NEXT Magazine August 2021

MADE IN CANADA• 08|2021

FREE

CARTEL MADRAS HIP HOP SISTERS

BRING BAD-ASS BEATS UP FROM CALGARY'S UNDERGROUND

WOLF CASTLE MI'KMAQ RAPPER FINDS HIS VOICE DANKO JONES Y'ALLTERNATIVE STYLE TIPS BROS AYLA TESLER-MABE CLAIRO

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Contents

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THE SHORT LIST

Live music’s back baby; Arkells hit the lake and Ryan Reynolds leads a return to the movies.

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NEXT BIG THING

Melodic and meaningful Mi’kmaq rapper Wolf Castle leads a fresh wave of Indigenous hip hop voices.

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MUSIC FEATURE

Danko Jones have been rocking hard for 25 years, but they still had some jitters last month returning to a live stage.

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COVER STORY

The sisters powering badass hip hop duo Cartel Madras are helping grow a Calgary underground scene. Their parents wanted them to be lawyers.

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ALBUM REVIEWS

New music from Lorde, Erez Zobary, Clairo, Kevin Drew, Bobby Sessions, Chiiild, Camie, Jungle, Jake Bugg, BROS, Snoh Aalegra, Barenaked Ladies and many more.

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THE LOCAL PAGES

Toronto’s Inside Out film festival goes—outside; an avant-garde art fest takes over Vancouver; and festivals get Sledding in Calgary.

COVER:

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THE FUNNIES

We create a NEXT-Lib to help you prepare to return to live music shows; and praise the Lorde it’s time for another Word Search.

Cartel Madras photographed

by Sierra Stone; styled by Krystal Griffin

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06 FOOD Korean corn dogs are a new way to stick it 08 DRINKS Tasty tequila sodas are not one-shot wonders 10 FASHION Y’all better not dismiss kitchy country fashion 12 CANNABIS Oils well that ends well—with a few tips from NEXT 14 GAMING Gaming’s biggest loser is back with a winning game 16 TV/MOVIES Searingly relevant Beans leads pack of new releases

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SHORTLIST AUG

T O P

NATHAN NASH

T H E

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T O

D O

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C A N A D A

WATCH ARKELL'S ONE THING I KNOW VIDEO HERE

CONCERT

ARKELLS Reopen Budweiser Stage Fri., Aug. 16, Sat., Aug. 17 and Sun., Aug 15, 7:30 pm ET In-person events $35–$95 per ticket 909 Lake Shore Blvd. W., Toronto livenation.com

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After sitting idle for almost two years, the Budweiser Stage is welcoming fans back to their Toronto lakefront, open-air amphitheatre. Hamilton’s Juno Award-winning rock band Arkells kick off the summer season with back-to-back shows Aug. 13, 14 and 15.

Haviah Mighty, the incredibly talented hip hop artist and first-ever NEXT cover star, will open all three nights. Reserved seats and general admission lawn tickets are available at a reduced capacity, and guests will be required to wear masks.

Later in the month, Sam Roberts Band will grace the stage with Mat Mays and k-os (Thurs., Aug. 19) and Blue Rodeo will be joined by special guest Alan Doyle (Sat., Aug. 28).

T H I S

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M O N T H

Ryan Reynolds

FREE GUY

MOVIE

Opens Fri., Aug. 13 First-run film $18 cineplex.com/movie/free-guy

No more microwave popcorn! With movie theatres opening up across the country, you can finally enjoy the fresh, buttery snack in front of the big screen.

If you’re having trouble picking a genre, then Free Guy is for you. In a blend of science fiction, action and comedy, the film follows Guy, a non-playable video game character played by the beloved and handsome Ryan Reynolds, who becomes aware of his virtual surroundings. Hopping between Guy’s video game universe and the real world, a fight emerges to save the game from developers who are determined to shut it down. The cast includes Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, and Taika Waititi.

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CONCERT

HONEY JAM Thurs., Aug. 12, 8 pm ET Livestream event Free honeyjam.com

Honey Jam, an inspiring musical showcase that celebrates female artists of all genres, returns to Toronto for its 26th year. The event features 20 young musicians from across the country, hand-selected for mentorship and development— and now they’re ready to take the stage!

The annual Honey Jam concert will stream from iconic Toronto venue the El Mocambo.

Performers include 12-year-old MC DJ Love Jones, Calgary singer-songwriter Victory and CBC Searchlight competitor Bukola. Past Honey Jam events have hosted the likes of Nelly Furtado, Jully Black and Haviah Mighty.

NEXT Magazine Editor/Publisher Michael Hollett Creative Director Troy Beyer Associate Editors Laura Robinson (Calgary) Rayne Fisher-Quann (Vancouver) Contributors Kristen Chew, Latoya Elle, Katrin Emery, Krystal Griffin, Amy Lloyd, Zack Kotzer, Khufu Najee, Nicole Richie, Laura Stanley, Sierra Stone, Sarah Wade, Caely White, Sanjeev Wignarajah Advice Columnist Amy Millan askamy@nextmag.ca

Victory

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CAMP SLED ISLAND

Sales and Marketing Manager, Sales and Partnerships Barbara Hefler

FESTIVAL

Advertising Inquiries: sales@nextmag.ca

Thurs., Aug. 19–Sat. Aug. 12, doors at 6 pm, show at 7:30 pm MT $60 for table of 4 High Park, 340 10 Ave. SW, Calgary Sledisland.com

Calgary’s Sled Island returns with three evenings of live music, films and exclusive pre-recorded sets from some of the city’s top underground artists, including feminist post-punks Slut Prophet (Aug. 19) and improv-ers Bug Incision (Aug. 20).

It’s all up on a high-rise rooftop with live sets from ex-rodeo queen and Nehiyaw blues songstress Bebe Buckskin (Aug. 19) and electronic R&B artist Uyemi (Aug. 21). Stick around for sundown film features. See more on Sled Island, page 53.

Bebe Buckskin

Administrative Coordinator Amy Lloyd Circulation Coordinator Eric Caldwell Circulation Harry Brewer, Ryan Braun, Simon Jakobsen, Adam Matthews, Olivia Matthews, Callum Miller, Conner Radcliffe, Ian Vidovich, Henry Voskuil

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Published by NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. Brett Kissel

FESTIVAL ENDLESS SUMMER SERIES

Fri., Aug. 6–Sat., Aug. 14, 4 pm ET In-person event $38 single-day tickets, $160 weekend passes Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, 180 8 Line S., Oro-Medonte, Ont. burlscreek.com

This month, the Burl’s Creek Event Grounds finally re-open their gates for an exciting series of outdoor concerts. Hosted by Republic Live, the team responsible for the Boots and Hearts Festival, this series welcomes Tebey (Fri., Aug. 6), Brett Kissel (Sat., Aug. 7), The Trews (Fri., Aug. 13) and Our Lady Peace (Sat., Aug. 14).

Tickets are sold by zone and groups of up to four people can sit together—lawn chairs are encouraged! Tent and RV camping is available for guests who don’t want to drive home in the dark.

NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. Board of Directors Michael Cohl, Michael Hollett, Gary Slaight Distribution NEXT Magazine is distributed in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto For distributor info: distro@nextmag.ca Contact Us 115 Danforth, Suite 302 • Toronto • ON • M4K 1N2 T. 416.519.5004 email: info@nextmag.ca All content property of NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. ©2021

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FO O D

TOP DOGS

Frenzied foodies are lining up around the block to score the latest snack-on-a-stick sensation: an Asian take on the classic Pogo.

This TikTok and Instagram street food star is essentially a corn dog filled with anything from spicy sausage to cheddar cheese or mozzarella, and topped with sugar, cubed potatoes and even ramen noodles.

Known in Korea as tokkebi, these Seoul-style sticky hot dogs are dipped in a glutinous rice flour batter, then fried and coated in outrageous toppings and sauces. These fancy franks are the summer’s trendiest snack food on-the-go.

By NICOLE RICHIE

WHERE TO SCORE GREAT TOKKEBI IN YOUR TOWN TORONTO Chung Chun

This global brand helped start the battered bandwagon rolling, with locations across Asia, the U.S. and now Canada.

There’s always a line up, with flavours ranging from traditional to out-of-the-box, like their Squid Ink-Cheese Hotdog — a mozzarella cheese-wrapped dog and dipped in a sticky, squid-ink and rice flour batter for a fantastic fry. The bottom is sliced into squid-like “tentacles” for added drama.

Hit the condiments and dust the dogs with sugar then layer it with an array of sauces for the true Chung Chun experience.

615 Bloor St. W, plus 2 other Toronto locations, chungchunricedog.ca 6 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

An assortment of tokkebi from Toronto's K Seoul Hot Dog

KORDOG Korean Style Hot Dog

These hand-made, sticky “destination dogs” are found in the World Food Market at Yonge and Dundas, popular with Ryerson students. KORDOG’s handful of toppings include the Ramen Chip, which coats the sticky and sweet rice batter with dry ramen noodles fried to crispy perfection.

335A Yonge St., Toronto, instagram.com/kordog_ toronto/?hl=en

K Seoul Hot Dog

In the heart of Koreatown, K Seoul is keeping it classic with either a sausage, cheddar or mozzarella filling, but spice things up with their toppings.

Try a yam hot dog, fried with cubes of sweet potato on top, or go sweet and savoury with the Churros Mozza Dog, a mozzarella-filled dog wrapped in churros and coated in cinnamon sugar.

712 Bloor St. W, Toronto, kseoulhotdog.com

CALGARY Hankki

Korean street food pros at Hankki make each of their classic sausage, hot dog or cheese dogs extra-crispy on the outside while remaining soft and chewy on the inside.

All sausages are a mix of pork and chicken, but the real highlight is the Yellow Dress Dog, a cheddar cheese-wrapped sausage with an amazing cheese pull.

1058 17 Ave. SW and Bow Valley Square 2F, Calgary instagram.com/hankkiyyc

Cheezy Tales

LEARN TO MAKE KOREAN CORN DOGS AT HOME

Cheezy Tales is a Winnipeg start-up that quickly branched out, choosing Calgary for their second location.

This Filipino-Korean spot infuses flavours such as ube, yema and pandan into their dazzling dogs. The Flaming Hot Cheetos dog comes with choice of either sausage, mozzarella filling or a mix of the two; it’s coated in nacho cheese sauce and then rolled in Flaming Hot Cheeto dust. Or try the Sweet and Savoury Box, with a selection of four dogs, to experience the best of Cheezy Tales.

110-13226 Macleod Trail, Calgary, cheezytales.com

Meshi Sushi and Ricebowl

Meshi has some of the best sushi in Calgary, so it’s impressive that their Korean rice dogs are some of the best in Cowtown too.

With a selection of corn dogs from the OG to the whole beef or potato, you can’t go wrong.

Try the K-Set Corn Dog Combo and taste a selection of their meat-filled dogs, including their potato-covered corn dog. Want veggie? Grab the Mozza Set and try all four of their cheesy dogs, including the half mozzarella, half cheddar dog.

105-630 8 Ave. SW, Calgary, meshicalgary.com

VANCOUVER Tokki

Tokki is renowned for their Monster’s Bat corn dogs and The Cheesy Monster’s Bat is the best expression of “gutbasokchok,”— that perfect sensation when something is crunchy on the outside while staying moist and delicate inside. This dapper dog has a half cheese and half sausage filling, and is dipped in Tokki’s glutinous rice batter and rolled in hash browns. Try it with mayo, ketchup, sugar or all three!

2078-1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, tokkicanada.ca

Wak Wak Burger

Alongside Japanese-style burgers, Wak Wak makes a mean tokkebi rice dog. They bring a Japanese twist to their Korean snacks like the Okonomi Corn Dog, topped with bonito flakes and a traditional okonomi sauce.

Or go more traditional, with their Sweet Cheese Mozzarella Corn Dog. Find Wak Wak’s truck cruising Vancouver through the Street Food App or their updates on Facebook.

Food Truck, wakwakburger.wordpress.com

Dog Eat Corndog Food Truck/ Kim’s Mobile Cuisine

The Dog Eat Corndog food truck cruises Vancouver serving serves unique Korean-inspired corn dogs. A fave frank is the King George Crunchy Corndog, a juicy, cheddar smokie sausage dipped in rice batter and rolled in bread crumbs before being fried and drizzled with chipotle mayo.

