Recently, a group of talented musicians went above and beyond and breathed new life into this fan’s decrepit anthology of old favorites. The name of this soulful group is Armchair Cynics and their gift is sand-filling sound, evocative songwriting, and a daring yet captivating performance.

His music is not only fascinating when it is heard on the radio waves, but it is heard live, it is incredible and I am not the only one who shares this sentiment. Included on the Armchair Cynic fan list is Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger. Kroeger and his business partner Jonathin Simkin signed a record deal with the Cynics with their label, 604 Records. This union resulted in their out of print EP entitled “Killing the Romance”.

Simkin told me that neither he nor Kroeger could overlook the cynic’s ability to write world-class songs that are not only melodic but also rich in layers. That wasn’t her only seductive quality.

“Initially we signed a demo contract with the band to make sure everyone felt good working together. The first recordings turned out so well that we decided to go ahead with a record deal. The band has many qualities. Great songs. Great show. Good looking. The whole package was great. “

Lead singer Kenn Coutu is a vocal talent with a commanding stage presence and trademark leader confidence. Recently, he took time out of his busy schedule to share his thoughts on his music and what they have in store for fans on his next album.

JC: Tell me about the different personalities that make up the Armchair Cynics.

KC: When the Armchair Cynics started, it was myself, Aaron the bass player, and two other guys. I did most of the writing. Then came Adam, our lead guitarist. At first he always said, “Hey, I write music too.” But I was so arrogant and I thought, “I don’t need your help!” Fortunately, when I heard some of his stuff, I realized, “Wow, this guy is really good.”

JC: Are you all from Vancouver Island?

KC: Yeah it’s actually kind of funny because Ryan the drummer and I are originally from Langford so we have a really good camaraderie. Aaron is from Brentwood Bay and Adam is from Oak Bay, so there is a personable rivalry between us (laughs). The most intense personality is me. Adam is an incredibly talented boy. You can play drums, guitar, keyboards. There are so many things you can do. He is very good with computers and graphic arts.

JC: I heard you did the cover of ‘Killing the Romance’.

KC: He made it easy. He took everyone’s ideas and put them all together. Then there’s Ryan and he’s a very hard-working and very nice guy. He makes us laugh when we talk about how nice he is, but he’s talented and plays the drums really hard. Aaron is a great guy. It’s like the father figure. He’s so diplomatic about everything. When it comes to personality, it’s perfect for a band.

JC: So as a band, what are your strengths?

KC: We focus on what is really important to us, which are the songs. A lot of bands write really catchy music and their songs are fun and great, but people often wonder what they are trying to say. What are they saying? Nothing. We just try to write really good songs. The downside is that it takes a bit longer. We don’t crush them just for making them.

JC: What was it like working with Kroeger and Simkin?

KC: One thing about Chad and Jon’s team is that they were very good at teaching us. It’s a bit difficult to explain, but they were telling us that they really wanted to see us excited about a particular part of a song. They didn’t say, “Do this.” But it was more like, “Show me how many different shades of emotion you have.” We would eventually find the one that works. Sometimes I’d just sit there and try a bunch of things on top of my head and act like a jerk and make up things. Then Chad would say to me, “Kenn, don’t do that again.” (Laughs)

JC: How much time did you spend in the studio?

KC: Recording was a long process. It took me months and months to come and go to Vancouver and try to work with Chad’s and the other producer’s schedules. We recorded at Mushroom Studios, Warehouse Studios, Greenhouse Studios. We recorded in something like five different studios.

JC: So which do you prefer, traveling or writing?

KC: I love writing. Tours are like commercials and because you play it over and over again you get really good at it. Do not misunderstand. I love playing.

JC: You now have a huge fan base and one that is growing exponentially.

KC: We really wanted to root ourselves in Victoria and it worked really well for us because we have a great bond. The radio has worked well. It’s amazing what radio does. I can go out and play ‘Bang’ over and over, but once people finally hear it on the radio, that’s when you really see them clapping. It’s amazing. We use MySpace a lot. Every time we went to a new city, we just e-mailed everyone and told them we were going.

JC: Without using tags, how would you describe your sound?

KC: It is very difficult. We went from a little ‘danceable’ to soft to hard and aggressive. I really enjoy bands that are classic, nothing too offensive or too general. Look at the Foo Fighters. They are a classic example. See ‘Learning to Fly’. How pop was that? So different compared to their first album. There are a lot of producers who say ‘you have to find your sound’ and it’s like, can we get over that now? It’s kind of a dinosaur approach because if you look at someone’s CD collection, you can’t tell they have a sound. So it’s in the rock genre, but it can be either way.

JC: Was “Bang” the obvious choice for a single?

KC: Yes. It was up to. It was rock. It caught his eye. It was one of the last songs to be added to the CD, but with that said “Coalmine” was one of our other photos.

JC: Are the songs personal?

KC: Completely.

JC: They sound personal.

KC: Yes, so I feel really weird sometimes, but I’ve been writing fictional songs with stories that I find intriguing. I will take real life and mix it with an interesting story. I am evolving that way. That way they are not all so personal. After a while, the guys make a big joke and call it “Things That Happened in Kenn’s Life Vol 2” (laughs). I mean come on, how many breakups can a guy have (laughs)?

JC: Has it been difficult trying to succeed in Canada?

KC: I don’t know, right? Hope we find out. I think because of the type of music we play, we have been grouped with Nickelback and Theory of a Dead Man, so we have had some negative reactions.

JC: What are the band’s short-term goals?

KC: The short term goal is to do in Vancouver what we have done here. Maybe that’s a small thought on my part, but we want to slowly build our way east. The east has a really different music scene. And the States! We have a lot of fans in Washington and around there.

JC: Long-term goals?

KC: The long-term goal is to make this a career that lasts more than five years. The music industry is very fickle. But the music industry needs you. They need musicians to fill those places. Who is next, Our Lady of Peace? Who is the next Matt Good Band? So musicians are in as much demand as they think they’re not.

JC: If there was one thing you wanted everyone to know about the Armchair Cynics, what would it be?

KC: It’s about songs. We just try to touch people. That is all I want to do. Did you know? Just make that good time in a song. Just to make people stop in their car when you’re driving down the road and yell, “Yes!”

JC: So that’s all I have. Thanks.

KC: Thank you.