Autopilot

The mix of sounds on this set touches on a lot of things I like at different points. There are points where they move into space rock. The Cure and Jane’s Addiction are references at times. Overall, this is alternative rock, but there is quite a range within that description as depicted here. Whatever you call it, though, this is good stuff.

Track by Track Review

Desert Dreams
Alternative rock and space rock seem to merge here. This song has great waves of space over the top of it. It has a good pace and is memorable on the first spin. This definitely has a lot in common with a lot of modern progressive rock. Comparisons to Radiohead wouldn’t be out of the question, but there are definitely elements of Hawkwind in this.


Oceanside
Although this still has a lot of that Radiohead sound, it’s a different cut. In many ways, it makes me think of The Cure. It has a real soaring element to it, particularly later.

This City
A little more in the straight alternative rock vein, this number again reminds me of the Cure in some ways.

Battles
A little more reflective, this one definitely calls to mind Radiohead and modern progressive rock. I love the dreamy element of the piece. There is almost a rockabilly element here, too.

Crossing Borderlines
A slow cut, this one seems to combine the familiar Cure and Radiohead thing with some bits of Jane’s Addiction to my ear. While modern in tone and style, there are hints of classic older music here, too.

Tuesday Afternoon Processions
Although I still hear some of those Jane’s Addiction hints, this piece lands pretty well in The Cure camp. It’s another strong cut. It shows how these guys are adept at changing their sound enough from track to track to keep it interesting, but still manage to weave a cohesive tapestry with their songs.

Desert Dreams, Pt. II
This instrumental brings us back into spacey territory. It lands near shoegaze, really. - G. W. Hill, Music Street Journal

The image on the cover of Autopilot’s latest album Desert Dreams — a bus rolling down the highway — makes sense for a band that has spent so much time on the road that more people know about them outside their hometown than here.

The Saskatoon band started playing in 2000, and has toured both Canada and the United States extensively since. Now, with their fourth release just a month old, they’re preparing to head south to Texas and back, playing more than 20 shows in a month.

“We try for no days off,” Marlon Harder, the group’s frontman and mastermind, says.

Having spent so much time on the road, Harder says there’s often people who know them in random cities. He also spends a lot of time promoting.

“We work hard to try to get the word out before we go, so people know who we are,” Harder says.

The band has always done well on college radio. Listening to Desert Dreams, it’s not hard to see why. The group’s sound is hard to pin down and rewards multiple spins. There’s a power-pop sensibility but layered guitar lines and an interesting use of effects prevent it from ever becoming saccharine. Harder cites Modest Mouse as his main influence and you can hear it. There’s an expansiveness to the record.

Even the players have trouble describing the sound.“I don’t even know how to define it. I define it as unique. We have one sound, it’s Autopilot,” Jose A. Fuenzalida, who has drummed in the group with Harder since 2000, says.

He considers it a huge strength, and a big part of why crowds react well to shows.

“We have such a weird, unique sound that people are always intrigued by what we do. We have familiar sounding music, but no one can really pinpoint what we sound like,” he says.

Desert Dreams, which also features Colton Fehr on bass, came together very fast according to Fuenzalida.

“It’s one of the fastest albums we’ve ever recorded. From starting to writing process to being finished recording was only a matter of a couple weeks. Everything just kind of came together,” he says.

When asked how he knew it was time to record a new album, Harder was matter-of-fact.

“We had some songs we liked, that we thought were good to release, and when we went into the studio it just went really quickly,” he says.

Harder uses “us” and “we” when discussing the group, but Fuenzalida gives most of the credit to Harder.

“For the most part it’s him. I give some ideas here and there, but I wouldn’t call myself a big part of the songwriting process,” Fuenzalida says.

He says Harder’s drive has kept the group going for 15 years.

“I think Marlon’s motivation is pretty inspiring and contagious. He’s really immersed himself into the music world and tried to make Autopilot actually happen, and keep it going,” Fuenzalida says.

For all their time building fans elsewhere, Harder says they could have put more effort into the hometown crowd. It’s not that they’re completely unknown, but they aren’t necessarily the first name that comes to mind.

“It’s our fault. Sometimes we don’t focus on Saskatoon as much as we should. That’s something we’re going to do from now on, play a little more live in Saskatoon,” he says.

Their next chance is coming June 5, when they’ll play Vangelis as a warm-up for the upcoming tour.

Whatever fan base they can foster here, the road is still where Harder’s heart is. He strives for a future as a full-time touring band.

“It takes a while to sustain a living on the road. That’s the ultimate goal,” Harder says. - Sean Trembath, Bridges

Indie rock has become a very mainstream term. Now in 2015, we basically consider Coldplay to be indie rock! It has gotten kind of ridiculous. Do the pop culture trend setting hipsters even know what “indie” means? As they sample the newest money making band or artist from the comfort of their limos, it is bands like Autopilot – who are based out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada – that are gaining success the indie way; DIY.

Desert Dreams being Autopilot’s third release, it sure sounds and looks like they have benefited from that homegrown mentality. If you have ever been to Saskatoon you will see that it is a music scene mecca in the middle of the northern Canadian prairies. A constant stream of shows and up and coming bands, I personally have witnessed some amazing shows there, including Thrice, the Used, Alexisonfire, Moneen, August Burns Red, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, and lots more. So?

So…believe it or not, this vibe, this scene and exposure has helped Autopilot launch a successful career so far. It is also due to that hard work ethic of these Canadian rock bands. (Think, City and Colour) Now, how does Desert Dreams stack up against the all too overwhelming amount of other indie rock albums in this universe?

Track one, “Desert Dreams”, is a soundscape of rock rhythms and gentle vocals that definitely captures, inspires, and reminds us old hipsters of high school. It has a quiet quality to it. A nice little dose of head bopping rhythms and subtle guitar. Everything that makes up your solid indie rock song. The following song “Oceanside” has that new school version of what 90’s indie rock left us. It is an up-tempo tune that will be great for road trips to nowhere.

“This City” starts out as a pretty standard sounding song with a cool riff. I don’t particularly find anything too overly stimulating about it though. “Battles” has that nice driving drum beat that faster paced indie rock is based on. The vocals are bright and also melancholy in parts. It delivers a warmth and fills a vacancy, especially as legends such as Sunny Day Real Estate or Sonic Youth are no longer active. “Crossing Borderlines” really makes me think of old twothirtyeight for some reason. In my opinion this is a big compliment, depending on your taste. Being an album of only seven tracks, it is nice to have simple yet engaging tracks to become lost in.

Track six of Desert Dreams, "Tuesday Afternoon Processions" has that ethereal – space between the notes – type of atmosphere. It is a full song complete with drowning sounds of ambiguity. The kind of song that would help you truly chill out amongst the chaos of the city. “Desert Dreams, Pt. II” ends this short set of songs with the ultimate dreamscape soundtrack. Moody, light, blissful and dark sounds that could easily have been the intro to 2001: A Space Odyssey, or other long crazy spacey sci-fi films.

This effort from Autopilot is definitely the perfect musical backdrop to the desert that is the prairies of Saskatchewan. Desert Dreams is a simple and organic release, just whet enough to tempt new listeners, and good enough to keep the world listening. Personally, I am not huge on the indie alternative scene at large, but this is a band that has something special. I would say that being from one of Canada’s most uniquely cultured cities definitely has a lot to do with it. My memories of enjoying a pint at Winston’s Pub, and then walking down to the Odeon for the show with wife and friends in tow… It is nice to see quality and heartfelt music continue to come out of my old stomping ground! Keep it coming Autopilot. - Jeremy Erickson, Bearded Gentlemen Music

Saskatoon’s Autopilot follow up their debut full-length, Diamond Rough, with this concise seven-song… EP? Mini-album? Album? Call it what you will, but I call it a good length, as the band’s dreamy alt-rock doesn’t have a chance to get stale before that refreshingly brief runtime is up. Not that I’m worried about that: a song like the excellent “Oceanside” gets it all right: toe-tapping rhythms that aren’t cloying or too predictable but maintain just enough mainstream pop sensibility to appeal to the casual avocado-squeezing listener at the grocery store, should it ever come to that. But when they scrap their mainstream appeal, as on the darker and more meandering “Battles,” the band’s real strengths shine through: a slight nod to shoegaze, a clear love of ’80’s rock and new wave, and just a whole lot of sincere feeling. - Greg Pratt, Nexus

By Decostar
WQAQ 98.1 FM - November 6, 2013

Autopilot, the alternative rock band out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan released their sophomore album Diamond Rough early this September.

The 90s style band says with this album that they were unafraid to experiment with sound, and this album proves that.

For the first six tracks of the ten track album, the songs are fairly upbeat and are packed with emotion. The lead singer sounds like a cross of Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath) and Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) and overall, his voice matches with each track fairly well.

“A Song from a Hospital Hallway Part I” changes all that. A viewer can be immersed into the mind of a troubled soul. For the next three tracks, the vocals come out stronger than in any other songs on the album. For the majority of the songs, the lyrics were well written. However, one of my criticisms is that the words were hard to hear at times because the instrumentals drowned them out.