Find this K-dog truck on Vancouver’s Street Food App. Food Truck, instagram.com/kims_mobile_ cuisine/?hl=en NEXT AUGUST 2021

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D R I N KS PALOMA Olé Cocktail Co. Brewed in Alberta, available in Calgary and Vancouver olecocktails.com

TEQUILA SMASH Georgian Bay Brewed in Ontario, available in Vancouver georgianbayspiritco.com

Margaritas get all the glory, but the bubbly grapefruit and agave Paloma is a top competitor. Olé’s elixir is candy-floss pink in colour and refreshingly grapefruit-y in flavour. The slightly salty bite at the end brings up visions of sitting oceanside while wearing an ostentatiously oversized sunhat.

Glam.

If you’ve ever found yourself saying “never again” to tequila, this can is the baby step to fixing your relationship with the spirit. The tequila taste takes a backseat while a sweet sunburst of natural mango and lime flavours throw a fiesta so fruity you’ll forget you ever swore tequila off.

TEQUILA & SODA WITH LIME Tequila Tromba Ontario-owned, brewed in Mexico, available in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver tequilatromba.com Some tequilas aren’t 100 per cent derived from the blue agave plant—but this one is. Using some of the best tequila blanco out there with nothing more than soda and a splash of pure lime juice, it’s definitely tequila-forward—high-quality stuff, too.

Unlike cheap versions, it won’t remind you of Sunday Scaries past.

PINEAPPLE TEQUILA SODA Nude Brewed in B.C., available in Calgary and Vancouver nudebeverages.com

HIGH TEQ THE THOUGHT OF TEQUILA CAN BRING up any number of Sunday Scaries past, wild beach parties or country songs—so, so many country songs (see Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off, Tequila Sheila, Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo…need I go on?)

Now you can add a canned craft cocktail to the list: tequila coolers are where it’s at this summer. Ranging from pure and tequila-forward for the staunch purists to the fruity fiesta-worthy for those just testing the waters, there’s a tequila brew for every palate.

Forget knocking back the cheap stuff at the bar with eyes squeezed shut—here are six of our favourite tequila coolers you’ll actually want to taste.

Tequila and lime is an obvious pairing, but the jalapeño in this dry, unsweetened sip gives it a delightful, extra flavour dimension. The spice is warm, with heat like ginger beer but better. Because… tequila.

By LAURA ROBINSON

Though this highly drinkable tallboy definitely doesn’t fit into the zero-sugar category like many of the cans on this list do, it strikes the perfect balance of sweet but not too sweet. The tequila taste is virtually nonexistent so it’s very chuggable—too many of these and you’ll find yourself singing with the mariachi band.

Unsweetened and only 100 calories, this pared-back can is easy on the taste buds and the system. The natural pineapple flavour transports you beachside, while the tequila mellows out the fruitiness for a surprisingly delicious, caramel-like finish.

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JAPALEÑO LIME TEQUILA & FIZZ Side Project Brewed in B.C., available in Calgary and Vancouver @sideprojectbev

LEARN TO MAKE A PALOMA COCKTAIL HERE

GRAPEFRUIT TEQUILA PALOMA Founder’s Original Brewed in Ontario, available in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver foundersoriginal.com

C A N NABIS BLISSCO PÜR DEW CBD OIL Potency: 19-25 mg/ml CBD, 0.9 mg/ml THC (30 ml bottle)

REDECAN CBD REIGN DROPS Potency: CBD: 13.516.5 mg/ml CBD, 0-2 mg/ml THC (30 ml bottle)

With a relaxing terpene profile providing aromas of clove, pine and citrus, this potent CBD oil is a godsend for people suffering with anxiety. By taking it daily or nightly, users have found relief from sleeplessness, pain disorders and depression.

REDECAN REIGN DROPS 15:15 Potency: 15:15 ratio (14-16 mg/ml CBD, 14-16 mg/ml THC; 40 ml bottle) Redecan’s balanced oil is very potent and is meant to be consumed at a low dose for optimal effect.

With a high potency and mild THC, this is one of the best and most affordable balanced oils on the market.

MEDIPHARM LABS CBD50 Plus Formula Potency: 48-54 mg/ ml CBD, 02 mg/ml THC (30 ml bottle) This pharma-quality CBD oil is no joke.

Containing one of Medipharma’s highest levels of concentrate, it is balanced, full-spectrum and a great substitute for over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

This high-potency oil is made to treat chronic pain and depression, but make sure to talk with a doctor before making the switch.

This cannabis oil has an extremely low amount of THC that is used purely for activation, while the high-potency CBD is great for newer users that are looking for a clean and mild CBD experience.

PUREFARMA HEMPLIXER 30 Potency: 25.5-34.5 mg/ml CBD, 0.85-1.15 mg/ml THC (30 ml bottle)

OIL CHANGE WITH HEALING PROPERTIES KNOWN TO TREAT chronic pain, anxiety and depression, cannabis oils are giving some traditional medicines a run for their money.

Lots of misconceptions about taking CBD and THC oil abound, the biggest being that CBD oil with a small quantity of THC will get you high. CBD binds with the body’s cannabinoid receptors, helping to provide that sense of relief or euphoria without getting you stoned.

If inhalation isn’t your thing, a THC or more balanced oil can provide similar benefits to lighting up without the harshness that comes with smoking or vaping.

By NICOLE RICHIE

Grown in British Columbia by a company known for their dedication to pure and clean cannabis distillates, this oil is one of the highest quality products on the market. Totally non-psychoactive, the Hemplixer 30 is top dog when it comes to chronic pain relief and mind stabilization.

FIGR MIXED BERRY CBD OIL Potency: 9-11 mg/ml CBD, 1.3-1.9 mg/ml THC (30 ml bottle) With a delicious summer berry flavour, this CBD oil is a great option for someone who doesn’t like the taste of weed. It has highly euphoric and relaxing effects, while allowing users to converse freely without the brain scramble highly potent oils can provide.

WATCH AN INTRO TO CBD OIL VIDEO HERE

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ST YL E

DON'T BUCK THIS TREND Y'ALL

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hat do you get when you combine the classic Americana workwear of the cowboy era with the techno-goth trends of the internet age? You get an anachronistic fashion movement driven by TikTok teens (and inspired by their great-grandparents), playfully dubbed: Y’allternative.

Some country-couture acolytes are inspired by Dolly Parton, some by Lil Nas X’s country-hop banger Old Town Road, and some by a reclamation of the southern aesthetics typically co-opted by the right-wing—the Y’allternative movement is diverse, creative and often political.

So grab your neon LED cowboy hat (yes, they’re real and insanely popular), put on the Kacey Musgraves club mix, and get ready to giddy-up.

We’ve rounded up some of the sickest cowboy clothes in the Wild West.

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN 10 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

A guest seen during Paris Fashion Week, Fall/Winter '20-21.

1. Free People Kingsley Leather Harness Bag $250 The best thing about the Western resurgence is its inimitable functionality— the pockets on this Free People harness bag make it as useful as it is unique.

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2. Neon Cowboys® Hat $125 This high-tech headwear is an Instagram must-have: just ask Neon Cowboys’ long list of celebrity clients, like Bella Thorne, Selena Gomez, Missy Elliott and Kesha.

3. Ecote Metal-Tipped Boho Leather Belt $20 Top off your Wranglers with this slithery snakeskin belt.

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4. Levi’s Essential Western Denim Shirt $78 This shirt from Levi’s is basic enough to be a lifelong staple, but has enough iconic Western notes to make it effortlessly cool.

5. Levi’s Original Sherpa Trucker Jacket $168 This Levi’s classic is more than a trend; it’s a functional foundational that will last forever if you treat it right.

6. Jeffrey Campbell Amigos Boots $353 For a much more extreme take on the classic cowboy boot, try this sky-high patent leather pair. It’s Dolly meets Dracula!

EVERSUMMER / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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7. Wrangler Classic Retro® High Rise Trouser Jean $100 As Lil Nas X famously sings on his genre-defining hit, no Y’allternative fit is complete without Wrangler on your booty.

8. Jeffrey Campbell Dagget Boots $350 Y’allternative is all about mixing classic Americana styles with quirky, 21stcentury twists, and nothing epitomizes the trend more than these shiny, limegreen cowboy boots from Jeffrey Campbell.

NEXT AUGUST 2021

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BEYOND

TORONTO’S MOST IMM

A multi-sensory, immersive experience through Monet’s world of masterpieces.

OPENS AUGUST 12, 2021 METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE

12 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

AMAZING

ERSIVE EXPERIENCES

NOW OPEN AT

YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE

© 2021 MARVEL; Cityneon NEXT AUGUST 2021

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GAMING

VIDEO GAMES’ GREATEST LOSER RETURNS Earth's last hope, Travis Touchdown faces off against the galaxy's most bizarre killers in the long-awaited NO MORE HEROES III

By ZACK KOTZER

T

here comes a time when every medium has to define what its version of “punk” is. Few countercultural movements grapple so frequently with their contradictions as gaming does, with its rejection of conformity and good manners existing alongside consumerism and corporate partnerships.

When Goichi Suda, a.k.a. Suda51, sought to manifest the video game punk ethos, he took a look around. Grand Theft Auto and Assassin’s Creed were making game worlds bigger. Modern Warfare and BioShock were making subject matter grimmer.

Lazing between that elastic tone and absurdity is Travis Touchdown, the star of Suda’s own 2007 game, No More Heroes. Touchdown returns this month in the long-awaited No More Heroes III,

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where the leather-clad loser faces off against the galaxy’s most bizarre killers.

In the original game, Travis Touchdown sacrificed his savings to purchase a “beam katana” from an online auction. Living out of a motel room and unable to afford new video games, Touchdown decided the only logical thing was to use his new weapon to become a hired assassin.

His first kill placed him in the rankings of the United Assassins Association, and put him in the sights of more craven professionals. But, instead of laying low, Touchdown rationalized that there’s fame and glory in the number one spot, making the No More Heroes series into a strangely violent campaign to become the most admired murderer alive.

No More Heroes has pitted players against some of Earth’s weirdest, like the spandex-clad Destroyman, the 76-year-old shopping

cart-pushing Speed Buster and the bat-swinging Bad Girl.

The new game reaches beyond the stars. The new Big Bad is FU, a space prince who originally came to our planet 30 years back as an adorable little fuzzball and had heartfelt, E.T.-esque adventures with a young boy named Damon.

Now Damon is a wealthy land redeveloper using alien tech to enrich himself, and FU is a black sheep who just broke out of space jail with a cabal of cosmic psychos. It looks like Earth’s last hope is its best killer, and sadly that killer is Travis Touchdown.

Suda has always been an oddity in the game development world. His career began at Human Entertainment, the legendary studio that created series like Clock Tower, one of the earliest survival horror games. There, Suda cut his teeth on wrestling games, infamously giving 1994’s Super

GAMES AT A GLANCE: AUGUST

A bittersweet return of Psychonauts 2 Suda51 isn’t the only '90s game auteur with a homecoming this month: Tim Schaffer’s Psychonauts 2 finally arrives Aug. 25. The original was the first from Double Fine, the studio Schaffer founded after leaving LucasArts, where he designed classics like Grim Fandango, Full Throttle and entries in the Monkey Island series.

Psychonauts followed Raz, a young telekinetic who snuck into a summer camp training facility for other child psychics. Hopping between brain and exploring the bizarre landscape of local psyches, Raz was able to uncover a string of conspiracies.

Psychonauts 2 sees Raz admitted to the secret Psychonauts agency proper, only to unleash more mental mayhem. But Psychonauts 2 also marks a bittersweet occasion. Since its founding, Double Fine has the most prominent independent studio out there, but—having been purchased by Microsoft in 2019—this will be the last Double Fine game before the studio doubles down on Xbox projects.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL NO MORE HEROES III TRAILER HERE

Fire Pro Wrestling Special a single-player story campaign about an aspiring fighter unable to overcome their trauma and depression.

