Double Happiness is a three-piece band hailing from Vancouver, Canada, whose music has got a vibe and tone so different that it’s hard not to listen to them! They’re an Indie/Alternative band comprising of Alex on vocals and lead guitar, Jason on the bass guitar and Riley on drums and percussion. At the moment, these guys have their hands full with gigs all over Vancouver and do hope to take their music to the next level. And if all works out, India, too, features on their list of destinations to play at! Take a look at their journey so far as individual musicians, band-mates, childhood pals, their views on the industry today and ofcourse; their venture - Double Happiness.

Q: There are so many Indie/Alternative bands these days. What’s the one thing that sets you’ll apart from the rest?

Jason: We don’t sound like Nickleback or Creed, every time I turn on the Radio it sounds like another Nickleback cover band. I think they invented a new genre called Nicklecreed. “This is how you remind me, of how you really suck”

Riley: What is an Indie band? Those who have just done it themselves, who don’t leave the shaping of their sound to industry professionals. If we are merely overshadowed faces in the expansive crowd of the indie DIY movement, so be it. We are three particular individuals with ideas among thousands of individuals with ideas, both in collaboration and not. Our particular project is not especially unusual in style or structure. We are guitar bass and drums. From my perspective, the band is unique simply because I am involved in it. Like a mother who sees her child as unique because it is hers. I get a rush from music, but from a third person perspective, I can only hope that there is something unique in the tone and rhythms that resonates with those who listen. If not, they should turn to something else. 

Q: Who are your musical influences ? (And if you’ll have different influences,then who are they and what common factor brings you’ll together to jam and perform as a band?)

Riley: cEvin Key, The Meat Puppets, Marilyn Manson, Richard D.James, Leonard Cohen etc.

Alex: It’s all based in 60’s guitar pop. I think - The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, early Stones. But it’s channeled through other influences and sensibilities, like 70’s folk-rock and 80’s indie stuff.

Jason: I listen to a pretty eclectic mix of music. The Pogues, Mike Patton, Tricky, Grieg, Tool, CCR, LCD sound system. It all gets thrown into the meat grinder. I have a lot of guilty pleasure listening favorites which I will neglect to mention. 

Q: Who writes the songs? What are they about?

Jason: I write a lot of music, most of it doesn’t usually fit in the dynamic of the band. Once in a while I bring one to the table, I’m really bad at finishing them mostly it’s just one part I’ve been obsessing over, a chorus or something. Alex writes so many great songs and so copiously, I really enjoy working over what he brings up.

Q: Is there a song-writing procedure that you’ll follow? Or just go with the flow?

Alex: I will usually bring a song to the table that I’ve written on the acoustic. Sometimes it will be as simple as Riley and Jason adding Bass and drums to it. Sometimes we’ll completely pull it apart - change the tempo, add a new part, change the structure. Some songs stay very true to my original vision of them; others wind up miles away from where they started.

Jason: Alex writes these beautiful little melodies and then we kick the crap out of them and turn them into harmonic monstrosities.

Q: What’s your opinion of George Bush?

Riley: He fills me with fear for the future of humanity. He represents a blunder of democracy. If he was legitimately elected (and re-elected), there is something rotten in the populace of America. If he was elected illegitimately (rigging) then there is something rotten in the upper echelon of America.

Alex: Hmm… I read a great quote by Neil Young recently. He said (I’m paraphrasing here) that it’s a lot easier to talk about the things you like about George Bush rather than the things you don’t; He’s a great physical specimen for a man his age.

Jason: “Go back to bed America…” Bill Hicks summarized it perfectly. I’m always amazed at the ridiculous circumstances that lead to these people being in a position of power.

Q: Briefly, describe your personal philosophy of music education.

Riley: I’ve heard many talented and genius self taught musicians, and self-motivated practice is essential. But tutoring under someone is valuable for gaining new, educated perspectives on your instrument and for overcoming technical weaknesses.

Alex: I took guitar lessons for two years and found that years later I was trying to unlearn a lot of the theory I knew. For me it stunted my creativity a bit. I prefer to play by ear now - I go by what sounds right to me. I think it’s good (though not necessary) to learn the basics, but some of my greatest creative moments come from making mistakes.
Jason: Learn everything you can anywhere you can. There’s so many amazing musicians out there. Too many people get caught up with forms and scales it can really stunt creativity. I guess you could apply a Bruce Lee philosophy about it, you have to have a structure to grow from but not to be imprisoned by.

Q: What’s your outlook on the record industry today?

Alex: I think it’s a really exciting time from the point of view of emerging musicians. The whole concept of trying to get signed and then releasing records via a record company is becoming more and more obsolete. With things like myspace and home recording set ups, the power is in the hands of the artists; You can do it all by yourself! I like that. 

