Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts

Friday, 15 July 2016

Rosedale Q&A

Your name: 
Mike Liorti.

Where are you from? 
West outskirts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. City called Brampton.

Name of band: 
ROSEDALE.

Who else is in your band? 
Just me but I have a bunch of fill-ins all over.

How would you describe yourself and your music? 
Aggressive power pop. It's like if Boxcar Racer and Boys Like Girls had a tall, production-junkie child.

Who are your main influences musically? 
Tom Delonge, Jerry Finn, Kris Roe, Roger Joseph Manning Jr. , Alex Baker, Owl City, Ben Gibbard, Radiohead, Underoath, The Starting Line, Travis Barker, Kenny Bridges.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
Happiness and legacy. I want to change lives like my favorite songs/albums/shows changed mine.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 
Performing outside of Warped tour was always bittersweet. Sometimes kids just weren't in the mood to hear a new band while waiting to get in and see the bands they know. But often times people connected and were extremely supportive. It was the best experience of my life getting bands like All Time Low, Bayside, Taking Back Sunday, New Found Glory, Attack! Attack! The Used ect., bands I've looked up to for years, checking out my one-man show and buying my CDs and merch. Then FINALLY getting on the schedule and playing some stages. Those were the real trophy moments for me. Especially after all my bandmates and managers threw in the towel.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
There's a lot of those!! One that comes to mind was when we got caught at the border with a tour itinerary and expiring work permits fall of '09. We lied about the tour and almost got banned from America for seven years. Luckily they saw no harm done and gave us a one-year watch period with a denial notice. That was a big tour we had to miss out on though and a depressing drive home. We were young and dumb, lesson learned. Then there's the time we went to Montreal for a last-minute Warped-line set and rolled our van into a ditch on the way home..but I'll save that one.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
That's very tough. Every song is almost a whole different genre. Lyrically: Sustain, instrumentally: Quicksand, tone-ally??: Grey, integrally: A kid Again, progressively: To My Father ...I really missed a few. I love'm all.

Where can we listen to it?  rosedale.bandcamp.com




Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask? 
I'm always looking for musicians to tour. So if you wanna travel and play shows, hit me up with a video of you playing and I'll check it out.


Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Tomorrow's Midnight Q&A

Your name: 
Jordan Sane (vocals/guitar) & Elena Red (drums).

Where are you from? 
Toronto, Canada.

Name of band: 
Tomorrow's Midnight.

Who else is in your band?
Russell Jackson-Wyatt (lead guitar), Tarun Dawar (bass) & Nikhil Carneiro (keyboards).

How would you describe yourselves and your music?
Modern rock 'n' roll!

Who are your main influences musically?
Black Keys, Social Distortion, July Talk, Foo Fighters, Gutter Twins.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
Elena: I want to gain a fan base in places around the world that is as significant as in my home town. Putting a band on the road and bringing a great show to as many people as possible is my ultimate goal.
Jordan: I love being on the road so, as Elena said, playing to people and meeting fans in different cities every night is where I draw my most energy and enjoyment from.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Jordan: I was fortunate enough to tour with Alice Cooper in a previous band and that was amazing. I learned a lot and just being around that level of artist, those musicians and that crew was inspirational every night and made me want to be a better performer. But the highlight was being asked back by Alice for a second tour leg because that meant that we impressed him and were the kind of people that an artist like that would want to be on the road with. It meant a lot to know that I had accomplished that. 
Elena: The first time I toured Australia. It was the first time I had travelled outside of Canada and music gave me that opportunity. Being in a foreign country and not knowing what was going to happen at each stop was a great experience. I discovered that I loved the touring life and want to continue exploring new places with Tomorrow's Midnight. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
Elena: I was playing a show in Toronto opening for an American touring band and had arranged to use their drum kit. It wasn't until sound check that I learned I would be playing their electronic drums. I was in a punk band and until then I'd only ever played those in a music store for fun but I knew I had to play as hard as I normally would. I probably looked like I was trying not to hurt a kitten!
Jordan: I had no memory of ever being in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Not until I read over the tour itinerary months later did I realize I had played there. I'm sure they have lovely people and I probably would have wanted to remember it... if I hadn't already forgotten.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
We recorded a three-song EP before ever playing live and we chose those three songs because we felt they best represented our sound and the different styles that we incorporate. If we had to pick one it would probably be The Book Of Your Life. It's actually the first song we wrote for the band and is the lead-off song in our set. It contains the mix of bluesy guitar hooks and self-aware, but positive, lyrics that defines our songwriting.