Suda left Human in 1998 to start up his own studio, Grasshopper Entertainment, which focused on Suda’s own avant garde mystery games like The Silver Case and Flower, Sun, and Rain.

None of his games was distributed outside of Japan until 2005, when Capcom published his eerie, The Smiths-inspired action game Killer7, which immediately earned Suda a cult following in the West.

No More Heroes was Suda’s first “big blockbuster” on his own, standing out even more on the Nintendo Wii, which provided little support outside of Nintendo’s own games, never mind for ones about killing sprees.

Violently coloured and garish, with loud user interfaces, No More Heroes spit in the Grand Theft Auto-style sandboxes as is buffed out the town of Santa Destroy’s world of murder with gardening mini games, playing with your cat and driving vehicles that were controlled like a forklift.

What began as a middle finger to gaming trends has expanded into pure video game decadence. No More Heroes has had two sequels and a spin-off, and No More Heroes III is a collaboration with illustrator Masanori Ushiki, Pop Team Epic creator Bkub Okawa and The Boys artist and co-creator Darrick Robertson, who designed the box cover .

No More Heroes III launches on the Nintendo Switch on Aug. 27.

Try to break the cycle in Twelve Minutes COVID has shown us how life confined to our apartments can seem to stretch on forever, but the star of Annapurna Interactive’s Twelve Minutes is experiencing the nightmare on a whole other level. Starring James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley and Willem Dafoe, Twelve Minutes follows a couple trapped in a time loop, where police storm into the player’s living room and accuse their pregnant wife of murder before killing her.

With only the 12 minutes in the time loop to work with, the player must solve the mystery and prevent tragedy with only their wits and what’s immediately available in their living space. Break the cycle when Twelve Minutes arrives on Steam and Xbox Aug. 19.

NEXT AUGUST 2021

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Watch TV / MOVIES / STREAMING

NEVER HAVE I EVER’S MISSISSAUGABORN STAR, MAITREYI RAMAKRISHNAN, IS CHANGING TV FOR THE BETTER

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

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It’s all honest, genuine stories that are relatable to many, regardless of whether you’re South Asian or you’re not, whether you’re in high school or not. You can still relate to the show and see yourself in these stories.”

What To

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INTERVIEW

hen first meeting 19-year-old MissisAnd the achievements were definitely rollsauga native Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, ing in: the teen is now a PLAN Ambassador; it’s easy to forget that the up-andhas been named one of the New York Times coming star has spent the last year Magazine’s best actors of 2020; and is also a cementing her place as one of Holly- member of the TIME 100 Next 2021, an annual wood’s brightest new faces. The list of 100 individuals who star of Netflix’s Never Have I are shaping the future of Ever—and who was hand-picked their fields.

by Mindy Kaling herself—is funThis is in large part ny, enthusiastic and relentlessly because of NHIE’s fandown-to-earth, despite experitastic representation and encing a meteoric, COVID-19– its unique capacity for defying ascent to fame. authenticity. Ramakrishnan That groundedness might weaves together comingbe because, as she says in of-age humour and comour interview, she’s still not plex, emotional storylines quite convinced any of this with a deftness far beyond is real. When Season 1 of her years. And fans can NEVER HAVE I EVER NHIE dropped on Netflix last look forward to more of the Where: Netflix year, mid-pandemic, it was an same in Season 2.

What: Series, Season 2, 30 instant smash-hit; Season 2 “I hope fans really appremins., 10 episodes has just been released to a fan ciate the focus on mental When: Now base clamoring for more of its health in Season 2. Devi, Genre: Comedy signature charm and realistic, of course, is going through Why you should watch: relatable storylines. grief in Season 1, and that’s Comedy legend Mindy In a landscape of sensationwhat Season 1 was truly Kaling’s latest series hits all alized, sexualized, model-hot about at its core. But this the right notes: it’s funny, (and often exclusively white) season is all about mental charming, serious at times, teenage dramas, Kaling’s frank health, and that whole idea and stars a diverse and realteen comedy was a breath of of figuring yourself out. istic cast that stand out in an fresh air, and its wild popularity “I’m beyond proud,” says overproduced, often inaubrought Ramakrishnan straight Ramakrishnan, of everything thentic media landscape. to the top along with it. But the the show has accomplished. show’s success was entirely “I’m really proud of everycontained within the pandemic: one who’s also a part of this, all the applause she was hearing was only especially Season 2, because that through the filter of her computer screen. season is truly a labour of love. What “It actually sort of all felt like an internet I think makes Never Have I Ever stand hoax,” Ramakrishnan laughs. “Like, yeah, my out as such an authentic show is that face is there, but it’s all on good old digital. it’s all honest, genuine stories that In some ways, certain achievements would are relatable to many, regardless of come along and it all sort of felt the same whether you’re South Asian or you’re because it was all just a click away on a not, whether you’re in high school or website. It was super interesting and definot. You can still relate to the show WATCH THE NEVER HAVE I nitely rough, too—it was also very isolating.” and see yourself in these stories.”

EVER SEASON 2 TRAILER HERE

THIS VIDEO HAS 33,758,802 VIEWS

QR code, its title will have changed. That’s because it’s hooked up to code that changes it periodically, for reasons difficult to describe— but it all hooks you into a meta-video that is somehow existential, technical, educational—and maybe even touching—all at once.

SKIPPING THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF TANGLED

crafting intricate, university lecture–length arguments about niche cultural opinions are racking hundreds of thousands of views. If you haven’t explored the genre yet, get on board—and few recent videos exemplify the genre better than this creation by CJ the X.

Where: YouTube What: Plainspoken yet complex monologue about coding, the internet, and the white cliffs of Dover Genre: Commentary Why you should watch: By the time you scan this video’s

Where: YouTube What: Stylized, personality-driven video essay on Disney’s Tangled, plus a lot of other stuff Genre: Commentary Why you should watch: Video essayists

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18 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

August Streaming and First-run Films

BEANS

Where: In theatres What: Film, 92 mins When: Now Genre: Historical drama Why you should watch: A searingly relevant coming-ofage movie set in—another— shameful moment in Canadian history, as an adolescent Mohawk girl grows up in ’90s Quebec against the backdrop of the Oka Standoff between Indigenous land defenders, racist whites and government goons. Beans was the deserving best picture winner at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, with best first feature honours going to director Tracey Deer. An essential Indigenous perspective.

THE PURSUIT OF LOVE

Where: Amazon Prime What: Mini-series, 60 mins, 3 episodes When: Now Genre: Dramedy Why you should watch: Set in Europe between the two world wars, it may look like this is another addition to the Downton Abbey and Bridgerton-fuelled British aristocracy genre. Instead, this Wes Anderson-cadenced series pokes fun at the genre, while taking viewers along on a playful and emotional ride with two best friends who have very different approaches to finding love.

ROADRUNNER: A Film About Anthony Bourdain

Where: In theatres What: Film, 119 mins When: Now Genre: Documentary Why you should watch: A loving—and pissed-off—look at the ultimately tragic life of the man who looked like he had it all. The film picks up Bourdain’s meteoric career from the publication of his bestselling memoir Kitchen Confidential to his suicide at the height of his TV fame.

Tasteful, touching and not afraid to explore his death, and its impact, honestly.

PRAY AWAY

Where: Netflix What: Film, 101 mins.

When: Now Genre: Documentary Why you should watch: Now openly gay, the faces of evangelical conversion therapy organization Exodus International come forward in this gripping film to reject the anti-gay movement they started.

In interviews, along with archival footage (no shortage—they advertised Exodus everywhere from The Jerry Springer Show to 60 Minutes), the ground-breaking doc chronicles the journey of ex-members, current members and survivors.

ALL THE STREETS ARE SILENT: The Convergence of Hip Hop and Skateboarding (1987–1997)

I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE WITH TIM ROBINSON

MR. CORMAN

Where: Netflix What: Series, 15 mins, two seasons, 12 episodes When: Now Genre: Sketch comedy Why you should watch: Tim Robinson was fired from a gig at SNL after one season.

His hit sketch show, however, has already reached a level of relevance and meme-able social media stardom that the aforementioned comedy giant hasn’t hit in decades. And, no matter how popular, you always feel like you’re one of the special few in on the joke.

Where: Apple TV+ What: Series, 30 mins, 10 episodes, new episodes Fridays When: Aug. 6 Genre: Dramedy Why you should watch: Joseph Gordon-Levitt creates, directs and stars in this clever series about a millennial fifthgrade teacher stuck in a in a rut—his music career tanked, single after breaking off an engagement and not too fond of his friends. Gordon-Levitt’s vivid imagination takes what could be a clichéd storyline and makes it a spellbinding and wholly unique watch.

MODERN LOVE

GUNDA

WE ARE LADY PARTS

Where: Streaming on Vimeo On Demand and Hot Docs Cinema What: Film, 89 mins When: Now Genre: Documentary Why you should watch: Hip hop and skateboarding collided in ’90s New York City.

The collaborative cultural explosion that followed spawned an unlikely club and fashion scene, including international brands Zoo York and Supreme. Highlights include archival performances by a fresh-faced—and skinny—Jay Z, and Method Man.

Where: Amazon Prime What: Series, Season 2, 30 mins, 8 episodes When: Aug. 13 Genre: Drama Why you should watch: Based on true stories from the New York Times column of the same name, this heartstrings- tugging anthology depicts love stories about everything from romance during a pandemic to an insomniac’s romantic redemption . Season 2 features appearances by Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody), Kit Harington (Game of Thrones), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting) and Marquis Rodriguez (When They See Us).

Where: VOD What: Film, 93 mins When: Now Genre: Documentary Why you should watch: This unconventional doc about the secret lives of farm animals destined for the slaughterhouse is understated, subtle and quietly tragic. It’s essentially an art-house film, shot in black and white and heavily aestheticized, its message largely up to the viewer to discern. Gunda lays bare unseen dimensions of animal life without sensationalizing them: no anthropomorphism; no gratuitously violent shots; no pleading cries to go vegan.

Just enduring silence.

Where: Global TV App What: Series, 25 mins, 6 episodes When: Now Genre: Comedy Why you should watch: This quick-witted British comedy follows Amina, a graduate student looking for love on Muslim dating apps, who has a secret passion for playing guitar but horrible stage fright. Enter Lady Parts, an all-female Muslim punk band looking for a lead guitarist.

With a diverse cast exploring self-identity, and original songs like Voldemort Under My Headscarf, this show is equal parts powerful and hilarious.

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20 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

Music AYLA TESLER-MABE WANTS A ROCK RESURGENCE

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t the tender age of 20, Vancouver-based guitarist and singer Ayla Tesler-Mabe has already lived a thousand lives. Whether you know her from her hugely viral YouTube videos; her stint in teen indie-rock band Calpurnia (alongside Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard); her groovy soul-funk band Ludic; or her recent feature on alt-rock innovator WILLOW’s latest album, lately i feel EVERYTHING, you should know she’s one to watch. With prodigious guitar skills and ’70s style, she’s putting a young, feminine face to the rock ‘n’ roll resurgence.

How did your track with WILLOW happen?

It was a really cool virtual experience.

We were just talking and catching up, and she mentioned that she was working on music and was thinking maybe there was a song that would work well for me to add a verse and a guitar solo. And I was like, “Yeah, obviously that sounds amazing!”

She sent the track over a little after that and she sort of just said I could do whatever I wanted there. And, obviously, to have that freedom on such a beautiful track is a total dream come true.

LISTEN TO WILLOW'S COME HOME FEATURING AYLA HERE

WATCH AYLA PERFORM STEVIE WONDER'S CREEPIN' HERE

A lot of major artists are dropping projects right now with notable ’90s rock and riot grrrl influences. Do you think we’re in a rock revival?

I definitely agree. For sure, the ’90s poppunk, rock ‘n’ roll atmosphere; it seems to be seeping into this generation. And maybe it speaks to what people are going through, and how that’s related to what people have been going through for decades, even in the past—maybe rock is the best way to convey that musically.

I feel hopeful that that’s really going to permeate our culture because I think it’s such an organic and feelings-based style of music, and it’s really cool to bring that to the forefront. It’ll take some really strong artists to push those influences.

Who are some of your artistic inspirations?