The closing track, “Every Single Time” was a great track to close this album. Lyrically, I think it’s the best song on here and very well produced. It features memorable lyrics and catchy riffs. I just wish that all ten tracks had a similar vibe.

Overall, Diamond Rough is an album worth listening to. It provides the listener with an emotional journey. - Decostar, WQAQ 98.1 FM Album Reviews (Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT)

By Erinn Fung
KAMP STUDENT RADIO - November 5, 2013

This three piece band from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada) have really established their sound. In their ten-track sophomore album, features a very grunge- rock-vibe with deep and meaningful lyrics. This band gives a modern and personal twist to rock music of the 90’s as their sound is heavy with drums and guitar all under the gruff, unpolished—yet passionate croons from the lead singer, Marlon Harder. Most of the tracks on this album sound similar, keeping with the grung-rock-ish 90’s vibe, and you can’t really go wrong with any of the songs. - Erinn Fung, KAMP Student Radio (University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ)

By Eva Cantillo
THE EQUAL GROUND - December 27, 2013

Autopilot is a three-piece band hailing from Saskatoon, Canada. Diamond Rough is the band’s second album and here they are showcasing their rock music that is infused with a bit of pop and indie. There is something to be said about emotion in all of the songs in this piece. This is not your ordinary rock music. It is an album for reflecting, and perhaps grieving in some manner. There is a serious amount of emotion and passion in the style of the vocalist, and that of the complementing instruments.

The first song on the album that shares the same name as the title, repeats the lyrics “when we were young” and represents an interesting recollection of the past, “in the aftermath, it wasn’t half as bad, we were just diamond rough.” The song has a slow burning appeal and an immense depth to it. The vocals have a distinguished sound that emulates both sadness and happiness; something that can be compared to an elder telling stories from decades past.

The second song, “Last Play” has a bit of an uplifting feel and has a story to tell about perhaps a lover, “just let the last play on the records on your shelf, you’re just the icing on the cake I never bought.” There is innate longing and a feeling of helplessness within the illustrations of the song. The next song, “Life and Death by Radio” is an anthemic song with a message to the media, “everybody knows, that you’re always taking it too far… gotta be strong.”

Diamond Rough is a collection of über emotional indie rock. There seems to be no way to escape the emotional aspect of the style behind this band. Positivity is injected from time to time with the guitars and percussion, but the overall style and sound of the vocalist creates the aura of strife and stark reality. This can be very appealing in the right setting and perhaps to the right audience of listeners. I would categorize this music as punk pop rock, because each song has something to rebel against, whether it is a feeling or an organization. There is good recording quality on this album, and all of the members of the band achieve cohesive sound, making this a great listen for the person looking for rebellious gratification. - Eva Cantillo, The Equal Ground

By Chris Morin
PLANET S - December 12, 2013

With a career spanning well over a decade Saskatoon’s Autopilot has certainly paid their dues, with numerous national tours and recordings — like their first full-length, 2007’s Now It's Time You Know What You're Losing For — under their belts.

“This is the only project that I’ve ever played with,” says Autopilot frontman Marlon Harder. “We’ve been using the name since 2000, members have changed and we’ve put out some recordings that are out of print now. But after the release of our first real EP, The All Divided, we really started to play a lot more and tour in 2003.

“We’ve always done more outside of Saskatoon. In fact, some years we’ve actually played in Toronto more than we did locally,” laughs Harder.

Years of live chemistry have come together on their latest full-length album, Diamond Rough. In the space where power pop meets shoegaze-style guitar layers, Autopilot has crafted an album that’s both brilliantly hook-laden and atmospherically dark. Dreamlike vocals dance lightly overtop of pummeling rhythms, while layers of noise and delay trail off intermittently — sounds that Harder says will be easier to recreate live, now that the band has added a fourth member on guitar.

With Diamond Rough rising on Earshot charts in Canada and to the top of the charts in several U.S. cities, it seems all that relentless touring outside of Saskatoon has finally paid off for the group.

“A lot of our biggest successes have been happening in the past few months,” says Harder. “We’ve been charting all over the States — the reception there has been really unexpected. So I think that means we’re going to have to start touring there.

“We’ve been getting really good reactions on the road — we really can’t ask for anything more.” - Chris Morin, Planet S (Saskatoon, SK)

By Stephanie McKay
THE STARPHOENIX - December 12, 2013

Marlon Harder was ruthless with his own music during the creation of his band's new album Diamond Rough. The band wrote 40 songs that didn't make the cut on the 10-track record.

"I think I was obsessive. There's probably material in there that could have been used, but things kept on changing and I think it was worth the wait," Harder said.

You can't blame Harder for being a perfectionist. It's been six years since the Saskatoon group last released an album. The band took an extended break while the frontman dealt with a health issue, so it's especially exciting to be able to share new music.

"I've been anticipating this for the whole time," he said with a smile. "It feels good."

The album was released in September, which was quickly followed by eastern and western tours. The dates were a success, but with any cold-weather touring there were hazards. Before the band had even left the city, their van's heater broke. With a wind chill of -36 C it was a frigid drive to Lloydminster.

"We were all frostbitten by the time we got there," Harder said.

With the official CD release party this weekend, the live shows feels solid, said Harder.

Aside from a slot at Mo-SoFest and a one-off at Vangeli's, Autopilot hasn't played locally much lately.

Harder said the band is excited to get back in front of a local audience.

Diamond Rough was produced, recorded and mixed by S.J. Kardash. The band previously worked with Kardash on its 2005 EP, The All Divided.

"I really like what he's done," he said. "S.J.'s got really good ears."

The alternative band now plays mostly as a four-piece - with Harder, Jeremy Rigby, Colton Fehr and Jose Fuenzalida - and is better able to recreate the full sound of the album at live shows.

"(The sounds aren't) really missed as a three-piece but it sure adds when it's there," said Harder.

Harder said Diamond Rough - which was inspired by the road, loss and an extended hospital stay -has got a great response. It's doing well on college radio in Canada, but he was surprised and happy the album is also making an impression on U.S. college radio. Harder, with the help of his fiancé, takes care of the management side of the band in addition to playing but it's very time-consuming. The group hired a company to help get the word out in the U.S. The same company is also working on possible licensing deals with MTV for Autopilot songs.

The band may have been gone for a while, but it is already back 100 per cent. Autopilot will tour the album extensively in 2014 and has hopes to release another new album in 2015.

Autopilot plays Amigos on Friday - Stephanie McKay, The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon, SK)

By Juliette Jagger
ALAN CROSS - September 3, 2013

There is a sort of drowned sense of longing about “Last Play” that feels like life on the road across rural Canada, coupled with a vocal sourness that recalls Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell. - Juliette Jagger, Alan Cross (Toronto, ON)

By Chris Morin
OMINOCITY - July 5, 2013

One of the surprise bands I caught at MoSoFest back in June was Autopilot. Having been together for almost 10 years – aside from when they took a hiatus – the Saskatoon three-piece are back playing shows and are in the midst of recording a new album.

Live, the group take cues from the ’90s and supercharge them, all pinned down with a tight rhythm section. And on their newest single “Last Play”, Autopilot show a refined sense of melody without losing an ounce of rawness.

Recalling various power-pop trio influences, Autopilot have developed their own unique sound within Saskatoon that defies being pinned down to one genre.

Ominocity caught up with Autopilot front man Marlon Harder for a quick chat on the group’s “comeback” and the impending release of their latest album.

Ominocity: What influenced your latest round of songwriting?

Marlon: Some of the lyrics were inspired by a short but dark period. At the beginning of the songwriting process the music was more stripped down with less guitar effect and we built on it from there. Matt Mayes comes to mind as a direct influence for the music.

OM: So what can people expect from the new album?

MH: I think that it will be a progression from the last record with some of the same elements. The focus this time was really on the songwriting. Although we are still in the process of making the record, it’s going extremely well.

OM: Any big plans for touring or album releasing?

MH: We will be touring a lot starting with a Canadian tour this October and hope the Astro Hotel will make it across the continent a few times. We are looking at a fall release but don’t have a definite date yet. - Chris Morin, Ominocity (Saskatoon, SK)

By Phil Dukarsky
THE REVUE - September 19, 2013

There’s something to be said about music that sets a certain mood. Your mind drifts away and your thoughts and logic are replaced by a rush of emotion – sometimes positive, sometimes negative, sometimes neither. It may last for only a fleeting moment but when a mood is created, it leaves an indelible mark.

Diamond Rough, the new record from Saskatoon-based Autopilot, sets a mood. It takes a while to kick in but when “A Song From A Hospital Hallway Part 1″ starts, you forget whatever currently engulfs your mind and drift away into lost love. You drift away into forgotten dreams. You drift away into the future promise that may go unfulfilled.

It may not be the most feel-good mood that an album could set but it sure is a great song and sparks a three song run (also including “Dark Skies” and “A Song From A Hospital Hallway Part 2″) that features a nearly flawless mix of tight and catchy music, great lyrics and strong vocals. The section alone will sell anybody on the abilities of Autopilot.

