By Clorisa Simpson
The sound of a few hands clapping was just enough inspiration to make Mother Mother frontman Ryan Guldemond think that maybe music could become a career.
“It was just a good vibe in the room ... and people clapped,” says Guldemond as he describes the band’s first show at an open mic night in a Vancouver pub. “I recognized the potential, that it was something that at least had legs that could evolve.”
The band has seen plenty of evolution since then; an additional ‘mother’ was added to the band name, they received a Juno nomination for video of the year and have a fourth album geared for release.
In retrospect, it’s easy to see that Mother Mother has come a long way, but those early days “were the most exciting,” Guldemond says. “At that time it felt more like an exponential rise to success ... even after we’ve made many albums and toured the world ... It was that early time when 20 people were at the show that it felt like things we’re really taking off.”
With over 13,000 Twitter followers and 45,000 Facebook likes, the band’s following has easily exceeded a 20-person show.
“Approaching social media, I constantly remind myself that every gesture in that realm needs to invoke a similar feeling that the music does,” says Guldemond. “Or it needs to be an extension or extrapolation of the very reason anyone goes to the Mother Mother website, because — I would hope — they are drawn to the music.”
The fourth album, The Sticks, will be in stores Sept. 18, and with the release of its first single, “Let’s Fall in Love,” fans are anxious to hear what’s next from this innovative band.
“Victoria is a pretty important and successful market for us,” says Guldemond. “Not only can we count on people coming out, but they come out in a really celebratory manner ... The fact that there’s this other community that is this festival, it’s just made the whole place seem like a fantasy land, like a beautiful theme park of good times and good friends.” M
Mother Mother - RAP main stage - 7:30pm - Sun., Sept. 16