Jason: I remember A time when music channels like MTV and Muchmusic played music videos and weren’t just a vehicle for reality TV.

Riley: DIY !

Q: Are there any places in particular where you would like to perform?

Riley: On a soapbox in the deep Sahara. It’s also crossed my mind that an empty swimming pool might give some interesting acoustics. I’d like to try it.

Alex: I’d love to play an outdoor festival sometime. Maybe next summer…

Jason: The Gorge Ampitheatre in George Washington, Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario. There’s plenty more, I’m sure I haven’t even heard of half of them. Think we could get a gig at the Taj Mahal? Pink Floyd played Pompeii.

Q: When will your debut CD be released? And will it be up online for download?

Alex: Our debut EP ‘Romance House Collapse’ is set to be recorded this fall and will be released soon after. Not sure about online download; if there’s a demand for it then yes.

Jason: I’ve been tinkering with the idea of getting a bunch of local bands to start an iTunes account, Critical Mass!

Q: Lately, the recording industry has been threatening to throw anyone caught illegally downloading music in jail. How smart is that?

Riley: A waste of tax money. Jail should be reserved for DANGEROUS criminals. Artists/companies who prosecute these illegal downloaders are harming themselves. They are restricting accessibility and distribution to a potential audience. Also they are building resentment among their potential audience.

Alex: I think that’s pretty extreme. I think a lot of people in the music biz are freaking out because they just don’t know how to adapt to this new technology. Prohibition isn’t the answer, they need to adapt.

Jason: You fail music industry. You can’t criminalize your fan base then expect them to get excited about buying albums again. In Canada the government is trying to pass a bill amending the Digital copyright act that basically forces you to re-purchase an album or song for every medium you copy it to. So if you have a CD you can’t load it onto your computer or iPod without buying it again in digital format. It’s called bill C-61. People are raped and murdered everyday and all our law enforcement efforts go towards busting some 12 year old downloading Metallica. 

Q: What’s the best part of becoming a musician?

Riley: The rush. The sublime feeling of being in a groove.

Alex: So many reasons… It’s a great outlet. Playing music is a great high. I really can’t imagine not playing music.

Jason: Singing show tunes in the shower.

Q: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be? And why?

Alex: David Bowie, he’s pretty much my favorite musician. I really admire his versatility. I think he’d be great to work with.

Jason: I’d like to create a supergroup with Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, and John Dalmayan (System Of A Down) on drums since everyone seems to be doing the supergroup thing these days. 

Riley: I’m open to collaborating with anyone with an experimental/ playful bent and an open attitude. 

Q: What common factor brings you’ll together to jam and perform as a band?

Riley: As different as many of our individual influences are, we do have overlapping influences. That is probably part of what allows us to work together. But more importantly it we seem mesh well personally. We all have easy-gong attitudes, but are keen on getting down to business and making music, without bringing in outside distractions. I’m not sure that my personal influences have much bearing on my participation in this band. When I’m trying to work in a new drum part for the song, I’m listening for the innate rhythm already present in Jason’s or Alex’s part. I’m not thinking of someone else’s work and trying to imitate it and trying to force it into the song. On the other hand, my personal influences have had a part in forming my sense of music. But any influence that might have on my playing would be entirely unintentional and unconscious.

Q: We’ve seen and heard bands with absolutely no talent but promote themselves immensely thus making them successes. What’s your take on well set PR programs and such bands ?

Alex: I’m really more concerned with building things from the ground up; doing it kind of grass roots style. For me it’s about building a community around you; other musicians, friends, local fans and then going from there. I guess it depends on what your idea of success is; I’m not really interested in playing stadium rock, I generally don’t enjoy that type of music. Promotion is definitely important (people need to know who you are and when you are playing!), but I think music has to come first.


Jason: Isn’t that the history of the media and celebrity? Whether it’s politicians, movie stars, or musicians if you have power and money, you can shove crap down people’s throats and call it rainbow sherbert. How else is Paris Hilton famous?


Riley: I don’t expect to make a full time career out of music. I do it because I am satisfied in the exercise. The marketability of the product is inconsequential. You are right that the market is utterly saturated. Consequently my expectations are much more low key. I play because I enjoy it.


Q: How important is it for you to hear good feed-back about your music?

Positive feedback is appreciated, but not essential.

Q: How long have you guys known each other ? Give us a peek into the past.

Alex: I’ve known Riley and Jason since high school.

Jason: Yeah we’ve known Alex about 10 years, (27 years for Riley) we drifted in and out of contact for a while. I used to have big house parties in High school, and we’d have these ridiculous open Jams, three to twelve people at a time all singing or playing some instrument. Alex, Riley and I would always be at the center of it, that was our first time all playing together. Riley started a band when we were in our early teens, they had practice in my bedroom so I started usurping on the sessions. Our mom was really tolerant of all the noise and turmoil.

