Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Underground Gay Music Series Exclusive: A Short Q&A w/ The Hidden Cameras



My love for The Hidden Cameras is hardly a secret. From 2001's lo-fi debut album Ecce Homo to the lush, rich symphonic tones and clever beats of the mid to late 2000s, I have savored it all. For those who are unfamiliar, The Hidden Cameras is the brainchild of musician and songwriter Joel Gibb. He writes all the songs, sings and plays a good bit of the instruments on the records, and even designs the CD covers and stage sets. He also exhibits his art in galleries around the world. Gibb is really a modern day renaissance man, and handsome, to boot.

The Hidden Cameras are back as of January 2014 with the new album AGE. The first single off the album "Gay Goth Scene" is taking the world by storm thanks, in part, to an award winning short film/music video by German director Kai Stänicke (posted below). The song has been part of The Hidden Cameras' live performances since 2002, but was finally recorded and turned into a dark and lovely masterpiece. I cannot wait to hear the other tracks on AGE.

Despite being busy with all the craziness surrounding a new release, we were able to steal Joel away for the briefest of moments and get him to answer a few quick questions.
   

Q: First things first. Fanboy crush complement. You have some of the greatest videos in the history of indie rock.
Joel: Thanks.

Q: Based on your touring experience, how strong is the underground LGBT music scene?
Joel: Hard to say. Not sure if there is a strong LGBT music scene. I certainly don't think about it often nor do I identify with ANY scene. THC are usually playing with straight bands, playing straight festivals so we always feel like the outsider in that respect. For example we don't get asked to play Prides that much; only Toronto, Halifax and Munich Prides have ever has us play their events.

Q: What's the funniest thing that has happened to you on tour?
Joel: Funny weird or funny haha? Hard to say, perhaps watching Team America every day on the bus together for a week straight in 2005/Europe. Creating inside jokes together on tour is always funny. On a long tour the band often starts to create its own language.

Q: Unicorns....or Narwhals? Who would win in a fight?
Joel: Not sure what a Narwhal is so I guess I'll have to say Unicorns.



Visit The Hidden Cameras Facebook!
-Top photo courtesy of Elsa Quarsell.
-Narwhal toon by Scott Mullin.
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