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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Janet Adamana
Cold, Cold One, Dance Like The Wind Note From The Editor
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Breaking Basic The Brotherhood & Co. talks new sound and their single 'Stephanie'
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Artists to Watch Our Artist Picks for Sept/October
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ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ally Sigurdson PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR Steff Shields
SPF X ALICE RL Lookbook Learn all about the SPF X Project
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.
info@soundphrasefury.com @soundphrasefury facebook.com/soundphrasefury soundphrasefury.com
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+ EDITOR’S NOTE
COLD COLD ONE, DANCE LIKE THE WIND 'To celebrate (and maybe cope with) the colder temperatures we’ve found new artists that should be on your radar. ' We are still reeling from the excellent summer above) tends to be the season to begin hunkering we had here – fantastic weather and even more down, plugging those headphones back in and amazing music and shows we got to relish in this letting yourself float on with your favourite tunes. season. To celebrate (and maybe cope with) the colder Alas, all good things come to an end. Luckily the temperatures we’ve found new artists that end of summer does mean the kick-off to Fall should be on your radar. — time for the mighty sweater weather and the abundance of soul-warming songs, both happy Whether you’re looking for somber music with an and sad. energetic twist, or more optimistic touches of the roots genre, this issue has got you covered. Summer is dedicated to good times with great friends, unplugging and getting out in nature. Fall Stay sunny, stay cozy friends. We'll catch you next (although can still be about enjoying all of the when the snow falls.
Wait for you, until the summer comes
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Janet Adamana Editor-In-Chief
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For Winnipeg pop-punk group, The Brotherhood & Co. the biggest challenge in writing their forthcoming debut EP was branching out and amalgamating their collective love for different styles of rock. From sad acoustic songs at the band's start to recently growing into a heavier sound, the fourpiece have set their sights on creating something more than just your traditional girl-hurts-boy breakup ballad and goofy pop-punk tunes. On the cusp of releasing their new single, 'Stephanie,' out September 13, we sat down with frontman Keenan Reimer, to chat about the band's growth, finding emotional solace through songwriting and what it means to break the boundaries of the genre.
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Q&A +
BREAKING BASIC STORY BY JANET ADAMANA JA: How did the band get started? KR: We’ve been the core of this line-up since the Fall of 2016. It’s called The Brotherhood & Co. because my brother [Brett Reimer] and I started it. We started writing acoustic songs and had a few we thought we should do something with. We spoke to a few friends we knew from high school and college. We jammed with them a couple of times, and it worked well. When we started, we pretty much did all covers with a few originals. As we’ve evolved, we’ve written more songs, and recently, more songs that we’re actually proud of.
JA: You mentioned you originally started writing acoustic songs. When did you grow into your throwback pop-punk feel? KR: I guess we didn’t know what our sound was going to be. When we started writing, we realized the songs sounded like pop-punk. A lot of stuff sounded like Blink-182 or Relient K, and then we were picking covers that fit that sound. It wasn’t a conscious thing of, ‘we’re going to be a pop-punk band.’ It was just what came out. That’s changed a bit in the last year. Our first songs were pop-punk, and now we’ve done more alt-rock, less Simple Plan-esque stuff.
Over the last year or so, we’ve taken the band a bit more seriously in terms of the amount of preparation we do for shows, the way we market ourselves, and writing and recording. We’re trying to find the balance. Our drummer is in nursing school so he’s very busy and the rest of us all have full-time jobs. It’s a hobby for us, but we still want to do fun things with it. We want to be able to write songs and play shows and not just drink and jam in my parents’ basement.