The rest of Diamond Rough isn’t quite as strong (although the title track and “Bad Poetry” are very good songs). The vocals get drowned out at times which takes away from the strength of the uniformly excellent lyrics and, as mentioned, the second half of the album is significantly better than the first. Nonetheless, this is definitely a case of the whole overwhelming the sum of its parts.

Once the last song ends and the record stops, you’ve forgotten about what you didn’t like or what could’ve been better. All that you remember and all that lingers in your mind is that mood.

And, in some ways, that is the greatest compliment of all. - Phil Dukarsky, The Revue (Ottawa, ON)

By Jessica Romera
THE CONCORDIAN - October 8, 2013

Autopilot, a three-piece collective from Saskatoon, Sask., released their latest album Diamond Rough in late September. After a brief hiatus, the band reconvened to churn out a well-crafted alt-rock sound with slight pop melodies sprinkled throughout. Tracks like “Last Night” highlights the band’s ability to pair a catchy chorus with strong guitar riffs, while “Down and Out” shows an angstier side to their sound fueled by steady drum beats.

With vocals subtlely strained from emotional delivery, Autopilot sound like they would have fit in perfectly in a ‘90s grunge festival lineup. Diamond Rough showcases a sound that is familiar and comforting but with a twist that is all their own to create a well-rounded alternative rock sound. - Jessica Romera, The Concordian (Montreal, QC)

By Jonathan Webster
THE ONTARION - September 12, 2013

Diamond Rough is the sophomore album of indie-rock trio Autopilot, hailing from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The band recently returned from a hiatus following the release of their debut album, Now It’s Time You Know What You’re Losing For, in 2007.

The album kicks off with “Diamond Rough,” a rollicking anthem dedicated to memories of wild youth and life on the road. “Last Play” and “Life and Death by Radio” continues the theme of road-trip reminiscence, both evoking a sense of regret. “Down and Out” and “Last Night” brings us to the immediate past, detailing a strife-ridden night of quarrel.

The second half of the album is centered on an extensive stay in the hospital, introduced by the song “Bad Poetry,” followed by the two-part “A Song from a Hospital Hallway.” Sandwiched between the two parts is “Dark
Skies,” a somber song about addiction.

The album finishes off with “Every Single Time,” a spirited finale that serves as a testament to change. Diamond Rough is a gem for anyone dedicated to the Canadian indie-rock scene. - Jonathan Webster, The Ontarion (Guelph, ON)

By Katlynn Balderstone
THE SHEAF - December 2, 2013

With a focus on experimental sound in their music, local indie band Autopilot has a strong showing on their second album Diamond Rough.

Displaying a mix of 90s alternative rock, pop music and a willingness to vary their sound, this album has a great appeal to more than prairie residents.

The band features Marlon Harder on guitar and vocals, Jose A. Fuenzalida on drums, Colton Fehr on bass and Jeremy Rigby on guitar. The songs have a strong feeling of 90’s alternative bands such as Sonic Youth, with a melancholy undertone and lyrics looking at loss, illness, and traveling on the road — all complimented by a cohesive sound that’s easy to listen to.

The album opener “Diamond Rough” gives the impression of a weathered band as the singer howls, “When we were young/Not a thought about what we were running from.”

The band may not bring something wildly different, but their sheer musical chemistry and tight composition make the first song leave you wanting more.

Harder’s vocals are akin to the rough stylings of Modest Mouse blended with the psychedelic nature of Led Zeppelin into a voice that is immediately entrancing and will have you hooked on his every word.

“Down and Out” is a perfect sample of Autopilot using all the tools at their disposal and coming together perfectly. It features an infectious hook and instrumentation where each member is feeding off of each others energy.

The two-part song, “A Song From A Hospital Hallway” delivers the bands clearest expression of innovation in the form of musical storytelling. There is loneliness attributed to the lyrics and the instrumentation seems to echo into an empty world. Those tracks represent the peak for the album already full of many great moments.

While most descriptors of the album talk up the band’s different use of sound — such as adding texture by using a bow on the guitar — it is done very subtly. A handful of moments do stand out, but otherwise it isn’t overly done.

The band manages to work these ideas throughout the album without being distracting, but at the same time one would expect such features to be more noticeable in the songs. The subtlety won’t take away from the experience and the small changes manage to push this band to the front of the pack.

From an experimental standpoint there isn’t much about this album that stands out. What pushes it to the top is the tightness of the production and confidence the band has in their music. Diamon Rough is an album from a band confident in their ability, with enough differentiations to create their own sound out of older musical influences.

The lyrics talk about times gone by and missed opportunities, the search for oneself and the desire to escape and struggle through bad situations. Not the happiest topics, but they are determined and strong and meaningful.

Diamond Rough is a good album, not outstanding, but it has solid music and lyrics and the band handles their songs with clear skill. Autopilot has presented a strong showing here, and as it has just been released this is a perfect time to get to know the artists.

Autopilot’s official CD release is Dec. 13, and will be celebrated at Amigos Cantina. Diamond Rough is also available online through iTunes, Bandcamp and CDbaby. Find the band online at autopilottheband.com. - Katlynn Balderstone, The Sheaf (Saskatoon, SK)

By Rex
REX MANNING DAY MUSIC BLOG - October 4, 2013

Because we’re suckers for any long-haired musician who looks like Jesus and/or any band that shares the same name as one of the most epic Queens of the Stone Age songs known to mankind, so us becoming a fan of this Saskatoon-based band was pretty much a given. This track is off their new album Diamond Rough which you can purchase for $9 here. - Rex Manning Day Music Blog

By Craig Silliphant
PLANET S BLOG - November 26, 2013

I got a chance to hear the new Autopilot album, called ‘Diamond Rough,’ and it’s right in the pocket for anyone who loves that sort of alt.rock/power pop sound. They manage to craft some solid, guitar driven songs that have mass appeal, but without falling into the trap of clichéd writing and shitty, overly glossy production.

It has a bit of a Foo Fighters or Jane’s Addiction vibe, and in fact, frontman Marlon Harder’s vocals sound like Perry Farrell. Though, what sets them apart is a sadness that runs through the album. It’s like a lonely, regretful voice in the dark, grasping at those frustrating questions in life, both the huge existential ones, and the day-to-day mundane we’re all forced to deal with. It brings a lot more depth to the genre than it usually has. “You’re every thought I had, but couldn’t finish off/just like the last play on the records on your shelf…”

Autopilot are on tour right now, and coming back for the hometown show on Friday, December 13th at Amigos. You can grab the album online before that though, at Bandcamp. http://autopilot3.bandcamp.com/ - Craig Silliphant, Planet S Blog (Saskatoon, SK)

By Rex
REX MANNING DAY MUSIC BLOG - October 4, 2013

Because we’re suckers for any long-haired musician who looks like Jesus and/or any band that shares the same name as one of the most epic Queens of the Stone Age songs known to mankind, so us becoming a fan of this Saskatoon-based band was pretty much a given. - Rex Manning Day Music Blog

By Jessica Romera
THE CONCORDIAN - October 8, 2013

Autopilot, a three-piece collective from Saskatoon, Sask., released their latest album Diamond Rough in late September. After a brief hiatus, the band reconvened to churn out a well-crafted alt-rock sound with slight pop melodies sprinkled throughout. Tracks like “Last Night” highlights the band’s ability to pair a catchy chorus with strong guitar riffs, while “Down and Out” shows an angstier side to their sound fueled by steady drum beats.

With vocals subtlely strained from emotional delivery, Autopilot sound like they would have fit in perfectly in a ‘90s grunge festival lineup. Diamond Rough showcases a sound that is familiar and comforting but with a twist that is all their own to create a well-rounded alternative rock sound. - The Concordian

By Phil Dukarsky
THE REVUE - September 19, 2013

There’s something to be said about music that sets a certain mood. Your mind drifts away and your thoughts and logic are replaced by a rush of emotion – sometimes positive, sometimes negative, sometimes neither. It may last for only a fleeting moment but when a mood is created, it leaves an indelible mark.

Diamond Rough, the new record from Saskatoon-based Autopilot, sets a mood. It takes a while to kick in but when “A Song From A Hospital Hallway Part 1? starts, you forget whatever currently engulfs your mind and drift away into lost love. You drift away into forgotten dreams. You drift away into the future promise that may go unfulfilled.

It may not be the most feel-good mood that an album could set but it sure is a great song and sparks a three song run (also including “Dark Skies” and “A Song From A Hospital Hallway Part 2?) that features a nearly flawless mix of tight and catchy music, great lyrics and strong vocals. The section alone will sell anybody on the abilities of Autopilot.

The rest of Diamond Rough isn’t quite as strong (although the title track and “Bad Poetry” are very good songs). The vocals get drowned out at times which takes away from the strength of the uniformly excellent lyrics and, as mentioned, the second half of the album is significantly better than the first. Nonetheless, this is definitely a case of the whole overwhelming the sum of its parts.

Once the last song ends and the record stops, you’ve forgotten about what you didn’t like or what could’ve been better. All that you remember and all that lingers in your mind is that mood.

