Bon Vivant I Spring 2015 Issue 02 by Bon Vivant

BON VIVANT

Memories of a Colour

FASHION EDITORIAL BY MATTHEW BURDITT 1

BON VIVANT PERFECT PICNIC

– BC SPOT PRAWNS – LEONARD COHEN – CUBAN CIGARSFALL/WINTER – MCLAREN 2014

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Ask the Front Desk for more information. SPRING/SUMMER 2015 2

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Contents Welcome

Features 38

Alice Munro Canada’s Literary Treasure

History of Sampling Why You’ve Heard That Song Before And Will Continue To Hear It Again

Letter From the Editor

Cuisine

8 12 14

The Perfect Picnic Wild BC Spot Prawns Boulevard’s Culinary Star

Liquids

16 18

St-Germain Cocktail Vancouver’s Brew Boom

Fashion Editorial

Memories of a Colour

Arts

Leonard Cohen

Leisure

History of Tennis

Fashion

Chic Sneakers

Cigars

A Cuban Classic

Cars

48 50 4

Editorial: McLaren 12C Convertible Editorial: McLaren the Race Car

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the sutton place hotel vancouver

BON VIVANT BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SUTTON PLACE HOTELS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PUBLISHER ART DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER FASHION EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY STYLIST STYLIST'S ASSISTANT HAIR & MAKEUP

CONTRIBUTORS

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kayla Joffe The Sutton Place Hotels Sheryll Gomez Allison Laing Matthew Burditt matthew-burditt.com Leila Bani with THEYrep.com Stephanie Janyk Hair and Makeup: Win Liu with Lizbell Agency, using Make Up For Ever. Surya Chaube City Cigar Alan Dever Salim Kassam Niki Maretta Simon Parker Emma Penney Jan-Christian Sorensen Allison Taylor Elizabeth Turner Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar Surya Chaube Matthew Burditt Kayla Joffe Allison Taylor Roshan_NG / Shutterstock.com, Alex Ljungdahl Unsplash

• Bon Vivant is published by The Sutton Place Hotels 310-1755 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6J 4S5 Telephone: 604.730.6600 Fax: 604.730.4645 Email: communications@suttonplace.com Website: www.suttonplace.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/suttonplacehotels Twitter: @SuttonPlaceHtl Advertising Inquiries advertising@suttonplace.com Editorial Inquiries editorial@suttonplace.com Copyright © 2015 The Sutton Place Hotels. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the written consent of the publisher. For permission and reprint requests, please call 604.730.6600 or email editorial@suttonplace.com. Opinions expressed in Bon Vivant are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the publisher or advertisers. Bon Vivant is printed by MET Fine Printers in Canada, using the most environmentally friendly print process available.

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Welcome

Letter From the Editor No matter how often I travel or how many trips I make in any given year, I look forward to each and every journey with a sense of anticipation and, yes, almost juvenile excitement. Even when returning to a familiar destination, I always find there’s something new to discover — a restaurant that wasn’t there before, a hidden cove with a sandy beach that I’d overlooked, or perhaps a well-known attraction that I simply hadn’t had time to take in the last time around. In Lewis Carroll’s well-known tale Alice in Wonderland, Alice comes across many fascinating creatures and odd happenings. Towards the end of her adventures, Alice comes to converse with a caterpillar and says, “I’m not myself, you see.” “So you think you’re changed, do you?” asks Caterpillar. “I’m afraid I am, sir,” says Alice. As you travel, as you leave your home and visit new lands, new cultures, or new atmospheres, you may experience new adventures and you, like Alice, may be changed. At the end of Carroll’s tale, Alice awakes from her dream and shares her adventures with her sister. Reflecting on Alice’s imaginations, her sister “pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, in the aftertime, be herself a grown woman… and how she would gather about her other little children, and make their eyes bright and eager with many a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of Wonderland.” Being part of the travel industry means we are continuously meeting amazing people — first-time visitors, families, couples, corporate travellers — and we are always living vicariously through them. As you read through this issue of Bon Vivant, I hope we manage to awaken a tiny cluster of butterflies somewhere deep within you, the same way we are inspired by our guests, and that you let them have full reign as you plan your next adventure. Yours truly, Kayla Joffe Editor-in-Chief

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Cuisine

The Perfect Picnic From over-the-top feasts to simple salads, picnics are the quintessential summer activity

AUTHOR ALLISON TAYLOR

A warm spring or summer evening is a splendid excuse to pack up a picnic basket and enjoy the picturesque outdoors. Whether setting up shop at the local beach, laying a blanket out at a neighbourhood park, or enduring a long hike to a final destination, here is a glimpse at the requirements of a perfect picnic and a few recipes sure to keep a smile gleaming well after the sun goes down. Above all, planning ahead is a great place to start. Pick a beautiful spot, and create a checklist to help gather the essentials.

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THE PERFECT PICNIC PACKING LIST ;; A comfortable blanket or quilt and folding chairs. Make sure to cover the ground completely, however, be careful not to bring your century old semi-precious quilt. ;; A cooler and/or plenty of ice packs. There is nothing worse than a lukewarm bottle of white wine on a warm night. Frozen water bottles help to keep things cool, while saving space, and ensuring icy cold hydration. ;; A picnic basket or large reusable grocery bag. If picnicking is something of a regular activity, a wicker basket with gingham lining is a must-have accessory. If not, a reusable grocery bag will suffice. However, stay away from plastic grocery bags — this is just asking for holes and extra garbage. ;; Plastic storage containers and baggies. Both will prevent spillage and keep food fresh. ;; Plates, forks, napkins, cups, and a cutting board. Use the real stuff here, and save the environment by eliminating Styrofoam. Take care when packing your basket — wrap stems/glassware in cloth napkins and stack the plates in a blanket to avoid wasting space and preventing chips. *Some wicker baskets come with real glassware, specifically designed to fit perfectly. ;; Bug spray or citronella candles. Nothing says al fresco dining like a few thousand mosquito bites, but a sure-fire way to keep the bugs at bay is with some ambiance and a toasty warm lemon aroma. ;; iPod speakers. Enjoy a romantic afternoon or evening with a little background music. Create a playlist specifically for this occasion: Van Morrison, Paul Simon, The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons… nothing more picturesque than the beauty of the sun setting in the background while

listening to The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson. ;; A game of sorts. Ball and glove, Frisbee, or perhaps a competitive game of travel Scrabble. ;; Bottle opener/corkscrew. Buy one specifically for the picnic basket. ;; Trash bags. Keep the picnic area tidy. Maybe even clean more than the picnic area, and pick up some karma points. This is one of the most important Perfect Picnic requirements. THE PERFECT PICNIC MENU Finger-friendly, easy-to-prepare foods are the name of the game. Sandwiches, a charcuterie plate with baguette, precut fruit and vegetables, and a roasted chicken are some favourites. Steer clear of mayonnaise-based foods and opt for an herb pesto instead. Remember that at best, eating will occur at just below room temperature, aka bad mayo temperature. Pesto’s are a great alternative — and are arguably healthier as well.

