Canadian natives The Hylozoists play vibraphone-led instrumental pop with a leaning towards minimalism and a penchant for BBQ. 2006's La Fin Du Monde wowed critics and brought the band to the forefront of the not-boring instrumental music scene with sweeping instrumentation and admirable orchestration. If you like film scores, Reich or anything vibe-related, you'll enjoy The Hylozoists. You can also catch them twice during SXSW, check our Interactive SXSW Guide for more details.

We recently had a chance to talk to the band's vibe, glock and drum player, Paul Aucoin about Austin, A Love Supreme and yes, BBQ.

Share a story about a visit to Austin or a previous trip to SXSW.

I love Austin and have gotten to play there many times. My first trip was for a SXSW and played 7 times in four days while the most memorable show was having 150 inside the club (kept very strictly to capacity by very zealous fire Inspectors) and having a good two hundred people outside the windows watching back into the club.

Photo courtesy the band's MySpace

Hylozoists Myspace
Hylozoists Official

Is it still fun to play live if the audience is 95% industry?

It's fine since they are mostly our friends and peers and they never come to the normal shows. As a Canadian it is fun because of how well the Canadian contingent supports its fellow bands and guarantees a good show (most of them being industry).

What's your favorite song on the new record? Why?

"Straight Is The Gate". It's the most fun to play.

Is there an album an ex ruined for you that you'll never be able to reclaim?

No, but I made some records awkward by listening to them a lot while with an ex and then couldn't listen to them in the wrong mindset. One would have to be Terror Twilight although I am over that now and another would be A Love Supreme which has a funny story I can't tell here.

Name one record that has influenced you (musically or otherwise) the most.

I love Mark Wirtz's Theme From A Teenage Opera. It has influenced me a lot and then out of nowhere via Myspace I got a friend request from him. It was actually him. We traded records.

Tacos or burritos? Margaritas or beer?

BBQ. Sam's!!!!!!! Is that like answering Stones or Beatles with The Kinks? Beer and Margaritas then more Margaritas then polish off with a couple of beers.

Is there such a thing as rock n roll anymore?

We are an instrumental band that puts vibraphones at the front. That's proof that Rock and Roll is alive.