Interview With Matt Morris Of The Lazys – Canadian Music Week – May 7, 2015

By Kat Harlton
Photo: Aaron Tamachi

www.thelazysmusic.com

It’s a warm, Thursday night in downtown Toronto at the Phoenix Concert Theatre and nearing the end of Canadian Music Week.  Outside there is a line all the way down the street, and fans buzzing all about us as The Lazys guitarist Matt Morris and I cram ourselves into a tiny booth.

Morris is easy going, energetic, funny and I can tell he’s excited for the show. Tonight is the bnad’s first of 3 shows for CMW and they’re opening for The Rival Sons, one of many artists they’ve supported while being on their 2nd Canadian tour for the past few weeks. Their first tour last fall saw them open for Big Wreck, The Trews and One Bad Son.

I ask him how touring Canada for a 2nd time has been so far, and right away he mentions how Canadians have been some of the most supportive people the band has ever met, and that we’ve really helped to solidify them as a rising commodity, something that might not have come as easily back home in Australia.

“To tell you the truth, the Australian rock scene has been on the decline. It’s nowhere near as strong as North America’s.”

But The Lazys success doesn’t just come from supportive fans, it comes from hard work and a sound worthy of attention. “Shake It Like You Mean It,” the single off their debut album, has be receiving massive airplay, and steadily climbing rock charts. The track, co-written by Billy Talent’s Ian D’Sa and produced by Garth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Motley Crue) even received praise from Rolling Stone Australia claiming that “If ‘Shake It Like You Mean It’ was on AC/DC’s latest album, it would be hailed as a late career classic.”

Morris says they’ve “always been inclined towards that classic rock kind of sound” and lists Led Zeppelin, The Sex Pistols, Jimmy Page and their predecessors AC/DC all as inspiration. Talking about influences leads us to discussing new music, which Morris says they’ve been working on. Apparently, they’ve just finished recording a new single at Toronto’s own Revolution Recording studios, working again with D’Sa and with fingers crossed something we might get to hear by early next year.

Wrapping up I ask Morris if there’s any thought or message that he’d like to put out if given the chance. “Support rock and roll, because it’s honest, it’s pure, it’s loud and it’s dirty.”

Special thanks to Matt Morris, The Lazys, their management and Strut Entertainment for the opportunity.

For tour dates or more info check out www.thelazysmusic.com