This coming Wednesday, November 7^th, Wavelength is pleased to present the Toronto release party for Animator, the third album by The Luyas, now taking place at Wavelength's spiritual home, The Garrison. The Luyas usually get described as “Montreal art-pop quartet,” though their sound could just as likely be called dream-pop. Having an artistic lifestyle is a dreamy endeavor indeed, and one that bandleader Jessie Stein has made work in the near-decade we’ve known here. Montreal native Jessie was once a Torontonian and Wavelength regular in the heady days of Torontopia, with her fine fuzz-pop band SS Cardiacs.

Since moving back and connecting with the likes of Torngat’s Pietro Amato (French horn, electronics) and Mathieu Charbonneau (keyboards) to create The Luyas, the ensemble’s sound has evolved from Krautrock-inspired drone-pop to the more stately chamber-pop heard on Animator tracks like the 8+ minute opener “Montuno” as well as more guitar-heavy post-punk rockers like first single “Fifty Fifty.” The connection with fellow Montrealers such as Bell Orchestre and the Arcade Fire is obvious and more than just sonic – BO’s Stef Schneider recently left the Luyas’ drum throne to be replaced by Bucky Wheaton, while the AF’s Sarah Neufeld lends her violin – but the artistic depth of Animator shows The Luyas are rising high on their own musical strengths.

We talked to Jessie Stein on Hipster Christmas Night, a couple of days before The Luyas departed Montréal on an Eastern US/Canadian tour to fête the launch of Animator.

Happy Halloween! How have you been spending this October 31st, 2012?

I was moving out of my house. I put all my stuff in storage and kind of worked on that all day.  Then I had a glass of wine and passed out. 

You just moved? Do you have a new place or are you living the carefree life of a traveling minstrel?

I am the latter. I care though.

You're about to head out on tour to promote the recent release of Animator. What are you most looking forward to about your days ahead?

I am really looking forward to playing for a bunch of nights in a row. We haven't done that in about a year because we were making the album and resting from the incessant touring before that.  There is a point after a few shows where the music just starts to feel like butter. I can't wait for that. 

Animator: person, thing, idea?

An idea. It's about bringing the dead back to life, even though that's impossible. 

If you could pick one place for a new listener to don a pair of headphones and listen to Animator on their mobile music device, what would it be?

Submarine. 

Today marks the release of your new video for "Montuno." Do you want to tell us a little about the making of the video, and the creative vision behind it? And how long have you been riding horses?

I have been riding horses since I was 7 or something like that. The video is the story of a quixotic woman who wants her pony to be a zebra. She paints her horse and then life catches up with her — she gets chased by death through a forest. It's about trying to escape the monotony of life by playing with the impossible. The song is sort of about realizing you are going to die and knowing that life was kind of this weird confusing loop but that somehow in the repetition we find meaning and get attached. It's about being nostalgic from the afterlife.

Heavy stuff. To take things from the hereafter to the here-and-now, how was your experience at CMJ? Discover any cool new bands?

It was really fun. I got to hang out with my friends and stay up late. My favourite things that I saw were Julian Lynch and Port St. Willow.  Both were incredible. Mostly we were running around a whole lot and loading gear from show to show though. My friend Darby gave me a really, really delicious cookie. That was nice.

If we came to visit you in Montreal and met up at your local, where we would it be and why?

I don't really have a local. I started going to this place called Nouveau Palais because the bartender is great. It's pretty cool. But mostly I go to our rehearsal space and various coffee shops.

When we first met you, you were Jessie Stein of the SS Cardiacs, local Toronto band. Since moving back to Montreal, what do you miss most about your time in Toronto?

I really loved Wavelength Sundays and morning coffee with everyone congregating at Ideal Coffee in the Market. I miss living with Owen Pallett and Jon McCurley and their wacky, brilliant minds.

You requested Simone Schmidt's Fiver to join you on your Toronto record release bill this Wednesday at 918 Bathurst. What made them your #1 pick?

Simone is the best songwriter in Canada. There is nobody I'd rather see play every night.