Interview: 1971 talk last existing recordings

In February 2017 Canada’s 1971’s bassist, founding member, and friend Cameron Glen Cranston suddenly passed away in the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center. He was 25 years old.

The band decided to not continue without him and now releasing theirlast existing recordings with Cameron; two demos they recorded for a grant they received and one of his songs.

The first track Anxiety (In the Depths of Northwestern Ontario) was written for Cam in 2016 during a really difficult period while Cam was still around. 

1971 will be releasing this song as well as two others on cassette and 7” vinyl via Art of the Uncarved Block this December 1st. The EP is called No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. the band really hope this release properly puts this band to rest and hopes it touches some people who might have experienced something similar to what they went through. Cameron was a great musician and an inspiration to a lot of people he knew. Check out Anxiety (In the Depths of Northwestern Ontario) below!

We managed to catch up with the band as they talked about the latest release and more.

So you have released, Anxiety (In the Depths of Northwestern Ontario), how much does this track mean to you guys?
That’s a pretty loaded question… the song was written for Cam a year or so before he passed away. Garrett wrote it for him while we were going through a really difficult period in our lives, Cam’s especially.

How have the guys at Art of the Uncarved Block helped you get this released?
They’ve been really instrumental in this release. They’re releasing the cassette version of this Ep for us and releasing the compilation album we’re calling “Ready for Winter” alongside it as a double-cassette release. I had the idea about doing a compilation album and just making CD’s ourselves for like a “deluxe edition” or whatever you want to call it, to go with the 7”, but I was uncertain about doing it. They encouraged it and wanted to release on cassette. They also got us in touch with our PR and helped with that.

So the EP will be out soon too, would you say this is different from any of your other releases?
Yea definitely. The ep is a tribute to Cran (Cam) and like a farewell release, since we’re not continuing as a band after this. We’re not doing it to propel the band anywhere further and we’re not touring it. We’re really just doing it for Cran and a bit for ourselves to say bye. We wanted to see these songs out there, and so did Cran.
It’s going to be our first 7” release as well. We knew Cam really wanted to see these songs on vinyl.

So with the band not carrying on, will you be still performing on other projects in memory of Cameron?
As a matter of fact yea we are. Garrett and I started a band called Rust Owl, which is also in tribute to Cran. We named the band after him in a way. He was the withered and worn yet wise one. You don’t realize how much someone taught you in life until they’re gone. We feel more like the Rust Owl now.
Garrett has a solo project and dedicated an Ep called “The Garden” to Cran as well.

Is there any charities that mean a lot to you?
Yea for sure. I mean, both that we’re donating the profits of this release to, The North-End Women’s Center and the Kenora Sexual Assault Center, are very important to us and were very important to Cran. I can’t go into detail for the sake of victims but our lives and those who are/have been close to us have been severely affected by sexual assault and violence. We want to do a small part in helping others who’ve been affected.

What was the best moment you shared with Cameron during the band?
There are so many amazing moments and amazing stories it’s almost impossible to pin it down to “one” moment. I think every moment, the good, the rough, the tough, the beautiful, that was spent with Cran was the best moment. We spent to majority of our formative years together.

How much does your fans mean to you that have stuck by you?
I think we have a very special following that’s spread out across the map
We never totally fit into a specific genre or specific scene, but were fortunate to have met so many people along our journey who have been super loyal to us and believed in what we were doing.