JA: Did that style change pose any challenges when you started writing your new EP? KR: Yeah, and as a band, we don’t have one writing process. Some songs I bring to the band pretty much finished, and sometimes I bring one or two melody lines and some lyrics. Our bass player, Wes [Keeley] often brings ideas, and his ideas are stylistically very different than mine. I try not to shut anything down just because it doesn’t sound pop-punk or it doesn’t sound like our sound. Let’s use it. Let’s mould it, and
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+ Q&A
JA: Our scene is known more for folk, country, and experimental rock. How has it been carving your own space in that? KR: We were big into music in high school, but we all took a few years off, went to college, and figured our lives out. When we got back into music and JA: Are his ideas different because of the musical wanted to start jamming and playing shows again, background he comes from? we had no connections. Thankfully, the internet KR: For sure. His would be more alt-rock, Foo exists now, so I started an Instagram page and just Fighters like, and more of the classic rock. Licks and riffs that he writes sound a little more like that. followed every band, venue, booker and everyone I could find. I emailed people introducing us. It If Brett writes something, that’s the pop-punk, was tough because we didn’t have any promo and I’m kind of somewhere in the middle. It’s a photos or recordings to show. We managed to get fun challenge to try, and all get on the same page. a spot on a small show, with one guy I knew who We’ve come up with songs that are kind of all over played guitar. He said, ‘my band will jump on a bill that spectrum, and I think that’s okay. with you guys. Let’s put a small show on together.’ JA: Nowadays, when you say pop-punk your mind Through that, we made one connection, and out of that, someone else was like, ‘you guys are pretty goes to that aggressive and angsty ‘I hate my good. We’re looking for a band next week.’ hometown and this girl burned me’ sound. KR: Lyrically and musically, I like to think our songs I spend a lot of time on Instagram marketing are a bit more than just that. We love bands like ourselves, and I’ve been fortunate to find some Blink and Green Day, but musically, it’s pretty similar-sounding bands and just discovering the simple stuff. There’s nothing wrong with that. scene. I didn’t grow up going to local shows, and Everyone loves those songs, but I think our music now I’m trying to as well as learn the scene; who’s brings different musical elements to them, and in and who was in it. lyrically as well, which is something that I pride myself on. maybe it will grow into something. It’s trying to be open towards it and not shut it down because it doesn’t sound like what we’ve done in the past; then you’re never going to grow and change.
' It’s trying to be open towards it and not shut it down because it doesn’t sound like what we’ve done in the past.'
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Q&A +
'I think pop-punk has been a genre that’s had more basic lyrics, and I’d like to change that.' JA: Tell me about your new single, ‘Stephanie’ and your upcoming debut EP? KR: We’re really proud of it. We recorded it ourselves, and ‘Stephanie’ is the first track that we really put a lot of time into with a lot of detail into production and listening to different versions over and over again. Another is called ‘Blur.’ Lyrically, it’s a lot heavier. There’s also more of a build in it, which is great. That’s probably my favourite song on the EP. One is called ‘Blindsided.’ That’s a poppunk one, and it’s a classic ‘you hurt me. I hurt you’ angry song. We have two that are a bit more alt-rock. They are really different from what we’ve done in the past, and I think that’s why we like them so much. JA: Lyrically, do you think you’ll always be more on that sad side? KR: Hopefully, not [laughs]. It’s been a really tough year, and that has definitely come through in some of my lyrics, like ‘Blur’ is about my anxieties and insecurities.
For me, this is part of my therapy. Writing is how I deal with my mental health and bullshit, and only a fraction of those turn into songs. I have notebooks and phone notes full of one or two lines that hit me, and that helps me process something. Maybe that’s all its purpose was for but once in a while, those lyrics turn into a song idea. ‘Blur’ is about not feeling good enough for someone or not feeling good enough for your dreams, and feeling insignificant; like you’re just a blur in this giant world. I think I’ll always have some of those things I’m dealing with and that will always come out in my music. Lyrically, I think there’s more than just boy-meetsgirl, boy-likes-girl. There’s so much more going on in the world than that. I think pop-punk has been a genre that’s had more basic lyrics, and I’d like to change that.
Catch The Brotherhood & Co. live on September 13th at Emo Night 2 at Cowboys in Winnipeg. Stay tuned for their single, 'Stephanie' dropping September 13. Stay up to date with the band through their official website, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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ARTISTS TO WATCH +
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ARTISTS TO WATCH COMPILED BY JANET ADAMANA
We're excited to kick off Fall with all the new bonfire-ready music added to our always-expanding playlists. Snag that pumpkin spice and grab your sweaters, we've compiled our top artist picks for a cozy September/October.
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+ ARTISTS TO WATCH
+ INDIE-POP/EMO
BADMINTON LEEDS, ENGLAND
FACEBOOK • INSTAGRAM • LISTEN The Leeds-based band boasts a creative mix of electro-pop, indie-rock, and emo to bring you a repertoire of catchy, danceable tunes with a whole lot of heart. The band has been gaining ground in their home continent, with spotlights and appearances on various BBC programs, and opening for the likes of The Dangerous Summer. It won’t be a surprise to see them capture North American audiences soon, as they craftily balance upbeat nuances of pop, sweeping melodies with hope-fueled yet poignant lyrics to ultimately abduct your emotions while daring you to move. INDIE-ROCK/PUNK
NERVOUS DATER NEW YORK, NEW YORK
FACEBOOK • INSTAGRAM • LISTEN Capturing the abundant frustrations that come with being a human is indie-rock/punk group, Nervous Dater. The New York four-piece blend angsty, self-deprecating humour with the playful bounce of early 2000s rock - think Weezer-meets-Wheatus-meets-Kings of Leon. Rounding out their sound is guitarist/vocalist, Rachel Lightner’s ability to spit out these bleak observations with an almost apologetic touch of hope and optimism. The group has been making their rounds in the US while delving into the studio for the followup to their 2017 debut, Don’t Be A Stranger. With a slew of new songs on the horizon, we can bet they’ll be making a solid appearance on every indie-rock lover’s playlists in the coming months.
