Get to Know: Walk off the Earth Interview

Empty Lighthouse is a reader-supported site. This article may contain affiliate links to Amazon and other sites. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.

Walk off the Earth is a Canadian indie rock band consisting of Sarah Blackwood, Ryan Marshall, Joel Cassady, Gianni Luminati and Mike Taylor.

The group formed together in 2006 and has gained success by creating music videos and covering popular songs by other artists while using unique instruments, such as the ukulele and the theremin.

It was just two years ago that the band officially signed a recording contract with Columbia Records. In 2013, the band was nominated for two Juno Awards (Breakthrough Group of the Year and Video of the Year for "Little Boxes" and a YouTube Music Award for Response of the Year.

Also in 2013, the band won a Casby Award for Molson Canadian Favourite New Artist.

Empty Lighthouse recently had the chance to catch up with Walk off the Earth to see what they had in store for the coming months in regards to more releases and touring, as well as other aspects of life in the music business.

We chatted with Sarah Blackwood, so read further and get to know Walk off the Earth.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: How did you first get your start in music?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: I remember singing all the time when I was a kid. The first talent show I ever did at age 8, I sang a Michael Jackson song and I was hooked on performing! My father is a guitar player and my whole family is full of singers. I guess it was just in my blood.

I started to seriously pursue music about 10 years ago. Doing open mics, small shows and just writing and recording songs. Then a bunch of stuff happened and here I am today!

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: Who are your musical influences?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: Janis Joplin is such an incredible singer. I sometimes wish I was born and lived through that time in music. When I was 13 I watched the movie The Doors and became obsessed with Jim Morrison.

I love poetic lyrics. I wanted to be Jim Morrison.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: Who do you listen to in your spare time, other hobbies, etc?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: I listen to many different things. I tend to find one song that really hits my gut and just listen to it over and over and over again. Some people ave albums that remind them of periods of time in their lives...I have songs. Songs that I loved so much I listened to them until the butterflies went away. I have a ton of other hobbies.

I love photography. I do lots of the photography and the artwork for the band.

I love designing stuff and playing with photoshop. I also practice yoga. I am learning how to cook! It's been a challenge so far but I am getting there!

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What has been your most memorable experience while touring?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: That's a very tough question to answer for me. I have been touring now for almost 10 years. I think right now it is the fact that I toured until I was 8 months pregnant.

I had no idea people could do stuff like that when they are pregnant.

I was amazed at how strong and healthy I felt continuing to do what I love while growing a baby! I wish that experience for all to-be moms, in all fields of work.

Now I get to bring my son on the road and that will be a whole new unforgettable experience.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What is the craziest thing you've seen a fan do to get into a show / on stage, etc.?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: We have proposals happen at our shows.

And that's always a gamble! You never know if one day someone will say NO! To get in to a show, people do all kinds of crazy things!

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What advice would you give to other young people looking to succeed in the industry?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: Become a Dentist. Take a turn and become an entertainment lawyer! Haha. No in all honesty, this is a very tough industry and it is constantly swallowing people and spitting them out. If you want to make music and have fun, it's easy to do that and do something else. If you want to make music and do it for a living, it takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears and perseverance to make it. And when, and if you do, it only lasts so long. I would advise that anyone looking to be in it for the long haul, LEARN about the industry.

Become a Tour Manager, a good band mate, leave your ego behind. LEARN about record labels and how record sales work. LEARN how to self manage with your FUTURE in mind.

Do not be affected by labels and haters. And build a machine...a well oiled, strong working machine.

There's a big difference between rock stars and career musicians. Keep your head out of the clouds and your head in the game!

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: When you hit a creativity block, what re-inspires you?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: Life. And the people I work with.

I used to do a lot of writing alone and I would hit blocks all the time.

I find that when you bring in other creative people, the juices flow and it just becomes fun and exciting to create art and music. I listen to other people's ideas and incorporate outside ideas in to my own.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: How do you manage your time between your music and personal life?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: It gets tough but I think people are like muscles. The more weight you take on slowly, the stronger and more efficient you become. It's all about balance. I also practice and teach yoga.

That helps me organize my mind and take care of my body so I can stay on top of everything. There's always a point too where you realize you have taken on too much and you just have to step back and reorganize yourself.

A positive attitude can make oceans worth of change in lives. That's what I maintain and it always keeps a smile on my face and helps me be patient and breathe when I need to!

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: What are your upcoming plans in regards to more touring, releases and producing new music?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: We are starting a big 4 month tour right now. We will be writing and recording some of the new album during this time.

I will also be watching my son grow to be a year old! We have a bunch of videos planned for the upcoming months and somehow, we are going to find time for it all! haha.

Basically, we probably won't sleep very much from now until the end of the summer.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: If you could invent anything, what would it be?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: I wish I had invented the bobby pin.

I always have invention ideas but always forget them! A machine that folds your laundry for you! Wait...are you trying to get ideas from us, sneaky question:)

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: If stranded on an island, what 3 things would you want to have with you?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: A big sailboat. Food for a year. My family. Then it would be like a year long vacation. Sounds amazing.

EMPTY LIGHTHOUSE: Anything else you would like to add?
WALK OFF THE EARTH: A HUGE THANK YOU to you peeps, and all of our fans.

We can never thank the people enough that support our music and are interested in what we are doing. THANK YOU!

For more information on Walk off the Earth, visit www.walkofftheearth.com, and look forward to what the band has coming with their upcoming tour and album release!