Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. Half Past Four has been a significant voice in the Canadian Progressive Rock scene for years, blending eclectic genres into a unique and unmistakable sound. With the release of your latest album “Finding Time,” we’re excited to dive into your creative process, inspirations, and what the future holds for the band.
DL – Dmitry Lesov / Bass guitar
IK – Igor Kurtzman / Keyboards
KV – Kyree Vibrant / Lead Vocals
Let’s start with the album title – “Finding Time.” What does this title mean to you personally and artistically?
KV: “‘Finding Time’ came from the challenge of juggling life and trying to make space for music—every rehearsal or writing session started with us trying to ‘find the time’ to meet and write. It also speaks to how the band came back to life during the COVID lockdown, after we’d lost both our drummer and guitarist and weren’t sure HPF would continue. But somehow, it did. So the title isn’t just about scheduling—it’s about rediscovery, resilience, and the unexpected return of something we thought we’d lost.“
The album explores a wide range of moods and styles. How did you approach songwriting this time around compared to your previous works?
KV: “Writing this album felt like an unexpected gift. We honestly didn’t think the band would continue after losing our drummer and guitar player, but then a spark lit up: we were invited to play a Frank Zappa tribute gig and brought in Rob, a drummer who’d been working with our keyboardist Iggy on another project. He didn’t even know Half Past Four was a band! When the show was cancelled due to COVID, we kept jamming just for fun—and to our surprise, Rob played our old material effortlessly. That chemistry rekindled something, and soon we found ourselves writing again. We didn’t set out with a specific sound or theme in mind; we just followed the music and let it take shape. Not having a guitarist at first gave the songs a more open, jazzy feel, and when Boris eventually joined, it all came together. It all just flowed naturally from us.“
Tracks like “Shake Your Head” and “Igguana” showcase both complexity and playfulness. Can you walk us through the creative process behind one of those songs?
IK: “For Igguana, if memory serves, back in 2020 I brought a sort of a skeleton version including basic versions of the current parts and harmonies. We were then working and developing them with the band, with Kyree bringing in vocal melody and lyrics. There were sections that were removed and we even changed the key of the song at one point. Over the years we polished the song. Some specific parts, like the polyphonic-bach-like vocal section, were finalized at the recording studio.“
KV: “I had the harmonies in my head and I’d describe them in the rehearsal but there is no way they would have taken shape without the creative process in the studio. I needed to layer them properly. DL:as far as anecdotes go, I clearly remember how ‘Shake Your Head’ came to be. It was a hot COVID summer and we were rehearsing in the treehouse, accompanied by local crickets. The small jazz kit Roberto had up there was sounding so good and juicy, and he was fooling around with different beats. One in particular caught my ear and my fingers almost magically played along with the riff on bass. It fit perfectly and Igor immediately caught the groove. No words were exchanged – just pure joy. Kyree was just listening to us playing with the riff and growing it over the next few times and then came
up with a lyric and melody matching the mood.“
KV: “‘Shake Your’ head was the first song we wrote. We spent a ton of time shaping it and making it into what we needed it to be. However the ending finally became perfect with Boris’ delicious guitar solo.“
Each member contributes vocals, which gives the album a very rich vocal texture. How do you handle vocal arrangements within the band?
KV: “The harmonies and vocal parts come together when we rehearse for gigs usually -and when we created our scratch tracks for the album. Then the guys all get their parts and we fine tune it from there. We decide who can sing the higher and mid- register parts etc. Then whatever sticks in their memory ends up being what we sing live. In the studio however, I tend to take over and direct the harmonies. There are vocal breaks and weird little parts that we try and we have fun tweaking and trying stuff out.“
From Jazz Fusion to classical influences, your sound blends many genres. Are there any non-Prog artists or unexpected inspirations that shaped this record?
IK: “There are many conscious and unconscious inspirations we draw from. I was listening a lot to Gogo Penguin in 2020 and it influenced my writing in Branches and Underbelly. J.S. Bach and Manhattan Transfer for some of the background vocal parts (Igguana), cartoon music/Loonie Tunes/Danny Elfman (Tomorrowless)“
DL: “Jah Wobble/Brian Eno’s ‘Spinner’ for ‘Shake Your Head’“
Kyree’s vocals bring a powerful narrative voice to the songs. How do lyrics come together within the band? Is it a collaborative process?
KV: “We have developed a lot of trust in each other when it comes to writing our own parts between the three of us. When Iggy and Les form the structure of the songs, I listen to them playing the parts and working out the form and then I’ll go away and write lyrics and melody that combine with what they play. Once a basic structure is there, I’ll bring what I’ve written to rehearsal and try out the parts. Then we fine tune from there. Each song may speak to me and give me inspiration to write the lyric. I like to write poetry about different things -and the one thing I do not do is write about love and relationships. To me it is redundant. I enjoy exploring other subjects. When it came to this album the lockdown had a lot to do with a couple of the song subjects. Musing about the state of the world and the emotions and ideas that came from that.“
Tell us about working with Mauro Giammarco on recording, mixing, and mastering. What did he bring to the table in terms of capturing your vision?
