The aura of Dora

With their debut EP on the way
Image supplied by: Supplied photo by Amanda Fotes
With their debut EP on the way

1. Who are you?

Dora Alexander, a band based out of Toronto. [Our] bassist, Michael Succi, is a Queen’s CompSci ’08.

2. What do you do?

We try to write and perform engaging music that challenges the listener, while still remaining accessible. This is tough because every band member has their own individual influences and ideas of what they want to hear. So what we do is try to reconcile and be sensitive to each other’s musical stylings and in the end create music that is representative of us all.

3. Where can people find you?

twitter.com/doraalexander

myspace.com/doraalexander

facebook.com/doraalexandermusic

4. What inspires you?

Seeing shows. Playing shows. Other musicians. Friends. Hangovers. Records. Camus. Kafka. Other books. Toronto. Delay pedals. Drum machines.

5. What do you feel your role is as musicians?

To try and push the envelope in terms of creating new and interesting music, and not just rehash what’s already out there. I think that being a musician carries with it the responsibility of any artist, in the sense that you try to create art that is sincere and conveys what’s in your head as best you can. We do this in hopes of producing music that people can not only relate to, but be challenged by as well.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it?

The delicious smoothie you get when you blend up some Mogwai, Thom Yorke and Neil Young.

7. What’s the nicest and worst thing someone has said to you about your music?

The nicest words of encouragement came from Dan Wolovick of TwoWayMonologues.com, a popular Toronto music blog. He had very positive things to say about our live show at Rancho Relaxo (Toronto music venue), as well as saying that everyone at the blog was anticipating the release of our EP. The worst would have to be from our show in Toronto last week, where one of us overheard a girl calling us a ‘hipster’ band because we were playing a seven minute song with only two chords. Now I won’t directly refute her statement, but I will rebut with the fact that those two chords went along so well together that the song didn’t need any other chords! Plus, near the end of that song we strum the guitar really fast, so it evens things out right?

8. What are your current obsessions?

Caribou’s Swim. Microphone phasing. Oxford shirts. Chris’ 808.

9. When someone says Kingston, you say?

$3.50 Toucan breakfasts. Gaels at the QP. Clark Hall Ritual. Frosh Week. The Grad Club. Swimming off the pier.

10. What are you working on now? We’re working on getting everything together for our EP Release in October, and are planning to go into hibernation over the winter months to write and record a couple new tracks.

Dora Alexander play The Mansion tomorrow. Doors are at 9 p.m., tickets are $5.

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