September 2017 | Urbanicity Hamilton

september 2 0 1 7 / T H E M U S I C I SS U E

HAMILTON'S MUST VISIT VENUES

THE RAISED VOICES OF A RISING CITY

THE YOUTH IN ASIA

A CONVERSATION WITH DESIGNER WALTER PICK

How Hamilton Youth Poets are creating an open dialogue

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DISCOVER 4 OF HAMILTON'S MUST VISIT MUSIC VENUES

Creating a soundtrack to accompany history

C O M P L I M E N TA R Y

BRANDING A MUSIC CITY

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ADRIAN MEKLI

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U RB A N I C I T Y . C A

A letter From P U B L I S H ER + E D I T O R ANDREA FERNANDES andrea@urbanicity.ca L AYO UT & D ESI G N Tafari Anthony COV ER B Y Tafari Anthony D I STR I B U T I O N urbanicity Magazine

urbanicity Magazine is wholly owned and published by urbanicity Magazine.

All content copyright © 2017 and all rights to distribution are reserved by urbanicity Magazine.

As a forum for ideas, issues, and experiences, the views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Publisher, Editor, other contributors, advertisers or distributors unless otherwise stated.

D I STR I B U T I O N 40,000+ readers per month.

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(289) 796.0931 A D V ERT I S I N G I N Q U I RES andrea@urbanicity.ca www.urbanicity.ca

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In this issue, music takes centre stage. And rightfully so as September is the time of year when three significant cultural events help us to celebrate all things music in Hamilton – Supercrawl, the Locke Street Festival and Festitalia.

The city of Hamilton’s music strategy and the team of volunteers seeing it through to fruition – the Music Industry Working Committee – have been busy working with the music community for the past three years. They’ve been conducting research and holding public engagement sessions, workshops, interviews, focus groups and online surveys to get as much input as possible. And many of their accomplishments are truly “firsts” for any music city.

The team worked with live venue owners and managers to create the Live Music Venue Alliance, comprised of club owners/ managers who work together to strengthen Hamilton’s live music scene. A new microloan program for musicians has been developed with FirstOntario Credit Union and is being announced this month. And most significant in terms of bringing Hamilton’s music scene to the world is the new cityofmusic.ca website that was launched in August.

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jeffrey c. martin

The website was created to not only showcase Hamilton’s diverse and eclectic music scene, but also to provide a single information source for music events happening in Hamilton whether a concert, festival, club show, music education program or workshop, or any other music-related happening.

More than 20 music playlists by genre feature local Hamilton musicians, bands and ensembles – from blues, rock, folk, and hip hop to singer-songwriters, orchestras and choirs. The result is nothing less than phenomenal to see so much talent calling The Hammer home. Stream away everyone. And finally, the website includes a music industry directory that we hope will reflect the size and breadth of the city’s music industry as more artists and businesses sign up.

The Hamilton cityofmusic.ca brand has a dual purpose. First, it reflects the vibrancy and diversity of the music scene that has evolved in Hamilton over many decades.

This first phase of creating a music brand was founded on input from musicians, studio owners, promoters, music shop owners, and many more.

And now that we have our “graphic symbolism” in place, the next task is to identify and confirm the “values and principles” that will support this brand – ones that are

relevant to and embraced by the music community itself. Meaning for example, that live music venues will consider what it means to have high performance standards, not only just regarding technical sound production, but also with regard to paying musicians as “business partners.” Because without the musicians, there is no music business.

The bottom line: Hamilton is indeed a music city and has been for most of its existence.

Music thrives in Hamilton. Music matters in Hamilton. We know it and so many others across Canada know it too.

Bob Mersereau, music columnist and longtime arts reporter for CBC, summed up The Hammer best when he was writing his book, The Top 100 Canadian Albums.

“Some names come up again and again, in the most surprising places. None of his albums received enough votes to qualify for the Top 100, but Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins is all through the book. Daniel Lanois and his brother Bob have almost as many mentions as Hawkins. The city of Hamilton emerges as a hotbed of Canadian music.”

Let’s celebrate all things music in Hamilton.

Jeffrey C. Martin

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SEPTEMBER 2017 / THE MUSIC ISSUE

IDEAS

4 Of Hamilton’s Must Visit Music Venues The music town and a few of the independent venues that support it Every city in the world has a local music scene, but not every city would self-identify as a “music town”. Hamilton does, however, for a variety of reasons. While I hosted urbanicityTV on Cable 14, I made a habit of asking every musical guest that came on the show whether or not they believed Hamilton to be a music town. The unanimous response was that it is. The musicians I asked didn’t simply answer in the affirmative because this city is their home, but rather they explained their rationale. Many referenced the long history the city has of producing big acts.

Others talked about the many excellent recording facilities in town. Nearly every single one, however, spoke glowingly of Hamilton’s live music scene and the many venues that support it.

This city does have a wealth of great venues ranging from 8-seat storefronts to the 18,000-seat FirstOntario Centre. The artists that play in them run the gamut, from local high school rockers to global acts like Bruce Springsteen and U2. The largest venues attract the greatest publicity, but Hamilton couldn’t be a “music town” without the many small, independent venues that make the scene so vibrant. While there are literally hundreds of fantastic spots we could mention, here are a few spots that I’d suggest a visit to.

T he L egendar y C orktown P ub 175 Young Street @thecorktown

A rustic old pub with a great live stage and a rich history Claiming the title of Hamilton’s oldest licensed music venue, the Corktown Pub started out as Sullivan’s, an Irish grocery store serving the neighbourhood it is now named after. In its years as a live music venue, the Corktown has played host to a wide variety of notable names including the Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Big Sugar, the Arkells and Tom Cochrane. If you’re into foot-stomping east coast music, pop in for one of Hamilton’s best music series: The East Coast Kitchen Party every Friday at 6:30 PM.

225 Locke Street South @mattsonandco

mattsonandco.ca

An elegant restaurant and lounge serving up live jazz and local cuisine with a contemporary flare Mattson & Co. offers an upscale but accessible setting paired with a delicious menu. Every Friday and Saturday evening, live jazz acts like Tiff And The Two Fives, Bonnie Hamilton, and Alfie Smith take to the stage. Enjoy the bar, dining room, patio, or even the semiprivate, all-glass solarium!

Point of interest: Before becoming a thriving restaurant, the Mattson & Co. building was home to a communications agency.

Perfect for: A romantic date night with dinner and jazz, followed by wine on the elevated patio.

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Photo by Greg Gaines

Point of interest: The pub hosted Jeff Healey’s final show only one month prior to his death in 2008.