Where can we listen to it?
Our three-song EP is available for stream and download at www.tomorrowsmidnight.bandcamp.com



Where can we find out more about your music? 
We encourage people to visit our website www.tomorrowsmidnight.ca which contains tour dates, photos and links to our music as well as our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages...
Twitter: @tomorrowsmid

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask?
First off, thanks for the Q&A! We've talked about some past experiences but we are always looking ahead and those experiences have helped to formulate what we do now and tomorrow. We love making music and sharing it with audiences but we're a live band at heart and the most important thing for us is getting out and playing; meeting with, and sharing moments with, people anywhere, any time. We hope to be sharing our show with audiences in the UK soon!

Saturday, 16 January 2016

James Clark Hangover Q&A

Your name: 
David Clark.

Where are you from? 
Born and lived most of my life in Toronto. Raised in London, Ontario.

Name of band: 
James Clark Hangover.

Who else is in your band?
In the studio it's just me with the help of my producer. Live it's Don Currell on bass and Andrew Jones on drums.

How would you describe yourselves? 
Late-Seventies rock and roll with side orders of pop and punk. 

Who are your main influences musically? 
Stones, Beatles, Neil Young, Zep, Pistols, Ramones, New York Dolls..you know, the usual suspects.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
Universal acclaim for my songwriting skills would be great but I'm not holding my breath. Honestly all I want is to keep playing regularly and keep making records. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 
The highlights of my career are many. Meeting and playing with DOA over the years has to up there. Playing Webster Hall, The Continental and CBGBs all in the space of a week a good one. Jamming with Perry Ferrell at The Bovine rates.  

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
Any time drugs or alcohol impacted performance. So that's many.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
Black Cloud. It's rock and roll with pop melodies, a fun lyric, sexy T Rexy guitars and a beefy Keef/Johnny/Jonesy solo.

Where can we listen to it? 



Where can we find out more about your music?

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?
I try to write music that is fun and not too serious. The Stones in a bar having fun.

Sunday, 22 November 2015

Keddy Q&A

Your name:
Liam Keddy.

Where are you from?  
I am from Nova Scotia. I grew up in a very Celtic family, life encircled the highland games.
I grew up with a very artistic and rebellious crowd, hidden in a crowd of skaters, punks, goths and neohippies. I studied acting and music in Nova Scotia and moved to Toronto to study classical guitar and composition and to create something different of my own.  Embracing myself in the artistic societies of Toronto, the bohemian culture and gothic overtones that have always made Toronto great. 

Band name: 
Keddy.

Who is in your band? 
Keddy consists of myself and a long-time friend and collaborative partner Michael Kolk; a master of the guitar like myself, he an Estonian; a viking hailing from Vancouver. We met in Toronto while studying with the same teachers and partaking in the University of Toronto Guitar Orchestra. Our musical tastes being very similar in both rock music and classical music we work very well together.

How would you describe yourselves? 
There is a very wild and formal side to what I create. Much like the established Gaulish and gothic ancestor compliments the more earth enriched Pictish/Ojibwe aspect of my genes. We are initially encouraged to look towards pop culture for answers to who we are, usually becoming lost or sheepish in the process. But if we study our roots, particularly prior to the Roman conquests of Europe we can really see why we are drawn to certain things. As if it is trying to feel in tune with us also.So with this in mind I want there to be an archaic/shamatic side, very real and pure, but I also want it to have a darkened angelic side. Having both "scholarly" and "folkish" aspects to the work. Ecstasy created some without boundaries and others very much deriving its power or focus from control. 

Who are your main influences musically?

As a very young listener it began with the recordings of Elvis, later progressing to works of Andrew Lloyd Webber. I am inspired by psychedelic rock music of the late 60s early 70s and the grunge/industrial rock that was popular in the 90s.  My tastes becoming more and more eclectic as I become more educated and involved in the culture and subcultures present. That being said I am very inspired by so-called "dark ambient" artists such as "Lustmord" and "Herbst 9".  From the guitar perspective I am very influenced by lute compositions of Silvuis Leopold Weiss and John Dowland  and contemporary such as composers Phillip Houghton and Leo Brouwer. For vocal arrangement  Henry Purcell, the Gregorian Chants made famous by the Monks of the Benedictine AbbeyJohn Tavener. 
and the choral works of WA Mozart. Very much inspired by the contrapuntal techniques of Palestrina JS Bach and Jean Phillip Rameau to the minimalism of Eric Satie. The more complex and agitated works of Demetri Shostakovitch Igor Stravinsky and Bela Bartok. I am inspired by "neo celtic" groups such as "Garmarna" "Faun" and "Wardruna" for their aesthetic approach and cultural identity.


