CREDIT: WARNER MUSIC CANADA
Arn-Horn twins and Brandon Lockwood make up Courage My Love, who took to the stage at Fanshawe on October 7.

I write about random things a lot. I write a lot about random things. However, I don’t like to waste time – and if you were half as curious as I to know more about the rock trio Courage My Love after its performance at Rocktober in Forwell Hall here on campus last week, then I’ve written this for you.

Hailing from Kitchener, the band – twin sisters Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn share vocal duties in addition to playing guitar and drums respectively, with bassist Brandon Lockwood rounding out the lineup – has had a busy year since releasing its EP Becoming last June.

In addition to launching videos for the singles “Skin And Bone” and “You Don’t Know How,” highlights of the year so far include a Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Group of the Year and a spot on the 2014 Warped Tour, a 42-date stint across North America through the summer.

What’s more, Courage My Love also released two more EPs in that time – the limited edition EP Spirit Animal, which featured a clover- shaped CD and was available exclusive on Warped Tour this summer, and the new Skin And Bone remix EP released three weeks ago.

Next on the band’s radar is a 30- plus date American tour, kicking off early next month and lasting until nearly Christmas – after it’s recouped in the studio for a bit first, that is. Frontwoman and guitarist Mercedes took a break in the studio recently to speak by phone about what lies ahead for the band in 2014 and the new year.

“We’re really focusing on new stuff right now,” she said. “We’ve been writing a lot and we’re in the studio demoing.” “

We’re about halfway done with the writing phase, getting new material together for a new album.”

According to her, the strategy of releasing EPs has been invaluable in giving the band an opportunity to explore its sound without feeling too pressured about sales and charts. However, the time to expand into a traditional full-length record may have arrived.

“The reason we’ve done EPs up until now has mainly been because we’re still introducing ourselves as a band to the world,” said Mercedes. “We’ve been together for a while, but in terms of our career, we’re still a pretty new band. Maybe this new release will be a fulllength, but we’re still unsure where we want to go with it. That’s kind of where I’m leaning, but it could go either way at this point.”

“That’s really your first statement as a band. It’s a big commitment,” she said. “But I feel like we’re ready to make that step, to just tell the world, ‘hey guys, we’re Courage My Love and we’re here to stay.’ I’m leaning towards a fulllength, but the truth is, I just want to put out new music and have people listen to it.”

The exposure that the band received over the summer has gained the attention of new American audiences, and the band is excited to return to touring in November.

Striking a balance between the creative engines of songwriting and the grind of life on the road is going to be a crucial conjunction, but the gift of time that Courage My Love has received by way of another tour will give it the opportunity to coax the full potential out of future recordings.

For more information on Courage My Love, visit ilovecouragemylove.com or follow on Twitter @couragemylove.

And for more of the latest in music news, album streams and artist profiles, follow this column on Twitter @fsu_bobbyisms. This week on campus, don’t miss country troubadour Del Barber stopping into Forwell Hall for a Nooner on October 16. He just won two 2014 Western Canadian Music Awards a week ago for his latest album and he’s easily among the most compelling storytellers in the business, consider this your invitation. I’m out of words.