Purveyors of: Love + Rock
File next to: Ike & Tina, Black Flag, Nina Simone, Slayer
Play #WL13 Thursday, February 14 @ The Shop under Parts & Labour

Lullabye Arkestra had, up until last year, taken part in every Wavelength anniversary since Kat Taylor and Justin Small met – at the first Wavelength Anniversary – fell in love, turned a friendship into a loveship, and began to sing about it. They took part in every Wavelength anniversary, that is until last year’s TWELVE, when Kat spent the entire weekend in the hospital, doing a note-perfect rendition of her loudest notes in “Summertime,” and delivering the Ark’s firstborn to the world. We are just so delighted to have them back! Drummer Justin will be making two appearances at our anniversary this year, also as the guitarist in Do Make Say Think. Doc Pickles’ email sat down with Katia Taylor’s email for a tête-a-tête.

Lullabye Arkestra’s first lovechild was born during Wavelength TWELVE, which is why that was the first anniversary you couldn't play. How much did we miss you? How much did (or didn’t) you miss us?

It almost seemed serendipitous that our little girl, Jolene, was born over that weekend. Instead of screaming my head off while pushing out the rock’n'roll at Wavelength 12, I was screaming my head off and pushing out a little rock’n’roll baby. I should note that I was actually in labour for the entire weekend too... Three days. It was Jolene’s tribute to Wavelength, I guess. I hope you missed us lots.

Aside from shredding songs, what artistic pursuits keep your clock ticking? Feel free to mention photography, and to refer curious readers to a place where they can pay you money to take photos of them.

We are never, ever not busy. Justin is not only part of the genius that is Do Make Say Think, but is also part of the composing team, Telepathic Out Takes, along with his DMST bandmate Ohad Benchetrit. They recently got nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for their original film score for the documentary Semi-Sweet. And I am also a photographer specializing in weddings, maternity and newborn portraiture. It's all art all the time at Casa Ark.

What music did you air-band to when you were young?

For Justin I can easily answer Slayer, he still does it… For me, it depends on how young and how much I’m willing to admit... um... Bon Jovi, age 12. Or Madonna, age 10....I just lost some metal cred, didn’t I?

I remember taking a call from the booker of the El Mocambo after your legendary WL150. What happened?

Oh dear, what a bzaster! We were headlining the closing night of the fest at the newly re-opened El Mo and were apparently the first real rock band to play there. The place was sold-out, we had been featured on the front cover of NOW magazine that week, so the show was buzzing. The night was going amazingly, so Justin felt inspired during our last song to pick up the drums and bring them onto the floor so we could play amid the crowd. This infuriated the owner (at the time), who was concerned about the stage mics. At the end of the show, he accused us of stealing mics and tried to hold our gear hostage, threatening to call the cops if we left without paying him $300. He eventually admitted no mics were missing, but wanted to charge us for denting some of them (um, it’s a rock show). So we had some smooth-talking friends distract him while all the gear was sneakily loaded out and we left.

Is there anything more satisfying than yelling at the top of your lungs?

A sleeping baby laying on your chest… basically the complete opposite that balances life out so perfectly.

What song got you through the darkest days?

Anything Nina Simone (Jolene's middle name is Simone for that reason).