Interview with Chad Price
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
I discovered I had an ear for it when I was 7 or 8 years old. I was able to almost immediately play songs on our little household keyboard that I would hear on the radio. It was always just a hobby until I started to develop my own musical taste and got really into John Mayer, D’Angelo, Norah Jones, and Neil Young. They inspired me to try my hand at songwriting for the first time. Once I did, I was hooked and thought there was no better way for me to express myself and feel like myself.
And probably something creative. Maybe I’d be a chef or a carpenter….something that would still allow me to make beautiful things. Not sure though…I never really had a “plan B” after music.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
Just live. I like to keep my plans light and be able to be spontaneous. I love exploring new places, cooking, taking on little household projects and builds, observing life…things like that. I think not thinking about being creative all of the time allows me to better identify when inspiration knocks on my door and better focus when it is time to create.
How long has your band been around?
I’ve been doing this professionally in earnest for 10 years.
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
I was born and raised in London, Ontario. I have lived in Toronto for the last two years and operate from there. The music community in London and Toronto have helped shape me as an artist. So many artists and venues/venue owners were massively influential in allowing me to be a part of a community and to perform live and hone my craft. Having the support of that grassroots community helped me not be afraid to fail and to continue to have a place to grow artistically.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
It’s just my name…Chad Price.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
Playing Music Matters in Singapore with my band was pretty cool. That is still the first and only show I’ve played in Asia…but I can’t wait to get back. Opening for Lights, Walk Off The Earth, and Donovan Woods are also career highlights. Being invited to play a massive festival like Festival d'été de Québec in Quebec City is also a huge honour.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
I’ve always loved playing at some of the smaller Toronto venues like Sneaky Dee’s, Drake Underground, Rivoli, Supermarket…places like that. Also London Music Hall and London Music Club have been staples in my career thus far.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
John Mayer, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Bon Iver, Maggie Rogers, Tom Misch, Feist, and Thundercat
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?
Probably that if you’re actually serious about starting a career in music, be prepared to invest time in yourself. It takes time to become great, to learn how to take a punch and get back up, to learn the industry and players in it, and to learn who you are as an artist. Give yourself time to fail, learn, and grow into who you are meant to be.
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
Exactly what I just said in the previous response.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
They all have their own unique significance, but my song “New Normal” feels special to me. I love songs that are straightforward, stripped down, and honest. That song is all of those things and also probably the most vulnerable I’ve ever been on a song. I love the authenticity, arc, intensity, and rawness of that song.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
“Oceans” is always a fun one to play because it’s so positive and energetic. It’s also an older one so I think a lot of people have had time to let that one sink in and become familiar with. I also love performing “Somehow, Someway” because it’s one of the only songs I get to put my guitar down and just sing all out.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
I don’t really have a built-in creative process. For me, inspiration hits when it hits and it is then up to me to answer or ignore the call. I can’t control when that happens, but I try to respond fully whenever it calls and be fully present with it in order to find out what it wants to say. I feel like I’m a vessel for something beyond me and I just do my best to be a good interpreter.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
There is no set message I like to get across in my music. There is no lyrical or topical agenda. It’s always different. So far, it’s mostly been a way for me to process some of the clutter of my own mind and make sense of some things that I don’t fully understand about myself.
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
I don’t have disagreements in my band because I am my band. When bringing in other musicians to help fill-in the live show, it is mostly a collaborative effort and I feel fortunate to work with such high-caliber musicians. We make the show together.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
My main focus is releasing a new album this summer and regularly getting back on the live stage again. The new album will be here August 25th, and I’ll be playing shows all over Canada starting in July.