Perfect for: A hearty meal, a few pints, and a long night of music with a crowd of friends.

Photo provided by mattson & co.

T his A in ’ t H oll y wood 345 James Street North @thesainttweets

M attson & C o .

@corktownpub

corktownpub.ca

@this_aint_hollywood

thisainthollywood.ca

A non-pretentious live music venue focusing on a variety of musical genres “The Saint” as it’s affectionately called, is one of Hamilton’s best known music halls. Located at the corner of Murray Street and James Street North, the Saint is a dedicated live venue. According to owner Lou Molinaro, the venue seeks to nurture young talent and to give music fans the opportunity to enjoy high-profile acts in a smaller more intimate setting.

Perfect for: A kick-ass night of local talent paired with a PBR. Memorable shows: The Arkells Family Day show, two Johnny Winter shows, Blue Coupe (featuring members of Blue Oyster Cult and The Alice Cooper Group), Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, The Frankie Venom Tribute, Monster Truck Xmas party show and the Dirty Nil record release for their Higher Power record.

Photo provided by corktown pub

Z y las M usic + M enu 299 James Street North @zylasonjames

zylas.ca

An intimate venue that features local musicians and artists while providing home cooked Italian food

Photo provided by zylas

Owned and operated by Nick Zyla and Cat Coppolino this little storefront venue is often referred to as their "living room". The space is intimate, often candle-lit, and plays home to everything from jazz to fun jam sessions and even comedy shows.

Perfect for: A chill night out with or without a friend (you’ll likely make a new one there!)

Point of interest: There is a performance or open stage every single night Zyla’s is open, but never a cover charge.

By martinus Geleynse

Martinus Geleynse is the former editor and founding publisher of urbanicity Magazine.

He currently operates Make Media, a creative agency located in Downtown Hamilton. @ martinus_g

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EXPERIENCES

Calling The Tune: Music Matters An interview with 5 key Hamilton luminaries

Beyond a pleasant audio experience or backdrop to some other activity, music has a profound impact on our lives. In one form or another, these Hamilton luminaries have devoted at least a portion of their lives to music. In one way or another, each embodies the idea that music matters.

These folks are helping us understand why music is so universally important to the world and to our community.

From top, left to right: Rachael Finnerty is music therapist who consults, teaches and offers music therapy in a number of modes, including Empower (a therapy and workshop provider), as program consultant to Fletcher & Associates Inc. Skills Link Program, and as an educational consultant for An Instrument for Every Child program. In addition, she offers professional development with a music therapy perspective through the Ontario Music Therapy Academy.

Mark Furukawa and his music store, Dr. Disc, have become fairly synonymous with the Hamilton music scene in the 26 years since he founded the downtown business in 1991. One of the hallmarks of Dr. Disc has always been vinyl records. The resurgence in popularity of record albums has been a popular headline recently, but for Mark and Dr. Disc, records have been and will always be a part of the store’s DNA. Astrid Hepner is the CEO and founder of the Hamilton Music Collective, and the developer, program director and instructor for the An Instrument for Every Child program. AIFEC’s goals are empowerment and accessibility and to enable all children to experience the joy and benefits of playing music, regardless of their socio-economic position. Originally a professional saxophonist and educator from Cologne, Germany, Astrid has performed with Latin music legends Tito Puente and Celia Cruz and regularly performed at New York City clubs. As a record executive she worked with world-class artists including Norah Jones, Sir Simon Rattle, Anita Baker, Keith Jarrett, Wynton Marsalis and Al Green at major record companies in NYC.

Antonella Giancarlo is the Manager of Partnerships & Communication with the Hamilton Public Library, with experience working and volunteering in both the public and private sectors.

Kurt Muller is the Associate Dean of Media and Entertainment at Mohawk College, and has many programs under his supervision, including music. Before assuming his current role, Kurt was the coordinator of Mohawk College’s Journalism program.

Q: What is your connection to music, in life or professionally?

MF: In my life, music has been most of my influence. I was searching for myself - music helped. It was a way to connect socially, and was crucial to identify, belonging, and making friends. I was one of the only four Asian students in my Barrie high school. Music helped me embrace my differences and the music of that time - the 1980s - told me it was okay to be different..

AH: Music has been a constant running thread through my entire life. I was immersed in music; the creation of it, the performing of it and the marketing of it. This diverse career path as a performer, educator and music executive has become the foundation for my most recent venture in Hamilton, the Hamilton Music Collective and its ‘An Instrument for Every Child’ program.

AG: Everyone curates their own unique soundtrack to life. My musical tastes are wide ranging and depend on my mood or environment. There’s something truly special about listening to a song that can evoke specific memories or transport you back to a certain time in your life. Part of my role at the library is working as part of a larger team to support our “Music Lives Here” strategy. I’m so proud of all the amazing (and free!) services and programs that we provide to the community.

Q: Why does music matter?

By JANE ALLISON

Jane Allison is an award-winning community advocate and communications professional. She has just launched Dovetail Community, a firm devoted to counselling, connecting and mentoring organizations about community impact and development. @ janeallison24

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rf: When you are engaged in music, it’s the only thing that engages your whole brain through the limbic system. Movement, unconscious synchronizing breathing and blood pressure, cognition, language if there are lyrics, singing. It motivates. For these reasons in healthcare, it gives us the greatest chance to interface with the healthiest part of the brain.

AG: Music is such a powerful communication tool; it can say so much without saying anything at all. It gives people an outlet to communicate and connect, no matter their social or cultural background. Music is so important for development – songs are a natural way for children (and even adults for that matter) to learn about language. km: I think music is part of what it means to be human. Every culture has music, and it allows people to unite, to express themselves, and collaborate in ways that just aren’t possible with any other medium.

Q: In your experience, what impacts have you seen from your exposure to music? rf: Those people on the autistic spectrum find making live music very helpful. When you are creating music with someone, you have a listen/response dynamic - a conversation through music. This translates into social skills and transcends music. mf: Everyone who works at Dr. Disc is a music lover and we respect music in all of its forms. I’ve seen the power of the store impact people’s lives. A woman came in looking for the ‘Colonel Bogey March’ from WW1, for her dying father. This was before the Internet. All he wanted was to hear that song again. We imported it from Europe and got it in time for her. We were able to grant his last wish. ah: An important component of the ‘An Instrument for Every Child’ program is the introduction to a variety of musical instruments before our students get to pick their own instrument. Once our students move beyond the stage of exposure and actually start playing an instrument on their own, the impact that music has on their lives reaches a whole new level. The self-confidence and self-esteem that results from learning to play a musical

instrument and being able to perform in front of their peers and families is remarkable and always a very emotional experience for our team of instructors. ag: Music can break down barriers in a way that nothing else can. Part of the library’s music strategy is to make our music collections, programs and services accessible to everyone. Whether its young children singing and clapping at a story time program, or a group of concertgoers rocking out at one of our live and in-the-round concerts, it’s so rewarding to be part of that shared experience. km: The main positive impact I regularly see from music is the satisfaction and joy I see in the students and faculty from being able to follow their passion for creating and performing.

