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- We’re happy to have some time today with singer and songwriter Mitch Davis; greetings and salutations, Mitch! Before we dive down the proverbial rabbit hole, how has your New Year been treating you?
Oh not bad. I had to finish up a couple music videos and took a trip to SXSW which was a nice break from Montréal March.
- Congratulations on the new music video for your song Hope That! What was the genesis of this lovely tune?
Thanks! I think it could be my favourite track on the record.. Actually, the chords and structure of this came from the very first track I tried writing when pivoting from rapping full time to singing. But I hadn’t touched it in about 5 years before picking it up again to finish the lyrics and try recording.
- How much of a hand did you have in the creative side of the music video for Hope That?
I mostly left it up to Chloé, who’s a good friend and someone I really trust creatively. Although, I had a few shots I definitely wanted to include. I had a few minor tweaks in the editing but it’s almost entirely her creation and I’m really happy with how it turned out.
- Hope That is an opening volley for your debut Arbutus Records album entitled The Haunt which is set to drop on April 29. What can you tell us about the overall making of The Haunt?
Well, I really hunkered down over the winter of 2020/2021. I was staying up till 5 or 6 am every day recording and pretty much just living inside the songs until they were each done. I felt simultaneously lucky to be able to have so much time to record and miserable at spending so much forced time alone.
- You’re also a producer – Did this singular skill and talent enable you to self-produce The Haunt?
Oh definitely. I’m extremely obsessive when it comes to producing/mixing, at least as much as I am with the performances themselves. Almost every day I’d make like 10 mixdowns of whatever song I was working on, changing a little thing each time before I could allow myself to wrap it up and go to sleep.
- What one thing do you want fans to know about The Haunt?
I’d love it if people felt solace in the lyrics and underlying mood. It was made during a pretty rough time, so it’s probably best understood by people going through similar times. But musically, objectively, it’s more upbeat and I’d still be really if people just wanna dance.
- As noted, your home base as an artist and for The Haunt is Arbutus Records. What makes Arbutus the perfect home for you and your music?
Well, I was always a big fan of artists on Arbutus, even when living in Edmonton over a decade ago. Especially now though it feels great because along with this debut record of mine, I played a bunch on the upcoming Marci record and also a TBA Sorry Girls album. I’m excited for pals on the label in the net year or so.
- You wrote all the songs on The Haunt. As a singer-songwriter, which comes first for you – The lyrics or the music?
Usually I’d say the music, but sometimes the lyrical choices guide the melody which then guides the chords. I’d say most often I do both at the same time, but if one is to come first it’s the music.
- You also played all of the instruments on The Haunt. Can you take us through how that worked exactly?
For sure ya.. I pretty much always write on a single instrument and lay the final version of that down pretty early – I had just the bass line to “bear the cold” finished before I even knew how to play the chords. On most other songs I’d record the piano first, then just slowly add layers over the next while, ranging from a few days on some songs to 6 months on other songs. I never really know if I’m finished until the feeling hits me, so I just keep plugging away trying to think of things to add until I get word it’s done.
- What do you hope fans walk away feeling after listening to The Haunt?
I hope it’s a repeat listen.. I hope people will be coming back to it for years to come. I hope it’s enjoyable on both a surface level and a deeper one.. I’ve never worked harder on anything than this album.
- Can listeners look forward to seeing you on tour in the coming months to promote The Haunt?
Absolutely yeah! I’ll be touring the USA this September, and hopefully a lot more moving forward.
- Your music has been described as being a cocktail of jazz, funk, sunshine pop and rock and roll. What do each of those specific genres of music mean to you as not only an artist, but also as a fan?
I was almost entirely raised on jazz. It’s what played in our house daily for my entire childhood. So I’d be shocked if that didn’t somehow enter my writing, but it’s never been intentional. I also just love music that’s funky, not necessarily funk, just music with real groove and interesting rhythms. The rock is totally the influence of my friends though. I was a rapper who’s friends were indie rock musicians, so I ended up playing in their bands. Eventually I just became a rock musician I guess.
- How did you wind up on the path of being such an accomplished musician?
Well, thanks! I’d hope I am but I don’t really feel like it, ha. I’ve just been playing instruments longer than I have memories of anything. It’s really just something I do as therapy and meditation. I am grateful I met like-minded friends in my late teens/early twenties though, I could have ended up living a really different life had that not happened.
14. Final – SILLY! – Question: Favorite movie about the music scene – La Bamba, This Is Spinal Tap or Almost Famous?
I haven’t seen any of those ha. I know I should have or whatever though. As a kid my siblings and I were obsessed with ‘Sister Act II’ and ‘That Thing You Do’ for different but kind of the same reasons.
