Electro-pop with a flair of DIY Punk attitude, @RichAucoin travels the globe preaching the power of now and the joy of community. With confetti cannons and a technicolor parachute, Rich Aucoin engulfs even the most cynical with an irresistible presence and a playful affirmation of life.
On March 16, Rich Aucoin released the new Hold EP, and announced his PRESS ON tour. As part of the tour, Aucoin is bicycling across the United States, to raise awareness for mental health by donating 100% of tour proceeds to Mental Health America and The Canadian Mental Health Association. Aucoin will be joined by bandmates in each city as he pedals across the deserts, mountains, and forests of America.
@MusicNews360 corresponded with Aucoin as he biked across Southern California (hopefully, he was not typing while on the bike!). We chatted about Eckharte Tolle, Koala Bears, and Fabreezing the Parachute. Check below for excerpts from our conversation.
MN360° – What is your astrological sign?
Virgo
MN360° – What is your spirit animal? How does it manifest in daily life?
Koala stay calm
MN360° – If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
The ability to know what people are listening to on their headphone while they walk by.
MN360° – How does Canada produce such great music?
Ketchup flavoured chips
MN360° – Have you noticed more Americans moving to Canada, as of late?
No but welcome !
MN360° – What first sparked your interest in music?
Seeing a symphony play Rhapsody in Blue at 5 had a big impact on me for sure.
MN360° – What was your first instrument? Did someone gift it to you?
I think recorder might have been before I started piano at 6. My parents gave me the recorder. Mom still has the piano.
MN360° – Who is your least obvious musical influence?
Wu Tang
MN360° – What is your favorite Beach Boys song? Why? Where can we hear it in your music?
Good Vibrations. Just such an ambitious recording attempt. There are hours of cutting room floor versions of the song too. I’ve heard a bunch of those too. You can hear its theremin melody replayed on theremin in my song Brian Wilson Is ALiVE.
MN360° – What is your process for writing/recording new music?
I score my songs to movies.
MN360° – When was the first time you brought out the parachute during a performance? What inspired its introduction?
2009 NXNE. Saw it online while buying something on EBay and then thought it’d be fun to do in the show.
MN360° – How do you keep the parachute from not smelling stinky?
Fabreeze
MN360° – How do you decide on the movie clips you show during performance?
Look for scenes with the same emotional content.
MN360° – What is the story behind your ‘Gender is Over’ shirt?
It’s a great fundraiser for trangsgender equality groups. Check them out at www.genderisover.com
MN360° – Are you a fan of Eckharte Tolle?
I’ve looked at his books at my mom’s.
MN360° – How often do you have to reload the confetti cannons?
Every shot!
MN360° – What is your ‘truth’?
“Don’t be a dick”
MN360° – Do you believe in magic? Can you give an example?
Yes. The feels you get from Can You Get To That by Funkadelic
MN360° – What percentage of your songs would you say are autobiographical?
42%
MN360° – Can you tell us more about your bike tour across the US?
LA to NYC. starting with getting some kicks on 66.
MN360° – What is the furthest you’ve ridden your bike in a single day?
170km
MN360° – Any dreams/visions/insights experienced while riding for that length of time?
Please get off the highway before the sunset.
MN360° – Do you see a connection between performance and religious experience? Does rhythm play a role in that?
Both are communal joy.
MN360° – How did you meet your band mates? How did you ask them to join your band?
Various ways. There have been about 260 people that have backed me up at this point.
MN360° – What is the strangest thing you’ve experienced on tour?
touring
MN360° – What do you do to occupy yourself between shows while on tour?
Planning the next shows.
MN360° – How about strangest place you’ve crashed while on tour, or bike tour?
Slept in the parachute a few times in some odds spots.
MN360° – What will music sound like in 100 years?
It’ll continue to expand in all directions like a web spreading outward and with more intersections of various strains of genres.
MN360° – If you had to describe your music as a color, what color would it be?
teal
MN360° – If you could have a billboard with anything on it, what would it say?
Gender is over, if you want it!
