Meet 'n Greet with The Morning Stars: "You Can't Change the World"

The Morning Stars may say "You Can't Change the World" but by the time you finish listening to their album you'll feel like you can. The Morning Stars, formed by brothers Mars and Mike Ivic, create upbeat tempos, soothing harmonies, and a melodic genius that comes together to create a rich sound that makes you want to leap to your feet to rock out or flick a Bic and sway side to side. Each song seems a tribute to a rock or post-punk great with an Ivic flair that is all their own. It's as if the Ivic brothers spent years hanging out with The Beetles, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Rolling Stones and New Order. They've perfected their craft and burst onto the music scene with a debut album so masterfully mixed you'll think it's their third release.

I recently had the opportunity to interview The Morning Stars and get to know the brothers behind the music. So take a load off and meet the band who created the sensational tunes you're about to drown the world out with. Even if "You Can't Change the World", you certainly can enjoy what it has to offer; The Morning Stars.

How did The Morning Stars get started?

Mars Ivic: Michael and I formed the band but I don't have the slightest clue what year it all began. I was told 2004 so I've been going with that. Two brothers writing songs in the basement doesn't seem like the most exciting story but that's how it initially started. We recorded a couple of tracks which never got released then changed our name which I felt rejuvenated the band. The production of "You Can't Change the World" began in the summer of 2005 and it was released in March 2007.

Mike Ivic: Being brothers, we've played music together for many years. We have also been in other bands and projects separately. I had drifted from music for a few years due to my own frustration but then I saw what a serious guitarist my brother was becoming and it flipped a switch in me and got me excited about making music with him. Our bio says we formed The Morning Stars in 2004 but in fact, it really was formed long before that.

Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

Mars Ivic: The Beatles and Stones are a given but to mention some others Velvet Underground, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, The Smiths, New Order, The Cult. As for non-musical influences; the Dalai Lama, Indian food...

Mike Ivic: My parents had a cassette of The Rolling Stones greatest hits and I remember discovering it and playing it. I must have been 6 or 7 years old, so it's the first music I can remember. Of course The Beatles followed and then into my teen years I got into dark alternative bands like The Cure, Bauhaus, New Order, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Skinny Puppy to name a few. When I first picked up the bass I learned by playing along to The Police and Sting records. Additionally, Peter Hook, Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman, Adam Clayton, Simon Gallup and Doug Yule have had the biggest influence on my playing. Non-musical influences would include the films of Roman Polanski, Stanley Kubrik and Ridley Scott. My parents and nature stand above everything.

Why did you title your debut CD "You Can't Change the World"?

Mars: The title of the album comes from the song I wrote but it was actually Michael that suggested it be the album name. The song itself I believe has a strong message so it just seemed appropriate for us to name the album that knowing what's happening in our world today with wars and also the environment. "You Can't Change the World" to me sounds like warning sign and the message can be read quite opposite; to start making a difference before it's too late. Some think the album name is a bit negative but as much as we'd love to change the world some things are also out of our reach like the long winters here in Canada and the day we die. So let's all enjoy life and spread the love.

Mike: In my mind, it always seemed like a question; "You can't change the world?" I've come to the conclusion that clearly the answer is yes and no. In fact, what you can't change is that it's changing at an alarming rate. Technology is advancing exponentially and we are living at a time when the world's population is at its highest and the demand for resources will put greater tension on us all. The environment is the hot topic now and rightly so. We've passed the point of talking about a future that only looks grim. It is grim. We must sacrifice some of our luxuries and change our habits today. It may already be too late. So I think our little insignificant album title is an accurate reflection of this point in time.

Who writes the songs?

Mars: Michael and I are the songwriters and also the housekeepers.

Mike: Mars and I write, and we collaborate to varying degrees on each song. "You can't change the world" feels quite insular in retrospect. Most of the ideas we each presented seemed finished. We're writing more collaboratively now, but you always need that alone time to dig deep and find the song. We both contributed lyrics to "Don't Waste Time", and lyrically it's my favorite on the album; definitely my favorite to play live.

What's it like playing live?

Mars: Our most recent show was in March at the legendary El Mocambo in Toronto and a couple weeks before that we played our CD release party in Hamilton. Playing live is great and that's one of the main reasons I personally think we started a band. Some shows are better than others and some nights you wish you didn't have to play.

Mike: We've played in and around Toronto over the past year and we're planning to head to the Canadian east coast summer 2007 and to the UK and Europe in 2008. Playing live is fun. It would be a lot more fun if we could afford roadies. That's a luxury I'm looking forward to.

What has it been like starting up your band?

Mars: Playing in a rock band is a lot like a relationship or a marriage. You are constantly faced with challenges whether it is scheduling, opinions or whatever. When we were auditioning drummers in the beginning we had one fellow who kept missing rehearsals to go visit his grandmother. It's a constant struggle like everything else in life...not to say that we don't have a good time doing it but it has its ups and downs.

Mike: It's been challenging. We're the artist and the label (Volume Records) and managing those different hats takes energy and focus. You can get caught up in the business aspect of promoting the music and that can stifle the creative energy that you need to produce the music. The music industry is also quite competitive and dirty, like any industry really. That's one thing you can't change about the world.

What inspires you to do what you do?

Mars: I fell in love with music at an early age. I remember being fascinated by Elvis Presley movies and Bing Crosby Christmas tapes. Suddenly you're older and you have this inspiration to write music without even realizing it. Music is something I could never escape from and has become a part of my life. I'm not really sure what inspires me...possibly John Lennon.

Mike: I love music. It's always been my passion. As a teenager I would literally dream about shopping for records. Some people play soccer. I need to play music. My favorite bands have inspired me to make music. It's deep rooted and I don't know where it comes from or why I want to do it. It's my dream job.

What advice would you give to fellow bands who want to do what you're doing?

Mars: Get a good education, pay your taxes and you can have anything you want.

Mike: I would tell them that giving up is the easiest thing to do. So give up. You'll thank yourself and be happy. Your video games are waiting for you.

What are some of your pet peeves?

Mars: You know when you call someone, and they don't call you back?

Mike: The word "pimp" and the use of cell phones. I'm guilty of using cell phones. Damn!

Lastly, what do you think about downloading music online?

Mars: I personally am not a fan. Downloading music diminishes the whole art of releasing a record. Kids nowadays don't talk about great albums but rather songs that they downloaded. The excitement for new record releases seems to have died off because artists and bands are releasing singles every couple of months. Downloading is the new market and to survive you have to go with it unless you're The Beatles.

Mike: Honestly, I'm also not a fan. Downloading really trivializes music as art. According to iTunes, all songs are worth $0.99. There is a fine line to technology. It makes recording an album very convenient but does nothing but remove the artists vision of the "complete" record. CD's stole music's soul, and downloading burned it. CD's and downloads have not replaced my love for vinyl.

Thanks guys!

Make sure to check out their debut album, You Can't Change the World, available at The Morning Stars website, www.themorningstars.com or their Myspace page at www.myspace.com/themorningstars.