What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Everything has been preparation for Keddy, which began in May of this year. It will be a conduit for all the works I have created over the last decade or more. For me embracing my own style was the greatest highlight. As finding my "voice" was a great triumph in itself and being able to share something so sentimental and perfect in itself observing it as its own being, with its own distinct spirit. I have played many shows at some of the greatest venues in Canada, and recorded in the best studios, but creating and polishing something you feel very attached to have proven to be the most rewarding. 

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
I would say "The Hive" is the best recorded representation of my musical direction. 




Where can we find out more about your music? 
https://www.facebook.com/liamkeddymusic
https://www.reverbnation.com/Keddymusic
http://thedelusionmanifesto.blogspot.ca/
https://soundcloud.com/keddymusic
https://twitter.com/LiamKeddy

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?
Keddy is a name created by Pictish/Gaelic Druids meaning "friend" coming from the ancient tribe of "Cernonnicae" followers of "Cernunnos" the antlered agricultural god, neighbouring the "Crownies" or "Crow people" and "Cat" or Cat people of Northern Scotland. In the Highlands of Ross also known as the clan of "Fidach" sons of Cruithne. Heavily influenced by Egyptian Princess Scotia and Norse culture.

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

BROOMFILLER Q&A

Band name: 
BROOMFILLER.

Where are you from?  
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Who is in your band? 
Richard, with Jack, Chris, Terry & Val live.

How would you describe yourselves?  
Melodic punk rock.

Who are your main influences musically?
BROOMFILLER have been compared to Foo Fighters holding hands with Bracket while sitting on a park bench made by Jawboxx and Husker Du, eating a sandwich made by Bad Religion and Face to Face.

What do you hope to achieve in music?  
Connect with people.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Playing a packed 1700 seat venue - The Grove, in Anaheim, CA.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
How Long, So Long - it represents (lyrically and musically) what I've been going through over the last year, losing both my parents and trying to cope.

Where can we listen to it?
YouTube lyric video link:  http://youtu.be/DoAwQLaZhC0


Where can we find out more about your music? 
Official site - www.broomfiller.com
iTunes link - https://itun.es/ca/s9dS9

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?
We are currently on a full Canadian tour, please check out our tour dates and come say hi at our Merch booth!! 

Friday, 2 October 2015

Made Wade Q&A

Your name: 
Made Wade.

Where are you from?
Now based out of Ottawa after living in Toronto for nearly a decade, but originally from London, Ontario.

How would you describe yourselves?
A multifaceted lyricist and entertainer who specializes in rap music, rap battles, and spoken word poetry.

Who are your main influences musically?
I have an eclectic appreciation for hip hop (ranging from boom bap to trap) that extends to several other genres. Basically, I don't care if you're a metal head or a country singer. If you've got some talent and some work ethic then I can find some merit in what you do. BUT - if I have to play favourites, some of my big influences are: Big Pun, Big L, Gang Starr, The Roots, OutKast, Bone Thugs, Cypress Hill, Yelawolf and I could go on for days.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
Because I don't just make music, I also do rap battles and write spoken word poetry, I would love to make a career out of all three. The dream would be to continue receiving grants to make music so I could tour the world and make a living from my live performances while also being commissioned to compete in rap battles and write/perform poetry pieces.  

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Opening for Mos Def was a big one and so was receiving (and completing) my first FACTOR grant-funded album. However, I think the highlight thus far has been opening up the 2011 Toronto TEDx conference with a brand new, never before performed, spoken word piece. It was exhilarating performing poetry of that magnitude that genuinely connected with a captive audience of 750 people. I will never forget the outpour of positivity that my partner (Truth Is...) and I received when we stepped off that stage. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
My KOTD GZ rap battle vs Luciano Crakk. Don't even both watching it. If you want to see me at my best, check out Made Wade vs Bulle or Made Wade vs Suspense. Just trust me on this one...

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
My latest and greatest creation "Lady T.O." because of it's broad appeal and soulful sounds. It's an ode to a city (Toronto) that I once called home and a tribute to loving and appreciating a partner who's not always the easiest to love. It features flawless production by the legendary Relic AKA Rel McCoy and it is by far my best poetry/music video to date.

