Interview with GROWERS

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

• Matt (guitar) — I got into music when I was introduced to classic rock at a young age. I picked up the guitar at age 13 and haven’t stopped playing since. I am also a big fan of movies, so if I wasn’t doing music, I would spend more time writing scripts, and making short films.

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

• When not playing music, the band spends time together hanging out at bars, park, and at each other’s houses in Toronto. This time together brings us closer and helps make the songwriting process more natural.

How long has your band been around?

• GROWERS formed in the summer of 2019 in Toronto Ontario.

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

• GROWERS is based in downtown Toronto. There are a lot of punk rock bands coming out of the city—The Dirty Nil, Pup, the OBGMs, to name a few. While GROWERS’ sound is far more Pop-Punk, we are influenced heavily by the heavy sounds of the city and try to incorporate them into our live shows and some of our recorded material.

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

• Simply, GROWERS is a dirty pun. However, the band is technically named after the Canadian cider brand GROWERS, while brothers Matt (guitar) and Chris (drums) cleaned up after a party.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

• One of GROWERS’ best live performances was at the El Mocambo Main Stage in May 2022. This was a sold out show alongside the band’s friends—Burlington locals Pacific Estate. One song from this performance (Insomniac), was recorded and released as a live single on all streaming platforms, and as a music video. Watch ‘Insomniac (Live At The El Mocambo)’ now on YouTube.

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

• One of our favourite venues to play at is the Horseshoe Tavern. It’s one of the most well-known venues in the cities, and it’s location is unbeatable. GROWERS are excited to make their return to the Horseshoe this winter. It will be their first Toronto show in almost 5 months. We hope to one day play the Phoenix Concert Theatre.

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

• GROWERS (opener), The Dirty Nil, Pup.

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?

• Some good advice: stay true to yourself, and put in the work.

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

• I would tell my younger self to write the songs that I want to write—the music that makes me happy. You got the best songs that way.

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

• Though there’s not much deep meaning behind it, GROWERS’ song ‘The 90’s’ really helped the band find it’s own sound. Before this, GROWERS experimented with heavier songs, ‘Hot Anxiety’ and ‘I’m Not The Madman’. Even though we love and sometimes perform them, after ‘The 90’s’, the band distinguished a signature pop-punk sound that was solidified on their first EP, Rock Hard.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

• One of our favourite songs to play live is a heavier track, ’Hot Anxiety’. Playing these fast and hard hitting songs is always fun, and they get the crowd moving. Our most requested song may be our first single, ‘I Can’t Help It’, which is easy to dance and sing along-to.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

• Dealing with every day struggles and situations—both band and good-inspires me to write music (Matt—guitar). When I feel a strong emotion, I usually sit down with an acoustic guitar and consult my lyrics note on my phone—A long list of lyrical ideas I periodically add to.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

• The main message GROWERS gets across in their music is have fun. This is most obvious in songs like Second Vacation, Electrifier, and The 90’s These songs encourage the listener to let loose, or even go crazy (as seen in the Electrifier music video). The fun aspect of GROWERS music is definitely personified most during their live shows when they put on a high energy show and encourage heavy crowd involvement.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

• The band gets along really well. We’re friends first and foremost. Making music and playing shows together is one of the things we all enjoy most about life. There’s no disagreement that can’t be solved over a cold beer and a cool smoke.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

• GROWERS will be releasing another single this winter from their upcoming EP, ‘Cry Baby’. The band’s two most recent singles, ‘Insomniac’, and ‘TTYL’ are the first two releases from this upcoming six track record.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

• Find GROWERS on all social media platforms @growersband, and on all streaming platforms.