In an age of bedroom punks and improvised home-studios, overnight musicians everywhere are throwing out material with the hope that something sticks – condemning masses of tracks to ‘rough demo’ status that may never be happened upon. Thankfully, however, sometimes something does stick and by delving a little deeper it is instantly apparent that there is a lot more to it than a pseudoprofound man and his guitar.

The multifaceted Calvin Love recently lent his artistry to music in one particular bout of bedroom isolation, the result of which being 2012’s debut LP New Radar – a record that had its fair bit of HERO rotation last year. After making waves with experimental live shows in his native Canada and the US, the good news is he’ll soon cross the Atlantic for the first time in support of Of Montreal’s UK tour dates.

It isn’t simply a penchant for low-fidelity that is earning Edmonton-based Calvin Love recognition. He pairs clapping beats and subtle synths with his distinct longing vocal work, in a one-man mission that has signposted a musical career spanning numerous past bands by way of his full-length debut offering.

Faced with the long, ice-cold temperatures that characterise his hometown over the winter months, entrancing efforts such as Love’s The Cold Winter and Bring Back the Summer add to the air of detachment that soothes on the record, before brightening with the likes of Magic Hearts, whist remaining linear with Love’s serene intent.

With a knack for photography and film to boot, it seems the surface has barely been scratched.

Matthew Liam Fogg: Is the lo-fi, stripped back aspect of your music something you always set out to do? Or was it a matter of convenience to produce everything yourself?
Calvin Love: It’s both. Convenience for me came with producing everything myself. Relying only on one brain at the time of creation and still presently, not that I don’t collaborate but I feel most times it’s faster and easier to do it myself then try to get an idea across or people together for a session. I guess the “lo-fi” sound is from using lo-fi equipment. Maybe once I get some finer gear my sound will be hi-fi!

Matthew Liam Fogg: Given the catchiness of some of your hooks, was it ever tempting to crank it up and add more layers? Or do you feel simplicity is where the magic lies?
Calvin Love: It depends on the song. I like layering, but more dynamically with a few different key parts coming in and out of a song.  But, to conclude, I have always believed that less is more and tasteful writing and hooks are nice on the ears.

Matthew Liam Fogg: Are you constantly recording new material? Or is now the time to play more shows?
Calvin Love: I am constantly recording new stuff. I’ve already written over 30 songs for the next record, not to mention a lot of demos and random stuff built up over time. But, yeah, the tour is coming up and I’ll be playing a lot and there won’t be too much time to fully record. So I just voice memo all ideas and save them for later.

Matthew Liam Fogg: Your live shows have seen everything from a full band to you alone, armed with your guitar and an array of equipment such as drum-machines to recreate your songs…
Calvin Love: Solo is fun and with a band is fun. I’ve heard people enjoy both, but for the time being, the band is where it’s at. And the songs are taking on that bigger live energetic sound, which always works well with crowds. Also it frees me and the songs up, performance wise, to a different level than they would be when it’s a solo show. So I’ll roll with the band for a while.

Matthew Liam Fogg: Following your tenure in numerous bands, stemming back to your first punk band at the age of thirteen, why was it the right time to put your own solo record out?
Calvin Love: It was at a low time in my life. There were a lot of drastic changes happening. I felt I was becoming a new person, like climbing out of the muck and washing clean.

I have always written songs for myself, while playing in bands where creation was a group effort. But at the end of the day I always knew eventually I wanted to do my own thing. So I did.

Matthew Liam Fogg: Where do your ideas for songs stem from?
Calvin Love: Feelings, experiences, the unexplainable, movies, art, environmental sounds, friends, dreams, sex, love, touring, my fingertips, the subconscious…That sounds pretty good. For the most part my songs come out of nowhere, just me sitting down on an instrument and fooling around.

Matthew Liam Fogg: You were recently nominated for the Edmonton Music Prize. Is there anything specific about your hometown that influences your songwriting?
Calvin Love: Not at the moment, no. When I created New Radar, I guess the isolation and solitude was inspiring. It was easier to reflect on past events when there were zero distractions. Like living in a cold spot and writing about the beach…

Matthew Liam Fogg: It’s a place that also boasts the likes of fellow musician and friend Mac Demarco. What can you tell us about the Edmonton music scene?
Calvin Love: The Edmonton scene is very tight knit. It’s a small community of talented individuals. You see the same people at all the shows. Everyone knows everyone. Most bands play at Wunderbar, which has been a very key venue for Edmonton.

Matthew Liam Fogg: This month brings your first British tour dates. Does anything in particular excite you about the prospect of playing in the UK?
Calvin Love: Yes! New people, new crowds, new culture – everything. The idea is romantic to me. North America is fun and I’ll still play that continent, of course, but I’m real excited to be coming over there to play for the British crowds!

Matthew Liam Fogg: Have you any plans to combine your other artistic interests, such as photography/film, with your music?
Calvin Love: Yes, I want to score films. And photography has always been an interest. I have taken a year’s worth of Polaroids I’ll be releasing soon and will continue to take more. Life needs to be documented.

Calvin Love supports Of Montreal on their European tour, kicking off in Antwerp on 15th February before heading to Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester, Rennes and Paris

Follow Calvin Love on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and visit his Bandcamp