By Will McGuirk
Although The Standstills tour and travel to record across the continent, they continue to live downtown Oshawa. These nice guys of rock ‘n roll, Jonny Fox on guitar and Renee Couture on drums, are isolating in their condo, making music, listening to music and working on some DIY projects including a vertical balcony garden made from a wooden palette. The couple have always been big boosters of the city’s core, supporting local businesses in any way they can and in our interview with the band below they shout out Mathilda’s, a restaurant on Simcoe Street with plant-based menu items.
Slowcity.ca: Assuming you are both together - How has the Covid-19 affected your plans for the release of new music and for live shows?
Standstills: “We are together and Covid-19 has changed everything. Release dates will be pushed because studios are closed and our shows have been postponed with no determined new dates BUT it's given us a chance to reinvent our creative process”.
SC: Are you isolating at home, in downtown Oshawa - how is that going, what is the downtown like in respect of the small businesses you frequent or places you would go to?
S: “Physically yes, mentally no. It's going fine. The geese have taken over, we remain optimistic. Mathilda's is still open.”
SC: How are you using the time to create new music - how is that working at home rather than in a studio or rehearsal apace?
S: “We are spending a lot of time writing. Since the lock down we have left our rehearsal space behind and set up a "in the box" type of recording space in our home. It's sparked a lot of creativity and inspiration.”
SC: Do you feel pressure to create and be productive? How are you dealing with that pressure?
S: “We felt that pressure prior to being isolated but now we are free to create at our own pace, which so far has been very rewarding.”
SC: In what other ways besides music are you filling the time?
S: “Honestly music is 90% of our day, If we're not playing or writing we are listening to albums or watching live videos. The other 10% is mostly spent cooking together, video chatting with friends and family, prepping the garden for spring and watching movies.”
SC: Are you digging into music more, listening to new records, catching up with old? Can you give me five albums you are enjoying at this time?
S: “Absolutely. Mostly old but a bit of new. Currently in rotation; Pearl Jam- Gigaton, Soundgarden- Badmoterfinger, Thrice- Palms, Mogwai- Hardcore will never die, but you will, and Our Lady Peace- Spiritual Machines.”