- Connor Donald — The Journal (St. Mary’s University)
- in Arts, Music
Hollerado is a four piece Juno Award nominated indie-rock band from Ottawa. The group formed in 2007 and since has released two albums, Record in a Bag in 2009 and White Paint, which was released this year. Hollerado has been an active band travelling much of the world and major cities in North America. In 2009, they won The Big Money Shot battle-of-the-bands in Ottawa worth $250,000 and in 2011 they were nominated for Best New Group at the Juno’s. They just finished a tour opening for Billy Talent last year and have also opened up for one of Jack White’s bands, The Dead Weather, and played numerous festivals across North America. This year they will be playing the Halifax Pop Explosion. Lead singer, Menno Versteeg, took sometime to speak to The Journal prior to their upcoming Halifax appearance.
HALIFAX (CUP) — Hollerado is a four piece Juno Award nominated indie-rock band from Ottawa. The group formed in 2007 and since has released two albums, Record in a Bag in 2009 and White Paint, which was released this year. Hollerado has been an active band travelling much of the world and major cities in North America.
In 2009, they won The Big Money Shot battle-of-the-bands in Ottawa worth $250,000 and in 2011 they were nominated for Best New Group at the Juno’s. They just finished a tour opening for Billy Talent last year and have also opened up for one of Jack White’s bands, The Dead Weather, and played numerous festivals across North America. This year they will be playing the Halifax Pop Explosion. Lead singer, Menno Versteeg, took sometime to speak to The Journal prior to their upcoming Halifax appearance.
Journal: Where did you guys come up with the name, Hollerado?
Menno: No one really knows. It was just said one day and then it was put on a poster.
Journal: How does it feel to be Juno nominated?
Menno: It’s all part of what we do.
Journal: Three of you grew up pretty close together. Were you guys good friends? How did this lead to you guys forming a band?
Menno: Yeah, we were all good friends and lived on the same street together. Two of the group members are even brothers. And one day we just decided to start a band because we had nothing better to do.
Journal: What was it like to be hand picked by Jack White to open for his group, The Dead Weather?
Menno: It was an honour because we are all big fans of Jack. We were really excited.
Journal: How was your recent tour with Billy Talent? What were the other bands like?
Menno: It was a really good time! Billy Talent was super nice and made us feel really good. It was our first big arena tour.
Journal: Want to tell me about Holleradoland (videos capturing the band abroad) and the travel experiences in all these countries?
Menno: We love to travel; it is probably our favourite part of the job. We like to experience these things and then film them and put them online for everybody else to see.
Journal: You have two albums out now, Record in a Bag and White Paint, what changed between the two albums, lyrically and musically?
Menno: We have gotten older, but I would like to leave this answer to the fans. We write the songs, but it is up to the fans to decide what they think has changed and what they like and don’t like.
Journal: How did you hear about the Halifax Pop Explosion?
Menno: It is one of the most respected Canadian music festivals. I have always wanted to play it, ever since I was a kid.
Journal: When you first created the group who were your greatest influences?
Menno: It really changes every single day. We are into all genres so our influences range greatly.
Journal: What do you think of the growing Canadian music scene?
Menno: It is not something I care about. I like to play with certain bands and dislike others. There are good and bad bands everywhere.
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NBC’s Note — The interview was done by phone and is unedited.