Bereits im Vorfeld der Veröffentlichung des SIGHTS & SOUNDS-Debütalbums 'Monolith' wurde mit Freude verkündet, dass es sich im Falle dieser kanadischen Formation um eine All Star-Band handele, die sich aus Andrew Neufeld (Sänger/Gitarrist), seinem Bruder Joel (Drummer), Matt Howes (Bassist) und schließlich Gitarrist Adrian Mottram zusammensetzt. Erfahrene Hardcoreler werden mit diesen Namen zutiefst namhafte Bands zu verbinden wissen, so etwa COMEBACK KID, SICK CITY und auch FIGURE FOUR. Deren Redfield Records-Einstand hat mit Hardcore indes nur vergleichsweise randläufig zu tun, ist 'Monolith' doch ein farbenprächtiges und vielschichtiges Werk, das man am ehesten noch den Sparten Progressive, Indierock und zudem Post Hardcore würde zuordnen können. Wir sprachen mit SIGHTS & SOUNDS-Gitarrist und –Sänger Andrew Neufeld über das Debütalbum seiner Band und dessen Entstehung:


SJM: Who am I talking to? Could you please shortly introduce yourself and tell us what you're doing in days like these shortly before your new album "Monolith" is about to be released?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: Im Andrew Neufeld. I sing and play guitar w. the band. Currently I'm at Exit Festival in Serbia w. my other band Comeback Kid. Sights & Sounds released "Monolith" in Canada a couple months ago, we just finished a 5 week Canadian tour and I kind of flip flop between bands and tours.
We will release Monolith in Europe/ UK at the end of summer and will be doing a 6 week UK/ Europe tour in September/October!
Last night I was arrested in Novi Sad, Serbia for less than a gram of hash. Spent the night in the can. Its been pretty crazy lately... so yeah. Thats what I've been up to.

SJM: What SHOULD the people - not knowing Sights & Sounds so far - know about the band, well, apart from the fact that you played in bands like Comeback Kid, Figure Four and Sick City before? Is there a certain story behind the formation of Sights & Sounds?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: Sights & Sounds is my big brother Joel and myself, and 2 of our good friends Matt and Adrian. We just came together as buds that wanted to play new, interesting powerful music. Or at least attempt to. All of us live in different cities ( Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto ) but somehow over the last couple years we've been able to write an album a do some touring. Now that Monolith is being released we are trying to keep as busy as possible, and Im trying to schedule things together.

SJM: Well, the people who learned to know your band so far spoke about a somehow 'artistic' approach to music. What do you think about statements like theese? What would you retort?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: I think that is a compliment. I view music as Art in a way. I don't paint, I write music... so that is our creative outlet. We want to make statements with some songs and paint a picture or atmosphere in other songs.

SJM: Because at this point Sights & Sounds are not that popular here in Germany I´m really interested in your status as a band in your country Canada. I think it differs a lot. What can you tell us about that?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: I will not fool you. Sights & Sounds is on a DIY ground level everywhere, including Canada. We open tours, or when we play on our own the shows are pretty small and in small rooms. We like the initimate settings now, though it would be nice to get our music out there more.

SJM: What about the overall feedback on your new album “Monolith” so far? How was it like?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: All of our friends tell us they like it. haha. I have seen some really good reviews so far. I think it is a pretty large album, so it takes awhile for people to actually sink in and take it all in. Its good to listen on a long road trip, train, or plane. Im hoping to see more reviews soon. Im just really glad we were able to licence the record in US, UK, Europe, and Australia as well as having it in Canada. We really want to tour the world literally.

SJM: Listening to “Monolith” makes one wonder about the intensity of the songs. It´s definitely more than just music. It´s also the atmosphere Sights & Sounds create. Is the mentioned intensity something you are striving for?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: Yes! We want to write powerful songs with many layers and textures. Our goal was to create very melodic symphonic music with guts. We love everything from Afghan Wigs, Foo Fighters, Devin Townsend, Mew, to Air and Sigur Ros. And with my background we have an unavoidable aggressiveness to our music. The challenge sometimes is holding back and finding the power in restraint then when it kicks in it opens up huge. Thats what we aim to do.

SJM: When starting Sights & Sounds – did you know you would create something completely different than you did in your former bands? Was it kind of a conscious decision or did you just let your creativity flow?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: Yes. That is the reason why we did Sights & Sounds. To do something different and to provide a new creative outlet for us. Its a nice contrast.

SJM: Every band has a vision of how their album should sound like after the recording it. Listening to the new material right now. Would you say that this was a successful mission or would you even say that the band was able to surprise itself? If this is the case – in how far?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: I think we created the album the way it was meant to be. A lot of it had to do with the producer we chose, Devin Townsend. He is known for the epic big type sounds, so we were writing and going into the studio expecting this style of production. Sure there are things that I would go back and change now but its always like that. I think it was successful.

SJM: Thinking of the vision in your songs: What do the lyrics mainly deal with and what´s the main intention behind the songs and the lyrics? Do you want to change something in the world or is the band “just” a release or is it by far more than that?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: The band IS a release but that is not all it is. Because of the transient lifestyle that we all live, we talk about traveling a lot. Being away from loved ones. Seeing new and exciting things. Lyrically I also talk about the state of our world in the information age. How we are shoulder to shoulder in these difficult financial times and everyone is out to get what is theirs. It forces people to sink or swim. We talk about the hold that the powers that be have on us, whether that is surveillance or restrictions between countries and territories. There are a lot of different subjects we touch on. It is so amazing that I have these guys to play in the band with and we can just be ourselves and try out whatever we want. It is very special for me.

SJM: For the people who do not know Sights & Sounds and their new record so far: What can these people expect? What should we be prepared for?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: We have so many ideas of how we want to represent this band. Most of the time our ideas sonically and visually that we want to pull off are on a very grand scale, and I hope that one day we can accomplish everything we set out to do. It just takes a lot of time, finances, and man power. We are trying to do music that is more than just a band but an experience. interweaving songs and themes together with in one motion.

SJM: Just one or two personal questions: What are your lives like when you are not busy with Sights & Sounds? What are you doing when you are not involved into music?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: I don't have that much time outside of my bands. I finished a S&S tour last week, had a day off and now I'm in europe w. CBK. I have done some music work for film and I have started to get involved in producing. Adrian works in recording studios, and the other guys have other musical projects and odd jobs.
Pretty much when we are on off time we just hang out with friends and party, meet new people, you know that kind of thing.

SJM: Let´s have a look into the bands´ future. Where do you see Sights & Sounds by the end of this or next year? Where would you wish to be and what do you wish to achieve?

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: Now that we have the album out, we will be doing more writing along the way but we have spent so much time doing that. What our goals are for a year from now is tour Europe, Australia, Canada, etc.

SJM: I always leave the last statement to the band. Is there anything you´d like to say or add? If so, please be my guest.

Andrew Neufeld / Sights & Sounds: We hope to see you in Germany very soon.

(Dennis Grenzel)