New York – Just last week, Montreal electro-pop trio Braids released an appendix to the lauded 2015 LP Deep In The Iris, the 19 minute EP Companion. Today, the band shares the single “Joni.” The music video was directed by Maria Ines Manchego and ”explores the end of a relationship, with a couple striving to reclaim their individuality while remaining close together.” Braids also sets off on tour today, in support of Companion. The trio will be performing throughout North America and Europe.
Braids frontwoman Raphaelle Standell-Preston spoke about “Joni” with Dazed Magazine, and said, “Symbolically, the song is about wanting to be fine with not knowing where you’re headed, not knowing how things are going to end up… It’s the desire to make a ‘home’ within yourself when you’re, say, living out of a suitcase in a van, your relationship is ending, or you’re dealing with whatever difficult scenario life is throwing at you. The ye olde question – can we be okay even when everything outside of us is not?”
On Companion, Braids uses a similar palette as Deep In The Iris, painting different emotional vistas, such as joy and disaffection. The EP offers a snapshot into the minds of members Raphaelle Standell-Preston (guitar, keyboards, lead vocals), Austin Tufts (drums, vocals), and Taylor Smith (bass, guitar, percussion, malletkat, vocals). Companion is comprised of four tracks, all distinct in their own right. Though each track uses the songs from Deep In The Iris as a compositional guidepost, Companion is a breathtaking journey all its own.
COMPANION - TRACKLISTING
01. Companion
02. Joni
03. Trophies for Paradox
04. Sweet World
TOUR DATES
05.25 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
05.26 - Echo - Los Angeles, CA
05.27 - Valley Bar - Phoenix, AZ
05.31 - Great Scott - Boston, MA
06.01 - Johnny Brenda’s - Philadelphia, PA
06.02 - Comet Ping Pong - Washington, DC
06.03 - Rough Trade - Brooklyn, NY
06.04 - Ritual - Ottawa, ON
06.17 - The Hug & Pint - Glasgow, SCT
06.18 - Soup Kitchen - Manchester, ENG
06.19 - O2 Academy - Oxford, ENG
06.21 - Patterns - Brighton, ENG
06.22 - Start The Bus - Bristol, ENG
06.23 - Pickle Factory - London, ENG
06.26 - Glastonbury, ENG
06.27 - Arts Centre - Norwich, ENG
07.15 - Pemberton Festival - Pemberton, BC
07.22 - Wayhome Festival - Oro-Medonte, ON
07.23 - Calgary Folk Festival - Calgary, AL
07.27 - Casa Del Popolo - Montreal, ON
07.28 - Casa Del Popolo - Montreal, ON
Companion is available for purchase now via Arbutus Records. Follow Braids on Facebook and Twitter.
Live photo of Braids by Sarah Hess for Best New Bands. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