Coda...

For those who have music as such a vocation, you’d think that time off would mean peace and quiet. You’d be wrong. It seems that passion for music carries over into all aspects of life. Here are a few desert island discs selected by our panel. rf: Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler); Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Carnes); Confident (Demi Lovato) mf: Soul Mining (the THE); Unknown Pleasures (Joy Division); London Calling (The Clash) ah: Nightfly (Donald Fagen); Kind of Blue (Miles Davis); The Adagietto of Mahler’s 5th ag: Little Hell (City and Colour); Daydream (Mariah Carey); Gabriel & Dresden (self-titled) km: Paul Simon, Rythm of the Saints (Paul Simon); Rubber Soul (The Beatles); Greatest Hits (Bob Marley)

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SEPTEMBER 2017 / THE MUSIC ISSUE

E xperiences

The Raised Voices Of A Rising City How Hamilton Youth Poets are creating an open dialogue in our city

H

amilton Youth Poets (HYP) is an arts organization that engages Hamilton youth in the act of telling their stories through spoken word. The group is led and organized by Artistic Director Nea Reid and supported by Core Teaching Artists who are workshop leaders, mentors, and poets themselves. The local youth that participate in the programming range from middle school through to post-secondary, varying in skill levels, and across all Wards in the city. HYP has seen a rising success of community engagement, regularly reaching capacity and engaging over 3,600 local youth in 2017 so far.

The organization hosts a variety of youth-led workshops and programs that take place at The Spice Factory, as well as smaller art venues across the city. Every four weeks they host a slam, where youth compete by reading their poetry on stage in front of a captive local audience. Before the slam begins, the youth have the chance to be mentored by some of the country’s most successful, well-established poets.

I discovered HYP about three years ago when I was completing my Multimedia thesis in my final year at McMaster. We were to research a traditional form of multimedia and execute it on a topic we desired. I chose to explore the way of the documentarian and took a deep dive into slam poetry, particularly as it relates to personal identity.

What I found was that there is a rich spoken word and slam culture in our city. HYP has developed a perfect platform for youth to have civil discourse, idea exchange and debate in an open space. And ultimately, it has helped to create confident youth who feel empowered to speak their minds freely and openly about issues taking place across the world and in their own world.

“We believe in putting the art, culture, and tools of the telling of stories into the hands of youth citizens,” says Reid.

“When our young people can tell and re-tell their histories in context of public platforms, they are able to imagine and re-imagine their individual and collective identities and become culturally grounded in their own experiences.”

Beyond the in-house and off-site programming, HYP has successfully organized and implemented artist residencies in schools across the city. Each

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Photos provided by hamilton youth poets

year, eight middle schools and 16 high schools participate in Young Poetics, an initiative that gives students the opportunity to think critically and practice hyper-literacy by writing about world topics and city issues.

“We encourage youth to talk about where they are from, what it’s like to grow up in their neighbourhoods, who their neighbours are,” Reid continues.

“Basically, to tell the story that’s right at the tip of their nose. That’s the story that’s happening to them and the one they can be honest about. These are the stories that people don’t necessarily understand [that] young people are observing or are prolific about.”

Reid says she is proud to know HYP’s efforts are decreasing high school dropout rates, while increasing literacy and positive mental health. Simply by being encouraged to be active participants in their city, youth are developing transferable skills that make them adept at being leaders in their communities,

and providing the confidence to take on the next stages in their lives.

I have recently learned that the five Core Teaching Artists I profiled in my documentary are now off doing amazing things in our city. They have all graduated from post-secondary as well as the HYP Core program, and are now pursuing careers in Human Resources; recording and producing their own EPs; completing their Master’s in Medicine; leading the McMaster Students Union.

I concluded in my documentary that Hamilton is very fortunate to have HYP. By establishing this concrete foundation for youth to tell stories about their lived experiences, the result is a renewed sense of love, understanding, and empathy for our diverse community – ultimately creating a more inclusive, vibrant city.

I was so moved to watch youth connect in our city, with each other, and with themselves. Their performances

– raw, but crafted so brilliantly – are the expressions of youth from all walks of life here in Hamilton. You will feel an energy and passion in the room like no other. Their words will send chills down your spine. If you’ve ever attended a HYP slam, or get a chance to do so in the future, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

To view my documentary please visit: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=eEigUMLNKrk

By Cassandra D'Ambrosio

Cassandra is a born and raised Hamiltonian.

She manages advertising campaigns as an Account Executive at Jan Kelley, and runs the marketing communications as PR Chair for Hamilton HIVE. When she’s not at a rap show, she's singing the praises of HamOnt.

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Q uestion & answer

Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Contributing to Hamilton’s revitalization through enriching musical experiences Q: What is the HPO? DW: The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra is Hamilton’s professional symphony. As a not-for-profit, charitable organization, our mission is to enrich the community through enriching orchestral experiences. Full orchestra, mainstage concerts at FirstOntario Concert Hall (formerly Hamilton Place), happy hour events at local bars, and Family Concert Experiences are just a few of the programs we offer for diverse demographics across our region.

Q: How did the HPO come to be?

An interview with Executive Director, Diana Weir

The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra is a staple part of our community and has grown to become one of Canada’s major professional orchestras. In honour of urbanicity’s music issue, we thought it important to sit down and chat with Executive Director, Diana Weir about the HPO and what it means to the current revitalization of Hamilton.

DW: The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1884 as The Hamilton Orchestral Society and grew to become one of Canada’s major professional orchestras. Since its opening in 1973, the Great Hall at FirstOntario Concert Hall has been the home of the HPO. Today, the HPO is a leader in Hamilton’s robust arts community where it provides professional orchestral services and music education programs to address the needs of the community. As one of the region’s anchor arts institutions, the HPO continues to commission and premiere works

by Canadian and international artists, contributing to the cultural fabric of our region.

Q: What training do the musicians go through to become part of the HPO? DW: As a professional symphony orchestra, our musicians are highly trained, unionized professionals who go through a rigorous audition process to become a member of the HPO. Most of our musicians have master’s degrees in performance and all of them are full-time professional musicians. You can often spot our musicians playing in professional orchestras across the province, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Canadian Opera Company and National Ballet of Canada.

