Five Questions With… Fairgale’s Stephen Green

By Jason Schneider

When St. John’s, Newfoundland rock ensemble Fairgale was forced to deal with isolation measures earlier this year, the members made the most of it by coming up with their new single, the suitable titled What Doesn’t Kill Us (Makes Us Stronger) that is now available on digital platforms. Steeped in the guitar-driven heartland spirit of The Gaslight Anthem, the track’s uplifting chorus belies its overall theme of battling substance abuse.

Written by singer/guitarist Andrew Rodgers during a 14-day quarantine, he first posted it on social media as a demo. The response was so enthusiastic that he got the band to record it as soon as they were able to safely get together. The results convinced the members of Fairgale that they’d found the sound they’d been searching for since forming in the early ‘10s, and they’re now eager to build on that.

We spoke with the band’s other singer/guitarist Stephen Green to find out more, and you can follow Fairgale’s moves at fairgale.com

What makes What Doesn’t Kill Us stand apart musically from your past work?

Emotionally I think the song hits a strong message. I think what stands out most is our continued progress on the craft of songwriting. Furthermore, we’re hitting our stride as creators, self-producing this track and the music video. We’re able to implement our full plan on the band’s creative aesthetic and that’s something we’re very proud of.

Was it your intention to make new music during the lockdown?

I don’t know if my mind ever stops making music. I think lockdown gave a little more free time to sit down without some of the regular obstacles of day-to-day life.

What's your view on the overall current state of rock and roll?

Everything ebbs and flows, but rock and roll music is still and will always be the backbone of popular music.

How have you adapted to engaging with your audience over the past few months?

We certainly read up on and partook in the new online streaming model—so much so that we worked with a full production team to launch the latest single. Outside of and beyond the pandemic, embracing technology and new ways of sharing music will be a strong focus for the band, even when we’re playing in front of audiences again. 

What is your mindset looking ahead to that prospect of playing live?

Right now, we’re working towards a new record, and of course, we can’t wait until we can get back to playing shows and hitting the road with new music. We don’t know when, or what it’ll look like, but adaptation and a willingness to try new things will be a strong focus for us in the next year and beyond.