Where can we listen to it? 
(The Lady T.O. music video has received 14,000+ views in only 2 weeks!!!)


Where can we find out more about your music?

Tuesday, 8 September 2015

Sunshine And The Blue Moon bring us video for Lucy

SUNSHINE And The Blue Moon have released a video for their track Lucy.

Shot by a pal on super8 film in winter, the band from Toronto, Canada, say they had no intention of using the footage for a music video.

But they told RealSoundsOK: "It just looked so great we thought we might as well use it for something. 

"I think it's safe to say we're a pretty nostalgic bunch. We get our music on vinyl or tape, we take our photors and shoot home videos on film, we drive around in a big old boat of a car, anything that brings us a little farther away from the pervasive technologies that dog all of our daily lives."

SATBM have signed with The Hand Recordings and will be releasing their debut album soon.

In the meantime you can watch the video for Lucy below and find out more at facebook.com/sunshineandthebluemoon


Monday, 22 June 2015

Delta Will give us a taste of debut LP

ALT-pop outfit Delta Will have released Manic Pulse - the first single from their upcoming debut album.

Charles from the Toronto band told RealSoundsOK: "It's a song I wrote about a young man's dizzying journey through the triumphant highs and loathsome lows of a manic episode.

"Sonically, the track alternates between dark swelling verses and explosive, sparkling choruses of psych-pop bliss"

You can get the single at Bandcamp - or listen below - and find out more at facebook.com/deltawillmusic


Sunday, 7 June 2015

For Esmé release video just for You

ELECTRO trio For Esmé have released their new single You.

It is a glimpse into the Toronto outfit's album to be released later this year.

Martha Meredith from the band told RealSoundsOK: "Poised between nouveaux and nostalgia, reality and the sublime, our new work is about being present in the moment, and ultimately, immeasurably open to joy.

"The video amplifies the feeling of losing yourself to the beat, and letting go of your inhibitions. A dreamlike adventure through an old school at night, the excitement, secrecy and spontaneity."

Martha takes vox, drum machine and synth duties in For Esmé with Dave Thiel (bass, electronic soundscapes) and Nathan Crook (guitar, vox) making up the trio.

You can watch the video for You below and for more on the band head to facebook.com/foresmeforever

Monday, 1 June 2015

Crooked House Road Q&A

Your name: 
Shaina Silver-Baird.

Where are you from? 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Name of band: 
Crooked House Road.

Who else is in your band? 
Mirian Kay (vocals/acoustic guitar), Derek Gray (drums/percussion), Gram Whitty (bass) and Joshua Skye Engel (electric guitar/mandolin).

How would you describe yourselves?
Known for soaring harmony and raw emotion, Crooked House Road pulls on folk, blues, soul, bluegrass and pop inspiration to create a sound all their own. Having just released their debut album with producer Ken Whiteley, CHR’s strength is in their live performances which are both intimate and powerful.

Who are your main influences musically?
Modern Americana bands with lots of harmony like The Lone Bellow and The Civil Wars. Classic folk like Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills, Nash. And the blues and jazz greats old and new like Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Adele.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
My aim has always been to tell stories through my music. I think the more honest a song is the more an audience can connect with it. And that’s really what this is all is about for me: connecting with an audience and putting on a performance. If we’re having a blast up there, then our audience is bound to have fun as well.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
The highlight of my musical career has to have been the process of recording this album. There’s so much work that goes into a project like this, over so many months. But the couple weeks in the studio, recording with the band, Ken and our guest musicians, was bliss. It was an exciting time, having all these amazing musicians dedicated to working on my music. It was surreal.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
About a year ago we played a gig closing off the night for a friend’s band, and I lost my voice mid set. And I mean seriously lost my voice – I could barely make a sound by the third song. I had to end our set halfway through and it was the worst feeling.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
Goodbye My Friend. It’s one of the first ones I wrote and has this exhilarating, uplifting quality despite the fact that I wrote it after a crushing break up. I love that it makes people in a crowded bar shut up, listen and clap along, despite being so bittersweet.

Where can we listen to it? 
You can find it on exclaim.ca in their premiere of the album: 

Where can we find out more about your music?

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?
If you like what we’re doing or want to have us come to your local venue we’d love to hear from you! Write us at crookedhouseroad@gmail.com; find us on Facebook or tweet us at @CrookedHouseRd!

