Belgium’s Melon Galia vs. Montreal’s Tiga

Melon Galia was founded in 1995 by two friends: Thierry De Brouwer and Samir Barris at the University of Brussels. Since then, the Belgian act has grown into a quartet and gained tremendous notoriety and critical praise in the International Pop market.

Backed by Montreal’s own Grenadine Records, the band is bringing their orchestral yet irresistibly indie sound to this year’s Pop Montreal Festival.

Concordian: When I think of Montreal I think of…

Samir: it’s great to play there. We had a lot of fun.

Concordian: What can we expect from your Pop Montreal performance?

Samir: Mostly a presentation of our album, some extra new songs and old ones (from our first EP’s), maybe some covers, and a new line-up with Ludo at the trumpet (he’s great!), a new haircut for Aurelie.

We try to have different atmospheres, very cool/relaxing sometimes, and also thrilling/pop-rock. I think we’re more and more at ease and close with the audience. We try to have an intimate moment with the people, to share/exchange something.

Concordian: Who are your top three musical influences of all time?

Samir: Can’t answer. What are musical influences? People who make you want to make music, people who change your way of seeing music, people who you feel you’re musically close with. I don’t know, I’ve asked the others. So consider this as a very unassumed and unreflected answer [sic]: Stereolab, The Beach Boys, and let’s say Jao Gilberto (pop music is great but greater when influenced by other music – for what I think).

Concordian: Tough question: Describe your sound in ten words or less:

Samir: Let’s try: fresh, pop, cool, clever (can be seen as a default), living, orchestral, open, intimate, enthusiastic.

Concordian: How has this past year been for you?

Samir: We’ve been trying to compose new songs, we’ve played several times in North America, we’ve been involved in other musical projects here in Belgium, we’ve lived some painful moments (our former guitar player Frederic left the band, not in good terms, and that was a tough thing to go through… and then a period of reflection (do we still want to do this, how, with whom, what for…?).

Concordian: What are your future musical plans?

Samir: To record a new album soon, then touring (we certainly hope to come back for a North American tour). And for each of us, have a cool musical experience with other people (Aurelie works more and more as a producer – she just produced Hank Harry’s album ‘Far From Clever’, he’s a Belgian crooner, if you can, it’s worth checking out).

Sept. 26 Montreal, QC at The Grey Room (101 Maguire) – Pop Montreal Music Festival. You can visit their wesbite at www.grenadinerecords.com

Tiga

By Jasmine White-Gluz

Montreal’s homegrown electro darling Tiga will be DJing a special showcase for this year’s Pop Montreal Festival. Perhaps you’ve caught his marionette-version of Nelly’s ‘Hot In Herre’ on one of the country’s music video channels. You can catch Tiga along side Chromeo, Evening, Hrd Vsion at SAT, 1195 St. Laurent St. this Saturday at 9 p.m. Here’s what he told The Concordian.

Concordian: When I think of Montreal I think of…

Tiga: Home, the Habs, Murray Hill park, DNA Records, family, euro deli.

Concordian: The video for Hot In Herre is genius. Can you tell us a bit of how it came about?

Tiga: My brother Thomas is the puppet master, and we were always waiting for a chance to showcase his abilities to the world…..so with a good production team in NYC (Eyeball) and a decent budget we set the world alight to the tune of ‘Hot In Herre.’

Concordian: What can we expect from your Pop Montreal performance?

Tiga: I will be Djing. Should be a lot of new songs, both my own and my friends….should be the world premiere of at least two new tracks from my upcoming album. Other than that…. A good mix of electro, techno, rock and funk.

Concordian: Who are your top three musical influences of all ime?

Tiga: David Bowie. After that it gets harder. Maybe Depeche Mode and Prince. It’s always changing.

Concordian: Tough question: Describe your sound in ten words or less:

Tiga: I can’t. Dark electronic pop that still will rock a dance floor. Maybe.

Concordian: What is the funnitest/strangest musical comparison you’ve ever gotten?

Tiga: The David Hasselhof of Techno. [It’s] also [been] said I sounded like Atomic Kitten (UK pop band) on acid.

Concordian: You were integral in the development of Sona. What’s up with the club now, as rumors seem to be flooding the city as to when and where it will reopen?

Tiga: No idea. I sold my shares of the club in 2000, and since then I have not thought of it once. I have no idea or interest in nightclubs.

Concordian: How has this past year been for you?

Tiga: Phenomenal. More dreams realized. Also a bit tiring but all in all probably the best year ever.

Concordian: What are your future plans to take over the world?

Tiga: I have outgrown my dreams of world domination; I am now setting my sights on completing a great debut album, then a world tour, and a new mix CD in 2004. I just want to continue working and creating new music.

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