Riding the wave with Toronto’s The Beaches
When I walked into Mills Hardware to interview The Beaches, I was thankful for reprieve from the snowy flurries still raging outside, but even more appreciative of the opportunity to sit down with the Toronto four-piece alternative rock outfit and former Silhouette cover stars.
I had missed their set at Riot Fest due to a scheduling conflict, and an interview before their Supercrawl set fell through at the last minute, so I was excited when I learned that I would finally get the opportunity to sit down with Jordan Miller, Kylie Miller, Eliza Mc- Daniel, and Leandra Earl before their latest Hamilton gig.
Despite being nothing more than a stranger to them, the four girls were more than welcoming and quickly made me feel at home in the basement of the venue. As they impatiently awaited the arrival of their food, we settled down for an interview.
Jordan (bass/vocals) and Kylie (guitar) are sisters, as their shared surname suggests. Aged 18 and 17 respectively, the pair have been playing music together for close to ten years. After enlisting the help of Eliza (drums, 18) but being mocked for their success — their high school peers resented the fact that their music was being featured on the decidedly unhip Disney Channel — the band altered their bubble-gum image and added Leandra (20) whose skills on the keyboard have added a new dimension to their sound.
Having all attended the same Toronto high school, the four women have a noticeable chemistry and often finish each other’s sentences while trading quips with knowing glances. Eliza said that remaining close friends while being in a band together goes hand in hand and the other three were quick to agree.
“It’s easy for us since we genuinely like each other,” said the drummer.
Jordan went so far as to suggest a parental dynamic comes into play with Kylie figuring as the strict parent and Leandra as the nurturing one. All jokes aside, it was plain to see that they were serious about their musical aspirations and fully committed to realizing their ambitions.
They’re currently signed to a temporary deal with Island Records that entails them being periodically flown out to L.A. to work with producers. The output they create while there will determine whether the label decides to sign them to a full deal or keep developing their raw talent.
To watch the video for “Loner,” probably the band’s biggest hit, is to fully understand the crossover appeal that the band possess and what must have attracted the label.
While anxious to see how it all pans out, Kylie said “it’s kind of the best of both worlds” in how they’re able to visit L.A. for free, while still retaining creative freedom when they hit the studio. As the lone member of the band still in high school, one would think that Kylie would be stressed about having to take time off school but the senior appears to be handling it with ease. She added that the trips are often so brief that sometimes her teachers don’t even notice she’s gone.
Although only one of them is old enough to legally drink, the band has played most of their shows in bars and always has some stories to share when asked. One Toronto venue, which they refused to name, once gave them some trouble when the security guard came into the backroom and told them, “no fans allowed back here, band only.” Some other venues don’t even deem them worthy of that much attention, telling them to simply stay put until they’re due on stage.
As troubling to hear as the treatment they’ve received may be, the band has their sights set on the bigger picture. They all echoed the same plan to record their first full-length record over the next year.
As the last to join the band, Leandra had a bit of perspective when stopping to consider how the band has grown over the years and said the arrival of a manager has brought a lot more opportunities to perform at festivals and expand their horizons. Eliza said that the addition of Leandra has allowed them to pursue a direction that wasn’t just “hooky and guitar-driven.”
If they stay on their current track, The Beaches’ optimism will soon prove warranted. With the Canadian alt-rock scene plagued with a slew of mediocre male bands, this female ensemble couldn’t be more deserving.