This is a classic, but definitely a big one is Jimi Hendrix. I’m extremely inspired by everything from… obviously his songwriting and groundbreaking guitar playing, but also his fashion and how bold he was in commenting on the world around him.

Stevie Wonder is always a huge influence I’m thinking of a lot when I’m creating music. The music of Steely Dan, for sure. But as an overall artist, I think that Jimi Hendrix is, like, kind of the epitome of so many parts of art that I really look up to and hope to emulate in some way.

What was it like gaining such a huge audience at such a young age, particularly on social media?

It’s always a bit of a culture shock to me.

The first time I had a YouTube video get a couple million views, I couldn’t fully process the enormity of that.

And then, of course, I was in Calpurnia, and that was really fascinating and almost like a fever dream-type of experience. I think, at the same time, it’s a little easier to keep yourself grounded when you realize how lucky you are.

I think the best way to deal with all that is to try to use it to do something good for your own musical self, but also more importantly for the world. Just thinking—if I reach a bigger audience, how can I bring something positive to their life?

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN NEXT AUGUST 2021

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NEXT BIG THING

WOLF CASTLE

M

elodic and meaningful, Wolf Castle—the stage name for New Brunswick-based Mi’kmaq rapper Tristan Grant—is part of a fresh wave of Indigenous hip hop acts who have updated Rez rap from a distinctly ’90s influence.

Grant comes from a family of performers, his stage debut—at age six—was at his rapper uncle’s gig and his mom, a rapper herself, was his uncle’s hype man.

Now Grant, 24, is ready for his own breakthrough with a dynamic new EP, his third, that blends modern, melodic hip hop with an upbeat and hopeful vibe that shimmers through much of this promising release.

22 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

By MICHAEL HOLLETT

WATCH WOLF CASTLE LIVE AT FESTIVAL 506 HERE LISTEN TO WOLF CASTLE HERE

WOLF'S PACK

Tristan Grant picks 6 Indigenous rappers you should check out

� MUSIC IS THE FAMILY BUSINESS My family are all engaged in the arts, it was a family thing. My uncle was a rapper, Red Suga, and my mother was a rapper, Mo3.

She put out an album in 2008 and she was my uncle’s hype man—she was also a film director for the National Film Board.

FIRST TIME IN TORONTO My uncle got a grant to play the Indigenous Music Festival, Sky Dome, 2003. He got a tour bus and he brought all of us, my whole family: my aunts, my grandparents, all my cousins and my siblings.

He made a big deal of it.

I was six, it was the first time I’d ever went to Toronto. Coming from a reserve— even Bathurst (N.B.) is a small town—Toronto is this unbelievable metropolis for a six-year-old.

It was like my first impression of the world: “Oh, this is what life is like, this is where I want to go.”

For me, it was like a family outing and we’re all involved. You’re going to come with us to Toronto, you’re going to get in the limo, you’re going to be on stage with everybody, you’re going to do all that too because we’re all part of this. My siblings and I were b-kids, we were b-boys and we did breakdancing on the Sky Dome stage.

It was pretty different. That probably influenced me to go that way, right?

WOLF CASTLE Da Vinci’s Inquest

Genre: Hip hop Sound: Luminous flows with fresh beats If you like: Juice WRLD, De La Soul, Snotty Nose Rez Kids Why you should listen: Wolf Castle’s smooth flows, sharp rhymes and welcoming grove powers the fresh face of Indigenous rap.

Best track: Top Dog (feat.

SHiFT FROM THA 902, Flacko Finesse, Talon the Rez Kid Wonder) INDIGENOUS IDENTITY I try not to hammer it over people’s heads too much. I got great wisdom from my mom; she said, “Whether or not you’re talking about issues on the Rez or partying all night, you are Indigenous because you live and breathe it. It doesn’t matter how you approach because it’s always going to be genuine because that’s who you are.”

So, I don’t necessarily have to prove that.

The way I live my life and experience life is through that lens and if I’m making music with my drum machine or writing lyrics, that’s all coming from the Indigenous perspective even if I don’t say it.

WHY ISN’T YOUR MUSIC ANGRIER? My anger, I try to make it into success and that’s my fuel to keep going.

I’m in this oppressed group, I have to deal with this racism and bullshit all the time, and generational trauma—so, to spite that, I’m going to be successful. I’m going to be happy; I’m going to be positive. It’s like, fuck that, I’m not going to get caught up in the negativity.

POSITIVITY I always try to take the positive spin on things. I accept that life is hard and that is why I want to live a life. I don’t want it to all be positive because I wouldn’t learn anything. I like being challenged so I just kind of take it all, and that informs how I want to be going forward.

I want to be a positive role model for other Indigenous people—that’s the lane I’m choosing to do this in. I want to be the bright light in a sea of darkness.

LISTENING TO—THEN Tupac, Kanye, Notorious B.I.G., Cypress Hill. Also, my mom is a teenager of the ’80s, so she loves new wave.

I grew up listening to that stuff too, hard core. Anything that would have been played on Miami Vice.

LISTENING TO—NOW Young Thug, Lil Naz X; lots of K-pop, including IU. And randomly, Margaritaville.

WATCHING I Think You Should Leave (Netflix)—surreal comedy.

Reply 1988 (Netflix)—A K-drama about kids growing up in ’80s Seoul.

SHiFT FROM THA 902 Smooth grooves and sharp rhymes from wekomag First Nation, in Cape Breton

2

Ethan Peters Beats Producer who just released essential Mi’kmaq hip hop sampler, Anticipation

3

Talon the Rez Kid Wonder Easy grooves from Wolf Castle collaborator

4

Flacko Finesse Raw rap from a 19-year-old Mi’kmaq artist from New Brunswick

5

Dresus Veteran Saskatchewanbased rapper delivers rallying cries for resistance

6

JB the First Lady rgent, smoothgrooved hip hop carries a searing message from Moose Jaw rapper

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THE MERCH TABLE

RIO THEATRE SPORTS BAR TEE $30 riotheatre.ca

SUPPORT THE ARTISTS YOU LOVE AND BUY THEIR STUFF

CHVRCHES LOOK GOOD BUT DON'T BE OBSESSED MIRROR $5 chvrches.manheadmerch.com

KHRUANGBIN SUNFLOWER HARVEST CROP TEE $50 shop.khruangbin.com

SKRATCH BASTID TUESDAY MORNING MUG $17 skratchbastidstore. myshopify.com

DANKO JONES DRIVER TEE $33 shop.kt8merch.com/collections/ danko-jones

LORDE SOLAR POWER WATER BOTTLE $50 lorde.store LORDE SOLAR POWER TEE $67 lorde.store

ARKELLS FRISBEE $10 arkells.store-08.com 24 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

bbno$ SPACE PINK TEE $38 bbnomerch.myshopify.com

MEGAN THEE STALLION THOT SHIT BLACK DAD HAT $33 megantheestallion.com

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NORMANI

FEAT. CARDI B

4? s BROS

1

FOUR QUESTIONS

Why did you and Ewan start BROS? The Sheepdogs are kind of a meat-and-potatoes rock 'n' roll band. But Ewan and I, we’re brothers, and we grew up listening to all kinds of music. My brother likes to say that we grew up in the internet age with Napster and stuff like that. So we’re not just checking out rock and roll or the classics—we’re checking out everything. We love Latin, soul, European jazz and oldtimey stuff; we’ve even got stuff on the record that sounds like ’90s hip hop.

If The Sheepdogs is the rock thing, BROS is everything else. We want to be as creative and crazy and weird as possible.

W

hat started as a side project for brothers Ewan and Shamus Currie of The Sheepdogs has evolved into one of the most interesting alternative acts in the country, as the funky, eclectic sound of the aptly named BROS returns on their second studio album.

The brothers founded the band in 2014 as a way to experiment with the sounds they didn’t get to explore in their platinumselling project The Sheepdogs.

And experiment they did: the tracks on their most recent album, Vol. 2, explore everything from old-timey jazz to modern R&B to Latin brassband sounds with palpable humour and impressive technical skill.

NEXT chats with Shamus about influences, origin stories and the trials and tribulations of working with family.

2

Favourite sound that you’ve explored so far?

I’m a horn player—the first instrument I learned was trombone. So we really kind of gravitate towards the Latin sound, just because that crunchy brass of trombone and trumpet really fits into the Latin, Cuban, Afro-Cuban kind of stuff.

There’s lots on the record that just had me playing trombone eight or 12 times overlaid to create a big horn-section flavor.

3

Challenges working with family?

Ewan and I definitely butt heads a lot. Everyone’s always asking, “Are you guys like the Gallaghers?” or any of those brother bands famous for fighting. (Laughs) We’re not that bad.

We’re pretty good at leaving whatever argument that we’re having in the studio and staying pals, but we’re both passionate about music and tensions can definitely flare up. Sometimes we butt heads, but at the end of the day, we always get along.

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

4

BROS Vol. 2

Genre: Indie/funk Sound: Funky, eclectic tunes drawn from a variety of niche influences If you like: Vulfpeck, The Sheepdogs, Yukon Blonde Why you should listen: Brothers Ewan and Shamus Currie grew up listening to a little bit of everything, and their family-band project reflects that: these technically complex tracks draw from musical influences the world over.

Best track: Never Gonna Stop Ewan (left) and Shamus Currie

WATCH THE BROS LIVE HERE LISTEN TO BROS HERE

Best part about recording with your brother?

I think it’s the innate shared musical connection that we have. My brother is four years older. When I was a kid, I would always raid his CD or LP collection or he would recommend stuff, so I listened to a lot through his collection—which meant that we grew up knowing the same records and musical references. Now, when we’re working on music together, it’s really easy for us to be, like, “Let’s go for this kind of sound,” because we both know what we’re going for. We have a good musical shorthand. Working with other people, you might have to work longer to explain your ideas.

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A

fter a year of watching global hardships from isolation, it can be challenging to celebrate personal wins. Danko Jones, frontman of the Toronto hard rock band with the same name, is modest when discussing his accomplishments, including the release of their excellent new album, Power Trio.

With an impressive 25-year career, Jones has shared the stage with legends like The Rolling Stones and Guns N’ Roses, and the band has outlasted several musical fads by sticking to their rock roots.

More recently, Jones completed his B.A. in film and learned to write remotely alongside bassist John “JC” Calabrese and drummer Rich Knox. Power Trio, the band’s tenth record, is an ode to the group’s bond and resilience.

It jitters with restless energy, is packed with relatable lyrics and promises to be a riot on stages across Canada in the coming months.

By AMY LLOYD

28 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

DANKO JONES Power Trio Genre: Rock Sound: Driving guitar riffs, punchy drums and wailing vocals that buzz with pentup pandemic energy If you like: Monster Truck, Black Stone Cherry, Mustasch Why you should listen: Canadian hard rock at its finest, Power Trio delivers topical songs and party anthems that beg for a live (vaccinated) audience.

Best track: Ship of Lies Rich Knox (left), Danko Jones and JC

“

We played Calgary Stampede—I had a lot of anxiety about it but I found myself immediately going back to how it was pre-pandemic.”

WRITING REMOTELY We’re a live band; we write our albums in front of each other, we’d never written remotely. So we cautiously sent files over in the beginning. The first song we wrote in isolation was just a bass, guitar and vocals over a metronome—very skeletal and raw. When Rich brought the drums in, the song just came to life and I thought, “Oh my God, we can really do this!” I’m very proud of this record because it was done apart from one another, which I felt insecure about, and yet it stands on the same footing as our other albums.

give each other that inform you this is really happening.

It was nice to have that camaraderie and the adrenaline of walking on stage and performing returned.

LYRICAL THEMES It’s second nature to me now to write loose, fun songs like Good Lookin’.

But because the pandemic was in my head 24 hours a day, I couldn’t help but have it come out. I Want Out was written with me playing the chorus over and over again, staring out my bedroom window.

CELEBRATING A QUARTER CENTURY This album is how we’re celebrating 25 years as a band.

We’re not looking back, and instead looking forward with new songs. I think a greatest hits record would signal we’re nearing the end and, after 25 years, we’re still a contemporary band.

FIRST CONCERT IN 17 MONTHS We played Calgary Stampede—I had a lot of anxiety about it but I found myself immediately going back to how it was pre-pandemic.

