Feature Friday - Dead Stick People
Name
Dead Stick People
Pronouns
Plural
Bio
Formed in 2023 from the beautiful city of Montréal, Dead Stick People bring a new and deliberate edge to the city’s up and coming alternative rock scene. With a bumpin’ rhythm section, gritty/pretty guitars, and deeply honest lyrics, Dead Stick People write music that is of equal parts fun and thought provoking. The “People” consist of Jasmeen Kaur Ahluwalia as the band’s frontwoman and lead vocals, Jeffery St-Jacques on guitar, Timmy Conlan on bass, and Aïsha Po on drums.
Website
linktr.ee/deadstickpeople
Where in Montreal are you located?
We are scattered all over. Deux-Montagnes, Lachine, St.Leonard, and Hochelaga. Whenever we get together to jam or rehearse, we are usually at a practice space in NDG.
What do you love about your neighborhood?
The beautiful canal and scenery in Lachine and the peaceful environment of 2 Montagnes brings peace and harbours much needed creativity. In fact, our first photoshoot ever was in the wilderness of Deux Montagnes. Nothing can beat the art and culture we have in Montréal, we couldn't ask for a better city to be in.
What’s your favourite art space in Montreal and why?
We really love having our jam sessions at Studio 365 (now closed), Studio Basebin, and most recently Studio NDG. We love these spots because of their affordability, range of equipment, and flexibility to practice as and when we need.
Describe your art in your own words.
Our main goal was always to be as true to ourselves as possible, and establish a strong sense of who we are while having fun. Our songs have helped us experiment, be as raw and unapologetic as possible, and find our most authentic sound. It was also important for us to be relatable and honest with our craft, and be able to connect with our audience. Our songs usually channel our punchy vibe. We love melodious guitar riffs, strong supporting rhythm and a voice that cuts through.
What have you been working on recently?
Aside from releasing Lose Control, and planning our live show roster, we currently have 3 songs that are ready and in the process of being recorded as we speak. We have other song ideas that we are structuring and experimenting around with. These tunes are going to be refreshing and we cannot wait for everyone to hear our catalog of music! Lots of new music, and lots of fun events.
What sparked your passion for music?
Each of us was always musically inclined and passionate about our instruments in our own ways. All of us have been honing our skills since a very early age and consistently working on bettering our craft. It is something we discovered early on, it became a part of our lifestyle and our sense of fulfillment. What really sparked our passion even further was how we all came together and fit like pieces of a puzzle. Our motivation and dedication towards our art has been fueled by each others’ energies and it has been the best experience so far.
Describe your sound.
Our sound borrows influence from soul, alternative rock and pop. We try to make our songs as authentic to our own personalities, and so far that has worked well for us. For instance, our latest single Lose Control came together in a rather wholesome way, born out of an evening jam session in Aisha’s living room. We started to play around with a riff that Jeff (guitar) had composed. It was an energetic and catchy riff that fit the vibe we were going for when we started experimenting with the lyrics to “Lose Control”. We wanted the song’s instrumentation to sound punchy and lively, contrary to the dismal words expressed. All of us are rather rebellious and believe in pushing back and not staying stuck where we are, emotionally or musically. So this song was the perfect way for us to express ourselves, but also showcase our strength and love for music.
What does your creative process look like?
Our creative process usually is open and flexible, definitely not something set in stone. Each of us tends to bring ideas to the table, and we experiment around with different styles, different structures, until we figure out what feels right, or rather that ‘aha’ moment. Our sound engineer Jake from Fly Away Studios, plays a big role into how we build an idea into a multi-layered song. For instance, this is something that happened with our older release ‘Burn Alive’. Jasmeen had some lyrics she had written about a year ago, and Jeff had a powerful, engaging riff that he had composed a while back. Timmy and Aisha also had their own ideas of bass lines and drum sequences. We just thought to give it a shot and see how everything sounded together. With a little bit of adjustment and experimenting, it came together perfectly, and became one of our most popular songs out of our catalogue so far.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
We each have vastly different musical influences, some of the ones we all love include Audioslave, Kings of Leon, R.E.M., Brkn Love, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Alice in Chains to name a few. We are also heavily inspired by the artists in the local Montreal music scene.
What do you love about playing live?
We love the support and encouragement that we receive every time we perform live. It's a special thing, to be vulnerable sharing your craft with your community, and have it be received with open arms. The audience has been extremely supportive in every live show that we have had, the love has been immense something we did not initially expect. The best part is how honest people are about how our music makes them feel. They are really not afraid to “tell it how it is”. We hope to keep delivering and keep playing live as much as possible.
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