And, in some ways, that is the greatest compliment of all. - The Revue

By Chris Morin
OMINOCITY - July 5, 2013

One of the surprise bands I caught at MoSoFest back in June was Autopilot. Having been together for almost 10 years – aside from when they took a hiatus – the Saskatoon three-piece are back playing shows and are in the midst of recording a new album.

Live, the group take cues from the ’90s and supercharge them, all pinned down with a tight rhythm section. And on their newest single “Last Play”, Autopilot show a refined sense of melody without losing an ounce of rawness.

Recalling various power-pop trio influences, Autopilot have developed their own unique sound within Saskatoon that defies being pinned down to one genre.

Ominocity caught up with Autopilot front man Marlon Harder for a quick chat on the group’s “comeback” and the impending release of their latest album.

Ominocity: What influenced your latest round of songwriting?

Marlon: Some of the lyrics were inspired by a short but dark period. At the beginning of the songwriting process the music was more stripped down with less guitar effect and we built on it from there. Matt Mayes comes to mind as a direct influence for the music.

OM: So what can people expect from the new album?

MH: I think that it will be a progression from the last record with some of the same elements. The focus this time was really on the songwriting. Although we are still in the process of making the record, it’s going extremely well.

OM: Any big plans for touring or album releasing?

MH: We will be touring a lot starting with a Canadian tour this October and hope the Astro Hotel will make it across the continent a few times. We are looking at a fall release but don’t have a definite date yet. - Ominocity

By Jonathan Webster
THE ONTARION - September 12, 2013

Diamond Rough is the sophomore album of indie-rock trio Autopilot, hailing from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The band recently returned from a hiatus following the release of their debut album, Now It’s Time You Know What We’re Losing For, in 2007.

The album kicks off with “Diamond Rough,” a rollicking anthem dedicated to memories of wild youth and life on the road. “Last Play” and “Life and Death by Radio” continues the theme of road-trip reminiscence, both evoking a sense of regret. “Down and Out” and “Last Night” brings us to the immediate past, detailing a strife-ridden night of quarrel.

The second half of the album is centered on an extensive stay in the hospital, introduced by the song “Bad Poetry,” followed by the two-part “A Song from a Hospital Hallway.” Sandwiched between the two parts is “Dark Skies,” a somber song about addiction. The album finishes off with “Every Single Time,” a spirited finale that serves as a testament to change.

Diamond Rough is a gem for anyone dedicated to the Canadian indie-rock scene. - The Ontarion

By Juliette Jagger
ALAN CROSS - September 3, 2013

There is a sort of drowned sense of longing about “Last Play” that feels like life on the road across rural Canada, coupled with a vocal sourness that recalls Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell. - Alan Cross

Autopilot by Craig the Music Geek

MUSIC · SEP 10 2007

Attitude Equals Altitude

LOCAL INDIE-ROCK ACTIVISTS FLYING HIGH WITH NEW ALBUM
by Craig Silliphant

The Band: Autopilot
The Musicians: Marlon Harder (guitar, vocals), Jose Antonio Fuenzalida (drums), Colton Fehr (Bass).
The Music: www.autopilottheband.com or www.myspace.com/autopilottheband

"Destroy. Rebuild. It's the way we live."

"Innovation destroyed what could have been."

Those aphorisms adorn the innards of the new Autopilot album, Now It's Time You Know What We're Losing For, along with politically charged artwork that includes a smoking reminder of the fallen World Trade Center. At first, I wondered what the pictures and the vague dictums were supposed to be saying. Then I realized that the beauty of Autopilot is that they don't presume to tell you exactly what to think, through arguments hammered home with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Instead, they're simply presenting ideas and concepts, and giving their fans credit for having enough intelligence to put the pieces together on their own.

Autopilot is a local three-member group of indie-rock experimentalists who've been around in one incarnation or another since 2002. They've released several albums, including the out-of-print When You Were in 2002, and the S.J. Kardash-produced The All Divided in 2005, bringing us up to the impending release of Now It's Time You Know What We're Losing For.

Now It's Time... marks a significant step forward for Autopilot. Perhaps most obviously, unlike their past efforts this album was recorded in Regina, but it was also done with help from two staples of the Queen City scene, Joel Passmore of Sylvie and Rob Morrison of National Frost, among others.

"Things were a lot different on this record," says frontman Marlon Harder. "Being in Regina we were able to focus on the recording without any distractions. We put in long days, sometimes recording until five in the morning with a bottle of Jack Daniels. We had guest musicians on this record, including members of [Regina bands] Rah Rah and National Frost. We also added some violin and cello into the background along with some other instruments, including an alarm clock. It was a lot of fun and we were really happy with the outcome."

The final result is admirable indeed. Now It's Time You Know What We're Losing For shifts back and forth, in seamless fashion, between bouncing along while spreading some catchy indie-rock hooks, and slowing down to embrace a druggier, dreamier sound. Harder's voice complements the music well, alternating between a low hum and a raspy higher pitch but always maintaining a sense of urgency — lending a serious air to his lyrics, which, like the album art, subtly reflect the band's activist nature without overdoing it.

"We don't limit ourselves to being a political band," explains Harder. "[However], it's really hard not to write about things that affect our lives that we can't control. I think people need to be more vocal with their opinions. If you oppose something you need to be loud about it. That's the only way people pay attention sometimes. With that said, our music has that aspect to it, [but] the lyrics can be taken several different ways. We just try to add some meaning to it."

The past few years have been good to Autopilot — and this year is looking even better, with the new album already debuting at number three on CIUT FM, the college radio station at the University of Toronto. The name Autopilot is getting out there, thanks to not only the music, but also the hard work of the band, which has long held a firm belief in the ethic of DIY.

"We've sold records all over the world through online distribution," says Harder. "We've been booking our own shows coast to coast for a few years now. The response from the crowds has been more and more every time. We've just had an awesome time meeting new people on the road that love the music — it's nice to find those connections."

While Now It's Time... was obviously created with a view to offering a specific auditory experience, make no mistake — Autopilot is well aware that a live show needs to offer something different, something more — as you can see for yourself at their album release party at Amigos on Saturday, October 6th.

"The live show is a lot different from the CD," says Harder. "The show is more rock 'n' roll — we put a lot of energy into it to keep people interested. We added some intros and outros to a few songs to keep it entertaining."

It's too bad the future of the Earth doesn't look as promising as Autopilot's prospects, as support for the band seems to be growing as exponentially as a grassroots political movement. Assuming that we still have a planet for them to play on, they're already talking about recording another album next year, and filling the time in between by touring North America — being careful, of course, to duck when driving the tour van through t - Planet S Magazine

When I catch up with Marlon Harder from Autopilot, he tells me the band is in Philly, having spent more than one session sucking down cheesesteaks.

“They’re really good,” he says. “We played last night and now we have a day off, so we’re going to go hang out with The Sheepdogs, because they’re playing tonight.”

The band is far from what their name implies. They’ve been ripping through the U.S., eyes on the prize, all thrusters go, brandishing their latest album, Desert Dreams. It’s a hybrid of loud guitar-rock, effect-pedal wizardry, and accessible hooks.

“We’re writing songs stripped-down,” Harder says, “then adding layers of effects, or even changing the chords, doing something to make it sound a bit different from typical power-chord rock.”

I thought it interesting that Autopilot has been going a different route from many of the bands that tour out of Saskatoon. On this tour, they started in Moose Jaw, but have dipped around to wander around places like Connecticut and New Jersey. Where many Saskatoon acts go west to Vancouver, or east to Toronto, Autopilot has put a lot of focus on the States.

“It’s the biggest music market, and it’s right next to where we live,” Harder says. “We want to do this for a living, so it’s one way we can break into the U.S. market. Well, I don’t know about ‘break in,’ but tap into it a little bit. There’s so many people here that you have shorter drives. Going the northern Ontario route to get to Toronto is just ridiculous. But if you hit all the cities in between, like Minneapolis and Chicago, there’s crazy population down there. And the people are really receptive to original music. They’ll buy a CD or a T-shirt or whatever.” - Craig Silliphant, Planet S

It's not every day that a Canadian indie rock band wakes up on tour to find out they've won $10,000, but that's exactly what happened to Saskatoon group Autopilot last Tuesday.

The alt-rock trio (guitarist/vocalist Marlon Harder, bassist Colton Fehr and drummer Jose Fuenzalida) received the news while on their latest cross-Canada tour to promote their EP "Desert Dreams."

As Harder explained on the phone before the band's gig that night in London, Ont., the group were the winners of a grant from Saskatoon radio company Rawlco Radio's Project 10K20 promotion — money that will help fund their next record.

"I woke up this morning to a whole bunch of text messages and phone calls (saying) we got 10K20, it's a rock station in Saskatoon that's given us 10 grand to do our next album, so it's pretty exciting," he said. "It's been a good day."

Released in April, "Desert Dreams" is the band's fourth album and their first since the 2013 full-length "Diamond Rough," both of which were recorded at Saskatoon's Full Color Music and Recording studio with producer S.J. Kardash. Harder said "Desert Dreams" took just 10 days for the hard-touring band to record.

