The Boojums in Toronto

Interview by Front Row

Photography provided by Take Aim Media

The Boojums, a high-energy rock trio from  Nova Scotia played an exciting show at Toronto’s Sound Garage on November 3, 2025. We had the opportunity to speak with bandmates Willie Stratton, Sara Johnston, and Patrick Murphy.

What stands out first is the sense of camaraderie. Having known each other for years, they have a familial bond and appreciation for each other. Their musical history is scattered across solo projects, long friendships, shared homes, and long drives between Port Hawkesbury and Halifax. Their formation was almost incidental, born less from strategy than from wanting to create something together that was true to them. That intention echoes through their music, which feels refreshing in a climate saturated with overly polished sounds.

Their influences are blend of classic punk, indie rock, and the East Coast’s own musical lineage. Willie speaks about the moment he realized Sloan was from Halifax and the sense of possibility that gave him. Patrick describes drummers who treat rhythm as orchestration rather than timekeeping.

Nova Scotia itself, as they describe it, is not just backdrop but atmosphere. The region’s long-running indie rock tradition breathes through their sound, although they carry it with curiosity rather than just nostalgia. This appetite for imperfection extends to their visual aesthetic as well. The Boojums’ videos, shot in VHS and other aging formats, feel refreshingly out of step with the slick, algorithm-ready content that dominates most platforms. They speak about this with an amused conviction: perfection is boring, they explain, and clarity is not always the same as truth. Their visuals feel like moments captured rather than curated.

Perhaps the most surreal moment of their recent journey was being invited by Mick Jones to perform at a private event in the UK. They talk about it with the awe of people who still cannot quite believe it happened. The invitation came seemingly out of nowhere, discovered through the same digital rabbit holes where we all find new music. Yet they recall the experience less for its celebrity sparkle and more for its warmth. Jones showed up not only to their performance but to their next show as well, something the band still speaks about with genuine gratitude.

Their debut album was recorded at home, in the house where Willie and Sara live together. The process was quick and instinctive, an exercise in trusting impulse over endless refinement. They wanted it to feel like their live show: energetic, immediate, and a little unruly. Between takes they went for ice cream. They listened back to the songs in the car with unabashed pride. They made the record they wanted to hear, which feels increasingly rare and increasingly meaningful.

If there is a single song that captures their essence, the band gravitates toward Football. It holds their full range, from tightly woven harmonies to raw, emotional moments.

Their Toronto show felt like a release valve for a roomful of people who wanted something unvarnished and real. The venue buzzed long before they stepped out, and by the time they began, the energy had shifted into something communal. The audience danced and jumped along to their music, fully immersed up in the moment.

The Boojums are, in many ways, a reminder that music can still feel like discovery. It can still feel like possibility and fun. They make music that welcomes you in, shakes you awake, and reminds you to pursue that which brings you joy.

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