now they live in Oakland. There’s a certain approach to writing and living where you’re trying to soak up as much you can.

L: There’s a rumor that members of Metric and Broken Social Scene are buying a house in Vancouver and you’re having huge parties, all the time.
E: In Vancouver?! Haha, that’s funny. We’re talking to realtors and we’ll see what happens. It’s so interesting that people are already like ‘there’s going to be huge parties there!’

L: They’re preparing.
E: Haha, that’s awesome.

L: Why did you used to play piano in the closet?
E: It was the only extra room in my apartment, most musicians can relate to this. When you try to make a life of being a musician there’s never anywhere to do it. It’s easy for white boys to get access to lots of instruments and a van to drive around, but for most people it’s not that easy. In my case it was a matter of shyness and practically. But it was a really big closet!

L: You’re dealing with pretty political ideas in your songs, do you find yourself being more careful with what you say as you gain more mainstream attention that might not necessarily agree with those views?
E: I really thought about it, I was aware of the transition to playing to a couple hundred people but now this is different. I feel pretty strongly about it, whatever it is it has to be IN the music. I don’t know want to stop concerts for long discussions about things. Especially the topic of ‘Fuck Bush’, I’ve heard that so many times with bands and I think they have to come up with something better to say than just that. If they want to talk about the American foreign policy and the government you have to know a little bit more to say. It was kind of unspoken between the bands, but we’re putting a lot of what we’re thinking and feeling into the songs. We don’t mention it in between songs because it’s IN the song. I don’t have to feel like I’m pulling some sort of stunt. I fought the war and the war won. If I sing that it says it all.

L: To me a lot of the lyrics seem a bit apathetic, like they’re stuck in this life of expected complacency and they’ve sort of given up.
E: The last thing we are is apathetic. We’d acknowledged what we were experiencing and what we were concerned about. This happened we were touring and we were disappointed in the results of the last election, a lot of things change in my friends, there was losing my dad. That’s just life, it keeps going.