F R E E
GRIMES
VERONICA FALLS
JOEL PLASKETT
ROAD TRIPPING
79
CONTENTS VOLUME 10 NUMBER 3 ISSUE 79
FEATURES
28. Focus Meredtih Truax
32. Focus Richmond Lam
38. Grimes - not just in the scene, but creating it.
DEPARTMENTS
CULTURE
MUSIC
20. Jeremy Shantz The art school whizz done good.
50. Joel Plaskett Our favourite story teller.
62. Album Reviews
24. Road Tripping Lifting the lid on what happens on tour.
54. Veronica Falls They’ll be there for you.
63. SelectION: Les choses sonne toujours mieux dans une langue étrangère.
58. Jeremy Glenn Makes us want to dance.
REGULARS 12. Editor’s Letter Music to our ears.
18. ION Prize
64. Horoscopes: Ryan Kerr. We really like him.
14. Of The Month Pennies, dance music, fashion, the Olympics, festivals, private parts, bands and manscaping.
36. ION Style
65. Comics
4
IONMAGAZINE.COM
FEATURE
C O V E R
IO
N
E
F E A
T U R COVER: Grimes
[Shot exclusively for ION Magazine] PHOTOGRAPHY Fiona Garden STYLING Alexis Knox STYLIST ASSISTANTS Tasha Levy and Obui Amaechi MAKE-UP Kristina Vidic using MAC Cosmetics
“WE SLEPT ON DOG BEDS IN THE MINIVAN, GOT UP AT 5AM AND
PLAYED TO 5,000 PEOPLE ON ECSTASY”
IONMAGAZINE.COM
5
OTM
OF THE MONTH
TELL ME WHAT’S YOUR FANTASY? ANDREW FAIRCLOUGH’S IMPROBABLE JAMS
Not quite the same intentions as when Luda once asked, or musical penchant, but “Who is your Fantasy Supergroup and where would they play your dream gig?” is the question posed by Australian illustrator Andrew Fairclough. His Improbable Jams project then turns these musical mash-ups, no matter how ridiculous, into an on-going series of one off posters, commemorating improbable gigs, played by even more implausible bands. A combination of six musicians, from bands including Bat For Lashes and Holy Fuck, plus production by Nick Cave and Bjork, equals the sadly mythical The Western State. No grouping is impossible. Watch out for a screen print exhibition coming soon.
T IME LI N E THIS TIME IN HISTORY: JUNE AND JULY IS PEAK MUSIC FESTIVAL SEASON WORLDWIDE. IN HOMAGE TO QUITE PROBABLY THE BEST CONCEPT EVER CREATED, WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE MOST HISTORICAL FESTIVAL MOMENTS, GOOD AND BAD:
6
IONMAGAZINE.COM
WOODSTOCK, 1969 The whole
event is the most prolific in music festival history. Highlights include Hendrix’s star spangled banner, Pete Townshend’s guitar bash at an off kilter anti-war protestor
and Sly and the Family Stone’s 3.30am funk filled performance. ALTAMONT, 1969 – The Rolling Stones make a ballsy, and costly move by hiring the Hell’s Angels as their
personal security. Paid in beer, the night descends into mayhem as the famed violence of the Angels ensues, and one fan is stabbed to death.
LIVE AID, 1985 U2 are flung
onto the global stage, and have refused to leave since. The perfect start to the rise of Bono, music’s spokesman for all things charity, Africa, and sunglasses.
OTM
photo: Warrior Poets
GRIMES P*SSY S HA PED RINGS
MUS I C TO O UR EA RS MAN SO M E, TH E M OV I E Directed by Morgan “Super Size Me” Spurlock and produced by Will Arnett and Jason Bateman, this comic documentary on man-grooming – including amazing beardsmen, handlebar ‘taches and more than a sprinkling of manscaping - debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival and promises more than a few laughs. Highlights include a effortlessly funny Paul Rudd, and the self confessed anti-groomer Zach Galifianakis. Showing at selected screens across North America now. Check out [mansomethemovie.com] for more.
Not that we needed an official poll to tell us it’s true, but now it’s a proven fact that Canada’s music scene is the best in the world. According to a report by Last.fm, Montreal and Toronto are global heavy weights when it comes to setting musical trends. Montreal is the number one city in the world to influence the indie scene and tastes, followed by Toronto in second place. Hip-hop accolades followed with T-O in second place, and Montreal in fourth, as well as third for pop influence. We hate to say we told them so, but…
Make no mistake; these are exactly what they say on the tin. For her first fashion creation, Grimes has collaborated with prominent Montreal artist/ sculptor/ jeweller Morgan Black on these giant plastic rings, made out of a mould of ladyparts. Part of what they are calling the ‘existenz’ line, they come in black, pink and clear. Check out Grimes’ first ever TV appearance on Jools Holland to see her modelling one. Also, flick to page 44 to find out more.
