After interviewing vocalist Care Failure from Die Mannequin in June 2012 by phone, and finally meeting in person in July 2013, The Rock Spot got another opportunity to chat with Care about what Die Mannequin has been up to.
As Care is on her evening commute after leaving the recording studio where Die Mannequin is recording their latest full-length album, sounds of the TTC bus en route to the subway could be heard in the background of the phone call as she is doing her interview after a hard days work.
Like many artists, Torontonian band Die Mannequin is continually
evolving. But what's to come for their next album is a whole new beast.
"I just erased the line and now musically I do what I want," said Care over the bus's loud buzz of noise.
It's been 3 years since Die Mannequin has released a full-length album. Their last work to be released, "Danceland", was an EP containing songs that were previously recorded that their old label thought were too heavy (Warner Bros.).
"[Now] I just erased the line and do what I want with my music," said Care.
Currently, Die Mannequin is with Entertainment One (eone) Music and Sony/ATV. How to Kill Music, a record label that Care herself founded, mostly in existence to sign friends and give them a chance in the music industry, gave her a chance to put out her own music without any barriers. But after parting ways with Die Mannequin's old manager, she lost her ownership rights to the label, which the ex-manager now owns.
Now that Die Mannequin is no longer in between labels, and with one that is no longer as restricting, the band has more artistic liberty in writing music.
"I grew up with an art school crowd. I lost some friends for being too 'pop-y'. But now I'm pleasing myself. I'm playing cool new music that I really like," said Care.
Not that the band didn't like their music before, but what to come next is much more raw, and mainly the band's ideas without as much push from the record label as what to record.
"I had to fight for my right to party," said Care about her band's musical direction.
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| Above: Care Failure playing with Die Mannequin at Vans Warped Tour 2013 |
With the new album, Care says that their music is growing with the band - but on acid, because of the new sound.
"I want a great album with great songs. I want to be proud of the entire album," she says enthusiastically.
But does she think that the record companies are out to destroy music and to capitalize on it?
Care pauses.
"I don't necessarily think this is true. I'm sure they take away some of the artist's creativity and sometimes get in the way of the creative process, but at the same time, they could be nurturing," said Care.
Being a homeless teen at age 16, she believes she was lucky to be signed at this tender age. They even paid for her rehab and rent, aside from launching her music career.
"Sometimes you could get jaded to work for a band because a big label signed them. But I'm biased because I've had so much help from the record company from the resources they've given me," said Care.
But regardless of record label, Care says that she usually writes at least 5 songs at once, unless she's writing a song with someone else. Then, she'll focus one one.
"I flew to L.A from Canada to write with Chantal Kreviazuk. Her family was so sweet and cool," said Care, gushing, "This meant a lot to me because there was more talent put together."
Together they wrote many songs including "Dead Honey". Kreviazuk's talent, paired with Care's, was a bulletproof combination.
All in all, with all the chaotic dust of the music industry settling for Die Mannequin, and all of the work being put into the new album, Die Mannequin is on fire. Care says that she is really grateful for all this success that the record companies have granted her, and is excited for the new album.
"I was spoiled and lucky for all the help the record companies have given me," said Care, "I'm lucky to have been signed and write songs to pay for the cost of living. Now that's pretty cool."
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