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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Janet Adamana
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ally Sigurdson PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR Steff Shields
We'll Use This Song To Lead You On Note From The Editor
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The Subtle Art of Staying Wild Silence Kit talk new music
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Prairie Fire Yes We Mystic at The Rickshaw
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Under the Layers of Veneer Veneer talk indie-pop and band chemistry
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Fuckin 'Eh Canadian Pop-punk round up
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Down But Not Out Youth Fountain and their whirlwind year
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Pretty Familiar But Far From The Same The Same As Always and their debut EP, These Four Walls
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Harvest Sun Music Festival Our whimsical and wonderful time at Harvest Sun Music Festival
STAFF WRITERS Graeme Houssin Candace Houle
SOUND, PHRASE & FURY is a Canadian music magazine out to promote musicians not usually covered in mainstream media. All music, photos and articles used are for the purpose of spreading the knowledge of these artists and their music. We always encourage readers to support every act by purchasing releases, merchandise and attending live shows.
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info@soundphrasefury.com @soundphrasefury facebook.com/soundphrasefury soundphrasefury.com
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+ EDITOR’S NOTE
WE'LL USE THIS SONG TO LEAD YOU ON
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There are few things as exciting as finding a pop-punk band I love. It becomes even more so to find out they come from the Great White North.
It is with utmost excitement that we at SOUND, PHRASE & FURY can present issue 6.5! We’ve spent the summer out at fests and outdoor shows taking in the best and brightest music, and we are so excited to include many of those wonderful experiences in this issue! One particular special is our Canadian PopPunk round up (Fuckin 'eh, page 18). As many of our long-time readers know, SPF has been rooted in pop-punk since its very start. It's what made us fall in love with music in the first place. It's what made us venture out to other genres, and it’s what ultimately inspired us to start this magazine.
On and on, reckless abandon
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There are few things as exciting as finding a pop-punk band I love. It becomes even more so to find out they come from the Great White North. Thus, it's been an incredibly fun, and perhaps even important, project compiling some of the best of the genre our country can offer. The world may just be getting a taste of the talent within our scene, but with this special, I hope to further the point that, along with maple syrup, hockey, and Celine Dion, there’s one more thing we can give the world, and that's damn good poppunk!
Janet Adamana Editor-In-Chief
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THE SUBTLE ART
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Q&A Q&A +
As the old saying goes, some things need to fall apart so better things can fall together. The formation of grungerock outfit, Silence Kit is a perfect example. Friends and bandmates Mannon Smalley [vocals] and Natalie Smith [guitar] struggled through a string of broken bands and halted musical progress. The pair – and the bare bones of what would eventually become one of Winnipeg’s most notable new rock bands – finally found their groove when joined by James Stallan [Bass], and Mike Pascucci [drums]. With an arsenal of musical talent, charisma and a collective stage presence and energy that beg to melt your face off, the quartet has come together like a blessing from the rock Gods to shake up the scene. We sat down with the group about their history, musical growth, and what fans can expect from their brand-new record, Silence Kit Presents: Kitty Kitty, out October 5, 2018. STORY & PHOTOS BY CANDACE HOULE
WILD
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If you are not the most insanely, naturallytalented vocalist in the world, you’ve got to make up for it by being wild and crazy. CH: How did you all come together as a collective? MS: Natalie and I were in a band together four years ago; a band called La Mancha and it fizzled out. Natalie came up to me one day and said, “hey I still want to work with you. I have a project going. You should join it.” So I did. Everyone else in the band dropped out, and then people would join and drop out. We had a ton of drummers. It was just a long process. Finally, I got a job working with James. He was in a band with Mike, and I told him I needed a bassist. I'd whine to him everyday about my bands falling apart. He was like, “I play guitar but I'll just buy a bass. I'll play bass for you guys.” Mike came along too, and that's how we formed. CH: Part of a Silence Kit show is the intensity – a crazy amount of energy from all of you but especially Mannon. Where do you find it? You almost become a different entity onstage. MS: All my favourite performers, whether it’s David Bowie or Iggy Pop, they always have that aspect of their performance. Without it, they'd be a completely different artist. Also, I feel, if you're not like Mariah Carey or an insanely good singer you better make up for it one way or another. I feel like if you are not the most insanely, naturally-talented vocalist in the world, you’ve got to make up for it by being wild and crazy.