Triple Cream Brie this time, in hopes of eliminating the cheese puddle. Semi-firm, low moisture cheeses are the best choices — Manchego, smoked Gouda, or aged cheddar are great options. If a salad is the clear choice, pasta salads work better at picnic time. Green salads tend to become soggy if dressed too early and take up too much space in the picnic basket. Wine should always be on a picnic menu. Rosé wines are fairly standard solely because they do not require being overly chilled. They are the perfect balance between red and white. If red is the only type in consideration, go for a lighter body red — perhaps a Pinot Noir. If it’s the opposite and opting for white is of high

If charcuterie and cheese plates are on the menu, choose the cheese based on the weather. It may be better to pass on the

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priority, go for a Sauvignon Blanc or a light oak Chardonnay — just remember an extra ice pack to keep it chilled. Always have a couple of non-alcoholic options on hand. Fruits juices or sparkling sodas are great beverage options. Keep in mind the liquor laws in your picnic area. In retrospect, non-alcoholic beverages may be the only option. As far as desserts go, this is where a good Chocolatier or Patisserie can work wonders. Splurge a little on the individual cakes and pastries at your neighbourhood sweets shop. They can individually wrap them for you, and even throw in a candle if this is a celebration. The right food, location, weather, activities, and privacy all serve to ensure a great picnic experience. Take the time to think these things through before heading out in order to be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the Perfect Picnic.

AVOCADO POTATO SALAD Serves 6 Ingredients 1½ lbs. new potatoes, scrubbed 3 avocados, cubed 1 lemon, juiced 2 green onions, chopped 3 Tbsp. fresh herbs, chopped (dill, chives & basil) 1 Tbsp. whole-grain mustard Coarse salt Freshly ground black pepper Method: Boil potatoes in salted water until al dente, approximately 8 – 10 minutes. Strain and cool until the potatoes can be handled. Cut the smaller ones in half and the bigger ones in quarters. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, avocado, green onion, lemon juice, and mustard. Combine. Then, add in the herbs and season to taste. Toss well to evenly coat everything.

If you would like your salad to be creamier, continue to toss, and break down the avocados a bit more. Serve warm – or chill in the refrigerator and serve cold or room temperature. HONEY MUSTARD ROASTED CHICKEN Serves 8 Ingredients 8 chicken thighs 4 Tbsp. whole-grain mustard, divided 3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp. honey 2 Tbsp. low sodium chicken stock 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided 2 Tbsp. fresh chives, cut into 2-inch pieces Coarse salt Freshly cracked black pepper Method: Preheat the oven to 400F. Combine 1 Tbsp. olive oil, 1 Tbsp. wholegrain mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Add the chicken, and toss to coat evenly. Cover and let sit while you put together the rest of the dish. In a separate bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, remaining whole-grain mustard, honey, and chicken stock; set aside. Heat remaining olive oil in an oven-proof pan over medium high heat. Add the chicken, and sear both sides to golden brown, approximately 3 minutes per side (Remember: if you can’t flip the chicken easily with your tongs, then it isn’t ready to flip). Add the honey mustard mixture, and roast in the oven until cooked through, 20 – 25 minutes (a little longer if you’re using bone-in chicken). Sprinkle with chives and serve. •

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Cuisine

Wild BC Spot Prawns The Pacific Northwestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gem of the Sea AUTHOR SURYA CHAUBE

ritish Columbia has a lot to offer where culinary delights are concerned. Chantrelle mushrooms and juicy berries are just a couple of gifts BC is blessed with. The real treasure, however, lies in its Pacific ocean where Wild BC Spot Prawns are the stars of the sea. The season for Spot Prawns runs from the beginning of May for about six to eight weeks. Just as the name suggests, Spot Prawns are identifiable by small amber spots which line its coral coloured shell and white stripes that run down its head. Of the commercial species of prawns caught in BC, Spot Prawns are the largest, and they are one of the most sustainably fished seafoods in the world. A number of measures are taken to ensure that sustainable practices are adhered to during the short fishing season. The number of licenses issued is limited as are the number of traps per license. Fishermen are required to accurately log details of their daily catches and are limited to the amount and size of prawns per catch. In addition to this, great care is taken to make sure any other ocean life caught accidently is returned alive to the ocean. The start of the Spot Prawn season is celebrated and many coastal towns in British Columbia have entire festivals devoted to it. Although most of the prawns caught are sold to the Japanese and Chinese markets, local foodies can still get their hooks into these succulent crustaceans at a few restaurants. Select grocers carry Spot Prawns year round in their frozen section. Although many turn

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up their nose to frozen seafood, Wild Spot Prawns are as good frozen as they are fresh because they are frozen right out of the sea. The key to cooking these delicate little creatures is to avoid culinary sin and not overcook them. Using only a few, simple ingredients ensure their flavours shine. Once cooked, these little gems turn bright pink. Even if cooked from frozen, these prawns burst with a crisp freshness clearly distinguishable from other prawns. Serve them as an appetizer with the shells on for a juicy bite or remove them for easy eating as an entrée. Try Wild BC Spot Prawns with a large cool glass of Muscadet to complement their natural sweetness. •

Wild BC Spot Prawns in White Wine and Lemon Butter Sauce 1 lb. Wild BC Spot Prawns deveined (peeled if serving as entrée, optional if serving as appetizer) Pinch of red chilli flakes Pinch of paprika Salt & pepper 2 Tbsp. butter, divided 2-4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided 1 shallot finely diced 2 cloves garlic finely diced ⅓ - ½ cup dry white wine Juice from one whole lemon Handful chopped flat leaf Italian parsley

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In a bowl, season the prawns with the red chilli flakes, paprika, salt, and pepper. Let stand in fridge for 20 minutes. In a saucepan, melt one Tbsp. of butter and add 1-2 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the shallots until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté briefly. Add prawns and cook until just done. The prawns will turn bright pink in colour. This will only take about a minute and a half per side, depending on the size of the prawns. Remove the contents of the pan to a plate and set aside. In the same pan, melt another Tbsp. of butter and add the wine. Simmer vigorously for one to two minutes. Add the lemon juice. Return the contents of the plate to the pan. Mix everything together and remove from heat. Add the parsley and season with more salt and pepper as needed. If serving as an appetizer, serve with French crusty bread to soak up all the sauce. Alternatively, toss with a pound of al dente cooked capellini and extra virgin olive oil to serve as an entrée.

