That principal songwriter and singer of Apostle of Hustle, Andrew Whiteman, spends most of his time in the venerable Broken Social Scene hardly needs to be said. But, since it should be noted, Whiteman puts it best: "Yeah, the Social Scene, its my life. Its a huge influence. In every way, like professionally and personally and musically. Its huge. It looms large, man!
Yet Whiteman, through Apostle of Hustle, is a burgeoning force unto himself. The first evidence of his uncanny way with a melody, 2004s Folkloric Feel, was a dusty, mysterious slice of songs that had been kicking around since before the Social Scene, perfectly tweaked with both world music and conventional indie melodies. It is the newest effort, National Anthem of Nowhere, though, that really puts forth a more confident, sleek and catchier side of Apostle of Hustle.
"Sonically, I dont know how you get darker than the last record, he says. "I mean, obviously were not a noise or goth band. But we kind of put our chisel in the cracks and opened shit up musically, or texturally. Its a less dense record than Folkloric Feel was. Furthering the different approach, Whiteman specifies, "The percussion elements are way stronger and often, you know, there are rhythms that arent strictly by the book. If we go into the world music thing, we dont try to go by the book, obviously. That would be a disaster.
Indeed, Apostle of Hustle dont go by any musical playbook, and unlike Whitemans one-of-many role in the Social Scene, hes the driving force for the trio. "I usually get to have the last say unless two people are arguing really well and I lose the argument. But its kind of fun that way. If you really want it that bad As long as the results are this good, long may he reign.
Yet Whiteman, through Apostle of Hustle, is a burgeoning force unto himself. The first evidence of his uncanny way with a melody, 2004s Folkloric Feel, was a dusty, mysterious slice of songs that had been kicking around since before the Social Scene, perfectly tweaked with both world music and conventional indie melodies. It is the newest effort, National Anthem of Nowhere, though, that really puts forth a more confident, sleek and catchier side of Apostle of Hustle.
"Sonically, I dont know how you get darker than the last record, he says. "I mean, obviously were not a noise or goth band. But we kind of put our chisel in the cracks and opened shit up musically, or texturally. Its a less dense record than Folkloric Feel was. Furthering the different approach, Whiteman specifies, "The percussion elements are way stronger and often, you know, there are rhythms that arent strictly by the book. If we go into the world music thing, we dont try to go by the book, obviously. That would be a disaster.
Indeed, Apostle of Hustle dont go by any musical playbook, and unlike Whitemans one-of-many role in the Social Scene, hes the driving force for the trio. "I usually get to have the last say unless two people are arguing really well and I lose the argument. But its kind of fun that way. If you really want it that bad As long as the results are this good, long may he reign.