Our Interview with Mother Mother

The reason I even started SYFFAL was to find bands like Mother Mother. I had been in such a rut musically that I had to kick start my listening habits to force myself to explore new things, very much the same way I use alcohol and Samantha Foxx posters to kick start relations. I needed a way to take that first step in a journey, a journey with no destination but tons of stops on the way. I got to Mother Mother via PS I Love You in 3 moves.

PS I Love You recommended the Toronto-based group The Metz, which led me to their label-mates, The Meligrove band, who lead me to their publicist who happens to represent Mother Mother.

The world is small and if you venture outside of your comfort zone you never know what kind of people you will run into. You might even run into a band that makes killer indie pop/rock, has one of the best albums of the summer, and a lead singer that looks like the character Holder from AMC's The Killing, only with a blonde Mohawk-ish thing going on.

SYFFAL: I understand you are Canadian, and since I do not speak Canadian I have been unable to read your bio. Please tell us who is who in the band, what instruments they play, and their favorite flavor of Kool Aid.

Mother Mother: I'm Ryan - lead vocals and guitar. Molly my sister plays synth and sings backup. Jasmin plays Keys and sings back up and Ali's on drums while Jeremy's on bass and horns. Grape is a collective favorite.

SYFFAL: How urban of you. Is there any truth to the rumor I just made up about you guys naming your band after the voices in Norman Bates head in the movie Psycho?

Mother Mother: No.

SYFFAL: Cool then it's settled, I am going with my second choice that you named yourself after the Danzig song. Eureka is so damned delicious. Clever lyrics, solid mix of catchy indie pop and more sensually melancholy jams. What did you hope to get across when making the album, and if I told you I only listen to it shirtless would you be creeped out or think "Mission Accomplished"?

Mother Mother: We wanted to make an album with a sense of immediacy, but with lots of layers... and one that American's would prefer to listen to shirtless.

SYFFAL: Well mission accomplished then however, most of my co-workers think it's weird that I have been walking around the office with my iPod and no shirt. What is the weirdest thing you have ever done for your music? Bonus points if it involves man boobs and partial nudity.

Mother Mother: Well truth be told, everything besides the actual writing and the actual playing of music seems a little odd, interview inanities included.

SYFFAL: Since I am uneducated I will take that as an complement, but note that you are walking the fine line between complementing me and making me feel ashamed and striking out against you. In the song The Stand you mention that "you forgot about handfuls" what is it about handfuls that are so forgettable and/or is handfuls someone's nickname? If not can I use it to describe my perfectly shaped buns?

Mother Mother: It's female breasts, but for some it could be man boobs.

SYFFAL: According to the pro-traditional marriage contingent man boobs make god cry. Born in a Flash has officially replaced Def Leppard's Photograph as my favorite song about pictures. Would you be willing to collaborate with Def Lep to make the quintessential song about the iPhone app Hipstamatic? If so what is the new project called and will you make fun of Joe Elliot for looking like Chaz Bono?

Mother Mother: Dang who are these people? I've heard of Def Leppard and that one armed drummer, but that's about it.

SYFFAL: YOU DON'T KNOW JOE ELLIOT?!?!?! What the Fuck is wrong with you? So based on last names, I see that two of you are siblings, which is pretty impressive. The most creative thing my siblings and I do are find creative ways to get drunk at family functions. What kind of a household did you grow up in and what is the best "Drunk at a family function" story you are willing to share? Bonus points if someone wore a Christmas goose as a hat.

Mother Mother: The household was nutty, hostel-esque. Once at Christmas we had hidden our lil' sis in the mash potatoes, she had a straw so she could breathe. Ma was choked.

SYFFAL: Hostel-esque? So you guys killed Americans college students traveling the European Country-side? I don't think that is going to help you sell records in the lower 48. Speaking of hats, the sample at the beginning of your album has a very early 1990s hip hop feel to it and according to my frienemy Mindbender Futurama who is also from Toronto, your home town in the epicenter of hip hop in the year 2011. How much do you love hip hop and do you know Mindbender?

Mother Mother: Hip hop has its moments. I love melodies, so I'm more into the instrumental aspect of Rap. Fat drums and shit are cool. Don't know Mindbender, sorry.

SYFFAL: You're loss. Our site was started as a group of friends sharing music to avoid being the kind of person that still thinks U2 is the greatest band ever, in that spirit what are 3 bands/albums we should be checking for and who is the greatest band ever?

Mother Mother:
1. Hannah Georgas - This is Good
2. Timber Timbre - Creep on Creepin' On
3. Rococode - Guns, Sex and Glory... coming soon.

Greatest Band: Led Zeppelin as far as epic bands go, but Pixies are my personal favorite.

SYFFAL: Speaking of our site, on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being Canadian Football and 10 being New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan's foot fetish, how great is our site?

Mother Mother: 6

SYFFAL: I am going to assume you left off the other 66. Last time I played a show in Toronto we were in the tour bus in front of the venue, and twelve drunk musicians were dancing to Take On Me, by A-Ha when a very drunk French Canadian and his boyfriend came on the bus shouting "where is the party?" what is the strangest thing that ever happened to you at a show involving gay French Canadians?

Mother Mother: Oh boy. What's a good story I can make up about gay French Canadians?

SYFFAL: I don't appreciate your tone young man. Are you still dream journaling about me?

Mother Mother: Refer to question 4

SYFFAL: So I will take that as a yes. Time for some Word Association:

SYFFAL: A Tribe called Less

Mother Mother: Quest

SYFFAL: Matthew Modine's weird blond hair

Mother Mother: Private Pile

SYFFAL: The new family friendly Ice Cube

Mother Mother: Tray

SYFFAL: Mr. Belvedere Vodka

Mother Mother: Mussy

SYFFAL: Sean Fluffy Combs

Mother Mother: Cereal

SYFFAL: Winnie Cooper Mini

Mother Mother: Strumpet

SYFFAL: Who sits where in the van and is there anyone everyone talks about when they are sleeping?

Mother Mother: The seating revolves. Probably me.

SYFFAL: I can see that. Promote anything you wish here, the only caveat is that you will have to use an a/b rhyme scheme or I won't include it. (OK I am lying; I will include it only because you are so adorable)

Mother Mother: Dude, thanks for the good times. Keep on rockin.

SYFFAL: You sound like my pot dealer.