Flare Asks… Julie Doiron

Who: Julie Doiron
Why: Doiron began her career in 1990 playing bass in Eric’s Trip.  After the band’s demise in 1996, she decided to go solo.  Six full-length albums and one Juno later, the folky songstress is back with Woke Myself Up.

Flare : How has the Canadian indie music scene evolved since you first started in the industry?
Julie Doiron: In the late 90s it was pretty rough, a lot of venues turned into discos. Now, it seems to be taking off because of the success of bands like Broken Social Scene, Feist, Metric and The Arcade Fire.

F :   Who or what inspires you?
JD: My kids were a big part of songwriting for me, but at this point I’m pretty used to having them around.  In my formative years I listened to a lot of My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth and Neil Young. Pavement, The Cure and The Smiths were all up there too.

F:  Is music therapeutic for you?
JD: Yes. Music is the only way I can really express myself and fully let go.

F: What do you find most challenging about being a parent?
JD: Having to go away and leave my kids for a month at a time.  There is a part of me that would love to be a stay at home mom.

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Flare.com Asks… Julie Doiron, cont’d

F:  What are you currently working on?
JD:  The band I play bass in, Shotgun and Jaybird, is opening for the Constantines.

F: Who is on your collaboration wish list?
JD: If the Constantines asked me to sing on a record, I would do it in a minute! Chad VanGaalen is on my wish list too, his new record is awesome.

F: What impact did winning a Juno have on your career?
JD: It was good for me in a business sense, but it didn’t really change my life directly.  In some ways, it legitimized my record though. 
 
F: Where do you see yourself in five years from now?
JD: I’ll probably be doing the exact same thing, getting in a mini van and driving across the country.

— Alex Breen

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