NEXT Magazine Feb. 2021 by NEXT Magazine Toronto

MADE IN CANADA• 02|2021

FOR

FREE ALL

ISSUE 02

ASHNIKKO

‘STUPID BOYS’ WATCH OUT: SMART MONEY IS ON TIKTOK HITMAKER

CALIFORNIA JAMMING IS THE RIGHT RECIPE FOR RHYE

CHOCOLATE EDIBLES FOR YOUR VALENTINE JULIEN BAKER TORONTO, CALGARY AND VANCOUVER ESSENTIAL EVENTS BREWERS SAY "LET THEM DRINK CAKE!” PLUS! ARLO PARKS, FOO FIGHTERS AND THE WEATHER STATION

LEVITATING

DUA LIPA ft. DABABY

POSITIONS

ARIANA GRANDE

HOLY

JUSTIN BIEBER ft. CHANCE THE RAPPER

HARRY STYLES

SAM SMITH

THEREFORE I AM BILLIE EILISH

MONSTER

SHAWN MENDES & JUSTIN BIEBER

KINGS & QUEENS AVA MAX

SAVE YOUR TEARS THE WEEKND

12 13

DRAKE ft. LIL DURK

LIKE GOLD

DIAMONDS

LAUGH NOW, CRY LATER

YOU BROKE ME FIRST TATE MCRAE

GOLDEN

PRISONER

24KGOLDN ft. IANN DIOR

JASON DERULO

MOOD

4 5

TAKE YOU DANCING

MILEY CYRUS ft. DUA LIPA

LOUD LUXURY & FRANK WALKER

BANG! AJR

DYNAMITE BTS

34+35

ARIANA GRANDE

17 18

EVERYBODY WANTS YOU JOHNNY ORLANDO

ANYONE

JUSTIN BIEBER

PODCASTS

Join Shannon Burns Monday and Thursday on iHeartRadioCA’s YouTube Channel as she breaks down the biggest stories in music.

2 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

Beauties Incredible stories from hockey’s biggest names, greatest characters and unsung heroes. Narrated by James Duthie, legends of the game tell their stories over an immersive audio landscape. Mike on Much Podcast Hosted by Mike Veerman, a seasoned writer, director, and producer, the “Mike On Much” podcast features tales of camaraderie and conversations with creative ﬁgures from the world of music, ﬁlm and television.

2 0 2 1

Contents

THE SHORT LIST

Daniel Caesar tops Canada’s 10 best bets on nationwide pick pages

19 MUSIC

The Fighters are back in Foo force, Arlo Parks knows where it hurts, and Julien Baker stakes out star power. Plus Lady Gaga’s rubber boots and more at the Merch Table.

FEATURE

Sultry, sensual-singing Rhye found a wave-swept beachfront oasis in California for creative collaborations and dance parties with Diplo.

COVER STORY

Ashnikko has gained millions of listeners and social media followers with her powerful, playful, punk-infused pop music that’s not afraid to name names. 'Stupid Boys' beware!

ALBUM REVIEWS

Beach Bunny, Mogwai, slowthai, Celeste, The Weather Station, Kiwi Jr. and The Hold Steady

THE LOCAL PAGES

Lockdown can’t slow down Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary as creators move out online. Best bets in person and online for NEXT’s favourite three cities.

THE FUNNIES

Connect the Dots and find our secret star; show the colours for a real Wonderous Woman; and it’s Moscow Apartment story time

08 FOOD Deep dive into sub sandwich explosion 10 DRINKS Have your cake — and drink it too! 12 CANNABIS Chocolate for more than managing munchies 13 FASHION Sticking with stick-on nails 14 GAMING The welcome return of Scott Pilgrim 16 TV/MOVIES Billie Eilish’s monster moment

FEBRUARY 2021

ShortList THE

NEXT’S PICKS FOR THE TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN CANADA THIS MONTH

1 NO

MUSIC

DANIEL CAESAR LIVESTREAM SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 8 PM VIRTUAL EVENT

Tickets: bit.ly/2LVXwF7 / $20

4 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

2 NO

M OV I ES

BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD'S A LITTLE BLURRY FRIDAY, FEB. 26 MOVIE PREMIERE

Not yet 20, Eilish already boasts a bevy of Grammy wins and more Hot 100 hits than most artists pull off in a lifetime—but what happens when the party’s over? Head to Apple TV+ to follow Eilish in the jam-packed months after the release of her smash hit When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Filmed on the road, at home with her family and on stage, this doc follows Eilish as she relishes in the triumphs and feels the growing pains of becoming a global pop superstar. See feature, page 16

GONZALES PHOTO / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Toronto’s sultry and sensitive R&B songster Daniel Caesar lays down an intimate livestreamed concert. There have been no teaser tracks but we hear he’s in the recording studio working on the follow-up to his Grammy-winning sophomore album CASE STUDY 01. We’re hoping for a few preview songs on the livestream. Sentimental songs exploring love and spirituality through a kaleidoscope of well-read lenses including Taoist and Freudian philosophies are Caesar’s calling card. With the show happening less than one week after February 14, tickets seem an obvious choice for the cultivated Valentines in search of the perfect gift. (Just take it from LeBron James, who enlisted Caesar to perform privately for his 2018 wedding anniversary.) The sensual singer’s live shows are legend for racking up engagement proposals. With a $20 price tag, it’s an easier commitment than a diamond.

MUSIC

4 NO

3 NO

Witch Prophet

KUUMBA FEST: BLACK MUSIC SHOWCASE

THE WEEKND PLAYS THE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 8 PM ET TELEVISED ((TSN, CTV)

FEB. 20, 21, 26, 27 FREE VIRTUAL EVENT

Some of Canada’s top BIPOC musicians are featured on Toronto’s Kuumba Festival’s free streaming series including pre-recorded exclusive performances from: Polaris Prize-winning rapper Backxwash (Feb. 20), punk-rocking The OBGMs (Feb. 26), folk legend Beverly Glenn-Copeland (Feb. 27), rising trip hop star Witch Prophet (Feb 27), and more. See feature, page 42 harbourfrontcentre.com

5 NO

THERE’S AN AWESOME CONCERT HIDING IN A FOOTBALL GAME IN TAMPA ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7. THE WEEKND HALFTIME SHOW AT AROUND 8 PM ET IS A GUARANTEED WIN. R&B SINGER JAZMINE SULLIVAN AND ERIC CHURCH DO THE ANTHEM. H.E.R. SINGS AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL BEFORE KICK-OFF. MILEY CYRUS HOSTS AN ONLINE TAILGATE PARTY @TWITCH AT 2:30 PM ET. BOOKS

THE ELEMENTS OF STORY: BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE FEB. 18, 7 PM

VIRTUAL EVENT

Legendary Indigenous activist and musician Buffy Sainte-Marie joins Canadian Stage for an evening coloured with her wisdom and wit. In a panel and Q&A, she’ll highlight three books that have impacted her personally and offer perspective on the current cultural moment. Tickets include a secret reading list ahead of time, so attendees can prep for a deep dive conversation with the Oscar-winning composer and long-time pioneer who remains ground-breaking today. Like book club, but – Buffy!

6 NO

MUSIC

MATT MAYS LIVESTREAM FRIDAY, FEB. 13, 8 PM ET VIRTUAL EVENT (TAPED)

Rough, raw and relentless Nova Scotia roots rocker Matt Mays celebrates the release of his new triple vinyl live album, From Burnside With Love, with a taped livestream of an intimate 2018 show from his East Coast hometown. Tickets: bit.ly/2Nx2qZw $20, $70 with autographed triple vinyl

Canadian Stage / Pay-What-You-Can starting at $15 / canadianstage.com NEXT

FEBRUARY 2021

The ShortList

MUSIC

10 NO

RADIO

2 NEW CBC RADIO SHOWS WORTH CHECKING OUT

HILLSIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL INSIDE

Hillside Inside is Guelph’s annual winter music festival companion to the beloved summer fest, and this year, it’s more inside than ever. The now-online three-day extravaganza features music, comedy and storytelling, pre-filmed and free to watch on their website at any time throughout the festival weekend. Make sure to catch Tom Wilson and Iskwē, who first performed together at the Indigenous Music Awards last year as well as Canadian comedy legend Derek Seguin, and themed multi-act events like Girls and Guitars and Songs of John Prine.

FEB. 5-7

VIRTUAL EVENT

THE BLOCK: WEEKDAYS, 7-9 PM, STARTING FEB. 1 FREQUENCIES: TUESDAYS, 6 PM, STARTING FEB. 2 Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe

Visit hillsidefestival.ca to watch Iskwē and Tom Wilson

8 NO

CULTURE

LUNARFEST FEBRUARY 11-28 VIRTUAL EVENTS

LUNARFEST, A NATIONAL LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, EXPLORES THEMES OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WITH TEN DAYS OF CULTURAL PROGRAMMING. ONLINE EVENTS INCLUDE A SERIES OF FAMILY STORIES SUNG FROM AROUND THE WORLD, A FORTUNE-TELLING EVENT, AND AN ORIGINAL FILM PROJECT HIGHLIGHTING HOT POT TRADITIONS BY VIETNAMESE, THAI, INDONESIAN AND MALAYSIAN FAMILIES, PLUS REGIONAL EVENTS IN TORONTO AND VANCOUVER. These events and more can be viewed throughout the duration of the festival at www. lunarfest.org. Feb 11 Feb 28.

9 NO

MUSIC

Errol Nazareth

CHROMEO & WAXAHATCHEE STREAMING IN NEW SERIES FEBRUARY - ALL MONTH VIRTUAL EVENT / SUBSCRIPTION Chromeo

Waxahatchee

A star-studded lineup of some of indie music’s brightest stars is streaming online all month thanks to BandsInTown’s new concert series. Highlights include Chromeo, Montreal-born funk faves, (Feb. 5); Omar Apollo, a DIY R&B upstart, (Feb 12); and Waxahatchee, a powerful project from P.S. Eliot’s Katie Crutchfield, (Feb. 11). Get access to shows and live Q and As by subscribing to the BandsInTown Plus service for $9.99/month. Get access at plus.bandsintown.com.

Hitting the CBC airwaves this month are two new breath-offresh-air radio shows committed to providing a stage for talented musicians who don’t fit the mainstream radio bill—but deserve to be heard. Tenured Albertan radio host Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe helms The Block, diving into the music of Black creators across a swathe of genres including funk and hip hop, soca and reggaeton. Frequencies will air 6 p.m. Tuesdays, is hosted by Errol Nazareth of hit Toronto radio show Big City, Small World, and brings the stories behind the music from communities and cultures across Canada and the globe. CBC Music / cbc.ca/programguide

The Magazine That Plays Music on Your Phone

NEXT Magazine

MADE IN CANADA• 02|2021

Editor/Publisher Michael Hollett Creative Director Troy Beyer

FOR

FREE ALL

ISSUE 02

Associate Editors Laura Robinson (Calgary) Rayne Fisher-Quann (Vancouver) Contributors Stephan Boissonneault, Jen Cutts, Samantha Edwards, Nadia Elkharadly, Katrin Emery, Zack Kotzer, Nicole Richie, Nicholas Sokic, Laura Stanley, Rebecca Tucker, Sarah Wade, Andrea Yu

CALIFORNIA JAMMING IS THE RIGHT RECIPE FOR RHYE

ASHNIKKO

CHOCOLATE EDIBLES FOR YOUR VALENTINE JULIEN BAKER TORONTO, CALGARY AND VANCOUVER ESSENTIAL EVENTS BREWERS SAY "LET THEM DRINK CAKE!” PLUS! ARLO PARKS, FOO FIGHTERS AND THE WEATHER STATION

‘STUPID BOYS’ WATCH OUT: SMART MONEY IS ON TIKTOK HITMAKER

Advice Columnist Amy Millan askamy@nextmag.ca Sales and Marketing Manager, Sales and Partnerships Barbara Hefler Media Sales and Partnerships Gary Olesinski Advertising Inquiries: sales@nextmag.ca OPERATIONS Engagement Manager Jen Fox Distribution Sarah Keith, Tai Notar, Hannah Neal Alicia Doane, Jamie Monteith

We encourage you to read NEXT Magazine with your phone handy. When you see a QR code, Apple Music QR Code or Spotify Code, your phone's camera will instantly deliver extra music, video and exclusive content from your favourite streaming services.

