You might recognize Purple Hill's front man from the mess of blond hair flying across the stage of a From Fiction show. Or you might not, seeing that his face is rarely visible. But From Fiction bassist Owen Marchildon will be a slightly more still when his solo-plus-friends band Purple Hill shows up for their CD release show at Wavelength. Kevin Shutterbug and Owen did the email interview thing, and a bit of cell phone conversation as a streetcar went into a tunnel. Kevin, while staying as close to the truth as possible, made up the answers to the last five questions, as Owen was nowhere to be found.

I HERE YOUR BAND PURPLE HILL WAS INSPIRED AND NAMED AFTER THAT D-12 SONG FEATURING EMINEM? Yes! How did you know. I thought I had everyone fooled. I guess I've been found out. I've been found out by a man who works with ice cream.

YOUR LIVE SHOWS TEND TO LEAN TO A COUNTRY AND ROCK SIDE OF THINGS, BUT ON YOUR UPCOMING RECORD IT'S MOSTLY RAP RIGHT?
I've been found out by a man who works with ice cream. I guess I've been found out. I thought I had everyone fooled. How did you know? Yes!

AS BASSIST IN FROM FICTION AND MAIN SONGWRITER/GUITARIST IN PURPLE HILL YOU GET TO WORK WITH MANY TALENTED MUSICIANS. HOW DO THE PROCESSES AND MUSICAL CREATIONS DIFFER BETWEEN THE TWO? DO THEY EVER AT TIMES INFLUENCE YOUR PLAYING IN EITHER BAND? Yeah, sometimes I go to rehearsal and those three maniacs I play with completely blow my nuts off, and I say, "Would you men like to come over and have a picnic?" and they all shout peanut butter and honey sandwiches, and before you know it our skinny white asses are in circle form, planted in the middle of a Friday afternoon food court rush at the good old Dufferin mall, and roses are growing out of our ears and all the pretty little Portuguese ladies are sniffin' around our scene, whisperings of romance I wish I understood. Oh! To have a belly full of it all again soon I think.

YOU EXUDE A SENSE OF PLAYFULNESS WHEN YOU PLAY LIVE, WHETHER IT IS IN A LAID BACK SOLO SHOW OR IN THE TIGHT TECHNICAL WORK OF A FROM FICTION SHOW. HOW DO YOU DO THIS?
First you have to allow yourself to go towards the glory. When it peaks and you've had enough, you cool it all down by going out and seeing the people.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH "THE SHOEMAKER AND THE ELVES." Men who work with ice cream should not be surfing the internet. There you go fuck face. (www.cowovermoon.ca)

TWEEDLEDEE, WE HAVE TO FILL 700 WORDS.

I'VE SEEN YOU SOLO, AS A DUO, TRIO... WHO PLAYS ON THE ALBUM AND WHO MIGHT BE JOINING YOU ON STAGE? Playing on the album is Matt Smith on various doohickeys, Owen Pallett on fishing wire, John Paul Allen on the low end. I can't really remember the names of who else is on it. These guys and more might be joining me for shenanigans on the Sneaky stage.

ESCAPE GOAT IS PUTTING OUT YOUR RECORD RIGHT? Yeah, Cam and the people have been working hard and it'll be done in time for the Wavelength show. A little spring chick hatched for your pleasure.

I THINK YOU LEFT YOUR HAIR TIE AT MY HOUSE. That's the most important piece of my wardrobe. I'm a lost man without it. I'm a lost man.

HERE IS A PICTURE OF ANOTHER BAND NAMED PURPLE HILL. IF IT CAME DOWN TO IT, COULD YOU GUYS TAKE THEM IN A BAR FIGHT OR
DRAG RACE? Our roots trace back to Orangeville. We're crass motherfuckers. Bar fight, drag race, drag show, you name it we could take them.

I'VE HEARD YOU MAY RELEASE YOUR INNER MANGINA AT WAVELENGTH. All I can say is to just have your camera ready.

By Kevin Shutterbug