You have to give illScarlett credit for creating their own opportunities. In 2004 they decided to play outside the Vans Warped Tour venue, in front of fans waiting in line to get in, using a generator to power their equipment. Kevin Lyman, the Warped Tour organizer, noticed them and invited them to play at his personal barbecue. Subsequently, they were offered spots on the tour for the following two years.
“Our whole progression as a band has always been a steady upward climb. The things we have been able to experience: from Japan to skating with Doug Gilmour at the Juno Cup, being at the Junos, touring Europe, playing in the States. It has been a great experience that we wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. That is why we work so hard because we want to keep it going. There are still more places we can play and people we can play for. It motivates us to keep pushing and playing as hard as we can,” said lead singer Alex Norman.
Norman, guitarist Will Marr, bassist John Doherty, and drummer Swavek Pjorkowski recently released 1UP! Their fourth studio album continues their reggae-infused pop that has climbed the Canadian charts.
“We started right after we came back from our first Japanese tour at the end of 08. We shut the door for two months and stayed focused on writing new material and recording demos in my basement. In May, we went down to Los Angeles to work with our producer Robert Carranza who is a very relaxed, chill guy. He really wanted to preserve a live and fun vibe on the record. A lot of it was recorded with just us in the studio. It was very relaxed and fun. We had co-production on the record so we had a lot of say in what we wanted on it in terms of production and effects. Robert was really good at just letting us do our thing, and having the mics in the right spot at the right time to capture the best sounds of what we were doing. The whole process was just really fun and involved. …We would go to the studio every day and then go back to the house in Studio City we were staying at. I was staying up until 4:00 in the morning trying to finish my lyrics and landing on lyrics that I like. It was this whole vibe of a band in California just recording. When Kardinal Offishall agreed to put lyrics on one of our songs (Milkshakes and Razorblades) that was really exciting. It was very last minute but sometimes the best work comes out at the last minute.”
The band has gone international, recently touring the States and overseas.
“We have heard rumors of a Canadian curse where it is difficult for Canadian bands to break into America and other territories. Now with the internet, myspace, twitter, the walls are falling down and you can get your music out anywhere in the world. I don’t think people would be like, that’s a great band but they are Canadian. People want to hear great music and Canadians are great at a lot of stuff, and music is one of them.
“One of the craziest things for us was when we showed up for our first show in Japan ever, opening for a band called Zebrahead. We got off the bullet train by the venue and there were kids there who knew who we were, already had our record and knew each of us by name. They were getting us to sign stuff. It blew my mind that it was the first time in Japan and kids knew who we are. The Japanese fans take the word ‘fanatic’ to heart - they are awesome.”
It is the support of their fans that keeps illScarlett on the road doing what they do best – performing live.
“The fan support is everything for us, without them we wouldn’t be able to tour across the country. We value them more than anybody. Each tour we try to play as hard as we can for them because they allow us to come and play. We try not to get too drunk before we play. I always felt that was insulting when you come to see a band and they are drunk, don’t play well, don’t care and are obnoxious. The fans are our clients and we do the best possible job for them.”