"It was something else," said Harder of the tight timeline for recording. "I knew the outcome we wanted, and we had the songs and we just kind of did it. We put in some long days and at the end of it, we were happy with what came out."

Already charting on college radio stations across North America, the songs on "Desert Dreams" range from catchy toe-tapping rockers ("Oceanside") to spacey, atmospheric tunes ("Tuesday Afternoon Processions," instrumental album closer "Desert Dreams Part II") and world-weary road songs ("Crossing Borderlines").

The band's heavy touring schedule has seen them criss-cross North America numerous times; their current swing will take them into mid-November and will see them play the unlikely tandem of New York City and Muncie, Indiana, in the same week. When asked if the band had ever considered relocating from Saskatoon to a larger centre like Toronto or Vancouver, Harder didn't hesitate.

"Yeah, every day," he said with a laugh, "Pretty much. But I've got some strong roots there, I've got a wife there so that's something that keeps me staying in Saskatoon, obviously. But we're on the road also for probably about four months a year, so it can be a long time away and then every time you've kind of got to get used to coming back home."

The road is littered with the dreams of Canadian indie rock bands who've tried to break into the U.S., a fate Harder is familiar with though he said touring in the States does have its advantages.

"It's always hard. Nothing's ever easy when you're trying to play new markets and I guess a lot of time we've played a lot of new markets maybe instead of focusing on coming to Ontario four times a year or five times a year. We come maybe twice, maybe three times and do more U.S. stuff. The U.S. market's really tough, but it's been going over really well there, and it's just so big. Coming from Saskatchewan, you've got to drive so long to go to shows and when you're touring through the Midwest or the South, you've got a show every couple of hours, so it's a lot easier," he said.

Harder said the group took a health related hiatus after their 2007 release "Now It's Time You Know What We're Losing For," but with $10,000 on the way to help record their next album, there's no chance Autopilot will be hitting cruise control on their rock and roll dreams any time soon.

"I had some health things I had to take care of, but it's really when we came back with "Diamond Rough" that we just went hard on this. We've always known that this is what we want to do and, I don't know, there's not really anything else that interesting compared to being able to tour and play music every night and (we) just really enjoy what we're doing," he said. "We love everything about it." - Neil McDonald, The Record

Saskatoon, SK based indie alternative band, Autopilot has recently released a new record, “Desert Dreams” , which is a follow up to the band’s full length album, “Diamond Rough”. The band is currently on tour throughout Canada & US, you can see the dates below the interview!

First off, can you introduce yourself to the readers?

My name is Marlon. I sing and play guitar in Autopilot, an indie alt-rock band out of Saskatoon.

How did you meet and form?

Jose and I met through a mutual friend and Jose introduced Colton and I. We all connected really well early on. The music just came naturally to us as a group.

How did you choose the name, “Autopilot”?

I don’t really remember, it was so long ago. Autopilot is the name we’ve played under since before we could even get into the bars.

You released “Desert Dreams” in April, how has the response been?

It’s really been crazy. The response in Canada and in the USA has been great. It’s turning out to be our most successful release to date and has resulted in some pretty awesome shows for this fall North American tour.

How would you say your sound has changed since your full length album, “Diamond Rough”?

I think this is a good continuation from Diamond Rough. Songwriting is always something I strive to get better at with every album and we have already been writing for our next album. We expect the sound to change even more from the last two releases.

You are about to take off on tour, is there a stop you are most excited about?

We have some great festivals lined up like AYE Fest in Cincinnati, and Indie Week and TwiMFeST in Toronto. We are excited to be playing more Canadian dates as we have mostly been playing the States for Desert Dreams so far. Returning to the Midwest and Pianos in NYC will be a lot of fun as well. So I guess I’m pretty excited about the whole thing.

You will be playing Indie Week in Toronto, is this your first time?

Yeah it’s our first time at Indie Week. From my experience at festivals like CMW, there’s something about these types of festivals where you meet a lot of great people, bands and make new friends. I have a feeling this will be a similar experience. It’ll be nice to be in Toronto for a week and get out of the van for awhile.

What can someone who has yet to see you perform live expect from your show?

We like to have a high energy show and at points bring the music into a spacey place with building reverb and delay. We just love playing live and having the songs come to life on stage.

Do you tend to play strictly original songs during your shows, or do you throw in some covers? If so, what is your favourite cover to perform?

We don’t play covers ever. We have been asked to by venues a couple times, but we don’t. We always want people to come to our show because they want to hear Autopilot songs, not hear how good we can play a Black Keys song.

Up until now in your music career, what has been the highlight?

We have had a lot of highlights this year so it’s hard to pick one. We are so lucky to be able to do what we do and play so many different places. I think the biggest highlight of every tour is playing with so many great bands and meeting new people.

Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, who are you current favourite Canadian bands/ artists?

We listen to a lot of Canadian music but some favourites are The Mounties, Matt Mays, Rural Alberta Advantage and of course prairie favourites with great new records are Rah Rah and Library Voices. Oh yeah, and pretty much anything John K. Samson does.

Last but not least, is there anything you’d like to say to your fans?

We really appreciate the support and look forward to seeing people out at the show. We can also be tracked down easily online if anyone wants to talk about records or something to help us kill some time on these long drives. - Jenna Melanson, Canadian Beats

Just like their name, Autopilot, the Saskatoon band is on a set course, and it revolves around touring.

The indie-alternative rock band is kicking off their latest tour in Moose Jaw, Thursday, to promote their latest release, Desert Dreams.

"We love to tour and play live," said guitar player Marlon Harder. "Hearing the music translate from CD to live is quite a different experience. It's that interaction with the crowd and it feels good."

Autopilot have been around for longer than most high school kids have been alive. Harder and drummer Jose A. Fuenzalida met through a mutual friend over 15 years ago.

Their original bass player sold out and is now a lawyer making more money than Harder and Fuenzalida who are cooks. Their jobs allow them to be flexible and tour when a new record comes out.

"Our original bass player doesn't play with us too often," said Harder. "So we've been pretty much rotating between two to three bass players. It's kind of been like Spinal Tap with the bass players."

Despite having to always change up a band member, Autopilot have found success touring and making music.

Desert Dreams debuted ion the National Top 50 Earshot charts and was added to SiriusXM's Iceberg Radio.

The EP, which was produced by S.J. Kardash at Full Colour Studios in Saskatoon, has also charted on College Media Journal reporting stations across North America and has been featured on prominent music blogs.

The band's six week North American tour begins, Thursday at Chillers at 9 p.m. For more information check out Autopilot online at www.autopilottheband.com. - Mickey Djuric, Moose Jaw Times Herald

Some of us go to the laundromat to, oh, I don’t know, get our clothes clean. For the Saskatoon band Autopilot, such a trip has led to a wild journey that’s taken them across Canada and the U.S. several times.
I’ll let vocalist/guitarist Marlon Harder explain.
“Our first show was at the Wash and Slosh, a laundromat bar in Saskatoon which doesn’t exist anymore,” recalls Harder. “We packed the place with friends and had some fun. It was a good time but we have learned a lot since then.”
What they’ve learned will be put on display when they return to the Dev on Saturday to promote their latest recording, “Desert Dreams.”
The whirlwind tour includes a grueling stretch of 23 shows across a 25-day span, but you won’t hear this band complaining.
“We love creating and playing live. Touring is a main focus for us and we try to cover as much ground as possible,” said Harder. “We got to play the Dev last year. We met some of the nicest people and also tried an interesting shot called the pickle back. We’re looking forward to coming back.”
And, yes, the pickle back is an interesting shot.
“Desert Dreams” shows the wide range of styles that have influenced the band, which also includes Jose Fuenzalida and Brandon Tenold on drums and bass, respectively.
It’s always dangerous to compare bands to another act, since you never know whether it’s a band they hate, but sometimes it’s the only way to get the point across.
The band lists as its influences Modest Mouse, Broken Social Scene and Sonic Youth, but what I’m getting is elements of several other bands as well, from the catchy ’90s pop of Gin Blossoms to the underlying dark soundscape of The Cure.
What sets this band apart from similar acts is the quality of the song writing.
Engaging pop hooks, solid rhythmic foundations and memorable vocal lines built around substantial lyrics all add up to an instantly accessible combination
This is pop rock with none of the superficiality such a label might carry, it’s solid Indie rock without any of the pretentious self-indulgence, and it’s gothic rock without the heavy monotony.
“People always ask ‘what style of music do you play,’ looking to label it. It’s a tough question,” says Harder.
“We’d describe our music as catchy rock songs with dark undertones and a good amount of reverb and delay.”
As to be expected with a touring schedule like theirs, the Saturday show at the Dev will be the only chance to catch them locally, at least in the near future.
For more information, or for links to purchase Autopilot recordings, visit the band’s website at autopilottheband.com. - Mark Sisti, Utica OD

Marlon Harder (vocals/guitar), Jose A. Fuenzalida (drums), Colton Fehr (bass) and S.J. Kardash (guitar) are the four members of Autopilot. The band isn’t exactly newcomers to the scene but hide in relative obscurity to like-minded bands like Broken Social Scene, Wolf Parade and Modest Mouse. There is no equation as to why a band's popularity can take off but in my humble opinion Autopilot is a name that should be ubiquitous among the underground/indie scene. The production, recording quality and song writing is certainly at least competitive with the aforementioned bands.

