by RAF KATIGBAK

A mysterious figure in a cowboy hat and fake Oakley shades stands high atop a mountain range somewhere in the Eastern Townships, casting a well-worn gaze across the golden lushness of the surrounding valley. "I'm prepping for the show," he reveals after our two-hour hike in Zen-like silence. "I'm planning everything from the order of the songs to costume changes, everything is geared for maximum entertainment."

While it might be a stretch to think that the World Provider has driven 100 miles out of the city and hiked up a mountain just to think up a set list, anyone who has seen the balls-out carnival-esque crooner live knows that he doesn't do anything half-assed. As the world's leading Casio karaoke striptease entertainer, and a cohort of ex-pat electro-rocker slash slack-rappers Peaches and Chilly Gonzales, he's paid his dues. This Friday he's out to show the peeps some musical love as he launches his new EP Deep Inside the World Provider, the first release on the Montreal/Berlin indie label Perfect School. The Mirror recently huffed and puffed up a whole freakin' mountain to chat with the one-man musical force that some people call the New Wave Cowboy.

Mirror: Who is the World Provider and what in the world does he provide that's so dang important?

The World Provider: Or is it a world I'm providing? One of the things that people always tell me is that I give the impression that I'm just singing in my bedroom to myself. I like to think that I help to release people's inner child.

M: Karaoke is a very liberating experience. In theory everyone is equal, although there are those hardcore Celine Dion wannabes who are there every night waiting to get, uh, discovered.

WP: I'm more into places where really drunk old men just mumble on the mic.

M: You mean the Mike Bullard show?

WP: Sort of. Karaoke is the new punk rock in the sense that it gets people saying, "Oh wow, I can do that." But for me, there's a constant struggle because at the same time I'm not very democratic as a performer. I like to hog the spotlight.

M: So let's get down to the nitty gritty. When did you start taking off your clothes?

WP: The striptease part of what I do really came about in the absence of having anything entertaining to do in between costume changes. I just decided to put one costume over the other. Eventually people started to scream for me to take it all off, and since I'm all about giving the people what they want… Let's just say I wasn't about to take the high road and not give it to them.

M: Tell me about the bizarre instances surrounding your stolen orange jumpsuit.

WP: It was really strange. I was walking up the steps to my house after performing at the last Peaches show when suddenly a multi-racial gang of drunken, middle-aged men grabbed my bag and ran.

M: Sounds like an episode of Degrassi: The Dark Years.

WP: Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Pat Mastroianni was somehow involved. It was that weird. I do find some solace in thinking that all that they got was some food I stole from Chicks on Speed's deli tray, some garbage I picked up off the floor in the dressing room and a smelly orange jumpsuit.

CD launch with Katie Moore and the Moonshine Superstars and guests at Pasalymany (5845 Parc) on Friday, August 1, 9pm, $5

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