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Spotlight: Secondhand Dreamcar

In this edition of Spotlight: Secondhand Dreamcar, we spend time getting to know the project behind the name and the ideas shaping its sound. Rather than focusing on hype or headlines, this conversation takes a closer look at how Secondhand Dreamcar approaches songwriting, creative direction, and the small moments that often shape a track before it ever reaches release.

The focus here is simple. We explore where the music begins, what influences sit behind it, and how the artist translates those ideas into something that feels personal and lived in. It is a relaxed conversation that moves through process, perspective, and the evolving identity of the project.

When the JUNO nomination came in, what was the first real moment it sank in for the band?

I think it really sank in for me once the whole band knew the news, and once we were all discussing plans to attend the ceremony and all that. I noted what a burst of energy the news brought to everyone and to the band as a whole, and that was a lovely feeling.

Being the only fully independent act in your category adds another layer to this. What does that recognition represent to you right now?

It’s very gratifying to have our work recognized on this level, since everything the album has achieved is as a result of the collective efforts of our group. We don’t have a lot of money or resource behind us – just our own hard work!

With nine members, how does a song typically take shape from idea to finished track?

For us, a song can come together in a number of ways. It’s rare for all nine members to come together to write; it’ll normally happen in a small group – two to six of us, usually, depending on who’s available. Sometimes someone comes into a session with a well-developed idea and we just flesh it out together; sometimes someone comes in with a less-developed idea and we’ll get it to a point where the form is fairly complete; and sometimes we start with nothing and just jam something out. Once the shape of something is there, Dana works lyrics and melody into it, and often this with further shape the form. Then we’ll start gigging the new song as soon as possible. We consider “road-testing” to be an essential part of that creation process.

How do you balance individual voices within such a large collective without losing cohesion?

So far, the various and differing backgrounds and skill sets of all the band’s members has felt like a strength, rather than a challenge to be overcome. It certainly means there are differences in opinion sometimes, but we all respect one another’s opinions greatly, so we can move past those moments pretty quickly and easily. We all trust one another, and I think that’s the key.

Answer the Call carries themes of resilience and connection. Where were those ideas coming from during the writing process?

Those are the themes that are endlessly interesting and fruitful for me (Dana), as the lyric writer. To me, they are themes that never become exhausted or outdated. And I think they’re ideas that everyone can relate to, since on the most fundamental level we’re all on the same journey, doing the messy work of living life as a human on this planet.

Do songs tend to start from lyrics, grooves, or live jams?

It really depends on the song! But for every song, very early on in the process it’ll get jammed out, and that is the part of the process that’s most determinative of what the song becomes.

Did you approach recording this album with a “live off the floor” mindset, or was it more layered and constructed over time?

We knew from the beginning we wanted to make an album that was as close to “live off the floor” as possible. We’re a live band; we love to play. That’s where we live, and that’s what we wanted to capture.

What were the biggest challenges in capturing that full band energy in the studio?

There were very few, happily!

Looking back now, is there a track on Answer the Call that feels like the defining statement of the record?

I think “The Meaning” is a song that we all feel is a very “Secondhand Dreamcar” song. Musically it lives in a place that’s a happy place for all of us. And the lyrics in part describe the coming-together of the band, in a way that probably makes sense only to us!

Is there a song that changed the most from its early version to what we hear on the album?

I can’t think of any that had a drastic re-working. They all came to be pretty naturally and grew from there.

Your live shows have been central to your growth. What does a Secondhand Dreamcar show offer that doesn’t fully translate on record?

I really think the only difference is that on the record you can hear how much we love what we do, how much we love playing with one another, and at a show you can see it as well as hear it!

How did that long residency period shape the band you are today?

It is THE thing that shaped us, more than anything else. Nothing can replace stage time for helping a band cohere into what it is, and nothing can replace performing songs live as those songs are forming and growing.

You’ve built momentum without leaning on the traditional label system. What have you learned about sustaining that kind of independence?

We continue to learn how much work it is! But the fact that we are in control of everything we do, and everything we don’t do, is essential.

What is one thing you think should be asked in an interview that isnt asked enough?

I can’t think of one!

What do you hope fans take away from your music?

Grooves and joy. The desire to dance more often.

With a new album already on the horizon, how do you see the next chapter evolving from Answer the Call?

We hope to keep doing what we’re doing, but to do it more. We love playing shows, and we love making records. As long as we can keep doing what we’re doing in a way that’s sustainable and healthy for the band and everyone in it, we’ll be endlessly grateful for that.

This conversation with Secondhand Dreamcar offers a grounded look at the work behind the music and the ideas driving it forward, keeping the focus on the creative journey at the heart of Spotlight: Secondhand Dreamcar

Artist: Secondhand Dreamcar

Genre: Indie and alternative

Location: Edmonton

Latest Release: Answer The Call