Timber Timbre is the spooky folk troupe led by singer/guitarist Taylor Kirk. More specter than Spector, their wraithlike campfire creepers float around Kirk’s burbling voice with understated arrangements of lap steel, autoharp, violin and synth. Founding Timber Timbre in the farmland community of Brooklin, Ontario (not to be confused with the hipper-than-hip New York borough), Kirk self-released albums in 2006 and ’07 before signing to Toronto label Out of this Spark, then switching to Arts & Crafts for the re-release of an eponymous effort last year. In advance of their show at the Ukrainian Federation on Friday, October 1, we tracked them down for an interrogation.

Listen: Demon Host - Timber Timbre

When your grandmothers ask, how do you describe your music?
I tell my grandmother that it’s folk music. But I’m not so sure…
 
When was the last time you played or visited Montreal? Any memories?
The last show was at La Tulipe, a few months ago. But I remember playing at Bar St Laurent not too long ago. During my set someone broke into my car and stole a bag of dirty laundry and my coonskin cap.
 
What have you been up to lately?
Folk festivals. And we’ve started working on a new recording, in Montreal.
 
What’s the one thing you always bring with you on tour?
Swiss army knife.
 
Who are you looking forward to seeing at POP this year?
This will be my third time seeing Liars this year. Swans. Van Dyke Parks.
 
What are you currently obsessed with?
Fitness.
 
What’s your favorite kind of pop?
Dr. Pepper.
 
When you’re not making music, what do you do to relax or unwind?
Drugs.
 
3 albums you have on heavy rotation in your tour van:
Morton Feldman – Rothko Chapel, Why Patterns?
Gavin Bryars – The Sinking of the Titanic
Liars – Drum’s Not Dead