Girl at the Rock Shows

As soon as I hit play on “Ballad of a Trapeze Artist” from Checkout Queens, I could feel my smile stretch from ear to ear. It checked all of the boxes for me– energy, nostalgia, heart, fire, passion– it was truly everything I love wrapped up into one song so, when my life came crumbling down last week when all of my socials were hacked (and I ended up losing some of the most important ones for this blog), I didn’t know where to turn but I knew this song was cheer me up. Full disclosure, I’ve had this interview waiting to publish for some time but the stress of the past week plus the just staggering feeling of defeat I was dealing with held me back from publishing it. Looking back, I almost wonder if I didn’t publish this because I wanted to keep “Ballad of a Trapeze Artist” for myself. Selfish and dramatic? Yes. But, truly what a great song and, after asking the band some random questions about anything and everything, I fell in love even more.

What’s your favorite topping(s) for a pizza?

Spencer: I mean, as long as it’s not ham and pineapple, I’m pretty happy. But if I had to pick one to add, feta’s always a solid addition – lactose intolerance be damned.

Everyone says that every crowd is their favorite but, what city has the best audience and why is it Minneapolis?

Alan: I went to Minneapolis as a kid in 1999 for a choral workshop. I went to the mall and rode some of the rides at the amusement park, that’s pretty cool I guess. Hulk Hogan’s Pastamania opened there in the food court in 1995 but closed shortly after so I missed that. Too bad. I don’t know if that answers the question. Prince is cool too. Sometimes I pretend I’m a viking.

Oli: I actually lived in Minnesota for the crucial developmental ages of 5-8 so I have many fond memories of going to the mall and getting traumatised by the gorilla at the rainforest cafe, and riding the spongebob roller coaster over and over again to make my emo childhood self “feel something” on the drop (for context i told my 2nd grade crush i liked him on the steps of Jonathan elementary school and he said he did not like me back and ran up the steps and that was sort of the moment the light inside me died.) So I suppose if Cole happens to be in that audience when we play there and he finally admits his undying love for me, that would be pretty cool.

What’s your go-to coffee order?

Braden: I usually order a black coffee or an americano; I’m pretty boring when it comes to coffee.

Oli: matcha latte. The band does not let me have coffee as i am energetic enough already

Derrick: Anything with an espresso shot in it. I’m always tired. Spencer will probably think that is a terrible idea. (Spencer here, adding espresso is a great idea always)

Spencer: it really depends – I like when shops have interesting flavours to try in lattes. If I’m making my own coffee though, I go for lighter roast beans with more fruit/berry notes, they make for a much more interesting cup of coffee to me.

What’s the worst concert you’ve ever been to and why?

Alan: Megadeth – (rant about dave mustaine’s boring live show here)

What’s your go-to purchase at a gas station (outside of gas) when on a road trip?

Avery: Definitely cream soda slurpee, they’re a slay

If you could compare yourself to a bird, what bird would it be and why?

Oli: I asked my boyfriend and he said a penguin cuz they are tall but that doesn’t really resonate with me so i’m thinking a loud bird with a big mouth so maybe a toucan or a magpie.

What’s your favorite method of listening to music?

Derrick: Edison Wax Cylinder. Just kidding, I’ve always been fascinated by all the different types of mediums music comes in, how they work and the technology behind making them and playing them. I think vinyl is my favourite though, the mechanics behind it is mind boggling and the sound quality is incredible for such an old technology.

Oli: I have such a nostalgic soft spot for janky burnt mix CDs I can play in my car. I have one called “Elise’s Party Mix :b” That I got for my birthday in 2006 and I still listen to. 

Favorite lyrics of all time?

Avery: For our lyrics – “I want to ginger snap your neck” from Heavy Metal Bake Sale.

What’s your favorite menu item at Taco Bell?

Alan: Taco Bell Sucks. Fight Me. Saskatoon got its first taco bell only a few years ago, I went only a couple times and I was nonplussed.

Derrick: Yeah Taco Bell does not agree with my stomach at all….

Spencer: I think most of us grew up with Taco Time up here – I like the crunch wraps or tacos, but don’t go for Taco Bell first.

If you were to rob a bank, what would be the song playing in the getaway car as you escape?

