Interview: The Veer Union are ready to take on America

Canada’s The Veer Union released their debut album “Against the Grain” earlier this year and their ongoing tour across the US, including a live set at LA’s The Knitting Factory, sees them dominating these shores for much of 2009. Formed in 2004 by lead singer Crispin and guitarist Eric, The Veer Union’s hard hitting guitar sound caught the attention of Universal/Motown, which consequently led them to a much-coveted record deal. I caught up with the lead singer Crispin before his LA gig.

Crispin was born in the Grand Cayman Islands, adopted by Australians, and brought up in British Columbia. His adoration for music began when he was 10 years old after a school band performance. He started out as a drummer and sang jazz and classical choir.

Check out what he has to say below…

Is music your life?

You have to do it because you love it. Some people want to do it for fame and money but they will never get anywhere because you have to love what you do and you have to put the hard work in.

Do your parents support your career?

My parents are nothing but supportive as this industry can tear you to pieces. When I graduated high school I applied for numerous music scholarships and I got accepted by all of them, including Berkley, and my parents were the ones who told me not to go to school but to focus on my music.

Who were your musical influences?

As a teenager I listened to Led Zeppelin, Sound Garden, and Erykah Badu. I listen to singers who have “passion” in their voices.

You signed with a huge record company Universal/Motown. Did you have to compromise from moving from an independent label to the big players?

Universal/Motown believed in the band and what we were doing and what we wanted to do. They came to us and said they wanted to make us bigger. They didn’t want to change us.

Who writes the material?

I write the lyrics primarily but Eric and I also write songs together. Sometimes he’ll say this lyric is good but the other lyric sucks and I’ll do the same with his music. We push each other.

You have said in other interviews that all your music is about hope.

I lived in place for 2 years with no windows, the bathroom was disgusting and I had to wash in the sink. Eric lived there also but I lived there the longest. I would send songs off to record companies and they would love our music but when they found out I was black, they didn’t know how to market us. Every song on the album is about experiences that are real and actually happened to us. Hope is the light at the end of the tunnel.

You mention “passion” a lot.

“You have to be passionate about what you do because then there is hope that you get to live the dream.”

And what has it been like as a black guy front man of a rock band?

The black and Hispanic community has really embraced our sound. They’re used to hip-hop and have never been exposed to this music. At one of our school gigs, this black girl came up to me and said that none of her friends have listened to this kind of music before.

What is the “You Can Be Anything Foundation?”

The founder contacted the band online and asked if we could play at schools who were under funded in music and the arts. This was two years before our record deal with Universal/Motown. We’ve played in 150 schools so far. I know that if that band hadn’t have played at my school when I was 10 years old, I would not have been exposed to music.

Do you think there’s a Canadian sound?

Good question. Look at the Seattle bands -Nirvana, Sound Garden, Alison in Chains, Pearl Jam –they are totally different sounds. I think every band has their own sound.

What can fans expect at your live set?

This is our first time playing in LA. Expect a lot of passion. What you get on the album is what you’ll get on stage.

You’ve been on the road for the best part of 2 years, which gig stands out for you?

St. George, Utah – the crowd really embraced us. Then the Vancouver gig. Our first gig had 40 people in the crowd then we won a radio station competition and our second gig went out to 10,000 people.

Which song sums up The Veer Union?

“Seasons” -the first single on the album. It’s about starting off and the change of the seasons. We can constantly reinvent ourselves and change. It’s a metaphor for life –starting life in bloom.

Check out their song “Seasons” below…