Da’at Are Crafting Their Sound
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Shot for Reverie Magazine
Known for their intense post-punk sound and incredible stage presence, Da’at are a staple of the local scene. While their harsh and grainy occult aesthetic may seem to tell the whole story, much more lies beneath the album covers.
“One of our main things when we started Da’at is we kind of wanted to not fit into one genre. We really pulled from multiple different genres to craft a something-new sound,” says guitarist Lauchlin Toms.
Cian Cocteau, the band’s vocalist and main producer, continues, “I find when you get into genre classification, it’s a slippery slope of getting into pretentious bullshittery.”
Long time friends, Cocteau and Toms started exchanging pieces of music with each other when both were hungering for a new music project. When bassist Jordan Kierstead approached Cocteau wanting to start a band, the three banded together and became Da’at. This was, of course, shortly before the pandemic.
“The band’s essence was created through COVID and having all the time and space to really craft a new sound,” says Toms.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Shot for Reverie Magazine
The early days involved the band jamming and songwriting together when they could and recording their respective pieces on their home setups. Cocteau, a master music editor and producer, would then assemble the pieces into complete songs. This process gave the band the unique opportunity to experiment with their music.
“Get together, jam, write songs and then completely deconstruct again in the studio, AKA the back room in my apartment,” says Cocteau. “Then just Frankenstein them back together.”
“We were conscious of wanting to add as many different instruments as we felt cultivated what feel, sound, and vibe we were going for,” says Toms.
The fruit of this experimentation can be heard in the track ‘Low Culture’ off of Da’at’s demo EP, which is one of Toms’ favourites to play. The song blends the guitars and drums expected in a punk song with a hint of brass in the backing, provided by saxophonist Sibtaen Humayun. Another instrument those with an attuned ear will catch in Da’at’s music is violin, played by member Frankie Van Rooyen. Da’at made it for a period only using drum machines, but their young drummer Javi Riquelme brings a real punchiness to their sound.
“I think each member brought a very unique vibe to performing that really creates an interesting vibe on stage. Each member compliments each other’s vibe and energy,” says Toms.
Inspirations for Da’at include goth, post-punk, and art rock, as well as work from figures such as Brian Eno and Kenneth Anger. These imprints are heard clearly throughout their rip-roaring 2022 debut album The Hissing House. ‘A Puce Moment,’ a favourite for Cocteau, combines the band’s influences into an incredible high-velocity track. Cocteau also works with inspirations outside of music.
“A lot of it comes from literature. History is a big one, the occult is another big one,” says Cocteau, “everything is framed through historical events. A lot of the lyrics are very story-based, against historical backdrops.”
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Da’at live at the Palomino
Performing is one of Da’at’s strengths as a band, and they can regularly be found at punk shows around town. While regulars at the Palomino, they’ve also played for local festivals such as Terminus and Calgary Folk Fest. A performance they look back fondly on is playing in a shipping container warehouse for Verboden Festival in Vancouver. While the frenetic energy and restless of the crowd can leave an imprint on any band, there’s another reason why Da’at’s performances are so memorable for the band.
“I know this is the same deal for quite a few members, this is the first instance in my life performing not blackout-drunk every time,” says Cocteau, “I still eat psychedelics a fair amount when performing live, but for the most part, it’s done relatively sober.”
Toms continues, “there’s a big sobriety imprint on our band. I think that really a lot of energy that went into substance was replaced by music.”
The band has been playing a new set of songs they are eager to record for the new year, but only exist in the pit for now.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Shot for Reverie Magazine