Interview with Ivy Gardens
Ivy Gardens are a stoner metal band from Ontario, Canada formed in 2020
Alicia
Can you Introduce the band.?
Ivy Gardens
We are Ivy Gardens, a stoner rock/metal band from Niagara, Ontario, Canada. As young musicians we played together for years, and officially formed Ivy Gardens in 2020 with a new focus and mission statement. Huge volume, high energy, and the heaviest possible riffs we could hammer people’s heads with. Over the past few years, we’ve been writing, recording and producing many singles, some creative covers, and an EP, while also touring across Ontario and the east coast of Canada. We’re an independent band with a specific vision for our music, and almost everything we do is driven by a DIY ethos that puts a lot on our shoulders, but allows us to create and present our art exactly how we want it.
Alicia
Where did the name come from?
Ivy Gardens
The name Ivy Gardens is a street name in our hometown, where the band started jamming together when we were young. On that street was the genesis of everything we do, from discovering the music that inspired us, down to burning CDs of our very first recordings.
Alicia
You have an album coming out can you tell us about the recording process?
Ivy Gardens
Our album Goon, set to release April 19th, was recorded completely on our own in a DIY fashion. We write our music collaboratively, pitching ideas one by one and hammering it out together as a live band. We made sure all our material was tested live, to make sure it hits hard, and to give ourselves a good perspective on how the key moments and pacing of our songs work an audience and flow together. Where do people mosh the hardest? How do they headbang to a riff in 9/8 time? Once we were satisfied, we pooled together all of our recording equipment and recorded it ourselves in a living room. We all have backgrounds in audio, and we all have something to contribute to the recording process.
Alicia
Do you have plans to tour this release?
Ivy Gardens
Yes, we are touring the entire month of May. Traveling through the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and almost all of the east coast of Canada. We will be playing the album in its entirety, and also road testing some new material.
Alicia
Can you tell us about the music scene where you’re from?
Ivy Gardens
We are based out of Beamsville, a small town right in between Niagara Falls and Hamilton, in Canada. The rock/metal scene between both places is a bit of a strange one. Bands tend to appear as quickly as they disappear, and for a long time, it was very limited on venues willing to put on loud ass shows. In recent times, however, it does seem like a more serious scene is developing, with more and more heavier/louder bands coming out, and more spots or shows to happen. Hamilton has a lot of cool metal and punk bands, while Niagara has a fresh alternative scene starting to blossom. Being right in the middle, we’re lucky to take part in both.
Alicia
Was music something you’ve always wanted to do?
Ivy Gardens
Absolutely. The three of us started learning how to write and perform music together since we were kids, and the passion for it never diminished. It’s something we all enjoy collectively, and something that gives us lots of long term goals and the drive to accomplish them.
You can check out Ivy Gardens music and social media below