An Interview with Private Lives!

Interview conducted with guitarist Chance Hutchison

Shock Treatment: Who is currently in Private Lives and what does everyone do in the band? 

Chance: Chance - Guitar, Jackie - Vocals, Josh - Bass and Andrew - Drums 

Shock Treatment: Tell me about the origin story of the band. How did you all meet and decide to form the band?

Chance: Jackie and I are married and during the covid lockdown we started demoing songs for fun. In Quebec, we were very restricted and there was a curfew of 5pm or something wild. We got bored and started writing songs together. We both came from playing in other bands but had never worked together on anything. It was a bit of a happy accident. 

Shock Treatment: Did you have a particular sound and feel in mind when starting this band or did it just gel once you all started playing together? 

Chance: We’ve gone through many different vibes! Haha! When the band initially started the influences, though direct, were less obvious outside of the Kinks. Also, at the beginning, this was not looked at as a real band and more of a recording project. When we started rehearing with other people, the vibe naturally changed. We’ve also had lineup changes, and each one of those has also lent itself to a natural shift in direction. Mostly now, we just want to make fun music that people can dance to but that hopefully will also make you think a little bit.

Shock Treatment: You guys released your magnificent second LP Salt Of The Earth last year (2025). How do you feel it compares to your 2023 debut Hit Record? 

Chance: Well, for one thing, Salt of the Earth was recorded entirely in our home studio. This was not the case for Hit Record so it came with a lot of learning and testing and having to kind of accept the recording for what it was. I had never mixed anything outside of a demo song so it added a lot of pressure (placed on myself) but I think it came together pretty cool. I have recorded a lot since (Salt of the Earth) and would like to think I’m a lot better now, but I guess only time will tell! 

Shock Treatment: I always found the expression “salt of the earth” interesting, it’s so bizarre to me. What led to the decision to title the new record that?

Chance: Honestly, I just really like how it sounds. I had used it for a song title and when we were considering record titles, it just sort of stuck. I was pushing for Music For Humans but everyone thought it sounded too sci-fi…. 

Shock Treatment: You just released a killer new 7” single on Bachelor Records, “Think I’m Coming Around” b/w "Television Faces”. Can you tell me about that new record?

Chance: Oh yeah, we’re super stoked on the 7”! I recorded that one in the basement and then got our friend David Forcier to mix and master it! I’m very happy with how it turned out. The recording was easy and pretty seamless and the mix turned out great. Dave did a killer job. The artwork is my favourite thing that Josh (our bass player) has done for the band. He handles all the graphic design for merch.

Shock Treatment: Tell me a bit about the European tour the band just returned from. I know you guys have toured the U.S. but is this the first time Private Lives has been overseas?

Chance: The tour was so great! For our first time over there, we really couldn’t have asked for anything more! Great turn outs, people dancing every night and buying up records. Touring in Europe is unlike touring anywhere else in the world. Everyone is so understanding and nice and are more than happy to help out bands looking to play their town.

Shock Treatment: The band is currently based in Montreal, yeah? How do the hometown crowds treat you? What other local bands do you guys like playing with?

Chance: Hometown crowds are so so. In North America everyone is afraid to dance cause they’re not really sure if it’s cool or not. I think everyone should relax a bit and take in the moment a bit more.

There are so many good bands from our city at the moment like Puffer, Beton Arme, Young Blades, Street Panther, Retail Simps, Helene Barbier, Night Lunch etc etc 

Shock Treatment: So what's coming down the pike for you guys in 2026? 

Chance: We’re just putting the finishing touches on a brand new 7” that will hopefully be out before the end of the year! Aside from that, we’re playing around the city a few times before summer and working on finishing the writing for LP3.

Shock Treatment: Where can people follow the band, listen to your music, and buy your records?

Chance: You can listen and buy via bandcamp. https://privatelivesmtl.bandcamp.com/

I try and keep the insta pretty active @private___lives