Interview by tosnob

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Australian duo An Horse are set to play Tranzac on March 13th as part of Canadian Music Week. I had the chance to talk to Kate Cooper of the band while they were driving somewhere between Denver and Minneapolis.

Here's my conversation with Kate:

T.O. Snob: First off, thanks for agreeing to do this with us. How is the tour going? Kate Cooper: It's going well, we're only three days in, four days in. Early days yet but it's fun it's going well.

T.O. Snob: You're coming to Toronto to play Canadian Music Week on March 13th, will this be your first time in Toronto? KC: No, I actually have been there before a few years back but Damon hasn't. It will be our first time playing together there.

T.O. Snob: When you come to a festival like CMW or SXSW, which I know you're playing the following week, do you get much of a chance to check out the other bands that are playing? KC: I'd like to say we do, but really it's usually just so busy that it just doesn't happen. Just getting time to do anything and then when you do get a bit of spare time I'm usually the one who pipes and goes to my room and reads or watches T.V. or something. No doubt there are band's I'm sure that I'd like to check out so if we can fit it in we will definitely do it.

T.O. Snob: You're album is out now digitally and it comes out on CD on March 17th. What can folks expect from the record? KC: Wow, I don't know that's a good question. I think it's concise, catchy and I think they're well crafted songs that make sense as an album.

T.O. Snob: What inspires you two to write? KC: I write songs generally whenever I get a chance. I think everything kind of inspires. It's just something to do, writing about what's going on around me and what I'm reading about things like that. It's not very tricky stuff I think.

T.O. Snob: Now you guys have a Canadian connection as well having toured and worked with Tegan & Sara, what was it like working with them? KC: Well we went on tour with them and Sara helped us out a little on the record. They're great, they're amazing girls. The tour was great because they are such a well-oiled machine we worked so much for them. Touring with other people is kind of different now because we did so much with them you kind of get these high expectations that they always met. They're fantastic and so unbelievably supportive. We have fun. We sometimes have too much fun with them which can be dangerous.

T.O. Snob: If you could tour with anybody in the world who would it be? KC: Them. Yeah.

T.O. Snob: We often think of Australians as Canadians who got a better deal on the weather. KC: Well that's debatable. We would say you got the better deal since you don't have to suffer through the sweltering heat.

T.O. Snob: Wait until you get up here in a couple of days. KC: I know, I know. We've been trying to buy jackets. We're getting closer to Minnesota and it's getting colder and I'm getting scared.

T.O. Snob: What would you say the biggest difference is between Australians and Canadians? KC: Wow, I could tell you a whole lot of similarities. The difference between Australians and Americans is a lot easier. Biggest difference I guess it could just be the weather. Essentially we're from the Commonwealth and we're probably all convicts sent out here and you up north, we just got sent to the bottom of the world.

T.O. Snob: What would you say your guiltiest musical pleasures are? KC: I don't really think I'm guilty, I don't feel guilty. I love Kylie Minogue but I never get guilty. I think some people get shocked when I out myself.

We just bought a Joe Jackson record off of iTunes. We both kind of grew up listening to it and we were a little bit disappointed it just sounds terrible. Those Casio drum beats didn't really blow my mind. We're enjoying Metallica, but that's not guilty.

I don't ever really feel guilty because it all influences us and it all has a point. There are things I listened to growing up that I still love. You can't deny those things that happen to you.

T.O. Snob: Speaking of things that happen to you, did Damon really get kicked in the head by a goat? KC: I think so let me double check. Actually he got butted in the stomach by a goat, like head butted. I don't even know why he was that close to a goat.

T.O. Snob: Is there anything else you'd like to say to your fans in Toronto? KC: Just that we're really looking forward to getting up to Canada. We've been waiting since we've begun so we're thoroughly excited to be up there, and excited to look like Australians who are trying to keep warm. I've been asking my Canadian friends to help me out, you know, help me not look like an Australian trying to keep warm and help me fit in a little better.

We just can't wait. I love Toronto, it's a great city.

T.O. Snob: Thanks for taking the time to do this.