Celogen is the solo venture of Calgary’s Dominic Demierre, a pop experimenter who first made his mark as a post-punk/emo drummer. Since striking out on his own in 2018, he’s explored everything from tender folk and blistering industrial to prog rock, house, and his own takes on showtunes.
Name:
Celogen – Dominic Demierre
Genre:
Art-pop – I guess? I’m just trying to write pop music, but everybody tells me I’m not doing that, so I have to find some way to tell myself I’m actually not a failure.
Founded:
2018
# of Albums:
7 as a solo artist, 1 with the band Painted Ivory.
Latest Album:
Answer Me Smartass
Latest Single:
Sauntering Towards Immunity
Latest Video:
Favourite musician growing up:
Paul McCartney – I don’t think anyone realizes that all my songs come out of trying to rewrite Martha My Dear and messing it up.
Favourite musician now:
Tim Smith of Cardiacs. What a mind. I still remember the first time I heard Tarred and Feathered, thinking, “Oh, thank God, you can do this with music”. I was so worried you couldn’t.
Guilty pleasure song:
I know the Tragically Hip aren’t as cool as they used to be, but Courage (For Hugh McLennan) is blinding, and “there’s no simple explanation for anything important any of us do” is an astonishing lyric.
Live show ritual:
Finding the exact place where I can see all the musicians at once. Every once in a blue moon, I might mosh, but nowadays I want to seriously take the act in. We may eat with our eyes, but I think we also listen with our eyes, too.
Favourite local musician:
Chris Zajko of Bridgeland. Guy bursts at the seams with multifaceted talent, and he’s such a lovely fella, too.
EP or LP?
LP. I need to stretch my legs creatively, and I love hearing other artists do the same.
Early bird or night owl?
Early bird, and it’s getting silly, frankly. I wake up at 5:30 am most mornings. What can I say – I have to know myself. By 3 pm, I’m a wreck, no matter what.
Road or studio?
Studio. I’m a perfectionist – the manic-depressive usually is. Anyways, I can’t get enough paid leave to head down to Edinburgh. I’m a corporate shill at heart, really.
Any shows or albums coming up?
Believe it or not, there’s more music where this most recent record (Answer Me Smartass) came from. I just haven’t quite finished the remaining songs yet – but those people know who they are.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp
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Rapid Fire Local Questions:
What is your favourite local restaurant?
I would live on sushi if it were financially viable, and I have to give a shout-out to Ikusa in Bridgeland. Daruma was amazing, too – I was genuinely devastated when they closed.
What is your favourite street in your city and why?
This is ludicrously specific, but it’s probably 37 St NW. I will be in the nursing home and still remembering how I walked down that street, mid-winter, first year of university, listening to the Chameleons, having just found out my first real love was taken. Psychogeography is really, really important.
What is your favourite park in your city and why?
Obvious choice – McHugh Bluff – but would you believe me if I said that’s because it’s incredibly cozy? Even in a nervous breakdown, that was always my happy place.
What is your favourite music venue in your city?
I’ve never seen a remotely bad show at the Royal Canadian Legion. In fact, that’s where I personally met the members of Deerhoof. Nicest folks you’ll ever meet. Do meet your heroes, if they’re good people.
What is your favourite music store in your city?
Hot Wax in Kensington had a used copy of Melt-Banana’s Cell-Scape, so it’s hard to improve on that. No, I don’t care that it was a little beaten-up. It’s the principle of the whole thing.