For instance the opener “Desert Dreams” has inarguable similarities to the song “Cause = Time” by Broken Social Scene. All I’m saying is that if you found “Cause = Time” to be a good song you won’t have to stretch too far to enjoy this song.
​
Desert Dreams is a consistent EP with just enough variation. The song “Oceanside” emits an upbeat almost dance worthy vibe while “Battles” is covered in melancholy, nostalgia and a bit of hope. There is a bit of a Wilco vibe on “Battles.” “Crossing Borderlines” benefits from reverb- laced distortion and a classic Americana feel.

I think it’s fair to say that the highlight or highlights will be different depending upon whom you ask. Some EP’s and albums have clear-cut winners but with this EP the difference is marginal. That being said “Tuesday Afternoon Processions” is a song that stuck out to me. It’s an emotionally resonant song with an exceptional vocal performance and I thought the heavy use of reverb worked well on the song.

​The band doesn’t have many kinks in their armor. Desert Dreams is an EP you can let play from the first song to the last and most likely won’t be thinking about skipping tracks. Overall, I think their music has a wide, ubiquitous appeal that won’t take a lot of effort to enjoy. Hence, I encourage you check to out their music - Jamie Funk, No More Division

Straight outa da Prairies comes Autopilot, an indie alternative rock band from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with more than a little wheatfield soul in its DNA Their latest release, Desert Dreams, encompasses a wide range of musical influence while incorporating layers of guitar effects and dynamic drum beats. It highlights the band's progressive style which includes captivating pop hooks, memorable vocal lines, and out of the ordinary touches like a bow used on the guitar.

Desert Dreams was produced, recorded and mixed by S.J. Kardash at Full Color Studios in Saskatoon and mastered by Dave Greenberg at Sonopod Mastering in St. Petersburg, FL.

Autopilot are Marlon Harder - Vocals/Guitar, Jose Antonio Fuenzalida - Drums, Colton Fehr - Bass, Jeremy Rigby - Guitar/Backing vocals

Desert Dreams is a follow up to the band’s full length album, Diamond Rough, which received a great response across North America, charting on Earshot charts (Canada) and CMJ stations (USA) as well as being featured on commercial rock radio and CBC Radio. The album also received a great deal of coverage from print and online media.

Touring has taken the band across the United States and coast to coast in Canada playing a variety of venues from small clubs to major festivals including MoSoFest, Junofest and Canadian Music Week. Autopilot has shared the stage with notable artists including Hollerado, You Say Party!, Sylvie, David Usher, Highkicks, The Albertans and The Tontons.

Just around the corner from where power pop and progressive rock meet up, Autopilot is crafting a sound that's hook-laden, slickly arranged, ethereal, sparkling and doom laden. Highlight tracks include This City, Oceanside and Battles - Lenny Stoute, Cashbox Canada

‘Desert Dreams’ comes as the latest offering from the indie, alternative rock band, Autopilot, which based out of askatchewan.‘Distant Dreams’ is produced by produced, recorded and mixed by S.J. Kardash at Full Color Studios in Saskatoon and mastered by Dave Greenberg at Sonopod Mastering in St. Petersburg, FL. And within the very first week of its release, the album debuted in the National Top 50 Earshot charts and was added to SiriusXM’s Iceberg Radio. The album contains seven tracks, two of which are title tracks, which have stark differences despite having the same track.
The band came up with their first album in 2007, which was titled ‘Now It’s Time You Know What You’re Losing For,’ produced by Joel Passmore of Rah Rah. The band has so far received a largely good response from its audience and has continued to release full-length albums and EPs since then.
Desert Dreams
The track has a divine charm to it, brought out by the brilliant vocals and the textures of the music presented as a form of a pattern. The track is made more brilliant by the amazing bass in the background.
Oceanside
This track definitely does justice to the title as it reminds you of the pleasant ocean side, taking you along with the beauty of the lyrics, to a distant place. The lyrics are the soul of the song and manages to make it truly lively.
This City
This track has the vibrant quality of a new and buzzing city, which unfortunately are not quite reflected in the lyrics. The best part of the track remains the instrumental part, which has been carefully put out by the band.
Battles
The band seems to be good at picking out good titles and matching the musical and the lyrical content of the song, with the title. It is amazing how the track brings out the vivaciousness that the title is trying to convey.
Crossing Borderlines
This song doesn’t really strike chord with you as much as the others did. Despite a fairly well composition, the song doesn’t have the appeal to grab your attention quite as much.
Tuesday Afternoon Processions
In this track, you can observe the true power of the vocals of the lead singer. His voice certainly has that charm and the convincing power to tell you what the lyrics truly mean.
Desert Dreams Pt. II
The song is a completely different genre compared to the others, and doesn’t really reflect the freshness that the band portrays. This song may not match to everyone’s liking.
Album Rating: 7/10 - Cyrus Rhodes, BandBlurb

I grew up in the era of album covers. It was a tangible physical product and I took great joy in organizing and displaying my trophies. The album cover sometimes was better than the album itself and believe it or not, a good album cover could actually boost sales. Now, in the digital age, not as much care goes into the digital packaging of a release. I did not realize how much I missed album covers until I heard and saw the newest release from a Canada based indie band called Autopilot. The music itself is pretty good but the album cover is fantastic. It’s simple direct and, I believe, reflects the spirit of the band’s journey over the past few years. The album is called “Desert Dreams” and the album cover depicts a tour bus on a lonely road under a sunny desert morning sky heading straight for us. It says a lot without saying much.

Autopilot is what is known as a power trio from the hinterlands of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada. Saskatchewan is a prairie province in central Canada slightly smaller than Alaska with a total population roughly the same as San Jose California. I mention this because in order to find success in music from Saskatchewan, three words come to mind. Tour, baby, tour. Autopilot released its first EP in 2005 and followed that with a full release in 2007 and their follow up didn’t hit retailers until 2013. They are back now with “Desert Dreams” and they plan to tour extensively to support the record. The band is made up of Marlon Harder, Colton Fehr and Jose A. Fuenzalida. The band has found some success outside their home turf over the years with their last release charting in both Canada and on US college charts. “Desert Dreams” debuted in Canada in the top 50 which shows a lot of promise.

The music on “Desert Dreams” is straight ahead indie alternative rock with some nice touches along the way. Marlon Harder’s vocals are distinctive and solid but maybe a touch too compressed for my taste. The guitar work compliments the vocals remarkably well and there are some experimental riffs and sounds which gives the record another interesting dimension. I hear a number of influences listening to this record, most notably a scent of some of the great art rockers in music like Genesis, or Squeeze but with a purely North American flavor. It’s a solid release from a band of Canadian journeymen musicians and we wish them much success with the record. And, oh, did I mention that the album cover art is very cool. - Rob Penland, Rock n' Roll Vie

Hailing from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, indie rock band Autopilot released their third studio album Desert Dreams back in April. After spending this past fall touring and capturing some of the memories, the four-piece have combined the footage together to make their latest music video. From the 7-track collection, lead single “Oceanside” now has a visual accompaniment.

Drifting between alternative rock and dream-pop, “Oceanside” features lightly flowing guitar effects, dynamic percussion, and a feathery bass line. The psychedelic road trip dash cam footage and candid touring moments become a reminiscent companion to the song. - Kane Wilkinson, Dusty Organ

We’re happy to premiere the brand new video for “Oceanside” from Saskatoon alt-rockers Autopilot. The video lets you live vicariously through the eyes of someone spending their life on the road – which is something we’ve all dreamed of at least once or twice. Autopilot brings a refreshing twist to the feel-good music we all crave, filled with dreamy vocals and catchy hooks.

When discussing the concept of the video, vocalist Marlon Harder shares, “The video for “Oceanside” is a glimpse into life on the road. We’ve spent much of the past few years touring. This is some of the footage from northern Ontario to Texas to Florida and everywhere in between. “Oceanside” was inspired by a few particular days we spent in Atlantic City as well as California and long tours of excess and the blur that can be life.“ - Lucy Out Loud

There’s a certain wistful romanticism associated with the most revered of all rock identities; the road warrior. Mix that ethos with a dream toned sound and you have “Oceanside,” the recently released single from Saskatoon-based indie-rockers Autopilot.

The track, off of the band’s new LP, Desert Dreams, is like an aural invitation for a cigarette outside after one of Autopilot’s various gigs for a bleary eyed recounting of the days’ travels. Speak Into My Good Eye has the exclusive premiere of the video for “Oceanside” below.

