Bad Pop – Going Through The Emotions

Bad Pop are a sneakily wonderful indie rock Canadian trio. Their music sparkles with wit and charm as it sensitively traces the outlines of our lives. 

We talked with the band about post-Beatles solo records, self-care and feeling relaxed.

Hello Bad Pop! How are you? Working on anything new at the moment?
Doing well thanks! Yes, we are working on some new material. We are in the process of chipping away at this amorphous blob until something reveals itself that is similar to an album of music. We’ll likely be recording it over the next few seasons.

You have been touring quite a lot recently, which must be loads of fun but also challenging at times. Is there anything particular you do when times get really busy and you need to de-stress?
I’ll speak for myself (Catherine): I love getting massages.
Also, I received noise-cancelling headphones for my birthday last year. They’ve been incredible. Aside from masking the sound of snoring at night, I’ll pop them in to call up a little spa time when things get overwhelming or intense (or I’ve heard the same joke for the twentieth time).

What three songs lift your spirits?
Everything In Its Right Place (Radiohead), anything from Abbey Road or the White Album (Beatles), and I’m gonna throw ‘Good Lava’ by Esperanza Spalding on there just to mix it up.

What are you listening to, reading and watching at the moment?
I’m digging into some post-Beatles solo records again… RAM by Paul McCartney being one of my favourites – always worth revisiting every few years. However, now that music is my day job, I like to cleanse my palate and listen to talk radio or the news (my favourite is Rachel Maddow – talk about friend crush). I’m halfway through Hillary Clinton’s book, and my partner and I are barreling through all the seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

At the Mind Map, we ask people to share their stories so that our readers can understand that going through tough times is something we all experience. What has been your biggest life challenge so far and what did you do to overcome it?
Like many people, I struggle with panic and anxiety and have had low points on tour. It’s been important for me to recognize triggers, cut them out, and exercise more attention and care towards things that I need in order to be ok.

What advice do you offer to friends when they are feeling overwhelmed?
Self-care above all else.

What would constitute a ‘perfect’ day for you?
How about a day I didn’t have a single obligation? Preferably sunny.

For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
I’m grateful for my health, the health of my friends and family, and an incredibly supportive partner.

One of our aims, other than offering mindfulness tips, is also to show different points of view on nutrition and exercise. What do you eat to stay healthy? Do you have a daily routine of exercise or do you make it up as you go along?
I’ve been working with a personal trainer friend for the past few years. He gives me a schedule of suitable tour workouts (stuff that doesn’t need a lot of equipment that can be done in a hotel). All three of us in the band have a habit of hitting the gym most days on tour. It really helps shake out the cobwebs after a long day of travel. A benefit aside from better mental and physical health is that it has become easier to lug my instruments around airports and train stations. We all try to eat good whole foods on tour, we very rarely stop at fast food joints.

Does it become difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle when touring? Do you have any advice to give to someone who’s always on the go?
It is difficult to stay healthy on tour, yes – most of our work as a band is set explicitly and intentionally in a party atmosphere. There are some folks who can keep up with it, but I’ve learned that I am not one of them. The “make sure to get lots of sleep, eat well, and exercise” trope can be a little cringe-worthy, but it is seriously really, really key. This probably destroys our rock-and-roll image (if we ever had one), but we are not in our twenties anymore, and we are pretty serious about maintaining our health and stamina. That usually means going to bed early and hitting the gym often.

Here at The Mind Map, we remember playing football and ‘tag’ – running around the playground every day and loving it – can you share a similar memory?
Oh yeah, Red Rover! Was that a thing where you grew up? Or Red Butt? I also grew up in a very cold part of Canada, so there was lots of snow fort building and outdoor skating.

Thanks for this! One last thing: can you complete this sentence for me? “Ace mental health for me means…”
Part of me wanted to list the lyrics to ‘Fitter Happier’ by Radiohead. However, in all seriousness: no panic attacks, feeling comfortable and relaxed, no strained relationships with friends and partners, motivated and fulfilled in your work.