Land of Talk

Land of Talk
Land of Talk performing at Barrymore's in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2006
Background information
Also known as	landoftalk.net
Origin	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres	Indie rock
Years active	2006–2011, 2015-present
Labels	Dependent, One Little Indian, Saddle Creek, Secret City
Associated acts	Ele_K*, Barr Brothers band
Members	Elizabeth Powell Joe Yarmush Andrew Barr
Past members

Land of Talk is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2006 from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The band consists of singer and guitarist Elizabeth Powell.

Before becoming the front-woman for Land of Talk, Elizabeth Powell performed as a solo artist performing under the name ELE_K*. Powell began writing music at the age of fourteen while she grew up in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. She enrolled in the jazz program at Concordia University where she met Chris McCarron and Mark Wheaton with whom she formed Land of Talk. Eric Thibodeau replaced Wheaton on drums in May 2007 to complete a new lineup.

"Some bands have a bit more of a meteoric rise, and some are slow burners. I like to think we're a slow burner," Powell says. "It's totally true to who I am and how I approach my own life. Very slow and very unsure, but curious. And it all works out."

Land of Talk has received funding from agencies such as the Canada Council Funding for the Arts (FACTOR).

The band released its first EP, Applause Cheer Boo Hiss, on April 4, 2006, on Dependent Music. The single "Summer Special" deals with the damaging nature of intra-female conflict and the sadness of losing oneself by way of buying into the damaging stereotypes of femininity. Powell commented in an interview about what inspired her to write "Summer Special" and how it compared to her life growing up as a tom-boy.

Another stand-out track from the EP is "Speak to Me Bones", which also deals with the theme of relational conflict. This track exemplifies their use of soft vocals and gritty rock sounding musical arrangements. The music video for "Speak to Me Bones" was directed by a former Concordia school mate, Jeff St. Jules. The concept of the video was kept simple, shot in black and white staying true to the band's no-frills style.

Land of Talk released their first full-length album, Some Are Lakes, on Secret City Records in Canada and Saddle Creek Records in the US. The album was released on October 7, 2008, and was produced by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Drums on the album are played by Andrew Barr of The Slip. Powell announced during a performance that the band would be taking a break after its tour with Broken Social Scene. The band did not in fact go on hiatus, but instead McCarron left (amicably) to play guitar for The Dears. He was replaced by Joe Yarmush, and the band announced a West Coast tour for 2009.