With so much pressure from the media to look a certain way, teens often succumb to the glamorous end result they expect to have after buying a certain product or getting a certain hairstyle. Trying to look our best isn’t a bad thing, but the line must be drawn, and probably one of the most detrimental things you can do is getting a tan.

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With course selections rearing its daunting head upon many high school students this month, many are contemplating which courses to choose and eventually which careers to practice. Industry training programs are a great option for those who know which career path they want to take, or those who wish to sample a career before deciding to pursue it. Only qualifiers: be at least grade 11 or 12, and have a good attitude and passion for what you love.

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The LightWaterDrums festival is just that—a festival celebrating culture and community with light (lanterns), water (Raincouver) and Drums. They need some volunteers for this event, particularly with set up of art installations around The Sanctuary at Hastings Park (Hastings between Renfrew and Cassiar). The Festival is a free community event with lantern procession around Sanctuary followed by free entertainment in Garden Auditorium.

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Here I am, on my computer. It’s a gorgeous winter day with the first snow of the season! To my dismay, I’m stuck at home with a cold. Needless to say, my weak immune system plus my sleep debt have caught up with me.Instead of surfing the slopes, I’m surfing the net with a cavalry of tissue boxes and instant chicken noodle soup. Not even my favourite sit-com reruns can make me feel better at this point, until I come across Lara Matiation, a contemporary pop singer/songwriter from Roberts Creek, BC.

Under her handle MatiatioN, Lara creates feel-good music that can make any sick day a brighter one. Her combination of bright and breezy animated vocals, upbeat rhythms, and guitar and keyboard accompaniment—all done by herself—resonate throughout her 4-track EP titled “The Ripple Effect”, which was released on her bandcamp January last year. The inspiring lyrics can apply to everyone who’s experienced one of those bad days, who’s felt lonely or hurt, who’s been down before; MatiatioN knows what that’s like, and knows how to cheer you up.

The first track entitled “Stand up” is probably my favourite song on the EP for it’s simple but pertinent lyrics and blissful beat. Its message is quite basic, and can be summed up with the words,

lighten up, don’t be a prude. Dance like no one’s watching you.

MatiatioN is indubitably an accomplished musician with talents in a variety of instruments and a recording arts background, though some of her songs leave something to be desired. On one hand, her music is a relatable easy-to-understand experience that can reach a wide audience, but therein lies a lack of philosophical imagery and depth to her words. To summarize, some more lyrical growth is recommended, but generally an amusing listening experience, great for a much needed dosage of positivity, and a good first EP.

To listen to MatiatioN and purchase her music if you like it (support local artists ftw) head to her bandcamp and visit her facebook page!

Photo from http://www.facebook.com/Jaymeannephotography

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As winter comes and the months get increasingly colder, volunteers are needed to keep the streets safe and clear of hazards such as ice and snow.  The City of Vancouver requires all property owners and tenants to clear ice and snow from the sidewalks adjacent to their property no later than 10 am after a snowfall (7 days a week). For some seniors and persons with disabilities this task can be difficult and dangerous.

You and your community group can help:

• When it snows, lend a hand to people in your neighbourhood who could use help shoveling their sidewalk.
• Adopt the sidewalk of a senior or a person with mobility issue and keep it clear of snow and ice all winter long.
• Get on the City’s 3-1-1 Snow Angels list. (The City’s 3-1-1 Contact Centre will put your organization’s contact information on the list, which will be used by our citizen service representatives to give out to residents who need help with snow removal.)

Get recognized. By providing this valuable  service in a time of great need, you could earn community service hours, receive a thank you letter from the City, and win prizes. Tell us about your good Snow Angel deed and you and your group could get recognized.

To find out more about Snow Angels, add your organization to our 3-1-1 Snow Angels list and/or tell us about you and your organization being a Snow Angel:

• call 3-1-1
• e-mail snowangels@vancouver.ca
• visit our website at www.vancouver.ca/snowangels

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Megan Twist. It’s the name of a rising star in the local singer/songwriter world. Megan’s music is a relevant portrayal of the plight of a teenage girl: discovering yourself, finding the meaning of life, and of course, the pursuit of love.  Megan’s strong and sweet, folky voice accompanied by her faithful guitar is all she needs to make any audience applaud and sing along. She has performed numerous gigs from school talent shows to weddings to malls, and no doubt has a bright future ahead of her.

Megan began singing since before she could remember, and started to write her own songs in her early teen years. She has a binder chocked full of songs, some finished, some in the works, and is continually writing more to record and post on her YouTube channel. She has deep musical roots, much of her family being musical; some are accomplished folk artists themselves. Her family backs her up 100% in her musical ventures, and itch to show their daughter’s talent. Who can blame ‘em?

This Burnaby resident already has the chops to make it big, but her positive and bubbly personality complement her music perfectly, and make her extremely friendly and approachable. She loves to talk with others who enjoy music, and loves to perform alongside other teen musicians from her school. Megan is the title-holder for various talent show events, and a well-known name amongst her peers, her primary audience. She is a prime example of how even youth can produce quality music (contrary to a certain auto-tuned “Friday” singer.)

