Purveyors of: Endless summery dream-pop
File next to: Beach House, Braids, Black Box (“Everybody Everybody”), Blue Lagoon (movie or cocktail)
Playing #WL13 Friday, February 15 @ Black Box Theatre

Blue Hawaii is a kiss from a lover on a sunny winter’s day, a dream of spring thaw, the spirit of endless summer. “Tropical” doesn’t begin to describe the radiant dream-pop tunes heard on their 2010 debut, Blooming Summer. The real-life couple of Agor (a.k.a. Alexander Cowan) and Ra (a.k.a. Raphalle Preston-Standell) took a time-out from the world while Ra’s other band, Montreal post-rock sensations Braids, took the globe and the 2011 Polaris short-list by (tropical) storm, and Agor relocated west to Vancouver. Now they’re back with a new full-length, Untogether, set to touch down in March. Whereas Braids were defined by their sensitive guitar work, Blue Hawaii are all about luscious synth textures you can lose yourself in. Preview single “In Two” saw their sound striding more confidently towards the dance floor, however, so we can only imagine what to expect when they hit up Wavelength THIRTEEN’s Black Box party with Montreal pals Doldrums and Cadence Weapon on Friday. Rachel Nolan caught up with Agor and Ra over electronic mail.

Can you describe how Blue Hawaii was born?

We met in 2009 at the loft-venue Agor was co-running in Montreal, Lab Synthèse. We were introduced on the pretense of Braids playing the space, but we were almost immediately found ourselves trying to sync the computer and Ra's vocal pedals. Since then we have almost always incorporated live improv type stuff into our set.

How has the scene in Montreal changed since then?

Speaking about our crew personally, it's different now because lots of people have moved further away from the city, or further into their careers. This is a good thing because it is a kind of growth — but it does result in less gathering as a community. While we were running the venue mentioned above, hanging out was a near daily activity. But when the “scene” does get together (in MTL and elsewhere), there's huge chemistry and it feels like it's more at a new stage than receding or anything. 

You recorded Blooming Summer in 2010 following your travels through Central America together, and the album frames both of your experiences of these new places at a specific time. 2013’s Untogether, which you composed separately, captures space and time in a different way – being at home in the vastness of Canada, the two years since your first album, and the physical separation between you.  What do you feel are the most notable similarities and differences in your personal
creative process from one to the other?

We decided it’s that Agor likes to work quickly, whereas Ra prefers a more developed and timely approach. This, combined with the physical separation, meant that we tackled the writing of the album as individuals. We would sometimes discuss it, but it ended up being a late-night studio project for the both of us. Also, the way creative process has been altered by the ability to edit nearly every aspect of our work on the computer results in a kind of disparity between parts. Yet despite these separations, there is a final product, a whole. All the technical, physical, and social contrasts we experience last year really informed the music, and ultimately the title, Untogether. 

What's your favourite brunch place/meal?

Deux oeufs tournés, saucisses et pain brun at Nouveau Système, hunnie! It's been the new way for decades and the times seem to change with it.