It’s one thing to rehearse but, when you’re on stage, it’s those small looks you

WATCH THE SATURDAY VIDEO HERE

FROM UNDER TO OVERGROUND In 1996, we started in the garage rock scene. The White Stripes and The Hives took it overground and we joined them. We transitioned to hard rock, which I really love, so it was an easy embrace. For a while, every band looked like they were out of The Matrix, with trench coats and eyeliner, and we stood out like a sore thumb! We’ve always been doing our own thing.

PANDEMIC TUNES AND TV I listen to a lot of ’80s and ’90s hip hop. DJ Kayslay’s Rolling 110 Deep is unbelievable: it’s a 40-minute song and features a lot of traditional MCs. I also finally had time to watch Netflix’s Money Heist and Orange Is the New Black.

LISTEN TO DANKO JONES POWER TRIO HERE

DANKO JONES NEXT AUGUST 2021

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Cartel Madras: Contra (left) and Eboshi (born Priya and Bhagya Ramesh 30 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

CARTEL MADRAS ARE BADASS. CALGARY RAPPERS TAP INTO EMERGING UNDERGROUND WITH NO-APOLOGY APPROACH FOR THEIR BIG BEATS AND EVEN BIGGER ATTITUDES

BY LAURA ROBINSON

PHOTOS BY SIERRA STONE CARTEL MADRAS STYLED BY KRYSTAL GRIFFIN

NEXT AUGUST 2021

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W INDOWS DOWN, I’M ROLLING UP TO A RED ON 17TH AVE. IN CALGARY,

driving my hand-me-down SUV, when the next song comes in hot. I typically like the volume loud, but this track gives a whole new meaning to the word: the frame of my absolute mom-mobile starts vibrating, smacking me from all angles with sonic waves of booming bass, hard-hitting rap flow and a layer of Tamil instrumentals that reminds me of M.I.A.’s Bad Girls.

Needless to say, heads turn in neighbouring cars and on pub patios—all courtesy of Calgary’s own Cartel Madras. My initial embarrassment at attracting so much attention is immediately eclipsed by how baller the music makes me feel.

The light flicks to green, and I’m ready to go—just like this about-to-break, badass sister duo known for their unapologetic rap and circuit-breaking live shows.

When I catch up with Contra and Eboshi (born Priya and Bhagya Ramesh), they’re up north—far north—of the Calgary underground hip hop scene they helped to grow.

Calling in via Zoom from Yellowknife, the sisters have just been set free from a two-week quarantine that had them locked in an Airbnb with two other music groups—the isolation period was turned into an artist-in-residency program while they waited to perform at the Folk On The Rocks music festival.

“It was pretty cute, like artists’ summer camp,” they quip. Their intellect and humour throughout the interview make it easy to understand how they come up with such scintillating bars and move-your-body-beats.

32 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

“

It’s really kind of the most fucked up thing you could do to an Indian parent.

Create a career where you’re artistically open about your sexuality and Contra partying.”

CARTEL MADRAS As Cartel Madras, they’re known for live performances that hype up the crowd until it’s all one big, bouncing mosh pit. But, in a raw, animal-kingdom type of way, fans instinctively leave a ring of space around them, not daring to enter the Queen Bees’ ring. Call it intuitive social distancing. With whip-tongued flow, both sisters are undoubtedly alphas, but they don’t try to elbow each other out of the way—their sound is so big, it requires the power from both of their batteries.

Folk On The Rocks will be their first performance since the pandemic.

“It’s going to be good to get back on stage, truly.

It’s going to be sick,” enthuses Eboshi. They’ve been building new audiences and fuelling the fire ahead of the drop this month of their third EP, The Serpent & The Tiger. Though their earlier releases leaned more towards party rap, the new record is a mix of lush and glossy house beats, smooth and seductive like a snake, and take-no-prisoners rap bars that roar like a tiger.

“Half of our EP is this kind of sexy, moody, illusory sound. The other half is the loud, banging anxiety that comes with this really tense era that we’re in,” explains Contra. “How can it be a bit more experimental and still exciting without needing to be at a club? If it were to go to a club, it could still pop off,” she says matter-of-factly, “but it’s like, can you drive around your city during a pandemic, smoking weed and listen to something?” Yes Contra; yes, you can.

C “

Then one day they blinked, and we were like, so...remember when you wanted us to be lawyers?

We’re rappers now.”

Eboshi

hennai-born and Canada-bred, the sisters formed Cartel Madras’s raw, renegade sound not in an epicenter of rap and hip hop, like Chicago, L.A. or Toronto, but in the Prairies—more specifically, in Calgary, where they’d immigrated as kids. Using a South Asian term for “thug,” the self-described music nerds dubbed their sound Goonda rap.

“Goonda rap was really our way of being able to pay homage to all of the subgenres of hip hop that came before us, that influenced us, but that we cannot claim to be a part of—two brown girls who grew up in the Prairies and are from South India,” says Contra.

Growing up in Calgary, a city stereotyped as being all about country music, Stampede and a lot of voting blue, there wasn’t much of a hip hop scene for the sisters to jump into and learn from—let alone one with any queer-identifying South Asian women in it.

Though they yearned for that type of supportive space, there was a beauty to the tumbleweed emptiness of their frontier environment: it was all unwritten. Eboshi and Contra were free to create whatever the hell they wanted.

“We were like, there’s no way Calgary is going to fuck with what we’re doing,” recalls Contra. “There was always that sentiment. But I think some of the ways in which the city did support us is very indicative of an appetite for counterculture in a city like Calgary—not everyone is an oil baron,” they continue.

“Goonda rap was a way to be, okay, we’re doing something new. New stories, new sounds. It’s not just hip hop—you hear punk, you hear house, you hear a lot of different electronic influences. It’s our way to do whatever we want. We’re just going to do our thing.”

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A

round 2018, Calgary was starting to take notice of Cartel Madras’s adrenaline-pumping Goonda rap, but it wasn’t quite sure what to do with the duo: the sisters briefly reference being booked for a few confusing brunch gigs, where they performed while diners picked at their poached eggs.

“Really weird. Illuminating. It was Calgary trying to shoehorn you into the venues they had,” is about all they have to say about that.

Accepting that the existing music venues weren’t open to booking underground rap, hip hop and trap gigs, Eboshi and Contra took matters into their own hands.

“We were going to flip this random house and make it into this party that’s reminiscent of a Bay Area warehouse or a London garage. We were trying to attract someone who’s more creative, more cutting edge, more willing to come out of their box.”

The sisters also booked some local artists for the party that they deemed worthy of hyping a crowd, and pinpointed a venue in the yuppie, riverside neighbourhood of Kensington.

“We were like, we have this house that this very nice 34 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

couple has agreed to let us essentially destroy for the night. We kind of told them it was going to be small, and then we were like, actually, 100 people are coming. They were panicking. When it began, they were like, ‘what’s happening?!’ And we were, ‘fuck it, you guys agreed, we’re in now,’ Eboshi laughs, recounting the interaction with the same no-fucks-given attitude she channels onstage.

Fitting, then, that they named the party Sansfuccs— and that they eventually founded a collective of YYC artists by the same name after the success of that night.

“We had to go to the neighbours and tell them it was going to be really loud, please don’t call the cops.

They did call the cops…it was a really lovely house.”

Advertising the Sansfuccs party via Instagram, they sold out immediately—evidence of a growing hunger for the type of music they were making. Today, between establishing a fanbase online and hustling between Calgary and Toronto, Cartel Madras’s Goonda rap is continuing to gain traction.

“There’s been an explosion of underground hip hop in Canada in the past the past four years,” Contra enthuses.

CARTEL MADRAS The Serpent & The Tiger

Genre: Alt hip hop Sounds: Raging rhymes with silky flow, brain-shaking 808s and experimental ventures into jazzy house beats If you like: Princess Nokia, M.I.A., MF Doom Why you should listen: These South Asia-born, Calgary-bred sisters rap about sex, drugs and being bosses over hip hop, trap and hip house beats in a wholly original genre they’ve coined Goonda rap.

Best track: FEAR & LOATHING

CARTEL MADRAS

Buckling up and riding it, the sisters played high-energy shows every weekend until COVID struck, constantly putting out new music and working their asses off to make a name for themselves in an industry in which they had zero connections. And, though their Goonda personas might make it seem like they’ve got a habit of making enemies alongside a “too good for you” attitude, the sisters continue to lift up fellow creatives as they rise to the top.

“Sometimes the people beside you are the most talented people,” Contra asserts. “It’s always been: if we’re going do this, we’re going put other people on too. We’re going to wear other people’s clothes, bring in cinematographers that we know—just really incredible creatives who won’t actually get their shine, get their respect officially in this industry,” she explains with conviction.

J

umping in, Eboshi says, “The roster of creatives and intellectuals that we work with— none of us had a shot at hitting anything close to the mainstream until much more recently, now that it’s definitely ‘trending’ to be a person of colour. We’re getting a lot more airtime.”

Rather than rejecting the attention for its tokenist foundations, Eboshi and Contra are using it to bust the door wide open, like the smart businesswomen they are.

“We’re still looking to champion creative excellence, artistic integrity and push the envelope,” Eboshi says.

The sisters’ relentless drive is a trait instilled in them by their parents, who put them in a Calgary school hoping it would be a pipeline for their daughters to become STEM prodigies.

“We reacted to that environment by going the other direction entirely,” says Contra, explaining that English and social studies were their preferred subjects.

Eboshi continues: “They were like, okay, that’s fine, as long as you do the thing where you become a lawyer. We can handle that. Then one day they blinked, and we were like, so…remember when you wanted us to be lawyers? We’re rappers now.”

“It’s really kind of the most fucked up thing you do to an Indian parent. Create a career where you’re artistically open about your sexuality and partying.

It’s a nightmare. To be completely honest, it is every immigrant parent’s worst fucking nightmare,” Contra says, emphasizing the last three words.

Despite their extreme rebelliousness, the sisters acknowledge that they “manage to sometimes be what our parents want, through always valuing quality and success.”

Apart from their mom and dad, their entire family lives in India—and the sisters haven’t had the opportunity to return since they became Cartel Madras. One can only imagine how the “so…what do you do now?” conversation would go down at a family reunion.

“One of our aunts follows us on Instagram. Every once in a while, she comments on one of our photos, saying ‘great job girls!’ It’s really sweet. I don’t think she’s, like, really seen FEAR & LOATHING yet…”

Eboshi chuckles, referencing a racy music video off of the new EP. Though their explicit, take-no-prisoners rap would be quite a shock to their family members in

“

We’re not always sampling South Indian music, but we’re definitely sampling South Indian ideas.” Contra

WATCH THE FEAR & LOATHING VIDEO HERE

the Southern Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the sisters continue to honour their culture through their work.

“We’re not always sampling South Indian music, but we’re definitely sampling South Indian ideas. There’s always a bit of South India in our visuals, in our lyrics, some of the colours we use…it’s less of an aesthetic adornment and more of a historical callback to where we’re from.”

LISTEN TO CARTEL MADRAS'S FEAR & LOATHING HERE

The iconoclasts make a brilliant mockery of binaries as they swagger and spit bars, channelling their masculine energy in aggressive verses and their feminine magic with house beat hooks. They capitalize on the freedom of their Western upbringing by pursuing a rap career while acknowledging their first-generation background in cheeky, head-swivelling lines.

When you play Cartel Madras, be sure to roll down your windows for optimal enjoyment.  NEXT AUGUST 2021

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The Canada’s Walk of Fame Community Hero Program, presented by MLSE and Scotiabank, selects an exceptional Canadian under 30 who positively influences the lives of others and makes a profound impact on their communities and beyond. The selected grand prize winner receives a donation to help raise awareness and advocate for a cause that is important to them.

2020

ADITI SIVAKUMAR

WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVOCATE

2019

ABHAYJEET SINGH SACHAL HUMANITARIAN

2018

STELLA BOWLES ENVIRONMENTALIST

What Canadian track do you have on repeat right now?

"What's Next" - Drake

"God's Plan" - Drake

"Hold On" - Justin Bieber

If you could interview one Canadian musician, who would it be? What would you ask?

"If I could have a one-on-one interview with a Canadian musician, I would choose Drake.

