https://www.facebook.com/animaltonic
From: Toronto, Canada
Sounds like: Rock
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound?
Started music at a very young age. Came from a musical background of Irish/Italian roots. Started singing in school choir, won a singing contest at the Bobcageon Fair at the age of 8, then started playing the drums and guitar at 12. Started playing in my first band, Kat Rocket at the ago of 17. In 2003 I co wrote and sang the National Songwriting Competition, but my partner forgot to put my name on the application....Went to the Claude Watson Arts Program for dance and music, at Earl Haig Secondary School, then to York University where I studied Afro Cuban music, percussion, wind enslemble, and Music history classes. Our professor was Rob Bowman, a musicologist, author, record store owner and Grammy winner for the liner notes of Pink Flyods, Dark Side Of The Moon album. I was a double major, and continued to play and record with numerous bands and keep writing and recording to this day.
Animal Tonic was made when Adam Loback and I got together and started writing and recording. We met through a mutual friend, and the songs came quickly. We are now on our 6th single release with "Dust Like The Stars".
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
We want people to firstly enjoy the tunes and hope they will resonate with them. We hope that the songs will speak to them and they can find solace in knowing that we can connect with them through our lyrics and our music. We want them to feel a part of us and feel alive and loved and heard.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
The sound of Animal Tonic is a rhythm heavy groove feel, with a mix of swamp metal, blues and rock, and some quips of spoken word type story telling mixed with layered vocal harmonies and off the wall experimental guitar riffs. A mix of Blondie meets Motorhead, Sabbath, and some tinges of Captain Beefhart, and psychadelia.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
Three bands we would love to tour with would be Corrosion Of Conformity, Amyl and The Sniffers, and Viagra Boys.
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
AI anything sucks. Especially AI generated music. Its so gross and soulless. And wrong.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Rock?
The current state of rock is making a good comeback. But it will never be what it once was. I always joke about Neil Young's song, "This Notes For You", how he proudly states that he doesn't work for Pepsi or Coke.... Now a days, the corporate sponsorships are viewed as something lucky to have..... As there are no sales anymore from albums and the only way to make a living out there is to tour, and sell merch. Gone are the wistful days of selling physical copies in the millions......
7. What’s the current local music scene like there in Canada?
The current local scene in Canada is a mixed bag. You have musicians playing shows out there and sometimes not even getting a drink ticket. You have mid range shows of small sold out venues like the Horseshoe in Toronto... Which has great sound. Then we have the stadiums filled up with bands that I sometimes have never heard of. Then there are the music festivals in the summertime, which are all over big and small towns in Canada.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
The royalties that are paid out through streaming services are next to nothing. So I don't really know what to say about that. There are no more record sales en masse... So it's best to have some vinyl printed to sell at the shows and some merch.
9. What’s next for Animal Tonic?
Animal Tonic are in the middle of releasing a full length LP. We are in the studio mixing our 7th release, "I Wish I Could Save You", and we plan then to master a full album and print on vinyl. We are working with producer/mixer/musician Tim Bovaconti, who just got back from playing guitar on tour with The Guess Who, and we are mastering in Toronto, with Joao Carvalho. Last year we built our own recording studio in Omemee, Ontario, home of Neil Young. We are able to be more free with our recording time at the Clearview Sound Studio, then meet up with Tim in Toronto for mixing edits, and aux tracks, such as Cello, lap or pedal steel. Then off to Joao Carvalho's excellent mastering suite, to amp it all up and bake it into a cake with a bow on it.
10. Any shoutouts?
Shout out to our amazing motivator and socials man, Jim Dinardo, as well as our supportive radio stations, such as Reckless Radio XYZ, Radio Banks Australia, CKCU Ottawa, our top fans, and our beautiful resident artist, Catherine Rioux for her artwork on the singles. Also a shout out to Evil Creek, who have had us play with them a few times now, and we will join them again Dec 12th at Sonny's in Ottawa!