The start of the Spot Prawn season is celebrated and many coastal towns in British Columbia have entire festivals devoted to it. SPRING/SUMMER 2015

Cuisine

Boulevard’s Culinary Star — Chef Alex Chen AUTHOR JAN-CHRISTIAN SORENSEN that thinks so highly and has such respect for one another and to be able to create an opportunity for others, like my sous chefs, and to help elevate their careers is extremely rewarding and exciting for me.” Nods to Chen’s classical French training and influences are peppered throughout the menu at Boulevard in such offerings as the magret duck breast (confit daikon, butternut squash, roasted beets, natural jus), bouillabaisse (lobster, local rock fish, saffron, rouille, gruyère, olive oil crostini) and pomme cinq (caramelized apple confit, yogurt spuma, crème chantilly).

nderstated finesse and precision. Classical French training. Tireless dedication to both craft and time-honoured family traditions. These are but a few of the ingredients that have helped write a recipe of success for Alex Chen, executive chef of Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, the new gem in the crown of The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver. An inspired marriage of classic, Europeanstyled bistro and contemporary bespoke style, the completely refurbished, 290-seat restaurant boasts an expansive dining room, seated oyster bar, craft-cocktail and champagne bar as well as a vintage-style lounge, private dining room, and wraparound outdoor patio, but it’s Chen’s celebrated vision and style that truly take centre stage at Boulevard. The 38-year-old Chen brings to the Boulevard kitchen an impressive pedigree

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of culinary success, from his time at the helm of the world-renowned Beverly Hills Hotel and Polo Lounge — where he commanded an army of 60 cooks and nine sous chefs — to his top-ten finish as the Canadian representative at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or in Lyon, France in 2013. But while Chen owns more than a decade of experience at some of the most acclaimed and revered hotel properties across North America, Boulevard represents the first time he’s shepherded the opening of a restaurant from inception through construction to rollout. It’s an opportunity that resonates even more deeply with Chen when one considers that he has been able to return to the hometown where he took the first steps on his culinary journey so long ago. “It’s been a blessing and an honour to be able to help open a restaurant like this,” says Chen. “To work with an all-star staff

Boulevard’s menu also underscores Chen’s commitment to sourcing and showcasing the very best of the region’s vast bounty of fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients, from starters like the BC wild sidestripe shrimp ceviche, ever-changing seasonal selection of oysters and Read Island mussels to the smoked black cod and Sawmill Bay clam chowder and entrees such as roasted sablefish (gai lan flan, beech mushrooms, shallot, coconut rice, lemongrass vinaigrette), and Pacific Provider Coho Salmon (wild mushrooms, zucchini, kale, pomme purée, truffle vinaigrette). “I drew upon my experience and childhood memories of my family cooking together as well as my training and travel and the other chefs I’ve worked for when putting together this menu,” says Chen. “I’ve always wanted to run a seafood-focused restaurant, and since we’re blessed with pristine water, we’re able to offer an abundance of great quality seafood, whether it’s spot prawns or halibut, from Alaska all the way down to Oregon. “Most importantly, we strive to focus on quality local ingredients, the seasonality of the produce and put together a menu that is elegant, yet approachable.” •

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Liquids

St-Germain cocktail The celebratory cocktail for all occasions

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AUTHOR EMMA PENNEY ’ll have a St-Germain cocktail please.” “I’m sorry?” asks the waiter. “A St-Germain cocktail,” I reply. With a look of uncertainty from the waiter, I explain, “A St-Germain Cocktail: StGermain liqueur, champagne, club soda, and a twist of lemon.” A transient expression of surprise crosses his face. “I haven’t heard of that before, I will speak with the bartender.” Exclusive: the perfect word to describe StGermain. It’s not your average liqueur that North Americans indulge in. It has a specific refinement to it, a Produit de France quality that heeds a golden era of Europe. Surprisingly, this vintage-esque l’apéritif has only been around since 2007. It feels like it’s been a staple in the liquor cabinet since the early 20th century because of the traditional, artisinal French manner in which it is created. For an ephemeral period during the springtime, the delicate, star-shaped elderflower grows on the French hillsides. Collected by flower-gatherers and carefully

transported (often by bicycle) back to the villages of the French Alps, the elderflowers undergo the traditional (and highly inefficient) French process of maceration, to ensure their fleeting, delicate flavours and aromas are savoured. The practice itself is a closely guarded family secret, and to make clear its laboured process, each bottle of StGermain is hand numbered to reflect the year in which the flowers were picked and the liqueur crafted.

intrigue you, the beautiful, art deco styled bottle will unquestionably establish an immediate love affair.

If the ancient and magical process of creating St-Germain weren’t enough to

Winning multiple prestigious awards since its release, including the Monde Selection Grand Gold Medal five years in a row, St-Germain essentially created and cornerstoned the elderflower liqueur market. Prior to its arrival on the scene, virtually zero of its kind existed. And since, St-Germain has been often imitated but never duplicated.

THE ST-GERMAIN COCKTAIL As St-Germain itself quotes: C'est votre monde – This is your world 2 parts

Brut Champagne or dry sparkling wine

1 ½ parts

St-Germain

2 parts

Sparkling water or club soda

METHOD: when one puts one’s name on something, that something must be perfect. This something is. Fill a tall Collins glass with ice. Add Champagne first, then StGermain, then club soda (the order is essential, not arbitraire). Stir completely and garnish with a lemon twist. And, if you have done all of the above perfectly, feel free to put your name on it, as well.

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And the world has taken notice. Pre-2007, cocktail menus were absorbed with Mojitos and Earl Grey Martinis, but since its introduction, St-Germain has become one of the most influential cocktail components for those in the know.

The perfect piece de resistance for a dinner party, have a bottle on display and serve up chilled St-Germain Cocktails for your guests. For an effortlessly elegant l’apéritif, simply add Rosé Brut to make a La Rosette. And if it’s summertime, add a splash of white wine, some fresh summer fruits, and enjoy a refreshing Sangria Flora. •

MACALLAN 1824 SERIES THE THE MACALLAN 1824 SERIES

100% SHERRY OAK CASKS, 100% NATURAL COLOUR, A 100% MACALLAN The Macallan is known worldwide for innovation – a defining characteristic that sets this distillery apart. Innovation is the driving force behind the distillery’s latest creation, The Macallan 1824 Series. A sophisticated collection of four unique expressions – Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby – that will redeﬁne the way Scotch whisky is evaluated. The 1824 Series brings together natural colour and exceptional sherry seasoned casks - two of The Macallan’s “Six Pillars,” the starting points from which The Macallan is crafted. Together these traits create a signature character, embracing all of the deﬁning elements that make The Macallan one of the world’s truly great single malt whiskies.

Please savour responsibly. | www.themacallan.com

Liquids

Vancouver's Brew Boom The ever expanding hoppy and handcrafted beer scene AUTHOR NIKI MARETTA

ine. The lush vineyards. The peaceful sanctuaries, meticulously cherished, and cultivated. How can industrial, big metal contraptions that concocts beer from a humble mixture of wheat, barley, hops, and yeast possibly rival the artistry of fermentation in winemaking?

If the sudden boom in craft breweries is any indication, there is an undisputable shift in the way we drink and appreciate beer. World renowned chefs have taken to designing menus that pair food with beer—a move any wine enthusiast would have quickly shunned in the past. Beer, of course, has always had a reputation as a simple and cheap alcoholic refresher best suited for pairing with sporting games and chicken wings, not beef bourguignon or a rib eye steak. The sudden saturation of craft breweries, however, proves otherwise. The creativity of beer production has been sorely underestimated all these years. As it turns out, beer has been a true chameleon all along. After all, when has wine ever been able to take on a bacon infusion without offending even the most liberal of taste buds? It is that versatility that has sparked this growth in curiosity. The stranger the flavour, the experimentation shows no shortage of willing participants. Tourism in Vancouver, especially, has recently extended beyond its renowned natural hot spots and wineries to its

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burgeoning microbreweries. Staple brew houses like Yaletown Brew Pub and Steamworks have paved the way for this boom. Their growing clientele has opened doors for an increase in local craft breweries—and those doors have been opening at an unprecedented speed. The past year alone has introduced 10 new craft breweries to the market. Vine & Hops, a Vancouver-based winery and brewery tour group, has witnessed this change in the market first-hand. The open-door, casual, and friendly attitude of these new start-ups offer a departure from the stuffy exclusivity that is commonly attributed to wineries. “Buyers know the people who brew their beer, and they can connect with the product on a different level,” says the tour group. While British Columbia’s reputation amongst wine drinkers remains strong, this competition from brew makers only furthers the province’s diverse offerings to tourists and locals alike. Now that’s something to raise a toast to. •

As it turns out, beer has been a true chameleon all along.

