juliepenner Archives - Kreative Kontrol

Julie Doiron (2011) – Teaser

Between August 1 and 3, 2025 in Sackville, New Brunswick, Sappyfest celebrates its twentieth anniversary as one of the world’s best programmed and most fun music and arts festivals. Back in the summer of 2011 just ahead of the sixth annual Sappyfest, I met Julie Doiron and three of her children at Grapefruit Moon for an interview over breakfast. Aside from her inspirational work in the band Eric’s Trip and her award-winning solo trajectory, Julie founded Sappy Records and co-organized early iterations of Sappyfest. And so, I’m sharing this 2011 encounter with Julie and most of her kids (plus a cameo by Rheostatics’ Dave Bidini), because it’s enjoyable and provides some insights about her music and Sappyfest.

To hear this entire conversation, subscribe to Kreative Kontrol on Patreon at the $6 tier or higher (a reminder that an annual subscription includes a discount compared to a monthly one).

Related episodes/links:

Ep. #889: Rick White and The Sadies
Ep. #857: Michael Feuerstack
Ep. #850: You’ve Changed Records is 15!
Ep. #725: Sloan
Ep. #651: Julie Doiron
Ep. #602: Chad VanGaalen
Ep. #424: Dave Bidini
Ep. #272: Gord Downie [Archival; May 2010]

Do Make Say Think is an instrumental band whose members all call Toronto, Ontario home. A functioning outfit for more than 20 years, Do Make Say Think’s core configuration consists of Justin Small, Charles Spearin, Ohad Benchetrit, David Mitchell, and James Payment, and together they’ve toured the world and released some hugely influential records. Their latest album is called Stubborn Persistent Illusions, it’s out now via Constellation Records, and will bring the band to a city, likely near you, later this year. A couple of days after their triumphant album release show at the Danforth Music Hall on June 10, 2017, I went to Charlie’s house where I met with him, Justin, and Ohad for a conversation about cinematic music and film scoring awards, the influence of the musical suite, Pictures at an Exhibition by the Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky, generic signifiers like ‘post-rock,’ how drummer Jimmy Payment almost had his foot amputated in the weeks leading up to the aforementioned Danforth Music Hall show, how Charles must balance his duties in Broken Social Scene with those in Do Make Say Think, and much, much more. Sponsored by Pizza Trokadero, the Bookshelf, and Planet Bean Coffee.