Who are you and what do you do:
My name’s David Simard and I’m a singer.
Why do you do what you do:
I always sang. Not because my parents made me join a choir or anything. They even let me quit piano lessons after a few years. I think it was just a steady progression from wanting to sing, to wanting to be a singer.
Current obsessions:
Making my room habitable for the coming winter! Summer is always a whirlwind. I pick up dust and objects from all over the country and deposit them back here before going out again. Now I need to throw all of it down my staircase and make some room for extra blankets.
Story told to you when you were a child that you will never forget:
My grandfather was surrounded by a pack of wolves while hiking out in Northern B.C. He stood really still and then said, “Boo!”, and they scattered.
Song you wish you wrote:
Song To the Siren – Tim Buckley
Most played track on your itunes:
Put a Penny In the Slot – Fionn Regan
Most cherished musical object:
Typical, I know, but it’s my guitar. It’s a 60 year old Kay arch-top and it treats me better than I could ever hope to treat it.
Go-to album on a rainy day:
Right now, it’s The Place I Left Behind – Deep Dark Woods
Proudest moment:
Hmm … I know that one very proud moment was pulling into Vancouver after my first time hitch-hiking across the country. It seemed impossible, but my best friend and I made it in five days.
Most vulnerable moment:
Stumbling through the streets in Paris with blood poisoning from a spider bite on my leg after just having been mugged by two river punks.
Are you most influenced by your surroundings or your inner monologue:
I usually go inward for my inspiration, but I think I’ve internalized a lot of my surroundings, so, who knows, it might end up coming out in an even balance.
Favourite venue to play in and why:
The Bread Factory – it’s a loft space in Montreal Sud-Ouest. It’s absolutely beautiful, for starters, and the people are wonderful. I have a friend who does aerial acrobatics with Silks and there are these massive wooden beams 15 or 20 feet above the floor that she can rig up to. We’ve had some pretty special circus-folk shows there. With a space like that, it’s all about what you do with it.
Dream venue to play in and why:
Hmm. I don’t think I have an answer for this one. There are a lot of places I’d love to play, but I don’t know if there’s one in particular I’ve dreamt about.
Top album released this year:
I’ve been working on my own album all year, so I’ve had my blinders on to almost everything. I’m going to have to pass on this one too!!
First band t-shirt you ever purchased from a merch table:
A band from my high school called Drive Away. I didn’t really like their music but the shirt was pretty cool.
Band you’d leave your bandmates for:
I don’t really have any band mates, but hell, I’d run off to sing cheesy back-ups with Leonard Cohen, or apprentice for guitar under Fionn Regan any day.
Album you wish your parents exposed you to in the womb:
Pastel Blues – Nina Simone
Album you want to expose your kin to whilst in the womb:
All the Hank Williams I have.
Last record you purchased:
Here On a Wire – Jenny Berkel
If for some reason you lost the ability to make and play music, what would fill that gap:
A steady supply of opiates.
