Kat Harlton
JUNO Award-winning, Quebec rock band, Mobile recently released their long awaited, new album Roadmap To Redemption on March 31 via Sonic Envy/ Warner Music Canada.
This new collection of music captures the urgency and intensity the band is known for, yet finds Mobile growing into a more focused style; a seamless blend of modern pop and their signature rock sound. Produced by Gauthier Marinoff, Roadmap to Redemption is the band’s first studio album in 15 years and is compelling with a unique yet familiar sound. From the opening track “Come To Where I’m From” through “In My Heart” and “Carry On” to the immense finale with “School Closure”, Roadmap to Redemption does not seek to to relive the past or to chase after a success; it’s about continuing a clearly unfinished musical adventure.
On this new album the band’s chemistry is present as ever, as is vocalist Mat Joly’s talent as a melodist, two elements that contributed to the group’s previous success. The original band, Christian Brais (guitars), Frank Williamson (guitars) and Pierre-Marc Hamelin (drums) join Joly and return with a whole new perspective on their partnership.
I had the opportunity to chat with Mat about the band’s new album, their journey so far and what’s next.
Kat: Can you share with us a little about the band and your music journey so far?
Mat: Well we have known each other and been friends for a long long time. We grew up together in a suburb of Montreal. We started playing together as kids but we became more of a serious entity around 1999 I think. We relocated to Toronto in 2003 and became serious about making a career in the music industry.
We signed a worldwide record deal back in 2005 and we did a lot of touring and had some great times together. We achieved good success and enjoyed it for the time being. Unfortunately, many things had changed in the music business around that time and after our second record and the tour that followed, we called it a day.
Kat: The band is returning with a new album that was released on March 31st. Can you share the inspiration behind Roadmap To Redemption and what you hope fans take from the album
Mat: For some reason I got really inspired by my childhood and the place where I grew up. I don’t know why, a lot of the song ideas that Criq was bringing to the table reminded me of that….A lot of old feelings, good or bad, seemed to get back to me and I felt like I had to express those feelings and put them on tape.
As far as what our fans should expect, it’s a good question, I think this new album definitely has some diversity but there are some tunes that are really ‘’Classic Mobile’’ if I may say, big tunes with big choruses and all but I think we’ve been able to explore a little more on this album.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Mat: To write a good set of lyrics and make sure they resonate and are true and heartfelt without revealing too much! Ha, not sure I make myself clear here but I guess that’s the most challenging part. Writing lyrics can be a tricky thing, I sometimes become totally obsessed when I get to write songs, it’s all I think about all day, all the time.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
Mat: Probably when I had the chance to sing live with Chris Cornell a few years back. It was a dream come true, he was and still is one of my all time favorite singers and it was just so surreal to share the stage with him. He was a great man, very charismatic and a real gentleman. Definitely a career high for surer!
Kat: What can fans expect from you for the balance of 2023?
Mat: Fans should expect to see us come back and play live again. Which is something I thought might never happen again but here we are back in full force!
Connect With Mobile
Instagram: @mobiletheband
Facebook: /mobiletheband
Website: https://www.mobiletheband.ca/