How To

Administrative Coordinator Alicia Doane Published by NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. 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

nextmag.ca

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QR Code

Apple Music

Spotify

1. Open the camera app on your phone.

1. Launch Spotify app on your phone.

2. Hold your device so that the QR code is centred in the viewfinder.

2. Go to the search bar on Spotify search page.

3. Tap the notification that pos up to open the link associated with the code.

3. Tap camera icon on the right of the search bar and then hover camera over the code. NEXT

FEBRUARY 2021

FOOD

WICKED WICHES THE BODEGA at Maker Pizza is the sub of all subs. “The Bodega was [Canadian chef] Matty Matheson’s brainchild. He created it well over five years ago and it has garnered a legitimate cult following,” says Maker Pizza founder, Shlomo Buchler. The Italian sub, stacked high with premium cold cuts like mortadella, smoked turkey, Genoa salami and ham, is a good mix of classic and creative. “At the time, Matty and I saw it as a great complement to our pizza menu. Years later it is still surprising to see how many customers order a large pie and a Bodega to split,” says Buchler. (See recipe, next page)

RYAN HINKSON

59 Cameron St, Toronto, makerpizza.com

8 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

MAKE MATTY MATHESON’S BODEGA SUB AT HOME:

ONG GONE ARE THE DAYS OF SOGGY SUBS FROM THE LOCAL STRIP MALL. THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF ITALIAN-AMERICAN CUISINE, SUBS REPRESENT ALL THE GOODNESS OF ITALY’S FRESH, SPICY AND SAVOURY FLAVOURS PAIRED WITH THE GLUTTONY OF THE AMERICAN DIET. FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH CURED MEATS AND RIBBONED DELI CUTS, LAYERED WITH CHEESE AND VEG, AND SCHMERED WITH SPREADS AND SAUCES, THE ONE-TIME LUNCHBOX SPECIAL IS NOW A CULINARY SPECTACLE THANKS TO THE CREATIVITY OF TODAY’S SANDWICH MAKERS. THERE ARE REALLY NOT TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO COMPOSING THESE HOAGIES, BUT THESE CHEFS ARE MAKING US AT-HOME STACKERS LOOK LIKE AMATEURS. TAKING SOME OF THE BEST INGREDIENTS AND CREATING THEIR OWN IN-HOUSE SCHMEARS, PICKLES AND SAUCES, THESE NINE SANDWICH SHOPS ARE GIVING THE ITALIAN SUB THE RENAISSANCE IT DESERVES.

Makes: 1 Sub Sanwdich Prep time: 20 minutes Difficulty level:

INGREDIENTS

A sesame seed roll (Maker gets theirs daily from The Drake) mortadella ham smoked turkey genoa salami mozzarella provolone

By NICOLE RICHIE

WHERE TO GET GREAT ITALIAN SUBS IN YOUR TOWN TORONTO

HOW TO MAKE IT

PEPPINO GOURMET FOODS" Calabrese Delight is made southern italian style – no lettuce or veg here. 101-1240 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, peppinogourmet.com

KEITH’S DELI has been providing hot and fresh subs for over 48 years. 6100 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, keithsdeli.com

LAMBO’S DELI AND GROCERY’s Italian Trio is owner Justin Leon’s love letter to Italy. Combining fresh fior di latte with mortadella and capicollo and prosciutto, oh my!

tomato white onion iceberg lettuce roasted red peppers pickled jalapeño Pepperoncini Maker’s house-made top-secret sub sauce (don’t fear we’ve got a sub sauce substitute below)

VANCOUVER

GET YOUR PREP GOING • Wash and shred iceberg lettuce into razer thin slices • Slice tomato into thin translucent slices • If using store bought roasted red red peppers, take them out of the oil and slice into half inch slices and then rough chop • To make this dish super authentic, roast red peppers (stemmed and seeded) at 450 degrees F for 15-20

minutes or until the skins have blackened. Leave peppers to cool for about 10 minutes for easy skin removal. Once skin has been removed proceed with the directions above. • Rough chop jalapeno peppers • Dice white onion • Combine pepperoncini, pickled jalapenos, white onion and roasted red pepper in a bowl for easy spreading

MAKE YOUR SUB SAUCE Matty Matheson keeps his bodega sub sauce under wraps, so you’ll have to head into Maker for the real thing, but that doesn't mean you can't recreate a similar one for your at-home version.

1 tsp grated garlic 1 tsp Italian seasoning ¼ tsp of kosher salt Ground pepper to taste ¼ cup red wine vinegar 6 tbsp olive oil Combine all in a small bowl or glass jar, whisk together or shake to combine.

STACK YOUR BODEGA • Slice open your sesame bun • Spoon a generous amount of sub sauce on the bottom half of your bun • Add a hefty spoonful of your onion, red pepper, pepperoncini and jalapeno mix • Sprinkle a handful of shredduce

• Layer tomato slices • Add your mozzarella and provolone across the surface of your sub • Now it's time to layer your meats. Take turns with each cold cut and don't be afraid to stack ‘em high • Fold over, slice in half and dig in

176 Bellwoods Ave, Toronto, lambosdeli.ca

A1 SUBMARINE'S Cold Cut sub is chef Jesse Fader’s (Superpoint, Paris Paris) creation, stacking salamis and shredduce with a no-muss, no-fuss philosophy. 1265 Dundas St. W, Toronto, extraburger.ca/contactus

RICH WON

CALGARY

LA GROTTA DEL FORMAGGIO’s custom sandwiches have been selling out since 1981. 1791 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, lgdf.ca

PEPINO’S SPAGHETTI HOUSE Roast Beast is the Pranzo del Capo (Boss’s Lunch) for a reason. 631 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, pepinos.ca

SPOLUMBO’S DELI is a Calgary institution. The Spolumbo’s Special is an ode to the lunch’s owner Tony Spoletini’s mama used to make. 1308 9 Ave SE, Calgary, spolumbos.com

DI BEPPE’s mortadella sandwiches substitute hoagie rolls for fresh made focaccia. 8 W Cordova St, Vancouver, dibeppe.com

Watch Matty Matheson’s how-to video

FEBRUARY 2021

D R I N KS

Have Your Cake and Drink It Too “LET THEM EAT CAKE” may once have been an ill-fated cry but “let them drink cake” is rallying brewers across Canada as they turn to bakeries for inspiration in the ever-evolving search for esoteric suds. Fruit flavours have been bringing sweetness to beer for years but now, like some teenaged fever-dream of delight, crazy concoctions of cookies, cake and pies are flavouring bitter and sweet blends of beer. Here are some of the best bakery brews in Canada. By NICHOLAS SOKIĆ BIRTHDAY CAKE

Spectrum Beer Company, Vancouver (5%) This West Coast slice is a creamy turn of the bakers’ wheel with classic sprinkles adding to the birthday-cake cred. A limitedrun beer.

BLUEBERRY PIE ALE

Storm Brewing, Vancouver (5%)

Fresh blueberries fuel this amber ale with Madagascar vanilla extract adding a luscious flavour layer.

TOWN SQUARE WHITE WEDDING PASTRY STOUT Alberta Beer Exchange, Calgary (6%)

Like a finely blended batter, a brewery and a bakery came together to produce this sturdy stout. In a partnership Billy Idol would approve of, Edmonton brewery Town Square joins Art of Cake bakery from the same city to blend the flavours of coffee, chocolate and icing sugar in a beer that’s not half-baked.

10 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

CAKEFACE BIRTHDAY CAKE ALE

Cold Garden Beverage Company, Calgary (5.8%)

This Märzen-ish beer has a Bavarian influence but don’t go looking for Black Forest cake in this brew. A big blast of real vanilla beans gives Cakeface its birthday-cake base.

NO BAKE IMPERIAL STOUT

Eighty-Eight Brewing Company, Calgary (8.1%) No Bake make no bones about claiming to have created a stout that delivers “Canada’s favourite dessert liquefied.” Its not-so-secret, secret ingredient, graham crackers, shifts these cake flavours to the taste of a classic. Limited run.

MALEVOLENT BENEVOLENCE: GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE IMPERIAL STOUT Rorschach Brewing Company, Toronto (11.9%)

The brewer promises “decadent flavours” in this imperial stout and it’s fit for a chocolate-craving Kaiser. It’s loaded with chocolate, coffee and caramel malts. Add toasted and shredded coconut, cocoa nibs and vanilla beans, with a wisp of lactose sugar, for the Bavarian-bakery-beer equivalent of the everything bagel.

MALEVOLENT BENEVOLENCE: COFFEE CAKE IMPERIAL STOUT Rorschach Brewing Company, Toronto (11.9%)

Similar to its German Chocolate Cake cousin, this bakery brew is infused with strong coffee. A few waves of the cinnamon stick give this brew extra sweetness.

COOKIE THIEF

Bandit Brewery, Toronto (6.5%) We found the cookies and they’re in this beer, along with vanilla beans, cocoa and a hint of dairy.

PRESENTED BY

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Beverly Glenn–Copeland

FEBRUARY 1–28, 2021 Celebrating Black Futures Month in partnership with Wavelength Music

harbourfrontcentre.com/kuumba

All FREE livestreams

#kuumba

416 973 4000

In Partnership with

Site Partners

Programming Partners

Corporate Site Partner

CANNABIS

SWEET HIGHS

hether celebrating Valentine’s Day solo or in a socially distanced exile from your loved one, cannabis edibles have now expanded your chocolate choices on this day of indulgence. Like all edibles, chocolates come either CBD-forward, offering pain relief and relaxation, or THCbased, with a head and body experience. We sent a wide variety of THC-based chocolates to the NEXT Cannabis Test Kitchens for rigorous taste and quality testing. Here are our best bets.

EDITORS' PICKS

TWEED CHOWIE WOWIE (four square bar) A rich, creamy classic milk chocolate taste makes this one of the most popular edibles in Canada. It’s old school with a familiar, niceand-easy milk chocolate taste – think Jersey Milk with a gentle jolt of THC. (Also available in dark.)

FIRESIDE DARK CHOCOLATE SALTED CARAMEL (two caramels pack)

EDISON BYTES CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE

An elegant taste treat that is not sold as a truffle, but should be. It has grown-up flavors with dark chocolate and coarse salt surrounding a killer caramel centre. It would be a chocolate-box star even without the THC. The slight cannabis flavour has an umami quality. (Also available without the filling, tasty, but why?)

BHANG THC CHOCOLATE BARS Dark and milk chocolate (four square bar)

These bars have an unadorned taste, neither rich nor creamy. The dark is reminiscent of a baker’s semi-dark brick, while the milk chocolate could have been broken off a chocolate Easter bunny.

