Joshuas Habit New Album Release Entitled 'Torn'

For those looking to rise about the fray in the crowded music industry, a good sound is just the beginning. Joshua's Habit, a hard-hitting modern rock four piece from Calgary, Alberta have been making noise since 2002, delivering their songs with the traditional loud rock ethos. Along the way, they've realized that an energetic live show, the will to tour this expansive nation, and some help from the radio promotional machine can make all the difference. As they get set to release their new album, 'Torn', the follow up to 2007's 'Wash the Filth', the band's front-man Travis Pankiw recalls a series of fortunate events, discusses his band's future, and explains the implications of the band's new recording process.

"There is a great energy that we create when we are on stage, so what better way to capture it with a live off the floor recording," asks Travis. According to the front-man, the new approach provided a sense of angst and energy that is difficult to recreate in the studio, "There is an awesome vibe that was captured from recording the majority of the album live off the floor, a vibe that in no way could be created by overdubbing and re-tracking one instrument at a time." As a result, the songs from the new project should be music to the ears of those who have enjoyed the fury of a live Habit show.

First up is the new album's lead single, 'Whiskey & Women', a song celebrating two traditional yet integral parts of the rock and roll recipe. The band had lots of fun filming a video for the song, and did so in grandiose rock & roll fashion. "Shooting the video was an absolute blast!" explains Travis. "We had a stretch limo, private jet that included a strip pole, shag carpet, and whiskey on tap." Joshua's Habit shot a live performance in a plane hangar complete with a Boeing 737, a fighter jet, and, of course, a good crew of beautiful stewardesses. "We even set Goochie and his drums up on the wing of 737!" recalls Travis, adding, "If that's not all ol' school Rawk n' Roll, I don't know what is!"

The funding for this video, as well as the album itself, came courtesy of a $100,000 check the band received from Vibe 98.5, after winning the highly competitive Star Search Competition, a series of winner take all live performances organized by the Calgarian radio station. It was a contest the band almost didn't enter after finishing second a year ago. "We sucked it up, and went down to the open casting call at stupid O'clock in the morning after an early morning flight from Saskatoon (where the band was touring)," says Travis. After each series of performances, a panel of industry judges declared one band the winner of the night, and when the dust had cleared, the Habit took home the loot.

"We got a massive check that was physically the size of a hippo," he recalls, "I tried to take it down to the Money Mart and cash it that night, but they wouldn't give me cash." The reward money eventually came through, of course, and the band decided to forego the urge to blow it all in Vegas, and put it to good use. "We wrote out a business plan and have been spending our money wisely with the bulk of the cash going to the recording of the record, and shooting of the video," explains Travis.