You Say Party! We Say Die! is more than a New Wave band — it’s a Canadian sensation.

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You Say Party We Say Die with Little Girls
HiFi Club
Saturday, November 28 - Saturday, November 28

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Flipping you the “spirit finger” with its irreverent retro style, You Say Party! We Say Die! is more than a New Wave band — it’s a Canadian sensation, its cheery name is on the lips of hipsters across the country. Seeded in Abbotsford, B.C. in 2003, the feisty drill squad, which now consists of chanteuse Becky Ninkovic, keyboardist Krista Loewen, bass player Stephen O’Shea, guitarist Derek Adam and drummer Devon Clifford, has changed its lineup and its look over its six-year history. Weathering some outrageous fortunes that saw the band bounced from bars in Berlin and hailed as heroes in Japan, You Say Party! We Say Die! has persevered to release a scintillating third album. Released on Paper Bag Records in late September, the beautifully designed XXXX resonates with the group’s renewed sense of purpose.

“I definitely think we had more focus compared to the past when we made our other albums,” confirms Ninkovic. “We really took as much time as we needed in the studio and poured ourselves into each of the songs. There is a running theme of the spirit and power of love. I’m a real fan of that late-’70s, early-’80s era in music. I think we all are, Howard included.”

Instrumental in helping the band realize its potential, producer Howard Redekopp (Tegan & Sara, The New Pornographers) lent his golden touch to the nouveau-disco XXXX with stunning results. Luminescent without being glitzy, XXXX reveals a softer side of the party-makers who turned heads and topped dancehall charts with previous releases Hit the Floor! and Lose All Time.

“I think we were all on the same page when it came to pulling the best performances out of each of us,” Ninkovic says. “I really wanted to delve into deeper places emotionally than I ever have before, because that’s where I want to perform from. I get possessed by songs that need to get out and be shared with the band. Sometimes when they’re just jamming in the studio, I’ll walk in and they’ll come up with sounds that exactly match the lyrics I’ve been drawing up, and they’ll magically fit together. We’ve come to treat the process differently so that each song gets what it needs and no more. It used to be like some sort of crazy race to find out who got the last space left in a song. I’d wind up yelling over it all because I didn’t know where else to fit in!”

For better or worse, a healthy sense of competition has always enhanced You Say Party! We Say Die!’s harmonious dynamic, and XXXX promises to be a late favourite of 2009. Cheered on by ranks of invigorated listeners who dig the band’s hopelessly romantic yet carefully measured approach, You Say Party! We Say Die! looks forward to bringing its latest creation to life in performance, even if it means going for broke.

“I think we’ve all grown up a lot,” Ninkovic says with a chuckle. “We’ve realized the importance of developing our flexibility and openness during the songwriting process and it’s been interesting putting it all into practise on tour. There’s a fine balance to remaining grounded and allowing your voice to flow. It’s hard for me to remain calm when there’s so much tension and energy onstage. I want to start bouncing and dancing all over.”