I would be interested in asking him how historically male-dominated genres such as R&B and Hip Hop can be more inclusive towards women and how the music industry can provide opportunities for those from under-represented groups."

"At the Canada’s Walk of Fame Gala in 2019, I was fortunate to meet Alessia Cara, where we chatted about her work in mental health advocacy. My brother Sukhmeet and I shared our work through Break The Divide and our public speaking. If I were to interview Alessia Cara, I would ask her about the most important things we can do as individuals to break down stigmas around mental health and create a more accepting society."

"I would have so many questions for Justin Bieber. He dealt with so much at such a young age. One of the first questions I would ask him is if he ever gets really overwhelmed with the fame and how he handles that. I would ask him if he has any interest in environmental projects since he is younger and so influential. I would also have to ask him if he would consider collaborating with me on a water project."

Nominations for our 2021 Community Hero open this fall!

For full profiles of our past Community Heroes featured above, visit canadaswalkoffame.com.

36 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

Reviews CLAIRO'S NEW INDIE-FOLK CONVICTIONS MAKE SLING SHINE

CLAIRO Sling

Genre: Folk Sound: Melancholy ’70s folk tunes that evoke autumnal forests and winter campfires If you like: Joni Mitchell, Elliott Smith, folklore-era Taylor Swift Why you should listen: This heavily stylized, classic singer-songwriter release marks a notable (and remarkable) departure from Clairo’s typical bedroom pop stylings.

It’s clear she’s grown up, and the notable Elliott Smith and Joni Mitchell influences make this album appealing to all ages.

Best track: Blouse

LISTEN TO CLAIRO'S SLING HERE

O

n her latest album, Sling, bedroom pop princess Clairo is unrecognizable.

Most know her from the genre-defining Pretty Girl, her breakout hit, which—along with its accompanying lo-fi music video—immediately established her as an aesthetic icon for the hyper-online indie girls of the 2000s.

All the more interesting, then, that the former Y2K pop girl went off the grid, escaped into the woods and came back out with one of the best major folk albums of the last decade.

Sling is quiet, pensive and enduringly understated: Clairo’s voice whispers its way throughout the album, singing wandering tunes layered with Fleet Foxes-esque harmonies and warbling Joni Mitchell sweetness. The album is so charmingly, perfectly autumnal that its July release almost seems like a cosmic mistake.

Sling was written and produced with pop mastermind Jack Antonoff, whose recent work has toyed with the themes that spring to life on the project: Taylor Swift’s folklore and evermore are the obvious comparisons, and St. Vincent’s Daddy’s Home leans into the ’70s with similar commitment.

Despite these thematic similarities, though, Sling is a beast all its own—

there’s no trace of the pop sensibilities that marked Antonoff’s previous projects, and no track on this album was meant to be a stadium hit. It’s a folk album, through and through.

Here, Clairo sounds far more like a Joni Mitchell/ Elliott Smith lovechild than the pop girlies she’s often grouped together with (the album’s lead single, Blouse, is a dead ringer for Smith’s Say Yes).

Sling isn’t perfect by any means (a friend recently tweeted “i thought I was listening to a particularly long song off Clairo’s new album but it turned out to be three back-to-back songs that i couldn’t tell were different”; and that criticism isn’t unwarranted) but it’s a remarkable album, both in execution and conviction.

Clairo’s transformation from bedroom pop savant to a mournful, maudlin, indiefolk faerie is an about-face the likes of which the industry hasn’t seen since Alanis Morissette.

I hope Clairo is comfortable here, and I sense that she is: the album has already drawn criticism from fans hoping for the aestheticized, TikTok-ready indie pop she’s produced in the past, but it’s clear that this is what her voice was made for. On Sling, Clairo crackles with all the warmth and light of a mid-winter campfire.

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

NEXT AUGUST 2021

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REVIEWS

30¯SECOND ALBUM HARKNESS

SWISHA T

JUNGLE

LEX LEOSIS

Genre: Art rock Sound: Campy, cinematic production evokes horror imagery over ’80s-style electronica If you like: Daft Punk, King Crimson, The Flaming Lips Why you should listen: Listening to underground alt-rocker Harkness’s latest is like watching the world’s most chaotic movie marathon: every track evokes a specific, hyper-stylized mood, but no song is quite like the last.

You have to see it to believe it.

Best track: I.D.

Genre: Hip hop Sound: Modern vibronic hip hop with insightful lyrics that make you think twice If you like: Futuristic, A$AP Rocky, G-Eazy Why you should listen: Raised in Ottawa, smooth-rapping Swisha T is driven to make it mainstream with a rigorously crafted album that includes a relentless mix of rhythmic beats that will keep your ears enticed.

Best track: Long Way

Genre: Electronic Sounds: Bee Gees-inspired vocals groove with high-energy dance floor beats If you like: Franc Moody, Tame Impala, Earth, Wind & Fire Why you should listen: This British electronic duo gives everyone a very good reason to bust out of lockdown wearing disco pants with this 21stcentury Saturday Night Fever record.

Best track: Romeo (feat. Bas)

Genre: Hip hop Sound: Lyrical hip hop with funky bass and beats If you like: Missy Elliot, Lauryn Hill, Haviah Mighty Why you should listen: Toronto-based queer rapper Lex Leosis has been tearing it up on TikTok freestyle challenges. On Terracotta, the former member of female hip hop group The Sorority—which also included Haviah Mighty—steps up with her uplifting, urgent debut.

Best track: Wanted

The Occasion

Road to Redemption

Loving In Stereo

Terracotta EP

STIMULATOR JONES Low Budget Environments Striving for Perfection

Genre: Hip hop instrumental Sound: Lo-fi hip hop with a perfect marriage of record scratches and beats that’s all mood and vibe If you like: Mndsgn, Knxwledge, S. Fidelity Why you should listen: Virginia’s Stimulator Jones has made the perfect chillin’ and grillin’ summer album, with old-school hip hop sounds to groove to while you’re hanging out with friends.

Best track: Chill & Sip

THE NEXT PLAYLIST

1

Rae Street

Courtney Barnett

A folksy, drawling track inspired by the sounds of old country music.

38 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

2

Bunny Is A Rider Caroline Polachek

A short, sweet club banger about being unavailable.

3

Renegade (feat.

Taylor Swift)

Big Red Machine, Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift continues her folk-indie bent with this bittersweet collab.

4

G R O W (feat.

Travis Barker)

Willow Smith, Avril Lavigne

The new guard of punk pop links up with the OGs for this angsty banger about growing pains.

5

Social Jungle (White Cliffs Remix)

Herizen

A sparkling R&B/pop mashup, perfect for re-entering social life—don’t be surprised if it ends up on your most-played.

REVIEWS

USE YOUR PHONE'S CAMERA TO SCAN THESE CODES TO LISTEN TO ALL THE MUSIC REVIEWED HERE ON YOUR FAVOURITE STREAMING SERVICE.

EREZ ZOBARY

BOBBY SESSIONS

LORDE

ANGEL OLSEN

PRINCE

Genre: R&B Sound: Smooth rhythms that fluctuate from soft to rusty edge tones If you like: Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Joss Stone Why you should listen: Erez Zobary lets go of her ex on her latest album. The sultry-voiced singer got her first break in 2019 through the Master in Residence program at Calgary’s National Music Centre. Now, she is offering comfort during heartbreak season(s).

Best track: Breath You Out

Genre: Hip hop Sound: Old-school hip hop with an undertone of funk and jazz If you like: Jay-Z, J. Cole, Big Sean Why should listen: Almost every track affirms this Texas-based rapper’s legendary status. Anyone trying to manifest their success should listen to this uplifting album to elevate their vibrations.

Best track: Young Legend

Genre: Alternative pop Sound: Pop savant Jack Antonoff supplies summery riffs and vintage callbacks If you like: MARINA, Rina Sawayama, King Princess Why you should listen: After a huge last album and an extended absence, anticipation is huge for Lorde’s follow-up— which make it all the more impressive that she isn’t afraid to break out of that sad-girl mold and put her lyrical and vocal chops to good use.

Best track: Stoned at the Nail Salon

Genre: ’80s alt-pop Sound: Haunting covers twist and turn ’80s classics into something entirely new If you like: Alphaville, Men Without Hats, The Cure Why you should listen: A must if you’re already a fan of the songs Olsen puts her spin on, but don’t ignore it if you’re not an ’80s fan: her vocals, art-rock production, and unique creative vision turn old tunes into arresting, unforgettable earworms.

Best track: Forever Young

Genre: Funk-soul pop Sound: Lush tracks powered with funky bass and gospel choruses If you like: Lin Manuel-Miranda, Michael Jackson, Gil ScottHeron Why you should listen: This lost album from 2010 is a beyondthe-grave look at America by the musical legend; it’s a time capsule full of social commentary with a musical theatre vibe.

Best track: 1000 Light Years From Here

To Bloom

Manifest

Solar Power

Aisles EP

Welcome 2 America

10 TRACKS THE NEXT STAFF CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH

6

You

Niall Mutter

This London, Ont.-born singer-songwriter cooks up a warm, indie pop track made for sunny days lazing in the park.

7

MOVIN’ (feat. Mick Jenkins & Aréna)

Bluestaeb

Soothing jazz rap with a sliceof-life feel from the Berlin/ Paris producer, in collaboration with rapper Mick Jenkins and producer Aréna.

8

Night Swims Cookin Soul & Jinsang

Buttery, soothing, chilledlounge, lo-fi hip hop from Spain that delivers a live-inthe-moment vibe that will reside in your head rent-free.

9

As Far As I’ve Come Ferraro

Solid summer-driving, poprock power from Toronto’s favourite bar-owning brother band, Ferraro.

10

Don’t Go Yet

Camila Cabello

Cuba’s Havana hitmaker is back with a Latinpowered party anthem that makes us want to crowd into a club.

NEXT AUGUST 2021

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30¯SECOND ALBUM REVIEWS 40 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

JAKE BUGG

Saturday Night, Sunday Morning

Genre: Indie rock/pop Sounds: A unique Bob Dylan-inspired voice muses over guitar-heavy rhythms, punchy drums and beat-keeping claps If you like: The Kooks, Declan McKenna, Oasis Why you should listen: British performer Jake Bugg’s simple, ballad-filled debut album was a hit, but he’s struggled since.

He’s finally rolling again with this upbeat, about-last-night record made for summer nights running through the streets.

Best track: All I Need

KEVIN DREW Influences

Genre: Electronic Sound: Chill, ambient electronica bounces and hums If you like: Broken Social Scene, KC Accidental, Aphex Twin Why you should listen: These laid-back atmospheric tracks from Broken Social Scene honcho Kevin Drew convey remarkable storytelling, even without words.

Best track: Dooms Dive

CAMIE

Chiiild

Genre: Alt-folk Sounds: Flourishing strings, spirited acoustic strums and stirring lead vocals escalate to forge soaring sounds If you like: Hozier, Florence + The Machine, folklore-era Taylor Swift Why you should listen: Pretty much this generation’s Joni Mitchell, Toronto-based queer artist Camie’s gift for soulful storytelling while building epically lush compositions is enough to give the most dubious of listeners a case of musical frisson.

Best track: Parasite

Genre: Alt-pop Sound: Hypnotizing, impossibly smooth electro-soul If you like: LOONY, IGOR-era Tyler, the Creator, Tame Impala Why you should listen: Montreal’s Chiiild’s heavily anticipated release pulls inspiration from the best of Tame Impala, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye and more to build a mesmerizing, shapeshifting aural experience.

Best track: Gone

troubadour

Hope for Sale

BARENAKED LADIES

Genre: Avant-garde Sound: Eclectic, instrumental-driven art rock that spans genres and styles If you like: Broken Social Scene, Animal Collective, Godspeed You! Black Emperor Why you should listen: Broken Social Scenster Charles Spearin’s avant-garde album is highly conceptual and combines elements of art rock and electronica with ease. Don’t worry about it going over your head, though—it’s fun to listen to even without reading the artist’s statements.

