Cary Brothers and Unfinished Songs

New CD Who You Are Sees his earlier EPs Take a temporary Backseat

Jun 20, 2007

Before his new album Who You Are came out, indie singer Cary Brothers released 2 EPs. In the final part of our interview, he tells us why they've been shelved for now.

Already a reasonably successful indie artist before the release of his full-length debut Who You Are, Cary Brothers has decided to withdraw his 2 earlier EP's from sale, at least for the time being.

However, with beautiful songs such as Ride, Honestly and Loneliest Girl In The World all making the transit from EP to album, Cary tells us that he sees the EPs as unfinished business. Here, in the final part of our interview with him, he discusses how he'd like to resurrect these earlier songs in the not-too-distant future.

Special thanks go to Cary for being such a wonderful and genial interviewee, and to Jenna LoMonaco at Girlie Action Media for arranging everything.

Cary Brothers Interview Part Seven: Back To The Unfinished Future

Suite: You mentioned earlier that it was great to put unfinished songs up on your website to see what the reaction was from fans when they heard the finished version. Is this one of the reasons you put Blue Eyes on as a bonus track on the new album, as well as Ride, Honestly and Loneliest Girl In The World?

Cary: In a way, yeah. Ride's always been a live favourite, and unless you've seen The Last Kiss, it's probably unlikely you've heard the song, as it was EP only. I just thought it would be cool for people to have on an album, since it is such a live favourite. And Blue Eyes is one that a lot of people have always asked about, so it was nice to get it on there (it's a hidden bonus track at the end of the CD).

Suite: So are there many songs that you've initially previewed at one of your shows, that then ended up on your EPs or this album later on, as opposed to going straight from writing to recording?

Cary: Oh yeah, definitely. I mean, at the end of the day, everything that's on my records still comes out from JUST me sat with my guitar in the corner of my bedroom, and it slowly gets worked out on stage. Then whatever ones get through that are the ones I allow to live (laughs).

Suite: On one of those earlier unreleased tracks you sang that, "Everybody's cool and happy in Canada". Do you still feel that way?

Cary: I f**king love Canada! (laughs). I have another 3 shows lined up here in July – Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver – and every time I come to Canada, I feel like the world eases up. I'm more comfortable, and the people are happier around me. Kestrin Pantera, who's playing cello with me on this tour, actually shed a tear when we crossed the border into Canada, and it was just some weird, magical thing and she just felt better (Cary would go on to recant this tale in Kestrin's presence at the gig that night, much to the crowd's approval). And that's the way I always feel too whenever I come here – I'm going to come back here a lot, man (laughs).

Suite: And of course Canadians will always buy your EPs, because they know what they are!

Cary: Exactly (laughs). I don't know what the distribution deal is in North America, but I'm sure we'll smuggle some EPs over the border for here!

Suite: And finally, in the tradition of fun final questions, if you were a fruit, what would it be and why?

Cary: Um… (laughs). I would have to say… a banana (laughter all round). And no, not for those reasons! Easy there, perv! I'm kind of mushy on the inside, and you have to work a little to get inside me. How about that? Yeah, there you have it – Cary Brothers, the songwriting banana (laughs).

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