Interview: Evil Tongues

Jarod Smith

Mar 29, 2022

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Mike: Both my parents are musicians and had played in a band together before I was born. I was surrounded by music my whole childhood so it was inevitable that I’d discover my love for music and for playing. If I didn’t get into music I would have either ended up in Neuroscience or Pro-Wrestling. There’s no in between!

Jen: I’ve been hyper focused on a career in the music industry from a very young age. I started dancing at the age of 2 and started training with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Voice at the age of 8. My parents also both had very eclectic musical tastes exposing me to everything from The Smashing Pumpkins, Brian Eno, Wall of Voodoo, to my Mum’s love of bubblegum music from the 1960’s and everything in between. I am a trained Hairdresser and Barber, but I even told the head of admissions that I was only there as a way to make sure I could always pay the bills while pursuing a musical career.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Mike: Art, Video Games, Movies, Exercise and Travel/Nature are all a constant source of inspiration and passtime for me.

Jen: I’m a big solo road trip person, a few years back I drove from Toronto Ontario down to Key West Florida. I stayed in a hostel for a few days then made my way back home along the east coast. For me a trip like that is a creativity recharge. Outside of that I’m really into yoga, pilates, swimming, hiking, and lately I have a real desire to learn how to play squash.

How long has your band been around?

Mike: As Evil Tongues we formed and began writing in 2017 and released our first single January of this year.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Mike: We recently relocated and are currently based out of Vancouver, BC, Canada. In regards to how that will influence our sound remains to be seen!

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

Mike: Evil Tongues was the name of a synthesizer patch we used when we started writing together. The name has an edge to it, and I strive to write music that lives up to that.

Jen: For me I connected to the name right away, most of my lyrics are about bad relationships or mental health battles so there is this real sense of negative speech whether the words are coming from myself or the lips of someone else. “Evil Tongues” just seemed to encompass that perfectly.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Mike: We’ve yet to make our live debut.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Mike: We’re planning on making our live debut this year. Would love to line up a Festival date if we can.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Mike: Any of the following: Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, White Lies, Chvrches, Pvris.

Jen: I second what Mike said, we’re really on the same page with what our dream line ups would be. White Lies would probably be my first choice at this time, they’ve been a huge influence for me over the last few years.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Mike: Find that thing that makes you want to play, makes you want to be on stage, and use it as motivation. Put time in on your craft and have fun doing it. As primarily a drummer in my youth, I would have told my younger self to practice a bit more piano!

Jen: Be brave and trust yourself. Music is a hard thing, it requires you to be so vulnerable while simultaneously being hit with so much criticism. True success is showing up for yourself everyday and putting the work in. Whether you end up playing arenas or your friends' garage, if it makes you happy that's all that matters.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Mike: Start writing music sooner! Honestly wouldn’t change a thing so I’d just go back in time and look back at myself and remember how I got to where I am today.

Jen: I’d probably tell myself to start playing guitar way sooner than I did. I’ve played on and off since I was 13, only really putting serious time into it in the last 5 years. I’d love to be so much stronger at it than I currently am.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Mike: We’re just getting started! For now they all mean so much to me. There’s no favourite child.