We Were Lovers become present-tense lovers

by Chaka V. Grier

January 16, 2014

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In 2008, We Were Lovers was a six-piece band with an indie rock/pop sound. Ash Lamothe and his brother found lead vocalist Elsa Gebremichael, and the original line-up went on to release an EP entitled The Breakup. But it turned out the CD release party would dually serve as the band’s announcement that they were actually parting ways.

“There was just a few people in the band that didn’t really want to pursue music as more than a hobby and Ash and I did,” explains Gebremichael from her home in Saskatoon. “I remember being really bummed out about it because I was excited about the new project. [Ash] called me and said that he wanted to continue making music with me. So we started playing music, just the two of us.”

No longer dispersing We Were Lovers’ energy amongst many voices, the pair focused on their personal influences: for Lamothe, ‘80s Madonna and the Cure. For Gebremichael, Blondie, Fleetwood Mac, Talking Heads, Tears for Fears (and a mutual favourite, the Beatles). Their sound evolved as they found themselves relying more on loops, drum machines, and synthesizers.

“With the lack of members and us layering our own ideas, [the music] is more concentrated into an electro-pop genre. Ash and I were always the main songwriters, so I don’t think that’s changed too much, but we’re definitely growing and progressing.”

The duo went on to release an eponymous 2010 EP. And fittingly, the pair also became present-tense lovers. “Yeah,” laughs Gebremichael. “It’s funny that we became a duo and now we are a couple.” 

Earlier this year, WWL started working on a full length album, the successfully fan-funded new release, Pyramids (the title came to Gebremichael as an epiphany after a night of bowling), a diverse, intertwined mix of genres. The single “Islands”—a fan favourite—has already been used in a popular U.S. magazine’s fashion week video.

Never off the road for long, the pair, known for electric live performances and sexy stage chemistry, can’t wait to take Pyramids to the people.

“Oh, I love it,” says Gebremichael about touring. “It’s amazing to be in a new city almost every day, play to new crowds, do new things, see new things, and meet new people, but the fact that we get to play every night is just so much fun. And it sounds cheesy to say, but it just feels like we were put on earth to do that.”

This article originally appeared in the December 2013 Issue of AUX Magazine.

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Tags: Music, Cancon, Interviews, AUX Magazine December 2013

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