Riley: I’ve ‘known’ Jason since his birth. Alex I met through Jason in the late 90’s.

Q: Was there any point in your career where you thought that the band wouldn’t make it? If not what gave you constant faith?

Riley: Uncertainty was most bare at the beginning. I feel like we’re ascending to a higher place now, with no idea where it will go. 

Alex: I can’t stop writing songs. It’s almost like an obsessive behavior. I just keep writing these songs and keep wanting to play them with a band. I think also the fact that we’ve just come so far as a band since we first started fooling around together 3 years ago. We’ve really built this thing up from ground zero; playing through crappy little 15 watt practice amps and stuff!

Q: What would you be doing right now if you weren’t in music? Do you guys have jobs other than this or is it solely music?

Alex: I work with kids with development disabilities. So I guess that.

Jason: Selling my Body on Sunset Strip :) . I currently peddle produce in a grocery store for a living.

Riley: Music is a hobby. I have, and imagine I always will have, something else going on.

Q: What would be your ultimate bass/guitar/drum set to own, if it’s not already the one you own?

Riley: I’d like to construct my own set out of debris found at a garbage dump and fit it with electronic pick-ups. Unfortunately I don’t have the welding skills.

Alex: original 60’s Fender Jazzmaster with original Marshall JTM 45.

Jason: A rickenbacker or gretch through an Orange amp. I’m not really a gear head though I’m happy for now

Q: To those who have yet to hear your music, how would you describe your sound?

Alex: 60’s pop structures and melodies with some 70’s folk-rock and 80’s indie grit.

Riley: My girlfriend calls it “dreamrock”… whatever that means. 

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band till date ?

Alex: I guess it’s been trying to find our place in the local scene. We’ve playing all over the city for the past year or so and there are just so many bands here that it’s a bit hard to establish yourself. We’re committed though…

Jason: There’s all sort of little challenges along the way but that’s really what keeps things interesting. Kicking out our old singer was tough but it really helped us come into our own.

Q: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?

Alex: It’s definitely changed a lot… We used a play a lot darker kind of post-punkish stuff. We had a different singer too… I think we’ve really developed as a band. I think there’s almost a telepathy that develops when you’ve been playing with the same people for a long period of time. Sometimes I’ll bring a song in, won’t even tell them the chord changes and we’ll have a basic arrangement prepared in like 10 or 15 minutes!

Jason: We suck a bit less than we used to! You could say we’ve turned down the suck.

Riley: It’s tighter. And gets tighter over time. 

Q: Do you have any favorite or particularly memorable shows, or favorite venues to play?

Alex: I like the Royal Unicorn personally. It’s this place in Chinatown and it’s got a great ‘cabaret’ style atmosphere. Good sound, central location.

Jason: One of our first shows was at the Ukranian cultural center, some drunk girl ran on stage and unplugged Alex’s Amplifier. They’ve all had their moments. 

Q: What celebrity or band do you hate the most and why?

Alex: I really have a problem with Simon Cowell from American Idol. I think that show promotes a really distorted view of how one should judge ‘good music’. What do you think would happen if Bob Dylan auditioned for American Idol? He’d be laughed off the stage! But we all know Bob Dylan’s an incredible musician. And Simon’s the number one offender on that show… Who’s gonna remember any of the musicians that show produces in ten or fifteen years from now? My money’s on none.

Jason: I only hate the ones I don’t like.

Q: Have you heard of any Indian bands ? If yes,do you have any favorites ?

Riley: I’ve been a long time fan of Ravi Shankar, and had the opportunity to both him and his daughter Anoushka perform in Vancouver in 2005. Unfortunately I’m not very familiar with contemporary Indian bands. I’ve recently developed some appreciation for Menwhopause and I intend to look more thoroughly into the scene.

Alex: Just the obvious, Ravi Shankar. I’d like to hear more; maybe some more contemporary stuff. Send me some myspace friend requests people!

Jason: Dhammal Sound System. There’s a lot of great Modern Bhangra groups, I’ve mainly heard compilations I’ve always liked classical indian music and it’s great to hear A modernization of age old tradition.

Q: Any plans of touring India ?

Alex: I would love to tour India. As soon as somebody agrees to fund a tour of India I will tour India!

Jason: One of these days, I’d like to make it happen. Where are the best places to play? I know it’s a pretty big country! 

You can have a look and a listen to Double Happiness right here :http://www.myspace.com/doublehappinessband

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Vidhi Gandhi is an arts student who doesn't shy away from showing her artistic side. More than capable of winning any argument hands down, she these days prefers to let her pen do the talking. Whatever is happening in the music world, one can be rest assured that she'll know about it!