Walk Off the Earth is on top of the world

My intimate interview with Walk off the Earth, photographed by Stacy Anastasia, special to marcandrew.ca ©marcandrew.ca

The recent success of Burlington, Ontario’s Walk Off the Earth is out of this world.

The indie act catapulted from being virtually unknown to international stardom in less than a week, and it’s all because of one little video they posted on youtube, a challenging cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.”

“I just came in and sang guest vocals and from there I gained a whole bunch of fans that I wouldn’t have from touring and playing smaller venues,” says band member Sarah Blackwood, who at the time of the video release in January was fronting the psychobilly rock band The Creepshow.

“Youtube is so accessible, it’s like a different way of touring. You’re playing live and doing these things for people, but you don’t have to go anywhere and gamble whether it will be a good turn out or not. Watch it if you want to, or you know, just don’t.”

Well, people are definitely watching. With over 134 millions views and still climbing, this youtube sensation is raking in fans from around the globe.

Walk Off the Earth has even made fans out of Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe, who took to twitter and praised the group, Ellen DeGeneres, who invited the Canadians to perform on her show earlier this year and Gotye himself.

“People can see into you,” Sarah says. “They can really tell where your passion lies, and when it’s in your heart and soul, they gravitate towards you.”

Passion and raw talent aside, it’s the band’s refreshing, down-to-earth inviting air that has crowds flocking to them, out in the real world just as much as in cyberspace.

Show dates on Walk Off the Earth’s current tour prove it. They’ve sold out a number of dates, including their gig at the HMV Forum in London, England on September 8, and back-to-back sets at Montreal’s Club Soda on September 13 and 14.

Walk Off the Earth’s international tour, online success and recent signing to Sony Music has launched them to towering, sky-scraping heights, and from the top of the world, they still manage to touch the ground and everybody watching.

“I feel incredibly connected with people and music, that will never change,” Sarah says. “I love being involved with the crowds, the fans. A part of our music is the people who are taking something from it, connecting with it. We really want to be a part of those people.”

Walk Off the Earth’s new EP R.E.V.O. is available October 30. The band plays to sold out crowds at Club Soda on September 13 and 14. More tour dates here. Follow the band on twitter, facebook and their youtube channel.

Posted by Marc Andrew on Sep 6 2012. Filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.