Q: What are some of the main events you are offering this season? Is there a particular concert that you are looking forward to or that you would recommend people to come and see?

DW: I’m excited by all of our programs, but I’m also pretty biased. I always think our mainstage concerts are exciting, because it’s thrilling to see and hear so many musicians on stage, creating intense and emotive music.

Our Music Director Gemma New is an inspiring figure, and an exciting young leader for our orchestra and in our community. She loves Hamilton and all it has to offer (and is particularly

fond of the restaurants!). Our audience responds so positively to what she does on stage with our musicians, so I would say coming to check her out for any of our mainstage concerts at FirstOntario Concert Hall is a must. We also have our Indie Series collaboration with local band the Altobeelays in December, and our annual Happy Hour event at Shawn and Ed Brewery in Dundas in February. There’s a whole lot to experience at the HPO whether you’re 7, 27 or 77!

Q: Why is the HPO important to and for Hamilton?

DW: Hamilton is a wonderful place to live and work, with a fantastic sense of community and pride amongst its citizens. Part of creating a healthy and happy population includes offering stimulating and productive employment, affordable places to live, beautiful places to congregate and socialize, and memorable experiences to share with loved ones. The HPO contributes to creating a well-rounded city by offering enriching musical experiences through the orchestra. We believe Hamilton deserves a high-quality professional orchestra and that the contributions of our artists make Hamilton a more attractive place to live for current and prospective residents.

We know that image is a critical factor in a city’s economic success, and Hamilton depends, in part, on how residents and non-residents perceive its livability. The HPO helps draw positive public attention from the press and nonHamiltonians that contributes to the city’s images.

We also contribute directly to the downtown revitalization by providing a lively street atmosphere, safe evening activities and involvement of local young people. By contributing to a rich cultural environment, the HPO helps shape our urban landscape in a way that is vibrant and unique.

By Emily Kertcher

Photos provided by HPO

Emily Kertcher is a photographer and journalist. With a passion for Hamilton she seeks to visually capture the city and write about its experiences. emilykertcher.com

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SEPTEMBER 2017 / THE MUSIC ISSUE

experiences

Cracks Contain Legends How one musician creates beautiful music from broken sounds It’s not every day an artist says you probably won’t love their music the first time around.

But Brielle Goheen is more than just an artist - she’s a composer, a writer, a musician, and a visionary.

Her latest project, Calcedon, grew out of the desire to play aloud the complex, sometimes discordant music she heard in her head. As a classically trained pianist, violinist, vocalist, and freelance musician by trade, Brielle was accustomed to playing others’ compositions.

In 2015 she met Ian Koiter, a musician and producer, and as they talked about collaborating in the electronic genre, they realized the orchestrations they imagined could be brought to life.

“There are so many possibilities,” says Brielle, “you can make the production so big, but at the same time you’re able to execute it with only a few people.”

As their music began to take shape, Brielle and Ian set to work making the best album they could, with all the sounds, shapes, and layers they could create. The name Calcedon, a faulted vein that runs through a gemstone, was inspired by the concept of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold to make it stronger, more beautiful, and more valuable than before. “The music is a juxtaposition of beautiful elements and gritty, harsh elements,” explains Brielle. “Calcedon fit what the music was about - the interplay of light and dark, beauty and ugliness. “ Brielle continued this theme in the music video for her first single, Sparrow. The video, featuring Hamilton entrepreneur and lingerie designer Rosalie Loney, helps to visualize kintsugi. Directed by another local, David Schuurman, it illustrates both the literal pottery being repaired with gold, but also the protagonist as a statue repairing herself as a work of human kintsugi.

Continuing to bridge genres, Brielle commissioned Evan MacAlpine to create the album art for the debut, Echo In. A combination of Art Deco shapes and meaningful images, it is based on a sculpture by Francisco Salamone depicting the angel Michael looking both kind and stern, depending on the angle of the viewer. This cover further reflects Brielle’s intention for the

album’s intricate and obscure sound.

She says, “The album art is evocative of the sound of the music - layered and textured.”

The sound of Calcedon comes from Brielle’s appreciation of 20th century classical music - the love of new sounds and innovating, instead of simply using traditional sounds and structures. As she developed the record, she realized her favourite music is the kind she doesn’t always like initially, but as it plays more, each layer emerges.

Shostakovich is one of Brielle’s favourite classical composers because of his complex, yet immediately intriguing compositions. Calcedon is not pop music that’s easily digestible - it’s music that requires the audience to listen several times, and with each replay, understand it and appreciate more. “I’m creating music that appeals to the classical and electronic music fans,” says Brielle. “They’re used to having to chew through their music, instead of having it melt in their mouth.”

Photo by Adina Jarvine, edited by Amanda Montgomery

Brielle expects a lot of people may not initially enjoy the boundaries pushed on album. Her advice? “Listen to the album in the order it’s recorded, as it’s arranged from most accessible to most complex. Listen until you can’t anymore, turn it off, and then try again later.”

That said, the album has more than a few fans. Her CD release show was sold out, and Sparrow was featured on CBC’s 3 New Ontario Songs You Need to Hear This Week. Before Calcedon had ever performed live, Brielle was also awarded grants from both the Ontario Arts Council (based on artistic value) and FACTOR (based on an album’s marketability).

Photo by Amanda Montgomery

By stefani soliman

Stefani Soliman is a social media marketer and freelance editor. She's an avid supporter of local businesses, Canadian-made goods and fashion. Along with her love of dogs, punctuation, and the ‘90s, Stefani is a keen recycler and instrument collector. Tell her a corny joke and you’ll be friends for life.

Need more convincing?

Listen to Calcedon on iTunes, Amazon, BandCamp, Spotify, Sound Cloud, or her website at www.CalcedonMusic.com.

Find Brielle on social media, head to @calcedonmusic

Artwork by Evan MacAlpine

@ stefsoliman

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SMART DESIGN As Forge & Foster continues to grow within it’s ranks, so too does our portfolio of great Hamilton properties. With this, comes a strong responsibility to restore and provide great design back to the building and community. We take great pride in working together with some of the best design firms in Hamilton, such as The Laundry Design Works - whether it be branding one of Forge & Foster’s and Hamilton’s new businesses or re-imagining and implementing new spaces and facades.

Whether it be from the beginning, like Forge & Foster’s personal design, or our latest, like Millworks, we continue to push smart design.

BEFORE

Have a great design idea for one of our projects? Let us know!

