Man Chat is a 5 man group from Vancouver, BC who seem to represent the quintessential indie 'good guys' rock band. The group’s quirky, eccentric personalities play right in to their music, creating a signature relaxed stage presence; not to mention Man Chat's catchy & compelling songs.
Man Chat’s members bring a natural musical talent that has earned the band a loyal following of local fans, plus several victories on the Supernova stage. Hitting The Dodson Rooms in November, the band won First place and took home recording time and a spot at the HYSTERIA Finals. This also gave them a chance to perform in front of key industry members and fans, who were all very receptive to the band’s unique style.
Amidst the band’s preparation for the HYSTERIA Finals, we managed to grab a quick interview with the members of Man Chat. As they compete in the fan-voted Wildcard, it seems like the perfect time to discover this promising indie sound…
Introducing Man Chat:
Mikhail Din - Guitar/Vocals
Keillor MacLeod - Keys/Vocals
Torben Robertson - Lead Guitar
Matiya Shunamon - Bass
Brendan Conner - Drums
So how did you get your name, and what got you where you stand as a band today?
We started out as a 3 piece band, back in 2010 and have evolved ever since, in to what is now a 5 piece band. We realized girls had their "gossip" but guys didn't have an equivalent; so we came up with the term "Man Chat" which eventually became our band name. When we started, we were just a bunch of guys jamming in a garage; we never expected to come along as far as we have. We love what we do, and will keep doing it for years to come...
You definitely look like you love doing it. How would you describe your sound?
We all have really different musical backgrounds, and our sound reflects that. We take the west coast indie sound we grew up around, and bring in our own backgrounds and interests to create something we think is a very unique spin on the traditional indie rock.
What do you think is the most rewarding thing about being in a band?
Not only do we all love to write/play/perform music, but every time we do play, we play with 4 of our best friends that we have known for 15 years. It is more than just music to us.
What has been your most memorable moment together?
Because we have all been such good friends for so long, there have been some great things we have all done together... We have walked down the sea wall with a guitar, a ukulele and just sung our hearts out; we have partied with crowds after a great show; we have gotten in to and out of trouble together... really it's hard to pick one memorable moment. I think the band and the fun we have had playing together has been a collection of excellent adventures.
How did your band find Supernova?
We heard about it through the internet and seeing as it is free, we signed up. Thanks to Supernova, we have received multiple shows and some studio time. We would tell other bands to take a few minutes and sign up, it is worth it!
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing ‘new’ artists?
I think one of the biggest challenges is that the music scene is very saturated, and there are a lot of great musicians that are all trying to be heard. I think what has really helped us is our devoted friends that make it out to every show and have always been there to support us.
Fans definitely make the show. What would be your band’s ‘motto’ for playing a good show?
As long as we have fun on stage, the fans will have fun off stage.
Where is your favorite place to practice or play?
One of the members has a cabin on a very small island (Cortes) up north off the coast of Vancouver Island. This is one of the most amazing places we have ever jammed. Surrounded by forests and lakes. what more could we ask for?
(The band really seems to love their home; check out this ode to the 2010 Olympics!)
As a band, do you believe there is such a thing as ‘bad’ music?
We don't have the right to smash on a specific genre that we may dislike. Although we may not appreciate a certain kind of music, there are always bands in these categories that are really good at what they do, and we respect that.
Having said that, even listening to genres we do like, we come across bands that are sometimes just... noise. A lot of noise. Crammed together. You have to admire these bands trying to make it though. They are also, probably, playing music because they love what they do so that cant be bad.
A very wise answer. Is there anything else to share with new listeners?
What we are working on right now is a song where everyone in the band switches instruments. Hopefully it will be good to go for our next show!
Introducing Man Chat:
