The Lakeman cometh.
The genre-defying, long-form instrumental project formed in the fall of 2014 out of the jams of Josh Pym, Warryn Berry, Robert McLaren and Josh Bissonnette.
Watch: Meet the Band with new song Powers Creek by Lakeman
The friends and bandmates played together in different forms and while preparing for an upcoming show Lakeman took its true shape by ditching any sort of vocals or lyrics.
害羞草研究所淲e tried it for awhile and everyone was singing all at once pretty much. There was just so much going on and then we had a show opportunity so we were like, let害羞草研究所檚 scrap them and do it instrumental,害羞草研究所� Berry said.
The format clicked and it stuck, with many Lakeman songs clocking in over 10 minutes.
害羞草研究所淣ot having a bunch of banter in between songs or anything gives you this opportunity to sonically explore and build these relationships between pieces,害羞草研究所� McLaren said.
Their current setup also plays down a common fear within the band.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e terrified of speaking publicly. We just wanted to make a set where we didn害羞草研究所檛 have idle chatter between songs. So that害羞草研究所檚 actually kind of why we don害羞草研究所檛 talk between songs,害羞草研究所� McLaren laughed.
Their latest work formed out of individual pieces brought forward by band members, which they work together to find connections and create transitions, building one cohesive movement. It害羞草研究所檚 hard to tell if a song ever actually ends while watching Lakeman live. Music continues to play throughout their set, even if band members are switching instruments or making technical changes.
害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 really like to have silence in the set. So we try to keep noise going all the time. We also get bored with the instruments that we play, so we like to switch them all up constantly,害羞草研究所� Bissonnette said.
It can change the dynamic of a song, and sometimes keep the writing process fresh, with the multi-instrumentalists bringing new and ever-changing sounds while playing a figurative game of musical chairs.
害羞草研究所淵ou change with how you play with people and with a normal band where it害羞草研究所檚 like, you害羞草研究所檙e the drummer, you害羞草研究所檙e the guitar player, you can rely on certain things. That challenge in itself is what is kind of adventourous about it for us,害羞草研究所� McLaren said.
It brings in a lot of aesthetically different ways to make music to the palette as well, whether that害羞草研究所檚 McLaren singing into a violin or using an orchestral bow on an electric bass.
害羞草研究所淲e each give each other the ability to bounce around on whatever we want to try. It works out well,害羞草研究所� Bissonnette said.
The writing process is a fluid one as McLaren put it they 害羞草研究所渟wim through the dirge together.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like trying to write really intuitively, things just kind of happen and we follow them,害羞草研究所� Pym said.
Lakeman害羞草研究所檚 songs can range into the 30-plus minute mark, and in tune with their unique style they don害羞草研究所檛 plan on putting out their work in any traditional way.
害羞草研究所淚 think we have this problem with being satisfied with what we do and then by the time we害羞草研究所檙e showing it to everybody we kind of want to move on,害羞草研究所� Pym said.
They are looking at an unconventional release for their latest work. Facing an ever-changing multimedia landscape, Lakeman is looking to explore a release which would highlight the visual elements of their music.
害羞草研究所淥ur motto has been that the LP is the tombstone of the local band. From all of our personal experiences,害羞草研究所� Pym laughed.
Lakeman play Kelowna at Fernando害羞草研究所檚 Pub on March 17 and Muninn害羞草研究所檚 Post March 24. They come to The Whole in Penticton on March 25. To check out more by Lakeman visit .