EXISTING

1 888 600 7544

EXISTING

PROPOSED

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SEPTEMBER 2017 / THE MUSIC ISSUE

E xpereinces

Branding A Music City A conversation with designer Walter Pick

“You don’t really think about the process – you just do it. When you’re creating, like musicians, you’re in a certain zone, and things lead you to different things.”

Photos provided by WALTER PICK

In 2016, the city’s Music Industry Working Committee (MIWC) embarked on a long-awaited marketing and branding initiative. A marketing plan was developed to support the music strategy’s four goals: 1) strengthen the local music industry, 2) grow audiences and appreciation of music, 3) increase access to music experiences, and 4) cultivate music creation and talent. The branding exercise was to symbolically capture the key characteristics of Hamilton’s music scene. Not an easy task.

Like any creative endeavor, it starts with some type of research: direct observation, reading, first-hand experience, focus groups, surveys, public engagement sessions and others. Until this critical step has been accomplished, the creative design process does not begin. The city of Hamilton’s request for proposal process resulted in the Pier 8 Group and Walter Pick of Headspring Marketing being selected to develop the marketing and branding project. One of their first major tasks was to conduct some qualitative research within Hamilton’s music community. This included a review of the music strategy and several Music Canada reports, more than 20 interviews with local music industry leaders, in-person, email and phone conversations with musicians and music business owners. All to hear first-hand about their experiences, suggestions

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and identify important issues. It provided the green light to begin the creative process. urbanicity sat down with designer Walter Pick to get some insight into the creative process that takes place in developing a brand, and specifically Hamilton’s recently launched “city of music” brand.

Hamilton has a very vibrant and diverse music scene, so the challenge according to Pick was to find ways of representing this vibrancy and diversity that are fresh or something you haven’t necessarily seen before.

“There were so many iterations before I came up with this final design,” says Pick. “There’s all kinds of symbols that are associated with music — music notes, different time signatures, treble and bass clefs, musical instruments, etc. But I really didn’t want to use any of them as they’re very cliché and they’ve been so overused. And they don’t really say anything specific or unique about our city. So you try all these things and it pushes you in one direction or another, and sometimes you’re not exactly sure where it’s going. Elements intersect and you come up with something totally unexpected. I think that’s what happened with the city of music design.”

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E xpereinces

Branding A Music City A conversation with designer Walter Pick Starting with a few different but simple graphic elements, Pick’s initial idea was to use a sound level meter that is part of the recording process.

He also wanted to subtly incorporate the letter “H” to represent Hamilton … the Hammer.

“I wasn’t planning on using level meters but I thought perhaps I can put a horizon line with a ‘0’ level reading with waves above and below the line.

I saw the ‘H’ coming out of the level meter – expanding out from the centre as sound waves do. That led me to creating a circle where Hamilton – the ‘H’ – is at the centre.”

The next challenge for Pick was how to incorporate the idea of diversity into the design. His first choice was of course colour. Making the sound waves different colours was a great way to represent the music scene’s

diversity – both music genres and cultures.

“Initially I had a solid black circle – but it didn’t quite work for me on its own.

As soon as I put another black rule outside the circle, it became something else and it pulled the entire concept together and gave it more meaning. And coincidentally, it did give the effect of being a turntable platter, a CD or vinyl record or the sound hole in an acoustic guitar. So the circle and line became sort of a symbolic ‘window’ and made it a much stronger design concept.”

Including the word “Hamilton” somewhere in the logo was another important design element. “I wanted to really ‘ground’ it by using a solid black typeface. And again to emphasize music diversity, I used colour for ‘city of music.’ In the end, it was combining a graphic symbol with letterforms so

that letterforms had gravity or wings.

It all tied together and I think it works well as a whole and in a number of different applications.”

Pick also loved the idea of using the music strategy’s simple and straightforward vision statement as a community tagline. “‘Celebrate all things music.’ It’s a meaningful statement because we’re doing exactly what it says – and that’s celebrating all things music in Hamilton. And it’s all-inclusive. It embraces everything happening in Hamilton’s music scene – whether it’s music education, live performances, buying and listening to music, or simply celebrating the amazing musicians and songwriters who make it all possible.”

And while the graphic elements came together in an unexpected way, Pick acknowledges that this is part of the

“H” for Hamilton, The Hammer turntable platter hamilton music community

musical octave (8 Notes) sound level meter

music diversity soundwaves Xylophone

fun, challenge and reward of being a professional designer.

“You don’t really think about the process – you just do it. When you’re creating, like musicians, you’re in a certain zone, and things lead you to different things. But what ends up happening, one element starts to take over. You don’t really understand what you’ve done until you’re finished and sit back and look at it, evaluate it. It’s a strange process but in many ways it’s much like songwriting. The final song doesn’t come together until you’ve got the chorus, melody, the bridge, arrangements, etc. You don’t filter things. You just let creativity take you in different directions. And you end up with something you’re much happier with in the end.”

What has really made this particular project so meaningful to Pick, was despite presenting several different versions, it was the final concept that everyone gravitated toward immediately, something he says rarely happens.

“It just never happens. It’s not often when everyone on a client’s project team agrees on one design. But this concept simply resonated with the entire music strategy team. It was unanimous. So I want it to have a positive and emotional impact on the Hamilton music community, on Hamiltonians and on Hamilton music fans – and also that people do get excited about it. And they should because this city has a vibrant, diverse and exciting music scene and I hope my design has captured it.”

acoustic guitar sound hole

hamilton skyline on harbourfront

lp/cd

By Jeffrey Martin

Jeffrey C. Martin is a Hamilton writer and president of Quorum Communications Inc., a communications, marketing and research company. An avid supporter of the Hamilton music scene, Jeff recorded two albums with folk-rock act The Caretakers, and is the former co-chair of the City of Hamilton’s music strategy team. He recently completed his MA in 'Work and Society' at McMaster University focusing his research on precarious work, the living wage and basic income.

solid music foundation

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@ JeffreyCMartin1

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SEPTEMBER 2017 / THE MUSIC ISSUE

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experiences

The Youth In Asia Creating a soundtrack to accompany history

One year. One year of recording, writing, mixing, and finalizing. That’s how long it took Hamilton musician Kyle Caldwell, also known as The Cold Atomic, to complete his latest work. A combination of album and novel, Caldwell has created a beautiful concept soundtrack to accompany his historical story.

Again, what is it?

I don’t know.

But it’s really cool to see how people are reacting to it.

The Youth In Asia, which is the title of his creation follows the story of Luka Zapffe, a Dutch assassin with a struggling past trying to survive the final months of World War II. A story following the themes of suffering and tragedy, revenge and chasing a dream to keep moving forward with an unfair hand in life.

