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SF: So much has changed since then.
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I’ve
thought about how awful everything has
gotten. At the time, we thought we’d shel-
ter in place, release the music digitally and
make some music videos but everything
got worse.
Then, on top of that there’s been a huge
social justice movement. We didn’t even
want to release the music and make a big
fuss of it during all of this … it’ll be there
for people who want to listen to it.
In a personal way COVID killed this
album before it had a chance. We work
on our albums two or three years before
they get released. We went forward with
the idea of a soft release, then a month
later realized there was no point in wait-
ing because there’s not going to be a nor-
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mal sense of play-
ing shows for another
year, maybe two in
some places.
I want to put this
album out in the
places people listen
the most. Hopefully it
can bring people some
joy. It doesn’t make
sense to hold it back
anymore because
by the time we can
play live shows again
we’re going to have
another album.
AE: The band
has donated some
of its album sales to
the NAACP Legal
Defense Fund. Why
did the band choose
this organization to
support?
SF: There’s so
much information
about what’s proper
and what are the best
places to support. I
asked around a bit and
did a little research,
and followed the lead
of Bandcamp, which
was donating to the
fund.
I chose that one
because it seemed the
most obvious at the
time. And frankly, we
just don’t make a lot
of money on Band-
camp. I was happy
with how many people stepped up and
bought the album, likely in the notion to
support the fund.
AE: Are there any songs in particu-
lar that are meaningful to you? Is there
a song in particular you’re looking for-
ward to performing live?
SF: ‘Fake News’ is one that’s especially
meaningful. I don’t succeed at writing
songs very often that speak to any political
activism but I wish that I could. Regard-
less of where people stand, one thing that
bothers me is a band releases a song with a
political message and people will say ‘Just
stick to music.’ Music has always been
political.
I try so hard to fi gure out what’s right.
If nothing else the message of that song
is frustration, with everyone shouting and
claiming to know the truth. We got to play
it once at the New Year’s show at Fort
George, with some other new songs.
‘Still Wonder’
by Holiday
Friends.
We haven’t performed ‘Jealousy,’ that’s
one of the newer ones. It’s just a fun jam.
That’s always been at the heart of our
music, music that makes everyone want to
dance.
AE: The album’s cover art is an old
photo of you as a child and your cousin
Rhiannon. Why did you choose that
image?
SF: I’ve actually had that photo for a
long time. We almost used it for ‘Night
Terrors.’ Whenever we make a new song or
an album comes out, I look at it. I thought
it might be a bit too creepy to name an
album ‘Night Terrors’ and have a photo
with a child on it. With ‘Still Wonders,’ it’s
more like an inquisitive photo.
My uncle took the photo. I’ve always
thought it was a neat photograph, with the
expression on my face and the embrace
from my cousin. And on top of that, with
the sort of 80s vibe our band has taken
on, you kind of get that from that photo,
even though it’s early 90s … I’m kind of
obsessed with that aesthetic.
AE: Is there anything else you want
readers to know about the band or the
album?
SF: We had one social distanced band
practice where we all wore masks and
played outside. We’re going to keep doing
that as it feels safe to do so. We’re excited
to play a show again. There’s a potential to
play an outdoor show someday.
On top of that, we hope everyone’s stay-
ing safe and being kind to each other. I
struggle with being a political activist but
I feel like everyone should pay attention
to the movement that’s going on right now
and support it. They’re not doing anything
wrong by asking for the country to be bet-
ter. Plus, everyone should keep wearing
their masks so we can all get together again
for live music someday.