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HATS OFF

MUST BE LEGAL DRINKING AGE.

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ME MO R I E S O F A COLOUR Photography by Matthew Burditt - matthew-burditt.com Stylist - Leila Bani with THEYrep.com Stylistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistant - Stephanie Janyk Hair and Makeup by Win Liu with Lizbell Agency, using Make Up For Ever.

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Arts

LEONARDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OPUS AUTHOR NIKI MARETTA

t was 1984. The birth of MTV and electronic enhancements in recording that took sound beyond the instrument. This new form of music consumption and production was not kind to many artists. Amidst a life-long battle with depression, one Canadian artist was especially struggling with the commercial and critical disappointment of his last two albums.

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Baby I have been here before I know this room, I’ve walked this floor I used to live alone before I knew you.

He was turning 50 and his career had already boasted several reincarnations and touched a multitude of personal and professional milestones. Maybe this was the end of the road. Perhaps he was once more, alone in a field that made nomads of his peers—the Bob Dylans, the Robert Plants. But then, banging his head on a floor in frustration, writing erratically in a filter-free cloud for days, 80 verses were scribbled onto paper and it would become Leonard Cohen’s defining contribution to what remains the era of music. From what specific torment inspired “Hallelujah” will likely always remain a mystery. Its impact, however, is indisputable. Spanning three decades of faithful covers, each shining light on the brilliance of its composition and its composer, Cohen’s defining opus cemented his rightful place amongst Canada’s most celebrated icons. Born in Westmont, Quebec, Cohen exhibited an early interest in literature and poetry. During his enrollment at McGill University and under the mentorship of Polish-Canadian poet Irving Layton, Cohen’s literary spark gained immediate notice. Local publishing of his early poetry led to the first compilation of work at the age of 22. While the following decade saw Cohen continue to pursue his craft, the initial lacklustre commercial recognition quickly led to a reclusive period spent living in Greece, funded by a trust fund left by his late father. A return to Montreal and a subsequent brief inclusion in Andy Warhol’s notorious Factory entourage in New York sparked resurgence in Cohen’s creative drive and inspired him towards music. While Cohen enjoyed a successful run as a folk singer-songwriter in the years to

follow, it was amidst what is arguably the most notable transformation in music, a radical movement towards synthetically enhanced instrumentals and a hyperawareness of marketable aesthetics that Cohen’s raw artistry found its due audience. His contributions to fiction, poetry, and music have earned him the nation’s highest civilian honour as a Companion of the Order of Canada. He has been inducted into both the American Rock

and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, as well as the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Faithful to his quiet allure, Cohen remains one of Canada’s true underrated musical geniuses. Thirty years later, “Hallelujah” remains as provocative, passionate, and piercing as it did on the day of its conception. A Canadian gem that another three decades from now will remain in the ears of new and old listeners. •

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Leisure

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History of Tennis A game’s journey from the parish to the British monarchy

‘game of the palm’. Later more widely known as real tennis, the first versions of this sport were played by monks in 11th century France, against the asymmetrical walls and angled windows of monasteries. As equipment evolved from a bare hand, to a stringed leather glove, to a shorthanded battoir (racket), this game became an increasingly serious matter to men of the cloth; in certain French towns, Easter Day tithes to the Bishop of the Diocese were made up of tennis balls.

AUTHOR PAT LOK

oger, Novak, and Rafael. Serena, Venus, and Maria. The stars of modern tennis need little introduction as their popularity spans continents, reaching an audience of millions worldwide. Yet, the humble beginnings of this storied game over the centuries are often overlooked. Long before our white-clad heroes of Wimbledon and the clay courts of Roland Garros, where did this game begin? While history records a variety of ball games played in civilizations ranging from the Mayans to ancient Greece, the sport of tennis we play today is most closely descended from jeu de paume, literally translated

Throughout the 13th century, real tennis found its way to more urban areas and across the water to Britain — more standardized courts were built, funded by universities and entrepreneurs. The game’s popularity grew to a point that in 1397, the Chief Magistrate of Paris restricted play to Sundays, citing that its addictive qualities led common folk to “quitting their tasks and families during working hours, a state of affairs highly injurious… to the public.” Perhaps more discriminately, the war-minded English Crown issued edicts prohibiting the working class from playing the sport entirely in hopes of improving the country’s waning bowmanship skills. In 1410, this statute was reinforced with a penalty of six days imprisonment for guilty parties. Truly the “game of kings and king of games", real tennis found patronage amongst royalty. King James I (VI of Scotland) lauded its benefits in a book detailing the proper

Renaissance education of a Prince, whilst an infant Charles II of France was captured in portrait, racket in hand, foreshadowing a lifelong dedication. Even Shakespeare’s Henry V features a scene where the titular character is mockingly sent a gift of tennis balls from the Dauphin of France, making light of his claim to the throne. Nevertheless, jeu de paume drew supporters from all walks of life (including its first female star, Margot of Hainault – whose victories over the sport’s top male players preceded her becoming a nun) with Paris alone boasting over 250 courts by the start of the 17th century. By the 19th century, the popularity of real tennis began to wane, in part due to a combination of its aristocratic history and the increasing prevalence of its younger (and relatively simpler) cousin, lawn tennis. However, jeu de paume did survive long enough to be featured as a medal event at the 1908 Olympics in London. Today, some 43 courts remain in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and France with a dedicated base still competing. Remarkably, the men’s singles version remains the oldest world championship in sports, currently defended by 12-time reigning champion Australian Robert Fahey. So the next time you hear someone claim that Sampras or Graf was the greatest to ever swing a racket, feel free to remind them of the exploits of King Henry VIII or the legendary Margot of the nunnery. •

Truly the “game of kings and king of games” real tennis found patronage amongst royalty.

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Fashion

Dress Code? What Dress Code? How chic sneakers will help you spring into Spring

AUTHOR ELIZABETH TURNER rom school run to runway, the sneaker rules in 2015 and this wardrobe staple gets you where you need to be. Call them what you will – sneakers, runners, kicks, or trainers – this is one look that has gone mainstream. So whether window shopping, at the office, or out for an evening show, when it comes to this iconic shoe, the old fashioned rules no longer apply.