There’s no right or wrong way to experience the combination, but more of a personal preference.

“A lot of people were like how should I listen to it? Or how do I take it in? I told people however you’d like. I guess I should’ve had an answer for them, but I like that if you just listen to the album it stands alone, and you can do the same with the book. I wanted them to be able to stand alone, but you can experience both together”, says Caldwell.

Caldwell is not new to the music scene in Hamilton, he was a part of Animal Farm and a few other bands but decided to strike out on his own.

“I like writing all the drums, bass and all the other parts along with playing them, so I just started doing that and that kinda turned into The Cold Atomic. I like doing all of it myself just for fun,” explains Caldwell.

Setting out on his own, Caldwell dived into “Youth In Asia,” a project he created from beginning to end.

“Some of the songs I had before so I was going through them and thinking what kind of track list could I put them in,” says Caldwell. “I was thinking some of

Photo provided by Kyle Caldwell

these tracks could blend together if I just wrote in different interludes”.

Most of the songs Caldwell either had no lyrics for or very few. From this he came up with the idea to continue on what he did have and turn it into one complete story.

“I had the name “Youth In Asia”, from a long list of different titles. I started thinking of the actual idea of euthanasia, which is to help someone stop suffering. I wanted to look at it as if all life is suffering, then without actually dying how are people committing euthanasia,” says Caldwell.

Bringing that as an underlying theme into the plot, Caldwell also brought in the ideas of suffering and tragedy into it. Being an avid reader and researcher of WWII, he started to develop a plot taking place in that time period.

“I was going back and forth. I would write some of the book and then more of the lyrics. Once I knew where the chapter was going I could shape the song around that. It was difficult for

some songs and chapters”, Caldwell admits. “It was like shoe horning some of the songs. I only had 10 chapters, because each one had to be a song. It was difficult to structure.”

Need more convincing?

To experience The Youth In Asia, visit TheColdAtomic.com

The writing, recording, making transitions, and changing song keys, to getting the mix right took a long time. But Caldwell has a product to be proud of.

“Again what is it? I don’t know. But it’s really cool to see how people are reacting to it… it’s a book album,” says Caldwell.

With an upcoming show on October 14th at Absinthe, Caldwell is excited to bring to life the songs he has put so much time into.

In the future Caldwell hopes to do some videos and play shows. There’s no set road map on where he will take this but he hopes for the best.

“I just know I want to keep writing and playing music.”

By Emily Kertcher

Emily Kertcher is a photographer and journalist. With a passion for Hamilton she seeks to visually capture the city and write about its experiences. emilykertcher.com

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experiences

Rise and Grind - Tafari Anthony Hard work, talent and the motivation to do it all is set to bring this artist to the top

somewhere in the business.” Tafari also made it to the top 25 finalists of CBC’s Searchlight Competition in 2016, the annual event that artists from around Canada compete in for awards, exposure, and a chance to speak with major label producers. His song, “Know Better”, received heavy airplay on CBC Radio and he was chosen as one of Eric Alper’s top 5 choices for the competition.

Photo by DONNY ANDERSON

Young, gifted, and resourceful – that’s the model of the musician today. No more dropping off cassette tapes and burned CDs into anonymous mailboxes, hoping someone will take the time to slog through the pile until he gets to yours. No more marrying your manager or your producer and letting him take the load of promotion off your shoulders. No unexpected discovery while filling up on gas, unbeknownst to you that the dude next to your pump is a talent scout from some big name label (or was that just a personal fantasy of mine?)

You gotta rise and grind like the rest of the world. Now you gotta build your audience first, then the labels will come.

Tafari Anthony is no stranger to this path. He’s been DIYing his musical career his whole life. Luckily he

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has more than just his vocal talent, his song-writing skills, and his ability to play music on both the guitar and piano. He has a graphic design background (check out who designs urbanicity every month) and musical parents who get what it’s like to work for your art. And he lives in Toronto, which, for better or for worse, is still the place to be in Canada when you’re trying to build a musical audience and attract the labels as well. Tafari notes that Hamilton’s come a long way to being recognized as a music city itself. “There’s a lot of great places to gig there,” he says.

He also works with a Hamilton-based PR agency, Auteur Research.

Tafari released his second EP, Remember When, on September 1. This foursong record has been over a year in the making. When you’re doing it yourself, these things take time to create. “As much as I wanted to have it done right

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away, it didn’t work out that way.” Going from conception to laying down tracks requires the right people and equipment to put it together. The result is a pop and R&B-infused medley of catchy tunes that blend Tafari’s smooth-as-silk vocals with excellent production that make you want to groove. Think Ceelo Green, Sam Smith, and John Legend and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Today’s musicians have to work on building a brand. Tafari has an advantage over other artists having studied graphic design in college. “I thought [graphic design is] something I could fall back on,” he admits, “and it’s had a huge impact on my ability to promote myself as a musician.” Even when you’re starting out, most artists agree that it’s important that you have an aesthetic that will attract audiences.

It’s important not to look amateur – even if you are still an amateur.

But Tafari’s no amateur. In addition to his solo career, he’s toured extensively with acapella group Eh440. He’s performed in theatre and on cruise ships – a right of passage for many professional gigging musicians. And he’s won awards as well. In 2015 he was chosen as one of Canada’s Walk of Fame’s Emerging Artist. That experience taught him that people “still want honest music… I don’t have to make mechanical music just to get

While Tafari would like to be supported by a label, he recognizes it takes more than just talent to get noticed. “You need to already have a following before they look at you,” he admits. That’s why he’s working hard to build it himself. This is the second EP he’s released independently, following 2016’s Die for You. Each music video Tafari’s released has been carefully crafted with powerful messages, like the importance of living one’s truth, a subject close to his heart.

Tafari lives by the motto, “live your truth,” which he often hashtags in his social media messages. It’s important for him because he believes artists create things that connect people, and provide people the opportunity to see themselves through the art. At first it was his way of reminding himself that he needs to be true to himself, but he quickly realized that the message extends past him. It can help others, too.

Tafari’s EP Remember When is available now. You can visit him at his official website – www.tafarianthony.com – and you can purchase Remember When on iTunes & Bandcamp.

By OLGA KWAK

OLGA KWAK is a Hamilton-based writer and marketer. Her work has appeared in She Does the City, Torontoist, Toronto Star, The Genteel, and PRODUCT Magazine. She builds websites and writes from her office on Barton Street East. Visit www.olgakwak.com for more advice on doing the right thing online.

