New Release

Echoes From A Dimly Lit Studio Pt.2

We’re coming out of the woodwork, out of the woodwork, out of the woodwork, outa’ the woodwork, like a reluctant gargoyle …

Hello. We’ve been in studio-land head-space for a few weeks now and we are knee deep into that esoteric art form known as album making and I would prefer to stay there, exclusively if possible, if it were not that we have been called to duty by our very good friends, THE CHEAP SPEAKERS to help launch their baby into the world and so on Saturday Night, upon a very late announcement and with little or no rehearsal (and even less sleep), the PAPERMAPS trio will be hitting the stage at the stroke of half-past midnight inside the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern after said very good friends. It should be an evening to remember! I have no idea how much it costs of the top of my head. Maybe, like $8. Look it up here: http://showgopher.com/#!Toronto/2013-03-02/HorseshoeTavern We are “special guest.”

Another place to catch us live in the middle of album making season will be during this year’s Canadian Music Week (Fest) on Saturday March 23 at the Rancho Relaxo, 11pm sharp! Come to that show and you are sure to hear way, way more new material from our next record and there’s sure to be a surprise or two regarding band line up changes and sounds…

As for this dark and (at times) chilly studio – I’ve been laying down the guitar tracks  (again and again) and doing a some keeper vocal takes for songs with titles like, “The Edge of China Town” and others (i.e., the same 3 songs mentioned last week).  We work slowly.  No photographic evidence this week, I’m afraid.  Check back soon…

Echoes From A Dimly Lit Studio Pt.1

Hello,

This is the first of what I hope to be a series of blog posts documenting the making of our forthcoming album. This week we recorded some bed tracks for three songs. We did this in our new studio, Echo Valley. Here’s the photographic proof:

I went into the studio on  my own for a few hours last Wednesday to lay down some guide tracks (voice, guitar and metronome) for Bobby and Betty to play along to. On Monday night we all got together, along with engineer Nathan Vanderweilen, and discovered that I got the tempos all wrong –  so we ditched those guide tracks and the three of us ended up just playing together which worked out splendidly. We worked until around midnight, about 7 hours, and got the drums and baritone guitar tracked for three songs. We are hoping to have this new album finished in time for a late Summer or  early Autumn release. The working titles of these three songs are “Shadow Theatre,” “Edge of Chinatown” and “The Hedonist (Feels Right).” Those of you who came out to our last show at the Horseshoe Tavern got to hear all three songs. We’ll be sure to play them again at our next show.

Cheers,

-dean

PS
Here’s more photographic evidence from Bobby’s phone:

Bobby's drums are mic'ed and ready...

More drum set-up photos…This is as much a reference for us than it is entertainment for you…
The Drummer’s Perspective …

One last ingredient to a good bed-tracks session is the ever-watching eye who tells you when you’ve screwed up …

Thanks for tuning in!

A Place Called Echo Valley and Our Next Record…

Hi,
Some of you may have already noticed – we are not that band any more.  In my opinion, this is a good thing. Bobby, Betty and myself have been working on new material as a three-piece for a few months now. It’s been a slow, and at times awkward, but very rewarding process.   I know this sounds funny coming from the main songwriter but I finally feel like we are making the music I’ve always wanted to make –  it’s just much more focused.  That doesn’t mean we won’t be expanding our ranks  – in fact we have plans to add a new member very soon but meanwhile we have established a great vibe that we want to continue nurturing.

Way back in June 2012, while I was finishing up the final mixes for Inferior Ghost, we moved all our stuff out of what was once Chemical Sound and into a new space. At first the space was an empty white-washed shell with no electrical outlets, harsh lighting and a big chaotic mountain of gear in the centre – a quite daunting scene actually – but eventually with the help of some friends (namely Cameron Harding and Owen Norquay of Mesa Mesa, Jay Sad and Nathan Vanderwielen) we began building our new headquarters and named the studio/workspace, Echo Valley. Unlike Chemical Sound, Echo Valley is not a commercial studio but rather a shared facility where cool producers work and cool bands rehearse and record. Now that the studio is fully functional I am cheerfully looking forward to committing our new songs and vibe to tape.  I intend to document the process here at papermaps.net, so look for more updates about the new album – things like pictures, video clips, lyric scans, etc.