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ARTISTS TO WATCH +
ROOTS/COUNTRY/BLUES
MARIEL BUCKLEY CALGARY, ALBERTA
FACEBOOK • INSTAGRAM • LISTEN
PHOTO: SHEEN C. ZILINSKI
Serving a refreshing take on roots/country is Calgary musician, Mariel Buckley. Blending the grooves of funk, the dark tones of Blues and the pep of traditional pop, Mariel gives listeners a new blend we didn't even know we needed. Tying it all together is Mariel's soulful vocals that boasts a deep emotional range and captures the poetry in her words. It's no surprise her debut album, Driving in the Dark, easily captured the scene and the attention of Canadian icons K.D. Lang and Sam Roberts. Mariel spent most of the year trekking across Canada wowing crowds at numerous festivals with no signs of slowing down.
POP-PUNK/PUNK
WASTING TIME TORONTO, ONTARIO
FACEBOOK • INSTAGRAM • LISTEN If you find yourself pining for old school punk akin to Less Than Jake, Gob or Dropkick Murphys, then your cure is Wasting Time. The Toronto quartet is a perfect time capsule and nostalgic mix of late 90s and early 2000s punk, chocked full of blaring riffs, fervor drums, and catchy sprightly choruses. The group has already been making waves in the GTA with appearances on numerous bills including the beloved punk party, Blackout Festival; and with such an addicting, seasoned sound, we’re sure they’ll continue to spread that across the rest of the Great White North.
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+ ARTISTS TO WATCH
+ POP PUNK/ALTERNATIVE
HOME WRECKED SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND
FACEBOOK • INSTAGRAM • LISTEN Giving us all the moody, emo vibes perfectly fitting the onset of Fall is UK-based group, Home Wrecked. The group craftily meld moving melodies, heavy riffs and a collection of early adulthood angst to bring listeners anthems of frustration and heartache with a slight glimmer of hope. Unforgettably upbeat and addicting, Home Wrecked have already captured audiences overseas. We're excited to see them spread their brand of rock to this side of the Western Hemisphere.
FOLK/ROOTS
THE SMALL GLORIES WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
FACEBOOK • INSTAGRAM • LISTEN PHOTO: ARRON IVES
New roots supergroup, The Small Glories, released their debut album, Assiniboine & the Red, earlier this year. With it, they blessed us with an enchanting brand of folk and country that encapsulates the best of both worlds. Consisting of premiere musicians, Cara Luft and JD Edwards, it’s no surprise the record is as pleasant and polished as it is. The album listens like a true love letter to the Prairies matched with its subtle lulling twang, its graceful storytelling, and the duo’s delicate harmonies. If there were ever a band to help you unplug and recenter yourself within your glorious natural surroundings, it’s The Small Glories.
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SPF 7.5 ARTISTS PLAYLIST Snag a listen to the artists featured in Sound, Phrase & Fury 7.5 on Spotify. SoundPhraseFury • SPF 7.5 Artists
SOUNDPHRASEFURY.COM
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DIGITAL LOOKBOOK
SPF ALICE RL
2018/2019
X
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SPF X BRINGS SOUND, PHR MAGAZINE TOGETHER WITH ILLUSTRATORS.
THE AIM IS TO BRING READERS LIMITED EDITION MERCHANDISE THAT CELEBRATES OUR MANTRA, “GET LOST IN SOUND” THROUGH T EYES AND STYLES OF NEW ARTISTS
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RASE & FURY H LOCAL
THE S.
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For the project’s inaugural year, SPF X has partnered with Alice RL, a non-binary, Ojibwe artist whose work draws inspiration from their experiences and cultural teachings and melds it with a signature palette of bright, playful hues. Their artwork creates stunning juxtapositions of human brutality and emotion with hope and whimsy. Alice’s projects include game and comic book art, digital and traditional illustration, and graphic design aimed at presenting beautiful and emotional stories that are LGBT2SQ+ inclusive.
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SPF X continues our aim to create platforms for artists - from the musicians we cover to the writers we work with.
THUS, A PO SHIRT SAL 22
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ORTION OF EVERY SPF X ALICE RL LE GOES TO THE ILLUSTRATOR.
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Our hope is to give SPF supporters a glorious piece of wearable art while connecting local artists with new audiences.
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Photography by Kerri Martens
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SOUNDPHRASEFURY.COM/ALICERL
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