Brendan Canning was almost a professional footballer. Almost. True to form, the decision to turn down sports in favour of music wasn’t for any bombastic, life-changing reason. He just made an educated choice- ‘I didn’t think I was good enough. It’s kind of like being in a band though, a group of individuals you gotta get along with, and you have a manager…’

The man doesn’t own a mobile phone, and, until recently, his favourite radio show was one on a college station. When he dj’s, he spins African music in his sets, not because it’s currently in vogue, but because he actually likes it. ‘I’ve never heard Vampire Weekend, so I can’t really say anything about them. I listen to old stuff; I’ve yet to catch up. I don’t know if they’ve any African roots in their background, but I like African music. There’s lots of great music all around the world, sometimes I don’t get to the newer stuff…’ In one breath he steps back from modern technology, apparently disinterested-‘When I’m making videos, I just let the director go with it. I don’t really like the medium.’- and in the same breath, offers a far more interesting alternative-‘I’d be more interested in making a film. I took a road trip with my Dad and his friend Herb in 1988 to Arizona. I always thought that there were enough moments in that to make a decent film. I could do the soundtrack as well.’ He’s excited about the score for The Tracey Fragments- starring Ellen Page. It will be Broken Social Scene’s third score in a short period of time. Their music has already appeared in Bruce McDonald’s film The Love Crimes of Gillian Guess, on the Wicker Park soundtrack and for Clement Virgo’s film Lie With Me and the upcoming film Snow Cake, which is already receiving critical acclaim. It’s fitting then, that Bruce McDonald is the director of a documentary-in-progress on Brendan Canning.
Canning feels at ease around McDonald, because of their previous work together, and feels no discomfort at being filmed. His only regret is that ‘sometimes, when I look back on things I said, I go ‘Oh, maybe I should have explained that better, or been a little more eloquent.’ Eloquence isn’t a problem, however, especially on his solo album ‘Something for Everyone’.

In keeping with the title, ‘Something for Everyone’ offers a broad selection of musical styles, and of voices. Many friends from the Broken Social Scene stable pitch in a hand, be it vocally or instrumentally. As a result, the record is a pick and mix of all the things that made Broken Social Scene special- swooping, sprawling hooks, tight melodies and anthemic lyrics- along with elements that are all Canning’s own- including muted atmospherics, painterly instrumentation, and clever textures. Unsurprisingly, the album came together in a pretty organic, straightforward fashion. Old song ideas were polished up, refined and reshaped-‘There were a couple of ideas that I liked, and had floating around for a while. The funky track- ‘Love is New’- was basically a soundcheck jam from 2004. I took it, and morphed it a little bit.’ ‘Snowballs and Icicles’- that was recorded around the same time as ‘Spirit If…’ in the same studios.’- and new ones were written in studio, as the album was being recorded-‘I was writing with a couple of guys in the studio. It was like writing a new band with those guys. There were there with me writing the tunes. It’s different because you don’t have a family. We weren’t in the rehearsal space.’ He admits there were difficulties changing roles from bassist to lead singer, and from tune-smith to singer/songwriter-‘It took me a little while to get warmed up and not rely on others so much. Before, I’d write a tune and not focus on the vocals at all. A singer/songwriter does tunes before facts. I was used to doing it the other way around.’ Canning is happy to mix together his solo and his group projects- ‘We’ve been doing a few songs at summer festivals, touring a mixture of new stuff and older B.S..S. stuff. Kind of a Brendan Canning Greatest Hits package.’- and remains staunchly loyal to Broken Social Scene (or, ‘the band’) - ‘I don’t need the singing spotlight on me all the time. Right now, it (B.S.S.) is a solid core. It’s been a little easier getting a set-list and line-up together.’ While he refuses to give either of his projects precedence over the other-‘Hopefully the band (B.S.S.) will start writing together soon. I just released a record with my name and my face on the cover. I don’t think about scheduling records, really. Whatever comes first, comes first.’- that’s not to say he’s stopped thinking about his next move. When probed further, he quickly mumbles about another, slightly secret side-project-‘I’ve another record coming up that’s neither Broken Social Scene nor Brendan Canning. It’s more pop-rock.’- then stops, refusing to divulge any further information- I’m kind of waiting before I speak about that one too much. I think there are some good tunes on it though….’

Brendan Canning may tentatively left the Broken Social Scene nest, but after looking around the big wide world, and shaking his tail-feather a little, it’s pretty clear that he has no intention of going back inside.

Ailbhe Malone is 21 years old. She continually gets Malcolm McClaren and Steve McClaren mixed up.
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