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CH: With your first record, do you feel you played it to the fullest? NS: It was number one on the CKUW charts for a while. I think we put it out because we just needed something, and we weren't expecting a lot. You're definitely hoping to be well-received, but you really don't know. We've been playing to decent-sized crowds. We were able to sell out The Handsome Daughter for our release show. People cared about us and then seeing we were on that chart in Winnipeg for, I think, five weeks or something like that, it was like "wow; we must be doing something right.” MS: We didn't go into that EP with a specific goal in mind. We were like, “okay, let’s just put it out and play shows.” Now with the experience that we've had since then, we thought, let’s record something and really put some money and time into it and do all we can. Let's try to go to showcases. Let's try to play festivals. There were more goals in mind when recording this new album. CH: What can audiences expect from this new record? You’ve talked about growing your sound. MP: We’ve definitely improved musically, but I think all bands do that as they become older. Everybody in life is supposed to become wiser and better. We stepped up our game with what we wanted it to be. The first few [songs] were all DIY. In this case, we sought out people to work with whom we thought would represent our sound the best. I think we made the right decision on that.
+ Q&A Q&A +
CH: What is the next stage for Silence Kit? You have a new record. You have a big hometown show. MS: After our show on October 5th, the next day we’re going on tour out to Ontario and Québec. NS: We’re playing some pretty cool venues in Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa, and some of the smaller but still fun places like Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and London. We've only gone West so getting to go East CH: How was it recording in Vancouver? is special. The big centres like Toronto and Montréal, MP: I think everybody will agree with me that the that’s a big step up for us. It's going to be really main thing was just being out of the city and away exciting. from our regular lives for a while. MS: Yeah, it took us out of our everyday mind frame Stay up to date with Silence Kit through Facebook, of thinking about your job or your friends or certain Twitter, Instagram and SilenceKitBand.com. Stream things in your life. When you're out there you're their music on Bandcamp and Spotify. Grab a copy of completely like, “I'm here for this” and that's all I'm their new record, Silence Kit Presents: Kitty Kitty when thinking about. And the city itself is just right. it drops on October 5. Catch their release show with Guilt Trip at The Good Will Social Club on October 5. NS: Sonically, it's going to sound different but at the same time, there are still DIY roots to it. There are not a lot of overdubs, extra tracking and stuff like that. We really tried to keep it pretty simple, at least on my end. I think people are going to see there's a clear difference between the two [records] that's more than just production.
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PRAIRIE FIRE
Winnipeg's Yes We Mystic has been a staple in their local scene for years, but they've been steadily amassing a global following and for good reason. Their haunting and ethereal brand of folk/indie-pop is as mesmerizing as their live performances. Steff Shields gives us a recap of their recent show in East Vancouver.
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SIGHTS & SOUNDS Q&A +
“Look, this is the best bit,” I said, pulling my companion in closer to me. “What?” he asked, looking out onto the ethereal blue of the stage lights splashed across the front row of concertgoers. “The best part about these shows is watching the audience watch them.” The Rickshaw Theatre stands tall in a part of Vancouver’s east side that is often seen but rarely remembered. The crowded streets are divided into those that spend their time there and those that rent standing room, waiting to purchase tickets to a show. On the night of August 15th, that particular show was headlined by none other than Winnipeg’s own, Yes We Mystic.
techniques in order to create a sound that is all their own.
Far from being a one-note band of new-wave riffs, Yes We Mystic has taken to weaving together the traditional and modern in a way that feels elemental instead of forced. The group refrains from the current trends of minimalism and chooses instead to combine a greater number of instruments and
Yes We Mystic shows have broken into the tripledigits and filled venues in over 10 countries. After successful releases in Canada and Germany, Yes We Mystic has recently signed to DevilDuck Records worldwide and released their newest single "Felsenmeer" in June.
