5 Questions with The Tea Party: Band of Brothers

Canadian rock act The Tea Party have been at it since 1990, now making them one of Canada’s longest lasting rock bands. Following a brief split in 2005, the band reformed in 2011. Dubbed “Moroccan roll” by the music industry, the trio (comprised of lead singer Jeff Martin, bass guitarist and keyboardist Stuart Chatwood, and drummer Jeff Burrows) has infused not only Middle Eastern influences in their music, but blues and industrial undertones as well. The trio incorporates unique instruments such as the sitar, mandolin, hurdy-gurdy, and others that encapsulate their massive sound. 

The band’s influence has seen its reach all over the world. The band hasn’t cracked the U.S. market since pop and hip hop has been dominating. The Tea Party’s music and writing is way underappreciated in these times and is, in my opinion, way ahead of their time. With eight albums and a few EPs under their belt, the band continues to forge on with their mysterious worldly sound. Drummer Jeff Burrows just wants to evoke some sort of reaction out of the public with “unencumbered, unfiltered rock music”.

Their recent tour—a Canadian 90s rock dream–with Moist, Headstones, and Sloan dubbed The Saints and Sinners Tour has been cancelled due to the pandemic. Crossing over the border was difficult since it was closed, but Burrows says they will make up the Buffalo date in the future. 

I sat down with drummer Jeff Burrows of The Tea Party to talk about the band’s achievements, their catalogue, and how the trio is surviving these weird times of COVID.

The band has released back-to-back EPs as of recent. One being the Sunshower EP and the other called Blood Moon Rising. Why not put out a full length at this point? How did you get to record with Canadian guitarist Todd Kerns?

JB: EPs essentially have been something we had to do in order to get music out. Jeff Martin lives on the east coast of Australia. Stuart Chatwood lives right outside of Vancouver and I’m in Windsor. The way the writing has been between tours—either at the beginning or the end of a tour. The last time we were on tour was in Australia. That is when we wrote the Black River EP. 

There’s nothing than I’d like more than all three of us to live in Toronto. Is there an album in the future? I hope so. It takes a lot of time in between releases. We don’t want to wait three plus years for new music. Todd Kerns has been a friend of ours forever. Nicest hard-working guy in the industry.

You recorded at Armoury Studios in Vancouver. What’s that experience like? It seems like it’s steeped in history.

JB: Yea we recorded our most recent EP there and it was our first time there. It’s a converted old church and super cool vibe. It was phenomenal. Vancouver is a great place and it was almost just amount of grey to be a little melancholy!

What new techniques and recording do you use for the Tea Party’s music?

JB: So, writing has always been the same. The best stuff gets written in the room together. We usually jam out. To write and record in the studios that we had with these great engineers, I wouldn’t change it for the world. 

As far as modern stuff, I guess the mixing and the editing that are digital now, makes it faster. As a band we have grown without egos getting bruised. We recorded some covers while the pandemic was raging. (The Smith’s “Everyday Like Sunday” and Joy Division’s “Isolation”) I recorded my drum parts and emailed them off. They turned out great but thought the vibe was a bit sterile. I’m not used to recording that way.

I’d love to get back into a more Indian infused rock. I get to play a lot more percussion and I have fun more in the studio. I’m already working on some patterns that will fare well on the next project. We just don’t want to do the same thing over and over again. 

What have you guys learned from 2005’s break-up?

JB: I want to attribute it to burnout. To use the old cliché, being in a band is like being in a marriage. What we learned though that it’s all about communication and to check all our egos at the door. Everyone wants to have a moderate amount of success. 

You currently contribute to a lot of charities.

JB: Mental Health is a big one. The Canadian Mental Health Organization. Maryvale that deals with teens that struggle with anxiety and depression. Women’s Shelter that deals with mental trauma. I try to organize a lot. I am all about grassroots and things you can change. 

If you’d like to check out The Tea Party, you can check out their website linked here and find their music on most major streaming platforms.