The upcoming show at the Horseshoe Tavern (Thursday Feb 7) will be the three of us  and we are going to play at least three (maybe four) new songs that we plan to record shortly after that show. The rest of the set will be comprised of back catalogue songs that we still enjoy playing and work best in our new configuration.  One song we will not play is “Reunion.”

What else??? Oh, we’ve moved our mailing list to a new mail service.  If you want to subscribe to our mailing list just look for the form in the top right corner of this blog called, Email Love.

I want to thank everyone who supported these past 3 years, especially those who continue to support us – and all you newcomers!

cheers,

-dean

New Music Video for “Nobody Gets It,” by Kerry Shaw

Since Monday (six days ago) our latest music video for “Nobody Gets It,” has been available for stream on Exclaim.ca. The video is now available on YOUTUBE for the rest of the world to see:

This video was envisioned and directed by the very talented photographer Kerry Shaw. We here in the PAPERMAPS camp love it! It’s hard to describe. Perhaps Kerry’s own words sum it up best:

“Nobody’s perfect. A notion we tend to forget when we look at our partner, our colleagues, our family, ourselves. We are creatures of expectation and with that comes the tendency to overlook just how amazing the people truly are around us. Papermaps have compiled a song that explores the anger in desiring perfection, the frustration of someone not living up to our idea of who we think they should be. Perfect. I contradict these lyrics with a montage of appreciation. Specifically, images of women. The female form, movement and overall imperfections and actions of women. All kinds of women…This is not an in-your-face, socio-political “oh, look at how women are being over-sexuallised/distorted in media/over-beautied” kind of dialogue.  Rather, this is a study of the female face, body, hair, movement, etc. A slightly dark celebration.”

For us in the group it was a fun and simple video to make.  We each only had to be there a few hours or so. The bulk of the video was done over several days in Kerry’s studio with the many lovely models.  We are thankful to all the ladies who volunteered their time and image for this video – you are the real stars! This clip features all the members of PAPERMAPS lip syncing the song, including Wendy and Todd who had officially left the group before  filming but gracefully agreed to participate.  This video is not only a celebration of beauty in diversity but is also, on a more personal level, a celebration of PAPERMAPS’ former lineup.

Have a look and let us know what you think!

-d

Vinyl Day!

Hi,

I’m happy to announce that the limited edition vinyl version of our new EP, Inferior Ghost has arrived from the pressing plant! Orders taken from our bandcamp site will now ship immediately and all pre-orders were shipped from the Sparks Music offices today. Thank you to all those who pre-ordered the record; your records are on their way and they include a complimentary CD (look inside those record sleeves).  Slowly, Inferior Ghost should appear in finer record shops.   If your favourite shop doesn’t have it I’m sure they can special order it for you.

Cheers,

-dean

Where You Can Get the Record

Music distribution. What a crazy game!  Here is a list of places where you can find Inferior Ghost both online and physical.  I will be updating this post in the coming weeks.

Digital:

Rdio:  http://www.rdio.com/artist/papermaps/
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/inferior-ghost-ep/id549191166
Zunior: http://www.zunior.com/product_info.php?products_id=3500
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Inferior-Ghost/dp/B008JFYMQQ/
Spotify: (link coming)
HMV Digital: http://www.hmvdigital.ca/artist/papermaps
Sparks Music: http://www.sparksmusic.com/releases.html

Physical:

HMV (Queen St. West, Eaton Centre, Yonge St. and most stores in the GTA – Yonge St. has a bunch of copies)
Sonic Boom Stores (Found our own tray card with several copies in stock at the SB in Kensignton Market. It’s probably in the main store too)

Other places:

Sunrise Records (I went to both Sunrise stores on Yonge St. and could not find copies there)
Rotate This (no copies as of yet – but since we are distributed by Universal, you can order one from them)
Soundscapes (not visited yet)

Most (if not all) stores can special order the record, but it seems you can walk right into an HMV and just buy a CD there.  Vinyl has not shipped yet, so I can’t give you an update on that.  Inferior Ghost is distributed through Universal Music Canada.