Since the release of their album Forgiver, they have maintained a consistent touring schedule and cultivated admirers all over the globe. The group has schlepped equipment across Canada on a multi-city tour before reaching the West Coast. This trip might sound like a grand adventure to others, Without a great deal of introduction, the prairie- but it is nothing new to the members of Yes We bred quintet takes the stage, diving into their set list. Mystic. Adam Fuhr, Keegan Steele, Jordon Ottenson, From the first note on, Yes We Mystic fills the large Jensen Fridfinnson and Jodi Plenert might make space with haunting melodies and the slow-burn up the core of the group, but they host a revolving of vocals from lead singer, Adam Fuhr. As dream- door of artists from violinists and flutists to banjos like as the atmosphere becomes, it is punctuated and bass. It is this type of collaboration that keeps by sudden bursts, pulling audiences back into the Yes We Mystic moving forward into new, uncharted territory. world around them.
STORY & PHOTO BY STEFF SHIELDS
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+ PROFILE
UNDER THE LAYERS OF VENEER Winnipeg’s alt-pop supergroup open up about intuitive connection, touring and sneezing on-stage STORY BY GRAEME HOUSSIN PHOTOS BY CHELSEA NEUFELD
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PROFILE +
When talking about emerging or new local artists, one may have a hard time steering the conversation away from Veneer. They’re undeniably one of the most active bands in the city – a supergroup in their own right, joining together indie-scene superstars Claire Boning of Basic Nature, Sam Sarty of Living Hour and grownup and Talula Schlegel of Animal Teeth and PC Cherry. Nearly a year after their spontaneous appearance on the Beach Station Blues V compilation by Real Love Winnipeg in 2016 – “we made up a song in like, five minutes,” says Sarty – the outfit performed at last year’s Rainbow Trout Festival and haven’t slowed down since.
three agree; it’s their symbiosis, and it bleeds through to everything – touring, recording and performing. “Your lives are connected, and you really need to be sensitive to that,” says Sarty, “and I just find it’s different with women. It feels easier in a lot of ways, so I don’t have to explain certain things; it’s just kind of intuitive.” “With a two-piece [like Basic Nature], it’s either one way or the other if you don’t agree with each other,” adds Boning on the band’s diplomacy. “With a threepiece, you all have to decide – it’s not so black and white. Having a third person makes it more equal in a way.”
Cut to the present – the alt-pop triad has nearly a dozen shows, a Western Canada tour, and a Stylus Magazine-released single, “Unsure,” under their belt. Their live shows are an energetic, magnetic experience, in no small part due to the band’s Being on the same page, Schlegel says, was palpable connection – something central, Schlegel something important and also natural during their says, to Veneer’s creative process. Western Canadian tour this July. “It’s a very intuitive thing, a very connected experience, and very safe,” Schlegel says. “I know it’s kind of a weird way to put it because I feel like we’re pushing boundaries of what we do, but you have to be very vulnerable when you’re doing those things … because otherwise emotionally I feel like we can get kind of distraught if you can’t just feel what you’re feeling.” Talking with the trio at local café Forth, their closeness is even more obvious; they talk over each other, finishing one another’s sentences, laughing and falling off-topic whenever one thinks of a funny anecdote or memory. I ask how making music as Veneer is different than with other projects, and all
“The one thing I noticed when I got home that night [after tour], we literally did not leave each others’ presences,” says Schlegel. “We essentially – just shy of sleeping in the same bed every single night, which would even happen sometimes – we were always beside each other, and it worked. It’s pretty incredible, and to have that on tour is pretty special.” Veneer’s songs are written by Sarty and Schlegel, and arranged by all three. For both, the magic behind Veneer’s music comes, perhaps to no surprise, from emotions that can only be expressed with performing with close friends.
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+ PROFILE
“It feels like you’re kind of putting on a different outfit – a totally different look or feel. It’s pretty profoundly polarizing.” “I have a lot invested in Veneer, emotionally but also creatively,” says Sarty. “I just think it’s such a great little spot to get some emotions out there that I don’t necessarily get to exercise with Living Hour or grownup.” “When I play a Veneer song with actual feelings, it’s so, so different than anything I’ve felt playing for PC Cherry and Animal Teeth,” Schlegel agrees. “It feels like you’re kind of putting on a different outfit – a totally different look or feel. It’s pretty profoundly polarizing.”
