*If you would like to have you or your band considered for Under The Radar, email Daly @ ryan.daly@timminsradio.rogers.com with the subject “Under The Radar”…if not, be cool & start a band.*

Royal Tusk have their full length debut, DealBreaker, out today! Sandy Mac joins Daly on Under The Radar to talk about the new album, coming from one successful band  (Ten Second Epic) to making a unique sound with a new one, touring Canada, and what happens when Prairie Boys are let loose in down-town Toronto. There’s a lot more but you’ll have to check out the interview to see it!

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 *Some NSFW language below*

Daly: Big Album release this Friday [Today], your full length titled, DealBreaker, are you stoked or what?

Sandy: Oh man you can’t imagine. It’s been a long time in the making, we finished this in the fall and literally we’ve just been waiting to get back on the road and start playing it for everybody. So it’s actually kind of surreal that it’s coming out this week, we’re just excited.

Daly: You finished it in the Fall and it’s just coming out now?

Sandy: Yeah everything was getting ready, like just before Christmas. We were recording with Eric Ratz [Big Wreck, Monster Truck, Arkells, Billy Talent] out in Toronto for about a month and a half, it was great

Daly: So quite a bit of time went into it but judging by some of your social media posts & videos it wasn’t all work and no play right? You guys had some fun?

Sandy: Well you get our crew into our loft where we were staying and well…shits going to go down. Especially when you get five prairie boys in the middle of downtown Toronto, things can get a little hairy

Daly: [Laughs] I saw a few weeks ago you were denied entry to a casino for some reason?

Sandy: I was, yup. It was myself. Let’s just say it was the same kind of thing. [Laughs] I was having too much and the fun police were there to, um… make sure my night was over.

Daly: Hate those guys

Sandy: Ya me too. I even tried – I gave them a half truth. They asked me if I was drinking and I said, “yep”. Which I was. And they said, “How many have you had?” In my head I was very very punctual and very quick to answer but I said, “Ahhhh…4?”. So they told me to get the fuck out of there. You know? It’s the way it goes.

Daly: I imagine the show is just a big party  then. Do you try to bring that fun atmosphere to the stage?

Sandy: Absolutely. That’s the main goal. If someone in the crowd is having as much fun as we are then we’ve done it.

Daly: I was listening to the stream [of DealBreaker] you put up on Exclaim, it rocks, I can’t wait for the release on Friday. I noticed there’s a lot of variety on the record. Slowed down piano parts – “Not So Fast” is an unreal song – others have amazing solos, others have catchy beats, there’s really a little bit of everything. Did you go in with the intention of laying everything out with that variety or was it just kind of the way it came together?

Sandy:  We let the songs kind of take form themselves. Let them grow organically to see where they kind of went. And then with all the guys in the band, everyone’s got their own pepper to the song, right? So everyone adds their own little piece and it just sort of – not to get rambling verbal diarrhea here – but everyone’s got a little piece of it so that’s the way it turns out.

Daly: It’s funny because I heard your first single, “Fever”, and I thought it was very guitar heavy and then when I listened to the entire album I was just kind of blown away about how much depth and diversity there was too it.

Sandy: Ya, like I said everyone has different backgrounds of music and I guess when you get us all together that’s the form it takes

Daly: Speaking of your background in music, you of course along with Daniel were also in Ten Second Epic. If you get these questions all the time I completely apologize, but since there’s two members of the band in Royal Tusk is it important for you to make songs that don’t sound like Ten Second Epic songs?

Sandy: You know what, those songs ended up being the way they were back then because it was a different group of guys. This one is just totally different. You know that’s just the way it is. Even if we switched out a member or two [in Royal Tusk] I bet the next songs would sound 100% different that what you’re hearing on Dealbreaker right now.

Daly: So it’s not like you and Daniel are trying to replicate what happened then, you’re out making something new with a new set of guys.

Sandy: Absolutely.

Daly: And you’re looking pretty busy, you’re on a mammoth of a tour. Are there any places in Canada that are still on your bucket list that you want to play and haven’t played yet?

Sandy: That I’ve never played? You know I’ve never played the Territories

Daly: I don’t think many people go to the Territories

Sandy: I know, but I would like to go do a show or two up there. I don’t want to drive up there. [Laughs]. God no, there’s no reason – I sit in the van long enough so there’s no reason to be sitting for that long for one show. But if they would have us up there I would be more than obliged to haul my ass up there.

Daly: Any cities you’re really looking forword to on this tour? You don’t have to say Timmins or Sudbury because this is a Timmins & Sudbury program, that’s totally cool

Sandy: Well you know what, Timmins has always been a big supporter of any kind of musical group I’ve ever been in so that’s always fun. I’m good friends with the guys at The Working Class Bar so I’m super excited to see them. So there’s that. But to tell you the truth wherever I’ve been, and if I have friends there, I’m just excited to see them. It’s been a little while since I’ve been kind of moseying around Canada so I guess it just depends on the City right?

Daly: True enough [laughs]

Sandy: Every where’s a good time so long as your in a good mood.

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We left a LOT for the podcast. If you want to hear the full, uncut interview listen below or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

https://soundcloud.com/dalyry/royaltuskfin

ROYAL TUSK

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Thank you for listening. Come back each Friday for new music you SHOULD be paying attention to. For more music and arbitrary thoughts follow me on Twitter @DalyRy or visit me on Facebook.