Mail order:
The only downer about mail order is that you have to pay shipping (unlike ordering from a store) but it’s fun to get stuff in the mail and I usually throw some swag in with mail orders.

Bandcamp: http://papermaps.bandcamp.com/album/inferior-ghost-limited-edition-vinyl
Maple Music: http://www.maplemusic.com/product.asp?dept_id=5123&pf_id=5120-22&lang=EN
Sparks Music: http://www.sparksmusic.com/releases.html

Inferior Ghost Vinyl Delayed for One Week

Hi people,
Due to some unforeseen circumstances on the manufacturing end the vinyl version of Inferior Ghost will not be available at the CD Release show (Tuesday August 28 / Horseshoe Tavern). The Vinyl should be available in stores and online in the coming weeks and those of you who pre-ordered (thank you) should be getting them in the mail sometime next week. For those of you who don’t collect vinyl records, CDs will be available at the show.  For those of you who do, Dean and Co. will be taking orders for vinyl at the show ($18. You walk away with a CD and a voucher.  Free shipping). Vinyls should ship by the end of this week.

Thanks,
-dean

AUGUST 28 – TORONTO – INFERIOR GHOST RELEASE SHOW

Hi,
It seems like September is just around the corner! We just came back from a 3000+ kilometer Canadian tour (tour pics and diary forthcoming) – it was a long laborous birthing for our new EP, Inferior Ghost. We’ve had a week off and should be well rested for our BIG HOMECOMING / CD RELEASE show at the Horseshoe Tavern, Tuesday August 28th. Set time: 11PM.  Admission is FREE. This is the LAST PUSH in the birthing. CDs and records will be in stores following this show (for exuberant prices – ok, ok,  for reasonable prices).  Joining us will be Little Barrie (UK, members of Primal Scream / Spiritualized) at 10PM. If you live in or near Toronto and like us you should really come out to this one!  I’m not sure when/if we will play Toronto again this year.  We might just decide to hole up in the woodshed for a while (the woodshed being the new studio, Echo Valley). Autumn is perfect for that sort of thing, no?  This new EP should give you something to chew on while we write/record a new LP.  The vinyl gods tell me the 12-inch records may very well be ready in time for the show.  People who pre-ordered their vinyl (thank you, thank you, thank you) can rest assured that they will ship on the 28th. Most of you live far away – so it works out great.   If you pre-ordered the vinyl and you come to the show, however, I’ll hand you a signed copy right there!!! We will have a list of names.
Please join the Facebook event (if you FB):
www.facebook.com/events/126427917502714/

Pretty pictures follow:

Other birds have told me that the record may already be in your local college radio library or slush pile. Cools.  Happy school days, keep your pencils sharp and make us the soundtrack to your collegiate life.

Fondness and Cheers,

-dean

SUMMER SHOWS!

Hi Friends!

We have a bunch of dates lined up from Toronto to Halifax in support of our upcoming record, Inferior Ghost (Out August 28 on Sparks/Universal Music Canada).

Here they are:

August 6, Drake Underground, Toronto ON 10:45PM (Elvis Monday Residency w/ Wendy Versus)
http://www.facebook.com/events/125694064237133/

August 11, Divan Orange, Montreal QC (w/ Philémon and Ohara)
http://www.facebook.com/events/419173558119555/

August 16, Gus’ Pub, Halifax NS (w/ Wendy Versus and TBA)
http://www.facebook.com/events/414248215278154/

August 17, Zaphods, Ottawa ON (w/ Wendy Versus and TBA)
http://www.facebook.com/events/427224560653958/

August 28, Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto ON (CD RELEASE PARTY!!! w/ Little Barrie)
Our CD/LP release party! FREE ADMISSION!!!
Note: Little Barrie stars Barrie Cadogan, guitar player for two of my favourite bands: Primal Scream and Spiritualized!!!

Our sister band, WENDY VERSUS will be joining us for most of these shows!

We don’t play live that often, so don’t miss out!

cheers,

-d