Best track: Sometimes It Hurts To Be Alive

Genre: Rock Sound: Clever, quick-talking rock with a hint of country twang If you like: Blues Traveler, Third Eye Blind, Hootie and the Blowfish Why you should listen: Barenaked Ladies became famous for their tongue-in-cheek approach to ’90s rock, and this album will satisfy fans missing that signature slyness.

Best track: New Disaster

My City Of Starlings

Detour de Force

SNOH AALEGRA

JOHN ORPHEUS

Genre: R&B Sound: Stripped down R&B with immaculate beat switches and a smidge of hip hop and snare beats If you like: AlunaGeorge, Sade, SiR Why you should listen: Swedish-Iranian R&B singer Snoh Aalegra’s fourth release is rich in smooth, compelling production showcasing Aalegra’s soothing vocals.

Best track: Neon Peach (feat.

Tyler, The Creator)

Genre: Afrobeat/pop-hip hop Sound: Celebratory soca sonics, full of joyful vocals, dance on beating percussion and funky guitars If you like: Burna Boy, Pierre Kwenders, Pon de Replay-era Rihanna Why you should listen: Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, the charismatic Orpheus details personal struggles and overcoming them with an infectiously upbeat sound that bursts with catchy hooks and bouncing dancehall rhythms.

Best track: Fela Awoke (I Will Miss You)

Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies

Saga King

30 SECOND ALBUM REVIEWS ¯

CHARLES SPEARIN

THE NEW UNRELEASED STUDIO ALBUM

“

wE MaDe mUsIc wAy aHeAd oF ItS TiMe aNyWaY. iT’s aS fReSh 2dAy aS EvEr. ” -Prince

AVAILABLE JULY 30, 2021 PRINCE.COM C 2021 The Prince Estate/NPG Records, Inc., manufactured and distributed by Sony Music Entertainment

NEXT AUGUST 2021

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42 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

THE LOCAL PAGES

Y Y Z TORONTO ARTS & EVENTS AUGUST

BORN RUFFIANS, TOKYO POLICE CLUB TAKE OVER DRIVE IN Tokyo Police Club and Born Ruffians

Thurs., Aug. 12 and Fri., Aug. 13 Drive-in event $128–$151 per car CityView Drive-In, 20 Polson St. cityviewdrivein.com

WATCH BORN RUFFIANS LIVE AT MASSEY HALL

VANESSA HEINS

As Toronto venues clear the dust and prepare for the return of indoor live music—September should be jammed!— outdoor spaces like CityView Drive-In are still going strong. This lakefront venue hosts Ontario rockers Tokyo Police Club and Born Ruffians two nights in a row, promising high energy even from your car. Tokyo Police Club celebrate the tenth anniversary of their album Champ, and Born Ruffians finally get to share their 2021 album Pulp with a live audience. Other CityView shows include Classic Albums Live performing Led Zeppelin II (Sat., Aug. 14) and Skratch Bastid and Friends, with k-os, Haviah Mighty and others (Fri., Aug. 27).

Born Ruffians NEXT AUGUST 2021

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YYZ AUG

Fanny: The Right to Rock

Including a full plant based menu 576 Danforth Ave @ Carlaw

ilfornello.com

FASHION FORWARD VINTAGE

Chutney Popcorn

INSIDE OUT FILM FEST GOES OUTSIDE Inside Out Drive-In Tour

Fri., Aug. 20–Sat., Aug. 28, 7 pm In-person screenings Free at Fort York, $45 at drive-ins 250 Fort York Blvd. insideout.ca

1269 Bloor Street West

www.finaltouchvintage.com

44 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

Inside Out, one of the largest LGBTQ film festivals in North America, is going outside! The Inside Out team has partnered with Hot Docs to bring a new movie series to outdoor and drive-in theatres across Ontario. The showcase launched in late July at Ontario Place, and moves to the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show at Fort York National Historic Site this month.

Seven feature films will screen before they hit theatres, as well as several Inside Out Award-winning short films. Programming highlights include Chutney Popcorn (Fri., Aug. 20), a comedy following a young, gay Indian-American woman who offers to be her sister’s surrogate, and Fanny: The Right to Rock (Fri., Aug. 27), a documentary following an all-female rock band reuniting after decades apart. Other venues include Prince Edward County’s Mustang Drive-In and Ottawa’s Drive-In Experience.

AUG YYZ

MAKING WAVES WITH INDIGENOUS ART

Elder Duke Redbird

Wigwam Chi-Chemung 2021 Now–Sun., Oct. 17 Public art Free Ontario Place, 955 Lakeshore Blvd. W. myseumoftoronto.com

Myseum of Toronto, a dynamic museum that showcases the city’s diverse history and culture, has partnered with Ontario Place to present an art installation celebrating Indigenous heritage. Wigwam Chi-Chemung roughly translates to “Big House Canoe” in Ojibway and is the name of a houseboat painted by celebrated artist, educator and activist Elder, Duke Redbird.

The boat will sit on Lake Ontario until October to honor the Anishinaabe peoples who thrived on the land and waters now known as the Toronto Port Lands.

In addition to the art piece, Elder Redbird has launched a 24/7 phone line (647-373-5705) with pre-recorded messages for callers to learn more about his heritage.

NEXT AUGUST 2021

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YYZ AUG HOLY MONET! MAKES IMPRESSION Beyond Monet

Thurs., Aug. 12–Sun., Oct. 3 In-person exhibit $40 regular, $100 VIP Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. W monettoronto.com

This summer, surround yourself (literally!) with the colourful works of French impressionist painter Claude Monet while still in downtown Toronto. Beyond Monet is an immersive art exhibit that transforms the artist’s famous water lilies and hazy city skylines into digital pieces. These digital renditions have been magnified and projected onto the walls, floor and ceiling of a giant convention centre hall, blending together beautifully, and paired with a soundtrack that together create a mesmerizing, hour-long show.

how do you know that what you’re choosing is good for you and the planet?

ORGANIC IS BUILT ON FOUR MAIN PRINCIPLES:

Health, Ecology, Care, and Fairness.

Celebrate

ORGANIC WEEK 2021 September 13-19

Get involved at organicweek.ca Organized by

46 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

Sponsored by

AUG YYZ TAIWAN INDIE MUSIC GETS FESTIVAL FOCUS Taiwanfest

Fri., Aug. 27–Sun., Aug. 29 Virtual event Free torontotaiwanfest.ca

Taiwanfest takes its annual focus on Asian culture online with its Rethink Asia program of musical performances, art presentations and keynote speeches. Indie culture is the focus when Taiwan’s legendary record label owner, music producer, festival creator and magazine publisher Jang Dal Im speaks with Canada’s Michael Hollett from NEXT Magazine and NXNE (Sun., Aug. 29).

The festival also dives into the rich history between Taiwan and South Korea and explores what it means to be Asian Canadian. Launching virtually, festival attendees can catch online performances by the Taiwanfest Orchestra and the all-female group The Tune, learn some K-pop dance moves from VYbE Dance Company or try a new recipe with Core Restaurant’s Chef Hyun.

Jang Dal Im

SUMMER 2021 With an outdoor theatre experience in Chinguacousy Park, and JUNO Award winners taking over the Mainstage for Live From The Rose virtual events, we can’t wait to escape into summer through the power of live performance!

PHOTO: SERENA RYDER

FREE TICKETS RESERVE NOW

SUMMER 2021

48 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

THE LOCAL PAGES

Y V R VANCOUVER ARTS & EVENTS AUGUST

WATCH MORE ON THE MURAL FEST HERE

PAINT PARTY Vancouver Mural Festival

Wed., Aug. 4–Sun., Aug. 22 Public art festival Free vanmuralfest.ca/blog/ vancouver-mural-festival-2021

Every summer, Vancouver’s most talented artists paint the town rainbow for the annual Vancouver Mural Festival. The event, which started as a way to show off the city’s artistic diversity, has now expanded to cover 11 neighborhoods (including Mount Pleasant, Downtown, Cambie Village, South Granville, and more), feature more than 60 new murals, and host over 40 live shows and events over the course of three weeks.

Viewing the murals is free, with ticketed options available for a variety of sizzling summer events such as drag and burlesque shows, enriching cultural and political talks, and patio parties.

Don’t miss performances

by RICECAKE, Vancouver’s queer Asian drag collective (Fri., Aug. 6), an opening ceremony celebrating Afro-diasporic identities (Wed., Aug. 4), a concert by Vancouver artists Prado and Devours (Tues., Aug. 19), and much, much more.

NEXT AUGUST 2021

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YVR AUG

AVANT-GARDE ART FEST Queer Arts Festival

Ends Fri., Aug. 13 Multidisciplinary arts festival Prices vary; all-access pass for $99 Various locations queerartsfestival.com/its-not-easy-being-green-2

Vancouver’s expertly curated, avant garde Queer Arts Festival takes over the first two weeks of August, with exhibitions in constant rotation at the SUM Gallery, the Sun Wah Centre, Mountain View Cemetery, and more.

The festival explores climate catastrophe and our communities’ connections to the land. Don’t miss an Indigenous-led performance piece titled Piano Burning (Sun., Aug. 8), staged on cemetery grounds.

QUEER ON SCREEN

Rebel Dykes

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Vancouver Queer Film Festival

August 12–21 Virtual film fest Tickets from $5–$21; all-access pass $145 outonscreen.com/vqff The annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival, which showcases queer art with radical messages is online again this year with sliding-scale ticket prices and films streaming for the duration of the fest.

Highlights include Rebel Dykes, a doc on lesbian punks in ’80s London; The Fandom, which covers the queer furry community, past and present; and Obsidian: Black Queer Filmmakers, a highlight reel of some of the Black community’s finest queer art.

AUG YVR

EAT, DRINK, AND DANCE AT THE RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET

Richmond Night Market

Every Friday and Saturday (plus Sundays preceding statutory holidays), 6 pm–12 am; ends Mon.,Sept. 6 Seasonal market and fair Free 8351 River Rd., Richmond, B.C. richmondnightmarket.com

One of Metro Vancouver’s most anticipated summer staple events is back.

The Richmond Night Market—a luminous summer fair that typically draws over one million visitors a year—is running on weekends all through August. Even though they’ll be starting off smaller than usual, they’ll be adding vendors and events all summer as restrictions change.

But make sure to go on an empty stomach; the market’s crowning glory is its one-of-a-kind collection of some of the finest vendors and restauranteurs in North America.

In addition to the international street food, the market features shopping, live entertainment and, of course, an unforgettable atmosphere lit by thousands upon thousands of lights.

The market is running at a limited capacity for now, so be sure to show up early to secure your spot.

Unreal Fried Chicken

Proudly 100% Plant Based Dine-in · Takeout · No-Contact Delivery

@beetboxveg 1074 Davie Street Vancouver, BC V6E 1M3

@chickadeeroom Dine-in · Takeout & Delivery

182 Keefer St Vancouver, BC V6A 1X4

@jukefriedchicken 182 Keefer St Vancouver, BC V6A 1X4 NEXT AUGUST 2021

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KADEEMA GOTTA GET IT

KAYLA DIAMOND 50-50

MOSCOW APARTMENT HALFWAY

NOTIFI FIRST FLIGHT OUT

RYAN LANGDON LIT IN THE STICKS

THEO TAMS QUIT YOU LOVE

WATCH FOR NEW SINGLES FROM: SAM DRYSDALE DREAM ABOUT A GIRL AUGUST 27TH, 2021

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KAYLA DIAMOND SCREAMING AUGUST 19H, 2021

www.slaightmusic.com

JILLEA NEW EP THIS FALL

THE LOCAL PAGES

Y Y C

ALT MUSIC AND ARTS UNDER THE STARS Camp Sled Island

Thurs. Aug. 19–Sat. Aug. 21, doors at 6 pm, show at 7:30 pm $60 for table of 4 High Park, 340 10 Ave. SW Sledisland.com

Get the summer camp vibe at the rooftop playground of High Park with Camp Sled Island: three nights of recorded performances, live music and film screenings from local and international artists. And like camp, mealtime is taken care of: Eighty-Eight Brewing is serving up a special ale paired with tasty snacks from boutique corner store Via Convenience.