LIB ER TY O F LOND ON X D OC MA R TEN S C O LLA B OR A T I ON Wild Nature, the collabo between two of Britain’s beloved and quintessential fashion institutions not only marks the Olympics, but does it in a style that we really love. Available worldwide at Doc Martens stores, it takes the classic boot and adds Liberty’s trademark refined style to their rebellious reputation, with an eighties floral twist. Quite literally a walking paradox. Grab a pair, as well as exclusively designed leather satchels, from June 1st. LOLLAPALOOZA, 1993 Rage Against the Machine take to the stage, buck naked, mouths taped shut and bodies emblazoned with “PMRC”, the initials of the parent advocacy
group which heavily criticised their lyrics. WOODSTOCK, 1999 All feelings of peace and love are evaporated. Several women are raped, riots and fires blaze on and rebellion
ensues. Well done, class of ’99 (*slow, sarcastic clap*). BONNAROO, 2002 With no traditional advertising, the inaugural event, sold out in nearly two weeks. By 2003,
the festival had been named by Rolling Stone as one of the top 50 moments in rock & roll. SXSW, 2006 The secret show The Flaming Lips played lived up to their reputation of putting
on show stopping performances, consisting of a cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a duet with female rapper Peaches and two fans getting engaged onstage.
GLASTONBURY, 2008 Jay-Z is the
first ever hip-hop act to headline the main stage at a festival. Noel Gallagher cries sacrilege and is MORE
IONMAGAZINE.COM
7
A + C
ARTS
8
IONMAGAZINE.COM
A + C
SC H O O L T I E S J ER EM Y SH A NT Z – U B C OK A NA G A N, C REA TI V E A N D CRI TICA L S TUDIES , V I S UA L A RTS S CHO OL A L E E Z A K H A N & R A C H E L ZOT T E N B E R G
FOR THIS ONE TO WATCH FEATURE, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD MIX UP THE MELTING POT AND BRING YOU SOMETHING DIFFERENT. YES, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF GREAT GALLERIES AND ARTISTS BEING SHOWCASED, BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE ARTISTS THAT ARE JUST STARTING UP? THOSE PRETTY YOUNG THINGS
AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME AT SUCH AN EARLY STAGE, JUST GRADUATING FROM ART SCHOOL. WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SHINE SOME DESERVED LIGHT ON THESE FOLK, PARTICULARLY, JEREMY SHANTZ, MULTI-AWARD WINNING GRADUATE ARTIST. WHO YOU ASK? READ ON AND FIND OUT…
IONMAGAZINE.COM
9
FOCUS
F O C U S M E R E D I T H T R U A X A firm part of the worldwide ION family, Meredith Truax got her start in music photography as a teenager, shooting concerts in her hometown of Houston, Texas. Shortly after moving to New York City, to study studio art at NYU, Meredith began an internship at Atlantic Records, where she worked with acts such as Cee-Lo Green, Estelle, and James Blunt. After graduating last year, she was approached to become a full-time photographer for the Island Def Jam Music Group alongside renowned photographer Andrew Zaeh. In her much deserved and exciting time so far at IDJ, Meredith’s subjects have included Nas, TheDream, Kanye West, The Roots, Frank Ocean, and The Wanted.
M E R E D I T H T R U A X . C O M
10
IONMAGAZINE.COM
FOCUS
IONMAGAZINE.COM
11
FOCUS
F O C U S R I C H M O N D L A M Richmond Lam is a freelance photographer based in both Montreal and Toronto. He works in portraiture and documentary images, celebrating the music, fashion, and pop culture that surround him. With an international background, Lam was born in Hong Kong, and grew up in Montreal and London, England. He attended Concordia University for Design and later, Dawson College for photography. Since 2007, his work has been focused on documenting his environment and the people around him.
R I C H M O N D L A M . C O M
12
IONMAGAZINE.COM
FOCUS
IONMAGAZINE.COM
13
FASHION
STYLE A L A N C H A N | S T Y L I N G D E A N N A PA L KO W S K I @ L I Z B E L L
S T Y L I S T A S S I S TA N T TAT I A N A R A I R E Z M A K E U P A N D H A I R J E N N A K U C H E R A F O R N O B A S U R A U S I N G T R E S E M M É H A I R C A R E M O D E L S J U L I A N @ L I Z B E L L / E L L I AT @ N E X T
14
IONMAGAZINE.COM
FASHION
B L A N K E T P E N D L E TO N BAG O BAG SUNGLASSES OAKLEY
E L L I AT B AT H I N G S U I T B E T H R I C H A R D S SHORTS ONE TEASPOON S H O ES VA N S NECKLACE BROKEN PROMISES BY KAREN LA
JULIAN T- S H I R T TO P M A N SHORTS PLECTRUM BY BEN SHERMAN SHOES MISSONI X CONVERSE
IONMAGAZINE.COM
15
COVER C O V E R
IO
N
E
F E A
T U R 16
IONMAGAZINE.COM
COVER
FUTURE’S MUSE ALEEZA KHAN
FIONA GARDEN
WITH HER ANGELIC FEATURES AND ENGAGING, UNASSUMING MANNER, GRIMES MAKES A UNIQUE NU-MUSIC POWERHOUSE. THIS MANNER, COMBINED WITH HER CULTURE SHIFTING, STYLE BLENDING, MIND PERMEATING, MAGICALLY ODD SOUND, MAKES OUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ALEEZA KHAN THINK SHE’S THE COOLEST PERSON, PROBABLY EVER. ALEEZA FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT HER VIEWS ON MUSIC VIDEOS, VANCOUVER AND VISIONS.
