Canadian hard rockers Dizzy Mystics are featured in this week’s Meet The Band. They just released their debut album Wanderlost. Vocalist/guitarist Kyle Halldorson introduces us to his band.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Dizzy Mystics.
Kyle Halldorson – What began as a collection of songs I had intended for a full band, whilst lacking a band, eventually got recorded. I wrangled up the right players with a good sounding demo of the album. Now here we are, approaching two years since our first show, 40 shows later, on the road for the third time, and the album is out May 3rd!
Describe the songwriting process for Wanderlost.
There are many ways songs begin. Some from noodling on guitar. Most from going about my day, removed from music and my instruments. The phone fills up with voice memos of scatted melodies pretty quick.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
Seeing the songs start to structurally flesh out with the drums at Aaron Edgar’s studio. Hearing the sonic potential of what I was imagining come to life with John Paul Peters’ mixing genius.
How would you characterize its style/sound?
For me it’s expressing melodic moods inspired by limitless genres, using rock instrumentation. This album particularly is quite dense and high energy. We just call it psychedelic/progressive hard rock.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
They are all topics that I feel an emotional reaction to, or are relevant to my experience. I enjoy lyrics that are poetic and somewhat open ended enough to create an interpretation unique to the listener.
What led you to go the independent route for release?
Everything up until this point has been mainly independent, and the album has been completed for quite a while. I just want it out there. We can tour and push distribution with this album for as long as we need after it comes out, but there are also tons of new ideas dying to be fleshed out, which will aim not to be independently released.
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
To be a solid first artistic statement in a long multi-faceted catalog.
What has been your most memorable Dizzy Mystics live show?
First show is always the most intense. Each new show is more and more memorable as they all can be learned from (as well as enjoyed).
What are your upcoming show/tour plans?
As I write this we’re three shows into our album release tour. Remaining is May 4th in Sudbury and May 9th in Toronto for Canadian Music Week. We’re playing a hometown show in Winnipeg to celebrate the physical album June 22nd.
How did you get started in music?
I was always surrounded by music in my upbringing through my grandpa, dad, and my late aunt being musicians and my mom with her great music tastes. I started at age 5-ish by hammering on a single snare drum I was given to play with for a while. Later I picked up my dad’s guitar at age 11, and never looked back.
Who were your early influences and inspirations?
All the family mentioned above. Pearl Jam’s Yield album really turned my attention away from Spice Girls and Chumbawumba in Grade 6. Then followed I Mother Earth, Soundgarden, the nu metal phase. Incubus got me interested in singing.
What was the first rock concert you attended?
Not sure that Great Big Sea or Weird Al counted, but for sure when my dad took me to I Mother Earth on the Blue Green Orange tour with a brand new Finger Eleven opening.
What’s the heavy music scene like in Winnipeg?
Very passionate and welcoming from my experience. A tight knit community that looks out for one another.
Seen any good movies/DVDs lately?
Hereditary is the last recent movie that truly blew me away. It fucked with my head and haunted me for a weeks. Could be the most disturbing movie I’ve seen in my adult life.
What’s currently in your heavy musical rotation?
If that means heavy rotation in general, Blessed – Salt, White Denim’s 2 latest albums Side Effects and Performance, Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool, Fleet Foxes – Crack Up. If that meant heavy albums, then Glassjaw – Material Control, High on Fire – Electric Messiah.
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Wanderlost is out now and available online on most platforms: Bandcamp, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Deezer, etc. Find us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, subscribe and follow to keep up to date with many new happenings on the horizon. Dizzymystics.com is our site. Thanks for reading.
(interview published May 4, 2019)
