Having released their poignant sophomore record Softer Faces via Kanine Records earlier this year, Candian five-piece Living Hour are eager to share their hypnotic, wistful soundscapes with a European audience as they embark on tour throughout September and October.

Formed in Winnipeg, Canada, Living Hour have a unique ability to create ethereal, atmospheric music combined with emotional vocal performances, innovative guitar harmonies and dreamy brass segments. Blending elements of dream pop, slowcore and psychedelia, Softer Faces is the vision of a band with the capacity to skilfully produce an evocative enchanting ambiance; as imposing as it is alluring.

Consisting of Sam Sarty (lead vocals, keys, trombone) alongside Gil Carroll (guitar), Adam Soloway (guitar, backing vocals), Alex Chochinov (drums, trumpet) and Brett Ticzon (bass, backing vocals), Living Hour’s distinctive sound has gained a number of admirers in the music press and beyond. Softer Faces has already picked up support from the likes of NPR’s All Songs Considered, Paste Magazine, Bandcamp Daily, Stereogum and many more.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Living Hour about the latest release, challenges, technology and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?

Mazzy star, rilo kiley, slowdive, beach house, stars of the lid, dear Nora, pains of being pure at heart, Duster, friendship, silver jews

What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?

Discovering that performing music is the best feeling on earth and people responding to the music and enjoying it has been a thrill

Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?

Friends, nature, discovering music, new sounds and musical instruments; Musical taste is always changing 

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?

Wanted to create a record that you can get lost in and for the music to have a healing effect

What was the last song you listened to?

Nights that won’t happen – Purple Mountains

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

Vinyl!

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?

We love bandcamp. We’ve been using it from the start of being a band and have discovered a lot of amazing music and it supports the artists and they have really improved their editorial side over the years! Spotify is good for day to day listening as well.

Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?

Living in Winnipeg can be isolating in the music world because it’s so far from other big music cities but we tour a lot so it’s okay!

Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?

Instagram and Bandcamp @livinghour livinghourband.bandcamp.com  

Tour Dates:

• Sept. 17-Prague, CZ-Kaštan
• Sept. 18-Chemnitz, DE-Atomino
• Sept. 19-Berlin, DE-Monarch
• Sept. 20-Hamburg, DE-Reeperbahn Festival
• Sept. 21-Hamburg, DE-Reeperbahn Festival
• Sept. 22-Munster, DE-Pension Schmidt
• Sept. 24-Paris, FR-Supersonic
• Sept. 25-Luxembourg, LU-de Gudde Wëllen
• Sept. 26-Bristol, UK-The Crofters Rights
• Sept. 27-London, UK-Thousand Island
• Sept. 28-Liverpool, UK-Sound Basement
• Sept. 30-Glasgow, UK-The Hug and Pint
• Oct. 04-Pisa, IT-Caracol Concerti
• Oct. 05-Bologna, IT-Efesto