LEGEND MILK CHOCOLATE BAR (four square bar) A mild milk chocolate flavour leaves room for cannabis taste to creep in; medium richness and creaminess.

LEGEND ORANGE DARK CHOCOLATE (four square bar) A deliciously tart, classically bitter dark chocolate with a hint of orange that doesn’t overpower.

Dark or milk chocolate (two-truffle pack)

A creamy ganache filling fuels these classic truffles. The dark could be mistaken for its less intense milk chocolate sibling; creamier than classic. The milk chocolate is smooth and dreamy.

12 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

GOODSHIP SEA SALT DARK CHOCOLATE (four square bar) A mild dark chocolate taste that fights with the salt to dominate this straightforward bar.

ail salons might be closed temporarily, but that doesn’t mean manicures are cancelled. Enter: press-on nails. Forget the stubby, plasticky French manicure styles collecting dust on the bottom shelf at the drugstore—these babies have finally undergone the game-changing makeover they deserve. Square, stiletto, sparkly, matte or studded, there are as many options as Kellogg’s has cornflakes. Easy to apply and reusable to boot, they’ll jazz up any sweatsuit that’s been worn for the last five days in a row. Call it the ultimate COVID beauty hack.

By LAURA ROBINSON

Learn to apply nails like a pro

DM a local artist for a custom set

@jjusthetip Toronto / Sets start at $40

@the.devils.semen Vancouver / Sets start at $50

@savannahmkbeauty Calgary / Sets start at $45

@goodforher.nails Vancouver / Sets start at $60

PHOTO COURTESY: @JJUSTHETIP

ST YLE

GAMING

Ten Ten years years later later

Scott Pilgrim Strikes Back!

14 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

SCOTT PILGRIM HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE POSTER CHILD FOR DELISTED GAMES. THE RESTORED VERSION OF SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD: THE GAME – COMPLETE EDITION IS A WIN FOR EVERY PLAYER WHO MISSED OUT THE FIRST TIME AROUND. By ZACK KOTZER

he city of Toronto frequently stars as other cities: Casa Loma as the Xavier school in the X-Men movies, city hall as the conspiring Umbrella Corps in Resident Evil. Hell, my high school auditorium was where they filmed the trivia finale of Billy Madison. Enthusiasm ran high in 2010 upon the release of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the movie based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s 2004 graphic novel series about fighting for love, music and high scores in and around Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood. Bittersweetly, the movie has since served as a time capsule of a bygone Toronto scene with the shimmering Honest Ed’s as a backdrop to an unacceptable preponderance of raglan t-shirts. That local institution was not the only thing that’s been lost since 2010. That same year Ubisoft released Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game, taking the Streets of Rage-inspired material and turning it, well, into Streets of Rage. A four-player arcade

beat-‘em-up where Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, Kim Pine and Stephen Stills brawl across Toronto, from Lee’s Palace to Hillcrest Park to clubland. A free-for-all aboard a TTC streetcar like Friday night on the 504. Chiptune punks Anamanaguchi scored the game while artist Paul Robertson developed the spritework. The game was created in under a year to align with the release of the film. One of the last of its kind as film tie-in, games grew out of vogue – one of the first of its kind as a commercial release to be delisted. In 2014, licensing agreements between Ubisoft and Universal Pictures expired, forcing the removal of the game from digital stores like PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. Since the game had only had a digital release, this rendered it "vapourware" games that can no longer be acquired legally if at all. It’s an increasingly common story as games experience their own extinction event. Sega scrapped OutRun Online Arcade after its agreement with Ferrari expired. The entire WiiWare store is retired. Konami tried to erase P.T., a horror collaboration between Hideo Kojima

and Guillermo del Toro, and tease to a larger, cancelled game Silent Hills. Thankfully Scott Pilgrim got his happy ending. After years of growing demand from fans, Ubisoft re-released the Scott Pilgrim game this month. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game – Complete Edition is a restored version for every player who missed out. To ensure the game is never lost again, Limited Run has released its first ever hard copy, ensuring Scott Pilgrim remains in circulation. They’ve also reissued Anamanaguchi’s soundtrack on vinyl. “We're pretty excited for the re-release,” said Jean-Francois Major, one of the game's original developers. “Scott Pilgrim has always been the poster child for delisted games. So in our books, this is a big win.” He and other Scott Pilgrim developers went on to found Tribute Games, which focuses on other retro-inspired titles like MerWatch the official cenary Kings, Flinthook and most recently Panzer Paladin. Ubisoft Trailer I’m not going to hold out on a video game somehow restoring the labyrinthian Honest Ed’s, but it would be nice.

FEBRUARY 2021

T V / MOVI ES / STRE AM ING

BLURRY BILLIE

Ina new doc, The World's a Little Blurry, Billie Eilish proves she's just like most teens... except for the world fame part By LAURA ROBINSON

Reaching global pop icon status before she could even drive, Billie Eilish’s teen years have been anything but conventional. In a documentary out February 26 (Apple TV+), Academy Award-nominated filmmaker R.J. Cutler (The September Issue and Nashville) follows the wunderkind at home in L.A. and on her 2019 tour as she brings packed arenas (remember those?) to their feet and moves them to ocean-eyed tears. Her family also has featured cameos. Scenes with her actor parents Maggie Baird and Patrick O’Connell and co-writer brother Finneas give glimpses into intimate family moments— like when Billie admits she still sleeps in her parents’ bed because she’s afraid of monsters in her room. Though it’s no doubt a coming-of-age story, it’s anything but ordinary—when Eilish finally does earn her licence, she cruises in a black matte Dodge Challenger on her own. The Billie Batmobile likely helped get her in the full-throttle action-movie mindset, as she became the youngest person to ever write and perform a theme song for a James Bond movie last year. She’s also the youngest person to win an Album of the Year Grammy, has racked up 55 billion music streams and 141 nominations for her work. All this, and she can’t even legally enter a bar.

Watch the official trailer

WHAT TO WATCH THIS MONTH Snowkissed

FEBRUARY 6 Dan Levy hosts SNL 11:35 pm, Global, NBC

NOW RENTING Promising Young Woman First run on YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play

Everyone’s favourite little Schitt, Dan Levy, achieves another well-deserved milestone as he hosts SNL with awesome musical guest Phoebe Bridgers. Must watch!

This candy-coloured psychological thriller isn’t an easy watch, but it’s an instant classic that’s essential #MeToo viewing. Razor-sharp writing and an all-star cast weave a nail-biting revenge fantasy of gender, abuse and vindication.

In Defence of the Hallmark Movie Good-time films get bad rap as chick-flick slam misses point of pointless fun and diversion By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN I’ll defend Hallmark movies to my dying breath. Like most things that women like, they’ve spent decades as the butt of a universal joke, but it’s time to retire the superiority complex and face the facts. Sometimes, I don’t want to watch a movie about the bleak realities of the human condition – we’re already living them, babe! I’d much rather step into the Hallmark movie alternate universe, where nothing is ironic, nobody watches the news, and everybody’s apartment is nice enough to have a kitchen island even though they all live in New York. In our troubled times, the wide-eyed, saccharine earnestness of a Hallmark movie is a salve for the soul. So judge me all you want, but I will never apologize for wanting to watch a borderline-nonsensical parable about Can-

STREAMING UNTIL MARCH 4 Preparations to be Together for an Unknown Period of Time

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Hungary's 2021 Oscar selection is a troubling, engaging flip on film noir that follows an American doctor on an obsessive mission to Hungary. Is she chasing lost love, a shadow or a delusion?

dace Cameron Bure discovering the magic of Christmas in boot-cut jeans. Let yourself enjoy things! Watch a Hallmark movie! HALLMARK RECENT RELEASES: Snowkissed: The tale of a travel-averse journalist meeting a handsome B&B owner. A Winter Getaway: A love story with a case of mistaken identity, of course.

FEB. 24 Ginny & Georgia Netflix

FEB. 16 TALLBOYZ CBC TV and Gem

Free-spirited mom Georgia moves her 15-year-old daughter Ginny and young son north in search of greener pastures. Cobourg, Ont. stands in as New England in a charming dramedy sure to delight Gilmore Girls fans.

CBC’s tallest sketch comedy show is #fortheboys, but isn’t afraid to tackle critical topics like racism, power and privilege – while also crushing a buffet and rearing an oil barrel.

STREAMING NOW What Do Alien Civilizations Look Like? YouTube Channel: Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell

STREAMING NOW Jacquemus: That Show in the Field! YouTube Channel: Loic Prigent

Using captivating and colourful animations to entertain and inform, this German design studio breaks down the big scientific and existential questions

Fashion Instagram went crazy for French designer Jacquemus’ runway show in a wheat field. Documentarist Loic Prigent offers a fast-paced behind-the-scenes look

STREAMING NOW Classic and rare vines to watch when you lose your will to live YouTube Channel: Laura Sánchez It’s often said that Vine walked so TikTok could run. Here’s the best of a beloved platform from a bygone era.

CLASSIC HALLMARK MOVIES: Christmas Town: A woman gets stuck in a sleepy, Christmas-y town and finds a home. The Lost Valentine: A journalist is hired to tell the story of a woman who is still waiting for her husband to return from World War II. Hallmark movies are available to watch on W Network or can be streamed on the Global TV app.

STREAMING NOW Cure for Depression YouTube Channel: Marc Rebillet

“Loop Daddy” Marc Rebillet is a tireless source of good energy, bopping between keyboard, beat pad and mic to create absurdist funk boogies, in only his silk robe and tighty whities bit.ly/NEXTCURE

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FEBRUARY 2021

CANADIAN FILMS

telefilm.ca/en/seeitall 18 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

Music T H E A R T I STS , A L B U M S , T R AC K S A N D M E R C H W E LOV E T H I S M O N T H

ARLO PARKS' COLLAPSED IN SUNBEAMS SPINS HER OWN PAIN INTO STARK BEAUTY

ossessing wisdom beyond her years and prodigious poetic chops, West London’s Arlo Parks is Gen Z’s Dear Abby. On her debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, she reassuringly offers sage advice during the shitstorm that can be young adulthood. Inspired by sentimental, troubled vintage icons like poet Sylvia Plath and 90s lo-fi singer/songwriter Elliott Smith, her simple yet stunning bedroom ballads will likely also be speaking to youth decades from now. Sunbeams exists in a pared-back sonic realm, its clean drumbeats and clear basslines full, but not overpowering the lead singer as she waxes poetic in dulcet tones. It’s as if Parks stands in a dark room, illuminated by a ARLO PARKS single spotlight, Collapsed in a deserving Sunbeams main character. Genre: Indie Pop In her satisfySound: Rhythmic ingly British-acguitars and punchy cented soprano, drums forge soothshe balladeers ing melodies that the stories of give weighty words her troubled room to breathe friends. WhatIf You Like: Clairo, ever they’re Sälen, Loyle Carner struggling with, Best Track: Green Parks reassures Eyes her beloved pals—and herself—that it won’t hurt forever, that they’re not alone. So rich is this record in its imagery and vulnerability that listening to it feels much like biting into the ripe, juicy peach that Parks holds on the album cover. As she spins her own pain into something beautiful, she offers comfort and catharsis to any listener looking to be understood.