“I think it’s really cool when a bandmate has such a clear thought of what they [hear] in their head and trying that out makes me really excited,” says Boning. “I don’t think I’ve ever really stood up for a certain beat. I don’t like being possessive about anything that I’m doing.” The carelessly fun onstage vibe of Veneer comes, says Schlegel, from the bizarre experiences that only performing in front of a crowd can replicate.
“I like when really weird, unconventional, unmanageable things happen on stage,” says The full Veneer set is diverse in genre, tone, and Schlegel. “For example, at Real Love, when my feel, and displays the multifaceted talents of each sunglasses kept falling to the end of my nose.” member. Throughout a performance, the three members share six different instruments – guitar, (I remember Schlegel commenting on it between bass, keys, drums, trombone, and saxophone – songs during their Real Love Summer Fest set in while alternating the task of lead vocals. Each song July: “I feel like I look inquisitive,” she said to the in Veneer’s repertoire stands powerfully alone, crowd.) occupying a new and weird space somewhere in between genres. “You’re so aware of your body when you play,” adds Boning, recalling a time when a sneeze almost threw And for Boning, whose nuance on drums (and her off. “Drumming takes your whole body to do it, legendary cymbal dampen in the final chorus so when a sneeze comes along it completely derails of “Unsure”) is unmistakable, helping Sarty your sense of being for like a tiny second.” and Schlegel reach their final vision during the songwriting process is the priority. “It’s part of performance,” says Sarty. “You literally have to game-face like nothing is wrong, even if everything is wrong. It’s your own private experience that no one will know.”
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PROFILE +
Catch Veneer’s next set at the 2018 Sherbrook Street Festival on September 8, and keep your eyes peeled for their upcoming music video collaboration and a full-length album, tentatively scheduled for a 2019 release. Stay up-to-date with Veneer through Facebook and Instagram.
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POP PUNK + & POUTINE
in
When the world thinks of the pop-punk resurgence, the first scenes that probably come to mind are that from the UK, the US, and Australia. Unbeknownst to them, there’s another gold mine pumping out noteworthy gems of the genre: it’s Canada. Our thriving community has had some spotlight with golden boys like Living with Lions and Seaway already playing in the big leagues, but we’ve compiled the next batch of bands sure to be making waves and further solidifying our rightful place on the global pop-punk radar.
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top picks ANGST-IN-YOUR-FACE POP-PUNK
CHIEF STATE VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
FACEBOOK • LISTEN
Adding to the list of West Coast gems is Vancouver’s Parting Ways. The band gives us a blend of posthardcore, early emo and contemporary pop-punk that’s sure to charm any and all fans of the genre. The band may currently be taking a minor pause before releasing their debut album, Meant Well, but we’re confident that once they’re back in full swing, they’ll undoubtedly take the scene by storm. OUR FAVE TRACK: BROKEN FINGERS
UPBEAT--SUNNY-POP-PUNK
Vancouver’s Chief State leaves a lasting impression with their melodic and impassioned, high-energy variety of pop-punk. A complete mix of everything that makes the genre so addicting – rapid-fire drums, fiery vocals, and earnest lyrics that beg you to scream them to the sky. Although they’ve only been a band since 2016, their prowess creates a polished sound that’s well beyond their years. OUR FAVE TRACK: SPINE
POST-HARDCORE-EMO-POP-PUNK
PARTING WAYS VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
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COUNT ME IN VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
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On the lighter side of the West Coast pop-punk scene comes Count Me In. The Vancouver outfit gives off sunnier, summery vibes of the upbeat, playful variety of the genre, made popular by Blink-182 and Mest. Their debut album, How’s Your Heart Kid?, is a must-need when your heart still wants to feed that pop-punk hunger but needs a break from being woeful and angry. OUR FAVE TRACK: LET GO, LET GO
Of course, we could fill an entire issue of just pop-punk acts from Canada, but we’ve done our best to compress and bring you the best of the best. Here are our top picks for up-and-coming acts from all across the country andnoteworthy groups already pounding the pavement on a global scale.
