Miracle Fortress Solitary ManIf Graham Van Pelt could shelter himself from the music industry in the cosy confines of his home in Montreal, QC, the musician's life would suit him just fine. But as someone who's toured the world and released critically acclaimed albums with two bands should know, putting yourself out there is...Read More
Timber Timbre Behind the MaskTimber Timbre are happiest when visually represented by spooky, blurry and otherworldly images that evoke their music. But as their popularity grows, demands like photo shoots increase, so the band have taken a break from rehearsals to convene in the faded 19th century glory of Toronto's Great Hall...Read More
PJ Harvey War Stories"I don't really think of myself as much of a musician." Coming from the mouth of Polly Jean Harvey, those words are a startling admission. Considering the distinguished career she's led over the last two decades, it's impossible not to disagree. One glance at the instruments Harvey has employed...Read More
The Decemberists Barnstorming"After this record, we're going to take a nice long break." Colin Meloy isn't ready to call it quits with his indie rock band the Decemberists, but after a decade together he's looking ahead ― which means tying up some loose ends in the form of the band's sixth album, The King is Dead....Read More
Diamond Rings Glam By Design"Who wouldn't want to paint their face? It's the reason that kids go to the summer fair. You can become Batman or a Ninja Turtle. It allows you to embody this identity that is more than your constituent parts, it's this thing that takes over." John O'Regan is an avid face painter. It's a...Read More
Deerhunter All Access"I just peed," Bradford Cox informs me over the phone from his Atlanta residence. "Man, you're getting to experience everything about me today." It's more than an hour into our conversation and it's been more revealing than expected. Over the course of our chat I will disturb Bradford on a Sunday...Read More
Land of Talk Finding A Voice"I'm sorry, I'm so soaked!" Elizabeth Powell apologizes as she approaches and immediately leans in to greet me with a hug despite the fact that, just moments before, the skies emptied a sweltering hot summer's worth of pent-up precipitation over downtown Toronto. Bounding through the downpour into...Read More
Scott Pilgrim's Musical Little LifeClick here for your chance to win a CD copy of the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World original motion picture soundtrack. Scott Pilgrim will knock you on your ass. His superpower? Being awesome. Thanks to Bryan Lee O'Malley's six-part graphic novel series, the 23-year-old slacker musician...Read More
The Gaslight Anthem Signature SoundThe Gaslight Anthem aren't carrying their past with them anymore. With two albums in successive years (their debut Sink or Swim in 2007 and the career-altering 2008 release The '59 Sound), the rock'n'roll punk-tinged quartet heard the comparisons countless times over. And they weren't...Read More
Shad Gets It"I'm a cynic but I try to keep my heart warm." Amid all the bueno bon mots, mesmerizing metaphors and tasty turns of phrase on Shad's third studio album ― the enigmatically titled TSOL - this particular line, from "Lucky 1s," stands out. On the surface, such world-weary pessimism...Read More
Hannah Georgas The Tipping Point"It's a really great feeling to know people want to hear my opinion and my advice on music. It's an honour," Hannah Georgas says demurely, detailing her current position as a mentor and expert in a local music program. "It's amazing to sit on the other end and be like, 'Wow, I did this songwriting...Read More
POIRIER Brave New WorldThis February, Canadian producer Ghislain Poirier was in London for the 2010 Red Bull Music Academy, a one-of-a-kind musician's retreat that holds court every year in a different beats-friendly city (Poirier RBMA blog). In dance music circles, London is the global epicentre of bass; judging by the...Read More
Jason Collett & Zeus From Scene to Shining SceneAfter spending the entire day playing music with some of his closest pals, Carlin Nicholson has a well-worn grin on his face when he opens the main door to Ill Eagle studio as widely as he can. It's unseasonably misty for a Canadian winter night and Toronto's east side is damp and cool, making...Read More
Owen Pallett Final Flight of Fantasy"I pretty much had a meltdown," Owen Pallett admits, laughing ruefully. "This record took a lot out of me." The 30-year-old violin genius didn't name his third full-length album Heartland for nothing. It's all blood, guts, emotion, and his own money that Pallett's poured into the epic,...Read More
Tegan & Sara Sisters of Mercy"For people to trust you and believe you, they have to see you a little bit. I'm not afraid to expose myself in that way," says Sara Quin, of sibling duo Tegan and Sara. The petite brunette has just led me into the heart of the east Vancouver jam space where she and her identical twin Tegan are...Read More
You Say Party! We Say Die! Career Resuscitation"I think a lot of people probably thought I needed to be shipped home and sent straight to like, a mental institution. Maybe leave that out." Becky Ninkovic, the lead singer of You Say Party! We Say Die!, laughs ruefully. We're inside the band's cramped rehearsal room in a building that reeks...Read More
Two Hours Traffic Island Living"I'm still sweatin' here," says Two Hours Traffic guitarist Alec O'Hanley, having just returned from a morning tennis match. "I've got a 12 pack of Corona sitting in my fridge, just waiting to get to the beach." O'Hanley's laidback lifestyle is a strong argument for why he and his band-mates -...Read More
Ohbijou Community Living"It's funny when we talk about community, because for us, it's just our friends." As she fiddles with the drink sitting on the edge of the low wooden table in front of her, Casey Mecija tries to get to the crux of her band's constant association with the community to which they belong. The Ohbijou...Read More
Alexisonfire Drunks, Lovers, Singers and Saints"If you shoot ten music videos, someone's liable to die." George Pettit, the harsh-voiced counterpoint in Alexisonfire's three-vocalist assault, is sipping a beer in the cosy back room of his new Hamilton home. He is genially recalling the dead body that surfaced while his band was shooting the...Read More
