The Darling DeMaes

What music are you listening to these days?

We all listen to totally different stuff, but for me I've been listening to a lot of The National lately. I used to like being ahead of the times with this sort of thing, but now I hear so much music that I just shut it all out and slowly discover things when I feel like it, on my own time.

Why should people, especially youth, vote?

Because even though it sometimes doesn't feel like it, voting makes a difference. Youth especially have far more power in numbers than they realize. Just watch an episode of American Idol. It'll blow your mind.

What music are you listening to these days?

We all listen to totally different stuff, but for me I've been listening to a lot of The National lately. I used to like being ahead of the times with this sort of thing, but now I hear so much music that I just shut it all out and slowly discover things when I feel like it, on my own time.

Why should people, especially youth, vote?

Because even though it sometimes doesn't feel like it, voting makes a difference. Youth especially have far more power in numbers than they realize. Just watch an episode of American Idol. It'll blow your mind.

What music are you listening to these days?

We all listen to totally different stuff, but for me I've been listening to a lot of The National lately. I used to like being ahead of the times with this sort of thing, but now I hear so much music that I just shut it all out and slowly discover things when I feel like it, on my own time.

Why should people, especially youth, vote?

Because even though it sometimes doesn't feel like it, voting makes a difference. Youth especially have far more power in numbers than they realize. Just watch an episode of American Idol. It'll blow your mind.

For you, is there a connection between art and democracy? What is it?

Art is naturally connected to whatever political system surrounds it, whether it be democratic, communist, or fascist. Speaking only for myself, in a democracy, I feel like I can write about most subjects without consequence. Is this a good thing, artistically speaking? I'm not sure. Sometimes the greatest books are written in hiding while book-burnings are going on outside. But I'm glad there isn't a book-burning in my neighbourhood today.

Why do you care about your community, when it is so easy not to?

It is easy to get caught up in this selfish world, but your community is whatever you want it to be and whatever you help make of it. I'd rather see people smiling at each other and lending each other a hand rather than staring at the cement and secretly wishing for someone to talk to.

What do you look for in a politician? What do you expect from your Member of Parliament?

These are tough questions because I'm not sure the political system can fully entertain the characteristics I look for in a politician: intelligence, honesty, full-disclosure, and true care for Canadians. So I look for people with at least some of these aspects in them, hoping they won't be corrupted or forced to undermine their values during their career. Maybe one day a really special leader will come along and give us ALL those characteristics genuinely. That will be a good day.

What causes do you actively support?

I should be actively involved in many things, but the truth is I'm not. The Darling DeMaes play benefit concerts for great causes like Amnesty International and forms of environmental awareness, but I should be more deeply involved in causes that look out for the general well-being of ourselves, whether it be larger like human rights, poverty, and health issues, or even smaller things like helping a neighbour carry groceries up the stairs.

What are one or two simple actions you recommend youth take to make a difference?

Say hello to people even if you don't really know them. And put their needs ahead of yours, especially in the smallest and simplest of forms.