Isabel and the Uncommons Q&A

Your name: 
Isabel Fryszberg.

Where are you from? 
Toronto.

Name of band: 
Isabel and the Uncommons.

Who else is in your band?
Isabel and The Uncommons are a rock solid gang of amazing players featuring Toronto’s finest musicians: 
producer and drummer Don Kerr (Ron Sexsmith, Rheostatics), guitarist Steve Briggs (Russell DeCarle, Quartette, Slyvia Tyson, Michael Brennan), and bassist Dennis Pendrith 
(Stuart Mclean’s Vinyl Cafe, Bruce Cockburn, Mose Scarlett),  Rosalyn Dennett (The Living Daylight Stringband, Oh My Darling) joins in on fiddle, banjo and harmonies.

How would you describe yourselves? 
I am a honest storyteller with a spicy mix of vulnerability, humour and courage. My songs are autobiographical, roots based, country, rock and blues inspired. 

Who are your main influences musically? 
Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Harry Nilsson, Dolly Parton, Imelda May, Mary Gauthier, Patti Smith, appalachian southern fiddle music, Carter family, Emmylou Harris, Bessie Smith, Sippie Wallace, Bonnie Rait, Mavis Staples, The Band, The Beatles, The Everly Brothers, Lorretta Lynn.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
Constant growth, true expression, honest engagement of myself and my audience. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
My recent album is a highlight. These are songs some old some new that I’ve wanted to put together for a long time and I just wanted to put it all together. It’s my first solo debut album. I enjoyed the recording process with the amazing players that I’ve been fortunate to work with, the positive response from audiences and reviewers. This is silly but a text from a friend saying she heard my song on CBC earlier in the day, that made me smile inside.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
Sending my CD to my ex who inspired some of the songs and thinking something transformational would happen to him.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
That’s tough since my music is very diverse even though it is love inspired. 

Where can we listen to your music?

Where can we find out more about your music?

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Single, video and an album from Crooked House Road

INDIE folk collective Crooked House Road have released their single Mountain.

And there's more reason to celebrate as the Toronto-based outfit have also put out a live video for the track Tell Me A Story and their self-titled album is out next week.

Shaina Silver-Baird from the band told RealSoundsOK: "Crooked House Road began when I met Mirian Kay at an open mic and we immediately sparked a friendship. She became my musical partner in crime and we began performing my original songs around Toronto.

"Since then, Crooked House Road has grown into a full band with our own unique fusion of folk, pop and blues music.

"After a successful first show, we set out to build our repertoire and find a solid collective of musicians to write our first full-length album.

"In a way, the Crooked House Road musicians found us. Derek Gray was my upstairs neighbour, Gram Whitty was a subtle musician we brought in for one gig and never let go, I met Joshua Skye Engel at synagogue playing a show for kids, and Tom Mifflin was an old buddy from university."

You can listen to Mountain by clicking here and watch the video for Tell Me A Story below. For more info head to crookedhouseroad.com


Thursday, 14 May 2015

Alexandria Q&A

Your name: 
Alexandria.

Where are you from? 
Toronto, Canada.

Who else is in your band?
I'm a solo act - singer - I do however play with a live band or get accompanied by a guitarist.

How would you describe yourselves and your music?
I could be seen as eclectic. I like to evoke my inner goddess while performing and singing. My music is a fusion of soul sounds, bluesy pop melodies and earthy tones. Alternative yet relatable. It is sometimes described as conscious soul pop.

Who are your main influences musically? My main influences are Florence and the Machine, Michael Jackson and more indie artists like Sellah Sue.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
I want to connect with people on a global level - evoking emotion through music, telling stories of life and elevating human consciousness through all aspects of music: from instruments, to vocal melodies and lyrics. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
I would say there have been several moments I would call highlights for me. Selling out my shows has been extremely humbling and an honour, getting the opportunity to work with Canadian icons Dan Hill and Gavin Brown, collaborating with UK DJ Ill Phil and watching myself evolve and grow as a musician and performer!

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
I wouldn't choose to forget any. Each moment, no matter what kind it is, has been of value and beneficial to my evolution as a person and artist. All paths have led me here - and all are worth remembering ! :)

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
Well for now I’ll say my single Stay captures my sound and some of my vocal qualities. I am currently in the works of creating my first project/album that will showcase more fully what my music is about.

Where can we listen to it?



Where can we find out more about your music? 
Official site: www.theonlyalexandria.com