Pumping the heavy punk is Calgary’s Sellout. Like a cross between Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Die Mannequin and Damone, the quartet serves up a marvelous mesh of traditional punk, indie-rock, and pop-punk. One of the most notable elements is the marriage between their inyour-face energy and vocalist Sarah Christine’s ability to wail with a voice that’s oddly both sweet and aggressive all at the same time. OUR FAVE TRACK: KING'S HEAD
90S-PARTY-POP-PUNK
STICKAROUND WINNIPEG, MANTIOBA
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PRETTY-EMO-POP-PUNK
BLEED AMERICAN WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
PUTTING-PUNK-IN-POP-PUNK
SELLOUT CALGARY, ALBERTA
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Melding together the angst of contemporary pop-punk with the raw energy of 90s skate/bar punk is Winnipeg's Stickaround. Their sound lays down a much heavier, raspy combo, while their lyrical vibe is more for the carefree and careless; basically serving up party pop-punk at its finest. OUR FAVE TRACK: POINT THE BLAME
Catchy, melodic and gracefully emo is Winnipeg’s golden boys, Bleed American. Although a definite instant favourite of any fans of the likes of Blink-182, (obviously) Jimmy Eat World, Transit, and Real Friends, the quartet have been steadfast paving their own passage to glory with their brand of sad poppunk. OUR FAVE TRACK: IT’S LEGAL
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STORY BY JANET ADAMANA PHOTO BY ED ABARCA JA: Can you talk about the pop-punk/emo scene coming out of Vancouver right now? JA: It’s been a huge year for you guys. Can you TZ: There are for sure a lot of great things coming go through some of the recent milestones you’ve out of West Coast Canada. My personal favourite local project for a long time has been Living With experienced? TZ: It’s been a pretty eventful year for sure! 2018 Lions. They've got a new record called Island coming brought us quite a few impacting experiences... out this fall, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. I'd say the biggest one has been signing to Pure Also, some other great acts are Chief State, Calling Noise Records. Also, a pretty crazy milestone will be All Captains, Daggermouth, Anchorage, Widmore, touring the United States this fall. I never thought I Swear Jar… the list goes on. The scene is really would be able to have an opportunity as such! I’m starting to build all around, and it’s very exciting to see. very humbled. JA: You began writing as a way to help yourself through dark times. How does it feel now seeing how far those songs have already taken you and the impact it’s made on so many others? TZ: It’s still very strange to me thinking lyrics I had written have potentially helped others around the world. I remember growing up and sharing those relatable feelings through artists I looked up to and could connect with on an emotional level; so trying to envision myself being that someone to another simply doesn’t feel real to me. I just never thought anything would ever really come of the music I wrote, so I honestly can’t stress enough how grateful I am every single day that people somehow give a shit.
JA: You’re going to be in full-touring mode this fall. Tell me a bit more about your upcoming CrossCanada and US Tours? TZ: We will be kicking off our tour on September 21st with our hometown show. After that it’s us making our way across the country with our friends in No Liars. I highly recommend you check those dudes out – incredible chemistry watching that band live and they’re just all around fantastic musicians and people. Once we get to the East Coast around early October, we're going down through the States with We Were Sharks, Abandoned By Bears and Boys Of Fall, so that’s also a very exciting tour to look forward to! JA: Any other plans for the remainder of the year? TZ: Currently just in the works of getting more shows booked: trying for a West Coast tour. Other than that, just to keep writing and pushing the project forward in the most positive direction possible.
Stay up to date with Youth Fountain through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouthFountainMusic.com. Catch them on their Cross-Canada tour with No Liars in September and October. They hit The Park Theatre in Winnipeg on October 1. If you’re south of the border be sure to catch them in October as they hit the road opening for Abandoned By Bears and We Were Sharks. 22
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POP PUNK + & POUTINE
DOWN BUT NOT OUT Tyler Zanon began writing music to help ease his experiences with depression and anxiety. He wrote song after song without the slightest inkling of the bright future they would undoubtedly bring. Soon after teaming up with pop-punk vocalist Cody Muraro, Youth Fountain was formed and brought new life and a raw, distinct character to Zanon’s melancholy musings, setting the course for what would become an insanely successful debut.