By LAURA ROBINSON NEXT

FEBRUARY 2021

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Y E

A MOVE TO THE ROLLING SEASCAPE HILLS OF WEST LA CATALYZED A HUGE CREATIVE SURGE FOR RHYE'S MIKE MILOSH

By LAURA ROBINSON Photographs by EMMA MARIE JENKINSON

FEBRUARY 2021

A T O P sun-drenched California cliffs lies a home recording studio, its walls humming with an ethereal voice as calming as the hypnotic waves below. Just outside, topof-their-game musicians glide in and out of the home, laying down tracks together or jamming in psychedelically lit rooms. Though it may sound like a freewheeling scene straight from Laurel Canyon in the 60s, Joni Mitchell and the Mamas and the Papas are long gone. Located just up the coast in Topanga, this home belongs to Mike Milosh, a Toronto-born-and-raised musician who performs as Rhye and is celebrated for his sultry androgynous sound. When the world locked down last March, his new digs became a hive of creativity for his A-list quarantine bubble.

“I’m not letting the pandemic slow me down,” says Milosh, a classically trained cellist. “Art is the only saviour right now.” And save himself it has. Between recently being featured on the closing track of his buddy Diplo’s ambient MMXX album and collaborating with It-Brit club producer SG Lewis on the shiny dance jam “Time,” Milosh also wrote, produced and recorded his excellent, just-released fourth studio album, Home. Its 13 songs are an emotional striptease—track by track, the listener’s layers are peeled back as bows lick soothing strings, finely tuned compositions stimulate the senses and breathy vocals call for closeness. It’s steeped in the signature Rhye brand of intimacy that a socially distanced world is craving.

I WOULD LOVE IT IF PEOPLE LISTENED TO THE WHOLE THING, BECAUSE THE INTRO AND THE OUTRO TAKE YOU IN AND OUT OF THAT HOME WORLD.

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“I knew I wanted to christen the house by creating this record. There was a spiritual calling for me to make the record in that house,” says Milosh. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that he shares it with his life and creative partner, Geneviève Medow-Jenkins. She’s the muse featured on the cover of his stirring 2018 release, Blood, as well as his latest record—photos both shot by Milosh. The duo is very hands-on in creating the Rhye aesthetic: they’ve each served as director, producer and creative director for videos off the new album. Milosh has also worked the camera and edited. “Creativity is the root of our relationship,” Milosh says. And the pair found more than driftwood and seashells on the shore as they became beachcombing buddies with nearby neighbours and fellow creative couple, Tenet actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson and his Fifty Shades of Grey director wife Sam Taylor-Johnson. Aaron dances shirtless sans inhibition in the video for “Black Rain,” a disco-hued groove off Home. “I was pretty nervous to ask Aaron, because he’s a huge actor,” Milosh laughs. “I texted him, I was like, ‘Would you ever dance in a music video?’ and he wrote back, ‘Yeah absolutely, would you want Sam to direct it?’” What was supposed to be a casual camera test at the Taylor-Johnson household turned into the video itself when Aaron began to move. “It was that moment where it was like, no, this is what we’re supposed to do. It’s just supposed to be Aaron, unabashed, being free.” Milosh is quick to praise the work ethic of the actor-director couple, admiring their ability to seamlessly switch between parenting—they had just put the kids to bed prior to filming—to collaborating artistically. “She pushes him, and he wants to excel. Watching them together, I was so inspired.” An artistic force in their own right, the same could be said of Milosh and Medow-Jenkins. Rhye isn’t their only collaboration, though. They first met in 2016, when she contacted him to perform at an ambient music night she founded in L.A. called Secular Sabbath. The recurring event at changing locations sees big names and up-and-coming acts improvising hourslong sets to blissed-out attendees lounging on plushy pillows, partaking in tea ceremonies or melting into soothing massages. In this Garden of Eden setting, the goal is to relax. But now that chilling out in a thermal bath with strangers (as celebrity attendees did at a 2019 edition of Secular Sabbath in Palm Springs) sounds like a biohazard, the event has shapeshifted. It’s a recurring livestream with Milosh and Diplo, the two letting loose while ad-libbing sets at the Topanga home base. They surround themselves with candles softly glowing gold and a strobe projecting atmospheric rainbows—it’s trippy. “It’s the antithesis of a Rhye show,” Milosh says, “but they feed each other creatively.” With his artistic yin and yang energies in check, he sits serenely in his hilltop haven, its foundation fluttering with loving frequencies. Just as art has been a refuge for Milosh amid the chaos, Home is his heartfelt invitation for listeners to join him. “I would love it if people listened to the whole thing, because the intro and the outro take you in and out of that world,” he says with a gentle power. “Home is hopefully cathartic to people in this time.”

RHYE

I’M NOT LETTING THE PANDEMIC SLOW ME DOWN. ART IS THE ONLY SAVIOUR RIGHT NOW.

Watch Rhye’s Black Rain video

FEBRUARY 2021

Unison supports the people who make the music you love. As Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading music industry charity, we act on your behalf to provide a lifeline of support to vulnerable members of our music community who have nowhere else to turn and we offer practical help to give them a chance to bounce back from adversity. Through our programs, the Unison Benevolent Fund provides financial and counselling and health solutions support for the producers, engineers, singers/songwriters, musicians, production crews, and the thousands more who need your help to keep the music playing. Donations from people like you allow us to keep providing our services to thousands of vulnerable and isolated people each year. Please join us in raising vital funds to help keep our organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doors open for those who need it most.

To donate, and find out more: www.UnisonFund.ca

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UnisonFund

THE MERCH TABLE

HAYLEY WILLIAMS PETALS FOR ARMOR EMBROIDERY KIT $32 store.petals forarmor.com

SUPPORT THE ARTISTS YOU LOVE AND BUY THEIR STUFF

KIWI JR. BLACK ROCKER T $15 kiwijr.bandcamp. com/merch

BILLIE EILISH SIGNATURE UKULELE $419.99 long-mcquade.com

THE WEATHER STATION $20 theweatherstation. bandcamp.com/merch

TATE McRAE VICIOUS HOODIE $51 tatemcrae.com

DANIEL CAESAR 'CYANIDE' NYLON CAP $45 danielcaesar.shop

LADY GAGA RATHER BE DRY RAINBOOTS $153 shop.ladygaga.com

MERKULES LIMITED EDITION APPLY PRESSURE T-SHIRT $35 shopkt8merch. com/collections/ merkules

RICO NASTY NIGHTMARE VACAY COMIC BOOK $13 z2comics.com/ products

ASHNIKKO MASK $14 store.ashnikko.com NEXT

FEBRUARY 2021

NEW SINGLES FOR YOUR

FEBRUARY PLAYLISTS AVAILABLE AT ALL DSP PROVIDERS.

S THEO TAM THERAPY

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KAYLA DIAM OND I SHOULD H AVE LISTEN ED TO MY FRIE NDS

THE DIRTY NIL

F*** Art

DINE ALONE RECORDS THE DIRTY NIL

Out Now

“A raucous blend of arena rock, thrash and DIY punk” — SPIN Mag

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thedirtynil.com

THE MERCH TABLE

SAWEETIE TAP IN FACEMASK $15. store.saweet ieofficial.com

DEADMAU5 PIN $13 mau5hop.com

YUNGBLUD STAY WEIRD HORN HOODIE $96 Yungbludstore.com

SPIRITBOX FLOWERS LONG-SLEEVE $30 palechord.com/ collections/ spiritbox

RHYE X KATIN TIE DYE T-SHIRT $51 rhyemusic.com

A TRIBE CALLED RED PATCH $10 atribecalledred. myshopify.com

POTTERY BOBBY ZINE $13 royalmountain records.com

JP SAXE / JP SOCKS CORNY SOCKS $32 jpsaxemerch.com

PEACH PIT CHEESIE FANNY PACK $19 store.peachpit music.com

KACEY MUSGRAVES HAPPY & SAD SWEATBAND SET $38 jshop.kaceymus graves.com

MILEY CYRUS SNARL BLACK FACEMASK $26 merchbar.com

WANT YOUR MERCH FEATURED? SEND US A PIC, PRICE AND WEBSITE TO merchtable@nextmag.ca AND YOUR COOL COLLECTIBLE MIGHT MAKE IT ONTO THE TABLE.

MOTHER MOTHER BLACK SNAP BACK CAP $24.99 merchmrkt.com NEXT

FEBRUARY 2021

WITH HER NEW MIXTAPE DEMIDEVIL, THE UNAPOLOGETIC, UNABASHED, AND ABSOLUTELY UNFORGETTABLE ARTIST WHOSE MUSIC TOOK OVER TIKTOK HAS BECOME THE ALT-POP POWERHOUSE YOUNG WOMEN HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

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“

I DON’T CARE WHAT THE NECKBEARDS OF THE INTERNET HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ME, I JUST DON’T GIVE A FUCK. LIFE’S TOO SHORT.

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his time last year, Ashton Nicole Casey–better known by her stage name, Ashnikko–was living in London, spending her weekends partying in Spain, and certainly not expecting that soon, her furious, fed-up anthems and spitfire style would catapult her into international alt-pop fame. But along with the pandemic, the lockdowns and the isolation came a sustained burst of online virality that ballooned her cult following into an audience of millions. “It’s been a whirlwind. It’s been a wild, wild year,” she tells me. “But I’m feeling good.” She’s fresh off the release of her fiery first mixtape, Demidevil, a much-anticipated follow-up to the irresistible viral hits that propelled her to cyber-stardom. You might not know her face, but if you’ve been on the internet this year, you’ve probably heard her music: after being the subject of mega-viral TikTok trends, her addictive tracks “STUPID” and “Daisy” have racked up 113 million and 163 million Spotify streams, respectively.

furious delivery and unabashed anger, Ashnikko has created a body of work that makes teenage girls feel like they’re finally on top. No matter who you are, listening to Ashnikko’s anthems makes you feel like you’re one of her man-slaying, boundary-pushing heroines. Her success on TikTok, a lip-syncing app, makes perfect sense. When girls make videos to her songs, her words are literally coming out of their mouths – and who wouldn’t want to be Ashnikko? Aesthetically, Ashnikko is a shapeshifter. The only thing that unifies her many personas, costumes and characters – aside from a head of bright blue hair – is the fact that each of them is startlingly, eye-poppingly unique. From video to video, she’s a CGI’d Y2K Vocaloid, a latex-clad BDSM bumblebee, a sexed-up serial killer, a 40-foot-tall tentacled kraken, a tuxedoed boss jacking off into the camera, and more. Her wildly chaotic creative style might seem random, but her work is defined by the subversion of power. Whether she’s an animated streetfighter, a posse of identical Ashnikko-burglars, or a bluehaired giantess, she always holds all the cards. And this isn’t just onscreen, either. “I have creative collaborators, of course, but I’m the boss,” she laughs. “I’m a micromanager of everything in regards to my image,

HATING POP MUSIC DOESN' T MAKE YOU “ COOL, IT MAKES YOU AN ASSHOLE” “STUPID”, her first TikTok hit, has over two million videos attributed to the sound. Unlike many of the songs that go viral on TikTok, it wasn’t linked to a viral dance or specific trend: instead, the clip of Ashnikko cackling while taunting the stupid boys of the world permeated practically every genre the app had to offer. Cosplayers used the sound to dress up like sexy, uncanny-valley anime characters, makeup gurus played it while transforming into bright-blue demons or crystal-studded moon goddesses, and thousands upon thousands of users used the song to soundtrack their complaints about their shitty, stupid ex-boyfriends. The clip even inspired countless videos of people dying their hair neon to the sound of Ashnikko’s raspy voice moaning Wet! Wet! Wet! Wet! “Daisy” had a similar impact, with hundreds of thousands of girls using the song to pantomime cathartic revenge fantasies about curb-stomping abusers and making terrible men pay. While both songs have been used countless times and in countless ways, one theme unites everything they inspired: the girls in those videos all look and feel really fucking good. With her eye-popping, candy-coloured persona,

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which is a lot of work, but I don’t trust anyone else to do it.” Her carefully crafted persona has a wry, tongue-in-cheek humour that undercuts her every move. It would be easy for 100 million streams to go to anyone’s head, but what sticks out the most when talking to Ashnikko is her dogged dedication to not taking her fame, or herself, too seriously. “Everybody shits,” she says matter-of-factly, shrugging off a question about her burgeoning role-model status. “Everyone is flawed, and I’m no exception. It’s important to me that my music doesn’t come across as preachy.” Her online persona reflects this anti-elitist mentality as she maintains an irreverent digital presence. She posts skits on her YouTube channel, shitposting on Twitter (“pooping is honestly the best part of my day I swear to god,” reads one particularly iconic tweet), and putting out Instagram posts to her 900k followers that read like Snapchats from your weirdest, funniest friend. Ashnikko is relentlessly self-aware. “I’m never gonna sit here and be like, ‘I’m trying to inspire the masses,’” she drawls, her eye roll palpable. “I feel like a lot of artists sit atop a perfect flawless pedestal, which is an impossible standard. It’s not very healthy for anyone, to send out that these people are perfect.” She’s on a one-woman mission to not give a shit what anyone thinks of her.

