One Messy release party

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: AMY WILSON
Handsome Harlot, a Fanshawe-based band, is hosting an EP release party at The Out Back Shack on March 21.

Fanshawe's resident grunge-rockers Handsome Harlot are getting ready to release their biggest project to date: a debut EP.

To celebrate the completion of the record, they're throwing a free EP release party at The Out Back Shack on March 21 at 9 p.m. It's free to attend, and it's your chance to get your hands on this rockin' new album.

The debut EP is named after one of the songs on the album, Tower of Mess. I sat down with the band to talk about the process of recording the album and releasing it into the world.

Bassist Spencer Jones said, “It really was a great experience.” The entire band agreed that although many mistakes were made (and corrected!), going through the process of recording an album from scratch really brought the band closer together. They learned more about each other as musicians and more importantly, as people.

Guitarist Cameron Naraine reflected on working with a producer and about how it was a lot more fun than they had expected.

Lead singer Allie Gilbert summed it all up: “It was a much-needed form of self-expression.” She added that we will really get to see a deeper side of the band through these six new songs.

After speaking to this band earlier in the school year, we learned that their songwriting process is very personal and that all of their songs are continuously growing and turning into something much more. The biggest question now is which song is their favourite. “That's like picking your favourite child, it's impossible to do. I love them all,” Gilbert said. She stands by each and every one of her songs, as they simply are a part of her that she wants the world to hear.

The band is constantly re-working their songs to make sure that their live show differs from the album, which gives you more reason to go out and see them on March 21 at The Out Back Shack for their EP release party! They will be selling hard copies of the album as well as stickers, lyric/photo books and posters, so pick them up while they're still available.

If you can't make it out to the show, the album will be available online within the next few weeks. So come on, Falcons, let's show this band that we can rock along with the best of them!