IK: “This is the 3rd time we worked with Mauro. He is a talented engineer who knows all aspects of recording, but is also a fantastic musician. He really helped us achieve the sound we were looking for, and especially for this album the lead and background vocals. I personally liked how he is very direct and tells us when something just doesn’t work or doesn’t sound good.“
The album artwork by Tamila Rostmoff is striking. How closely did the visual concept evolve with the music?
KV: “Tamila designed our first album cover, Rabbit in the Vestibule, and after working with other artists fo the two other cover, we knew coming back to Tamila’s incredible talents was the only way to go. I brought some “mood boards” to her after having discussed some bare bones ideas with the band, and we presented them to her and then she went off and
made this beautiful piece. We just love it.“
You’ve dedicated the album to Dr. Chris Minz. Would you like to share a few words about his importance to the band and how he inspired you?
KV: “Chris Minz was a very good friend of mine and a creative partner. He starred in our music video for our song Rabbit many years ago and has been a supporter of our music since the very beginning. He hired me to edit a feature film and that money that he paid me financed the album. We owe Dr Minz a great deal. He sadly and tragically died earlier
this year. This album lives in his name.“
Looking at the band’s history, how do you feel “Finding Time” reflects your growth as musicians and as a unit over the years?
KV: “Over the past 21 years, we’ve evolved so much—both as individual musicians and as a collective. In the early days, we were young and driven, eager to carve out our own space in the progressive rock world. When I joined, the band had already poured countless hours into crafting intricate, beautiful music, and I was inspired to rise to the level of their compositions with my lyrics. Over time, our creative chemistry deepened, and we developed a shared language—one built on trust, admiration, and a willingness to challenge each other. Creating together is like being in a family: intense, emotional, and unshakably bonded. Before COVID, it felt like we might have reached the end—our guitarist had moved away, we lost our rehearsal space, and our drummer had stepped away. But just when it seemed like the story was over, Rob arrived—almost like a seed dropped from the stars—and took root in our world. That spark brought us back to life. Finding Time reflects that renewal. It carries the weight of everything we’ve been through and everything we’ve become. I know it sounds poetic – it is. We live on and are grateful for it!“
Let’s talk about the Canadian Prog scene. How do you see your place in it today, and do you feel it’s changed since you started?
KV: “In Canada there is a saying amongst musicians -you can only make it when you make it outside of Canada. We aren’t in this specifically to ‘make it.’ It difficult enough being a prog band outside of the mainstream. There have been many great gigs we have performed within the ‘scene’ and we have our ‘regulars’ who come to most shows. But it has changed for sure over the years.“
The rhythm section shines on tracks like “Underbelly” and “Far Away Here.” How do you approach building grooves that still serve complex Prog structures?
DL: “For ‘Underbelly’ i had that slappy riff and it was nice and ‘greasy’ (‘so it goes down easy’). Not exactly HPF vibe but too greasy for anyone else… Kyree was initially not too impressed but Rob loved it and we grooved on it for some time, while Iggy would suggest an arrangement curveball here and there, seeding the ending with Go Go Penguin style twist. Once the lyrics were in place and matched the greasiness – it was a done deal. For ‘Far Away Here’- Iggy was fooling around before rehearsal on the treehouse – literally warming his fingers – fast passage. I don’t think he was even paying attention at the moment, but the groove caught my ear and started repeating that passage on bass -a bit to Iggy surprise – and it sounded so good on bass – Rob immediately picked up the groove – and the rest is history. I also wanted to really break that repetitive pattern mid-tune and I had a heavy rock groove that was not fitting anywhere else – and it just worked here. Every song is a unique journey – there is no established process, but I have been working with Kyree and Iggy for so long, we do read each other quite well, while Rob and Boris are just very sensitive people with a keen taste, perfect addition to the band.“
Now that the album is out, are there any plans for live shows, videos, or further promotional activities you’d like to share with us?
IK: “We plan on playing live as much as possible and are working on music videos. We hope
to get to play at music festivals next year, especially Prog-Rock ones.“
KV: “Yes -please look out for promotional videos I’ll be making in the fall! We have some great ideas cooking! And we are strongly focused on playing many festivals all next year! Thank you again for sharing your insights and for the powerful new music on ‘Finding Time.’ We wish you continued success and look forward to seeing where your musical journey takes you next.“
KV: “We can’t wait either! We are so happy to be able to bring more of our music into the world and appreciate your support and enjoyment of our music! thank you!“
Purchase “Finding Time” on Bandcamp: https://halfpastfour.bandcamp.com/album/finding-time