Witch Water is a new band that started earlier this year. Jessica Yliruusi plays a keyboard (going through an Electro Harmonics Overdrive and a Rat distortion Pedal) and an old Korg organ hooked up to a delay pedal. Christian Chaumont plays drums. It’s hard to say what the sound is... it’s very loud/soft with a focus on the percussive aspect of keys, the tone of it all is quite haunting. (www.myspace.com/witchwater will tell you better than I can.)

Skinny: Witch Water is a person who professes to have the power to find underground water with a divining rod; dowser. Is this what you mean with your name?”

Jessica: No. Our name was conceived of magnetic poetry. We talked about how the two words (separate and together) are relevant to us and what we do but, in all honesty, we looked at it and it felt right.

Sk: Your sound is very spooky, a bit dark, very original and piano driven. What are your influences and who have you been compared to?

J: I think this is where we’re supposed to name bands and genres but we discovered that our biggest influences have been indirect musical sources. I used to be a dancer and have found that what I listen for in music has been forever influenced by that time. We’re both very fond of film music. We’ve been told the sound is comparable to PJ Harvey, that doesn’t sum it up though.

Sk: What inspires you?

J: Coming across a great live act, whether it be music, theatre, or performance art, always gets the blood pumping and makes me want to run to the sweaty old jam space and pour my heart out. Going someplace quiet enough to hear myself think. We both grew up in towns with lots of mountains and scenery so nature has been an influence as well.

Sk: What are the songs about?

J: Subject matter ranges from fruit flies to pedophilia. Its not always a conscious decision. Often times the songs just start to form and the words seem to come as mysteriously as any chord progression.

Sk: Do you have plans to record?

J: We’re very exited to be recording our first EP at The Hive with Colin Stewart in the fall and we plan to be on a cross Canada tour by early next year.

Sk: Are you into witch craft?

J; Actually I think the closest either of us has gotten to witchcraft is a Ouija board and I always cheated!

Sk: If you could cast a spell on Vancouver - what would it be?

J: I would cast a No Snow Spell on Vancouver for next Feb ;)*

Catch Witch Water live on August 13th at The Honey (Honey Lung Thursdays) with Payday Millionaire and on August 22nd at Funky Winkerbeans with Greenbelt. Posted: Aug 5, 2009