Here are three “can’t miss” acts:

CALGARY ARTS & EVENTS AUGUST

↑SANSFUCCS Presents: Dispatches from the Calgary Underground Docuseries Sat., Aug. 21 @sansfuccs

A gripping docuseries about the coming up of various underground music scenes in Cowtown. The series is presented by SANSFUCCS, an artist collective founded by this month’s NEXT cover stars, Cartel Madras.

←ALADEAN KHEROUFI Live music performance Fri., Aug. 20 Edmontonian by way of Algeria, DJ and musician Kheroufi’s soulful sounds range from ’70s soft rock to groovy, baby!

↑Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché

WATCH THE POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ TRAILER HERE

Documentary Thurs., Aug. 19 X-Ray Spex frontwoman Poly Styrene was a punk icon, woman of colour and a key inspiration for the riot grrrl and Afropunk movements. This empowering film features interviews with Poly Styrene’s daughter, Thurston Moore and Vivienne Westwood.

NEXT AUGUST 2021

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YYC AUG

GLOABAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL LIGHTS UP THE CITY

GlobalFest & OneWorld Festival Thurs., Aug. 19–Sat., Aug. 28 General admission $21, VIP $46 Elliston Park, 1827 68 St. SE globalfest.ca

Fireworks, music and dance, oh my!

Showcasing the wealth of international cultures in Calgary, GlobalFest and OneWorld Festival present four stages brimming with entertainment from a mosaic of cultures. When the summer sun gets too hot, head to the beer gardens or food booths to chow down on a dish from a country you might not have been to—yet. As night rolls in, catch one of the fireworks displays put on by competing teams from China, India, Japan and the Philippines—talk about ending the night with a bang!

EMERGING THESPIANS GO MOBILE

Now until Fri., Aug. 29 Various locations around the city Free, donations encouraged (text COMEDY to 20222 to donate) theatrecalgary.com/shows/ shakespeare-on-the-go

A travelling cast of up-and-coming Alberta actors are performing 45-minute scenes from Shakespeare’s ludicrous Comedy of Errors in the open air, at parks, libraries, pavilions and other places all over the city this month.

Formerly known as Shakespeare on the Bow, hosted by Theatre Calgary in Prince’s Island Park, the performers are packing up their caravan and going mobile this year to delight as many Calgarians as possible with Willy’s works. Check the Theatre Calgary website to pinpoint upto-date locations for these roaming thespians.

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AUG YYC

STREET ART FEST PAINTS DOWNTOWN CORE

Beltline Urban Murals Project Now until Fri., Aug. 29 Public art festival Free Downtown Yycbump.ca

Splashing mesmerizing murals on massive walls throughout downtown Calgary since 2017, BUMP is steadily turning YYC’s streets into an outdoor art gallery. Every summer, world-class artists travel to the city to make their mark on the downtown slate, brightening the grey shades of skyscrapers with a palette for the people.

Check out the BUMP website for a map of all murals-in-progress, a schedule of live music jams, movie screenings and mural tours.

GOOD EATS AND GOOD MUSIC AT OPEN MIC

Open mic night at Koi

Tuesdays; Sign-up sheet at 6:30 pm, music at 7 pm 100-1011 1st St. SW koicalgary.com

With delicious Asian-fusion cuisine, local art adorning the walls and a stage brimming with talent, YYC’S Koi restaurant is a haven for local artists—and has room for everyone. Every Tuesday is open mic night, offering the next big thing a place to break. Sets are 10 minutes each, with a back line of drums, acoustic guitar and keys ready to go.

Show the city what you’ve been creating during lockdown!

NEXT AUGUST 2021

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FUNNIES THE NEXT

TIME-WASTING PUZZLES, GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

NEXT-LIBS

ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?

LIVE MUSIC IS BACK. ARE YOU READY? DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER HOW TO GO TO A CONCERT? BE WITH STRANGERS? WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR HANDS? GRAB A FRIEND AND FILL OUT THIS NEXT LIBS TO SEE WHAT YOUR FIRST POST-PANDEMIC CONCERT HAS IN STORE FOR YOU!

Staring at the computer screen in disbelief, I see that

The driver pulls up in a sketchy______________________. (mode of transport)

tickets to see _____________________live are now on sale.

I’m about to hop in when I realize I forgot my mask. Shit. I

Fingers tingling with _____________________,

reach into my bag and grab a(n)_____________________and

I purchase tickets for my best pals _____________________,

strap it to my face. Perfect.

(favourite music act)

(feeling, noun form)

(type of underwear) (name of best friend 1)

_____________________ and myself before they sell out. (name of best friend 2)

Fast forward two weeks: I’m squeezing into

After a(n) _____________________ ride, we arrive at (adjective)

_____________________. We walk up to the bouncer and show (favourite concert venue)

a(n)_________________________ ________________________in front

him our IDs—except _____________________ forgot theirs.

of the mirror—haven’t worn these things/this thing

Classic. __________________shows him their __________________

in years! ______________________calls me from the liquor

instead. Miraculously, the bouncer lets us in.

(adjective for clothing)

(item of clothing)

(name of best friend 1)

store—they’re picking up pre-drinks… but the place only

(name of best friend 2)

(your most prized childhood possession)

(name of best friend 2)

We sneakily weave our way to the front just in time for

has ________________________. Pray for me. We take a cou-

the beat to drop, sending waves of __________________into

ple shots out of a(n) _______________________and call an

the crowd. Before I even realize it, the music is sending

Uber. Remember those? I toss a(n)______________________

vibrations through my __________________and I can’t stop

and a(n)______________________ into my bag and

smiling.

(liquor that you have bad memories of)

(random kitchen item)

(noun, item)

(noun, item)

we______________________ out the door. (action verb)

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(feeling, noun form)

(body part)

The roaring ’20s are officially on, baby!

FUNNIES

LORDE WORD SEARCH

AFTER AN INFAMOUS FOUR-YEAR HIATUS, New Zealand alt-pop pioneer Lorde is back and ready to introduce a whole new generation of teenage girls to Marlboro Reds and clinical depression. Her return has been highly anticipated with a die-hard fanbase itching for more (she’s basically Britney Spears for children of divorce).

We’re glad she took time off to find herself...but, while we wait for the album, do some finding of your own in this Lorde-themed word search.

WATCH THE SOLAR POWER VIDEO HERE

rde

J

S C L

L R

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H T U A W O N

G A M O R F S T E R C E S I

O N R

I

N G S H F R G

I

O O E F

L

L D N A

L

K C U A A R F E U Z

O N M B

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D T G P R L

Q E

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H U Z

R H T

F N S Z H O V E E

G D G O Q U W O B Y E A W Y C

I

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L H R O N O V T P

Y N R E O E F V Y N P E R T W F N M A G A R A H E H F

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L H

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C N A D R A E T D Q N T K D

M E N R D S O L

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F A E F O H H S O A O

A N A R T N O R N C R V M N B E N V P O R A F A A S A E E G F D

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B A H A A H Y O J

E A D F D X U S

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Z E X A N A H T

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WORD LIST AUCKLAND BIG STAR CALIFORNIA DAVID BOWIE DOMINOES ELLA FALLEN FRUIT GREEN LIGHT LEADER OF A NEW REGIME MELODRAMA MOOD RING NEW ZEALAND OCEANIC FEELING ONION RINGS PEARL PURE HEROINE ROYALS SECRETS FROM A GIRL SOLAR POWER STONED IN THE NAIL SALON SYNESTHESIA TAKAPUNA THE LOVE CLUB THE MAN WITH AN AXE THE PATH NEXT AUGUST 2021

57

ASK AMY PREFER BORING TO ROARING ’20S Dear Amy: I feel like I’m missing the biggest party in the world.

Everyone is so excited about the new “Roaring ’20s,” but I’m not ready to give up on my COVID-cloistered life.

Of course, I’m glad COVID is lifting, but I liked being alone and having control. I’m not ready to give up what I’ve had and rush out onto the unknown.

Am I missing the fun or just knowing what I like?​​​

Not Ready Dear Not Ready: I think one of the things the pandemic taught me is we just become more ourselves when met with a crisis such as this: this from watching cautious, fearful people becoming more anxious and withdrawn to witnessing the always laissez-faire go about their lives as if there wasn’t a lethal, contagious virus hunting us.

58 AUGUST 2021 NEXT

gate and engage full bore, and turn this crush into something that involves more mutual crushing.

How do I not come on too strong and gauge where I stand? Any relationship “tells” I should look for once I convince her to have a coffee? We’ve texted that much and a coffee date is pending.

Beau-Zoh Dear Beau-Zoh: We have all definitely spent more time in our heads the past year and a half! Obviously, the most important aspect to any exchange of crushing needs to be met with sensitivity to cues and consent. I’ve written about a million songs about two people who dodge vulnerability and avoid intimacy only to be left lonely. I would say being honest is your best bet!

Generally, people like being liked, so if you are forthright about your time spent alone thinking only of her, I think you will find out pretty quick if the attraction is reciprocated. Less armour, more amour.

They can’t rub their unvaccinated selves all over you and make you more vulnerable. YOU are protected! Isn’t that wonderful news?!

I’m pretty certain if we look at patterns in your pre-pandemic life, likely you loved a cancelled plan and preferred a night soaking in your bathtub alone with your thoughts and a book.

That can still be you. Pick the special occasions you truly enjoy and can now take advantage of, now that the restrictions are lifting, and don’t feel fomo for a life you were never interested in anyway.

FROM HAVING CRUSH TO CRUSHING IT Dear Amy: Now that COVID is lifting, I’m excited and curious about being social again. I’m a straight guy who’s basically had a crush on hold for months. I fear the “relationship” has progressed in my head but is based more on daydreams than actual, well, anything.

Now it’s go time, I guess.

I want to charge out of the

LACK OF VAX FAX CAUSES STRESS TO MAX

NEED ADVICE ON LOVE, SEX, RELATIONSHIPS, THE MUSIC BIZ OR HAVE A CONFESSION TO GET OFF YOUR CHEST?

ASK AMY MILLAN.

Dear Amy: I work in a decent restaurant and am happy be back at work serving—except I don’t trust anybody, and it’s going to make me crazy.

I don’t trust my colleagues and I don’t trust my customers.

Everybody should be vaxxed; not everybody will.

Some people will say they will if they need to.

How will I ever know who is telling the truth? I fear making myself crazy with doubt.​​​

Serving Anxiety Dear Serving: YOU are double vaccinated!

That right there should lift a

lot of your worries! Although you aren’t fully immune, the danger of hospitalization from the deadly Delta is a worry for the unvaccinated.

They can’t rub their unvaccinated selves all over you and make you more vulnerable. YOU are protected! Isn’t that wonderful news?!

It will be hard for us to shed our anxieties, as it has been a year and a half of being scared, but the vaccines are truly a miracle.

Those antibodies are at work inside of you, and you should know they have your back, no matter what your customers and co-workers do. That’s my highest tip.

HOW WAS PLAYING LIVE?

Dear Amy: What was it like to play live again? What was it like to be part of a band again?

Just as good? Better?

Worse? Different?​​

Stars Stock Dear Stars Stock: BETTER THEN EVER. Nothing taken for granted. Having theatres and clubs shuttered has been heart-wrenching. Being able to sing and connect with people again is everything.

We are a society that thrives by communing, and the arts are at the heart of community. Having my whole band be double vaccinated and being able to thrash about on stage is the best gift this girl could ask for. We walked on stage to "Welcome Back, Kotter"—welcome back, INDEED.

Amy Millan is a Canadian indie rock singer and guitarist. She records and performs with Stars and Broken Social Scene and has a successful solo career.

Have a question for Amy? askamy@nextmag.ca

SCAN ME

Discover Emanuel

inspired by lyrics from Emanuel’s Alt Therapy

FEATURING LIVE PERFORMANCES BY SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS

MON 20. 9. 2 1 Scenic Route To Alaska T21.9.21 U E Jon Bryant WED 22.9.21 MOC3 (Marriner/O'Brien/Caddell) T23.9.21 H U Altered By Mom F R I Skye Wallace S25.9.21 AT The Hello Darlins 24.9.21

Every night:

September 20TH – 25TH @ 7PM (ET)

SET A REMINDER LIVE .Y 4 40.CA CA.YAMAH A.C O M

A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION OF LIVE MUSIC

S E S S I O N S