ASHNIKKO

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SHE’S ON A ONE-WOMAN MISSION TO NOT GIVE A SHIT WHAT ANYONE THINKS OF HER shton Casey wasn’t always Ashnikko. Growing up in a small, conservative town in North Carolina, there wasn’t much of a place for the brazen, sex-positive feminism that has become both her musical and personal calling card. “I’m from a very devout Christian family. I’m definitely the heathen of the family,” she laughs. “I’m from a background of very conservative suppression, where you’re told that masturbating is literally a sin from Satan himself, and that you’ll go blind if you do it – literally.” In her teens, she found Tumblr, a microblogging platform that served as a haven for young feminists in the late 2000s. After spending years in a “highly patriarchal, suppressed” environment, it was through the internet that she began to question her own beliefs. “There was so much internalized misogyny I had to unpack and question within myself – there’s still a lot of stuff I have to unpack.” But once again, she’s determined to break down the perfection complex that celebrity culture often demands of young artists. “I don’t know everything, but that’s okay, it’s okay for me to still be growing. My upbringing wasn’t the greatest, but I’m using the available resources to try and make myself a better person. I’m not perfect. That can’t be expected of me or of anyone.” But with songs dedicated to abuser-slaying serial killers, female pleasure, bisexuality and the almighty clitoris, it’s no surprise that Ashnikko has come to represent a new generation of in-your-face feminism. The characters she creates don’t take shit from anyone: they call out the stupid guys who don’t make them come, they kill rapists, they dress exclusively in latex and leather. She identifies strongly with the brat archetype, and her music does too. Many of her tracks sound like schoolyard taunts, as she blows raspberries and thumbs her nose at the patriarchy with sly, defiant humour. Demidevil has no shortage of fuck-the-patriarchy anthems, but few stand out as much as “L8r Boi”, a feminist flip on the Avril Lavigne classic “Sk8r Boi”. Most of Ashnikko’s audience grew up in the golden age of Avril, and the remix perfectly scratches that nostalgia itch while scaling back the misogyny and doubling down on the skater-hate.

“I went into the studio knowing I had to do an Avril flip. I was like, ‘I don’t care if we can’t get it cleared for the mixtape, I just have to make it’. We took all the lyrics and flipped the ones we wanted, and just gave it a little 21st-century twist. A little less girl-bashing and a little more skater boy-bashing, as it should be. I had the most fun writing that song. And I’ve definitely dated a skater boy who didn’t make me come, so I had lots of inspiration.” The tape’s other standout is “Slumber Party”, a delightfully vulgar queer anthem that finally gives gay girls the horny banger they deserve. Ashnikko, who currently identifies as pansexual but is still exploring her sexuality, drew inspiration from tired “I kissed a girl” music tropes and personal entanglements to create the track. “There definitely hasn’t been a lot of good representation for bisexual girls in mainstream music,” she says. “Do you remember that fucking Rita Ora song

that came out a couple years ago? “I only like girls when I drink red wine…” When I heard that, I was like, fuck. This is dire. We’re in a dire situation, ladies. Pop music needs better Sapphic anthems!” And a sapphic anthem is what Ashnikko delivers. Traditionally, female desire in music has been relegated to its perception through the male gaze. Turn on the radio at any time and instantly find a male musician waxing poetic about ass and tits; it’s rare to find similarly erotic anthems by, and for, women. “I wanted to capture that feeling of just absolutely fucking thirsting for a crush,” Ashnikko explains. “Just thinking, like, ohhhh my god, you have beautiful tits. Oh my god. Just being a little stupid with it.” The track is inspired by her experience exploring her sexuality in a repressive environment.

Watch Ashnikko's Deal With It video

ASHNIKKO “I remember having to tell my mom that I was just having a slumber party with my friend, and then having her take my virginity! And I’ve had my heart broken many, many times by beautiful, beautiful women.”

here’s no doubt that 2020 was Ashnikko’s year. She gained millions of listeners, hundreds of thousands of followers, and established herself as one of the coolest, cleverest artists in the industry. But rising to stardom in the midst of an international pandemic comes with unique downsides. Live performances, which Ashnikko describes as “the best possible energy exchange a musician can have,” are all but impossible, which means that for now, Ashnikko’s fans, her persona and her career all exist almost entirely online. “It’s disheartening, honestly, because social media makes me feel very poorly about myself. It’s just not good for my brain.” Ashnikko makes sure to stress how grateful she is for the role TikTok played in making her a mega-star but it’s clear that a year online has taken its toll. “My mental health has tanked. It’s funny how little I enjoy being on my phone, because basically my whole career is online. But I’ve figured out that I need to find balance and a sense of self that depends on myself, not what the internet thinks of me.

you hate fun? You hate things that other people like? Okay, whatever, enjoy. Enjoy your life of pessimism. I see what type of life you lead, never getting to listen to Britney Spears. I pity you!” But even with the priority she gives her happiness and maintaining her sense of self, the detriments of the industry have weighed on Ashnikko this past year. It’s never easy being suddenly thrust into the spotlight, but during a time when logging off means shutting down your whole career, the pressure can become unbearable. For most of our interview, Ashnikko is endlessly positive, finishing each sentence with a joke or a laugh, but she reveals a quiet, scathing intelligence when the conversation shifts to the music industry itself. “There’s the unspoken thing in the industry: breakups breed the best songs, heartache and sadness bring out the best music,” she says. “It’s part of the reason why a lot of people never heal. Because they’re scared of losing their creative spark. There’s an exploitative nature to that. Not wanting someone get better, just so you can get good songs out of them. “My healthiest state of being is when I’m drawing boundaries, which means not working as much, turning off my phone sometimes, but that doesn’t fuel the capitalist beast. Taking some time for myself doesn’t further my career, so it’s hard to find people who have your best interests at heart. I have good people around me now,

“MOST OF THE STUFF I WRITE IS A PEP TALK, A PERSONAL MANIFESTATION, A PUBLIC THERAPY SESSION” “Almost everything I write is entirely for me,” she continues. “Of course, I’m always hoping that people can gain a sense of confidence and positivity about themselves from listening to my music. But most of the stuff I write is a pep talk, a personal manifestation, a public therapy session.” Asked how she handles dealing with all the assumptions, expectations and criticisms that the internet has to offer, she laughs. “I don’t care what the neckbeards of the internet have to say about me, I just don’t give a fuck. Life’s too short. As long as I’m making music that I feel is genuine and comes from a genuine place, I’m fine – all I care about is being authentic to myself.” She draws on a wide variety of musical influences. Demidevil alone features songs inspired by everything from nu-metal to hyperpop to classic showtunes. “A lot of people are saying that “Deal With It” is too pop. They’re like, ‘It’s too pop for Ashnikko!! Wahhh!’ and I’m like, I truly don’t give a shit. I’ve been writing pop music since I was 18. Like, fuck off. “Hating pop music doesn’t make you cool, it makes you an asshole,” she continues, with playful sarcasm. “No one thinks you’re cool for hating pop music. Oh,

for sure. I’m very lucky. But it’s definitely a thing in the industry keep them sad so they churn out the hits. “It’s a very inhuman state of being, to have a million people watching you. I don’t think I can keep this up for my whole life. Of course, I’m not complaining – I’m in such a fortunate position. But I have the belief that record labels should be providing mental health services to their artists and staff, and those services should be way more accessible for everyone in general.” Some of Ashnikko’s critics say she’s nothing more than a two-track wonder who spawned some catchy TikTok dance trends. It’s a criticism that’s rife with elitism and misogyny -- why does the fact that teenagers like to dance to her music make it any less exceptional? – but it’s also just so obviously off-base. Ashnikko is explosive. She creates whole worlds within her tracks and brings them to life with a one-of-akind electricity that she’s spent years charging up. On stage, she moves like a cartoon character; online, her endless well of creativity means you never know what she’ll look like next. She’s a bright blue Jolly Rancher; sticky, brighter-than-life, sour enough to make you regret misjudging her but sweet enough to leave you wanting more.

FEBRUARY 2021

Reviews ALBUMS/TRACKS/VIDEOS/LIVE

JULIEN BAKER'S LITTLE OBLIVIONS IS A SONIC REVOLUTION

JULIEN BAKER Little Oblivions Genre: Indie rock Sound: Raw, angelic vocals wailing over beautifully layered, wonderfully complex instrumentation If You Like: Phoebe Bridgers, Big Thief, Soccer Mommy Best Track: Ringside Julien Baker’s experiences growing up gay in the deep South, and her subsequent struggles with religion, addiction and sexuality, have created a raw, delicate body of work that thrives on contradiction. Her voice is gentle but rife with emotion, her lyrics are winding but minimal, and her inspirations draw from her formative years in the punk scene as much as they do from melancholy singer-songwriter contemporaries like Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Her third studio album, Little Oblivions, uses piercing lyrics and full-bodied sound to explore those complexities in a way that’s emotionally raw, enduringly beautiful, and entirely unique.

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Baker’s earlier music, with its conversational, earnest lyrical style and stripped-down production, makes listening feel like a childhood best friend is telling you a secret. She hasn’t left that pleading, quiet intimacy behind, but if her debut was a whispered sleepover confessional, Little Oblivions feels like growing up and graduating to screaming your feelings across a crowded club. The layers of bass, synth and pounding drums on Oblivions are a sonic revolution for Baker, who’s always seemed most comfortable with nothing more than her voice and a guitar–but she’s entirely at home here. The emotional intensity she’s brought since day one has found its aural equal. Little Oblivions is music to cry to, it’s music to dance to, and it’s music that will surely cement Baker as one of the most important indie artists of our generation.