WOMEN April showers got you down? Dolce and Gabbana’s Jacquard and Nappa leather sneakers will brighten any day with their pink and green flowers on black detailing. Too dressy for you? Then a street style pair like the SK8-0Hi Slim sneaker from Vans with its floral print will keep you smiling. Need a versatile pair of kicks that go with any outfit, day or night? Then check out Acne Studios’ Adriana Metallic Light Gold sneakers or Buscemi’s red leather hi-tops. From the yoga studio to the opera house, these two brands would work as well with an elegant coat as they would Lululemon tights. Got tickets to see your favourite band and it’s standing room only? Direct from the catwalk, Rag & Bone’s three strap sneaker in black might be your jam. Being on your feet for hours will be a cinch, and paired with a knee length skirt, you have a look that is both on point and comfy.

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If you really want to take it to another level, then Miu Miu’s metal cap toe sneaker won’t let you down. This blingy skater shoe comes in multiple colours and was featured in Gwenyth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand newsletter Goop (2014 Autumn Annual Gift Guide). Glamorous and sneaker in the same sentence? Yes, such a shoe does exist, courtesy of French designer Isabel Marant. With its playful mix of creams and beige, three front straps and candy red trim, the Etoile 80mm Wila Suede Wedge sneakers will easily pass the glam test. MEN Looking for an upscale pair of sneaks you can wear to work? Lanvin’s hip, patent leather kicks in understated shades like black and cream are THE go-to shoe for hipsters, dot com dudes, and artists alike. Not bold enough for you? Then Lanvin’s mesh and suede running sneakers in a hot pink, grey, and baby blue combo will give you a standout look. Heading out after a day at the office and no time to change your footwear? Look no further than Berluti’s Playtime sneakers made from a single piece of leather, available in three colours: savana, purple multico, and mimosa. Or try out one of Dolce and Gabbana’s edgy new pairs like their green leather camouflage hi-tops with double lace fastening in front and zip detail on the back. UNISEX Running errands on the weekend and want to show off your street cred? Pull on some jeans and lace up an old school pair of kicks

Glamorous and sneaker in the same sentence? Yes, such a shoe does exist – like the Adidas Samba. This timeless shoe first came on the scene in the 1950s. With its signature three white stripes on basic black, it is the best selling Adidas shoe of all time. Top off your look with a baseball cap and voila! ‘Normcore’ at its finest. What the heck is ‘Normcore’? Well according to Wikipedia, it is a mash up of the words ‘normal’ and ‘hardcore’ and describes a unisex fashion trend characterized by unpretentious, average looking clothing — like sneakers. So there, now you are in the know. The Converse All Star is another classic pair that no closet should be without. Originally released in 1916, these sport shoes (also known as Chuck Taylor’s after an endorsement by the basketball star) have been embraced by skaters, musicians, and students. Whether at the local coffee house, the skate park, or picking the kids up from school, this is one pair that will always rock it. Hi-fi to low-fi, with more styles and colours than the blooms of Spring, there is a shoe for everyone. Who knew the ubiquitous sneaker could take us so many places? • PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HOLT RENFREW

TOP LEFT: Berluti’s Playtime in Savana BOTTOM LEFT: Rag & Bone’s three strap sneaker TOP RIGHT: Acne Studios’ Adriana Metallic Light Gold BOTTOM RIGHT: Buscemi’s red leather hi-top

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CIGARS

A Cuban Classic or a Crafty Non-Cuban Cocktail? AUTHOR CITY CIGAR

hen people think of cigars, it’s hard not to think of Cuba and Cuban cigars; they’ve been around for hundreds of years and that kind of ubiquity will get you pretty well known. But recent decades have seen the rise in popularity — worldwide — of the non-Cuban varieties of cigars, particularly in the last 5-10 years. When explaining the simplest differences between Cuban and non-Cuban cigars, the clearest analogy is to imagine Cuban cigars like single malt whisky and non-Cuban cigars like a signature cocktail. The Cuban cigar is made using all Cuban tobacco, often from fields a stone’s throw from each other. Containing their own inherent complexity due to blending and the nature of the unique climate, soil, and geography of the land the tobacco is grown in, the traditional production process has largely been unchanged for many generations. Like a good whisky from a particular distillery, Cuban brands have signature flavours that prompt brand and even production year or ‘vintage’ loyalty like none other. Non-Cuban cigars have been un-abashedly playing ‘catch-up’ for years, claiming to have “Cuban-seed” varieties of tobacco in the blends, or throwing the word “Cubana” in the name of the cigars within their portfolios. Clearly, the cachet of Cuba and its association were very desirable. But in the last decade or so, non-Cuban cigar producers have taken it upon themselves to evolve beyond the puros (cigars made from tobacco entirely from a single country of origin) and into something more. To capture complex flavour and appeal to discerning palates in an increasingly competitive market, non-Cuban brands have undertaken (often extreme) blending

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Like a good cocktail, they might take two parts Nicaraguan tobacco, one part Honduran –

experiments to come up with flavour profiles to tantalise our taste buds. Like a good cocktail, they might take two parts Nicaraguan tobacco, one part Honduran, bind it with some Ecuadorian, and then top it off with a dash of USA Connecticut Broadleaf for the wrapper, creating a fantastic complexity and culmination of flavour and enjoyment hard to find any other way. Purists may scoff, but taste and enjoyment are entirely subjective things; there’s

no definitive ‘best’ cigar brand or ‘best’ country of origin. If you enjoy it, you enjoy it, it’s a simple as that — because after all is said and done, you can’t smoke the band that’s on the cigar, you can’t smoke the box it came in, and finding out where it came from halfway through won’t make you like it more or less. You smoke it to enjoy it. So whether it’s a classic Cuban or an up and coming ‘cocktail’, don’t forget to enjoy! •

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Feature

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Alice Monroe Canada’s Literary Treasure AUTHOR ELIZABETH TURNER

n a radio interview last autumn, Canadian writer, actor, and playwright Ann-Marie MacDonald explained how the literary field has changed in the decades since she began writing. You may recall that Ms. MacDonalds’s first book, Fall On Your Knees was published in 1996 and became one of the biggest books of that year in North America. Ms. MacDonald described how, at a downtown book store, she had recently seen a prominent sign promoting Brilliant Female Canadian Authors. She called this “a triumph” adding that when she began her career, such a section would be found on the store margins and not front and center as it was now. She attributed this transformation to a select group of female writers who had gone before her, paving the way for her success. It could be argued that out of these literary foremothers there is one writer whose star shines brighter than the rest, and because the light from this particular star has been so intense lately, it has cast the entire body of work known as ‘Can Lit’ in its afterglow. Of course, this brilliant icon is Alice Munro. Yes, THAT Alice Munro. The one whose work prompted the Toronto Star newspaper to write: “Munro should be given a Nobel prize for medicine; she knows more about the human heart than any doctor that has won.” THE Alice Munro whose short stories have appeared in such notable publications as: The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s Magazine, THE one whose books have been translated into 13 languages, and has been the recipient of such accolades as: the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction (1968, 1978, 1986), the Giller Prize (1998, 2004), the Man Booker International

