By Abigail Epstein – Arts & Culture Editor

Pedro’s Sweet Sativa is a staple of the Bishop’s University cultural scene. Composed of students Braeden Ozechowski, Angus Whyte, Zack Gauthier, Liam Wozny and Caelan Abbott, this long-standing institution recently released their debut single, “Velvet Woman”. Anticipating their upcoming EP, the band offers insight into their past, present and future in an exclusive interview with The Campus.

Can you describe how your band came to be?

We all played on the rugby team and discovered a shared love for music. Slowly, we started jamming, and people started to appreciate the music. We started performing at acoustic Tuesday at the lion and eventually got asked to play a concert outside at Cottage. Our first show was played on a stage made of snow, with ten watt amps, in the middle of a blizzard. We didn’t think anyone could even hear us, but we were hooked. 

Is there a story behind the name “Pedro’s Sweet Sativa”?

Not one that’s appropriate for public consumption.

Tell me about your creative process: How do you delegate the creative aspects of your music?

Our processes usually involve a collaborative effort in terms of our process. They evolve organically from us jamming an idea together and everyone contributes something.

You recently released “Velvet Woman” and are in the process of putting out another single. How have you developed since your last release? 

We had been jamming with “Velvet Woman” for a while. It was just something we put together while practicing one night and all really loved. Once we decided to release an original song, we knew “Velvet Woman” would be the perfect introduction to Pedro’s sound. We recorded the song from scratch in the Cool Ranch basement, using Garageband. 

We have a ton of songs in the works and will be releasing an EP soon with three songs. Our goal is to frequently release new music. We have lots of ideas and working independently on Garageband allows us to release music quickly without having to conform to ‘Big Music’. 

How has being in this band affected your student experience at Bishop’s?

It’s safe to say that it’s been a highlight of our experiences here. There were no other bands playing when we first started here and live music is always a vibe so we hope that our fellow students have enjoyed it as much as we have! 

How does the Bishop’s environment inspire you artistically? In terms of performance?

We believe that Bishop’s is an institution and a community where you can find and express your true self. The BU crowds are always electric, and we feed off of that. There are always so many familiar faces that, on some level, it feels just like playing to our friends down in the Cool Ranch basement. 

Do you have any creative influences?

We love The Tragically Hip. Canadian bands hold a special place in our hearts. But we all grew up on classic rock bands like Zeppelin and Skynrd. 

What has been a standout performance, of the ones you’ve done at Bishop’s?

Our last gig at the Lion on the Friday of St. Paddy’s weekend was unreal. It felt like the entire community was there and the energy was off the charts for three hours straight.

Where do you see the future of the band?

We’re hoping to play some shows this summer… so if there are any well-connected alumni reading this, please help!!!

Anything else on your bucket list?

Pedro’s Sweet Sativa Canada Tour.