interview: Shades of blue
Joe Paling, Associate Staff Writer
My Project: Blue plays the Railway Club on Friday, October 21.
The colour blue is often associated with sadness. Not so with My Project: Blue, whose music is interesting, mesmerising, and painted with the sounds of all emotions - not just what we think of when we remember Picasso's use of the cold colour.
While their music is difficult to describe, they make the job a little easier, suggesting it is "ethereal, obtuse, '70s inspired synth-rock." The group is fronted by Chad Blue, who plays acoustic guitar clad in a green suit. They like to avoid being compared to '70s bands, like Boston and the Eagles, led by similar instrumentation.
"No! None, whatsoever," the band stated in a semi-rehearsed chorus when asked if the bands influenced their sound.
One acoustic-guitar-strumming genius did play into the mix - this being, of course, David Bowie. Chad is especially fond of mentioning the musician as an influence.
"Just a little bit," he humbly stated.
Chad has been performing under the name My Project: Blue since 1996, during which time he has self-released several tape demos and CD-Rs.
"Totally out of print," Chad Blue said, mentioning the old stuff. "Our self-titled EP is our first commercial, proper release."
The album - engineered by Jesse Gander and produced by Scott Walker of the Salteens - is out on local label Boompa Records. Also on Boompa are Billy and the Lost Boys, former Weezer member Matt Sharpe, Run Chico Run, and the Salteens. Chad speaks highly of their labelmates.
"Run Chico Run is a great Victoria band," he said. Referring to the rest of the catalogue, Chad announced, "We listen to it all the time."
While Chad has been performing with this group name for almost 10 years, he was hesitant to compare his older work with what the group is now releasing.
"It's a new time. Kind of like the old is old, and we don't do it anymore," Chad explained. "Y'know, now we're rockin' it."
Compared to when Chad first started singing and recording acoustic songs on a tape-deck in his Vancouver Island bedroom, the group definitely has more of a rock feel. Formed on the Island, My Project: Blue has been a Vancouver staple for three and a half years, since Chad moved over here and started taking over the music scene.
Today, the lineup includes five musicians. Chad, Jill, and Ben are the nerve centre, whose images grace press photos and album art. Dylan and Caleb join them live to complete the body that is My Project: Blue.
Chad is vehement in announcing that their growth and evolution will not stop at five members.
"We're going to get a symphony, and more back-up singers. We're just going to pull them off the street," Chad promised. He also mentioned a "wide range of accessories for this fall," the details of which he wouldn't divulge.
My Project: Blue's new EP is available now, all over town. You can also see them at the Boompa Records showcase along with other bands from the label including Lee Roy Stagger, Catlow, Run Chico Run, and the Salteens. Chad promises that it will be a "hell of a show!"