Limited Hangout performed during Sled Island on Saturday, 9pm at BLOX Arts Centre.
TRANSCRIPT:
Kaamil (CJSW)
I’m here interviewing Limited Hangout for CJSW 90.9 FM for 2025 Sled Island. Thank you so much for joining me today for this interview. I’m really looking forward to chatting about your guys’s project and third festival as a whole.
Mike
Thanks for having us.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Yeah, it’s literally a blast. So Limited Hangout is a relatively new project, but each of you has kind of deep roots in the Alberta music scene, kind of individually as solos. Dylan, you’ve released several solo projects rooted in more singer songwriter folk style. Mike and Alex, you’re workig with No Such Thing As Ghost, lean more toward pop punk. How did the three of you come together to form a Limited Hangout?
Mike
Alex and I have known each other since the first grade.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Amazing.
Mike
And then, you know, we even like in the fifth grade, we would make our music teacher help us perform songs we wrote, but we started writing, started noticing As Ghosts when we were just leaving high school. Played with that a bunch. And then with this project, I was writing a bunch of songs on Ableton during the pandemic, and, you know, came up with some stuff that I liked, and I was always really into, you know, this electro pop sound, and wanted to make it, but didn’t really have the tools, like you said, we were making pop punk at the time, and it’s so much, it’s fun and easy to go, you know, rip some Blink182 covers in a shed with your with your high school friends. But making music like this is a bit a bit different. So Alex and I decided to go looking for a producer at the time the band kind of started. We had a singer that I met through through work. She moved to Vancouver, couldn’t be in the project anymore. We decided we still wanted to maintain it through another guitarist and No Such Thing As Ghosts also played in Dylan’s band, and so we got connected with Dylan. Obviously really liked her voice, and asked if she she wanted to join the project that sound that sounded accurate to you.
Dylan
Yeah, I had always wanted to, like make this type of music, but with my other projects and being in school and working, I just never had time to get into it, because it is, you know, it is a process. So when they invited me, and on the suggestion of my guitar player, I was like, ‘Oh, these are solid guys.’ And great, I can dip my toes in where they’ve already started. And it was just like a perfect entrance for me.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Nice, nice. You want to add anything to the lore story.
Alex
I think, I think that kind of pretty much covers everything.
Mike
We we met Connor and he joined No Such Thing As Ghosts, because Alex met him through music school. So Alex kind of, yeah, but Dylan was not in No Such Thing As Ghosts.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Good. Important, clarify, yeah, mentioning No Such Thing As Ghosts, it’s—
Mike
We describe, we describe it as a little love triangle where Connor’s in two of our bands, and we’re in two of our bands, and we’re in all of these bands.
Kaamil (CJSW)
And it’s super indicative of the Alberta music scene, from what I’ve experienced is so many people collaborate and work together to help each other create the content they want.
Mike
Well, especially across different genres. Like, you know, you want to have one thing, and you and a couple friends are interested in that, and then, you know, you’re like, ‘Okay, well, I want to start an electropop band. Who do I know who could be interested in that?’ And like you said, it’s very indicative. Dylan has her band, this band now and then, with it, with new people, she started a monkey themed noise project, so.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Can you expand on that? I’m curious.
Dylan
It’s called Lesser Known Gorilla Death. It only started in April, but I think this kind of think my electro pop journey led me there because I bought my own synth on a whim, and then I was like, ‘What could I do with this?’ And I have some friends who have some samplers, and we just kind of make noise, so I just spend a lot of time trying to make all the music I can, if it wasn’t prevalent already.
Mike
Enough about that. This is about Limited Hangout. Enough time from that.
Kaamil (CJSW)
So, and you kind of touched on a little bit, but maybe, just maybe, throw it over to the other side now too. If you wanted to answer this one, what was the spark that made you want to collaborate together? Was there a specific moment or a song or something you heard?
Alex
Honestly, I think it was, it was just having that like, like, communal, like link, so that it like, it kind of just opened the door to like feel comfortable like, to ask and hopefully to feel comfortable, to be willing to jump in with with some guys that you don’t know and, in a project that you’re not sure where it’s going. At this point, it was still demos, and we’d only started the recording project. But I think, like what you talk about, the community, the community that is cultivated, I believe that really helped this become, become real. And then really wouldn’t be there without that opportunity to play in bands before, and to get to know people in the scene and yeah, just, just have those, those links.