Spencer: I’d pick from “Circadian” by Falling Up, “The Seduction” by He Is Legend, or “Texas is Forever” by Pierce the VeilIs Legend.

Avery: Trouble by P!NK.

Oli: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Summer, 3rd movement. Bass cranked. IYKYK.

Derrick: It’s between Oh My Darling by Run the Jewels, You Think I Ain’t Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire by Queens of The Stone Age, or Turbo Lover by Judas Priest. All 3 are great driving songs on their own and having the cops chasing you would just add to the thrill and chaos.

Braden: Either “We Got the Moves” by Electric Callboy, or “Blood and Thunder” by Mastodon.

What’s one thing I should know before listening to ‘”Ballad of a Trapeze Artist”?

Avery: We are easily distracted, and our songs tend to take sharp turns, so just buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Who did the artwork for the single?

Oli sketched out some options for us, and Spencer worked on it digitally and workshopped the overall idea with the band!

Obviously there’s a whole lot of nostalgic pop-punk influence here but what band/act was in the forefront of your brains while creating this magical single?

Oli: Avery and I are also lowkey obsessed with the disney channel rocker girl aesthetics of Hannah Montana, Hilary Duff, Camp Rock and Lemonade Mouth so we wanted to harness those rebellious G rated badass vibes. (Okay we say bitch once but otherwise the song is clean as f$%#)

Braden: Sunm 41 and Coheed and Cambria were inspirations behind the verse and chorus instrumentals, respectively. The crossover between pop-punk and disney channel rock music is pretty accurate.

Have you ever tried out the art of trapeze?

Derrick: The closest I got to trying Trapeze was the big swing out at Tree 0 6 up at Waskesiu in northern Sask. I think it has a 50ft drop. Scariest thing I’ve ever done.

If you had to be part of a circus, what would be your role?

Braden – I’d probably be one of the ringleaders. I’m mildly neurotic and like to have a plan and a back-up plan made for most situations.

Oli: Clown for sure, in an extremely small clown car.

Derrick: I think it would be really cool to be one of the bear handlers but I would definitely get eaten. 

Out of all of the lyrics in this song, which line of words is your favorite and why?

Avery: “I risk it all, they want you to fall” – It’s like knowing there might be people who don’t support you or have your back or know who you are but you don’t care, you just do what you want knowing they won’t be there to catch you if you fall, and you’re ok to catch yourself if no one’s gonna be there to catch you. You’re strong enough to handle it even when the people around you suck

Oli: “It feels sort of free, when you’re hanging upside down and inside out” I love this line because the music suddenly floats here and everything feels slow motion and I love the imagery of a trapeze artist somehow inside out too? Kinda metal. Also i love saying “but you came for the show, so grab your popcorn”. I feel like that is the most refined way to say “F%$# you, dude.”

Right now, this is a standalone single, can we expect more from you soon?

Alan: We’re planning on sitting down to start writing a full-length this winter, so hopefully we’ll have more new music recorded sometime in 2025.

Oli: This band has no shortage of writers, we all contribute to our ever growing google drive of potential band tunes and currently we have enough for two full lengths in there so yeah, we’ve got a lot of new music planned for the future.

What else would you like everyone to know about Checkout Queens, “Ballad of a Trapeze Artist”, and life in general?

Braden: “Ballad of a Trapeze Artist” feels like the start of the next era of the band to me. We have a couple more shows coming up in Saskatoon, with our next show being at Amigos Cantina on September 13th. We are also playing our very first show in Alberta with our friends in Fawns in Lethbridge on October 5th.

The answers throughout all of these questions are pure gold if you ask me but I loved hearing both Avery and Oli talk about their favorite lyrics in “Ballad of a Trapeze Artist” and why that’s what they picked. Although I’m not sure those were my favorite lines of the track the first time I heard it, I now hear them with a different ear when I let this song play on repeat as I try to stay out of my own head and keep positive.

If you live anywhere near Saskatoon or Alberta– go see Checkout Queens live. If you’re like me and can’t make the trek, just go ahead and put all of Checkout Queens’ songs on repeat. They are great and will make you feel all the things even when listening to the songs over and over again. Also, make sure to follow them on all of their socials! This is absolutely one of those bands to watch.

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