Pleased To Meet Me: Friendly Rich

 

Photo: Thomas King

 

Friendly Rich is a composer from Brampton, Canada, best known for his work scoring three seasons of MTV’s The Tom Green Show, his long-running project The Lollipop People, and his eclectic label, The Pumpkin Pie Corporation. His recent European collaborations with Hazelwood Records have brought him to stages across New York, Montreal, Berlin, Vienna, and Prague. Rich also recently completed a PhD in Music Education from the University of Toronto, where he focused on musical playgrounds as a tool for community development. With Friendly Rich Sings The Nihilist Spasm Band, Rich tips his hat to a Canadian legacy of noise, invention, and artistic rebellion. “One can either produce,” he says, “or become produce.”

Friendly Rich, Canada’s legendary songsmith of dark and deranged folk songs, returns with a new and unexpected release: Friendly Rich Sings The Nihilist Spasm Band and is out now!

 

Introduce yourself… (Where are you from, what band do you play

in etc..)

FR:I'm Friendly Rich Marsella, born and raised in Brampton, Canada, the home of culture, herself.  I lead Friendly Rich & The Lollipop People and also contribute to several projects, including Friendly Rich Sings the Nihilist Spasm Band, The Visionists, Marsella Duncan, Friendly Rich & The Jane Does, and a recent one-person show with mechanical street organ, The Birds of Marsville. 

 
 

Why do you play music?  

FR:To connect with humans over long stretches of time. 

What was a major influence on you as an Artist/Band? 

FR:Family, children, birds, death, sausage, gallbladder.

What’s a favourite book or film?  

FR:I've been digging deep into the Fellini vault lately.  So much gold there!

 
 

Do you prefer the recording process or performing live?  

FR:They are both such special and unique experiences.  Don't make me choose! I love it all, from the initial emails to set up the magic, through to release day and making it on stage.  It's all pleasure!

 
 

What would be a dream collaboration?  

FR:I have lived it...making friends and collaborating with Brian Poole from Renaldo & The Loaf is the top of the food chain for a weirdo like me. We have more stuff that we've been doing together lately, which will come out next year. Check out Kiddos & Doggos from my Man Out of Time release, which Brian sings on. 

Describe a favourite album. 

FR:I enjoy the new Marc Ribot solo recording, Map of a Blue City.  It's doing it for me lately. 

 
 

What's your favourite local haunt? 

FR:Swiss Chalet. 

 
 

What's your strangest experience while performing live?  

FR:Getting f**cked by the Easter Bunny while dressed as Jesus on the floor of the Cameron House on Easter Sunday.  I paid for that one...

 
 


If I were pursuing anything other than music it would be…

FR: Life insurance.  I tried selling it for years, it didn't work. I'd be screwed without music in my life.  



What are some of your favourite aspects of being a musician in Toronto ? 

FR:No shortage of amazing humans to make music with in Toronto.  I love my community!

If you weren’t playing music in Toronto where would you be ?  

FR:I'm truly where I want to be. 


Any sage advice for young musicians?  

FR:Grow old with the process, it makes more sense the longer you do it. 

 
 
 
 
Ian MacPherson