When it comes to Wavelength, few bands exemplify their DIY and creative spirit quite like cinematic symphonic act Del Bel. That's why in 2013 the band were chosen — along with Fresh Snow and Most People — to take part in the non-profit organization's inaugural Wavelength Artist Incubator series, designed to give fellow independent artists opportunities and advice to better navigate their way through the Canadian music industry.
"They seemed like they had that potential to become the next iconic Canadian indie band," says Wavelength's Artistic Director Jonathan Bunce on their selection. And so, the group went out on tour with their fellow Incubator artists across Ontario and Quebec in the summer of 2013, bringing their self-described "pop noir" sound to the masses.
The opportunity couldn't have come at a better time. With the band's self-titled sophomore LP ready for release at the festival on February 14, and an even wider audience thanks to last summer's stunning live shows, Del Bel are ready to break to a larger audience.
Originally recorded two years ago by Ian Romano and Kenny Meehan at the pair's basement studio, and around the GTA, Del Bel's latest effort is a stylistic and structural departure from 2011's critically acclaimed Oneiric.
"I had a huge rap phase in my life where I listened to rap and hip-hop for ten straight years. So slowly but surely I've been kind of incorporating these influences within Del Bel," says Tyler Belluz, the band's chief composer and creator, about the album's moody, trip-hop-inspired sound. "Trip-hop is generally geared towards more of the electronic, and I think we have an electronic sound but performed live."
Now, after a brief hiatus that saw the project's lead vocalist, Lisa Conway, take off to Ireland to complete a Masters in Sonic Arts, the band are back and ready to show listeners what they've been missing out on.
Del Bel is out February 10 through Missed Connection Records.
"They seemed like they had that potential to become the next iconic Canadian indie band," says Wavelength's Artistic Director Jonathan Bunce on their selection. And so, the group went out on tour with their fellow Incubator artists across Ontario and Quebec in the summer of 2013, bringing their self-described "pop noir" sound to the masses.
The opportunity couldn't have come at a better time. With the band's self-titled sophomore LP ready for release at the festival on February 14, and an even wider audience thanks to last summer's stunning live shows, Del Bel are ready to break to a larger audience.
Originally recorded two years ago by Ian Romano and Kenny Meehan at the pair's basement studio, and around the GTA, Del Bel's latest effort is a stylistic and structural departure from 2011's critically acclaimed Oneiric.
"I had a huge rap phase in my life where I listened to rap and hip-hop for ten straight years. So slowly but surely I've been kind of incorporating these influences within Del Bel," says Tyler Belluz, the band's chief composer and creator, about the album's moody, trip-hop-inspired sound. "Trip-hop is generally geared towards more of the electronic, and I think we have an electronic sound but performed live."
Now, after a brief hiatus that saw the project's lead vocalist, Lisa Conway, take off to Ireland to complete a Masters in Sonic Arts, the band are back and ready to show listeners what they've been missing out on.
Del Bel is out February 10 through Missed Connection Records.
