GREG REESE
Arts Editor

Ryan Davison’s one-time solo project Feral Children, known for meticulous use of looping and effects pedals, has recently adopted a backing band, upping the volume and intensity of his already textured songs. In addition to Davidson, the band consists of Will Kaufhold on guitar, Sarah Charters on bass and Nathan Young on drums. Davidson sat down with the Sheaf to discuss one of his favourite American musicians, Kurt Vile, and the influence of psychedelic music in Canada and the United States.

The Sheaf: Why are you a Kurt Vile fan?
Ryan Davidson: I like that he has long hair. I thought I was done with long hair, but not anymore. I’m in love with him right now, but there’s not much to know. He is 29, from Philadelphia. He fucking rocks, though.

Ben Hettinga, who did the cover art for my album Currents, showed me the Kurt Vile record God is Saying This To You? His lyrics are intriguing. He uses loops like I use loops and he reminds me of all the good stuff in music: freedom rock, psych rock and Bob Dylan.

He got signed to Matador Records in May, then he released Childish Prodigy. He says it’s his masterpiece. It’s blowing my mind. It keeps me from committing suicide — just kidding.

Sheaf: What similarities, if any, do you see between Vile and yourself?
Davidson: The looping. He doesn’t do it a lot but he definitely has them. His songs don’t have endings; it’s just noise and then nothing. The phrasing of how we say our words — I have stolen that from him. And also how we are both writing songs by ourselves, and then bringing them to a band. We have very similar influences in terms of why we are making music.

I am constantly finding out about new music and it’s rare that someone will fuck me up — make me feel sad and good (like Kurt Vile does). No band has really affected me that much in three or four years. I feel like a kid again.

I thought about talking about Animal Collective or the Doors or something but I thought not many people have heard of Kurt Vile.

Sheaf: Have you seen Kurt Vile play?
Davidson: If I can get some money, I’ll go see him at the Opera House in Toronto on Feb. 26 with Fucked Up. It’s a weird fit. I think they are on the same label.

Sheaf: Do you think psychedelic music is making a comeback?
Davidson: Maybe in the States, but not in Canada. Noise is pretty popular in Canada, but in the States, in every major city, every Metropolis has at least one psych band that fucking rules. Entrance is a great band, the label Not Not Fun and there’s a label called Sacred Bones — they are putting out awesome but obscure psych music. It’s always revolving.

It’s making a comeback in my life, anyway. That’s what I’m really into. You look at the ’80s and there was a lot of psych then too, like Nick Nicely. But I’m doing my best to make it happen again in this city.

(Saskatoon) has always had a couple bands making kick ass psychedelic music: No Birds, Sunndown, Golden Smoke and really anything Chris Laramee and Chad Munson are involved with. Vicious Crystals and even Parades Against Parades turned into a psych band.

Sheaf: You went from playing solo to playing with a band. How do you find playing with a band?
Davidson: It feels really good. I am really in love with them. It takes some pressure off me and I am more free to freak out. I can be looser and it still sounds tight. I feel like we are experiencing it as an entity now. We are a creature now; we are a monster making a lot of fucking noise. It’s really fun for me, and (my bandmates) always say they are having fun and I think they are telling the truth.

Sometimes being in a band is a lot of pressure but I’m trying to make this fun. I’m never going back to solo. I’m always having a band. It’s great because Will Kaufhold was a huge influence on me as a guitar player. And Nathan Young has always been my favourite drummer in the city.

We are making music for the same reasons too, like, there’s spirituality behind it. We are all pretty sober people, so it is all about making music. I’m partying when we’re on stage.

Sheaf: Are you planning on recording anytime soon?
Davidson: Yeah, with Steve Reed (bass player from Maybe Smith) in March.

After our last set he was really gung-ho about it and he said he knows what he wants it to sound like. Currents I did on my own but I knew that if someone was recording (the next one) I wanted them to be in love with it, and it seems like Steve is. I am hoping to get six songs out of it. Then I’m going to send it to this label called Psychic Handshake Recordings. They may or may not release it. They said they would, so that would be great. They are based out of Montreal, so that would be good exposure too.

Rich Taylor from Vive is going to help me book a couple tours in the spring and in the summer. I have a lot of connections on the West Coast of Canada but it will be tricky to get money for a van. I hope it will work out. People that I talk to say that people out east will really dig what I’m doing. Anyway, I’m doing this every day so it’s not like I’m going to stop.