The Winks are a well dressed trio from Vancouver who deftly weave mandolin and cello into spare, experimental chamber pop. The following is an excerpt from a conversation Prasanna Rajagopalan had with a friend '“ carried out entirely in Victorian English, of course - when he tried to convince him to go see The Winks when they play at Wavelength. Hopefully you too will be as compelled to come along and immerse yourself in their wide-eyed world of whimsy. An interview with actual band members follows.
 
Pras: Lumley, is that you? Where the devil have you been? I do believe that three-quarters of the season has passed by, yet I have seen neither hide nor hair of you.
Lumley: Hello, old chap. I daresay this season has been a frightful bore. I can think of nothing less appealing than shilly-shallying about with odious old dotards as they blather on about the wicked ways of the world and pontificate about what is to be done.
Pras: Well, I must admit, your sentiments are elevated and correct, old friend. But should you accompany me to Lord Winterbottom's tonight, I daresay you shall be heartily entertained by a boisterous bunch of apple-cheeked youngsters who call themselves The Winks.
Lumley: Ugh'¦not Lord Winterbottom. He means well, but he does drone on so.
Pras: Now, now, my dear fellow, settle down. I have heard many excellent things about this worthy bunch. They all wear their chins high, and presently it is very much in fashion to wear one's chin high.
Lumley: Hm'¦well, we shall see then. In the meantime, would you care to join me for some port and a game of whist in the smoke room?
Pras: Rather!

THERE SEEMS TO BE A SORT OF THEATRICAL QUALITY TO YOUR MUSIC. ARE YOU GUYS AT ALL INFLUENCED BY THEATRE?
Tyr: My roommate/best friend is a dance student.  She taught me a dance routine for one of our songs. I think we end up being theatrical without meaning to.

MY FAVORITE WINKS MOMENT SO FAR (BASED ON THE HANDFUL OF MP3'S I HAVE LISTENED TO) IS ON "BOXES" WHEN TYR SINGS "TREES MADE OF ALEEE-OOO-MIN-EEE-UMMM". IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A LOT OF THE LYRICAL CONTENT IS BASED ON HOW CERTAIN WORDS OR COMBINATION OF WORDS/VOCAL NOISES SOUND RATHER THAN WHAT THEY MEAN. IS THIS A FAIR ASSESSMENT?

Tyr: I follow what the music wants.
Todd: I make up so many words that just sound nice with other words. Sound and meaning mix to create an almost film-like quality.

I READ THAT TYR IS A CLASSICALLY TRAINED CELLIST, AND HAS BEEN PLAYING CELLO SINCE SHE WAS A WEE LITTLE LASS. IN WHAT WAYS DO THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF A CLASSICALLY TRAINED CELLIST HELP YOU GUYS? IN WHAT WAYS DOES IT LIMIT YOU?

Tyr: For me, the only limiting thing about playing the cello is that for the most part you're glued to your chair. (But) I find that when I play other instruments I can't express myself to the fullest expression level that I can with the cello. Either that or I can't play cello at all, and I sew instead. (But) it helps the sound and creations by having a beauteous cello to play and having a hardcore teacher when I was little.

DESCRIBE FOR ME THE BATTLE BETWEEN POP AND EXPERIMENTALISM IN THE WORLD OF THE WINKS.
Tyr: What worlds they are, the pop worlds and the experimental worlds and the Winks worlds - they seem to have no difference sometimes and flip flopping all the time'¦

DO THE TWO GO HAND IN HAND LIKE AFFECTIONATE BOSOM BUDDIES?
Tyr: I'd say playing chamber music together is the best medicine for a good ensemble.
Todd: I think music school reinforced my original hunch that anything is music. Sound patterns with emotional trimmings.

SORRY IF THIS QUESTION SOUNDS A LITTLE RIDICULOUS, IT HAS BEEN NINE HOURS SINCE I HAVE HAD ANYTHING TO EAT.
Todd: All I've eaten in the last 35 hours is a crêpe.

WHAT IS THE WINKS' IDEAL NON-TRADITIONAL SETTING FOR A SHOW?
Tyr: In Australia our most favourite venue was on the edge of a big open field under a train tunnel for a birthday party.
Todd: Inside a large shrub next to a little creek and close to a bridge in a forest.

LASTLY, SUGGEST AN IDEA FOR A MEAL FOR A GUY WHO HASN'T EATEN IN NINE HOURS.
Tyr: Crêpes.
Todd: Water and b12 vitamins.