Remember that moment when you played Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti for the first time and fell in love with the lo-fi vibes and dynamic vocals? WARNING: the same effects have been reported after listening to TOPS' debut album Tender Opposites. For those of you folks unlucky enough to be unfamiliar, TOPS is a Montreal-based foursome that have made a name for themselves creating lush musical dreamscapes perfect for hangouts at the artist commune or morning commutes into the city.
The group's fun lyrics, low-key music videos, and overwhelmingly good looks don't hurt their bedroom-pop cause either. With the release date of their sophomore album, Picture You Staring, approaching, we caught up with the band to talk new music, apple pipes, and AIM screen names.
CHLOE DEWBERRY: If you guys could describe your upcoming sophomore album Picture You Staring in one word, what would it be?
The group's fun lyrics, low-key music videos, and overwhelmingly good looks don't hurt their bedroom-pop cause either. With the release date of their sophomore album, Picture You Staring, approaching, we caught up with the band to talk new music, apple pipes, and AIM screen names.
CHLOE DEWBERRY: If you guys could describe your upcoming sophomore album Picture You Staring in one word, what would it be?
JANE PENNY: Wonderful.
DAVID CARRIERE: You.
RILEY FLECK: Confined.
MADELINE GLOWICKI: I’m going to go with subliminal.
Can you guys give us a little background info on how you all met and started TOPS?
DAVID CARRIERE: You.
RILEY FLECK: Confined.
MADELINE GLOWICKI: I’m going to go with subliminal.
Can you guys give us a little background info on how you all met and started TOPS?
JP: We all ended up in Montreal and had similar friends and stuff. We all went to school together, but we became closer in Montreal. David and I had been making music for awhile and then we started to talk to Riley as a drummer. Madeline joined the band about a year ago to play bass at shows and she sings on a couple of tracks on the new record.
How did Madeline joining the band for this next album change the band dynamic?
DC: I would say Madeline spiced things up. She’s brought a good playing style to the band. It’s really smooth and it sounds really soft, but like, totally on the beat in a good way. She’s on our level of being chill and making everyone happy. Having two women and two cool men gives the dynamic this balanced, even-ness, which I think has made us a lot closer.
JP: It’s also nice to have another girl singer in the band. I feel like our voices blend well. Maddie has a voice that's really similar to mine, but it’s a little lower so it works really well for harmonies and all sorts of stuff.
I feel like you guys create "subconscious pop" because TOPS songs get stuck in the
How did Madeline joining the band for this next album change the band dynamic?
DC: I would say Madeline spiced things up. She’s brought a good playing style to the band. It’s really smooth and it sounds really soft, but like, totally on the beat in a good way. She’s on our level of being chill and making everyone happy. Having two women and two cool men gives the dynamic this balanced, even-ness, which I think has made us a lot closer.
JP: It’s also nice to have another girl singer in the band. I feel like our voices blend well. Maddie has a voice that's really similar to mine, but it’s a little lower so it works really well for harmonies and all sorts of stuff.
I feel like you guys create "subconscious pop" because TOPS songs get stuck in the