Metric, along with moose jumpers and maple syrup, are one of Canada’s most beloved exports. Originally formed in 1998, the new wave-electro band sprint raced their way to fame through a 2.0 accident: the leak of their song ‘Help, I’m Alive’ on the Internet was picked up by radio stations worldwide, and rapidly rose to top charts - despite them being unsigned. Today, the band has four albums, many sold-out concert rooms behind them, and yes, a record label. To celebrate their recent touring in the UK, in some of London’s most iconic venues including Shepherd’s Bush Empire and Koko, they are re-releasing their latest album ‘Fantasies’, as a special, new n’ improved, Deluxe edition. The record includes reworked versions of the album such as stripped back acoustic version of ‘Help I’m alive’ and ‘Gimme Sympathy’; other exciting freebies includes covers of ‘Nobody’s Home’ by Pink Floyd, and ‘Sugar Mountain’ by Neil Young. Here, front lady Emily Haines talks to Dazed Digital about singing with Lou Reed, her love for Britannia, and the future of the band...

Dazed Digital: Your band has been together for over a decade, and you have just released your fourth album. What is the new Metric?
Emily Haines: That’s a life story kind of question. You know, we were the first band to break into the top twenty without a record label, we were featured in the New York Times business section – so it’s been a real adventure. I guess ‘steady on’ in the attitude. We were always just doing our own thing, we produced a New Wave record when Garage was big, and didn’t follow trends, we just said ‘no this is not Garage, this is Electro”. So 'Fantasies' is a combination of all our records today, it is just a logical next step, it all happen in tandem and I’m really happy with how it turned out.

DD: Why did you decide to make a special UK Deluxe edition?
Emily Haines: Well, we’ve just been touring through the UK, went to major venues which were all sold out, and loved the British audience. So it’s been good to go to the UK, and putting the album together, we’ve always loved coming over, we just don’t get to go enough.

DD: In your bio on the band’s blog, you mention that there are some songs you never want to play again, is that the case for recent composition? Is there anything you’re leaving behind?
Emily Haines: I think what the bio was referring to was of a solo project of mine, which was during a really difficult time in my life.  So it was actually a very positive thing when I stopped singing these songs. Surprisingly, for every Metric record, there are still three or four songs we still enjoy performing, they are representative of some chapters in our lives, and I feel I can still access some today. Before, I used to make very clear social commentary in songs, but this is the first  record where I try to envision how I like to feel rather than dwelling on the past.

DD: And do you still get on as a band?
Emily Haines: There are more and more pro situations. We give each other a lot of space, many of us live in between New York and Toronto. You go through heavy times, but these are lifetime friendships. On the contrary, we get on too well, and end up staying up all night and hang out…we just have to focus on the task at hand!

DD: Members of Metric have had several collaborations, including with the Stills or Broken Social Scene, are there any more coming up?
Emily Haines: I’m currently in Australia playing at Vivid Festival. What happened is that I met Lou Reed at a Neil Young Tribute in Vancouver, and he told me he loved my music. You know, my dad is a poet who worked with avant-garde Jazz musicians, and so we talked of that world. And then he told me of Vivid, that he and Laurie Anderson were curating, and invited me to participate. And so last night I performed ‘Fantasy’ on the piano, and I sang ‘Perfect Day’ with Lou.. and I’m still tripping! It’s just amazing to meet someone who you think has made some of the best music ever...