“Oceanside” takes you on tour with Autopilot as the colors of night time freeways, stage lights and beyond swirl along with the hazy tune. The video serves as a kaleidoscopic mutual memory for the band, one that anybody with a pulse and sense of adventure would have loved to have been a part of. - Mike Mehalick, Speak Into My Good Eye

Saskatoon SK based alternative indie rock band, Autopilot consists of Marlon Harder (guitars / vocals), Colton Fehr (bass) and Jose A. Fuenzalida (drums). They have toured across the United States and from coast to coast in Canada, taking their music to all different music festivals and venues. Autopilot have played some of Canada’s biggest music events such as the Junos FanFest and Canadian Music Week. Their music style is said to take the listener on a road trip with an easy listen and clever guitar riffs. Autopilot released their very first EP in 2005 entitled The All Divided, closely followed by their release of their first full length album released in 2007 entitled Now It’s Time You Know What We’re Losing For. Autopilot has grown their career with second full length album, touring and now their most recent album release entitled Desert Dreams, which features seven tracks including the bands newest single “Oceanside”.

The song that first caught my attention was “Desert Dreams,” It’s the first song on the album and it fully captured my interest leaving me looking forward to the rest of the album. I loved the song for its unique sound, the catchy lyrics and the story that it conveyed. The other song that caught my attention was “Oceanside,” which is the second song on the album. It’s a faster-paced song and it displays the sheer talent and passion that the band possesses. I enjoyed listening to the story that the song told and enjoyed how the song was put together with lyrics and melodies that flow together nicely. Overall I enjoyed listening to the whole album and liked Autopilot’s style of music.

If you are looking for something new to listen to, Autopilot is definitely that band I would recommend. - Lizzie Sharpe, Canadian Beats

Continuing the fine tradition of rock and roll emanating from the Canadian Prairies, Saskatoon, SK’s Autopilot might just be one of the hardest working bands in the country. The group spent upwards of eight weeks touring the U.S. in support of “Hurricane” and “Crooked Lines,” the first two singles released from their forthcoming full-length effort. When they aren’t on tour in Canada or the United States, they are diligently and consistently recording and releasing new music. Their 2015 album, Desert Dreams, landed in the Top 50 of Canada’s campus radio charts, while also securing airplay across North America on terrestrial and satellite radio. - Canadian Musician Magazine

CC: Who is Autopilot?

Marlon Harder – guitar, vocals

Jose Fuenzalida – drums

Brandon Tenold – bass

CC: How has your latest tour been?

The tour’s been really good. We’ve played with so many great bands and met a bunch of new friends. The best part of being on the road is meeting new people and getting to play every night. We have had the chance to play most of the major cities in the states and see a lot of the country. The shows have been a lot of fun. It’s a longer tour of two months so we can’t wait to go home and finish our new record too. We are just on the last week of shows now.

CC: Can you talk about a typical day for you guys on tour?

Most days we hit the road pretty much immediately after waking up. A lot of the time we spend the day driving and/or stuck in traffic getting to the next show. It’s awesome when we are able get to town early and check out the city. Next, we head over to the venue, load in, soundcheck, and get ready to play. We always make sure we are around to check out the other bands. After the show we might go to an after party or else back to the hotel if we have an especially long drive the next day. During all of this, we also spend a lot of time managing our next few weeks of shows, doing interviews, and trying to keep up with social media. It’s a lot of fun but also a lot of work. Not very glamorous, but I think this is the life of most touring independent bands.

CC: Can you talk about your making of the video for “Hurricane”?

The video was directed by Jared Peace who has the ability to take the best shot of something simple and put it into a different perspective. We filmed it over a few days and had the cops show up once due to noise complaints since we were going all night a lot of the time. They were really good about it but I think I may have pissed off a few people in the neighborhood. The idea for the video came from Jared and he did a great job of portraying the feel of the song using darkness contrasting with shots of light and old 8mm footage projected to capture the feel and meaning of the song.

CC: What has been your most memorable moment of 2016?

I don’t really have one specific moment that comes to mind, but 2016 has definitely been one of the best years for the band. Things seem to always be getting better and we are really enjoying doing this. We’ve been on the road for around four months this year and when we are at home we are in the studio working on our next record.

CC: Why should people care about Autopilot?

If you like the music and it makes a connection with you, that’s great – it’s what we’re striving for. We have a lot of people liking what we are doing but the challenge is always getting people to hear it in the first place. That’s what all this touring is really about.

All questions answered by guitarist Marlon Harder. - Corey K, Concert Crap

This week’s single review is from indie-rock alternative band Autopilot. Based out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (that’s in Canada, which I did not know), their latest single, “Hurricane”, is off of their upcoming full length album to be released in 2017. What caught my attention immediately is their songwriting description which reads:
“Autopilot’s creative songwriting skills and include spacey tones and unique touches such as a bow used on the guitar, as well as dynamic drum beats and solid bass lines to keep the listener captivated.”
I HAD to take a listen! I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The production and song style reminded me heavily of some classic sounds from Third Eye Blind’s first album.
The song starts off with typical rock style grooves, and then quickly transitions into an indie rock beat that’s familiar. The vocals of the lead singer pull you in, and his tone is a melodic blend of Stephen Jenkins (Third Eye Blind) meets Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam). The lyrics don’t hit me in any sort of way, but the string, guitar, drum, and vocal production as well as effects keep me entertained the entire song.
The bowed guitar really brings an interesting sound I have never heard before this, and it’s a really refreshing sound. I definitely had my skepticism but was pleasantly surprised! I also really like the airiness of the vocal mixdown; it works really nice with the rest of the sounds going on.
Overall, I would give this song a 4 out of 5. I wish I could’ve heard the lead singer without the vocal effect some. His vocal tone is really unique. I will most likely be checking out more music from Autopilot, and thanks to Muddy Paw PR for the music recommendation! - April Benson, Music 4 Breakfast

t’s not often we get to put together two artists from outside the US, but today’s artists are both Canadian, and both just unveiled incredible releases. Saskatoon natives, Autopilot (RIYL: War on Drugs, Broken Social Scene) just released two new singles “Hurricane” and “Crooked Lines” and are currently on a major US tour through late November. Meanwhile, Toronto singer-songwriter Frank Moyo (RIYL: John Mayer, Coldplay), just dropped his debut EP Waves. The two got together for a chat about the art of songwriting, the perils of food poisoning right before a gig, and more.
Frank Moyo: What was the first song you ever wrote, and what was it about?

Autopilot: The first song I wrote I think I was 12. I had an amp with a lot of reverb and an old analog 4 track recorder. I’m not sure what the topic was, but I know I still have the tape in a box somewhere. This was just the start of a lot of songs I’ve written in the past.

Frank Moyo: What was the latest song you wrote, and what was that about? Has your songwriting drastically changed since your first song?

Autopilot: The latest songs we have been working on have been a lot different than most of the early songs. From tones to the vocals and lyrics, I think writing is a process that you change and progress at.

Autopilot: What’s your writing process like? What influences you besides music, and how do you think that affects the outcome of your songs?

Frank Moyo: My writing process usually starts with a lick on the guitar or piano and then lyrics will follow. My lyrics are sometimes already written and I will try to incorporate them into the notes I am playing, but sometimes the music actually commands the lyrics that I write, therefor forcing me to write lyrics that make sense with the music being played. I find a lot of influence for my writing in books and movies that I watch. I read frequently and love to draw influences from my books. I love Italian cinema as well, and as of recently, I have used many films by Fellini, Antonini, De Sica, and other neorealist directors as influences on my writing.

Frank Moyo: What are the major reasons why you began to pursue music? What influenced you most to pursue it as a career?

Autopilot: A big influence was when I read a book called On A Cold Road. I was playing music already, but after reading this book, I knew that music full time was what I was going to do. Written by Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics, the book is full of stories about bands on the road and crazy tours. It’s definitely a great read and made me think of music as something I could do out in the world and not just in my basement.

Autopilot: What’s your biggest musical influence that’s not immediately obvious when listening to your music?

Frank Moyo: I would say Daft Punk and Phoenix. I love their music, but a majority of my music is down tempo with an acoustic jazz twist. Daft Punk have always been a great influence, just because of their song structure and how well it can play with my emotions. Phoenix has always been a band that I aspired to be like, but my music seems to be going in a direction a bit outside of the Phoenix alternative synth pop/rock genre.

Frank Moyo: Before a show, or before a practice, do you have any rituals or things you do to zone in and concentrate on your music?

Autopilot: When on tour, the best part of any down time we get before a show is checking out the city, as we’ve had the opportunity to play in a lot of interesting places. When it comes down to right before a show, we pretty much just dive right in. It’s pretty natural when we start to play,; we just forget about everything and get lost in the songs.

Autopilot: What’s the craziest experience you have had on the road or before a show?

Frank Moyo: The craziest experience I had before a show was when my band was performing at the Opera House. We were backstage and another band we were playing with had brought cheesecake for everyone to enjoy. Apparently, the cheesecake was expired and we ended up having to play the show with a mild case of food poisoning, which was not very fun.

Frank Moyo: Explain what would be considered a dream show for yourself. Where would it be? And what band would you dream to open for?

Autopilot: We would like to play with a lot of bands, but I think a dream tour would be with a band like War on Drugs, Modest Mouse, or Grouplove. Doing a few months on the road with one of our favorite bands would be awesome.

Autopilot: What is your favorite venue/show you have played?