To listen to her music, check out her Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/MeganTwist

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The Umoja Operation Compassion Society—a group whose purpose is “To promote Unity, Respect, and Dignity among African and other minority immigrants”—is looking for a youth outreach worker that can empower youth and create a positive atmosphere for new immigrants to integrate into Canadian society.

This position requires you to be available for 5-14 hours a week. Some tasks you will perform include: educating youth on major issues, fundraising for youth programs, and helping youth cope with conflicts that arise from being a new immigrant. If this sounds like the job for you, you can find more details at http://www.vancouveryouth.ca/node/915

Send your resumes and cover letters to: hradmin.umoja@shawlink.ca (Human Resources Manager)

Application Deadline:  15 Nov 2011 09:00 AM (Tuesday)

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Self-described as “The kind [of music] that makes you want to dance around in a gold cape,” Jive Talk fuses funk, pop, rock, soul, and a bit of comedic commentary to create a music experience that everyone can enjoy. Their music is highly accessible for all ages, but proves that our generation hasn’t lost any of its funk and soul!  Regardless of your musical prejudices, Jive Talk will make you want to get up on your feet and dance.

The four-piece Vancouver based band includes Nick on vocals & guitar, Jared on vocals and bass, Eric on saxophone, and Takeru on drums. They all met each other at Lord Byng Secondary, and Nick, Jared, and Eric started playing together while attending Jazz band. Nick’s fascination with funk and soul music during grade 11 pushed him to create Jive Talk with his friends, saying (jokingly, I assume) “I knew Eric was a good sax player and Jared was vaguely musical and could probably do something.”

Once Tak added his drumming skills to the already talented Jazz trio’s musical prowess, Jive Talk recorded their first EP, Welcome to Jiveland, in his basement, and released it March 14, 2010. The album contains 6 songs, including quirky titles like “Josh, the Evil Jive Destroyer” and “Chunky Funk Monkey”.

A year later, the band put out their latest EP, 123 Jump!  with six all new songs, one of my favourites being “Sax Man” which seems oddly named, considering there is no saxophone to be heard, but at around two-thirds of the way through there is a sax solo that calls for celebration.

123 Jump! also includes some very imaginative interactive packaging. The CD package allows you to “fold the CD case to form a stage and scan an AR code to start the band’s “live” animated performance.” And if you scan the QR markers of the inner booklet, you are able to place your smartphone over the band members’ mouths and watch the guys sing!

This up-and-coming funk-fusion band has created an innovative brand of sound that will revive the Soul in whoever listens to it. Give their music a gander and head to their bandcamp. You won’t be disappointed.

Photo from http://www.harookz.com/

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Simon Bridgefoot is the man behind The Parish of Little Clifton, whose music can be difficult to describe but easy to listen to. Perhaps one would categorize him as part of the Chillwave phenomenon sweeping the nation (though apparently I’m not hipster enough to know this). But his music is much more than just lo-fi, ambiant noise; it’s a story of life emulated by synthesizers

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It was a slightly nerve-racking first day at the Y57 radio station; I had just gotten a job as the new junior music coordinator and I was a touch too eager, arriving at the radio station early. My first mission: to be the official door opener for all the stuff going in and out of the station. That aside, I was designated to write music reviews, and it was a pleasant surprise when Jamie handed over the bright green cover of Jason & the Diatonics’ debut album, Million Miles of Trouble. Needless to say, it’s not very often I just get albums handed to me for free, so I was feeling pretty awesome.

You can’t help but smile when you hear the jazzy acoustic pop on this album. If ever you need a lift, this is the kind of music to listen to on repeat.  They have a fresh sound that combines the musical dexterity of Joel Mohr and Erik Olson, lovely vocal harmonies of Jason Poulsen and Stephanie Olson, and (quite frankly) adorable and relatable lyrics.

If I had to pick favourites, I would say it’s a tie between ‘Love is a Cartoon’ and ‘Right Girl Wrong Girl’. My selections aren’t necessarily the ones with the deepest lyrics or the most complex riffs, but they are the songs that got stuck in my head straight away for their cheerful tone and catchy choruses.

If you’re tired of me going on about the optimism in this album, then ‘Freakshow’ (accompanied by ‘Freakshow Intro’,) sounds like your cup of tea. As a pianist, I love ‘Freakshow Intro’ for its focus on my instrument of choice; admittedly I got chills while listening to it, but maybe that’s just my keyboard withdrawal talking. The one-minute prologue starts quiet and eventually builds up to a complex and intricate mix of creepy sounds including ominous strings, eerie voices, and a few noises I can’t put my finger on.  ‘Freakshow’ itself reflects a darker but no less energetic side to Jason & the Diatonics, and is definitely worth a listen.

To hear their music and give this band some love, head to their Facebook page or their website at www.jasonandthediatonics.com

Photos from the Jason & the Diatonics Facebook Page

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