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+ POP PUNK & POUTINE
SO-CAL-SURF-PUNK-BUT-FROM-CANADA
PARKVIEW WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
FACEBOOK • LISTEN
One of the newest bands on the Winnipeg scene is The Management. Made up of Winnipeg genre veterans, Nic Dyson and Brandon Kupiak, the duo have come together to form a folk-pop-punk outift that’s been a long awaited dream, especially for Dyson. The Management promises a mix of old school punk, with the indie-rock feels of the Front Bottoms with the angst and emotion of Title Fight.
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Giving us great nostalgic pop-punk feels is Parkview. Boasting a lighter fare of the genre, with attention allocated less to milking their misery and more to simply providing catchy, dance-inducing jams. They definitely get the job done. Channeling the musical definition of a Hawaiian shirt and board shorts, Parkview gives off unforgettable beach punk vibes. OUR FAVE TRACK: NUDE SONG
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THE MANAGEMENT WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
ALONE I WALK WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
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Blessing listeners with an ever-evolving blend of emo, folk, pop-punk and indie-pop is Alone I Walk. They started out as an acoustic singer/songwriter, moving to an acoustic-punk outfit to the now thoughtfully constructed amalgamation of the scene’s best elements. Alone I Walk not only gives off memorable pop-punk vibes but also lives and breathes the very essence of the scene: to never be afraid to keep on growing. OUR FAVE TRACK: MOUNTAINS
POP PUNK + & POUTINE
Among Legends melds 90s/2000s pop-punk, a dash of ska and old-school skate-punk with uniquely Canadian humour to create an endearing and refreshingly lighthearted brand of the beloved genre. With notable tracks like "February 1st" and "Punk Rock Hoser", you’re bound to have them blaring through your headphones through summer and winter. OUR FAVE TRACK: SIT BACK AND WAIT
OLD SCHOOL-SKA-MEETS-SKATEPUNK
AMONG LEGENDS WATERLOO, ONTARIO
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T One of the most notable traits of millennial pop-punk is its angst and aggression, and Oshawa’s Letdown delivers this two-fold. What separates the quartet from the rest, is their ability to mix that raw sound with poetic candor that’s more than just moving and memorable. Full of non-stop energy and unapologetically upset, Letdown provides a perfect soundtrack for every pissed off, yet quietly hopeful, kid. OUR FAVE TRACK: DOWNCAST
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LETDOWN OSHAWA, ONTARIO
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Pulling at your heartstrings while pumping you full of energy is Rival Town. Their style pulls lyrical inspiration from the likes of early 2000s emo and mixes it with the riff-heavy vibes of melodic pop-punk. A little bit of angst with a whole lot of heartache, the St. Catherines-based outfit offers up a sound that will undoubtedly find itself on repeat for anyone who has ever wished for a Real Friends and Four Year Strong superband. OUR FAVE TRACK: SHOT DOWN
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LAUREATE MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC
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RIVAL TOWN ST. CATHERINES, ONTARIO
FACEBOOK • LISTEN
Emo-indie-folk-pop-punk might not really be an official genre, but it’s the only way to begin to describe the addicting sound of Laureate. Listening to their latest record, Landmarks, instantly gave us Jimmy Eat World-meets-Eisleymeets-Modern Baseball vibes. With an emotional and sonically pleasing mashup of genres, this one’s for anyone who likes extra pop in their pop-punk. OUR FAVE TRACK: WALK AWAY
POP PUNK + & POUTINE
TONY-HAWK-ERA-SKATE PUNK
TWICE ON TUESDAY QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC
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Remember when you used to play Tony Hawk’s video games and find your new favourite band? If the perpetual skater boy were to release a new game, Twice on Tuesday would definitely make that soundtrack. Complete with blaring riffs, powering baselines, and the no-fucks-given humour made popular by the likes of Gob, NOFX and Sum 41, Twice On Tuesday serves up a brilliant time capsule of early 2000s pop-punk for the skate park. OUR FAVE TRACK: SO CALLED FRIENDS
Serving up nothing but high-energy pop-punk is Portland! If you’re looking for just pure fast, and inyour-face, upbeat pop-punk then the Québec City quintet is the newest addition to your ‘most-played’ list. Highly-addicting tracks like "Back In The Game" and "Photograph" is like a high-dose of simple, twostepping worthy pop-punk with a French-Canadian flair. OUR FAVE TRACK: PHOTOGRAPH
