Girl at the Rock Shows

“Formulaic” from The Radiant instantly had me hooked but I couldn’t quite figure out why. Honestly, there is not a lot of the metal or punk angst in this song rather it finds itself perfectly situated in the alt-rock side of things. With that in mind, something about this song hooked me. Maybe it was the words, maybe it was the endless amount of energy that I got from the beat or maybe it was the charm that this band so easily put into this track. Regardless, after listening to “Formulaic” for the umpteenth time, I knew I wanted to know so much more about this band so let’s just dig into it with this five-piece rock band!

Does pineapple belong on pizza?
Mikhaila – Only on chicken teriyaki from TJS ON 8TH STREET SASKATOON
Evan – No pineapple that’s wack
Mike – Yes, pineapple does belong on pizza at times – we don’t judge and we are always
open to the possibilities in the slice of life.
Jordan – Yes, pineapple belongs on pizza. Grow up.
Paul – Pineapple – heck yes

Two-Parter time!
Pick between It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Office, or Parks & Rec. Once you have that done, please assign each band member as a character from said show.
Group answer – Always Sunny: Mik is Dee, Mike is Mac, Paul is Dennis, Jordan is Charlie,
Evan is Frank.
Jordan– Gotta go with the office (only one I’ve seen). Evan is Dwight, Mike is
Michael (of course), Mikhaila is Jim, Paul is Creed, and I’m Darrel.

Everyone says that every crowd is their favorite but, what city has the best audience and
why is it Minneapolis?
Mikhaila – Well because it’s but a dream, Minneapolis!
Evan – Sometimes you don’t think it be like it is, but it do
Jordan – Lowkey, Red Deer, Alberta was a hidden gem in my opinion. Shout out Bo’s bar.
Paul – Hometown crowds are always great

What’s your go-to coffee order?
Mikhaila – Drip brew, splash of cream, bit of sugar.
Evan – Red bull at the gas station
Mike – double double with a shot of french vanilla
Jordan – Coffee? Gross
Paul – Americano, black

What’s your go-to purchase at a gas station (outside of gas) when on a road trip?
Mikhaila – Cheetos puffs.
Evan – Red Bull
Jordan – Gotta cop me some whoppers chocolates from the gas station.
Paul – gotta get some chips

If you could compare yourself to a bird, what bird would it be and why?
Mikhaila – Hummingbird. Feeding on the sweet nectar of life.

Evan – Definitely like a great Potoo or a nightjar
Jordan – I’d be a dodo bird because I’m mysterious and will die if faced with stress
Paul – a woodpecker, cause I love woodworking

Favorite lyrics of all time?
Mikhaila – Pure Comedy – Father John Misty, the entire song
Evan – “That’s all there is, nothing more than you can feel now that’s all there is” – World in
my eyes – Depeche Mode
Mike – “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you got till it’s gone” by Joni
Mitchell in Yellow Taxi has always been a reminder to enjoy the moment in life while it lasts!
Joni Mitchell is also an artist who started in Saskatchewan and has been a source of
inspiration for myself. She is also the epitome of a legendary songwriter. Her lyrics are pure
poetry.
Jordan – I’m a pretty bad lyrical listener but Chet Bakers “I fall in love too easily” (from the
song of the same name) comes to mind. Self explanatory, don’t ask.
Paul – The Grudge by Tool

What’s your favorite menu item at Taco Bell?
Mikhaila – I’ve never actually been to a Taco Bell in my life. #TacoTime4Ever
Evan – Never Taco Bell – only Taco Time
Mike – Crunchwrap supreme made with chicken and you have to get your fries upgrade to
fries Supreme.
You know I’m washing that down with Baja Blast.
Jordan – Refer to Evan/Mikhaila’s answer. Taco time 4 life.
Paul – I’m more acquainted with taco time than Taco Bell, but the Doritos tacos are pretty
darn good

Is Pluto still a planet?
Mikhaila – #longlivepluto
Evan – no
Jordan – Nah, cool exoplanet though
Paul – Pluto was considered a planet when I first learned about it in school, so it remains in
my heart as such

If you were to rob a bank, what would be the song playing in the getaway car as you
escape?
Mikhaila – All I Wanna Do – Sheryl Crow
Evan – Vacation – The Go Gos
Paul – Accidents by Alexisonfire
Jordan – Good Morning by Kanye

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Mikhaila – Hard to say, but either A Perfect Circle or Alt J w/ Portugal the Man.
Evan – Tool 2006 Calgary saddledome with Isis

Mike – Snotty Nosed Rez Kids absolutely dominated the Ness Creek Music Festival Main
Stage. At one point he stood in the middle of the crowd and got everyone on one knee. The
incredible song writing, awe inspiring stage presence and audience interaction made it was
easily one of the greatest performances that connected everyone through music.
Jordan – The 2019 Saskatchewan jazz festival where The Suffers opened for the Roots was
incredible.
Paul – Best concert – Tool, Calgary 2006

What’s your favorite video game and why?
Mikhaila – Super Mario world 3, because it’s the one I got best at LOL.
Evan – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The pay off for all the hard work, and the mastery the
game requires is so fulfilling
Jordan – Dark Souls 1 Remastered. It’s a masterpiece that’ll have you exploring your own
identity as you explore the world.
Paul – Crash Bandicoot. I didn’t play many video games, but I played that a lot haha

What’s the worst concert you’ve ever been to and why?
Mikhaila – Shania Twain. I mean she’s a legend, but idk maybe the rumors are true and she’s
a clone. Hahaha
Evan – No bad concerts only bad bands
Jordan – Deadmau5 because I was like 12 years old and his openers played for four hours.
Paul – No bad concerts

What’s an old-school fad that you wish would come back?
Mikhaila – bring back cords!!
Evan – Neon Sun Ice Jackets
Mike – An old school fad that is amazing is tie-dye. We have even tie-dyed black t-shirts to
create unique limited edition merchandise. The fans who bought them were pumped to have
one of kind merch made by the band.
Jordan – I’m tryna see overalls make a comeback.

