Start Listening To: Corridor

Join us as we unravel the enigmatic melodies of Corridor's 'Mimi', a journey of discovery, introspection, and the timeless allure of music.

For those yet to immerse themselves in the ethereal soundscape of Corridor, let us introduce you to the enigmatic quartet hailing from the vibrant music scene of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Their music, a tapestry woven from various influences, resonates with an unmistakable allure. Here, the band members, Dominic Berthiaume and Jonathan Robert, open the doors to their music, shedding light on their latest creation, 'Mimi', and the artistic journey that brought it to life.

Diving into the essence of 'Mimi', Jonathan Robert reflects on the album's thematic depth, exploring the complexities of "getting older" and "figuring out new parts of life." With candid insight, he shares the unconventional creative process behind the album, shaped by moments of revelation and collaborative spirit.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

Dominic Berthiaume : Hi, we are Corridor from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. We make music with instruments. It's a mix of various influences, mostly good.

Your upcoming album, 'Mimi', is described as being about "getting older" and "figuring out new parts of life." How did these themes influence the creative process and sound of the album?

Jonathan Robert : This time we tried making a record in a really different way. We had a lot of ideas but no time and place to rehearse. So at some point, me, Dom and Sam decided to bring these cellphone ideas on a computer and make a collage out of it. Working with Ableton, it felt like we were 100% hands-on for once,  and we had a pretty good idea of what the next record could be like, just like that. We were working in the daytime too, so we were drinking coffee instead of beers, everyone was a lot more focused and productive and because I had recently become a dad it all felt balanced and right.

We spent a lot of time on experimentation and arrangements before recording instead of after. It also made us realize we would have to produce the whole thing by ourselves, so we went in the studio and redid the whole thing. It took time, and started to be painful at the end, but I’m really happy with the result.

The music video for your single "Mon Argent" features captivating visuals like a Lite Brite, falling pennies, and trinkets. How does the visual aesthetic of your music videos tie into the overall atmosphere and message of your music?

J : To be honest, I think it’s one of the shittiest things I’ve ever done. I had a nice concept with tv screens that were supposed to project some footage that were interacting with each other. Somehow, the day I was shooting it I stepped on the computer-to-tv wire and broke it. So yeah, I had to figure out and shoot a new idea within a day of delivery deadline. I used anything I could find at home, like my daughter’s brite lite for example. I borrowed some ceramic cats from Dom because he has a collection of them etc.

I don’t think there’s so much to say about it. You know, money comes and goes, the more there is, the more we pay attention. And once we pay attention, you see it goes away and we're back at square one. Being a musician, is a fucking financial rollercoaster. It's just so abstract to me. I don’t have a cartesian mind and I do things and create stuff spontaneously. I hate living by a calendar and every year it takes me a whole other month doing my taxes.

'Mimi' is produced by Corridor and Joojoo Ashworth, and mastered by Heba Kadry. What was it like collaborating with these individuals, and how did their contributions shape the final product?

D : Mimi was made with an all-star cast, let's not forget Valentin Ignat who mixed the album too! It was a pleasure being surrounded by them. They really helped us achieve what we had in mind. We didn't personally meet with Heba, I guess mastering engineers must be lonely, she was very responsive and professional though. Joojoo lived at my place while recording the album, so we basically became close friends. I'd say he has the best vibe, super talented and a real cheerleader in the studio. We miss him a lot.

Your previous album, 'Junior', was released in 2019. How do you feel your sound has evolved since then, and what new elements can fans expect from 'Mimi'?

D : The major difference is that we have a new member in the band, Samuel Gougoux, who really helped us in shaping the new sound of the band. He's a brilliant guy with a lot of crazy ideas, it was really refreshing to have that new energy within the band. He's from an electronic/leftfield background, so he clearly brought new ideas, textures and instruments to the songs. So yeah, I think it still sounds like a Corridor record, but evolved, from Charmander to Charizard.

The recording process for 'Mimi' involved a retreat where many ideas for the album were born. Can you elaborate on how this creative environment influenced the music-making process?

D : Well, the first retreat was in June 2020, at this point, we were deep into the pandemic. The access to our rehearsal space was forbidden, so we had to illegally rent a cabin and gather there to write music. Our sound engineer had brought everything to record ideas, so it was basically a week long brainstorm. Amps would remain on any time of the day in the basement where we set up. Sometimes, two of us would be downstairs while everyone one else was just swimming in the lake. We weren't making structured songs, only playing all the riffs that came out of our heads. I don't know how many ideas were written during that week, but a lot of them finished somewhere on Mimi.

Could you tell us about the significance of the album's title, 'Mimi', and its connection to guitarist and vocalist Jonathan Robert's cat?

J : Mimi is my cat. We knew it was gonna be the album’s title before we even had a single song finished. It’s always like that, a running gag that stays and we’re stuck with it… It was the same with Supermercado’s title. It was our past drummer’s Marc that had this idea and we stole it from him after he left the band. The guy’s not even in the thank-yous of the album even if he composed most of the songs with us… I’m glad we stayed friends haha!

You've announced extensive live dates in the UK and Europe, including appearances at The Great Escape and a free show in London. How do you prepare for your live performances, and what can audiences expect from your live shows?

D : Rehearsing for the current tour was more intense than before. We wrote most of the new songs behind a computer and we recorded them track by track, so we had to figure out how to play them live after recording. It was challenging, but rewarding. The live versions are different, which is less the case for our previous songs, so I think it's fun! I was told multiple times that we are better live than on record, so I guess people should have that in mind? I don't know, haha, I don't want people to have high expectations too... Our set mostly contains songs from Junior and Mimi, a little bit of Supermercado too. This is the fun thing about having more records out, you have a lot of options for setlists. All killers, no fillers!

The tracklist for 'Mimi' features songs like "Phase IV," "Jump Cut," and "Mourir Demain." Can you give us insight into the themes and inspirations behind some of these tracks?

J : The whole thing is about disenchantment, ’’Getting older’’ is a part of it all. In 2019 we signed on Sub Pop then released Junior and there was some nice buzz around it, there were 2 years of well-booked tours in front of us. I was expecting some kind of promised land for a musician. Instead a pandemic happened right after, time flew by and at some point I realized I was a dad with a leaf-blower in his backyard. In the evening I would go for dinner with friends, discussing mortgage rates and life insurance. What the hell happened? What did I get sucked in? 

Phase IV is pretty much about the disconnection with the past. Like I had a new and different sentiment towards nostalgia, some things and places I was attached to were not speaking to me anymore.

For Jump Cut, it is mostly about getting out of touch. Technology evolved suddenly, I remember I saw some AI stuff and I was… damn! This whole illustration career I had built for myself is OVER... Can’t wait for robots to start making music!

Mourir demain was inspired by the time me and my girlfriend were shopping for life insurances and making a will. It felt super weird… Now I’m old enough that it's time for me to start planning my own death.?

What do you love right now? 

D : Free time.

What do you hate right now?

D : My busy schedule.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

D : Microcastle by Deerhunter. I will never shut up about this record.

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for Corridor's future, both musically and creatively?

D : Mimi is our fourth record, it took almost five years to make, so at this point, just aspiring to make another record is enough for me. Musically, still evolving like pokemons.