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

REVIEWS

30¯SECOND ALBUM BEACH BUNNY

ANI DIFRANCO

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THE PRETTY RECKLESS Death by Rock and Roll

THE HOLD STEADY Open Door Policy

Genre: Indie rock Sound: Girly power-pop with a defiant, punky backbone. If you like: Ricky Montgomery, reputation-era Taylor Swift, Peach Pit Why you should listen: Beach Bunny frontwoman Lili Trifilio’s sweet-as-sugar voice contrasts perfectly against angry girl-power lyrics, fuzzed-out guitar and surf-punk licks. Best track: Good Girls (Don’t Get Used)

Genre: Folk-rock Sound: Playful vocals spreading revolutionary messaging over folksy, fun and funky tunes If you like: Indigo Girls, Tori Amos, Natalie Merchant Why you should listen: Ani DiFranco’s career is the stuff of legend, and her new music doesn’t disappoint: she’s still putting out the enduringly unique jams that made her famous. The political messaging behind her lyrics is more relevant than ever. Best track: Simultaneously

Genre: Indie Sound: CYHSY’s voice wails anxious, heartfelt lyrics over instrumentation that varies from understated to explosive If you like: Father John Misty, Sam’s Town by The Killers Why you should listen: These tracks would have been right at home among the best music early-2000s indie had to offer, and listening to them for the first time feels like nostalgia for something you can’t quite remember. Best track: Spiral

Genre: Hard rock Sound: Screaming guitar, throbbing bass and full-throttle vocals combine to form The Pretty Reckless’ signature sound If you like: PVRIS, Black Veil Brides Why you should listen: As is standard for Taylor Momsen’s post-grunge project, listening to the combination of furious girl-power lyrics and power-punk instrumentation makes you feel invincible. Best track: And So It Went

Genre: Indie rock Sound: Cinematic bursts of sound and impassioned, half-spoken lyrics create a record that is both ecstatic and tear-jerking. If you like: The Mountain Goats, The Weakerthans Why you should listen: This sonically diverse set featuring a triumphant chorus of horns, drums and old-style piano explores newly emotional territory for The Hold Steady. Best track: Heavy Covenant

Blame Game

Revolutionary Love

New Fragility

THE NEXT PLAYLIST 1

Saweetie

Best Friend (feat. Doja Cat)

A bouncy hip-hop homage to BFFs inspired by Thelma & Louise

dvsn

Atarashii Gakko!

Kings of Leon classic gets a seductive R&B reboot

Atarashii Gakko!, hip-pop fun from quartet of “Tokyo Thrashers” girl-power guerrillas.

Use Somebody

NAINAINAI

Deb Never

Terrell Morris

Beautiful lush tracks filled with love and longing

Cheeky yet romantic groove set in the streets of Toronto

Someone Else

Got the Love

REVIEWS

THE WEATHER STATION

DOMINIQUE FILS-AIMÉ

WILD PINK

slowthai TYRON

TASH SULTANA Terra Firma

Genre: Jazz/Rock/Pop Sound: Jazzy grooves paired with inquisitive and affecting lyrics If you like: Aldous Harding, Bernice, Jennifer Castle Why you should listen: On the immaculately arranged Ignorance, The Weather Station’s Tamara Lindeman confronts heavy emotions, capitalism and the world on fire. And yet, these songs will make you want to dance. Best track: Robber

Genre: Soul/Jazz Sound: Exquisite vocals, bright soulful soundscapes and touching ballads If you like: Leon Bridges, Nina Simone, Frazey Ford Why you should listen: The final instalment of Dominique Fils-Aimé's album trilogy exploring the roots of African-American musical culture. It’s a confident, beautiful record that overflows with love and begs to be turned up loud. Best track: While We Wait

Genre: Folk-rock Sound: Hazy guitars, an undercurrent of synths, uplifting melodies and a few saxophone solos If you like: Death Cab for Cutie, The Weakerthans, Sharon Van Etten Why you should listen: The distinctively hoarse voice of lead singer John Ross guides you through tough times but, thanks to the band's buoyant rock sound, there’s hope by record's end. Best track: Family Friends

Genre: Rap/Hip Hop Sound: Gut-punching bars backed by busy beats morph into downtempo rhythms and introspective musings If You like: BROCKHAMPTON, Skepta, Denzel Curry Why you should listen: On the first half of the album, the excitable British emcee swaggers in the rap game stripes he’s already earned, but when the second half slinks in, his softer side suffocates under society’s expectations of perfection. Best track: terms (feat. Dominic Fike & Denzel Curry)

Genre: Alternative/Indie Sound: Dreamy guitar riffs and lucid snares float on psychedelic sonics If you like: Greentea Peng, Matt Corby, Dope Lemon Why you should listen: The loop station prodigy returns with a transcendent tapestry weaved from reggae and pop, silky melodies and sunshine. Decidedly more peaceful than their debut album, the sounds are spiritually satisfying. Best Track: Vanilla Honey

Ignorance

Three Little Words

A Billion Little Lights

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

LÉON

Die for You

A wine and glitter-stained track that howls, “all's fair in love and war”

SG Lewis

carolesdaughter

Dazey and the Scouts

A disco club banger designed for living room dance parties

Lil Peep meets Lorde in this haunting, trap-inspired sadgirl banger

A bratty feminist anthem built to scream along to

Feed the Fire (feat. Lucky Daye)

Violent

Wet

Shameika

Shameika Said (feat. Fiona Apple) The titular character of Fiona Apple's 2020 track Shameika puts her own spin on the song she inspired

CELESTE

KIWI JR.

JAZMINE SULLIVAN

MOGWAI

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Genre: Soul/R&B Sound: Smooth and powerful vocals lead swanky and soulful, jazz-tinged instrumentals If You Like: Adele, Amy Winehouse, Billie Holiday Why you should listen: Painting a richly hued picture with her bleeding heart, Celeste finds the power in powerlessness—the result is a record tailor-made for swaying in the living room with a glass of red in hand. Best track: Ideal Woman

Genre: Rock Sound: Shuffling power-pop melodies, whiney guitar riffs and deadpan vocals If you like: Nap Eyes, Pavement, Alvvays Why you should listen: Kiwi Jr.’s second album (and first on Sub Pop) is filled with entertaining escapades and energized hooks. Torontonians will like the references to Toronto landmarks. Best track: Cooler Returns

Genre: R&B Sound: Powerhouse vocals and smooth R&B grooves If you like: H.E.R., Solange, Dvsn Why you should listen: This multi-faceted exploration of sex and love is powerful and poignant and demonstrates how incredible Jazmine Sullivan’s artistry is. Best track: Pick Up Your Feelings

Genre: Post-rock Sound: Waves of murky, atmospheric rock complete with screechy guitars and an angry percussion section If you like: Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Colin Stetson Why you should listen: Whether you’re a first-time listener or have been following the band across its 25-year career, Mogwai’s sprawling tracks full of guitar and synthesizer-made din can be either entrancing or jolting but are always rewarding. Best track: Ritchie Sacramento

Genre: Hip Hop/Soul Sound: Righteous re-working If You Like: Queen Latifah, Sam Cooke, Bill Withers Why You Should Listen: Leading Canadian BIPOC artists honour their roots—and Black History Month by reinterpreting artists who inspire them. Respectful, rewarding rethinks of some of the best. Best track: Change Is Going To Come, performed by Myles Castello

Not Your Muse

Cooler Returns

ZAYN

NOBODY IS LISTENING OUT NOW

38 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

Heaux Tales

As the Love Continues

Black Alliance Volume One (EP)

The Besnard Lakes Are The Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings Genre: Psychedelic rock Sound: Fuzzy harmonies weave around a smoky haze of woozy electric guitars If You Like: Tame Impala, Flaming Lips, Plants and Animals Why You Should Listen: Nearly 20 years after the Montreal band’s inception, The Besnard Lakes prove they still reign supreme in the arena of otherworldly ambient textures. Perfect for joyriding in a UFO or just chilling out with a doobie. Best Track: Our Heads, Our Hearts on Fire Again

JEREMY ZUCKER & CHELSEA CUTLER brent ii (EP)

30 SECOND ALBUM REVIEWS ¯

THE BESNARD LAKES

Genre: Indie pop Sounds: Acoustic strums, gentle kick drums, angelic harmonies carrying beautiful melodies If You Like: Lennon Stella, FINNEAS, Olivia Rodrigo Why You Should Listen: With undeniable chemistry on their debut EP, Zucker and Cutler headed to the woods to spin another collection of love songs so graceful they should come with a tissue box. Best Track: this is how you fall in love

DJANGO DJANGO

WEEZER

Genre: Electro-funk Sound: Disco-inspired instrumentation and fuzzy vocals create a funky, retro-futuristic vibe straight out of the 80s. If you like: Hot Chip, Superorganism, The Talking Heads Why you should listen: Django Django’s new sound oozes neo-psychedelic soul under electronic tunes and robotic riffs to create a record that’s somehow both evocative and cutting-edge.

Genre: Alternative Sound: Piano-led pop accented by heavy string instrumentation and witty, clever lyricism If you like: Cake, fun., Sugar Ray Why you should listen: Weezer

Glowing in the Dark

OK Human

seems determined to break their own mold with every new album, and OK Human is no different. This record is not only completely unlike any Weezer album before it, it’s completely unlike anything else, either.

Best Track: All My Favourite Songs

AVAILABLE 2 / 5 / 2021

FEBRUARY 2021

Two Fried Chicken Sandwiches, Caesar Salad and a Cool, Free Magazine

Support your local and get a free NEXT Hungry for some of your favourite delivery? Dozens of your go-to restaurants, breweries and grocers in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary provide NEXT, free with your take-out or delivery order. For the growing list of NEXT Distribution Partners near you, go to nextmag.ca/get-next or use the QR code below.

40 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

FOOS GOLD Queens of the Stone Age Why you should listen: Suc-

cessfully venturing into new territory in easygoing soft rock track Chasing Birds and plucky loop-clap number Shame Shame, the Foos also inject a healthy dose of their legendary Rock and Roll fare

FOO FIGHTERS Medicine at Midnight Sound: Anthemic choruses and mischievous melodies bolstered by blistering guitars and bellowing drums If you like: PUP, The Struts,

Best Track: Medicine At Midnight

On the cusp of dropping Medicine at Midnight, their tenth studio album in 27 years, the Foo Fighters performed at the Celebrating America inaugural concert in January.

They offered an unexpected keyboard-and-vocals version of the evergreen Y2K hard-rock hit “Times Like These.” Three minutes in, the guys pulled a 180 and burst into the headbanging version Foo fans know and love. Frontman Dave Grohl thoughtfully dedicated the dynamic performance to schoolteachers everywhere— his mother used to be one. Before there was 12-

time Grammy-winning Foo Fighters, there was Nirvana, Grohl’s “other band.” Despite the Nirvana and Foo Fighters monikers being stamped on millions of mass-produced T-shirts in the name of 90s nostalgia, Foo Fighters are hardly a two-dimensional memory. Medicine at Midnight proves they’re as fresh as ever, while still delivering on their classic gritty sonics.