Apostle of Hustle Masters of the RealmAndrew Whiteman is a lazy man. At least, he seems to think so. His resumé, which spans a 24-year career, begs to differ. He's been in two successful and influential bands - Broken Social Scene and Bourbon Tabernacle Choir - from completely different genres and different chapters of Canadian music...Read More
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If Graham Van Pelt could shelter himself from the music industry in the cosy confines of his home in Montreal, QC, the musician's life would suit him just fine. But as someone who's toured the world and released critically acclaimed albums with two bands should know, putting yourself out there is...Read More
Timber Timbre are happiest when visually represented by spooky, blurry and otherworldly images that evoke their music. But as their popularity grows, demands like photo shoots increase, so the band have taken a break from rehearsals to convene in the faded 19th century glory of Toronto's Great Hall...Read More
"I don't really think of myself as much of a musician." Coming from the mouth of Polly Jean Harvey, those words are a startling admission. Considering the distinguished career she's led over the last two decades, it's impossible not to disagree. One glance at the instruments Harvey has employed...Read More
"After this record, we're going to take a nice long break." Colin Meloy isn't ready to call it quits with his indie rock band the Decemberists, but after a decade together he's looking ahead ― which means tying up some loose ends in the form of the band's sixth album, The King is Dead....Read More
"Who wouldn't want to paint their face? It's the reason that kids go to the summer fair. You can become Batman or a Ninja Turtle. It allows you to embody this identity that is more than your constituent parts, it's this thing that takes over." John O'Regan is an avid face painter. It's a...Read More
"I just peed," Bradford Cox informs me over the phone from his Atlanta residence. "Man, you're getting to experience everything about me today." It's more than an hour into our conversation and it's been more revealing than expected. Over the course of our chat I will disturb Bradford on a Sunday...Read More
"I'm sorry, I'm so soaked!" Elizabeth Powell apologizes as she approaches and immediately leans in to greet me with a hug despite the fact that, just moments before, the skies emptied a sweltering hot summer's worth of pent-up precipitation over downtown Toronto. Bounding through the downpour into...Read More
Click here for your chance to win a CD copy of the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World original motion picture soundtrack. Scott Pilgrim will knock you on your ass. His superpower? Being awesome. Thanks to Bryan Lee O'Malley's six-part graphic novel series, the 23-year-old slacker musician...Read More
The Gaslight Anthem aren't carrying their past with them anymore. With two albums in successive years (their debut Sink or Swim in 2007 and the career-altering 2008 release The '59 Sound), the rock'n'roll punk-tinged quartet heard the comparisons countless times over. And they weren't...Read More
"I'm a cynic but I try to keep my heart warm." Amid all the bueno bon mots, mesmerizing metaphors and tasty turns of phrase on Shad's third studio album ― the enigmatically titled TSOL - this particular line, from "Lucky 1s," stands out. On the surface, such world-weary pessimism...Read More
"It's a really great feeling to know people want to hear my opinion and my advice on music. It's an honour," Hannah Georgas says demurely, detailing her current position as a mentor and expert in a local music program. "It's amazing to sit on the other end and be like, 'Wow, I did this songwriting...Read More
This February, Canadian producer Ghislain Poirier was in London for the 2010 Red Bull Music Academy, a one-of-a-kind musician's retreat that holds court every year in a different beats-friendly city (Poirier RBMA blog). In dance music circles, London is the global epicentre of bass; judging by the...Read More
After spending the entire day playing music with some of his closest pals, Carlin Nicholson has a well-worn grin on his face when he opens the main door to Ill Eagle studio as widely as he can. It's unseasonably misty for a Canadian winter night and Toronto's east side is damp and cool, making...Read More
"I pretty much had a meltdown," Owen Pallett admits, laughing ruefully. "This record took a lot out of me." The 30-year-old violin genius didn't name his third full-length album Heartland for nothing. It's all blood, guts, emotion, and his own money that Pallett's poured into the epic,...Read More
"For people to trust you and believe you, they have to see you a little bit. I'm not afraid to expose myself in that way," says Sara Quin, of sibling duo Tegan and Sara. The petite brunette has just led me into the heart of the east Vancouver jam space where she and her identical twin Tegan are...Read More
"I think a lot of people probably thought I needed to be shipped home and sent straight to like, a mental institution. Maybe leave that out." Becky Ninkovic, the lead singer of You Say Party! We Say Die!, laughs ruefully. We're inside the band's cramped rehearsal room in a building that reeks...Read More
"I'm still sweatin' here," says Two Hours Traffic guitarist Alec O'Hanley, having just returned from a morning tennis match. "I've got a 12 pack of Corona sitting in my fridge, just waiting to get to the beach." O'Hanley's laidback lifestyle is a strong argument for why he and his band-mates -...Read More
"It's funny when we talk about community, because for us, it's just our friends." As she fiddles with the drink sitting on the edge of the low wooden table in front of her, Casey Mecija tries to get to the crux of her band's constant association with the community to which they belong. The Ohbijou...Read More
"If you shoot ten music videos, someone's liable to die." George Pettit, the harsh-voiced counterpoint in Alexisonfire's three-vocalist assault, is sipping a beer in the cosy back room of his new Hamilton home. He is genially recalling the dead body that surfaced while his band was shooting the...Read More
Andrew Whiteman is a lazy man. At least, he seems to think so. His resumé, which spans a 24-year career, begs to differ. He's been in two successful and influential bands - Broken Social Scene and Bourbon Tabernacle Choir - from completely different genres and different chapters of Canadian music...Read More
