No Virtue – Interview with Andrew Neufeld – Sights & Sounds

How do you usually write the lyrics of your songs?

I ALWAYS write the music and melody first. The lyrics usually come second and have a lot to do with the vision of the original melody or pattern in my head. Rarely do I have the words first although that would be cool. I don’t find the song, the song finds me.

In your opinion, what is the most important thing in songwriting?

Listen back and try to imagine it from all angles. Don’t settle. Although the best songs are quick sparks of creativity. Utilise those special moments.

Are you ever scared of revealing aspects of your personal life/experience to strangers through your music?

I ALWAYS think about that but I also am able to be a certain character in a song than I would necessarily be when Im chilling with a friend or family member. Sometimes it’s shrouded in mystery but sometimes it’s super obvious and intentional.

What inspired “No Virtue,” part of your upcoming album?

‘NO VIRTUE’ is the first and title track of the new album. “No Virtue, restores you” the first line of the song is in reference to one trying to make up for their mistakes, trying to find redemption. When it comes down to it, our past will always be remembered but our only focus should be directed be the present and the future. Like it or not, sometimes the dust never settles. We conjured up the Gallaghers vocally and tried to implore a bit of a “hackers”/ cyber punk vibe in the instrumentation, along side a Prodigy drum beat on this track.

And “Serpentine”?

‘Serpentine‘ is a dive into the deepest parts of our minds. The parts that overwhelm us when they are finally recovered. Set behind a hard electronic backdrop, this is definitely the heaviest song on ‘No Virtue’ and will resonate probably more to those who know me from singing in Comeback Kid. Sights learned a hell of a lot recording our last album w. Devin Townsend, and we sent a nod to him on this track as you will be fully aware of. The song is about the eternal build. When you’re always “almost there”. My brother Joel (drums) and I had this song hummed out for probably 10 years now and we’ve finally brought this beast to life.

Do you remember the day you wrote “Undertow”?

Kinda. It used to be called “Dave Dance” Because it was an electronic track he didn’t really see as a sights song. I had a chorus I really wanted to put to that and it was a struggle to massage out at first but we got it there and now it’s probably my most listened to song on the album. This is the feel good surreal uplifting record of the lot.

What are your plans for the upcoming months?

We have a Canadian tour coming up for our album release and heading to Europe, UK for the end of Nov – December!