Mike
I will add that we did specifically go headhunting. I was like, ‘Okay, we’re trying to find a singer.’ And I went through, I feel like 100 people on Instagram that you have a friend of a friend, like, okay, this person sings and proud to say, we got our first option.
Dylan
That’s high praise for me. Thanks. I was just gonna say that they sent the demos that are now our Sight and Sound EP that exists in the world for everybody. And I was just like, ‘Whoa. I really want to be on these songs. I really want to play these songs.’ So it’s really cool that there was like a direct now, those songs exist for everybody, and we play them live, and we’ll play them tomorrow.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Amazing. Touching on that EP, and I need to give a quick shout out to Katelyn, who helped me with the research for this, who put together this beautiful section that this shout out to Katelyn, our librarian at the station this year just absolutely crushed it with the research and helping me out with this. So nice. Your new EP, Sight and Sound feels like the scythe sharp beats of indie sleaze pop collided with the polished sheen of early 2010 synth pop. A perfect soundtrack for a wild night out, but lyrically, it’s rich with themes of love and heartbreak. “Cool Cars” feels like a pre party anthem. “Death of a Star” explodes with chaotic romance, and in “Spring Shoes” you sing, “I don’t know if it’s a change in the weather. I always thought we would last forever.” Then it all closes with “Sight and Sound,” which has that haunting line, “no one wants to be here when the party is over. No one wants to be around when light creeps over the tree.” Was this narrative of partying, heartbreak and emotional come down something you planned from the beginning, or did it emerge naturally as the songs took shape?
Mike
Sorry, I just wanna say Alex is gonna give a really insightful answer. He writes most of the lyrics. I think, as a group we, we collaboratively work to, you know, tweak things, but most of them are coming from him. I wrote the spring shoes one, but I just want to say, can we have this? This is, this is a very thoughtful listening of the EP. Really love that. That means, it means a lot to us. But now I will kick it over to Alex to actually talk about the lyrics.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Could you imagine if I took credit for that? Katelyn deserves all the credit.
Alex
Genuinely, thank you. And yeah, I think lyrically, it’s like we’re trying to kind of bridge that we really like pop songs. We’re we’re really, we’re really into especially with our first EP, it was a lot of songs that we had been we had been mulling over, and then we knew had hooks that we liked, and had had sounds that we were really into. And then going in to write lyrics, we kind of want to bring, we want to bring in, like, a little bit of like thoughtfulness to to what we’re doing. I know, like, personally I tend towards—sadly, I like melancholy sounding music, and I think some of even our like more upbeat songs. I think we bring in a little bit more like darker tones with the lyrics and with some of the subject which that we try to approach without losing what it like what, especially with these first I think we have more songs in our set that have not yet been recorded where we’re trying to branch out a little more and begin to start say, start saying things about about the world and about how we feel about maybe more important topics. But for the first EP, we were really happy to have a pretty, a pretty upbeat set of songs that we could kind of play with a little bit, but without, like, losing sight of like, what, what our music in that iteration is meant to do, and which is, like, a night out, it’s a lot of fun. We do like, we don’t take we’re serious about what we do, but you don’t want to get too serious about what you don’t want to get too serious about yourself. And I think we’re trying to bridge that line, but I think we do want to start saying more going forward, and trying to bring in a way to like, yeah, just communicate more, maybe more important messages, and try and use what platform we have to kind of bring that, because it’s tough. There’s not, I don’t know what the direct link between like message in the music and like action. Actual, actual change and actual like change on actual issues. I think that the link between the link between art and like change is tenuous sometimes, and so I think we’re trying to like honor that like legacy of music as a vehicle for for ideology, while also, like, understanding that it’s like, there is a limit to what it can do, and let’s, let’s also like, have fun with, with all the different facets of the music and the lyrics. I hope that answers it.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Yeah. You guys are welcome to expand.
Dylan
I was just gonna say our first EP is all fun and games, but this next one, people are gonna think. They’re really gonna be thinking.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Perfect. Yeah. So I, since you have the mic, anyways, I wanted to ask a question about you know, one of the defining features of your solo work has been mesmerizing, deeply personal vocals. And did that experience influence how you approached the singing on this EP? Or did you find yourself venturing into unfamiliar territory this time around?
