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Gord Sinclair: Always Be Pushing Yourself Gore Common July 24, 2020 September vii, 2020

Dubbed Canada's band, the Tragically Hip played their final concert – a gig that was watched by nearly 12 million people – in the summer of 2016. For more than than three decades, the group created iconic music together that became the soundtrack for the lives of many people across the country.

Throughout their career, the Tragically Hip's piece of work ethic was 2nd to none. Their last album, 2016's Man Car Verse form, won the act Juno Awards for Rock Album of the Year and Group of the Yr. That record was released shortly after frontman Gord Downie was diagnosed with terminal cancer. While that would have marked the end for many other bands, the Tragically Hip pulled together for ane last nation-wide tour.

Earlier this yr, bassist Gord Sinclair became the first member of the band to release new music since Downie'due south decease when he put out a solo album called Taxi Dancers. Sinclair spoke with usa for Go Magazine about the benefits of collaboration, why information technology'south of import to always push button the envelope and shares some words of wisdom from Downie.

What's the best career advice yous've ever received?

To approach everything you exercise equally a collaborative do. It's amazing what you tin can reach when you don't care who gets the credit.

You had the aforementioned job for over three decades. When Gord Downie passed away and the Tragically Hip stopped as a band, how did yous deal with that major life modify? What was your procedure for figuring out "What do I exercise side by side?"

I enjoyed a 30-plus-year career with the Hip and we had a very comfortable routine based effectually a two-year album cycle in which nosotros would write a record, record a record, tour a record then take some time off before showtime the process again. That all stopped with Gord's death. Equally time passed, I began to experience the pull to brainstorm that procedure again. I have e'er approached creative expression equally a mode of dealing with bug in my life and Gord's death had a meaning touch on on me. At kickoff, I wasn't sure what I would do, but gradually the creative juices began to flow and I was compelled to limited myself once more this time lyrically as well equally musically. Gord was being creative right until the end and I know he would not have wanted any of us to stop.

Last year, after the expiry of another erstwhile friend and Hip road manager Dave Powell, I was finally able to write a song that I felt adequately expressed my feelings virtually losing my quondam mates. I chosen it "In the Next Life". At that point, I felt confident that I could gather an anthology of cloth dealing with the theme of dear and loss. I wrote a few more songs with that concept in listen and chose other songs I had composed going back a few years that expressed those sentiments. Mortality is something nosotros all share but don't talk near plenty. We all feel the beauty of honey and the pain of loss and must embrace the former to get united states of america through the latter.

Throughout your career, what'due south been more of import – the journey or the final destination?

For me, both personally and professionally, life is nigh living in the nowadays and enjoying the journey, with information technology's up and downs, just always with a heed to the destination as well. We only have so much time to become our all-time selves and to share that with those we're on the journey with. If nosotros all lived our lives with love and compassion as our motivating force, we'd all be better off in the almost and long term. Being artistic has allowed me to express that philosophy, which in turn helps me to aspire to live my life accordingly.

Why is collaboration a good thing for people to encompass? Is it ever challenging to remove ego from the mix and let others take command of ideas to try and make them better?

I'thou a huge believer in the ability and value of collaboration. To collaborate finer you lot have to bank check your ego and trust in the motivation your collaborators have to make your work better.

I have always plant with the Hip that the guys helped me be improve. Likewise, when it came time to record the songs for Taxi Dancers, I turned to two musicians I know very well, whose instincts I trust, to assist me brand my songs improve – John Angus MacDonald (The Trews) and James McKenty (The Spades).

With this new project, yous're obviously pushed to the forefront. Was this a natural progression or did it have yous exterior of your comfort zone?

I accept consistently described myself equally a reluctant solo artist. I loved being in the Hip and there is a reason I'm a bass player. I'm a ring guy. It suits my personality. I relished that role playing alongside Johnny Fay and became a amend musician playing with the same drummer for so long. Watching Gord perform at every show made me appreciate the talent and hard piece of work it takes to be the frontman of a group. That'due south something that does not come naturally to me. In stepping upwardly to the mic I always endeavour to keep in heed a lyric Gord wrote in our song "Flamenco" – "Walk like a matador, don't be a chickensh#t".

The Tragically Hip never rested on its laurels. Why was it of import to maintain such a strong work ethic at all stages of your career?

We learned very early that information technology'south ultimately unsatisfying to residual on your accolade. You lot always have to be pushing yourself to movement the project forrad. We were a very creative and motivated group and we always challenged ourselves to exist meliorate writers, musicians and performers. It would have been piece of cake to simply rewrite "New Orleans Is Sinking" over and over, only that would accept made for a short career. Button the envelope and you'll be surprised what yous can accomplish. Trust in those yous collaborate with and give yourself over to the group. Together y'all can get in.

I think the big reason the Hip connected to be successful over the years was because nosotros loved and trusted each other. None of usa ever wanted to permit the other fellas down and we e'er had each other's backs. Nosotros pushed ourselves to be better. Travelling together from show to evidence can be very challenging, but we were friends showtime and co-workers second. When someone was down, the others would always make the effort to pick that person up. We took breaks when we collectively needed them and respected each other as people with lives outside the group.

You lot have a long history of supporting different charities and the arts community. What drives you to do this?

For everyone in the Hip, nosotros're Canadians and believe strongly in our country and aspire to get in a better identify. Philanthropy is a large part of that. Witness Gord Downie's dedication to ecology causes and the Downie Winjack Foundation to promote truth and reconciliation with our aboriginal nations. The Hip have ever promoted the health of our local community in Kingston and over the years nosotros never took a nickel from our performances there. We ever invested that back into various causes. Whether it was the hospitals, the United Fashion, educational or artistic initiatives, we all believe strongly in giving back.

Going forward I'm working to help preserve the live performance opportunities for emerging artists in Canada. Touring Canada, as a musician or a comedian or a dancer, whatever the art form, is very challenging. Long drives and harsh atmospheric condition can take their price. Those that endure, who are driven to succeed against the odds, come out the other side meliorate at what they do. That'due south what sets Canadians autonomously from their peers; nosotros have to work harder to get to where we want to be. It isn't a coincidence that so many great performers and route crews come up from here. To preserve that keen tradition, we need to preserve smaller local venues to give young artists a place to acquire and grow. Our artists are critical to preserving Canadian culture and heritage. If we don't back up them, we will all lose down the road. Nosotros should all exist concerned near where the next Gord Downie or Leonard Cohen is going to come from.

The Tragically Hip own and operate a studio chosen the Bathouse Recording Studio, which also houses a large corporeality of Hip memorabilia. Can yous tell us about the insurance you have to protect the infinite and its 1-of-a-kind contents?

In the music and recording studio business we take very specific and specialized insurance needs. Recording and musical equipment tin very expensive. Older vintage pieces can ofttimes be difficult to replace. Some individual instruments tin have a unique quality and character that tin make them irreplaceable. Likewise operating a residential studio as we do with the Bathouse, we demand to carry special liability coverage for our employees and for our clients. Our belief in the ability of music and collaboration inspired us to create our studio. We wanted to provide other musicians the opportunity to live and work with each other in a artistic surround; to exist inspired past the place and each other. Making sure they are prophylactic and protected while they are in that location is very important to us.

Larn more about Gord Sinclair'southward Taxi Dancers album here.

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