fanclubwallet
Album: Our Bodies Paint Traffic Lines [EP]
Release Date: 2024
Canada
Ottawa musician Hannah Judge started fanclubwallet as a solo project, and she released her debut album You Have Got To Be Kidding Me in 2022. Since then, fanclubwallet has turned into a full-on four-piece band, with the members of Judge’s touring ensemble being promoted to actual-bandmate status. You could say that the new fanclubwallet song is all about the process of becoming a band, or at least wanting to become a band. [More on Stereogum by Tom Breihan]
Lyrics: Band Like That
I heard you on the radio
then next week at the show
you guys rock
you know you know you know
I bought the same guitar
to sound like just how you are
didn’t know took so much more
to create from the core
and in your band
I could sing like that
you could see it right?
me in a band like that
I tried to dress the part
I guess you can’t fake real art
they all look through me like glass
a taste test I didn’t pass
now i’m up on that stage
and it doesn’t quite feel the same
as I think it would’ve had
if I was in your band
and in your band
I could sing like that
you could see it right?
me in a band like that
and in your band
I could sing like that
you could see it right?
me in a band like that
Tracklist: Our Bodies Paint Traffic Lines
01. “Our Bodies Paint Traffic Lines”
02. “Complex Weather”
03. “Picture of Her”
04. “Easy”
05. “Band Like That”
Hi, Hannah! Congrats on your new EP. First, how did you end up with the name ‘fanclubwallet’, and can you tell us about the band’s history?
Thank you! The name comes from an old Dennis the Menace fan club wallet my dad gave me – I started the project as sort of a side project from my other band “Gullet” but it quickly became my main thing. Everyone in the band now used to be in a band called “Amnita” that I was a tour photographer for, so when it came time for me to pick a touring band, it was easy!
Our Bodies Paint Traffic Lines has five new songs in it. What are some topics it is talking about?
The whole EP is about being in a band. There are stories about envying other great bands, or about weird photographers, getting over stage fright and self-doubt.
Total different stories but the intimacy of the song (and the video) reminded me of that Japanese movie, Fish Story, in which a pioneer Japanese punk band saves the world with a song. Pure music pure passion. How would you describe your music/album in a few words?
I just watched the trailer for that movie and it looks so awesome I’ll definitely be checking it out. I think the EP is very Canadian and cartoony.
Your new single, Band Like That, is self-explanatory for English speakers but we’d like to listen to the back story of the song from you.
The song is about seeing a band – or even just listening to a band, and thinking they are so good you wish you were in that band too. Just the idea of being a huge fangirl basically.
The lyrics remind me of Anyone Can Play Guitar by Radiohead. Grow my hair, I wanna be wanna be wanna be Jim Morrison! Did you have any specific inspirations in the writing of Band Like That?
That’s so cool! I was definitely influenced by other songs with similar subject matter, “Rockstar” by Momma comes to mind.
Infected Ear: After listening to Band Like That, what’s one band you’d really wanna be in? (that’s NOT Sorry Snowman!)
Hannah: I would love to be in Modest Mouse or Rilo Kiley!
Hannah answering the inevitable question
We have to talk about your wonderful video for Band Like That, too. How did it come about?
I had the idea for the video as soon as we wrote the song – I wanted to make something that was a little funny and really capturing the feeling of loving a band in a cartoony way.
I think you also recently recorded a live session with David. Is that available, yet?
We did! Those videos will be coming out in the next couple of weeks, most likely one video per week!
I heard the EP comes with a couple of surprises. Would you like to tell us about those?
I made some zines that come with each purchase of a CD – but you can also read it on fanclubwallet.com. I am doing a giveaway with some exclusive merch on my Instagram!
