Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with Neighbour Andy
Middle province’s Neighbour Andy has spent the last few years building a reputation not only as a band, but as a genuine hot ticket. Comprised of Drake Lesperance (vocals), Mark Davidson (guitar), MacKenzie Jackson (bass), Jordan Alexiuk (drums), and Joel d’Eschambault (keys), the five friends fuse the rhythmic drive of alt-rock with the narrative heart of Americana, folk, and an influence of funk — a sound that skips the predictable and lands somewhere necessary.
The group first gained local traction in 2022 with the single “71,” an infectious track born from guitarist Mark’s childhood home that captures the feeling of growing up with your best friends. Their debut self-titled EP came that same year, followed by the band’s debut album release “Wild One” in 2023, when they sold out their 500-cap album release show in just eight minutes.
Their new psychedelic rock romp “Courtney” debuted at #1 New Airplay, #4 Top Gainer and broke Breaking Alt Charts top 10 in Canada, plus #2 Top CANCON Download, #4 Top Indie, and #9 Overall Download in their first-ever week at radio, thanks to their down-to-earth goofy authenticity evident through relatable storytelling. They’ve toured across Canada, featured at festivals like Departure, NXNE, Festival du Voyageur, Real Love Fest and more. With more music coming and lots to say, Neighbour Andy is ramping up, poised to become a familiar name in the alt-rock corner of music.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Jordan – Drums
I can remember being at my Grandparents house when I was 4 or 5 years old, and being completely overwhelmed by my cousins taking turns putting records on the old stereo system in the basement. The albums being put on were what you’d expect from the situation – a grab bag of compilations and less-than-favourites that were left behind as each of my Dad and his siblings moved out. But the crackle of the needle and the first time ever really hearing music that loud in an enclosed space was memorable.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
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Jordan – Drums
For me, making and playing music has always been a part of my life. My parents were good about making sure I took music lessons through my youth, and helped show me how enjoyable life can be when you surround yourself with music. I think though I really began to take an interest in making music with others, playing for audiences and creating something new in middle school. When I was 14 I played in a talent show band at a school assembly with some of my schoolmates, and I immediately realized the feeling of tangibly expressing yourself creatively in a material way is something I’d like to never stop feeling, and wanted to get the chance to do as many times as feasibly possible. That same year I saved all my money, bought the cheapest laptop I could find that would run Ableton, plugged in a midi controller and started making terrible beats as we all do when we first start writing music on a DAW.
I think I just fell in love with music from a very early age. My parents put me in guitar lessons when I was 10 – I had a great teacher who would show me lots of classic rock songs, and a babysitter who was a great guitar player who would also teach me. They gave me glimpses of music history from different angles and it definitely gave me a foundation and inspired me to keep digging deeper. – Mark
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Jordan – Drums
Neighbour Andy formed with Mark Davidson, Joel D’eschambult, and some of our other mutual friends in 2017. The band started from a shared love of music and wanting to make and play together. It also probably helped that Joel and Mark are life long friends and grew up on the same street. Neighbour Andy would play university events, parties, and bar gigs. The current line up came together in 2021. Around that time we began the process of moving from playing 3 sets of covers at a bar on a Saturday, to writing, recording and playing our own music.
Neighbour Andy is kind of like a creative democracy when every elected official is goofy to varying degrees no matter how hard they may try and push it down. It’s 5 dudes mostly just enjoying each other’s company, being silly, and being fortunate to share our music with other people.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
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Jordan – Drums
Bearable.
Jokes aside, we often get compared to Peach Pit, and it probably has something to do with the fact they began covering “What Once Was” live around the same time our recorded version began getting a bit of traction on YouTube. So I’ll go with it’s like Peach Pit but with perhaps a bit more 70’s rock thing goin on and our singer sounds like Adam Levine. He loves when you tell him he sounds like Adam Levine. Also shoutouts Peach Pit. Big fan and their Spring of 2020 show in Winnipeg was one of the first concerts I had tickets to that got cancelled due pandemic.
