WL 370 - Sunday, July 8 - 10pm
Purveyor of: Intricate pop complexities that take at least 38 listens to make out completely but are totally worth it

Maybe Smith is Colin Skrapek, a Saskatchewanian (swamp) creature who breaks down walls of noise with sweet (like cotton candy) pop melodies. Matt Pilgrim cornered Colin on the World Wide Web and asked him 6 ½ questions of extreme pertinence.

You wrote a blog entry not too long ago that stated you'd be heading on the road with your Notorious B.I.G. records in hand. Besides "Big Poppa", what other items are essential to ensure a pleasurable tour?

As long as "Ready To Die" is always at our fingertips, we're good. Otherwise, crucial items include: strong navigational skills, intramural competitions, matching t-shirts, sunshine and the odd light rain, mountain views, and playing music on stage every night with my friends.

The new record is a lot more consistently poppy than any of your previous releases. What influences did you have going into this one?

Happiness and new beginnings.

Among your contemporaries, you've been categorized with artists like Andrew Whiteman and Dan Snaith. Do you see this connection and would you consider yourself a fan of their music?

I'm definitely a fan of both those artists. But I think the connection is less with the sound of the music as it is with the approach; we're all lone guys making music with a density and chaos typical of large bands. Personally, I'm not that interested in recording an album that's just me singing over an acoustic guitar, probably because then everyone would realize how boring the songs are at their core.

Between The Smiths, Patti Smith, and Mother Maybelle Carter, who would you prefer to open for?

Isn't Maybelle Carter dead? She is a light that never goes out, I suppose. Would I get to play at the Grand Ole Opry? I need more information.

You can play the Grand Ole Opry but I refuse to pay you. Who will be accompanying you onstage at the Wavelength set?

I currently have a six-piece band, some of whom are also members of Carbon Dating Service. They're all wizards.

What are your goals for the future? Do you see yourself pursuing music for the rest of your life?

I would like to cook more than I have been lately.
I would like to meet Buck 65.
I would like to do more hiking.
I would like to see more Frank Gehry buildings in person.
I would like to make more music.
If things were...
...backwards we'd all have a hard time doing up our pants.

By Matthew Pilgrim