Bloghunter: Rain’s World Part I

Rain’s World started when I was working for 102.1 the Edge as an on-air personality and in their interactive department. I’d been interviewing bands for years through the Indie Online program that I started while I was at the station, but this was going to be different. No more stock questions like “what are your influences?” or “how did you get your name?” Does anyone even want to watch someone ask bands about those things? Aren’t a ton of people already asking them that?

I realized the best parts of my interviews always happened before and after the camera was on. The parts where artists were just being themselves and we were developing a rapport. So much golden material never made it into the interviews we posted, and I realized one day that THAT was the stuff people would actually enjoy the most! The parts where it felt like you were just hanging out with your favourite band — they weren’t going through the motions of talking to media or fans. Isn’t that what we all want? To hang out with our favourite bands and see what they’re really like?

So my idea was this: get a band into a setting where they could forget the camera and stop asking the same old interview questions. The setting ended up being my apartment, and instead of questions we would drink a beer and DO SOMETHING.

The first guests I had in were Tokyo Police Club. They were kind enough to take a chance on the idea and were the perfect band to kick everything off. Rain’s World started off simple. We made grilled cheese sandwiches.

When I watch that video now, I realize how much learning I still had to do. Over seven minutes long?! That’s mental. SO much could have been cut. BUT! It was THERE. It was funny, it was different, and most importantly, that is what it’s really like to hang out with Tokyo Police Club. Plus, they started a very important Rain’s World tradition: every band has to improvise a Rain’s World theme song. And since local heroes Steam Whistle Brewing partnered up with us, things have kept getting better.

We’ve been shooting Rain’s World episodes since late 2011, and we’ve had some good ones.

The Darcys came in to play Ouija.

Brendan Canning and I created a beautiful piece of art. 

The Pack A.D. came in for a game of Mad Libs.

I went on tour with Hollerado. 

And there have been so many more!

The newest one? Thunder Bay’s Poor Young Things came over one day when I had the worst hangover ever, and taught me how to play Quarters… I didn’t realize it was a drinking game when we originally arranged the interview!

- Raina Douris @rahrahraina