Canadian Indie Geography – Pt. 1: West Coast
Said The Whale
If you haven’t heard of Said The Whale until now, you’ve been missing out on a lot of national love. This band tends to be very loving towards their fanbase and always keeps things interactive through the use of Twitter and Facebook. Their “indie nautical goodness” is imbibed with folky Canadian references, but they’re so lovable that they’ve also got a loyal listening fanbase across the borders as well. So take a few listens, get your toes-a-tappin’, and then some!
Said The Whale – “Goodnight Moon”:
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Hey Ocean!
One of the most infectious bands from the West Coast, and possibly all of Canada, Hey Ocean!‘s funky feel good music will surely crack a smile on even the most sombre of faces. Lead singer/glockenspielist Ashleigh Ball is the most adorable little firecracker to watch on stage, and has great chemistry with stagnant members David Beckingham (singer/guitarist) and Dave Vertesi (singer/bassist). They’re also known for great poetry and fantastic musicality.
Hey Ocean! – “Song About California”:
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Teen Daze
There’s been a lot of buzz going on about Teen Daze. The anonymous DJ has been productively getting his name around the indie music scene by making rad remixes of songs from bands like Local Natives, Yeasayer, and Japandroids to name a few. Don’t tell anyone, but we sometimes find his remixes sound better than the actual songs themselves. Go listen to his dreamy beats and get your flow on! We’ll get you started with his remix of “Wide Eyes” by Local Natives.
Local Natives – “Wide Eyes” (Teen Daze Remix):
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The Zolas
Dynamic duo Zachary Gray and Tom Dobrzanski have been at the music thing since their tender high school years in choir class. Formerly known as Lotus Child, they now play together as The Zolas, a rock outfit with intricate cabaret-style piano parts woven in to make a collection of powerful songs. Zach has an amazing set of pipes and can probably contend with Mariah Carey’s range, without making you cringe, and Tom has the quickest, most talented set of fingers we’ve seen and heard for a while!
The Zolas – “The Great Collapse”:
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Aidan Knight
Everything Aidan Knight does sounds sweet like honey. It might be his voice, it might be his lyrics, it might even be his soft guitar playing. Whatever it is, it infallibly makes you feel warm and cozy inside. He takes the DIY business to a different level, taking care of making his own music videos as well. He also likes cereal, to the point where he calls himself a “cerealist”. You can listen to his latest album “Versicolour” here. He’s even giving you the option of naming your price on the download. Sweet!
Aidan Knight – “Fighting Against Your Lungs”:
Brasstronaut
Well, the name says it all here. Brasstronaut are a mellow, ambient rock band with brass instrument infusions. Some of their songs sort of remind you of those old black and white mystery films from the 1940s, when the main character is seen walking back home or back to their office alone on a dark, quiet night. Other songs’ intensities just put you in a pensive state of mind. Either way they are fantastic to listen to, whether you’re walking home alone on a frisky night, or whether your just cooking dinner with some friends.
Brasstronaut – “Slow Knots”:
Yukon Blonde
Who doesn’t enjoy three-part harmonies? It’s as if Grizzly Bear made love to an upbeat, Western-Canadian band and gave birth to Yukon Blonde. This three piece is a master at making their listeners coo due to their lovely, full-bodied vocal and instrumental arrangements. The good thing about their up-and-comingness is the fact that they like visiting Montreal. Do yourselves a favour and go see them this March 3rd at the Il Motore. I have spoken.
Yukon Blonde – “Rather Be With You”:
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Honorable Mention:
-Hannah Georgas
-Dan Mangan
-We Are The City
-Frog Eyes
-Japandroids
-Bend Sinister
-Oh No! Yoko
-Fond Of Tigers
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