Emilor (Night Court / Rong / Pet Blessings)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2025? (In order 1-5)
- Lambrini Girls - Who Let the Dogs Out
- Radioactivity - Time Won't Bring Me Down
- Computer - Station on the Hill
- Bug Club - Very Human Features
- Viagra Boys - Viagra Boys
What band did you discover in 2025 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? How so?
PISS -- who I had been hearing about for a few months before I saw them open for Lambrini Girls -- and they are one of the most important and powerful groups going. As someone who has been screaming for years about the themes of patriarchy, abuse and power dynamics as I process and exorcise my own past experiences, these groups are refreshing and laser focused on their message which warms my cold little heart.
How will you remember 2025 (in terms of music)?
For Night Court, like a technicolour fever dream. Recording in Astoria Oregon, touring in Texas with Faulty Cognitions & The Dumpies & opening for Pegboy were some highlights.
Rong played some really fun shows (when my bandmates weren't on tour with the incredible Dead Bob!) including a hot sauce festival where a small tornado materialized at the end of our set!
Pet Blessings finally released our long-awaited EP and played some great shows like opening for Mudhoney!
Even though I had a great year, generally speaking I think 2025 will be remembered for some darker themes like the proliferation of AI (ewwww) and how it's getting harder to tour in the US for Canadian bands, but having said that I am really pleased with the growing resistance to corporate monopolies and fascist regimes.
What can we look forward to from you in 2026?
Night Court are doing our first Euro tour in January which is also my first time ever touring Europe so I'm REALLY excited about that and we're opening for the Mummies in February which will be a wonderful homecoming! We have a new album recorded so hopefully that will come out and I just hope I get to play lots of great shows with my favourite people! Would love to do more touring!!!
What records are you looking forward to most in 2026?
If Dead Bob, Yard Act, Dochii and/or PISS released albums in 2026, I would be very happy. I'm excited for the new bands and music that I'll discover next year that I don't even know about yet!
Singles rule the music scene right now. How has that affected you as a band or label? Has it influenced your approach to new releases or touring?
Not really. The financial viability of 7" records as singles is tough but there is a lot of fun to be had in the video / visual aspect of releasing & promoting music. For instance, in the leadup to the vinyl release of Night Court's first two albums Nervous Birds in October, Jiffy put together an entire series of "Behind the Music" videos which was hilarious and entirely factual. ;)
