Tenth Planet
Toronto based Tenth Planet mixes heavy undertones with intelligent lyrics for a unique but instantly infectious, fresh sound. Lead vocalist Martin, adds even more flavor to the mix with his easily recognizable vocals. This is definitely a band to keep an eye on over the next year.
Listen to the track “See Yourself” while you read the interview:
Tenth Planet are: Martin Ouelette, Johnny Pegg, Mauro Scatozza, and Brian Paul.
Interview by Kat
XS BS: How did you initially get your start in music?
Brian P: I studied cello in high school, but realized it was too hard to rock out to kashmir while seated, so i decided to teach myself the guitar!
XS BS: How did the members of Tenth Planet originally all hook up?
Brian P: Me and our singer Martin started the band around 2000, we found each other via an ad in Toronto’s “Now magazine”, one of those indie newspapers. And our rhythm section we found through friends.
XS BS: Does the name “Tenth Planet” have a significant meaning to the band?
Brian P: You know, I could say yes, but honestly, when we started the band, we compiled a bunch of names and that’s the one that jumped out.
XS BS: The sound of Tenth Planet is both heavy and light at times. Was this just an organic sound or was it a direction that you intentionally decided upon?
Brian P: Well, I write all the music and our singer writes all the melodies and lyrics. Coming from a purely musical direction, it’s definitely a conscious thing I’m going for, to put the heavy and light together. That comes from my love of the classic rock/metal bands like Zeppelin and especially Black Sabbath. I don’t think we sound like either of those bands, but they’re a huge influence on me songwriting-wise. Look at an album like Sabbath’s Master of Reality, it’s got some of the heaviest music around, at least at that point in time, but intertwined with stuff like Children of the Grave there is just absolutely beautiful acoustic interludes, which I think makes the heavy stuff sound heavier! Simply put, it’s about creating dynamics, which I absolutely love. As a fan of music, that’s what I’m drawn to as a listener, and as a songwriter, that’s what I’m drawn too when writing.
XS BS: Jeff Martin produced your previous album and the current one - how did you hook up with Jeff?
Brian P: We recorded an album in 2003 which got into his hands via a friend of a friend. He was always my dream choice as producer, so we gave him the cd and asked if he’d be interested in working with us, and he said yes! We definitely have the some of the same musical references which helps, we both love Zeppelin and U2 for example.
XS BS: You recorded the album in several locations; what was the recording process
like for this album?
Brian P: Yeah, we did most of it in Toronto and also spent a week in Ireland…the first batch was done at Orange Lounge Studios in Toronto, we did 7 songs there and were initially going to release that as an Ep, but realized an Ep is very limiting in how far you can promote it, so we kept writing and then went over to Jeff’s studio in Ireland to do 5 more songs…unfortunately our drummer brought the flu with him, so the plague hit and we weren’t able to finish all we could, we ALL got really sick. So when we got back to Toronto, Jeff wasn’t able to come with us because of his own tour committments, and Mike Turner came on board to track the rest of it, and then Mike Langford mixed it here at the pocket studios!
XS BS: You guys are not currently on a label. Are you looking for a label right now or happy to remain indie?
Brian P: We’re definitely looking for a label, know any!? We’ve had a few offers from indie labels but the catch is that they want us to put our own money into manufacturing cds, touring, etc….so we’re just looking for something with a bit more substance right now. We’re not looking for a million dollar deal, but don’t want to get into any more debt as well!
XS BS: Which artists currently inspire you and why?
Brian P: Me and our singer share a love for Alice In Chains and U2, so I’ll often say if you want to categorize us say we’re U2 meets Alice In Chains, which kinda sounds strange, but i think it applies to us. Other than that, like I mentioned, I love Zeppelin and Sabbath, and other bands like Queen and Stone Temple Pilots.
XS BS: Who has had the biggest musical influence on your career?
Brian P: I basically learned to play guitar to STP, they’re a huge influence on me. I had the guitar tablature books for their first two albums and they were like my musical bibles. I studied those books for hours at a time, they taught me about song structure, chords, pretty much everything.
XS BS: What has been the highlight of your musical career so far?
Brian P: I have a few highlights, the first was meeting Jeff Martin for the first time. I loved the Tea Party and to actually meet him as another musician to musician, instead of as a fan asking for an autograph or something, was like a dream come true. Another was a festival we played in Holland, there were like 12, 000 in the audience and just to know we were playing to so many people, and that we actually made it to Europe to play was incredible. And the third is meeting Tony Iommi, we were finalists in a contest he had via his radio show in the Uk, so when Sabbath came to Canada last year I got to meet him, again, as one musician to another, I still can’t believe that!
XS BS: Since you are a guitarist I must of course ask…what are your weapons of choice (guitar & any special gear)?
Brian P: I’m endorsed by a great guitar company in Barrie called Dot on Shaft, my main live guitar is one of their signature guitars, looks like a Les Paul but with a beautiful quilted finish on it…..I put a Tony Iommi Gibson pickup in it and it sounds amazing! My other main guitars are a black Gibson Explorer which I’ve used live for a few years and was my main guitar in Europe, and a new black Gibson Sg standard. For amps, I’ve been using the same amp for about 10 years now, a peavey 5150 head and marshall jcm 800 4×12 cabinet.
XS BS: Any weird pre or post show rituals you care to share?
Brian P: No, nothing too crazy, but we’ve been known to enjoy a beverage or three
after shows.
XS BS: What’s currently playing on your Ipod?
Brian P: The new Metallica album!!! I love it. and Howard Stern, I love Howard
Stern….
XS BS: Any upcoming tour plans we should know about?
Brian P: Yeah, we were THIS CLOSE to getting back to Europe this December, but those plans fell through at the last second, so we’re re-scheduling that for February/March, hopefully that’ll work out, Europe is the market we want to focus on.
XS BS: And lastly, when people leave a Tenth Planet concert, what one word describes how you’d like them to be feeling and/or thinking?
Brian P: Breathless!