@ olgakwak

2017-08-30 9:38 AM

REMEMBER WHEN - EP N O W AVA I L A B L E

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SEPTEMBER 2017 / THE MUSIC ISSUE ART GALLERY OF HAMILTON SEPTEMBER 2017

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WHAT’S ON AT THE AGH Starting Labour Day weekend, our Fall program is bursting with exciting activities, children’s, family and adult workshops, artist talks, films, special events, and more. For up to the minute details, visit artgalleryofhamilton.com or connect with us on social media. For courses and workshops, be sure to register early as space runs out quickly!

ALSO ON VIEW CARVING HOME: THE CHEDOKE COLLECTION OF INUIT ART | BEHIND THE SCENE: THE 19TH-CENTURY STUDIO REIMAGINED | KENOJUAK ASHEVAK & TIM PITSIULAK: DRAWING LIFE | BARRY POTTLE: THE AWARENESS SERIES | THE LIVING ROOM: SELF MADE: STYLO STARR’S 89 DAMES | NATURE AND MAN REVEALED: THE MR. AND MRS. H.J.M. WATSON COLLECTION OF BRITISH DRAWINGS | COLLECTION CLASSICS | EVOLUTION OF FORM: 150 YEARS OF SCULPTURE FROM THE COLLECTION | STAGING ABSTRACTION: PAINTINGS FROM THE COLLECTION | KIM ADAMS: BRUEGEL-BOSCH BUS

Special Supercrawl Activities AGH Annex | 118 James Street North Friday, September 8 11 am – 11 pm: Artisan Market 6 pm – 10 pm: Indigenous Friday: A coalition of local indigenous organizations collaborate on an evening of workshops, food, entertainment, and activism.

Saturday, September 9

Trailers & Teasers

AGH BMO World Film Festival Lincoln Alexander Centre | 160 King Street East Wednesday, September 27, 6 pm to 8 pm Trailers & Teasers is the official AGH BMO World Film Festival Launch Party.

Guests can preview trailers for all festival films, mix and mingle with fellow film lovers, purchase tickets and plan their festival experience. This is the first opportunity to purchase festival passes, packs and individual tickets.

FREE ADMISSION. THE AGH BMO WORLD FILM FESTIVAL OFFICE IS NOW LOCATED AT THE AGH ANNEX!

9 am – 12 noon: Walking Tour with Bill Manson: James Street North - The Road that Built a City: Starts with an illustrated talk at the AGH Annex. Registration at artgalleryofhamilton.com required.

11 am – 11 pm: Artisan Market 1 pm – 6 pm: CFMU Remote 7 pm – 10 pm: #ilovefilmseries Screening: Canada’s Top Ten Shorts: Presented in partnership with TIFF Film Circuit. From stunning 3D animation to thought provoking documentary.

Sunday, September 10 11 am – 5 pm : Artisan Market

Visit us at the Supercrawl Family Zone!

Friday, 6 pm – 8 pm, Saturday & Sunday, 12 noon – 6 pm

123 King Street West, downtown Hamilton L8P 4S8 905.527.6610 www.artgalleryofhamilton.com

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# urbanicit y eats

5 Hamilton Foodie Destinations With Great Music When asked what Hamilton is known for, you'll hear many a time from Hamiltonians the words "art", "music", and "food". We are a creative group, and we're proud of it! Often, these mediums will come together to create some of our most remarkable events and experiences in the city; like Supercrawl!

It's only natural that these visceral mediums often pair up to create a desired ambiance - in a restaurant for instance - like food and music coming together into one beautiful partnership. That’s why we put together this Great Hamilton Foodie Playlist. Get jammin’, and eatin’ with these tasty morsels and bumpin’ tunes.

If you like Hip Hop music, you may like: Nique Restaurant 30 Vine St, Hamilton @nique_restaurant

If you like local Punk music, you may like: The Hearty Hooligan

If you like 90s music, you may like: The Coop Wicked Chicken

368 Main St W, Hamilton

272 King St W, Hamilton

@theheartyhooligan

Whether you visit them for their appetizing dinner menu, their tempting brunch, or Toonie Tuesdays (Fried Chicken for $2!), you’re going to have a tasty time at Nique Restaurant. The Nique team definitely knows what they’re doing in the kitchen. Plus, they have made a bit of a name for themselves in the hip hop scene, arranging shows in their large space with top DJs and setting up events like Beyoncé Brunch. Their stylish atmosphere and creative, modern food menu marry perfectly with the powerful hip hop music they play in the restaurant.

Serving up scrumptious vegan-versions of 90s junk food (think Dunkaroos, and pizza pocket-style calzones), The Hearty Hooligan has meal options for breakfast, lunch and dinner that both vegans and non-vegans will love.

Though they have had their doors open less than 6 months, The Hearty Hooligan has made a large impact in the vegan community and the local punk music scene. Matching their vibrant, graffiti-esque wall art featuring punk iconography, you’ll only find them playing local punk music in the restaurant.

If you like Jazz music, you may like: Mattson & Co.

If you like Country music, you may like: Memphis Fire Barbeque

225 Locke St S, Hamilton

1091 King's Highway 8 @ mattsonandco

Mattson & Co. on Locke Street’s elegant space makes for the perfect jazz venue. Fill that space with mouthwatering food dishes, and a couple of drinks and you’ve got yourself a recipe for success. Every Friday and Saturday, they bring in local jazz talent into their beautiful restaurant from around the GTA, creating an ideal atmosphere for intimate evening meals.

@ chefstevepopp

Found on the edge of Hamilton (Winona), Memphis Fire Barbeque – a retro diner-style restaurant - is a Hamilton gem. Their true-blue Southern food is great, the service is great and the tunes are great… if you love country, that is.

Then again, what else would you listen to while eating a whole plate of brisket, or pulled pork?

@thecoopwickedchicken

This naughty fried chicken restaurant sure has their brand down-pat, and their brand includes lots of 90s paraphernalia! From the Gameboys they have on the tables, to the retro board games, to the art work plastered walls – they have planned it out right down to the 90s playlist. And boy is their playlist a good one. Enjoy those tunes while you indulge on a giant chicken sandwich – eat like you’ve still got that 90s metabolism!

Music; you can’t have a perfect restaurant atmosphere without it. It can make or break your experience. Luckily in Hamilton, we are spoilt for choice of amazing food and music.

After all, we are known for more than steel now – we are a patchwork of creatives, artists, makers and innovators, building our unique city.

