If you weren't a musician, what would you do?
Be a bum. Ha, ha! Who knows? I'd find a way to do something, I guess. I thought I'd be a carpenter at some point. Maybe a computer tech? My name Snikkar is derived from the Norwegian word for carpenter. My grandfather immigrated to Canada with his Finnish name, Nikkari (also means carpenter). The customs agent changed his name to Snikkar.
Why did he do that?
I'm not sure why.
Is that why your family are the only Snikkars in Canada?
Probably.
What do you love most about Toronto?
Toronto's my hometown, so I have a soft spot there. I've grown up here most of my life. There's lots of things to do, many cultutres, things to eat, and live music. There's anything you need to see or do.
Is there anything you hate?
I don't know if there's anything I hate! It's a pretty conservative business city overall, I guess. I don't really hate anything. Maybe the way people drive, they drive like idiots! I have a perfect driving record.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Yeah, a question I've been trying to avoid all of my life. Hopefully I'll be out playing more. I'd like to be playing my upright (double bass) more. I'd like to be more established playing my upright, playing music and still loving doing it. I've gone this far, I haven't stopped. I'd like to be more successful, just trying creating. It'd be nice to have a house someday. As long as I can do it with some sense of creativity, it's all part of the journey of life.
Do you have any final words for my readers?
I hope that if anyone listens to my CD, they like it. Support live music!
Justin Snikkar's City Limits can be downloaded from Amazon, CBC Radio 3, and emusic. CDs will be available soon. Visit Justin's Myspace to sample his music.
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