Dylan
It was really interesting, singing things that I didn’t write for the first time. My other music is so personal, and it’s kind of nice to not be the full creative force, because, like my other music, I’m writing everything, I’m doing it all. So it’s kind of nice to have a smaller role. I do end up being the person who decides the melodies, because often they’ll bring me something in a grown man key. And I’ll say, ‘Hey guys, hey guys, we gotta change this.’ But it is nice, like Mike will make the instrumental demos, and Alex will write the lyrics, and then I’ll add the vocal sauce, I guess. So it’s a nice, harmonious little team that we have, which is really nice.
Mike
And I’ll add to that. I do think it’s really cool to be in the studio with someone as talented as Dylan and throwing stuff at her, just be like, ‘Hey, you know, this is what we’re looking for.’ And sometimes there has to be a little push in different directions to be like, ‘Hey, you know, we really want more of this.’ But a lot of the times she’s bringing—as she loves to say recently, the sauce—in a way that that you couldn’t have predicted before, that just levels up the song, yeah, to a higher level than you thought it could achieve.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Well, well said, the EP is still pretty fresh, having dropped just last year. Is there anything on the horizon for Limited Hangout that fans should be excited about? You mentioned a new EP, any kind of timeline on that? You got the Sled Island show coming?
Mike
So, yeah, yeah. I mean Sled Island shows big. We’re constantly working on new music. We have a song that’s almost finished right now. We just have to go and get that vocal sauce on it. And then as far as that goes, we’re going to be trying to write and record music kind of in perpetuity, less likelihood it comes in the same EP or LP form, at least, from the start. You know, the good chance that it gets packaged that way in the future, but right now, we’re just focused on writing, recording and releasing as soon as we can, to make sure we can get that stuff out there as quick as possible.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Fair enough, anything you guys want to add or well said? Sled Island. Sled Island. And this is a question I love asking, personally, what does Sled Island mean to you guys, to be performing during it?
Mike
It means, it really means a lot, like it’s been a goal for for me personally, you know, ever since I became a musician with any sort of aspirations, and so to get the opportunity with this band, as you said before, you know, it’s fairly new. And doing stuff like playing Sled, or even doing an interview like this, these opportunities are really new to us, and it’s really exciting, and it’s a signal that the band is moving in a way that, you know, is really positive and is growing, you know, and again, in a way that I haven’t really felt before. So the opportunity is, is amazing. You know, we came down early to be a part of it, and we’re having an absolute blast. But it definitely was, you know, a goal of mine, to be able to play a festival like this, and to be able to do it, you know, with the band only being around for a year and a half is is amazing and hopefully a sign of great things to come.
Dylan
Yeah, I was just going to say pretty much the same thing. It’s a festival I’ve always wanted to play, and just like my whole life living in Alberta, seeing lineups and being like, ‘Oh my God, all these people that I think are really cool.’ So it’s just really cool to be part of it. And I’ve never even been to Sled before. So really great opportunity to just come and hang out. And I’m really glad it’s with this group, and our bill is really cool. And, yeah, it’s just feels really, really awesome.
Alex
Yeah, fully agree. It’s a dream. I think it’s, it’s such an awesome opportunity to get to take a step back and and, and just know that, oh, this is some like, if you told me five years ago that this was a possibility, it would have, it would be such a reassuring thought, and then to be here. It’s, it’s so, so nice to get that opportunity. I think it’s, it’s my absolute favorite style of festival. I love the different venues all playing concurrently. I think that’s the best way to do a show. And I think in where we are, I feel like, with all the uncertainty and in the industry, the festival stage is something that it feels stable and it feels like that’s something that that is something that a computer can’t jump up on stage and play a show for people, and that having that as like a goal, and to see it kind of actualizing is a really, really exciting moment.
Mike
I do want to add to another one of the cooler things about being able to play, versus, you know, coming down and attending, is it feels really cool to see bands playing, to talk to people throughout the weekend where you feel like your peers and you’re not just like a fan, and you’re like, hey, you know, we’re all playing this together. We’re all part of this festival, not to say anything bad about fans, and I’m a fan of a lot of things, but I think it does feel differently to be able to talk to someone say, like, ‘Hey, that was really awesome.’ And they’re like, ‘Oh, are you guys playing?’ And then you get to say, ‘Yes, we also are playing.’ It feels really cool.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Quite the flex to be able to throw out there.
Mike
Yeah, but it feels that way, and it’s not something that we absolutely don’t we that it’s not something we take for granted for a single second.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Connected to that, and probably the last question before I let you guys expand on whatever else you want, but who at Sled were you looking forward to seeing? Or did you see? Is there anybody that stands out?