Prize (2009), Writers' Trust of Canada's Marian Engel Award (1996), and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize (2009). In addition to this, one of her short stories, The Bear Came Over The Mountain, was adapted for the film Away From Her. With stories that capture everyday conflicts, plots which move backwards and forwards in time, and an all-knowing, all-seeing narrator, it isn’t surprising that Ms. Munro has cut such a swath through the literary world. Placing her stories in regional locales like Huron County, Ontario and the neighbourhoods of Vancouver have prompted comparisons to such southern gothic writers as William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor, and Eudora Welty, all of whom set their stories in the rural south of the US. STRONG TIES TO BC Alice Munro was born Alice Laidlaw in 1931 and was raised in Wingham, Ontario by a former school teacher and farmer. She attended the University of Western Ontario for two years, majoring in English. At age 19, she had her first story The Dimensions of a Shadow published in Folio, a student literary magazine. Following her marriage to James Munro in 1951, they moved west to BC. Their three daughters Sheila, Catherine, and Jenny were born in 1953, 1955, and 1957 respectively. Sadly, Catherine died 15 hours after birth. Over the course of her life, Alice Munro has lived both in Ontario and British Columbia and although Ontario generally gets top billing, BC gets to take some credit, as many of her stories were set there and her first collection was sketched out, in part, while she was living on the West Coast. Munro has revealed that from day one, her only ambition was to “to be a writer”. She has been quoted as saying “I was desperately consumed” by my writing. After taking up residence in Vancouver,

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westside of the city which a fellow writer has invited her to. “…so she hired a sitter and set off on the North Vancouver bus across the Lions Gate Bridge and on through Stanley Park. Then she had to wait in front of the Hudson’s Bay for a long ride out to the university campus, which was where the writer lived.”

first near the beach in Kitsilano and later on the slopes of the North Shore Mountains, she worked hard at balancing the need to write with her family responsibilities. She explained that she wrote short stories because being a mother of young children did not allow her the time needed to write novels. In 2002, Alice Munro’s daughter Sheila Munro published a memoir Lives of Mothers and Daughters and in it her father Jim is quoted as saying: “She (Alice) didn’t want to be a regular mother,” and Alice herself once told an interviewer, “I’m just so terribly glad that I had my children when I did. I’m terribly grateful I had them. Yet, I have to realize, I probably wouldn’t have had them if I had the choice.” A newspaper article about the writer from that time reads: “Housewife Finds Time to Write Stories”, but according to her daughter’s memoir, this was not always the case for Ms. Munro was continually frustrated by her inability to carve out work time. Consequently, she experienced panic attacks and was prescribed tranquilizers. Despite her health issues, it was the writing she undertook while living in North Vancouver and later the West Vancouver neighbourhood of Dundarave that formed

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Later the narrator, in that same story, alludes to the city’s notoriously wet weather while fantasizing about being with a man she had met at that same gathering: “The dream was in fact a lot like the Vancouver weather — a dismal sort of longing, a rainy dreamy sadness, a weight that shifted round the heart.” In 1963, Jim and Alice Munro and their children boarded the ferry bound for

The clouds broke apart in the west over the sea to show the red streaks of the sun’s setting...

her first published collection titled Dance of the Happy Shades which went on to win the Governor General’s Award in 1968. Vancouver is a familiar backdrop in Ms. Munro’s later work as well. In The Love of a Good Woman published a decade later, the story Cortes Island has the narrator (Little Bride) commenting on the winter weather as she walks home from her apartment by way of the park after a day spent looking for work. “The clouds broke apart in the west over the sea to show the red streaks of the sun’s setting and in the park, through which I circled home, the leaves of the winter shrubs glistened in the damp air of a faintly rosy twilight.” In the story To Reach Japan from Munro’s most recent volume Dear Life (2012), the central character takes a bus trip through Vancouver, the route of which one can trace today. The central character (a mother/ poet), is on her way to a party on the

Vancouver Island, and there in the provincial capital of Victoria, they opened “Canada’s most magnificent bookstore”. Munro’s Books still operates today (although it is now at a different location) and is a must-see for visitors when in Victoria. The Munros divorced in 1972 and the writer remarried Gerald Fremlin in 1976, a cartographer and geographer. The couple lived in Clinton, ON but also maintained a home in Comox, BC and were together until Mr. Fremlin’s death in April 2013. THE MASTER While she may not have won the Nobel Prize for medicine as the Toronto Star suggested, on October 10, 2013, she did, however, become the first Canadian woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, a prize which ushered her into an elite club of writers including such heavyweights as Ernest Hemingway, TS Eliot, Hermann Hesse, John Steinbeck, Gabriel García Márquez, and Toni Morrison.

ABOVE: Mrs. Jenny Munro receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature on behalf of her mother Alice Munro at the Stockholm Concert Hall, December 10, 2013. Copyright © Nobel Media AB 2013. Photo: Alex Ljungdahl.

In the awarding of this prestigious prize, the Nobel committee described Ms. Munro as the "master of the contemporary short story". On the surface, her stories seem to be about average people and domestic details of little importance, but the skill of her writing is such that she fully exposes the inner world of her central characters (particularly the women) and in so doing, captures all the frailties of being human. It is these combined abilities that create stories that resonate with every reader, regardless of background.

they are men or women or children. I want people to find not so much inspiration as great enjoyment. That's what I want: I want people to enjoy my books, to think of them as related to their own lives.”

for decades, one of our most important writers, one whose work represents all the most essential and pleasurable aspects of literature and which reminds us of what great literature is.”

Alice Munro is Canada’s literary treasure. As the Globe and Mail newspaper so succinctly put it: “She is, and has been

In the night sky that is Canada’s literary field, Munro’s star shines bright indeed. •

When Ms. Munro was announced as the recipient of the Nobel Prize, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy Peter Englund had this to say: "Alice Munro portrays with almost anthropological precision a recognizable, tranquil, everyday world with predictable, external accoutrements… This flat, Canadian, agricultural landscape, with its broad rivers and seemingly bland, small towns is where most of her short stories unfold. But the serenity and simplicity are deceptive in every way." In an interview following this occasion, which took place at her daughter’s home on Vancouver Island, Ms. Munro said, “I want my stories to move people. I don't care if

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Feature

Ice, Ice, Baby How sampling transformed music in the 20th century

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AUTHOR PAT LOK

hat do the Beatles, Daft Punk, and Vanilla Ice have in common? While that sounds like the beginning of a joke, the connecting theme between these musical icons has played a fundamental role in the evolution of music for almost a century. This practice is known as sampling, defined by the Oxford Dictionary as: “the technique of digitally encoding music or sound and reusing it as part of a composition or recording”. When you hear a song on the radio with a familiar guitar riff or vocal hook of your favourite song – that’s sampling at work. But where, when, and how did this technique become so popular?

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This meant the same piece would never sound exactly the same way no matter how many times it was performed – truly an artistic statement.

