Additional Information
Performing on September 27th at the Escogriffe with Wizaard, DAPHNE and Tom Leger as part of POP Montréal, Cure-Pipe doesn’t do things lightely. A project by singer-songwriter Thomas Dakin, Cure-Pipe seeks to create a totally explosive and captivating musical experience by combining psychedelic rock, garage and hyperpop. The result is often striking and authentic.
PANM360: Hello Thomas (Cure-Pipe), I listened to your latest album which I would describe as scathing and full of surprising moments.
Cure-Pipe: Thank you so much.
PANM360: Who are your partners in this project and what role do they play?
Cure-Pipe: Usually, I work in hermit mode and like to use all my time to tinker with alternative recordings in search of unique sonic textures. But for this album, I first built demos and then went to the studio to record with my drummer friend Vincent Maltais-Bourgeois. All the drum and bass tracks were recorded over three intensive days with him at Madame Wood Studio in Montreal. Now, for live performances, the crew changes from time to time, but some members are still there, including Ingrid on rhythm guitar and keyboards, Carrier on Moog bass, and Laurent on bass. The basic ideas for the songs are mine, but in a live situation, the band takes creative liberties and we have fun thinking outside the box.
PANM360: What are your influences in terms of psychedelic and garage rock? In terms of hyper-pop?
Cure-Pipe: The neo-psych movement that gained momentum during my adolescence in the 2010s had a huge influence on me. It’s important to mention that the majority of these bands are, like me, first influenced by the garage rock of the sixties. Bands like Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, King Gizzard, Mild High Club, Mac Demarco, Tame Impala, The Flaming Lips are all, in my opinion, pillars of contemporary rock music. They retain the use of real instruments to make the boards vibrate. Energetic and dynamic live performances that are different each time give me, without fail, the desire to do it myself. The hyper-pop side would be more associated with a sensitivity to melody and harmonic turns or the frank approach of pop instrumentation. Catchy and assumed melodies put forward and a colorful and lit aesthetic. The sonic density of the genre is something that resonates with me too.
PANM360: Your album is called J’ai trouvé Jésus. Where was he? Why this title?
Cure-Pipe: He was in my bed, with my best friend but especially my jar of maple cookies that I had picked up.
PANM360: What can we expect for the September 27th show as part of POP MTL?
Cure-Pipe: Hair, fuzz, low pass filters, fuzz, sweat, blood maybe? Fuzz, French words and then collective disorganization. We’re coming to play a lot of new songs and some of the latest ones in addition to some old songs. It’s going to be crazy, I can’t wait to see what the other bands will present too!
PANM360: What do we wish for you for this year 2025-2026?
Cure-Pipe: I hope to finish my album projects that have been on hold for some time. Then, I plan to produce a lot of multimedia projects to accompany this music. Music videos, live visuals, live sessions. I hope to be able to do some festivals next summer and play abroad to promote the new music. Finally, potentially collaborate with other Quebec artists who inspire me.