By HEATHER PETER

Heather Peter is a restaurant marketer, food industry graphic designer, writer, blogger & avid home-cook. When not out supporting the local food scene, Heather immerses herself into the culinary community. Beyond food, Heather loves tea, animals, & exploring Hamilton’s green spaces. @ hamontsmallfry

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experiences

Operators Are Standing By Hamilton’s newest earworm

S

ome songs just work, like “Operators Are Standing By”

by Mackenzie Kristjon's rock and roll brand This Mad Desire, that was just released everywhere this summer. It is the first single in a series of recordings that will eventually come together as a full-length next year.

Mackenzie publishes books, reviews theatre, consults on business, does background acting, and writes killer songs. In this case, he came across the expression “Operators Are Standing By” and thought there were a lot of ways that idea could be re-contextualized and proceeded to write the song in about as long as it takes to sing it.

After trying it out at the Dundas Music Club and other places around Hamilton, he decided to make it his next single. Mark Zubek (Zedd Records) -two-time John Lennon Song writing Competition winner- produced the track in Toronto. The song's

lyrics reference Adam and Eve, a female American president, relationships gone wrong, and redemption. All over a very dance-y, hooky beat with vibraphones and glockenspiels providing unique ear candy.

It was quickly apparent that this song deserved video treatment. Enter Simon Winterson. “Some songs just stick.

It's like superglue: you've got 20secs and then you're caught. That's exactly what happened the first time I heard Operators Are Standing By. Right from this first moment, I knew I wanted to do the music video, and after discussions with Mac about the emotions behind the lyrics, I knew it had to be an expressive, fun-filled, layered video full of local characters.”

With Simon on board, the video was filmed at Simon's studio, Digital Canaries, which is a sprawling, 66,000 sq. foot film studio right here in Hamilton with a large number of standing

sets including a courthouse, the White House Oval Office, a jail, a hospital, some houses, and costumes galore.

Which is where I came in. Easily, the most fun time I have ever had on-set was working as the Wardrobe Manager for the Operators video. In our case, we had around twenty people and several professional dancers in all kinds of fun scenes. People were dressed as police, inmates, flight attendants, nurses, surgeons, and on and on. I have to admit that there was a genuine feeling of camaraderie on set as we learned our dance moves and improvised very funny scenes.

CBC Ontario recently selected it as Top 3 Tracks of the Week to hear. Mackenzie says, “I was traveling to Manitoba when, in Thunder Bay, the song came on the radio. Adam Carter and Craig Norris brought up the 'Neil Young on David Bowie drugs' phrase that I took from an old review and said that although they cannot imagine anyone being that stoned, this song is very catchy.

What was even funnier is they compared it to Sisters of Mercy, who I had never heard before. Actually, I have received a very wide range of comparisons on this track. Everything from Supertramp to Marilyn Manson. If that's the spectrum, definitely this song is somewhere in between.”

Some songs just stick.

It's like superglue: you've got 20 secs and then you're caught.

Need more convincing?

While Operators is available on iTunes, Spotify, and everywhere else, the vast majority of his catalogue is at thismaddesire.bandcamp.com

This Mad Desire will be performing at Artword Artbar on September 9th with the Human Race League and Brandon P. General.

Mackenzie's next song “Paris of Love” will be released this fall.

Photos by this mad desire

By Victoria Somers

Victoria Somers is a Hamilton-based fashion designer who has been involved with local fashion events including Hamilton Fashion Week and Hammer Style Fashion Show. She has also done costume and wardrobe in local film productions. @ fabrikki

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ideas

The Prolific Pip Art pop with a jazzy edge

Pip writes art-pop songs that have a uniquely jazzy inflection.

The chords he chooses are harmonically rich and push the melodies almost into Joni Mitchell territory. This sound is on clear display in his latest album Chopper which became available earlier this year.

I first met Pip opening for him at the old Homegrown Hamilton on King William. At that time, I was struck by the complexity and sophistication of his song writing. It seemed to me that at times, I could close my eyes and I was on a riverboat floating down the Mississippi with a summer sling or some other such cocktail. I was definitely feeling a relaxing vacation vibe.

Thailand, so I may be a pioneer one day when we go back. Also, the bassline to almost every Isaan country song is the one stolen from Black Magic Woman!

“In Korea I had a five-piece band that played the hotel circuit up and down the peninsula. We did half my tunes and half vocal jazz standards. I'm sure there's an influence there - maybe being more daring with vocal melody intervals.”

Since then, I've run into Pip all over the place in Hamilton, including on top of Jackson Square.

Pip's use of daring melodic is on eminent display through his last few records. In our conversation, I learned that he is launching his next album sometime in the fall that is tentatively entitled “Twenty-Four” as it will be his 24th solo record. His second of the year!

The last six albums by Pip are arranged in two sets of three by production styles. The first three have backing bands and more “production” elements while the latest three focus on a more intimate sound with Pip crooning and fretting away on his acoustic guitar.

The most extreme differences happen sequentially on the album. Pip gives us the almost anthemic “6n5” followed by what is easily my favourite track: “Distorted conjuration at sea”.

When asked about how prolific he has been, Pip replied: “This year is not average - I've written about 35 songs.

Normal would be about half that. I play the new tunes live and if they survive that they end up on the next album, every two years or so, but this year I've been on a tear. I also played a number of festivals, including the International Village B.I.A Winterfest, Barton Village Festival, and five gigs on top of Jackson square (125 songs!).

In this last one, he is recording on what sounds like old cassette recorders using really vintage sounds to present a suite of moods about a fisherman swimming in a sea of humanity. This is right out of the Velvet Underground or an old Sebadoh album. Very cool.

“I write because if I don't, I get into a bad space. I guess I'm an artist. But my standards are very high, and I play almost exclusively original songs. The people who like it, really like it.”

Pip has spent a lot of time in Asia. Here is what he had to say about that: “In Asia I learned many things... about traditonal Korean, Thai and Lao music.

Also, I think trying to communicate with audiences that don't speak English adds something to your arsenal in the long run." You find other ways of being expressive, and put more into the performance aspect of it. It's also humbling. Why should they listen?”

Another thing from living abroad - I started to listen to more jazz-world fusion. There's not much of that in

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To experience Pip's music, metroPhilmusic.bandcamp.com.

visit

By Mackenzie Kristjon

Mackenzie Kristjon is a financial consultant and a singer-songwriter who performs under the moniker “This Mad Desire”. He has published numerous books including the award-winning Culinary Saga of New Iceland. @ mackenziek629

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G ames

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5 9

4

5

1

2

3

7

3

2

4 9

5

5

8

7

9

7 9

PUZZLE 3 LEVEL: HARD

4

8

8

7

6 4

5

5

3 3

Puzzle 1 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.73)

PUZZLE 2 LEVEL: MEDIUM

8

1

7 2

2

9

3

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Tue Aug 29 16:20:03 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

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