The concept of repurposing pre-recorded sound has existed since the 1920s as modernist composers began utilizing new technology to push the traditional boundaries of music. In 1924, Ottorino Respighi, an Italian composer, used recordings of nightingale chirps in the third movement of his orchestral symphony, Pini di Roma (Pines of Rome). Around the same time, composers Darius Milhaud and Stefan Wolpe began experimenting with changing the speeds of simultaneously playing phonographs. While Milhaud dabbled with transforming human voices in unison, Wolpe turned entire compositions on their heads. For example, playing Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony on eight phonographs at different speeds at a Dada concert. Turntablist: one who uses the turntable in the spirit of a musical instrument In 1939, experimental American composer John Cage wrote Imaginary Landscape No. 1 a piece that required recorded frequencies to be played on two phonographs at different speeds. These records played a single continuous tone, similar to what one would hear upon picking up a telephone or the sound you might hear on a late night TV broadcast upon a program’s conclusion. By changing the speeds these records were played at, different notes would be heard — faster

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rhythm sections of funk records live on two turntables to create extended dance tracks – a technique that proved extremely popular with their crowds. The sections they borrowed from were instrumentals known as breaks (which led to breakdancing), allowing other more vocally inclined participants or MCs to rap over them. A new genre was born: hip hop music. In 1979, The Sugarhill Gang’s Rapper's Delight pilfered (technically interpolating or replaying) the bassline from Chic’s Good Times, providing the genre with its first mainstream hit as well perhaps the most widely cited source of early sampling.

speeds for higher notes and slower speeds for lower ones. These compositions also formed the basis of what would later become ‘turntablism’, a musical art form where DJs scratch records to transform pitch and sound, creating new phrases, rhythms, and melodies. Entirely self-aware of his legacy as a pioneer, Cage continued to pursue his goal of producing “hitherto unheard of or unimagined sounds”. In 1952, the American composer’s Imaginary Landscape No. 5 included audio recorded on magnetic tape as well as including snippets of 42 records to be played at specific times for specific lengths, yet selected completely at random by the performer. Notably, this meant the same piece would never sound exactly the same way no matter how many times it was performed – truly an artistic statement.

literally chopping and re-splicing the physical medium upon which it was recorded, creating richer, layered soundscapes and introducing the use of loops. Rockers such as Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles used these techniques generously on their respective albums. One classic example of rudimentary sampling occurred on The Beatles’ 1966 hit Yellow Submarine – the horn section immediately preceding the second chorus is actually from a 1906 French piece called Le Rêve Passe. In the studio, their audio engineer slowed down and chopped up the brass section to provide a sense of grandeur to the arrangement. Other Beatles' songs contain samples from a variety of sources ranging from Johann Sebastian Bach to Elvis Presley.

Loop: a small section of sound repeated continuously (often 1-4 bars in length)

Break: an instrumental or percussion section during a song, often sampled as rhythmic loops in hip hop

As recording techniques shifted to magnetic tape in the 1960s, sampling became less esoteric. Adventurous musicians at the forefront of psychedelic rock began to manipulate sound by

Throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s, the fundamental groundwork would be laid for sampling as it is known today. At street parties in the Bronx borough of New York City, DJs looped

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The source material used by early DJs and producers typically pulled from 1960s/early 1970s funk and soul. Over the years, some of these staple records would be sampled over and over again in new creations. One of the most sampled songs of all time, James Brown’s production with Lyn Collins, Think, provided the inspiration for artists ranging from De La Soul to Janet Jackson. This record is most recognizable now for its “Yeah! Woo!” section as popularized on Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock’s 1988 hit It Takes Two - a song equally at home on the street as it is in wedding playlists. Sampler: an electronic music instrument used to modify and manipulate small sections of audio recordings Around the same time that DJs began cutting up breaks, two Australians named Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie were spending the better part of a decade developing a digital synthesizer. In 1979, after initial difficulties, they demonstrated their new creation the Fairlight CMI (Computer Musical Instrument), which would prove revolutionary in the world of sampling. The machine’s ability to record and then manipulate audio in a matter of seconds was neither a small nor cheap feat, costing about $60,000 per unit, in today’s dollars. However, its capabilities quickly grabbed the attention of a few individuals, including Peter Gabriel, who used it to record Shock The Monkey (there is a remarkable online video of a young Gabriel recording his voice into the machine, saying “Hello” and promptly

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These first 'drum machines' would become staples in hip hop music for the better part of two decades – practically until the turn of the millennium.

replaying the vocal into a melody). Other forward-looking musicians quickly took to the Fairlight, such as Duran Duran, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Kate Bush — whose 1980 record Never for Ever was the first album to feature it commercially.

That same year, MC Hammer’s U Can’t Touch This climbed the pop charts, basing on the opening riff from Rick James’ Super Freak. Likewise, James sued Hammer, settling out of court for co-writing credit (and a share in all profits).

from Black Sabbath, Guns N' Roses, and later Tom Petty.

With the popularity of samplers (and sampling) increasing throughout the 1980s, other companies scrambled to create more affordable knockoffs — paving the way for competitors such as the E-mu SP-1200 and the Akai MPC series, which allowed the producer to ‘sequence’ the beats in order and create the drum loops which made up a song’s backbone. These first ‘drum machines’ would become staples in hip hop music for the better part of two decades — practically until the turn of the millennium.

In the 1990s, sampling became ubiquitous on Billboard’s radio charts, with mixed legal outcomes. In 1995, Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise featured cleared samples from Stevie Wonder’s Pastime Paradise, while Mariah Carey had permission to sample Tom Tom Club’s Genius of Love on her hit Fantasy. Wu-Tang Clan became known for their signature samples of classic movie dialogue. On the Rock ‘n’ Roll side of things, the Red Hot Chili Peppers kept busy sampling and “borrowing” riffs

Not clearing samples was an increasingly risky proposition for artists; in 1997, The Verve was successfully sued by The Rolling Stones for copyright infringement on their hit Bitter Sweet Symphony and ended up losing 100 per cent of publishing royalties. Likewise, Puff Daddy’s farewell ode to The Notorious B.I.G. I’ll Be Missing You featured unapproved samples of Sting’s Every Breath You Take. By neglecting to first ask permission (a typical agreement at the time was a 25% cut), Puff Daddy

Trainspot: the act of identifying a record or the original sample source upon hearing it

Remix: a varied rendition derivative of a musical recording, typically including sections of the source material As artists such as the Beastie Boys and EPMD rose to prominence on the backs of hits that were sampled, a new pitfall opened: the question of copyright infringement. Several of hip hop’s rising stars faced lawsuits from the original artists whose material they had directly copied. The musical dependency of hip hop’s backing beats on samples meant it would legally become necessary to ‘clear’ (pay for the use of) the sounds they borrowed. One of the first famous disputes over sample clearance was Vanilla Ice’s 1990 breakout single, Ice Ice Baby. The song poached its entire bassline from Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure without credit. After the song became a hit, Queen took legal action and eventually settled the case out of court for a hefty (undisclosed) sum, including Freddie Mercury and David Bowie being awarded songwriting credits on the song.

