Bringing a wide range of influences and talents to the table, the quintet of guitarist Andrew Erskine, keyboardist Brian O'Reilly, vocalist Daniel Girard, drummer Jeremy Stewart and bassist Panos Giannoulis have built a reputation for 'œinfectious and intelligent'? pop music. Having conquered their native Halifax and the surrounding Atlantic region with a strong live show and an irresistibly catchy three-song demo, the Porcelain Gods have loaded up the van and are headed to Ontario for the first time. Matt Blair spoke to Stewart via email during a break in the recording sessions for the group's upcoming debut release.

IN YOUR BIO, YOU SAY THAT 'œHALIFAX HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING BANDS THAT THRIVE OFF DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP.'? WHO HAVE YOU GOT IN MIND, AND WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THEM? Well, during the mid-90s, it seemed like there were a number of bands coming out of Halifax who had more than one songwriter. Bands like Sloan, Thrush Hermit and the Superfriendz. It's too bad that people see this and instantly associate this style of songwriting with a particular sound. Having a democratic band is more complex than simply having one primary songwriter who 'œleads.'? However, the collaborations and individual efforts produce a more varied sound than in a band with a main songwriter. So, in that sense, it's worth the extra effort. As a band, we learn more from each other than the bands we grew up listening to.

INDIE ROCKERS IN TORONTO KNOW ABOUT THE BOOM IN HALIFAX DURING THE MID-90S, AND THEY KNOW ABOUT THE HIP HOP EXPLOSION THAT FOLLOWED. WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE THESE DAYS? It's a pretty diverse scene, with lots of varied styles. There doesn't seem to be any predominant sound. I'm sure you've heard of Dependent Records, which is a little darker and heavier than the sounds most often associated with Halifax. A lot of people would say the Halifax music scene comes from there. Besides that, the Halifax scene is all about variety and people doing their own thing.

THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST VISIT TO TORONTO. WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM THE SHOWS? Untold millions of dollars? Seriously, we'll hopefully play for a bunch of people who will listen, and enjoy what we love to do. We just have to start from the ground up. This tour is mostly about introducing ourselves to people who have never heard our music, and trying to establish a connection between us and the music lovers of our country. We're expecting to jump in a van as five close friends going out to do something that some musicians only dream of, have a great time, and come home as even closer friends.

EXCLAIM! PRAISED YOU FOR SUCCESSFULLY BALANCING 'œA HUGE RANGE OF INDEPENDENT POP,'? BUT THE RANGE OF PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE CITED AS INFLUENCES IS FAR MORE DIVERSE THAN THAT. HOW DOES THE MUSIC OF PEOPLE LIKE CHOP AND MILES DAVIS SHAPE WHAT YOU DO? It's like osmosis. Obviously, what you listen to informs melody, structure, style. So, while we're not going to become a fusion band or start playing classically-informed ballads, there is always a sense of some form of the artist's sensibilities creeping into what we do. It's a little less direct than going, 'œCheck out this ten-minute free jazz track! We should do this!'? It's more about ideas and inspiration. Why is this phrase the way it is? What makes this song so great? You learn, and then see if you can apply the ideas to your own music.

YOU HAVE JUST BEGUN WORK ON YOUR FIRST FULL-LENGTH RELEASE. WHAT CAN LISTENERS EXPECT FROM YOU? Our album will contain most of the songs we've been playing for awhile now, but we're considering throwing in some stuff that we don't do live. An album is a great way of exploring ideas and creating something that can stand on its own. The live show is a translation of the album, but the two don't have to be exactly the same. So expect some new instrumentation, different song arrangements, general sonic sabotage of the highest order, and of course, fun!

By Matt Blair