Mike
Well, when saw Motherhood and Tropical Fuck Storm last night, who were both incredible, that was the first set we saw Dylan’s kind of leading the charge on what we’re seeing. So I’m going to toss over to her.
Dylan
Yeah, we’re going to go to this show at the United Church tonight. I’m really bad at all the artist names, but it was all like electro bands that sounded similar to us from what I listened so I said that one’s on the list. I’m going to be running to Horse Jumper of Love after our show tomorrow, because I really like them, and I like their album they put out last year. And then otherwise, we’re just kind of floating around and, like, overhearing what other people are talking about at other shows, and being like, ‘Oh yeah, okay, we’ll go to that.’ And yeah, I kind of like going into festivals open minded, and just jumping around, and then it’s kind of the best way to find new artists, because they’ll blow you away on stage, and then you can go home. I guess for us on the drive home, we’ll probably re-listen to people we saw all weekend.
Alex
I think just, just to, like, re-hammer on, on the wealth of different shows that are happening, really, that you can just walk into any venue and know that you’re gonna see something exciting, and then you can walk a block like get a breath of fresh air, walk a block and start a whole, start a whole new show in a new in a new venue that’s the same, but also a little bit different. Just wonderful.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Pretty unique festival, to be able to sit in church pews watching shows. Yeah, no, it’s definitely that’s one of my favorite venues, because it’s so unique, not like any others.
Dylan
And it sounds great.
Kaamil (CJSW)
The sound is beautiful. Is there anything else you want people to know about Limited Hangout?
Mike
You touched on that. I feel like Alex made, made a good point on touching on it when we were talking about the lyrics in like the first EP, once again, brilliant, brilliant research here. Loved the description of it and kind of contextualizing it in a way that maybe we didn’t before, but more so that a lot of the messaging around the band or whatever is a bit more political than what we’ve shown in the. Past where we’re just like, ‘Hey, you know, we wrote some pop songs. Let’s write some pop songs.’ And now that we’re kind of hitting our stride more, things are getting more political and riding that line between, you know, wanting to post about messages and get your point across, versus kind of just letting the work show for itself. Because I don’t know if people are coming to bands for, you know their messaging specifically, you know, that’s not what you’re looking for. You’re looking for songs that you can connect with. And I think our focus is building those songs that you can connect with, that you can find a message in, that you can, you know, try to find, if not, some level of truth, at least join us on our journey to try to find that, if it’s even out there, while not having to, like, slam that down, like we’re not posting Instagram infographics on our on our stories, but I we hope through, through our live shows, and through our, you know, recorded music we have coming up that we can try to, show what we’re kind of thinking about the world and how we live in it, while also not like, what I don’t want to do with that is commit to that. And just say, like, ‘Well, we’re a political band,’ and people can say that as like, a genre and everything. We’re still writing love songs, and we’re still gonna write songs about partying, because I think, again, as you did a really good job pointing out, that’s all connected and like you live in the same world where you know, you get ready for the party, you know you have. You find love, you find heartbreak, you have to go home and deal with all that. And that’s all going on while all these other things are going on in your life. You know, they’re not isolated incidents. They’re not isolated feelings. They’re part of a cosmic gumbo of of emotions that that you deal with day to day. And so that’s kind of the message that I think we want the band to have, that that we’re we’re working towards, is trying to just, you know, take, take, be a part of people’s journey through their different emotions living in, you know, an extremely complex and, you know, mostly cruel, cruel world. You know, you can find moments of joy and happiness, and that’s, you know, really important to do. And I think Sled Island is a big part of that, where, you know, you’re getting a lot of people who are really invested in change and making the world a better place. And sometimes you’re, you know you’re doing that alongside of having an event where you can kind of almost forget about that for a second, while still being united around those issues. And so I think Sled stands for for stuff like that, and Limited Hangout definitely stands for stuff like that.
Kaamil (CJSW)
That feels like a great place to close it. Yeah. Anything else you want to add, Dylan or?
Dylan
I was just gonna say, if we’re playing in your city, we’ll promise that you’ll have a really fun time, and you should come see us.
Mike
And bring us to your city. You know we’re playing, we’re playing Calgary Saturday night, but we’d love to be back, and we will be back.
Kaamil (CJSW)
Awesome. Thank you guys so much for chatting with me. Really appreciate it.