Sept 23 2002

Over The Edge Page 11

Holly McNarland Speaks out on Motherhood, music,
and why it’s good to be back

By Kathleen De Vere

Holly McNarland has made
a reputation for herself as
impassioned songwriting bad-
ass; a feminist, a force to be
reckoned with, and, good at
speaking her mind. Having
just come off from a five year
child-rearing hiatus, she’s
also now a mother as well as
a musician, so the question
arises, does she still have a
bark and a bite?

Talking to Holly McNarland
over the phone affirms that
she still does. It’s early, and
she’s just woken up, her voice
is hoarse, cigarettes and cof-
fee present in the background
as she talks. Over The Edge
had the opportunity to track
down the busy songwriter for
a few minutes one morning to
ask her about motherhood,
music and being Holly
McNarland.

Over The Edge: Much ado
has been made of your deci-
sion to take time off and raise
a family. Why do you think that
people think that is strange?

McNarland: | think it’s
because people expect Rock
and Roll people to be not
moms. It’s not in the character
that people expect. People
that are on stage aren’t family
people.

Over The Edge: Have you
re-evaluated your approach to
music?

McNarland: The music
allows me to express myself,
I’ve mellowed out a little bit,
I’ve aged and I’ve grown. This
album reflects my mindset,
how | was feeling in the
moment. My creative process
is very in the moment on
some of those songs. It was
very, very, just happened.

Over The Edge: How do

Wiide Mouth Mason rocks the crowd at the Multiplex

you write your music?

McNarland: | write for me,
it's my own way of dealing
with things, what I’m thinking,
and what I’m feeling.

Over The Edge: Was there
a negative reaction when you
decided to suspend your
career and become a mother?

McNarland: No, no nega-
tive reaction, it was all posi-
tive.

Over The Edge: How do
you like your new album? Are
you pleased with the results?

McNarland: | like it a lot
better than my other albums.
It means a lot more to me
now, it’s kind of like my little
diary. | never did any baby
books, you need to have fuck-
ing Martha Stewart kind of
personality to do that. It's a
cumulation of experiences for
me.

Over The Edge: How is it

David Mahoney photo

David Mahoney photo

Holly McNarland belts it out at the Northern backyard BBQ

going back to touring and play-
ing live? Do you like playing for
young crowds?

McNarland: | like playing
live, when it’s a good show it’s
really fun. [Younger Crowds]
like to drink more, you get peo-
ple throwing shit, but it will be
fun playing for younger people,
I’m always playing in bars.

Over The Edge: Finally, do

you have any fun touring — sto-
ries?

McNarland: Well, I've been
touring for two months, as far
as fun stories go, | have a
scary one: We found out our
driver had been in a big car
accident years ago, and had
gotten brain damage, which is
why he isn’t allowed to drive
an ambulance anymore. We
ended up going off the road a
few times up in the rockies.

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