INTERVIEW: Five Alarm Funk
What do you get when you combine ten years of relentless touring with nine musicians who love to create high-energy music? The answer to that question is Vancouver’s own Five Alarm Funk. The band’s fifth studio album Abandon Earth is set for release on June 10th and is a concept album revolving around the destruction of the Earth by a giant robot. The band will be celebrating with an album release party this Saturday June 7th at the Commodore Ballroom here in Vancouver.
INTERVIEW: Current Swell
This has been a busy month for Current Swell. A handful of US shows, an appearance at Canadian Music Week, a show at the Commodore Ballroom, and a big hometown show in Victoria at Ship Point as part of Red Bull’s Hometown Tour series. More notably, the band released their fifth record Ulysses on May 6th.
INTERVIEW: 4Count
The day before I spoke on the phone with the members of 4Count, there was fandemonium on the other side of the country. The band had surprised two schools in Ontario as part of an anti-bullying campaign organized by their friend and motivational speaker, Saidat. The smiles on the faces of the kids they surprised said it all – 4Count has their hearts set on making a positive impression.
INTERVIEW: Real Ponchos
Real Ponchos will be celebrating the release of their debut full-length album at the Anza Club tomorrow night (May 2nd). In support of Since I Let You Go, the Vancouver alt-country band will be embarking on a cross-Canada tour which we previously posted details for.
INTERVIEW: The 1975
I had the opportunity to chat with lead singer Matthew Healy before The 1975 played to a sold-out crowd at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver. He provided insight on genres, touring globally, and the inspiration behind the video for their new single, “Robbers”.
INTERVIEW & PLAYLIST THURSDAY: Boy and Bear
I recently had the opportunity to ask Boy & Bear’s bassist Dave Symes a few questions through e-mail. The band is currently touring the USA and Canada and quickly selling out venues. Among the sold-out shows includes their upcoming show in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom this Sunday April 6th.
INTERVIEW: The Fratellis
Last week, before The Fratellis’ first Vancouver show at Venue, I had the opportunity to chat with Jon Fratelli about their latest record, regrouping as a band, and his musical influences.
INTERVIEW: Little Mix
The four lovely ladies of Little Mix are set to conquer the world. We had the opportunity to chat with Little Mix ahead of the first show of the Neon Lights Tour with Demi Lovato and Fifth Harmony in Vancouver. We talked about their new album, meeting their Canadian fans, touring necessities, and even got a playlist of their favourite love songs.
INTERVIEW: Augustines
There are three words often associated with the music of Augustines: anthemic, honest, and emotive. Augustines consists of lead singer Billy McCarthy, multi-instrumentalist Eric Sanderson, and drummer Rob Allen. The band was formerly known as We Are Augustines, but has come full circle with their name and self-titled sophomore release. The name is a testament to the journey the band has been on since their formation, under the ashes of McCarthy and Sanderson’s previous band.
INTERVIEW: Fifth Harmony
We spoke with Camila Cabello and Dinah Jane Hansen on the phone ahead of the first show of the Neon Lights Tour and talked about the fans, touring with Demi Lovato, collaborating with Boyce Avenue, and how it feels to be role models.
INTERVIEW: Sidney York
There is something refreshing about Sidney York. It might be in how quick Brandi Sidoryk and Krista Wodelet are to admit their band geek pasts. It might be in their use of unconventional instruments such as the bassoon and the French horn on stage. Whether it’s their willingness to write songs about geeky subjects, or in their musical training, Sidney York is definitely a lot of fun to listen to and to see live. The two lovely ladies of Sidney York are ready to take over the next ten months of your life, musically. Their sophomore release, <3s (Hearts), will be released in five subscriptions, two songs at a time, every two months starting today. The first volume of <3s features the title track, ‘Hearts’ and ‘Electrolove’. We had the opportunity to chat with Krista ahead of their show at the Biltmore Cabaret last week, and found out what Sidney York has planned for the year ahead, and what you can expect when you subscribe to <3s.
INTERVIEW: Phildel
The life of Phildel has been anything but ordinary, and she uses the power of her personal experiences to create extraordinary music. As a child, Phildel found herself entrapped in a religious household void of power and deprived of music. Wordsworth put it best: “We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.” She left home at the age of seventeen to rebuild her personal identity and to develop the musical visions that had been manifesting in her imagination. The result of those visions can be heard in her debut album, The Disappearance of The Girl, the title alluding to her past. Following a stellar performance in Vancouver last week at CBC Studio 700, I had the opportunity to talk to Phildel about the effect that music has had on her, the most rewarding process in making her debut, and the message of her music.
PLAYLIST THURSDAY & INTERVIEW: Onelight
Ahead of their release party for their self-titled debut album this Saturday at The Media Club, we had the opportunity to chat with Amy Usher […]
INTERVIEW: The Paper Kites
If there were one word to use to describe The Paper Kites, it would be humble. The five-piece band from Melbourne, Australia began as a […]
#musicmonday Artist Feature – Cat Thomson
With her darkly ethereal vocals and a knack for dynamic arrangements, Cat Thomson is ready to tackle the charts with her debut single, “Sticks & Stones”, set for release tomorrow (October 22nd) on iTunes. The singer-songwriter has been paving her musical path from the moment she started piano lessons at age five to studying opera for five years at Louisana State University on a full scholarship.