“Waiting on a War” carries the acoustic and ruminative qualities of 1995’s “Big Me,” before diving headfirst into a full-blown jam. “No Son of Mine” is an energetic hard-rocking hit from beginning to end, much like, well, all things Foo. Happily, their newest release is a celebration of what Foo Fighters do best. Having brought the house down everywhere from Wembley to Washington, they’ve got nothing left to prove to the world—but they keep on rocking. By LAURA ROBINSON

Watch the inauguration video

THE LOCAL PAGES

Y Y Z TORONTO ARTS & EVENTS FEBRUARY

42 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

KUUMBA CELEBRATES BLACK FUTURES MONTH

Polaris Prize picks among packed, free music lineup A stacked music lineup highlights a jammed Kuumba Festival, month of events at the annual, multi-disciUntil February 28. Free. plinary Kuumba Festival, Toronto’s lonHarbourfrontcentre.com gest-running Black History Month celebration Wavelength.com is hosted by Harbourfront Centre and features music programmed in conjunction with Toronto’s longtime indie music incubator and event producer, Wavelength. Kuumba has pivoted to online and pre-recorded its streams to to comply with lockdown restrictions—the result is one of the mos robust, talent-loaded music performance options anywhere this month. And it’s all free. Highlights include: Polaris-winning Backxwash; folk singing legend Beverly Glenn-Copeland; punk rocking role models The OBGMs, and more. Shows stay online for one month after Kuumba debuts. A full month of non-music programs include panels, dance, visual art and more.

BACKXWASH

It’s no surprise. Montreal-based, Zambia-born rapper Backxwash’s hard-hitting hip hop samples Black Sabbath among its beats. She picked up the critics’ choice Polaris Prize in October 2020. Saturday, February 20, Backxwash 9 pm; Zoon (Indigenous-led noise pop), 8 pm; Mary Zee (Montreal electro pop), 7 pm.

Fresh local beer delivered next day hendersonbrewing.com/shop

BEVERLY GLENN–COPELAND

A rare performance, virtual or otherwise, by folk legend and trans pioneer, Beverly Glenn – Copeland who has been making important music since the 60s.

Saturday, February 27. Beverly Glenn-Copeland, 9 pm; Witch Prophet (trip hop. 2020 Polaris short list) , 8 pm; Shabason, Krgovich & Harris, (Torornto – Vancouver new age pop), 7 pm.

HANNAH GEORGAS

Vancouver-based Hannah Georgas is a smooth, folk rock force with personal songs that both uplift and understand. Sunday, February 21, Hannah Georgas, 9 pm. Clerel (Cameroonian-Canadian folk pop), 8 pm.

JTHE OBGMs

Toronto’s punk-rock powerhouses, The OBGMs, hope their thundering approach inspires other African-Canadian kids to follow them to guitar glory. Their blistering release, The Ends, is a 2020 highlight. Friday, February 26, The OBGMs, 9 pm; Kali Horse (psychedelic rock), 8 pm.

FEBRUARY 2021

YYZ FEBRUARY Ladan

TORONTO ACTS STAR AT VIRTUAL HILLSIDE

There’s a Toronto music festival happening within Hillside’s Feb. 5-7 virtual event. The Guelph-based beauty has moved online with free performances, including great Toronto acts offering exclusive sets all weekend. Shows go up on Friday, Feb. 5 and disappear when the fest packs up on Sunday, Feb. 7, 11 pm. Picks from the Six include: Ladan (formerly Cold Specks), Moscow Apartment, Nyssa, Halley McKeown, Alexandra Delle Donne, Paige Rutledge and Morgan-Paige Melbourne. Feb. 5-7, online, free, hillsidefestival.ca

TORONTO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL Black filmmakers from around the world are showcased with over 100 films, including more than 50 world premieres as well as a conference, master classes and more, at the ninth annual Toronto Black Film Festival. Full program online.

Feb. 1–21, online, $69 (full festival pass) / $12 (short film series) / $8 (single film), torontoblackfilm.com

ONLINE IMPROV ENTRANCES AND EXITS IS IN

Fringe Festival hit returns with online antics and special guests Get the laughs you need from this live livestreamed Fringe Festival comedy hit inspired by classic farce as two master improv actors mine mix-ups for mayhem and special guests abound. Watch out for Colin Mochrie. Full program online. Feb. 11, 2 pm / Feb. 12, 8 pm / Feb. 13, 4 pm & 8 pm / Feb. 14, 4 pm & 8 pm, live online from Crow’s Theatre, crowstheatre.com

44 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

YYZ MUSICIANS TRY TO TIKTOK TO THE TOP Music insiders give music-aspirers tips on how to use social media platforms to help build careers on this free Zoom session. Musicians Exmiranda and Backxwash, as well as manager Gianmarco, join host and hip hop artist Tremaybe for this practical session, “So Your Game Plan Is to Go Viral on TikTok”. DJ set by Young Teesh.

Lisa Ryder

ORESTES MULTI-STREAM LIVE

Follow 10 different performers all streaming this ambitious theatre production in real time Ancient Greece’s troubled Orestes is re-imagined moving through a YouTube, Snapchat and Twitter universe in one of the most ambitious digital theatrical productions yet in a COVID Canada. The Tarragon Theatre streams 10 different characters separately in real time for each performance.

Feb. 9, 6 pm, online, free, register at bit.ly/3pjpY22, cimamusic.ca

Feb. 2-14, Tues.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2:30 pm, $20 ($15 for arts and frontline workers), tarragontheatre.com

SHOP NB ONLINE!

USE CODE NEXT15 FOR 15% OFF VALID UNTIL MARCH 31 2021

Feb Edition - QR Code to Website.indd 1

2021-01-26 9:35 45 AM FEBRUARY 2021

Made For People Who Like To Go Out, Even When They Can't.

Stay in the loop with nextmag.ca. 46 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

THE LOCAL PAGES

Y V R VANCOUVER ARTS & EVENTS FEBRUARY

LUNARFEST Lunar New Year is about strengthening family bonds, creating beautiful art and ringing in an auspicious Year of the Ox for all, and LunarFest Vancouver provides an opportunity to do all that and more with a series of physical and virtual events that highlight stunning cultural collaborations between both local artists and those half a world away. Events include: an online series of family stories from Slovakia, Mauritius, Mongolia and Vietnam told through song; a virtual gallery of family portraits from around the world; and “Family Untitled,” a contemporary dance performance exploring festival themes of family and community by choreographer Justine Fraser. It will be performed by the Coastal City Ballet and streamed at lunarfestvancouver.ca on February 28. Festival highlights include a showstopping series, “Family Ties,” featuring eight lanterns on display at Jack Poole Plaza starting Febru-

JACK POOLE

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FEBRUARY 2021

YVR FEBRUARY

LUNARFEST

Continued from previous page

ary 11. The giant lanterns were designed by two Indigenous families from opposite ends of the ocean: one from the family of B.C. Musqueam artist Susan Point, and one from the Pavavaljung family of artists from the Paiwan nation in Taiwan. The nearby Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza hosts Lantern City, a similar exhibition displaying lanterns crafted by six local artists to represent what family means to them. Both displays are open to the public throughout the festival. Experience Taiwanese culture through “Melting Pot, I Think Not,” a film project by director Jessica Sung. The docuseries, filmed in Taiwan specifically for Vancouver’s LunarFest, highlights hot pot traditions of Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian and Malaysian families. The festival also encourages local Canadian families to submit pictures of their traditional dinners at lunarfestvancouver.ca to be shared as part of the online installation.

LunarFest, various locations and online, Feb. 11-28, free, lunarfestvancouver.ca 48 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

WAKE UP FOR SLUMBER PARTY

EDM ONLINE

Get all the euphoria of an underground rave, COVID-style from the comfort of your bedroom. Digital dance party NormieCorp, an online rave collective, is Vancouver’s latest underground ticket hosting themed online parties that are probably the sickest shows you’ll ever Zoomed into. It’s impeccably curated, styled like a Y2K cyberpunk dream-scape, and features some of the city’s coolest queer, trans, and BIPOC talent streaming live DJ sets. Past shows have featured acts like Paisley Eva, a Vancouver DJ and party regular, and Vixen Von Flex, a vividly colourful contortionist, streamer and DJ. Their next free event is a Lunar New Year celebration featuring all-star performers from Vancouver’s famous drag House of Rice and RICECAKE, a queer Asian dance party.

Twitch, the online livestreaming platform that was once little more than a gaming site, has been transformed by the pandemic into an ultimate one-stop-shop for comedy, theatre and music. With its exponential growth came the rise of Vancouver EDM artist Jessu, whose weekly livestreamed DJ sets regularly rack up tens of thousands of views. Every Friday, Jessu streams house tunes from her neon-lit B.C. bedroom to an audience of over 60,000. The energy is infectious, the music is sick, and it’s just about the closest thing you can get to a bonafide EDM show until those vaccines are distributed. All past videos and streams are available by subscribing to Jessu on Twitch.

Feb. 24, 8 pm PST, free, show info: @normicorp on Instagram

Every Friday; Twitch; subscription. subscriptions start at $4.99/month. Subscribe at https://www.twitch.tv/jessutv.

THEATRE FOR THE REST OF US As the theatre world shifts online, it seems only natural that its subject matter would go virtual as well. do you want what i have got? a craigslist cantata is a bright, musical and enduringly unique virtual performance that takes a look at the lives we live online when we think nobody’s watching. Perhaps no website better reflects the human experience than Craigslist, a forum that highlights people at their weirdest, their kindest and their most vulnerable. The Cultch theatre company uses rough Craigslist postings to present vignettes of life under social isolation through song, dance and performance. Watch it online from the best couch in the house. Feb. 5-7, $29 (group rates available), t hecultch.com/event/a-craigslist-cantata

YVR

PuSH PACKS POLITICAL PUNCH The PuSh Performing Arts Festival brings a politically charged array of events through 10 days of digital experiences, livestreams and virtual art shows. Highlights include: the Gordon Grdina Trio, three days of concerts from bebop to hip hop, online starting Feb. 20; Sanctuary, a 360-degree virtual journey into the heart of an ancient forest, online and limited in-person bookings Feb. 3-7; I Swallowed A Moon Made of Iron, a performance piece featuring Chinese protest poetry set to original music, online Feb. 4-6. These performances and more are punctuated with online rallies and artist talks diving deep into politics, resiliencew and the art of performance. Most events free or by donation; some paid. Festival runs until Feb 7. Until Feb. 7, pushfestival.ca

DINE OUT (OR IN!) WITH VANCOUVER’S FOOD FEST The Dine Out Vancouver Festival has been an annual highlight for the city’s foodies for over 20 years, normally offering tasting events, lavish parties and fixed menus from over 300 participating restaurants. This year, the program pivots to offer a mix of dine-in or take-out options, plus a variety of off- and online events. Participating restaurants are adhering to provincial health guidelines for in-person meals, and the fest has adapted to offer menus in a variety of price ranges. The festival works with chefs to create fixed tasting menus and wine pairings available through socially distanced dine-in or delivery. There’s never been a better time to support local restaurants, and face it – you’re probably getting tired of your own cooking, anyway. Reservations accepted. Festival runs until March 7. More info at www.dineoutvancouver.com

FEBRUARY 2021

THE LOCAL PAGES

Y Y C CALGARY

ARTS & EVENTS FEBRUARY

EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL MAKES ART ACCESSIBLE

Collection of limited-edition gallery gems on view

Cowtown’s getting hit with a visual arts explosion that is literally bursting onto the streets. Some of the city’s best galleries will be bolstered by street art, digital billboards and an installation that’s 800 feet long. Throughout February, over 190 photographers will adorn the city with their work—some pieces have roots right here in Western Canada, while others hail from places as far flung as South Korea, the Netherlands, Italy and Argentina. Spot young Albertan talent at the Emerging Photographers Showcase at Contemporary Calgary, or take in the sprawling fence of powerful imagery ribboned through Olympic Plaza. The Plaza spread is presented by Photoville, a N.Y.C.-based non-profit dedicated to increasing access to visual art, and YYC is the only Canadian city to see it. With six billboards and 10 participating gallery spaces, this totally free, totally awesome festival is not one to miss. If venturing out isn’t in the cards, fear not: there’s also a rich online offering that ensures this treasure trove of photography is lockdown-proof.

