Borders

10 Questions with: Borders

livemusicTO chats with Graham from Toronto based folk rock band, Borders who headline our June 7, 2012 showcase at Czehoski.

How did you all come to know each other, and is there any meaning behind your name?

Jim and I met in University have been making music together for more than five years but usually working on other people's projects. Cara and I were in a band Juiceboxx where I drummed and she played bass. I've known Nick for a while and when Jim and I started moving towarss creating an official band I knew that I wanted him as the drummer. Roz was someone that Jim and I knew in university but it wasn't until Borders got going that we thought, "hey violin would sound great, we should ask Roz." For the first few months we went without a name because with five people in a band it can be hard to find common ground. Eventually we said, "Next practice we NEED to have a name." Jim who is in a masters program for geography just wrote down any interesting words that he came across in his readings. When Borders was said we all thought it was pretty alright. Ironically the whole band hates the concept of borders and many of the lyrics indicate that.

How long have you been playing together?

Borders has been together for just over half a year, but as I mentioned I previously played with both Jim and Cara.

What have been some of your biggest accomplishments so far?

Playing successful shows, tightening up our set and writing as a band have all felt really good and made Borders a fun experience for all of us. An accomplishment that is just around the corner is recording an album and releasing an LP.

What is your favourite song to perform live, and why?

Its hard to say because each song has its own unique feel and flow, but I really enjoy playing Sometimes live. For whatever reason it seems to be the song that gets people turning their heads and really listening.

How would you describe your fans? Any favourite fan moments to date?

Our fans are great people who are very positive about the future of Borders. Its always great getting feedback after a show and having new fans ask where they can hear our stuff or how they can catch the next show.

What are you most looking forward to in 2012?

Definitely recording. I built my parents a sustainable home with a recording studio in the basement. I can't wait to see how the Borders record is going to sound.

What is your favourite venue to play or see a band play in Toronto?

That's a hard question to answer. Any venue depends on the people and the crowd. Watching a hard rock band in the basement of Parts and Labour can be just as great as a solo folk performer at Hugh's room or watching Bluegrass at the Silver Dollar.

Where is your favourite spot in the city to hangout as a band?

I have a really nice apartment...hahahaha

If there's one band in the world you'd love to share the stage with, who would it be and why?

I'm sure you would get five different answers if you asked every member of the band but I would have to say Neil Young, while I still can. I was raised listening to all his albums and I think that it rubbed off on me in a really positive way.

For people seeing you play live for the first what can they expect? What do you hope fans will remember?

Expect to have a good time, because I can guarentee that we will be
- livemusicTO