Sophomore albums are often a case of diminishing returns. Not for The Ontarians.
Their second release More How It Is lives up its title in more ways than one. Not only does it take up where the Canadian roots-rockers left off on their 2021 debut The Greatest Short Story Never Told — it also ups the ante with deeper lyrics, richer production and songs that wouldn’t be out of place on a Tom Petty album. Not bad for a band formed by two singer-songwriters who don’t even live in the same town. Shortly after More How It Is landed, the band’s co-founders Frank Deresti and Craig Smith got on Zoom from their respective homes to talk about long-distance relationships, sophomore albums, their on-the-nose band name and plenty more. Enjoy.
