Familiar Strangers (Ryan Peters, Josh Gladstone and Daniel Draper) put on a great show Sunday night at Drums N Flats. Their set list included original songs like Bar in Seattle, as well as covers of Avicii’s Wake Me Up, Barenaked Ladies’ Pinch Me and The Lumineers’ Ho Hey.
Which band do you want to reunite this year?
Ryan: Groove Street
Josh: On The Rocks
Daniel: Dispatch
Who would you like to see win big at the Grammys?
Ryan: Taylor Swift
Josh: Mumford and Sons
Daniel: Daft Punk or Robin Thicke
Do you think music videos are still important?
Ryan: Videos are a good way to get to know the band’s personality. OK Go have a really cool music video with them walking on a treadmill, which showed off their quirkiness. I think [music videos] are still important.
Josh: I think we’re in an age of visual people because of YouTube etc., so if people want to get famous, they have to go down that route, or else they won’t have a presence. But in my opinion, music should always be primary.
Daniel: I don’t think they help artists sell music, but they’re good for artists that want to make a statement. I like Lupe Fiasco and Macklemore because they recently came out with some interesting videos. What Beyoncé did by putting out a video for each song was incredibly unique and made a statement. They’re not just dancing videos; they’re telling stories.
What do you think is unique about Canadian musicians?
Daniel: Canadian musicians are unique because of their collaborative nature and willingness to try new things. I think this is influenced by their need to travel in order to gain bigger followings, which results in influences from across Canada, the US and foreign countries.
Josh: I don’t think we are very unique. In terms of where music’s heading, Canada is lagging behind. Right now I think Britain is setting the trends; Canada has to catch up. Adele & Mumford and Sons are gods amongst men. Alt J is British too and those guys have it down pat – they have their own style.
Ryan: There’s always been a strong history of bands coming out of Britain and then making it huge in Canada and the States. It started with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Elton John; this is nothing new.
What do you like to watch and listen to on YouTube?
Josh: Boyce Avenue
Daniel: Q with Jian Ghomeshi
Ryan: Post Modern Jukebox
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXYWDtXbBB0′]
This is Part 2 of Hot On The Street’s Behind The Band interview with Familiar Strangers.