Metric singer revelling in band’s newfound freedom

By: with T'Cha Dunlevy Posted: 10:39 AM CDT Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

MONTREAL -- Third time's a charm -- literally, it turns out -- in the case of phone interviews with Emily Haines.

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MONTREAL -- Third time's a charm -- literally, it turns out -- in the case of phone interviews with Emily Haines.

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MONTREAL — Third time’s a charm — literally, it turns out — in the case of phone interviews with Emily Haines.

I was bracing myself for another round with the lead singer for Toronto indie-rock band Metric. Two previous conversations with her were stilted at best, with Haines’ confrontational attitude dashing any hopes of insightful revelations into her music.

So it was with great surprise that I reached her by phone in her hometown this week, and found her bursting with good vibes, generous answers and not a single snarky comment.

WAYNE CUDDINGTON / CANWEST NEWS SERVICE ARCHIVES
Emily Haines, lead singer of the band Metric. — WAYNE CUDDINGTON / CANWEST NEWS SERVICE ARCHIVES Emily Haines, lead singer of the band Metric.

What at first I observed with cautious distrust turned out to be a reflection of a rebirth of sorts for Haines and her band. Metric’s bold new album Fantasies was released independently in the spring, instilling a sense of liberation: "It feels great," said Haines, who is preparing for an upcoming Canadian/U.S.

tour that brings Metric to the Burton Cummings Theatre on Wednesday (tickets are $26.50 and $36.50 at Ticketmaster).

"It really feels like, for the first time in our lives as musicians, we were able to take stock and orchestrate things the way we wanted — to take the power of our lives back in our own hands."

Having reached a considerable level of international success with Toronto indie imprint Last Gang Records, but wanting to take things to the next level, Metric found itself at a crossroads.

"Historically, this is the first time there are really valid options — not just to be an independent musician who does reasonably well, but to have just as much success (as corporate-backed bands) and to compete for album sales, with placement on commercial charts."

For inspiration, they looked to one of the biggest bands out there, Radiohead, which released its 2007 album In Rainbows with a sliding-scale price tag via its website.

"I’m not comparing us to Radiohead," Haines said. "But (Radiohead producer) Nigel Godrich — who worked with us on a song we made for this Edgar Wright film ( Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, out in 2010) — said those guys were so energized by it, as well, that it’s fun to do things on your own terms.

"I think it made us feel more free in the music, to make it as good as we could — not to please someone above us, but more like, because there’s so much riding on it, it had better not suck."

Fantasies is a creative turn for Metric. It finds the band trading in the jagged edges and abrasive rock sound of 2005’s Live It Out for something more nuanced, still rockin’, but with more layers of emotion.

"It’s really aggressive," Haines said of Live It Out. "I remember people saying that at the time, and we were like, ‘What are you talking about? You’re just weak.’ Now (I realize), that s— is pretty intense. I think we’ve developed as musicians since then. I feel like that record represents a time in our lives — in the middle of the Bush administration, it feels like the Dark Ages."

— Canwest News Service

* * * Another weekend, another batch of local CD-release parties.

There are two Friday night: at the West End Cultural Centre, blues-rockers Dr. Rage & the Uppercuts release their sophomore album, Sexus Diablo, with the Thrashers and In-Fluents opening (tickets $10 at Into the Music and Music Trader); and alt-rockers Right Through make a whole lotta noise at the Crescent Fort Rouge United Church as they unveil their debut album, The Sun Hot (Haunter and J.R.

Hill are also on the bill; admission is $5).

On Saturday, veteran singer-songwriter Dan Frechette releases a live album, Performer, which he will play in its entirety during an early 7 p.m. show at the Times Change(d).

Admission is $15 and includes a CD.