Interview with Double Rider

Following last year's impressive three song EP, Double Rider, comprised of siblings Hannah and Lennon Owl Child and their cousin Erin Many Heads, are back with their full-length debut Times Of The Day.  Alongside three originals, the album also includes six songs written by their late grandfather Matthew Many Heads between 1972 and 1992.  I recently interviewed them about their grandfather and his songs, the diversity of the album and alot more.    

Can you give me a little background on how the three of you decided to form a band and also how you decided to primarily focus on recording songs that were written by your grandfather?

We grew up with music; our parents and grandfather would jam on special occasions, such as birthdays or New Year's Eve gatherings. As we got older, we had access to their instruments as they kept them in Erin's dad's basement. Not to mention, Lennon had been a drummer since three years old. In the summer of 2014, we decided to test out these instruments, and from there, we just kept playing. I don't think we even considered ourselves a band until our first performance, which was at the 2014 Siksika Nations Run As One Music Festival. After that performance, we knew we had something and decided to continue with it. 

As for focusing on our grandfather's songs, when we started proving to our family, including our grandfather, that we were taking music seriously, our grandfather gave us his blessing to perform, and later record, all of his songs. He still has so many in his vault, and we’re so excited to continue recording and sharing his songs! 

The band was originally called Third Generation.  What motivated the name change to Double Rider?

After several years of performing under Third Generation, we felt that there was a change in direction, especially in our identity - Third Generation was no longer us. 

“Double Rider” in Blackfoot is “Nahtkohtkiitohpiih,” our grandfather's name. It wasn’t until after our grandpa passed that we changed our name. We felt that after the awareness of the finding of the BC graves in 2021, we should honour our grandfather and what he endured as a Residential School Survivor.  Also, in a way, he is always with us when we perform. When people see us as “Double Rider,” they’re also seeing our grandfather. 

Did you make many changes to the songs your grandfather wrote or are they fairly close to what he initially wrote?

They are fairly close to what he originally wrote. Except for “Cold, Cold Morning” where we had to improvise the lyrics due to not knowing what the original lyrics are. There were also several moments in his songs where we created a new bass line or guitar riff, etc. 

What kind of selection process did you go through when deciding which of his songs to record?

There wasn’t really a specific process. A couple of years before he passed, we would jam with him which helped us learn some of his songs. So, that helped us decide what songs of his to record, mainly because we already had an idea of how they should sound. 

Your EP opens with “Echoes of the Past”, a politically charged song that I read he wrote after a land dispute between a group of Mohawk people and the town of Oka, Quebec called the Oka Crisis.  That’s really the only song of his that you’ve recorded that comes across to me as political.  Everything else sounds like it’s more about relationships.  Did he write other political songs or was that just a one off? 

There are a couple more songs he wrote that have a political undertone to them. “Echoes of the Past” is broader as it discusses the battles that our ancestors overcame post-colonialism. The other politically charged songs he wrote are more central to his perspective as an Indigenous individual and his viewpoints of the world around him. We’re definitely excited to record and share these songs in the near future. 

I love the diversity of the songs on the album.  There are elements of everything from folk, country, blues and roots rock to pop, classic rock, psychedelia and raw garage rock.  Were your grandfather’s songs originally that diverse or do you think it’s more the influence of you as a band playing his songs?

Yes, the album is very diverse! We definitely have our own sound that we bring to the table, and I think it has influenced the sound of his songs. For example, “Happy Is How I Feel” and “Cold, Cold Morning” had more of a 60s pop sound to them when he originally wrote them. But after we performed and recorded them, there’s now a sort of contemporary-classic rock sound to them. 

This isn’t a question, but I just wanted to compliment you on just how incredibly catchy the whole album is from start to finish. “Cold, Cold Morning” and “Happy Is How I Feel” are definite earworms that you will find yourself singing all day long. 

That means a lot - thank you so much! We are definitely proud to know that these songs, specifically the ones you mentioned, are well received. We imagine our grandfather would be happy with how it all turned out! 

While “One, Two, Three” and “Get Away” are a couple of heavier songs, “So Long To Wait” still really stands out from the rest of the album.  It’s an awesome raw garage rocker where the band just lets loose.  Can you tell me a little about that song?  (I would imagine that is a fun one to play live!)

Yes, it is definitely fun to perform live! This was one of the first heavier songs we learned (and jammed) with our grandfather. We loved seeing him let loose with the song and see his own creativity with the solos. Since then, we've added our own flare. Sometimes, when the guitarist is feeling extra groovy, a wah-wah pedal is added to make the song even more groovy. 

With two of you contributing lead vocals how do you decide who is going to sing on which song?

Sometimes it's tricky to decide who is going to sing what; but usually, we test out which songs either of us is more comfortable singing. There are some cover songs that Lennon and Hannah fight over, and then it comes down to who sings it better! But most of the time, we try to be fair and split the songs evenly. 

Are there any recordings of your grandfather’s versions of any of these songs, and if so is it possible to hear them anywhere?

There are some recordings of his songs, but they are on cassette tapes and at this moment they are starting to stretch! (Which is unfortunate). So, trying to get these songs out there for others to listen to is a very tedious task; but we are trying to get them on to a digital platform so we can share them with everyone else. 

Do you plan on continuing to focus more on his songs on future releases or will we be hearing more band originals?

We are moving towards sharing our own songs, which features our own sound and creativity. But we are definitely going to continue recording more of his songs. 

The album was released by Major Minor Music Project.  Can you tell me more about that?

Major Minor Music Project is a non-profit organization that puts a spotlight on up-and-coming artists in Alberta, Canada. There are many events the organization puts together at various venues so musicians and bands, like ourselves, can have a public platform to share our music. We've been working with Major Minor for the past five years, and "Times of the Day" was a project they funded so we could release our very first album. Their organization is very important as they keep the music scene alive in our hometown.

What are some of the biggest pros and cons of being a band comprised of relatives?

The pros are that we've known each other since birth, and that means, we know how to stick together even during challenging times, whether it's personal or within the band. The biggest con is that sometimes there are moments where we do get under each other's skin because we've known each other for so long. Overall, the pros far outweigh the cons. 

In 2020 you did your first tour, which was The First Nations Tour where you toured alongside notable First Nations artists.  Who are some of your favorite First Nations bands that you would recommend readers check out? 

There are so many. But to name a few, 

- Bebe Buckskin is a powerful Indigenous artist that knows how to rock. 

- A younger band that we've had the honour of sharing the stage with is Desert Orchid. 

- For those that enjoy a heavier sound, No More Moments is another band that we really enjoy. 

You should definitely check them all out!

Do you have any plans to expand your touring out further?

Definitely! We are totally open to tour outside of Alberta! If anyone is interested in inviting us out to festivals or local venues, we're there!

I know Times of the Day is available to stream online, but where can readers get physical copies of the CD if they are interested?

Yes! We have physical copies and can mail them out! We're currently working on an online method to purchase our CD. Until then, reach out to us on social media and we can definitely send out a physical copy!

Is there anything else you would like to share with readers?

We just want to say thank you for listening to our music; we appreciate it so much! We're so honoured that we get to do this, and that we can share our grandfather's song, as well as our own, with everyone else! 

(Double Rider - Facebook)