Beams Interview (Thanks for Asking!)

In this edition of Thanks for Asking, we interview Anna Mernieks of the band Beams. Interview by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Every comic book hero has an origin story. What is the origin story for the band? (points if you tell it like a comic book origin.)

AM: In the sleepy suburb of Brampton, Ontario, local teen Anna Mernieks could be found writing poetry in a bohemian skirt, learning Led Zeppelin riffs and how to make Kraft dinner. One of three kids being shepherded through adolescence by an overworked single father, her imagination for a future was limited to two options – shift manager at Starbucks or McDonald’s? But something was stirring in the other suburbs flanking the great nexus of Toronto – the gears were already in motion, preparing the scene for our unsuspecting songstress. Over in Mississauga, Heather Mazhar was kicking ass and taking singing competition trophies. Up in Aurora, Martin Crawford was blasting Blur and learning to code. Mike Duffield was rocking the block from the tubs in his parents’ basement. Brothers Keith and Dave Hamilton were scientifically learning how to string out melodies on anything that could melod, and out on the outskirts, the last stop before the lights go out on the highway, resident bassman Craig Moffatt was having the mysterious cube inked on his oft-concealed thigh. Slowly these drifters felt the call to the City, an uncanny familiarity as each member met each other at Steve’s Music and other regular haunts. As if called by a dream, they formed bands, ran shows, laying the groundwork and by the time Anna bought her last one-way GO Bus ticket out of town, they were ready for her to join them. As trouble beset Anna and her high-school bands fell apart she was left with a clean slate of time to hang around the Boat in Kensington Market at every free moment. The Boat – the home of Hamilton Trading Company, run by one Keith Hamilton, starring Heather Mazhar and Mike Duffield, among others, whose stories will be left for another time. Within this community of generous musical gift-sharing, a small group formed. Keith brought his brother Dave, and Dave brought our Oshawaiian Craig, and partway into the recording of their first album, Anna found Martin ripping lap steel under a table with the Sure Things at the Dakota Tavern. This group was now comprised of friends, family members, and lovers, and called BEAMS, for their superpowers of providing support and carrying loads.

RRX: Every band’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?

AM: The first album was a collection of songs that Anna had already written and had been performing as a duo with an upright bass player who eventually had to quit and take a better-paying gig in an ABBA cover band. As BEAMS formed around her songs it became clear that the original album had to be scrapped and started anew to capture the group’s energy. The songs were all written on banjo, which lended itself to slightly more country-ish arrangements that incorporated singing saw, lap steel and mandolin. So anyway, technically the first album never came into existence, but was redone and came out as Just Rivers, recorded with Peter J Moore in Toronto in his gorgeous and slightly hidden studio. Anna slowly got back into guitar in the years following that release, and Martin gravitated away from lap steel toward the more regular guitar as well. Dave Hamilton left the band, and Keith moved from singing saw to vibraphone, so the sound changed from a strange brand of art-country to more of a psychedelic-folk-rock thing. The new record is definitely more intense, with heavier moments, and also more patient, spacier parts. It was recorded in New Paltz, NY at Marcata Recording with Kevin McMahon.

RRX: Like songs, every band has a unique feeling about their first show. What was your first show like? Was it your best show? If not, what was your best show like?

AM: Our first show was a residency at Not My Dog (RIP) in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto. We basically formed over the course of a month or so, the first show being a trio or maybe a quartet of Anna, Heather, Dave and Irene (the original guitarist, she was also in the Hamilton Trading Company), and in some ways maybe the residency as a whole was our best show because it laid the foundation for our community. We’ve been lucky to have a lot of great shows over the years. Maybe another one of the best ones was for our album release for Teach Me to Love at the Smiling Buddha (RIP, sorta, unfortunately that place was tainted). That show happened before the place divebombed though, and it just felt like flying, being on that stage and seeing so many supportive friends and fans and family. But we’ve had tons of fun shows that are great for different reasons – like being surprised by singing fans at Valley of Vapors in Arkansas, or having a blast opening for Eyelids, or playing on a floating stage surrounded by pillars of fire. Sometimes something about the vibe just clicks and it all feels magical.

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some bands. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

AM: We’re definitely not a genre band. Most of the band members have always been into some form of outsider rock or folk, outsider in the sense of just messing with instrumentation, form, sound in experimental ways. We’ve all got a healthy dose of guilty pleasure pop influences from across the ages too, so we’re not afraid of doing things that are recognizable, but we didn’t go into it with the mentality of being the new “it” band in a certain scene and making a bunch of dough or something, we came to it with the attitude of exploring musical ideas together and applying our creative skills to Anna’s songs, which are always changing stylistically as she finds new influences.

RRX: It’s a lot of fun living in the present, but we all collect memories and give birth to dreams. We’re talking dreams here. Where you see yourself next year? In the next five years?

AM: Next year we hope to be touring our new album. I know. So typical! And in five years…. touring the next album! haha. Hopefully to more and more people, so we can sustain this thing and keep doing it. It’s hard to see a way forward and things are always changing, but that’s the dream.

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow bands. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

AM: I definitely admire Skye Wallace, she works super hard at her craft and is consistently putting herself out there, touring, posting, engaging, etc. I also have a lot of admiration for Jose Contreras, he’s been in the game for so long and seems to keep finding ways to keep it fresh – By Divine Right’s new album is awesome and he’s been making great records with other folks too. It’s been exciting to see hardworking bands like Kali Horse and Bonnie Trash start to get substantial attention and respect. Our friends Burs are making beautiful music together and gathering fans around their pure love for it, which is beautiful to see. I think that everyone who’s working on expressing their vision and getting it to people/getting out in front of people deserves some admiration, because it takes a ton of work and investment, often for very intangible returns.