G
Getting hold of Grimes, the moniker for Canada’s queen of the loop and layer, Claire Boucher, is a tough feat these days. Currently at the height of her Visions tour, Grimes has never been in such demand. I was squeezed in between a show in London, a radio interview, sound check and a train to Manchester. Undoubtedly, 2012 is her year. Boucher, 24, treats her escalating popularity and fame with that charmingly unassuming manner of hers. “Life feels the same, just more hectic. I think I’ve been forced to become a lot more sociable,” she says laughing. “Currently we are sharing a single hotel room with seven people!” This lack of privacy, however fun it may be on tour, sharing such an intense experience and seeing the world, does worry her. “It’s extremely emotionally and physically stressful and tends to eat into my ability to work creatively as I don’t get privacy.”
Luckily for Boucher though, the tour is all positive. “The shows have gone really well, and I’m seeing parts of the world I never thought I would see,” she says. While not a fan of touring (“It’s growing on me”), preferring the creative process than being on stage, Boucher has surely done enough of it in her two years since Grimes was born. She’s played everywhere from wild homecoming gigs in Vancouver while on tour with Lykke Li last year, with her entire feuding family present and people she hadn’t seen in over five years jumping onto the stage and getting leapt on by bouncers. To a sunrise rave in the woods in a giant geodesic dome. “My dad was there. We slept on dog beds in the minivan, got up at 5am and played to 5,000 people on ecstasy.” The strangest though, has to be a gig in Florida. “Jesus, I played for like four people and had a breakdown on stage. When IONMAGAZINE.COM
17
MUSIC
18
IONMAGAZINE.COM
MUSIC
STORY TIME TREVOR RISK
COURTNEY LEE
JOEL PLASKETT IS CARING, WORKS HARD, HANDSOME, STUDIOUS, AND (SORRY LAURIER FANS) SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE HIS VISAGE ON THE FIVER. DID THAT MAKE IT OBVIOUS ENOUGH THAT WE REALLY, REALLY LIKE HIM? BECAUSE, WE DO. OUR MUSIC MAESTRO, TREVOR RISK, CHATS TO HIM ABOUT RECORDING, TOURS AND STORIES.
IONMAGAZINE.COM
19
MUSIC
THE ONE WITH THE TOUR TREVOR RISK
OWEN ELLIS
TAKING ON THE JUGGERNAUT OF TOURING NORTH AMERICA CAN BE SHOCKING TO A YOUNG BAND FROM THE UK. IMAGINE DRIVING ACROSS THE PRAIRIES AND HAVING THE STEREO BREAK DOWN. NOBODY COULD BLAME YOU IF YOU LOST YOUR GODDAMN MIND. ON THEIR SECOND TIME THROUGH THE COLONIES, LONDON ROCK AND ROLL DYNAMITE OUTFIT VERONICA FALLS WALKED THAT RAZOR’S EDGE BETWEEN BATS IN THEIR BELFRY AND CALM LOGIC. OUR MUSIC EDITOR, TREVOR RISK, DISCOVERS THAT, TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR RECORD YOU’LL GET THE STANDARD ANSWERS, BUT GET THEM GOING ABOUT FRIENDS AND RIGHT SAID FRED, AND YOU’LL HAVE UNEARTHED A SLEEPING DEMON.
20
IONMAGAZINE.COM
MUSIC
IONMAGAZINE.COM
21
MUSIC
22
IONMAGAZINE.COM
MUSIC
[NU-]BOOGIE NIGHTS ROBERT SUTHERLAND
KERRYN COOPER
LISTEN TO JEREMY GLENN’S SOFT AND ÜBER COOL EIGHTIES INSPIRED BEATS, AND IT’S HARD NOT TO CLOSE YOUR EYES AND IMAGINE YOURSELF ON A SUMMER SOAKED EURO BEACH, SUNGLASSES ON, PARTYING AWAY WITH THE COOLEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE YOU’VE EVER MET. OPEN YOUR EYES THOUGH AND YOU’RE MOST LIKELY IN A DARK, DOWNTOWN CLUB, OR A MAKESHIFT DINGY ART SPACE. WE SENT ROBERT SUTHERLAND TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MODEST ONE-MAN BAND.
IONMAGAZINE.COM
23
N O W A V A I L A B L E O N T H E A P P L E N E W S S T A N D