The Harvest was kind enough to chat with us at Aurora Studios.  After a couple of beers and some vodka coolers we decided to pull out the camera and shoot a raw music video for them.  Check it out below!

Hi guys, can you tell us a little bit about The Harvest?

The Harvest has been a working idea for many years now, but, we last formed in June of 2010 when Jeremiah and myself (Darren) were hosting a party at our studio (Aurora Studios) for some clients.

Previously, we had been playing together for about ten years, and joined up with drummer, Mark, in 2004 shortly after moving to Vancouver from Victoria.
At the time we had put the word out that we were looking for a vocalist, particularly a female.

It was at this party where one of our clients set us up to meet. We heard her sing for about a minute and immediately decided to bring her in. It was like a scene from one of those music movies. She moved in to our house a month later and we’ve been writing and performing together since.

How would you describe your sound?

You could say that people with ADHD would relate to our sound. We kind of go all over the map. From pop-punk to jazzy blues to reggae – sometimes all within the same song. Lately I’ve been describing it as West Coast Pop-Guitar-Rock. We’re not really in to making the same song over and over again, so we just go with wherever the muse takes us and then polish it up.

How did the album come about?

There is no traditional album to speak of. The way our industry is moving, the traditional album is on the way out. There has been a physical disconnect that has occurred between the fan and the music. The way in which it was perceived as whole, and as a complete work of art, is no longer true. We’re not really listening to albums the same way – where we digest every word and every note through years of enjoyment. We’ve become a society of, “what else do ya got?” Or “what have you made this week?”. So what we’re doing now is releasing one or two songs at a time. We’ve coined them as “Looseys”.

Who does most of the songwriting?

The songwriting is a collective process – even if one person brings in a complete idea. It takes all of us to make a song into a memorable sound-bite which is as best as it can be. We’re like U2 in that way because then there is less of a chance for inner-conflict and egos where money and ownership is involved.

What does The Harvest have in store for the future?

There is a laundry list of goals we would like to achieve. Among them is a world tour, as well as the liberation of western pop music from the grips of those whom force-feed us the formulaic tripe which is pumped out to raise our kids. Let’s bring musicians back and let them be musicians again.

You just got back room a small tour, can you tell us a little about
that?

We just did a three-day trip through Kelowna, Salmon Arm, and the little cottage community of Sunshine Valley – that was a gig for the books..fireworks and all..

You have a song called “Pot Head’s Life,” what is it that you support about marijuana?

The individual and their right for personal choice.

Do you think legalization or decriminalization of marijuana would
help or benefit society?

We’re about as political as the Afroman song, Because I Got High – but decriminalization kind of just says that we’re not so open about things, and that we’re just going to pretend that it’s not there. There are many legitimate economic, as well as social, reasons for legalization. You would really see the entrepreneurial spirit in people as whole new industries are created almost overnight. The global brand name recognition of BC Bud is phenomenal. The potential that is there, if you were able to take that and market it legally, is virtually unlimited.

What is your favorite type of marijuana?

We prefer Sativa and Indica blends, and varietals which produce rich fruity flavours. Hints of grapefruit, lemon, or blueberry make for a happy palette. It’s amazing how much variety there is available in just the flavour of smoke. Cannabis Reviewer must be the best job in the world. “100 points from this vintage!”

Do you know anyone who is benefitting from medical marijuana?

Sure have, just recently met someone whom overcame Vertigo with the use of Cannabis. He doesn’t even like getting high.

In what ways has marijuana benefited you, spiritual, mentally and or artistically?

Well we wouldn’t have written A Pothead’s Life, without some inspiration from somewhere…  Seriously, if you need a Cannabis Reviewer, call me.

The Harvest are; Shauna Meloche, Darren Lee,  Jeremiah Johnson and Mark Stone.

Camera by Sheng Ho – shenghocreative@gmail.com

Editing by Jason Pawlett – vanmusic.ca