To me it’s a collection of influences, like 70s pop and rock mixed with indie rock, with the occasional outlaw country twang. It’s really a mixed bag that keeps evolving and we don’t know where it’s going next. – Mark
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
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Jordan – Drums
The importance of tension and release
Not playing can be equally as important as playing – they are both a choice, and the more I learn the more I’m considerate about leaving space – Mark
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Jordan – Drums
As Joel our Keyboard player so eloquently puts it, we’re a guitar rock and roll band. Get us some axes baby!!!
I love a good notepad! I also like playing through my live rig with a microphone so I can feel the song in more of a live band setting -Mark
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
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Jordan – Drums
As a 29 year old man, I know it’s my place to love MJ Lenderman’s music more than I love myself, and I have been putting the 2023 version of “Knockin” on, without exaggeration, almost daily for the last month or so. I’m also very excited for the new Westside Cowboy Record, “Don’t Throw Rocks” is excellent, really like that tune.
I’ve been digging Geese along with everyone else on the planet. Also A Case of You by Joni Mitchell has been in my head and I don’t know how it got there – Mark
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
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Jordan – Drums
I think it ebbs and flows for me. Sometimes when I’m playing or writing I’m feeling really inspired and can kinda feel my emotions developing and coming out as I play or scrawl words down, and other times I’m just lost in the melodies and it’s more of a trance kinda state.
I definitely go through phases of what kind of music I’m into, and it translates into what music comes out. When I was younger the music and my playing would sound exactly what I was listening to, now it has gotten a little muddier as the influences keep piling on. – Mark
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
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Jordan – Drums
Right by You, by Everyone I think is a record about growth from a lyrical perspective. There’s some nostalgic “Yeah I love you baby oh oh yeah” stuff going on, primarily in Niagara St. , but along the way as the album comes to a close the title track, and King’s Speech are much more emotive and exploratory. It’s important to have fun in life, and not take yourself too seriously. It’s important to grow and challenge yourself. You’re not alone in the issues you’re facing. Don’t be afraid to look yourself in the mirror and acknowledge when you’ve been wrong. It’s almost never that serious.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
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Jordan – Drums
How much fun being in a rock band is. In any capacity. Jamming with strangers in a basement or being fortunate to play for a tent packed with people. The act of playing music, with others, for others is very cool. Can’t take it ever for granted.
Don’t compare yourself to others! Be the first you – Mark
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
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Jordan – Drums
I’d love the chance to play Osheaga in Montreal. Maybe a milk toast answer, but for me it’s always been “The” Canadian Music Festival since I was a teenager. I went in 2019 and was rattling off with friends just the other day who all I got to see and it’s a crazy lineup that has aged super well for the most part. Off recollection I saw RUFUS DU SOL, Rosalia, Denzel Curry, Sam Fender, Boy Pablo, Yellow Days, Mac Demarco, Chemical Brothers, Flume, Childish Gambino, Tame Impala. That’s before not being able to see Tierra Whack, not yet being into Fontaines D.C, and I got off the metro as JPEGMAFIA was finishing up. Getting to play on the island would be super neat and kind of a full circle moment for me, as I had just gotten involved with Neighbour Andy a few months before that July.
We have never played outside of Canada – so honestly just playing outside of there would be a dream come true. I would love to go to Europe and have the music take us all over. – Mark
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
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Jordan – Drums
Impossible to pick only one artist in this fantasy situation. One of many off the top of my head; I would love the chance to collaborate with Justice. Gaspard and Xavier’s Drums, particularly on Cross have probably influenced my playing more than any other band or act. That first Justice LP has a super special place in my heart, I think it’s an incredibly well put together album, and the French Touch inspirations that take turns peeking and bashing through make it to me timeless.
Very hard to say. Maybe George Harrison – we could walk around his garden and find a song – Mark
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Linktree below!!!!!
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Jordan – Drum
It’s probably a combination of a bunch of other dreams. Continue to get to play music, elevate and push our songwriting and playing ability to the next level, travel to new far away places, play with artists we’re inspired by and look up to, continuing to get into silly situations that make me laugh.
Being able to travel to new places, meet cool people, make more songs, and get busy livin! – Mark
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
Jordan – Drums
That we like havin a good time just as much as they do. Maybe more who’s to say certainly not me. Could also perhaps be less, again not my place to say.
That we are friends who love making music and having fun. We hope people can feel that energy through the recordings and come experience it with us. – Mark
