Introducing Interview: Harpoonist And The Axe Murderer

About to embark on their first European tour, Canadian blues-rock duo The Harpoonist And The Axe Murderer deliver gritty, funk-infused tracks reminiscent of the likes of The Black Keys or Jack White.

With a new track out next month, we caught up with Harpoonist And The Axe Murderer to find out more…

Hey The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer! Please introduce yourselves.

Hi, we’re Matt and Shawn. We love fine dining and walks on the beach.

How did you meet?

Matt: We met when Shawn was recording a radio jingle for a Jamaican pizza restaurant. He hired me (Matt) to play skanked out guitar.

Describe your sound in five words.

M: Gritty, raw, energetic, blues duo.

How did you first get into making music?

M: My dad was a rock drummer and my mom a classical pianist so music was around the house.

S: My grandma gave me a harmonica and a book called ‘harmonica for the musically hopeless’ when I was 12.

What is your latest single ‘Don’t Make ‘em Like They Used To’ all about?

M: ‘Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To’ is about a longing for bygone days. Like when you could smoke on aeroplanes.

You’re currently touring with Dr. Dog and later XIXA – that must be very exciting! How did that come about?

M: We are huge fans, and had a mutual connection, so we asked, and they said yes.

There’s a definite Jack White/The Black Keys sound to your music – is that what you were going for?

M: Somewhat. Though definitely less commercial and more blues based than the Black Keys, and less wizard-like than Jack White.

What are your plans for the rest of 2016?

M: Tour Europe, finish our new record, play summer festivals, rest and repeat.

Huge thanks to Harpoonist And The Axe Murderer for answering our questions! 

‘Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To’, the new single from Harpoonist And The Axe Murderer, is out 6 May and you can catch them live next Monday – 25 April – at Oslo, Hackney. 

Mari Lane

Mari Lane

Editor, London. Likes: Kathleen Hanna, 6Music, live music in the sunshine. Dislikes: Sexism, pineapples, the misuse of apostrophes.