What’s your favorite method of listening to music?
Mikhaila – Vinyl.
Evan – I guess satellite radio. You never know what you’re gonna get
Mike – My personal favourite way to listen to music is live! Nothing is quite like the
connection you get from the music and musicians – it’s also one of the best ways you can
support artists!
Jordan – For convenience sake I love streaming but the best listening experience has to go
to record or vinyl.
Paul – Favourite music medium is vinyl

Okay, now that we got the hard questions out of the way, let’s chat about your new single
“Formulaic”. Honestly, this song title is a bit misleading as this track is anything but
“Formulaic”. Where does this title come from?
Mikhaila – it’s derived from the lyrics.
Evan – For us, this is formulaic. It’s just rock and roll, no introspection involved
Mike – The title Formulaic came from the frustrations of having to feel like our music or
anything anyone does has to fit a formula in order to fit in. I think we demonstrate through

simple chord structures how you can expand on a generic formula to make something new
and exciting!
Jordan – This is our take on having a song that sticks to “the formula” while still keeping that
Radiant identity. This one is our groove song to ease you into the introspection that’s yet to
come.
Paul– “Formulaic” is pretty straight up rock n’ roll for us

It’s clear that there are a lot of influences in this song but can you tell me one or two acts that
really seemed to fuel your creative side when it came to this song?
Mikhaila – We generally lean on Deftones and Incubus for creative inspiration, but this came
from more of an overall inspiration of genres and rules around the formula of songwriting.
Evan – I think I was thinking about Queens Of The Stone Age and still am. Probably also
Red Hot Chili Peppers. Decent “By The Way” bass homage going on in there.
Mike – We had influence many different songs like Uprising by Muse and Elephant by Tame
Impala. Songs that had a feeling of a generic, formulaic rock sound that was turned on it’s
head and reimagined by the musicians to create something new in itself.
Jordan – For any keen listeners out there, you’ll definitely pick up on some pretty heavy
Muse and Red Hot Chili Peppers influences in this track

I love the swagger and grit in the vocals but, say a metal band were to cover this song, what
metal band would you want it to be and why?
Mikhaila – Lamb of God, because Randy Blythe vocals slap.
Evan – Maybe Deftones? Chino could sex those lyrics up, and it’s groovy which I think they’d
pull off in their way. Are Deftones metal?!
Mike – I would sit and listen to Tenacious D cover any song ever, and if it was formulaic I
would be so floored to see what Jack Black would do with those vocals and guitar.
Jordan – As a drummer I’d love to hear Mastodon’s take on this song. I think they could really
do something cool with the bass breaks and the unison sections.
Paul – I’d like to hear Meshuggah cover this. As far as metal goes, they’ve got a lot of
groove, I think it could work well

Do you have a favorite line of lyrics in this song? If so, what line is it?
Mikhaila – “Could this be my next chance, my respawn?”
Evan – Dunno lyrics, they’re a package deal, but I like the tricky bass lick in the second bass
break, and the guitar stabs in the bass breaks
Mike – My favorite line in the song is actually the first “Think twice, act once.” There’s a
reason why you can’t act twice, because once an action is done there is no going back. I’m
proud of our methodical way of creating our own unique songs which are the pieces of The
Radiant formula.
Jordan – “Is deja vu real or is my mind gone?” immediately jumps out at me because of the
echoes afterwards going “is deja vu real?.” I love that play on deja vu there and it’s a cool
way to open the verse.
Paul – “got to change, I can’t come back the same”

How about a favorite line of notes?
Mikhaila – Paul’s guitar swing in the second verse is chef’s kiss

Mike – Favourite lines of musical notes include Paul’s guitar when in first comes in after the
first chorus – it’s get me prepped for that glam rock vibe. I also live for the built up to the last
chorus, with a combination of Mikhaila’s voice going full power and the building band it
creates a satisfying impact.
Jordan – I love the unison section at the very end of the track. Super fun to play (not to eat).
Paul – Favourite line of notes are the sick bass licks in the first pre-chorus section

What is next for The Radiant?
Mikhaila – a summer full of great shows, some fall showcasing, and continuing to release this
music we have over the next 6 months.
Jordan – Next on the agenda for us is to hammer out this album. Formulaic is just the tip of
the iceberg and I’m stoked for when we’ll get to share the entire album with people.

Any plans to come visit me down here in lil’ ol’ Minnesota?
Mikhaila – GIVE US A REASON.
Evan – I’d go to Minnesota tomorrow. Don’t move
Jordan – Give me a date and I’m there. I’ve got some family near there too and I bet they’d
love to catch a show.

Anything else you would like people to know about you, this song, the universe in general?
Mikhaila – Feed the ether with good energy, and in that surrender believe it will feed you
back.
Evan – Uhhhh our bodies are light, we are immortal?
Jordan – Huge thanks to letting me spout some crazy stuff, huge thanks to anyone who’s
read this far, and huge thanks to anyone who checks out Formulaic. Love y’all and don’t
forget to take a body break when you need it.

I know that this was a super long interview so I won’t keep you much longer but can we all just agree that this band is one of the most charming ones out there? I particularly loved how many different influences this band brought up when I asked them about their inspirations for this song. I feel like that answer really encapsulates what this band is all about– creativity and passion.

Make sure to check out “Formulaic” from The Radiant right now and, if you love it (or even if you don’t), make sure to follow this band on their socials so you don’t miss all of the other goodies they have coming out soon!

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