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PORTLAND! QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC
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PRETTY FAMILIAR BUT FAR FROM THE SAME JA: Did you guys grow up in a musical family? JF: My dad is the one who got me and my brother Shawn into playing music. He's a pretty good guitar player. My brother started playing drums, so I thought, I might as well start playing bass, so we could get a family band going. So [my dad] was the big reason why Shawn and I really got into it. DB: My dad, he could kind of play guitar, but he's not like musically inclined, but his record collection is massive and he really got me into rock music and everything, so he was just as important to me too. It was more about the music he would show me rather than like Josh having his dad show him how to play guitar and stuff. JA: Yeah, that seems to be the way people start, having their parents feeding them content. JF: Yeah, like learn how to play this [laughs]. It's actually funny. My dad's music, he listened to all the older stuff like Ozzy and a lot of blues kind of stuff. My
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brother and I weren't really into it I guess and then he started to get into the new-school stuff coming out in the early 2000s like Blink-182. I remember the first Blink record that he bought us on CD was Dude Ranch. He got us bands like Billy Talent, Blink-182 and Rise Against - who are actually mine and my brother's favourite band of all time. Rise Against was the one that set off everything and got us into music. JA: Let's talk about your style of pop-punk. You play a bit of a throwback feel. Can you talk about how you decided that was the direction you would take? DB: In high school, I got super into Blink-182. That was the big band for me. At the time there was a lot of pop-punk bands coming out too so that really helped me get into it and then I just became obsessed with it. I don't know, but that was it – Blink
POP PUNK + & POUTINE
The striking characteristics of early 2000s pop-punk have always been its upbeat, goofball vibes merged with an almost bashful touch of honesty and heart. It’s these exact traits that are at the core of Ontario’s The Same as Always. Inspired by their collective love for early Blink-182 and the global pop-punk scene that melded into the mainstream, brothers Josh [bass] and Shawn [drums] Finlan joined forces with their cousin, Dylan Beattie [guitar/vocals] to create an enjoyable pop-punk revival that kickstarts the nostalgia train for anyone who grew up in the golden era of the scene.
STORY BY JANET ADAMANA
ALBUM ARTWORK FROM THESE FOUR WALLS
JA: Your debut EP. These Four Walls, came out earlier this year, what's the reception been like since it came out? DB: It's pretty good, but we're still getting on our feet. It's just been a year, but I think it's been pretty good. Everybody who has listened to it and heard it JA: Can you talk a bit about the Ontario pop-punk loves it so we've gotten good reception for sure. scene? Because it is, and it always has been, kind JF: Yeah, it's been super positive, and everyone likes the vibe. It's kind of nostalgic and brings back the of iconic. DB: Yeah, it's really great now. There are lots of bands good old days for some people. That was the goal coming out especially in Toronto and Oakville too; I guess. We went into the studio with the songs and bands like Coldfront, Seaway, Like Pacific, Parkside then by the time we were done, we were like 'wow! I and there are so many more local bands that not a guess we found the vibe boys!' lot of people even know yet. You just got to go to the shows and watch. There are so many good bands in Stay up to date with The Same As Always through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Grab a copy Ontario right now. of These Four Walls and stream their music on Bandcamp and Spotify. and even the newer bands, and the local scene. I would go to local shows and see bands and I just I fell in love with pop punk, the whole community, and everything. I wanted to be a part of it.
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on the map MOSH-TIL-YA-DROP-POP-PUNK
LIVING WITH LIONS VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
OFFICIAL SITE • FACEBOOK • LISTEN
PASSION-FUELED-POP-PUNK
CALLING ALL CAPTAINS EDMONTON, ALBERTA
OFFICIAL SITE • FACEBOOK • LISTEN
HONEST-AND-HOPEFUL--POP-PUNK
BEARINGS OTTAWA, ONTARIO
OFFICIAL SITE • FACEBOOK • LISTEN PHOTO BY KISHAN MISTRY
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POP PUNK + & POUTINE
Canadian pop-punk acts already making a huge mark in the global pop-punk scene.
