Texture & Light’s frontman Trevor Refix used to be a DJ—he played Shambhala back in 2005—but after years living a city life he felt partied out and artistically depleted. That’s when he retreated to Powell River and reinvented himself as the frontman of an electronic dream rock band.
“I’m in Powell River now and people think you’re insane for leaving but the people in the small town are like ‘hey, that’s how I feel too’. What was I ever doing in the city? Now I work half as much and I have all this time to work on my art,” he said.
The band, which also includes his wife Clare Mervyn and drummer Lyell Woloschuk, is coming to Nelson on July 18 at 8:00 to play a show at the Blue Mule. Refix said he’s thrilled to return to the Kootenays after years away, and he can’t wait to share his new album The Hard Problem of Consciousness.
“For me it’s all about change. Even if it’s hard or uncomfortable, staying the same is not how I live my life.”
He said the title was originally just a phrase he liked, but it has grown to take on more meaning.
“Consciousness is the final frontier that science can’t explain,” he said. “All these hypotheses are out there about what makes life what it is, but nothing has cracked open yet.”
He said the songs on the album explore the choices he’s made and struggles he’s gone through since beginning this project in 2006. The album was released in 2013.
And now that’s he put partying and the DJ lifestyle behind him, he feels like he can really focus on musical artistry.
“I’m really glad I’m doing this in my 30s because I feel like I would’ve self-destructed if I did it in my 20s. I’m just approaching it in a more methodical, logical way.”
He said having Mervyn and Woloschuk involved has taken his output to the next level.
“The advancements we’re making as musicians and producers are leaps and bounds. I mean, at first we were recording in our shitty apartment in Vancouver where you could hear people through the wall.”
Texture & Light's live shows are energetic, sweaty affairs that feature an all hardware and instrument based set up, live looping, and custom midi-synced lights. The album has received attention country-wide, with their single "A Quiet Place" receiving extensive international radio play.
Refix is thrilled to be bringing along Firewoodpoetry, a producer and singer he met at a festival they were both performing at last year. He said her minimalist sound makes her a good complement to their gear-heavy set.
“Her music’s super down-tempo and relaxed and lush. It’s good to start the night.”
For more information visit textureandlight.ca and firewoodpoetry.com.