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also lost all publishing royalties. As costly as these decisions proved to be for the artists, these records remain certified hits, regardless of whose pockets the royalties ended up in. Even Michael Jackson, arguably the most recognizable musical icon of the 20th century and one of the most sampled artists of all time, was no exception to borrowing a melody or an idea. According to Hall & Oates, he admitted the bassline to his biggest hit Billie Jean had evolved from the bass riff from their single I Can’t Go For That. In another case, the chanted hook from You Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin' is not sampled, yet adapted from the hook of an 1972 disco record Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango (Will Smith’s Gettin' Jiggy Wit It would also borrow this hook, over a decade later). The rapid evolution of technology through the early 1990s meant that sampling became more affordable and accessible than ever, again transforming how music was made. Artists such as The Prodigy, Björk, and Portishead weaved samples into their live performances amongst electronic beats, and these new techniques became the entire basis of exciting new subgenres, such as rave, jungle, and house music. Daft Punk would become superstars off the strength of their chopped, looped, and layered samples backed by thumping drum machine-sequenced beats. Bootleg: an unofficial or “illegal” remix of an existing work – typically distributed for free to avoid litigation Over the past decade, sampling evolved yet again to perhaps its most brazen and obvious form: the mash-up, where two or more songs are combined in their entirety. In 2004 producer Danger Mouse’s The Grey Album layered an entire Jay-Z record’s worth of raps over instrumental cuts from The Beatles, garnering kudos from both parties, yet prompting a legal backlash from major label EMI. This only served to

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Over the past decade, sampling evolved yet again to perhaps its most brazen and obvious form: the mash-up

shed more light on an emerging trend; in more recent years, DJ and producer Girl Talk has manufactured an entire career’s worth of stadium tours off the popularity of his mash-ups, each layering dozens of recognizable samples and hooks together into a cohesive work. In interviews, Girl Talk rationalizes the legally delicate situation looming over each piece of music he releases, citing ‘fair use’ (under the United States’ 1976 Copyright Act) – an argument that has yet to be tested in court. According to one legal interpretation, Girl Talk’s music is based on so many tiny samples or ‘microsamples’ they constitute an entirely new work and theoretically could not affect the original artist’s potential sales. While direct sampling is no longer as prevalent on radio as during its glory days, due to the threat of litigation, its influences on popular music today remain undeniable. In March 2015, Robin Thicke and Pharrell lost their legal battle against Marvin Gaye’s estate for alleged copyright infringement of Gaye’s 1977

single Got To Give It Up on their song Blurred Lines — arguably the biggest song of 2013. Baauer’s Harlem Shake, a club hit produced in a bedroom studio before becoming one of YouTube’s most viral phenomena, ran into its own speed bumps over uncleared sampling after the video had been viewed hundreds of millions of times around the world. With music technology’s shift from hardware to software, it has never before been easier for music makers to sample and manipulate audio. As new digital tools continue to find their way into the hands of burgeoning creators and oncerare music is now only seconds away online, this art form shows no signs of slowing down. Rather, producers today embrace sampling everything from a Justin Timberlake chorus to obscure Latin records to random YouTube videos. So the next time you hear your favourite song (old or new), take a moment to ask yourself – where have I heard this before? •

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Cars

Editorial: Drive My Car

AUTHOR SALIM KASSAM

hat do the Olympics, gold inlaid engine bays, and Cambridge educated data scientists have in common? The answer is McLaren industries. This is the company responsible for the iconic F1 hypercar of the 90s, consulting with the UK Olympic team to optimize training, and, now creating some of the most usable hypercars ever made. Recently, I had the chance to admire and experience their McLaren 12C convertible. Upon start up, the metallic white McLaren 12C convertible sounds like the perfect mix between a sport bike, a fighter jet, and a harmonic cutting tool. The stats of this technomarvel read as follows: • • • • • •

Carbon fibre composite chassis 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo engine Seven-speed seamless shift dualclutch gearbox Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive Hinged scissor doors Formula One sourced technologies such as "brake steer"

One of the first things I noticed about the interior was that the heater controls are on the door sills. This actually makes sense: It’s where the window opens, so why not put the other HVAC items there? I am sure this is something a data scientist modeled and argued with an ergonomist until they felt they had an argument strong enough to take to the design team. They then probably had a cup of tea, and made it happen.

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And then there is the driving experience… It’s extremely easy to drive which might actually be an understatement. The only thing I was not overly impressed by were the ceramic brakes when cold. When they warm up, they are absolutely insane, but cold, I don't like them, and I caught myself creeping forward a couple of times at stop lights. Ceramics are standard on this car, but you can get steel brakes as an option. In all honesty, for my use, I would purchase the car with steel brakes and replace them as needed. With all of the safety nets off, this car is like a weapon, built to win the war

on traffic lights and sensibility. The torque band on this car flips into peak horsepower in a pretty spectacular way. The gearboxes blip on the way down making the McLaren cackle like a banshee chasing you on a late night drive. I parked the car at The Sutton Place Hotel next to a Mercedes SL63 and a few cars the Top Gear UK guys were using for an upcoming episode being filmed in BC. Every single person looked at the McLaren – guests, staff, even some of the show’s crew. Everyone likes the McLaren because it is simply good looking which is different than supercar good looking. It is beautiful from all angles. •

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Cars

Editorial: Is it fast enough so you can fly away? Those were the days. There were no sound restrictions on race cars, and the tracks were carved out of mountain sides. The drivers were playboys who smoked Marlboros and drank whatever they pleased. They were fearless men that were given no rules. They drove by the seat of their pants, and often died. Ernest Hemingway even said there were only three kinds of true sports: bull fighting, downhill skiing, and car racing. Â Fast forward to the 90s. Everything about the sport of motor racing softened because of safety regulations and society in general. Everything, that is, except the passion of the men and women who, like myself, had a desire to race and push cars to their limits.

AUTHOR SIMON PARKER

aving grown up at racetracks across Canada, I feel passionate about driving cars and the innovations that come with it. Both of my uncles raced everything they could get their hands on, and the rest of the family was always in attendance. My mom used to tell me that I slept better as an infant at the racetrack with engines billowing in the distance.

BON VIVANT

I have been driving professionally for various automotive manufacturers since 2002. Since then, I have had the opportunity to test, instruct, and critique most modern day cars. Luckily enough, I have even had the chance to drive some of my dream cars. If I am driving a vintage race car, such as a Datsun 510 or Alpha Romeo, I want a manual shift. I want to be in full control. But if I am in a state of the art 2015 supercar, I want everything technology has to offer; this is because as supercars evolve, it gets harder and harder to differentiate their pros and cons on the track.

Recently, I had the pleasure of driving McLarenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first attempt at a somewhat mass produced supercar, the 12C, and I was impressed beyond belief. My only issue with the 12C was the under steering (not turning into the corner when I asked it too). But in all reality, not many people who actually buy these cars will ever push them to the limits where they will notice that. In fact, to the average person, the 12C may seem as though the 650S merely had a facelift, which is far from the truth. The 12C is faster and more aerodynamic, boasting 40% more downforce. The suspension has been stiffened 22% in front and 37% in the rear. Even with the stiffened spring rates, they were able to obtain a softer ride in the city by slightly changing where they positioned certain suspension parts. This I, definitely, felt while driving the car through the bumpy streets of Vancouver. When I turned off all of the driver assist modes and switched to track mode, a true beast came to life. The 12C turned in with noticeably more response than its predecessor. When the systems are turned off (which I would NOT recommend), it is basically a GT racecar without a roll cage. With the proper sports modes left on, I would say the 12C just may be my pick of the litter as far as track cars go because you can go to dinner with your loved one in absolute comfort and still feel like a true driver. â&#x20AC;˘

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When I turned off all of the driver assist modes and switched to track mode, a true beast came to life.

SPRING/SUMMER 2015

BON VIVANT