Vancouver-based alt-rockers Tourist Company are gearing up for a new chapter in their career. After years of touring, vocalist/guitarist/bassist Taylor Swindells and drummer Brenon Parry have been hard at work producing new music, and Swindells is excited about the future of the band, which includes a local connection.
“Yeah, things have been going good. It’s been a good year,” says Swindells. “We signed with a record label in Victoria called Fierce Panda, and it’s been really awesome. We’re really psyched to be working with them.”
The band are wrapping up their studio work and looking to get back to touring, says Swindells.
“We have a new single out called ‘’Til We Disappear,’ and we also have a video in the works for that one as well, and then we’re looking to put the album out spring next year and hitting the road with that to do some more shows,” he says.
Swindells says that the new album draws inspiration from history and explores complex ideas through a unique perspective.
“It’s kind of an expression of modern-day volatility, but through the lens of the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, so every song is set in that world—being in some kind of radius of that event—and uses that as an image for the uncertainty that we face often nowadays.”
Swindells says that visiting Mount St. Helens heavily influenced the new record.
“My wife and I took a road trip to the states to stop by there, and that was a huge inspiration,” he says, “like an image to take through for the rest of the record, and it’s one that’s been in my head for a long time. Since I was a kid it’s always been in my consciousness, and so this record is kind of centred around that.”
Travelling plays a large part in Swindells’ creative process, and he uses his experiences to shape his music.
“I love history, which is part of why I find Europe so interesting, because there’s so much of it there, and it’s very complex,” he says. “The architecture in that, as well, and in the format of cultures… There’s something about seeing things in other perspectives and cultures and other ways of doing life and structuring everything that’s fascinating.”
Travelling can be taxing for the band, though; Swindells has struggled to maintain a balance between his work and personal life.
“I feel like the balance goes out the window as soon as we start touring, but I’ve definitely learned to put some guidelines in place,” he says. “Both Brenon and myself are married, so we’ve both developed ways to keep in touch with our partners, and figured out how to communicate in ways that work for them.”
Still, Swindells enjoys the experience and accepts the challenges that come with touring.
“I think the thing that makes touring is the people in each city and each place, and the chance to share music in person to people who connect with it—that’s what makes it,” he says. “It’s hard being away from friends and family back home, but we both really enjoy touring. It’s one of our favourite parts to do, for sure.”
Swindells is excited to be playing on the island again, with upcoming shows in Nanaimo and here in Victoria (where they’ll be opening for Rich Aucoin) as well as a hometown show; the dates mark a big turning point for the band.
“These three shows will be the first time that we’re trying out some shows as a duo with just Brenon and myself,” he says. “So, yeah, we’re looking forward to interpreting our songs to the setup. Hoping to see some familiar faces. We really enjoy playing in Victoria. We’ve never had a bad show there; it’s always been good. We love the people out there, and [we’re] looking forward to being back.”
Tourist Company
Saturday, November 2
$14.50, Lucky Bar
luckybar.ca