Suuns @ Osheaga
Joseph Yarmush discusses Suuns & their expectations for Osheaga
Photo by rogeraziz.com
Earlier this summer at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern during NXNE, I overheard the following: “Who is suns?”
I was like, “What? What are these two hipsters talking about?”
Then I realized that Suuns were playing the showcase.
“It’s pronounced ‘soons,’ I said.
“Are you sure?” Hipster 1 asked?
“Yes.”
“I think he might be right,” Hipster 2 said.
You have to admit, it’s a name that people are bound to mess up.
I brought this up with Suuns’ Joseph Yarmush, erstwhile a colleague of mine at the erstwhile named Hour Magazine. He explained why the band changed its name from Zeroes to Suuns, how to pronounce it, and if it matters in the slightest when people mispronounce it.
“People like to make fun of us because it's similar to Sunn O))) or whatever. Basically, we had to change our name for legal reasons [and] we wanted to do it before our album came out. It happens a lot to tons of bands, so I don't feel alone or unique in that situation.
“Our name can be pronounced ‘suns’ because it avoids legal complications. It's now up to the general public to pronounce how they feel. We tried and failed. Once it gets to the point where you don't notice how weird the name is, we can get on with fucking people's minds up musically.”
Suuns, né Zeroes, have always been good at that last part. And what’s more, they’re finally getting some of the props they so richly deserve. NME—misunderstanding the time/space continuum—called them the “#1 Best New Band of 2011.” The New York Times called them “Drone Scholars,” which, when you think of it, is a good name for a band. Or a bar.
Which brings us to Osheaga, which is at least as weirdly named as Suuns. Asked if playing a short festival set instead of a longer club set bothered him, Yarmush was all like, pshaw. “It’s not a chore at all,” he says. As for any goals he and Suuns have for the festival, Yarmush is refreshingly honest:
“Our goal is to be a band that people remember from Osheaga. That way we can play longer next time and ask for more money.”
And now, a little something called See And Be Seen:
Who Yarmush wants to see: “I want to see Charles Bradley. His album No Time For Dreaming really impressed me. He’s in his sixties and just released his first album this year on the Daptone label. It’s badass and so is he.”
Who he wants to be seen by: “I’m never out to impress other artists so it’s hard to answer. But, if I had to choose, then Steven Drozd from the Flaming Lips. He’s badass.”
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