Frank Moyo: Toronto is full of great venues, some big and some tiny. The biggest venue played was most likely the Opera House and Lula Lounge. Some of the more intimate shows at smaller venues were some of the most memorable. Places like the El Mocambo and The Painted Lady were the more emotional and fun to play.

Frank Moyo: Lastly, what does music as a whole mean to you? Are there any specific reasons why you chose to pursue it? Does music represent a different side of you?

Autopilot: To me, music is an outlet to express everything from what I think to how I feel. I live and breathe music, so I guess you could say that’s what it means to me. Without music, I’m not sure what I would do all day – I think I’d be lost. I don’t think that it represents a different side of me, it’s just who I am. - Angela Mastrogiacomo, Cliche

Saskatoon, SK based indie alternative rock band, Autopilot has just released a video for their single, “Hurricane”, which is pulled from their upcoming full-length album to be released in 2017. Autopilot is currently on an extensive tour in the US. - Jenna Melanson, Canadian Beats

Spill Magazine is proud to offer the exclusive premiere of Autopilot’s brand new video, “Hurricane.” The track premiered just a few weeks back, with Myspace calling it an “impassioned song” with “expansive ‘90s rock vibes mix[ed] with shoegazy guitars and synths,” and now with the video finally here, we’re proud to say it’s all come together in one perfectly paired mix of imagery and music.

It’s that aforementioned perfect pairing brought to life by director Jared Peace that makes the video as compelling as the song itself. A seamless blend of timeless images paired with vocalist Marlon Harder’s powerfully moving voice make for a video that is as hypnotizing as it is haunting.

“The video for Hurricane was directed by Jared Peace who brought us his idea to contrast the feel of the song with a lot of lights and old 8mm footage,” explains the band. “Jared’s visual concept really brought the meaning through with bursts of chaos and flashes from bright to darkness.”

Watch the video below and catch the band on their US tour (dates below) through late November. - Spill Magazine

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Marlon Harder- vocals guitar
Jose Fuenzalida- drums
Brandon Tenold- bass

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Autopilot? How long has the band been around?

I (Marlon) started Autopilot when I was really young (in the early 2000s). It's been the only project I've written music under.

Jose started playing with Autopilot around 2004. He has played with a number of bands both before and while being a part of Autopilot, such as Oral Fuentes, Absofunkinlutely, and Alma Flamenca, just to name a few.

Brandon has played bass with Reignwolf (AKA Jordan Cook) and Violent Kin.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

Honestly, we came up with the name Autopilot so long ago, I don’t really remember our reasoning behind it, but it stuck and we’ve been playing under that name all these years.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

I write the songs and have collaborated with our producer, SJ Kardash, on a few albums as far as the writing goes. The songs always change over time as I grow as a songwriter – I think every writer will change over time. The topics that Autopilot songs have been based on have varied. We have had songs that touched on social and political topics. I write about the road, as that has been a big part of life for us the last several years. Some songs just have more to them when you listen. What makes songwriters better is always trying to perfect their craft. I don't think you can ever really reach that point and that's what keeps a lot of musicians writing. We as a band always try to progress with every record. If you listen to our first record and to our upcoming, it's going to be a lot different. I always like listening to a band’s early albums to hear how they have changed.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

As a band we listen to a lot of different music. The music that I've been listening to quite a bit on this tour has been Band of Horses, The Shins, Bear Hands, Radiohead, Wintersleep, and Modest Mouse, to name a few.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

This first time I saw a show in a small bar setting was some band playing original songs. I was under age, the bar was packed, and I thought this is want I want to do – write songs and play them live. I don't even remember what band it was, just how they had the audience so interested in the music. This, in contrast to some awful arena shows I saw, stuck in my mind.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

When things go according to plan, we get into town, check into the hotel, and try to get to the venue early to have a beer and relax after the drive and before the set. If we’re lucky and get into town early, we like to walk around and check out the city.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

We have been lucky to play some really fun shows and some great tours. I think the biggest highlights have been the festivals where we have had a chance to play to crazy crowds of music lovers. The energy when you get a lot of people together is just amazing. Getting emails from people telling us what the music means to them is also a big highlight to being in this band.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

I think Modest Mouse would be one of my favourite bands to tour with. I've met Isaac Brock a few times and he's really a great guy. They have been a big influence on my song writing too.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you! You can follow us at:

Website I Facebook I Twitter I Instagram I YouTube I Bandcamp

https://soundcloud.com/autopilotmusic/crooked-lines

Come say hi while we’re on tour through November. More info at http://autopilottheband.com/ - Kill the Music

Marlon Harder and Jose Fuenzalida met in 2001, although their musical backgrounds go back to early childhood.

Harder's brother was a big influence as he wrote and recorded an album at just 16 years old. “It was always something interesting to me how you could just write like that. Probably around 12 years old I started getting fascinated with songwriting and from there just kept on playing and experimenting with guitar effects. It’s kind of like an addiction, music.”

Fuenzalida's family also influenced him as his father was in a folk band. His first memory involving music was during his father’s band practice when he was just four years old. Their drummer couldn’t figure out the beat so everyone took a break, while Fuenzalida took that opportunity to pick up the sticks and show them how it’s done. “My dad always told people, ‘He’s going to be a musician someday.’”

Fuenzalida was working at Pizza Hut when one of his coworkers told him that a friend was looking for a drummer. Say hello to the beginning of Saskatoon’s indie/alt band Autopilot.

Brandon Tenold was writing for a music magazine in Calgary when he interviewed Jordan Cook, who is currently working under the name Reignwolf. He actually ended up playing bass (which he didn’t learn until he was 18) for Cook and through him met S.J. Kardash, who has produced Autopilot’s records. “Basically I got lucky and knew a guy who knew a guy who knew them.”

Autopilot has such a refreshing outlook on creating music that is unlike many musicians you hear today. They aren’t looking for the easiest way to get to the top, they’re looking to hone in on their talents and share their passion with anyone that will listen. Harder watched an interview with Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics where he was quoted to say, “There’s people that have to do it and there’s people that want to do it,” and that really resonated with him.

“When you have to do it and it’s not a want, you have to have that drive. At that point I was probably 14 or 15 watching this and I thought to myself ‘I’ve been playing for hours and hours a day trying to write songs, I think I have this drive and I should do this.’ Ever since that day, something connected with me that you have to have the drive to do it or you won’t leave your hometown or really accomplish anything,” Harder said.

Fuenzalida told a story about meeting the drummer for The Smiths in Toronto and what a life changing experience that was for them. He has a lot of stories about meeting other musicians, well-known or not, and sharing that musical bond and mutual respect for each other. “Things like that really inspire me to keep going up there and seeing what else is there and who else you can meet.”

Autopilot has really mastered the art of staying relevant within the music industry. They’ve kept up a momentum of switching between releasing LPs and EPs and recognizing that attention spans are not what they used to be. “If you do an EP, it’s less songs and takes less time to make so instead of going a couple years in between a release you can do one a year pretty much. It helps keep you relevant,” Tenold says.

Their latest release, Hurricane/CrookedLines, are two tracks from their upcoming full-length album, which will be dropping in 2017. The band explained that they’re taking a different approach to this record, giving them a little more time to work on it and challenging themselves on creating distinct sounds that they haven’t tried before. “The dynamics of the songs are a little bit different but there’s going to be, still within the album, a bit of diverse sound,” Harder said. “It still sounds like Autopilot but more modern,” Fuenzalida added.

By sharing their music the way they want to share it, is by far the best game plan a band can use. - Black is the New AP Style

Autopilot knows the danger of deliberating on your own thoughts. That's the premise of "Hurricane," a new single from the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based alt rockers. Expansive '90s rock vibes mix with shoegazy guitars and synths on the impassioned song.

"Hurricane was written partly in the solitude of the Canadian winter. After coming home from a month on the road in the States, we finished it off with some new perspective," explains vocalist/guitarist Marlon Harder to Myspace.

"This song is about letting go in a tense pattern of thoughts and anxiety without completely losing yourself. In the day of judgment and less and less thought, it’s about the pressure and cracking before letting go only to realize you’re still in the same spot — like you’re stuck in a hurricane."

Take in the yearning new single for yourself below. - Chris Palermino, MySpace

Autopilot are an indie/alternative rock band which hails from Saskatchewan, Canada. The trio of musicians recently signed with Muddy Paw PR and today we have the pleasure of premiering their new song "Crooked Lines" ahead of their forthcoming major U.S. tour hitting cities including Chicago, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Austin, Los Angeles, NYC, and Toronto. The band will be on the road from October 1st through November 26, 2016 and this song serves as a great idea of what to expect from their sound.

Said the band's Marlon Harder of the song: "'Crooked Lines' was inspired by thoughts of changing your path after you’ve gone too far; questioning what you’re doing and then realizing you were going the right way all along. No matter how things turn out 'the crooked lines all look the same'. On 'Crooked Lines', I tried playing differently and although I play the bow on a lot of songs, it was the first time playing it this way. We created a tone new to Autopilot. We are not the first or last band to play the bow on a guitar, but it was the first time we had heard that tone and we got excited about the song." - Christopher Gonda, Pure Grain Audio