ON
Interview conducted on February. 07, 2023
By Dan Locke
ACID TEST frontwoman LUCY DI SANTO (vocals, bass) and joined by fellow Acid Test guitarist STEVE FALL and drummer DAN CORNELIUS, listeners are in for a mind-bending experience, whether they just listen to the album itself or come out for one of their live shows.
Indie rock / power trio ON present their latest single ‘Break You’, a potent prism of the 90s-flavoured indie rock vibes offered on their eponymous ‘ON’ album, recently released via Toronto-based label Indiestructable Records. On February 14, the band also kick off their tour, bringing them to dozens of U.S. cities on the West Coast, Rockies and South-West, kicking off in San Diego and ending in Seattle on April 2 before recording their next album with legendary producer MARTIN BISI (Sonic Youth, Swans, Brian Eno, John Zorn, Herbie Hancock, Iggy Pop, Helmet, Dresden Dolls, Cop Shoot Cop) at his BC Studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn.
First, let’s start with your band name – why did you decide to call yourself ON?
Lucy – ON has a reference to perception, like being aware. A self awareness of your surroundings.
That was sort where I was coming from and presented to Steve .
We understand that both you (Lucy and Steve) were in seminal Canadian indie band Acid Test prior to ON. How would you distinguish the music between each project?
Lucy- for myself Acid Test was an experience in sound. It was my first venture into branching out singing and playing bass. Prior to this I was playing bass only in previous bands.
I was feeling groove and funk and enjoying various elements in dark lit clubs. Steve and I wrote together in a previous outing and he had a raw energy and passion to his heavy guitar sound. But then he started exploring funk and Nile Rogers blended with his metal and Hendrix leanings. It was perfect.
We added a DJ and a keyboard and samples and just experimented. Then we took it live. It was wild!
Steve- with ON Lucy wanted a stripped down angry twin guitar sound. I was in right away. ON was.
About loud guitars but still having a delivery with a lyrical context to the songs. Originally, I enjoyed having a twin guitar setup. ON always had another guitar player fattening it up sonically. In fact, we had some great friends I deeply respected sit in with the band live , Rob Holliday from Protegy was with us before he went back to the UK to establish himself in many notable groups. And later , we had our good friend Tom Capone x of Quicksand ( currently BloodClot) check things out with us for a while.
Anyway, when we resurfaced a desire to reform ON for another record we just decided to sit with the three of us and rock a little louder.
What was the progression from Acid Test to ON and why did it happen?
Steve – As I noted prior it was just a desire to strip things down . Also Acid Test had been out touring for almost 3 years straight and we really wanted to refocus on who we were . We love guitar as the guiding voice for writing music . And we still feel that.
Is that things over for Acid Test then or what’s the plan?
Lucy – No Acid Test is kind of like an alter ego for us. Now that we parked it for a bit, I can appreciate it more
It’s rather nice that I can put on a new outfit of sound and create in another context . For me Acid Test can be a playground for funk grooves and another energy. And with ON we can have that same freedom but experience it with an all things guitar focus.
Can you tell us about your new eponymous ‘ON’ album?
Lucy – It really is a collaborative effort of the triad that is ON. We all had a hand in the lyrical content, guitar riffs, production, arrangements. I mean , we really pushed ourselves, we really wanted to get to another level with our song writing . I hope we achieved that.
For myself personally, the album gave me a chance to express a healing as well.
To both of you, when did you first start playing and writing music?
Lucy – When I left College I started playing bass and writing.
Steve – I started playing guitar in junior high , age 14. I loved metal and was hooked.
Steve – What was your first guitar? Do you still have it?
First guitar was a no name repainted ugly red thing I bought from a friend for $8 . I sadly do not have it.
Lucy – What how did you get your bass? My first bass? My first real bass was a Made in Japan Ibanez SDGR .
I liked the thin neck and active pickups. I still have it. It will be on tour with me.
What are your guitars of choice now? Maybe even year, make and model?
Steve – I have mostly Fender Custom shop , a 59,and a 63 strat , 3 Customshop Teles a 52, a 59 Esquire and a 63 Tele. I also have a Jake E Lee Charvel that I tour with and a 73 Les Paul Custom and a 68’ SG .
Digital vs. vinyl?
Lucy/Steve-Vinyl of course!
Do you think you’d d be willing to sell your back-catalog if someone like Universal were willing to buy the rights to all your songs?
Sure, if the price was right. Haha.
What makes a good songwriter?
Someone whom can tap into that human psyche and also have the discipline to know when to arrange a piece and when to just let it happen.
What is your happy place?
Steve- the beach, touring and pizza
Lucy- the beach , exploring New York City and cats!
Can you tell us about your upcoming American tour dates?
Steve – we start Feb 14 in San Diego and wrap in Seattle April 2. We will bounce around California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, I hope I didn’t forget anything. Its up and down and all around that region.
What are your plans for ON and Acid Test following this West Coast tour?
We will be recording a new ON album with Martin Bisi at his BC Studio in Brooklyn this is almost immediately after our tour. We then have loose plans to play the UK , then tour the Eastern US and central US in the summer. After all this , we want to do some Acid Test remixes with various remixers in Canada, UK .
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Please visit our pages and support the cause. We are really working hard and funding all of this without any sort of label financial backing.
Come join us on tour and see our show. It will be tight, heavy and loud!
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