From punk rock venues in Edmonton to London art galleries, Alan D Boyd's creative journey spans decades and continents while remaining true to his Canadian roots. The musician, filmmaker, and sonic explorer shares the winding path that led him to form Movieland in early 90s Vancouver—a band whose unreleased recordings have found surprising new life through 604 Records' Decades imprint.
Boyd vividly recalls his formative years in Edmonton's vibrant music scene, where venues like Spartan's Men's Hall hosted legendary punk acts alongside local heroes. These experiences shaped his DIY ethos as he moved through various musical projects before landing in Vancouver's fragmented but fertile creative community. There, working at the 24-hour Benny's Bagels, he connected with kindred spirits influenced by everything from Stone Roses and De La Soul to the emerging sounds of Dinosaur Jr and Nirvana.
The analog era of music production comes alive as Boyd describes crafting Movieland songs on his trusty Tascam 488 eight-track recorder, challenging conventional studio wisdom by deliberately pushing guitars louder than vocals. These recordings, preserved on deteriorating cassettes and ADATs, have been meticulously restored using AI technology—resulting in music that sounds so contemporary that listeners question whether it's new or from decades past.
Beyond Movieland, Boyd explores his parallel project Little Sparta, which merges post-punk aesthetics with folk sensibilities and cinematic landscapes. His collaborative approach extends to filmmaking, with documentaries about UK session musicians and the late artist Bill Fay currently in development.
Don't miss Movieland's upcoming single release on March 28th, with Boyd returning to Canadian stages in Vancouver and Edmonton this spring—a homecoming that bridges his past and present creative worlds.

Send us a text

Support the show

linktr.ee/colleyc