PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Rising Canadian alt-rockers WE THE CROOKED are rising fast. The band have just released a cracking cover version of Stevie Wonder’s Pastime Paradise – https://youtu.be/1MYWonOAQFg . We dug a little deeper to find out more about the band:
What is the full band line-up, who sings and who plays which instrument?
J.C Sandoval – Lead singer, rhythm guitar
Neelesh Vasistha – Lead guitarist, backing vocals
Russ Shipman – Bassist, backing vocals
Dell Orso – Drummer
How and when did the band form?
The band formed in 2017 in Toronto, Canada. There’s many cool things to say about Toronto, especially its recent sway over pop music (Drake, The Weeknd, etc). But our relationship to Toronto is perhaps more relevant. None of us were born here. We arrived in different phases of our lives. J.C comes from Costa Rica, Russ from Switzerland, Dell from Italy and Neelesh from England.
When and how did the band really start gelling and solidifying?
The band gelled quickly after forming. Weekly gigs and monthly tours around Ontario/Quebec helped the band bond both musically and personally.
Who are your musical influences?
The big shared influences include Nirvana, Foo Fighters and QOTSA. But each member of the band brings a sled of other rock and non-rock influences.
Where did the name of the band come from?
The name We The Crooked reflects the ‘crooked’ nature of the music. By that, we mean how we infuse weird or disjointed elements into our sound — be it a calypso beat under a rock song, or dissonant noises.
How far back does your history with each other (the band members) extend?
J.C and Dell are both veterans of the Toronto rock scene, and have known each other for many years. Russ was on the periphery of this scene, and was drafted soon after the band formed. Neelesh joined the band immediately after moving from the UK, and didn’t know any of the members, or anyone in the country for that matter.
In your opinion, how is your band different from all the other bands out there?
We love melody as much as any band, but we consciously try to balance this out with dissonance and ‘crooked’ elements. This tension of ugly vs pretty, I believe, makes us different from other bands out there.
Also, the band has two strong guitarists, which facilitates interesting riffs and patterns.
If a deaf person were to ask you to describe the sound of your music, how would you describe it?
Alternative rock with a mischievous personality, on the darker side of Foo Fighters.
Where can we find your social media sites?