POP-HEAVY--POP-PUNK
WE WERE SHARKS OTTAWA, ONTARIO
OFFICIAL SITE • FACEBOOK • LISTEN
FIERY-MELODIC-POP-PUNK
LIKE PACIFIC TORONTO, ONTARIO
OFFICIAL SITE • FACEBOOK • LISTEN
CATCHY-AS-ALL-HELL-POP-PUNK
SEAWAY OAKVILLE, ONTARIO
OFFICIAL SITE • FACEBOOK • LISTEN
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When Nadia and Delano Kuhl began the Harvest Sun Music Festival, they wanted to build a family-friendly environment to celebrate the fruits and labour of rural communities and emerging Manitoban musicians. Since then, the festival has grown vastly, gathering attendees and artists from all over the province to pay homage to the backbone of The Prairies while reveling in the roots of real human connection.
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INDUSTRY +
Just 230 kilometres Northwest of Winnipeg through Manitoba’s rolling hills, lies Kelwood. A small town by every definition, with only one quaint cafe, a public picnic shelter, a Royal Canadian Legion and a handful of houses sprinkled within a 1000 metre radius.
Not all collaborations were a surprise though. On the cusp of releasing their own new albums, three incredible and well-known solo songwriters, Carly Dow, Madeleine Roger and Logan McKillop, gathered on stage to help one another bring tidbits of their music to life, each adding their own flair to the new, never-before-heard songs.
It is the sheer simplicity of life there that breathes unforgettable character into the annual folk music Although the line-up was stacked with talent, there and maker’s market it hosts every year - Harvest Sun was something more to the fest than just seasoned Music Festival. professionals doing what they do best. The festival radiated a collective down-to-earth atmosphere During the three-day August festival, hundreds of that filled the air with joie de vivre and a true sense Manitobans gather in a small field in Kelwood to of good cheer. celebrate the province’s agricultural industry while taking in some of the best of the best in Manitoba’s Every moment of the day was met with a friendly country, folk, and indie-pop scene. Year-after-year smile, a nod or a gracious ‘hello.’ Patrons who were the lineup boasts over 30 prominent and emerging once strangers sat hip-to-hip. Children created Canadian acts. This year alone graced audiences an imaginative world of their own out of a nearby with impressive sets, including those from ATLAAS, sandhill. Impromptu performances and surprise Sierra Noble, Sweet Alibi, Olivia Lunny and Al collaborations were loaded with humour and Simmons. heart. There was the empowerment of female musicians opening up and sharing inspiring stories Performances may have been set on an outdoor of heartache, self-defeat, and eventual triumph; and stage, but the location of the festival lent itself to every night having come to a close with an entire create a comfortable, intimate space for both the field of people breaching their comfort zones to audience and musicians to interact. Sets included dance in the wondrous moonlight. an ample amount of collaboration, with some of the most unique and memorable mashups popping It’s no wonder that for the 13 years the festival has up out of nowhere. One such moment came as Keri been around, there has always been one word that Latimer, Harvest Sun performance veteran and one- attendees and performers continue to use when half of folk-duo Leaf Rapids, packed a theremin – describing Harvest Sun: community. an electronic instrument that uses interruptions of frequencies to create otherworldly sounds – inciting One moment spent at the festival and you’ll see a very comedic guest appearance during indie-rock there is nothing that captures the beautiful essence artist Shotgun Jimmie’s set. of friendly, art-loving Manitoba quite like the Harvest Sun Music Festival.
Harvest Sun Music Festival takes place every August. Stay up-to-date and get news about 2019 early bird tickets through Facebook and Instagram.
STORY BY JANET ADAMANA
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SPF 6.5 ARTISTS PLAYLIST Snag a listen to the artists featured in Sound, Phrase & Fury 6.5 on Spotify. SoundPhraseFury • SPF 6.5 Artists
SOUNDPHRASEFURY.COM
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