Music

HIGH FIVES: Forest City Lovers

by Sam Sutherland

Every week, High Fives asks five bands five themed questions over five days. This week, we’re ruminating on the DVD release of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World with questions about music in film.

Emerging from the burgeoning solo career of Toronto-by-way-of-Whitby songwriter Kat Burns, Forest City Lovers debuted in 2008 with Haunting Moon Sinking. Following two acclaimed, independently released albums from Burns that had Radio 3 listeners regularly filling the cup, Haunting saw her delicate folk expanding to incorporate the multi-instrumental skills of friends from bands like the D’ubervilles, Ohbijou, and Evening Hymns. With the viral success of the too-cute-to-live video for “If I Were A Tree”, the band furthered the reach of their twee folk-pop, paving the way for the critical success of Carriage, their second full-length. Did we mention how cute that video is? Shit’s crazy.

Have you seen Juno, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Youth in Revolt, Scott Pilgrim or any other recent movie that (often painfully) references independent music culture? How do they make you feel?

I have seen all of the above and, other than Michael Cera overload, they make me feel pretty good. Sometimes it’s a little forced, but I’m glad movies are into the little guys these days. It’s also nice to sometimes hear our friends in the soundtracks.

What’s your favourite music-movie ever?

Soundtrack: Empire Records. Movie about music: Spinal Tap tied with Hard Core Logo.

If you could appear as a band in the background any film, what film would you want to be in?

In Wayne’s World, opening up for Crucial Taunt.

Have you ever licensed your music to a movie, television show, or video game? Ever turned down a licensing offer?

Yes, licensed it in spots varying from cop shows to German television. Turned down things, yes, but we can’t talk about those of course.

Does Lee Ving appearing in the film adaptation of Clue make Fear cooler, or less cool?

After giving the best SNL performance ever, it is impossible for Fear to be anything but cool.