Music

Unfinished Business might be Canada's youngest punk band

by Josiah Hughes

Toronto-based three-piece punk group Unfinished Business have been bringing the youthful energy since 2010. And we mean youthful — three years in, the three band members range in age from 13 to 14 years old. While their age certainly plays a role in the kinds of songs they’re writing (you won’t find any raging anarcho anthems or drug celebrations here), they’re still a wildly creative force, offering terse, short bursts of pop charm that come across more subtle than simple. Maybe that’s why they’ve achieved things that adult bands would only dream of, like opening for Fucked Up as part of their Long Winter concert series, or being interviewed for AUX.TV.

The band is currently putting the finishing touches on their debut album (which features a cover of Negative Approach’s “Why Be Something That You’re Not”), which they hope to release on vinyl via a crowdsourcing campaign. I talked to frontwoman Sita about playing in bands as a kid and what her new album will sound like. She, in turn, revealed an affinity for glammy metalcore band Black Veil Brides and neck tattoo-sporting post-hardcore pretty boys Pierce the Veil. Who knew?

What is each of your names and what do you do in the band? How old are you all now?

Sita – Guitar and Singing, 13

Layla – Bass, 14

Fiona – Drums, 13

AUX: When did Unfinished Business start? Where did the name come from?

Sita: In 2010. We used to be called Food Fight but we thought it was too childish.

How did you get the idea to start a band?

I’ve been in bands since I was 7. I moved to a new school and asked the other girls to start a band.

How has the band changed since then?

It hasn’t changed that much, like we just want to have fun.

What’s the best part of being in Unfinished Business?

Spending time together having fun.

What’s the worst part of being in Unfinished Business?

It hurts my fingers when I play guitar for a long time.

How often do you practice and where? Tell me what you usually do at practice.

A couple of times a week in my basement. Practice a song and then talk for a while, then practice another song and talk for a while and we keep doing that till we practice all the songs twice and then we just hang out.

How do you write songs?

We all come up with ideas together and then I write them

Who are some of your favourite bands and why?

Black Veil Brides, because they seem nice and funny and they don’t think they’re better than everybody. Same with Pierce the Veil. When I was younger I really liked AC/DC because I liked to sing along with their songs.

Tell me about your new album. What’s it called? What does it sound like?

It’s going to be called Mix and Mash. It sounds like fun punk rock, really short songs and there will be remixes of a lot of the songs on the album done by different producers in all different styles.

Are you getting excited to go back to school, or are you nervous?

I’m not nervous but I’m not excited either.

What do your schoolmates think of your band? Or do they not know about it?

Our friends know and they think that it’s cool, but other than that people don’t really know about it.

What advice to you have for young people who want to start a band?

Do it.

Is there anything else we need to know about Unfinished Business?

Our first show was in a movie theatre! Thanks!