Interview with Sleddogs

Sleddogs are here to "conquer the universe one step at a time" - by Mel in Toronto

There is an instant familiarity when you first hear the Canadian rock band Sleddogs from Kelowna, British Columbia. "People often identify one particular thing [about Sleddogs]," lead singer Kenny says as he introduces the band. They say "that ‘it sounds like my favourite band from 1975.' We do have a bit of this late 70s sound."

The photograph to the right was taken after the interview in a coffee shop in Toronto. Sleddogs are (from the right) Kenny Byrka (vocals, bass, keyboard), Michael Donley (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Eric Funk (drums, percussion, backing vocals). Their music is best described as melody driven "straight ahead rock". Kenny's powerful voice delivers the solid song writing, which defines Sleddogs. Previously compared to Canadian rock legend The Tragically Hip, it wouldn't be surprising, if you would hear about Sleddogs as the new rock sensation from Canada's West Coast any time soon.

Kenny and Eric are originally from Manitoba. "Growing up in ten months of winter and two months of mosquitoes, you were forced to stay inside with guitars or else go outside with hockey sticks," Kenny says as he summarizes his growing up in Winnipeg. Both, Kenny and Eric, learned to play their instruments from an early age: "I grew up in a small community in Manitoba," Eric says. It was "a very religious community, so obviously I grew up playing in church, which was definitely an experience, because it is quite different playing in church, than playing on a so-called professional level."

It was not until 2005 that the three meet. Kenny was a solo artist at the time and he was looking for a guitar player to produce Sleddogs' first well acclaimed album ‘Great Escape'. Michael, who already knew Eric, came well recommended to Kenny. As soon as the three meet, they found out that the chemistry was right and Sleddogs redefined themselves. "This trio has found itself as a unit," Kenny says.

Sleddogs came a long way since then. In 2006, the band won in three categories at the Okanagan Music Awards. The categories they won are group of the year, rock/pop artist or group of the year and male artist of the year to Kenny Byrka. "For us it's cool to be recognized in your own community, in your own city," Kenny says as he comments on winning the awards. "And it's another step towards what we are trying to do, bringing Sleddogs on stage and conquer the universe, one step at a time."

In October 2006, Sleddogs brought their amazing stage presence to Indie Week Toronto. Seeing these exceptional talented musicians in combination with Kenny's powerful voice and a stage presence which both presents the band as a unit and at the same time engages the audience, was a real treat. To translate this incredible live sound and feel onto the upcoming new album is the goal of this very likeable trio. "We are working with Steven Drake; he worked with people like The Tragically Hip," Michael says. "We are very excited about the new album. It is more representative of our live sound and what we now sound like." Kenny adds that "one of the reasons of why we wanted to work with Steven Drake is, because he is capturing the live atmosphere of a band." The video of their first single TAKE ME AWAY can currently be seen on MuchMoreMusic in Canada. The same titled album will be available in stores on August 28, 2007.

Sleddogs' lyrics and music are incredibly solid and high in content. Their themes span from personal life experiences to social and environmental issues. Their first album ‘Great Escape' contains songs like NOT FIT FOR ME, which is based on rebellion, on a more personal level, DO NOT LOVE ME CAREFULLY is a song dealing with love and lust, and BYE BYE LIFE is about growing older. Even though the new album deals with serious situations in life "we try not to be too negative with it though; we try to make it humorous as well. There are elements of satire on those situations," Kenny says.

There is much to look forward to. From listening to new songs during their live performance in Toronto, it is to be expected that Sleddogs will use their ability of songwriting to take us by the hand and lead us to that ‘Perfect Place', just as they do on their current album. To say it in their own words, there is definitely "fortune in the wind" for Sleddogs!

"In your own words" – ONE on ONE with Mel and Kenny

Mel: Who are your influences?

Kenny: Very broad actually and strongly Canadian, but some dominant artists are: The Tragically Hip, Rush, , Police, U2, Iron Maiden, Gordon Lightfoot, The B-52's, Cream, The Guess Who, Queen, Alice Cooper, Ella Fitzgerald, Bruce Cockburn, REM, Neil Young, BNL, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, Dylan, Tom Petty, The Stones, Pearl Jam, Leonard Cohen, The Odds, The Beatles. You get the picture.

Mel: What does it mean to you to be an indie artist?

Kenny: I'm not really sure what indie means anymore. It means different things to different people. Urban blocks tend to view indie as being non-mainstream; smaller markets look at indie as anti-big-city and big label acts. So there seems to be a dichotomy about the meaning of "indie", too bad independent has so many syllables! I like that version: meaning we do things our way. It also means: ‘be prepared to work your but off and get a low I rate on your bank loan.'

Mel: What would you like to achieve with your music?

Kenny: Many things! However, leaving music listeners with good songs that stand the test of time is ultimately what any writer tries to achieve. Also, some form of communicative acceptance between the real fan that identifies with every part of what you are doing on stage and on records, meeting those people is even more powerful!

Mel: Which artist would you like to record a song with and why?

Kenny: This might sound strange, but Amy Lee of Evanescence. I think our vocal blend would be interesting. The other would be with one of my favourite Canadian bands: Rush, the experience alone would make me pee myself!

-end

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