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As THE SAINTE CATHERINES get ready to drop their new album, vocalist Hugo sits down with us to talk new sounds, new label, and new outlooks.

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So, you guys recorded this album all by yourselves, acting as self-producers and engineers. Were you guys familiar with this process before hand, and what led to the decision to do the album like this?

Yeah, we did all of our previous record like that except for Dancing For Decadence. We wanted to go back to this so we could feel 100% comfortable, and we could be with each other and hang out and talk about everything, not just music , band and record. We wanted to have control over everything and having only ourselves to blame if we fuck up. Beaudet records bands all the time and i produce bands too. It was nothing new for us, except for the studio which was the biggest and most wonderful studio we ever worked in.

How did the sound of the end result turn out compared to what you thought was going to be the end result?

It’s almost what I had in mind. Maybe a bit more ” punk rock” in the sound in general. I had the idea of doing a more ” rock” record. It’s kind of in between which in the end is better like that.

So, new album, Fire Works. Tell us about it? How does the die-hard fan of the first couple records receive this album?

I don’t know how they will receive it, since it’s not out yet. To me, it’s not that important. I hope some people will like it, cuz it’s the goal of making music, but I think it’s ok and fair, if old ” fans” don’t like it and liked the old stuff better. We did everything with only good intentions and if people like it, we will be very happy, but if they don’t , it doesn’t mean the job we did writing and recording this album is not as good.

Is there a lyrical theme, or reoccurring topic or feel with the lyrics on Fire Works?

It’s about making decisions. Having the guts to say ” fuck this, I’m going home”. Having the guts to think ” I should change, tomorrow, I’m gonna work on being a better human being”, The fire you have inside always works and makes you do things. Good or bad. It’s better to make mistakes than to do nothing at all.

What were some of the most impact-full happenings during the last couple years that might have impacted the feel or lyrics on this album?

Being in a band full time, then deciding to not be in a band full time, cuz we wanted to be with our loved ones. Having kids too made me realize a lot of things and taught me that I was not the most important thing in the world. Everything is the most important thing in the world. Or nothing. Lots of Buddhism in the lyrics too. I’m reading a lot about that. Panic attacks is a great inspiration and of course, friends and other musicians.
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Sir Joey Cape lent his vocal styling’s to this record. How did that come about, and how rad was / is it?

Joey asked me to sing on his song Montreal off the album he’s doing , releasing one song a month. So I did it. Then we talked about having him singing on our record. We asked him. He said yes. He recorded in California. Then he got sick of the song. Puked. Recorded again the next day. We mixed it and here it is. We are stoked. We love his voice and mostly we think he’s one of the coolest, most honest , down to earth dudes we met in the “scene”.

What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to somebody during the making of this album, that that person wouldn’t want you to tell us?

Well if they don’t want me to tell you, I won’t tell. What happen in the van stays in the van. I got lost and got scared of bears jogging around the studio AND I got scared of a mouse watching TV in the studio.

So, this album is on a new label for you guys; Anchorless Records. Why did the new album not come out on Fat, home of your last release?

Every record the Sainte Catherines ever put out is on a different label than the previous one. We wanted to keep that going. I think the people at Fat that liked our band don’t work there anymore. Fat Mike thought the songs were not punk enough or something along that line. Also, we were not too sure if we wanted to work with Fat anymore, since we knew we were not gonna tour like crazy and that we wanted to try something new. We love the label and we love the stuff they put out, but it seems like it was not natural anymore. Stomp Records is releasing the album in Canada and Guerilla Asso in France and I am very proud of that.

How did you get hooked up with Neil at Anchorless? How has that been?

We did the tribute to Johnny Cash album and thought it was cool, then we did a split 7 inch with our other band Yesterday’s Ring with Tumbledown and thought it was amazing. Then we played Boston with Yesterday’s Ring and he invited me for pizza and got me a whiskey, so that was pretty much what we needed to agree on everything. Pizza and whiskey.

Seems like you guys have most of the rest of the year booked up with Canadian dates. What are your plans and hopes for next year?

Europe, more US dates, more Canada dates. Hopefully Germany, hopefully Japan and Australia. Mexico and wherever people want to see us. We might record again in October and we are releasing a 7 inch on Asian Man Records too in Feb.

Any parting rhymes, riddles or knowledge you wanna drop?

Take your time to breath. Think about breathing. Meditate and forget about ( record ) labels.
To get more information on the Sainte Catherines you can visit their myspace by clicking here

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