Login / RegisterThe incredible indie explosion: White Poppy
Judging by her disarming and laid-back demeanour, you wouldn’t expect Crystal Dorval to be the psychedelic siren behind White Poppy, which released the enigmatic pop record I Had a Dream in April. On this experimental triumph, Dorval conjures up lush and deep whirlpools of shimmering noise so enchanting that it’s hard not to get swept away by the undertow.
Best local release other than yours:
“The Courtneys’ cassette K.C. Reeves. I’m not really sure why I picked it. They’re just really good musicians and the songs are super catchy. This record’s just different from a lot of other music I hear around town these days.”
The year’s best gig:
“The Christmas party at Pinhole Printing on December 16, 2011, with Heavy Chains, Woolworm, and Koko, And the Rock ’n’ Roll Lotto held by Student Loan and Green Burrito Records at their apartment on August 11, with Bummer High, the High Drops, Aquarian Foundation, the Shilohs, and various other local bands.”
What classic never leaves the turntable?
“Probably The Velvet Underground & Nico. It’s one of the only albums from my adolescence, around age 15, that I can still listen to. The songs are just consistently appealing to me, and I never get sick of them the way I do with other songs. It’s kind of my definition of classic and timeless music.”
Where are we impressing your out-of-town friends?
“Diners! I can’t reveal the name of my favourite diner because it is the ultimate hidden gem, so I will use my runner-up diner: Lucy’s [Eastside Diner] on Main [2708 Main Street]. I feel like it’s such a funny place to pick, but I’m not really a restaurant-y, going-out type of person, so I like the relaxed environment of it. I come from Victoria where there are virtually no late-night restaurants or diners, so I love Lucy’s because it’s open all night, and the food’s really good too.”
Like LMFAO, who’s sexy and knows it?
“I’d have to say the drummer from Koban.”
Uncle Morty left you his fortune. Where are you opening a venue?
“The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre [1100 Chestnut Street] would be a really cool place to have shows regularly. We played a one-off fundraiser show there for Girls Rock Camp in the planetarium, where they had all these projections of the stars up on the wall. It was awesome.”
