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Live From The Current's Studio and Events

Poliça bring 'When We Stay Alive' to The Current studio

by Iman Jafri and Mark Wheat

February 04, 2020

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Polica perform songs from their 2020 album 'When We Stay Alive' in The Current StudioNate Ryan | MPR Photo

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Poliça are one of the most successful bands to have come out of the Twin Cities this past decade, and they've just started this next one off with their fifth studio album When We Stay Alive, released last Friday, Jan. 31. Before going on a tour which will start in England on Feb. 7, Poliça — comprising frontwoman Channy Leaneagh; Chris Bierden on bass and vocals; Drew Christopherson and Ben Ivascu on drums; and producer Ryan Olson — stopped by The Current studio for a session hosted by Mark Wheat.

Leaneagh said that all the band members had more time to work on this record, which resulted in this project feeling more like a cathartic and creative with a process that felt more like their first record.

This album and tour are the first of Poliça's to feature entirely electronic drums. Christopherson and Ivanscu said that there was a bit of a learning curve but that this allows for tons of new possibilities. "For the first time, we're along Channy and Chris at the forefront of the music," said Ivascu. "It used to always be we had to bury the drums a little because they were so overpowering but now we can kind of blend in a new way with everything and it's really been kind of fun."

This is also the band's first album since Leaneagh's accident almost a year ago, falling off of her roof and seriously injuring her back. Though the accident was hugely painful, Leaneagh said working on the record, "really reminded me, though, that music has always given me a voice. Even when I fell, my lips actually went numb. And then when other things have happened in the past too, I always am one of those people that when something bad has happened I kind of go silent. But whenever I get on stage, since I was four years old, it's just my free place. I have the ability and the safety to be loud and sing."

Poliça will be performing at First Avenue on April 10.