After Bedouin Soundclash’s drummer Pat Pengelly went his separate ways, the band took some much needed time to regroup and prioritize. The hiatus led to the creation of their very own indie label, Pirates Blend Records, and a distribution deal with Sony Music Canada. With the support and encouragement of bassist Eon Sinclair, vocalist/guitarist Jay Malinowski took the break from the band to launch his solo effort, “Bright Lights & Bruises.” The disc was the first release off the new label venture and tied fans over as they anticipated Bedouin Soundclash’s return to the studio for the follow up to 2007’s “Street Gospels.”

In February 2010, drummer Sekou Lumuba signed on to replace Pengelly and joined Sinclair and Malinowski on stage in Vancouver for a 2010 Winter Olympics performance. The band teamed up with celebrated DJ/producer King Britt and hit the studio in Philadelphia, to record “Light the Horizon” where for the first time, they recorded, “live off the floor,” an experience Sinclair considered “liberating.”

“Light on the Horizon” was released digitally in the US on October 26, is currently circulating throughout Canada, and is scheduled for a US physical release in early June. ChinaShop caught up with Bedouin Soundclash bassist and co-founder, Eon Sinclair, who explains that the band is back and stronger than ever and considers the new project to be their most mature release to date.

“Light on the Horizon” came out digitally in the US Oct 26. When can we expect it to be released physically in the US?
We are releasing “Light the Horizon” in early June on Nat Geo Music.

It’s been out in Canada for a while? How has the reaction been over there?
What’s been amazing is that our old fans say that the album shows maturity and growth in writing and sound, which is one of the highest compliments I think you can pay a musician.

You guys went through a lot of changes in between your last album in 2007 and this album: new members, starting your own record label, etc. How did this influence the new album?
Sekou as a drummer adds a lot of depth, dynamic, and soul to the songs and his style is all his own. The three of us naturally share a keen interest in similar scenes and we all also shared a love of similar music independent of knowing each other. There are some key drum fills you need to listen to in order to get to know his style and to see how it affected us. The label puts us in a place of accountability and responsibility, which means we take a little extra care in everything, and it usually works out.

What was the rationale behind starting the record label?
We wanted to build a home for the culture that the band is about and put the least amount of people/organizations between us as artists and the general public. There are opportunities coming.

Was it exciting to be able to release the album on your own?
Yes, but it’s very much a team effort with our parent company Sony.

Do you have future plans for the label – sign other artists etc?
We are taking our time to build a firm foundation and also to develop and assist Michale Rault however we can that’s fitting, but no immediate plans to sign anyone.

You were hand picked by No Doubt to open a leg of their 2009 reunion tour. That’s quite an honor. Tell me about that experience.
It was a very exciting and humbling experience. My first ever arena concert consisted of walking through the back door as an artist on the opening stage in my hometown arena. The band and crew were all really reasonable, friendly, people and the show was entertaining!!

Eon, I read that you learned how to play the bass in 7th grade on your father’s bass and you still play the same bass today. Is that true?
Half true! I did learn on my Dad’s bass, but I only play it at my family home. It’s fragile and carries sentimental value, so I leave it safe.

Was your father a big influence on your musical career? – Bass player I take it…?
Yeah, he was and still is an avid music collector, so I grew up with lots of music around me; my mom loved to listen to music too. He actually wanted to play the bass, but only ended up taking a few lessons back before I was born. I’m proud to say he’s taking guitar lessons right now though!

Originally Bedouin Soundclash started out as a reggae/rock band and your sound has since morphed into a fusion of many different genres. How has your style changed over the years?
Our style will always change because our music comes from the combination points of people who are in the same community but seeing such different sides of it.

Would you consider this new album to be your most mature album to date?
Maturing means growth so that’s always good in my eyes.

What’s the best show you’ve ever played?
Leeds and Reading, 2005. It was our first time over in the UK and we got to play the dance tent at Leeds and Reading Festival to a crowd of 2,500 people a night! In Reading, we had an amazing set; in Leeds, Jay lost his voice, and so we had to cut it after 5 songs. We ended with “When the Night” and when we finished and left the stage, the crowd continued to sing through having us back onstage for a bow, and as they walked out to the campsite!

Worst?
Tobasco Dinner, Ban Righ Hall Queens University, 2001. In our first year at school (also our first as a band), we were offered a show for $350 by Mchilenny Co., who was doing a “Tobasco Night” on campus. They needed a Zydeco or blues band from campus, and I suppose we were the closest thing, so we got the show. Playing in your cafeteria to your new classmates as they eat Tobasco ice cream is hardly glamorous, but it did earn us enough to record “Root Fire” later that spring.

Favorite track on the new album?
“No One Moves, No One Gets Hurt” and “Always A Chance of Rain”

Words by Nicole Pajer.