Young Pacific is a 4-piece outfit hailing from Coquitlam, B.C. and is a band who continues to bring their own brand of West Coast indie-pop distinctly popular around the Vancouver area. The band first formed in 2009 with Mike Holden, Djavin Bowen, and Mike Noble who took cues from musical influences that range from a variety of genres. The band quickly and persistently kicks off their musical endeavors by putting on live shows across a multitude of popular Vancouver venues, sharing the stage with many other notable local acts. Shortly after exercising their live performance muscles, the band...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

Cruel Young Heart is a three-piece band hailing from Vancouver, BC, with a penchant for creating catchy, hook-driven pop rock. The band formed in February 2011 and consists of James Blackmon (vocals), Andrew Blackmon (drums), and Mark Armstrong (guitar). The three-piece outfit recently released their debut self-titled EP which they recorded at the legendary Mushroom Studios with the help of Chris Michel and Mushroom Studios’ own Rob Darch. At the basis of Cruel Young Heart is a youthful and energetic drive. Much of the band’s sounds operate on memorable, heartfelt lyricism, bouncy dance...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

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...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

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...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

Bank Heist is the musical moniker of local musician Matthew Joel who creates electronic music heavily laden with deep bass lines, robust synth melodies and pounding dance beats. Below is a short interview done with the musician providing some insight into his project.   Could you tell us something about yourself and how Bank Heist started? Is it still a side-project for you or has it taken a much more prominent role? My name is Matthew, I'm in my twenties, and from the Vancouver area. I started making Bank Heist tracks while I was still in highschool. I had already been making music...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

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...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

The Parish of Little Clifton is the project of multi-instrumentalist and Agassiz, BC native, Simon Bridgefoot. The first collective sounds to come out of this project came about with his previous EP entitled Haselnus which was released on the local digital label Cultus Vibes. His next release came in the form of a 7” entitled Septemberish which gave listeners a taste of what would be his debut full-length release with the two tracks “It’s Okay, Roseanne” and “Echo Island”, both which saw a re-release with Bad Panda Records not too long ago. Released near the end of September of this...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

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 and the vocal stylings of his friends and family. Though Simon writes, records, and mixes his own songs, his records are very much a group effort, and community is a big part of why he does what he does. ‘Clifton’...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

Local Vancouver, BC musician Teen Daze (who refers to himself as simply Jamison) has been garnering international attention with his take on the emergence of the subgenre termed “chillwave”, a musical movement initially popularized back in 2009. With four other official album releases under his belt, it’s intriguing to see just how much further he can develop his sound within the subgenre of which he is so critically acclaimed for. His latest effort is the album entitled, A Silent Planet, which was released back in August 2011 via Lefse Records imprint Waaga Records, an independent label...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

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...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

When I was in a band in high school (aptly called Mourning Wood), my inspiration was Tom Morello. Big riffs, big fuzz, all the time. Other bands paid undeniable homage to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or Blink 182, but in all reality, we were all pretty awful. We played roller rink battle of the bands, school functions, and even had a garage show once or twice. But nothing serious ever amounted from it, and it was increasingly frustrating that nobody appreciated my fat licks. When you're fifteen, and a musician, there isn't much you can do. You can poorly emulate your heros, but that is about it. Which...


 QuickView | Read Full Article

It seems as though fate really wanted Sydney Thorne and Neil Smith to start a band. Having known each other through previous, non-music related arrangements, the gravitation of creative destiny managed to pull the two together in several settings. Eventually, the pair found themselves at a songwriting workshop at the Cultch, embracing instruction from Said The Whale's Tyler Bancroft. Together, armed with a stern folk methodology and florescent pop sensibilities, Thorne and Neil formed Dogwood and Dahlia in the Spring of 2011. Since their initial conception, it has been a relentless journey...


 QuickView | Read Full Article