KENNEDI CARTER

February 1—28 Contemporary Calgary Esker Foundation / Alberta Society of Artists, cSPACE, see website for more exposurephotofestival.com

50 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

MECOH BAIN

AÏDA MULUNEH, LEST WE REMEMBER (MEMORIES IN DEVELOPMENT SERIES), 2017, ARCHIVAL DIGITAL PRINT, EDITION OF 7, 31.5 X 31.5 INCHES COURTESY DAVID KRUT

NATHAN JONES

LIAM MACKENZIE

MIRJA MARIA THIEL

FEB YYC

KYLE BEAL, PASSING THE EYE TEST, 2020, TRANSPARENT INKJET PRINT IN MAPLE LED LIGHTBOX, EDITION OF 3, 31 X 25 X 3.5 INCHES

JEFF YEE

JASON DeMARTE

EDITIONS One of the most boundary-pushing contemporary art galleries in town, VIVIANEART offers Editions, a provocative new exhibition from seven of its premier photographers, printmakers and filmmakers. Think the brilliant, blasted colours of Ethiopian photographer Aïda Muluneh’s prints, Toronto artist Winnie Truong’s paper-cut nymphs and the smashing of glass eyes in a Chien Andalou-esque fashion by Edmonton artist Kyle Beal. It’s like ordering a beer tasting flight from Cold Garden down the road: why choose just one when you can enjoy them all?

January 22—March 14 / VIVIANEART, 1018 9 Avenue SE / T2G 0H7 and online vivianeart.com/exhibitions/editions

FEBRUARY 2021

YYC FEBRUARY

COOK WITH A CHEF

Finally get that secret recipe

YYC HOT CHOCOLATE FEST SERVES SWEET SIPS

Treat yourself to some do-gooding

Want to know where to grab the Best Hot Chocolate in town? A taste-tingling competition to earn the title is on this month, with participating cafes and restaurants whipping up their most creative concoctions. What’s more, a loonie from each cup goes to Meals on Wheels, providing nutritious meals to vulnerable Calgarians. Last year’s creations included a frothy mint mixture from PZA Parlour and a raspberry white chocolate by none other than Bernard Callebaut of Master Chocolat. Whether it’s sweet, spicy or spiked, drink up–and don’t forget to vote for your favourites at yychotchocolate.com! February 1–28 / Visit website for complete list of participating venues / yychotchocolate.com

Supporting local is key in avoiding a post-COVID culinary dystopia of fast food and franchises. That’s why Calgary’s own prodigal cook and food writer Julie Van Rosendaal is doing something about it: she’s planned a series of livestream Zoom cooking classes with beloved chefs from YYC hot spots to help keep them afloat. She’ll send the recipe, you buy the ingredients (not included in ticket price), then cook along with the pros in real time. A batch of sessions is available throughout the month—grab a ticket to cook mouth-watering shakshuka with chef Colin Metcalfe of Sidewalk Citizen (Feb. 24) or whip up that exquisitely cream-cheesy carrot Bundt cake from Gravity Espresso with owner Andy Fennell (Feb. 6). Helping thy neighbour has never tasted so good. Sessions throughout February / $54 Zoom livestream / cookwithachef.ca

TOP DOCS PRESENTS KENNY SCHARF: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE

The life and times of an iconic 80s street artist

Go inside the thrill-seeking, genre-smashing arts scene of East Village New York City in the 1980s as the Calgary International Film Festival brings one of the year’s most buzzed-about docs to the city. Follow painter Kenny Scharf as he lives the fast life with fellow street art luminaries Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring by his side. The trio’s influence deconstructed high society’s idea of fine art. When shadows creeped in and Haring and Basquiat tragically passed, Scharf lived to see the continued devastation of economic depression and the AIDS crisis in their community. Top Docs-approved, it’s ultimately a story about Scharf’s resilience and commitment to the art of fun. February 3, 7 pm, / Globe Cinema, 617 8th Avenue SW Online: February 4–7 / $13.50/ ciffcalgary.ca

52 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

FUNNIES THE NEXT

TIME-WASTING PUZZLES, GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

COLOURING PAGE

MEGAN THEE STALLION IS THE REAL WONDER WOMAN This superhero took over the charts in 2020—remember 2020?— and invented the ThunderTwerk—but still has time to work on her bachelor’s degree in health administration at Texas Southern University.

ILLUSTRATION: KATRIN EMERY

This wondrous woman has started the new year strong, guesting with Doja Cat on Ariana Grande’s awesome "34+35" remix. We think a starring role in Wonder Woman 3 is in order. Might have to replace the unicorns with stallions.

FEBRUARY 2021

FUNNIES

CONNECT THE DOTS

GETTING BUFF FOR 2021

AFTER KNEE SURGERY IN OCTOBER, OUR MYSTERY STAR IS HITTING HIS MASSIVE HOME GYM FULL THROTTLE, GETTING RIPPED AND READY. MAYBE A LITTLE LESS TIME ON THE PELOTON AND MORE TIME IN THE EQUALLY MASSIVE HOME STUDIO AND WE MIGHT HAVE NEW MUSIC INSTEAD OF NEW MUSCLES.

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THE STRIP

Moscow Apartment

Brighid and Pascale's covid conundrum

Mean w hil e o u r h eroin es B rig hid F ry an d Pas ca l e Padil la m u s e o n m a king m u sic d u ring Lo c kdown! In s epar ate apartm en ts!

I miss you! I miss m usic! I miss reh earsal!

I miss you too _ but nobody misses reh earsal!

FEBRUARY 2021

THE STRIP

FUNNIES

Billie eilish plays toronto's p hoenix concert th eatre October 31, 2 0 18

fun e h ad We s u r o c kdown. el b efo r er w h en we b m e a c kRem Eilis h b ie l ? il B ho enix m et the P t a e stag

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And wh en we first played Hillside festival? At least we g et to record a set for th eir online show this year .

Yeah, and we’ll be back to real shows someday! B ut if you just can’t wait, you can ch eck out our exclusive per form ance for NEXT rig ht h ere.

Scan this code to watch Moscow apartment play a song exclusively for next readers?

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GENES BEFORE JEANS PREMATURE CONVO? Dear Amy: I matched with a nice-looking guy on a dating app. Before I could even say hi, he told me his great-grandmother had the same last name as me, so we might be related. What should I say? DNA-sayer Dear DNA-sayer: He knows the maiden name of his great-grandmother? I don’t think any man I have ever met knows this. The surnames of women have historically been erased, their names being absorbed by the man she has married, the lineage of the woman almost always disappearing. The fact he even cares about her name shows his love of ancestry and history, no matter the gender. Pretty great launching point if you ask me! Maybe he is a true romantic and wonders, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet". Literal Romeo. But always know, if you feel weird or worried in any way, you can always wink at "Mr. Nice-looking Guy" in the reflection of your phone – and swipe to the left.

COVID CREEPING CAUSING ROOMIE RIFT Dear Amy: My roommate isn't taking COVID as seriously as me, and I'm worried we might both get sick. How do I ask her to stop seeing her friends without making my living situation uncomfortable? COVID Creeped Dear Creeped: This year has proven that people are exactly who they are. I’m not certain bringing it up with your roommate would alter her behaviour. She lives in the place she believes she deserves to live. Telling her you are incredibly scared is the only kryptonite. Truth is funny that way. Uncomfortable conversations always work better 58 FEBRUARY 2021 NEXT

when you come at them with truth and empathy. Throwing blame and shame only inflames. Everyone comes out burned. You are scared. She isn't. But the mutual respect of a space should never be held in contempt. I would issue a warning but, after laying bare your concerns, she may conceal her laissez faire attitude to protect your feelings. But than in fact putting you more at risk because you aren't in control and your "bubble" has doubled without your knowledge. Is she doing this because she is "evil"? Not at all. Some people are just much less afraid during this time then others. Your roommate might be duplicitous just to make you less anxious! Start with sharing your true deep fear of getting sick. Our honesty and vulnerability are what will help us relate to one another and get us through this unbelievably challenging time.

SETTLED SIBLINGS LEAVES OLDEST ON THE OUTS

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LONG DISTANCE LUST OR LOSS? Dear Amy: How do you feel when your partner has to leave you for some time because of work or studying? What are some coping mechanisms for couples that have to spend some time apart? Uncoupled Couple Dear Uncoupled: Long distance love can light the heart on fire or burn a relationship down. One thing that can make it worse is too much phone time! Giving each other space to actually miss each other can be magical. If you are FaceTiming each other nine times a day, it can ironically make for a feeling of increased distance. Quality calls. Trust is massive so that means sometimes, if the person can't get to the phone or isn't in the mood to Facetime, it doesn't mean anything more than they are tired and you need to trust that. I had a tour manager who sent his wife postcards from every town. It was an extremely romantic way to show her he was thinking of her throughout the tour. Snail mail with its tactile messages still holds more weight then any midnight sext.

“My roommate isn't taking COVID as seriously as me. How do I ask her to stop seeing her friends without making my living situation uncomfortable?”

Dear Amy: I'm the oldest of three, and both of my younger siblings have partners and kids, while I'm still single. How do I deal with feeling like I'm always behind schedule?

–women over 40. There is a rich life to be lived without the conventional trappings of marriage and kids. So, comparison is always a dangerous game and don't let any member of your family make you feel you need to be anywhere different than where you are now. Don't let your own mind-brain do it to you either!

Solitaire Sibling

Dear Solitaire: The whole narrative that there is something wrong with being single, or that married life is somehow a happier, more fulfilling one than that of a single person, is completely inaccurate. It seems to be dripping with the traditional intimations of the patriarchy and capitalism – you aren't happy or good enough. Every life that is lived is one filled with challenges and rewards. Numerous studies show the happiest people in the world are single, childless – child-free?

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

ASK AMY MILLAN.

HOUND LOVER DOGGED BY DOUBT

Dear Amy: I am a manager at a doggy daycare. Recently I had my first truly bad client interaction. I felt like I handled the whole situation professionally, calmly, and with empathy,

even as he was insulting me and threatening my reputation. But today he left us a really bad review that included several flat-out lies. I don’t want to care. How do I get myself to worry less about things I can’t control?

Caring Clampdown

Dear Clampdown: This is a loaded question with many parts to pin! I'll start with the heart of it. Part of the new world is having your name be open to review by every human who exists thanks to the internet. I know so many incredibly hard-working people in the restaurant industry whose ratings have been blindsided by a self-important, ungracious, insolent blockhead. Take comfort in knowing that people who read reviews know these people exist. What might make you feel better in terms of taking control of the discourse is this, I've noticed when places of service get a bad review, they leave a mannered reply to the person acknowledging their concerns but also setting the record straight. They usually end with some retort to the effect of, "again please reach out to us anytime to clarify any of these concerns." As for your last ask, a problem is, a boxer in the back of your head or an open file on a computer, whether small or gargantuan, quiet or loud, will spin until addressed or closed. Meditation teaches us that we can't force our thoughts out. We need to acknowledge them, let them hover and then hopefully, with breath, have them move on. Leave the barking behind.

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

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