Hey! With “Goon” addressing the theme of persistent, unwanted presences, what inspired you to tackle this subject?
A: The inspiration for the song came from a trip I went on to Europe with a friend of mine. We were cruising around the streets of Paris in the wee hours of the morning, and we landed in this pub somewhere near Notre Dame. These two guys would not leave us alone, to the point where we felt extremely uncomfortable. I ended up turning around and saying sternly, “GO AWAY!” As soon as I said it, a creative light bulb turned on, and I knew this experience needed to be put into a song. It got me thinking about how many times someone, or something, keeps popping up uninvited and unannounced. From there, I went on a writing retreat to Keats Island and finished the general idea and then brought it to Drew to finish the demo off. The song is energetic and edgy; the grit and gloss we so often describe our music as.
How did your collaboration with Gus van Go influence the sound and energy of “Goon”?
A: Gus is an incredible artist and producer, but more than that he’s an incredible person. The whole process was very nurturing and wonderful. He brought out the best out in us. And that’s why I think he’s been so successful. He thinks about the person first. It was a wonderful season working with him on this upcoming record. Soundwise, he brought us more into a fresh sound by thinking back to old bands like the B-52’s and Sonic Youth. I think those vibes are really making a comeback in a cool way.
Can you share any personal experiences or stories that led to the creation of “Goon”?
A: I think question 1 sums up the personal story, but another little bit I will share is that during the recording of “Goon”, I actually saw one of my “goons” on the street in Toronto. It had been many years but even hearing his voice sent chills down my spine.
How do you think “Goon” reflects your growth as artists since your debut album “Black To Gold”?
A: Great question! I would like to think of “Goon” as a more mature Dear Rouge sound but very much the same person. This album we tried to be more vulnerable, and more bold sonically, which was harder for us to do on our first release. I would like to think if “Goon” was on Black to Gold it would be the song we would be most proud of for being bold and vulnerable.
“Goon” is described as a song for dealing with toxic encounters. How do you hope fans will connect with it?
A: It’s always tricky with heavier subject matter. We do tend to write deeper songs around heavier subjects, but always with a light and fun dance vibe to it. With “Goon” I hope people can have fun with the vibe, and playfully think about the people or things in our life that we want to say “GO AWAY” to. We picture someone listening on headphones walking down the street thinking about how confident they are to move past or shout at their own personal “goons”
With an impressive background, including a JUNO Award, how do you feel these accolades have influenced your music journey?
A: Well I first must say that we are so grateful for any recognition. Music is challenging, and you constantly are striving to be better and more creative and grow as an artist. When you get an award like a JUNO, it feels so nice to be recognized, and also have something tangible for all your emotional and creative work over the years. It’s also fun to have something to share with family and friends, because it makes us feel like we are doing something right. It has influenced our journey in a number of ways – being able to look back at some successes or recognition and dream about the future, maybe a Grammy, or maybe something even bigger.
As partners in both life and music, how do Danielle and Drew McTaggart balance their personal and professional dynamics?
A: Million dollar question right there, haha! It is the most beautiful thing, yet also difficult. We have been at it for 10 years now, so we are comfortable in our systems and working together. Our early years were tricky as we needed to grow but also communicate. We really do love each other in both roles: marriage and music. We’re grateful to have such amazing life partners in each other.
Looking back at your career, how do you feel about your evolution from your first album to “Spirit” and now “Goon”?
A: That’s tough to answer, as we are always looking forward to the next thing. But considering what has happened to the music industry over the past decade, mixed with a few crazy years of pandemic, I feel so proud of our journey. From a couple of naive kids dreaming about a career in music, to adults navigating through the curveballs of life circumstances. We always try to write about things in our lives, and meaningful important subjects so that we can always be proud of the journey.
After successful performances at major festivals and alongside notable acts, how do you prepare for such diverse audiences?
A: You have to be you. If you’re playing with a rock band, a pop band, or a cool hip band, you just have to be you. People can sniff out chameleon bands these days, so we always try our hardest to present Dear Rouge as what it is. But also, we do enjoy picking our setlist for different bands we open for, thinking about the best Dear Rouge songs that that audience needs to hear. That’s why people go to live shows. Anything can change night to night, and the band can be present in that change with the audience.
What future projects can fans look forward to following the release of “Goon”, and how will these build on your current successes?
A: “Goon” is the tip of the iceberg. There’s a huge new era for Dear Rouge coming up. We haven’t been this excited for a long time. Lots more music and content coming up this year! So keep an eye out for all things Dear Rouge.