The emotion of not knowing turned on psych.
After finding himself in the musical effervescence of Montreal, Canada, Gabriel Lambert, Miles Dupire-Gagnon and Cedric Marinelli They burst into 2021, placing themselves at the center of international psych. After this first appearance, the triplet would not stop exploring the expressions of neo-psychedelia via luminous riffs, unconventional instrumentation, melodic ease and a series of nods to art far beyond sound.
Under the shelter of Simone Recordsthe Canadians published a self-titled LP in mid-2021, spun into a second studio stab via Individual exhibition (2023). The most recent material reaffirms the group as one of the most striking points of current lysergy, mixing organic elements with the fierceness of Francophone distortion.
With this in mind we sat down to talk with the group, touching on topics such as their musical moment, this post-LP tour stage and the exciting future within Hippie Hourrah.
The conversation opened with the details of this new stage for Canadians, presenting themselves around Europe with a setlist composed by tracks of the first and second album. reaffirming her identity in the contrast of both materials.
We recorded this album together in the studio, it maintains that jam essence that the previous one did not have due to remote work. “It’s more true to who we are live,” he shared. Dupire.
Individual exhibition, conceived in Gamma Recordingsmixed by Samuel Gemme next to Francis Minedu and mastered by Philip Gosselin, portrays the acid camaraderie between the members. Unleashing creative ideas in synths, percussion and traditional instrumentation across fourteen tracks. Hippie Hourrah He only seems to have gotten closer after the process.
“Our relationship has gotten much worse, we spend less and less time together,” he laughed. Lambertinterrupted by Dupire. “We didn’t play together that much on the last album, that’s why it worked. Traveling in different cars has made it difficult to be on tour (laughs). Seriously, we are very good friends and we have been making music with each other for a long time. Everything has been as great as always. Beyond music we find connection in… alcohol?” Lambert He finished with “I was going to say exactly the same thing (laughs). Most of the time we are jamming or just having a good time, drinking, a few serious topics from time to time.”
This displacement of the interpersonal focus seems to be recovered at the moment of throwing the instruments to the man and beginning to share the feelings that escape dialogue. The project takes it a step further by being aware of this intimately musical connection.
In the words of Lambert“We challenge ourselves to start a conversation through sounds, transport ourselves to different places each time.”
The precision of this creative route has propelled the trio towards more interesting terrain within basic psychedelia, always on the edge of experimentation, irreverence and a nihilism that is more enjoyable than pessimistic. The point is to keep it interesting.
“We take music seriously, but always trying to get to a space where nothing really matters.”
For Individual exhibition The band took on the task of mixing endless references pointing to the extra-musical. First with the intention of surprising yourself, this would mean starting to structure each song from the beginning.
The improvisation methodology, combined with the influence of the paintings of Jacques Hurtubiseresulted in a mashup of abstract sensations landed in each chord, fill and pluck of the grouping.
The album is more of a collage than a direct source of inspiration. We looked at the paintings while we recorded, not trying to express them in sound, but doing something new after experiencing them,” he shared Lambert.
The peculiarity of the process could lead to a multitude of ambiguities in the final piece, a character appreciated or repudiated depending on the personality of each project. For Hippie Hourrah Subjectivity is two sides of the same coin, finding satisfaction of expression in whatever the audience wants to hear.
In the words of Dupire, “I hope that each person feels something, that they enjoy it. At the same time, I believe that everyone experiences music in a drastically different way, it doesn’t depend on us. We try to make something for ourselves, being grateful that someone listens to it.”
The musicians seem to reserve any type of expectations regarding their music, but maintain the emotion and sensitivity necessary for a live show. Always attentive to the public’s reaction, ready to have a good time and aware of the artistically intimate origin between song and song.
I don’t really listen to our music, once it’s mastered it escapes me. It is always a challenge to evoke the moment when we created them, that feeling of study, what we are trying to express. I feel proud to be able to do it.”
With this emotional power in mind, the triplet prepares for the following dates around Europe, marking, in the not too distant future, a next visit to national lands. Possibly with new music under his arm.
Beyond this, and closing our conversation, the future philosophy of the project seems to drift towards an irremediable presentism; bittersweet, intense and shared.
Life as a musician comes down to dealing with what happens right in the moment. It’s very difficult for me to think about what’s next, I just try to do the best for my creative present,” he declared. Dupire.
We close with thoughts of Hippie Hourrah born from daily experience as sound creatives, but with a much deeper scope than the good vibes, lightness and acidity of the musicians tried to sustain.
I would be happy if this or that happened in the future, I am completely willing to continue. That said, I have never had faith in anything, I don’t expect anything from what I do. I do my best, knowing that we have no control over the direction things take. Maybe I’ll change my mind tomorrow, I don’t know,” he shared. Lambert.
“What he’s trying to say is, we always have projects and it’s always hard to know how they’re going to turn out. It is partly the reason for making them: it excites us not knowing what will happen,” he closed. Dupire.
