This sunny guitar-pop British band has combined generations worth of sound into one album. Their tunes definitely have a vintage sound to them—tracks feature bit of a ‘60s rock, combined with ‘80s signature sounds and ‘90s grunge guitar. Songs like “No Mind, No Money” and “Sleeperhead” resemble Mac Demarco’s instrumentals. Its musicality inspires that ‘hippie, let’s just be happy attitude.’ “Smoke Won’t Get Me High” is a guitar instrumental that makes you think of your favourite ‘80s rock band. Their song “Hot Weather” brings out their British flavour. The tune might remind you of ‘The Cure’—there is a definite influence. It’s refreshing for a new band to bring back these classic rock sounds. Their song “Bug Eyed and Blonde” is more of a slow, soft, romantic tune. It’s perfect for reminiscing about old memories. The band’s debut album has proven to be quite successful.
Mangy Love incorporates lyrics charged with strong political and social messages as well as a ‘60s rock sound. His song “Laughter Is the Best Medicine” is a slow, soulful tune with soft guitar excerpts. His tunes have a serious undertone that suits their slow melodies. In “Cry,” however, he picks up the beat, but features a deep lyrical prose. It’s the song to listen when you’re in a deeply pensive mood. “Run Sister Run” has a groovy melody. While the instrumental might be playful, his lyrics discuss issues surrounding social injustice towards women. It’s a beautiful piece with raw, relevant meaning—it’s not just a song, but a story to be heard. The album combines beautiful instrumentals with powerful lyrical meaning. To enjoy this album to the fullest one must carefully listen to its lyrics.
Ibifornia welcomes you to a tropical island with its combination of house-electro beats and exotic bird sound excerpts. On this island, you will find an mixture of collaborations, from Pharrell Williams to Mike D of the Beastie boys to One Republic’s frontman Ryan Tedder. The first few songs are solid dance tunes, perfect for a beach rave. Cassius’ track “Go Up” featuring Pharrell Williams is just like any song Pharrell touches—magical. It has a smooth guitar tune combined with house rhythms and Cassius’ signature ‘90s electro sounds. Suddenly, the next track, “Feel Like Me,” features a sad and slow house beat with Cat Power’s soulful voice over it. It’s not exactly the song you want to hear at a beach rave, but it’s a beautiful song in itself. A few tracks later you have “Dive In” which is a mixture of soft alternative guitar and electro. It begins with acoustic guitar and suddenly emerges as a deep house techno party with only electro sounds and few lyrics. While the album has some gems, the album as an entire piece does not exactly flow or mesh from start to end.
Behind the scenes of OUMF’s music festival with Mikey Rishwain Bernard
One of Montreal’s biggest back-to-school festivals is back for another year. Think old school hip-hop bloc party with DJs, live bands and loud crowds—this is OUMF.
From Wednesday Sept. 7 to 10, OUMF will present free performances from local and international artists outdoors on Saint-Denis Street at Quartier des spectacles. The festival is celebrating its 6th year and the lineup is one to look forward to. Renowned DJs such as DJ Jazzy Jeff and Skratch Bastid will be taking the stage.
This year’s great lineup of artists would not be possible without festival and program director of ‘M pour Montreal’ Mikey Rishwain Bernard. ‘M Pour Montreal’ plans a multitude of music showcases at festivals around the world. They are in charge of the musical program for OUMF. Rishwain has been handling all the music aspects of the festival. “My specific mandate is music programming and I also go on stage to host and say jokes that some people laugh at and some don’t,” said Rishwain.
The festival will be focusing on hip-hop, everything from old school to new school. DJ Jazzy Jeff used to kick it with Will Smith in their duo group “DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.” “He’s considered a catalyst to Will Smith,” said Rishwain. “He is a music pioneer to DJs. It’s good to see a guy still keeping it old school. It’s an honour to have him perform for us this year.” He added that there will also be indie bands and many female acts.
“I’m looking forward to Hein Cooper. He is a beautiful Australian man that looks like Justin Bieber and he has great songs. It’s great to bring that Australian vibe to the show,” Rishwain said. He said he’s also excited for the “Word Up Battles.” It’s a rap battle between two rappers, all in French. The rappers go on stage and compete live.“It could be edgy, but it’s very entertaining,” said Rishwain.
Another major highlight is Canadian DJ Skratch Bastid. He’s the first Canadian DJ to ever be nominated for a Juno Award and he will be performing at OUMF this coming Friday at 9 p.m.
The event is free and geared for all age groups. For Rishwain, OUMF signifies a boost before the school season. “A lot of young students from everywhere that are new to the city, they need their melting pot,” he said. “They seem to communicate through music and partying. This festival kicks off the school year.”
Interview with music programmer Mikey Rishwain Bernard. Photo by Bruno D. Capture.
Rishwain is well-known in the Montreal music scene. He plans a multitude of music festivals throughout North America and has brought many talented local artists closer to stardom. As festival and program director of ‘M pour Montreal’, his goal is to help artists develop outside of Canada.“We are here to put a system in place for artists to play for a lot of influential people in different countries,” he said, adding that he’s always been really big on bringing people together. “We are ‘M’ for middle guy, bringing musicians together to create success and showcase opportunities on an international scale.”
Mac DeMarco and Half Moon Run are great examples of artists that gained success through ‘M Pour Montreal.’ They first played in front of ‘M pour Montreal’ audiences. “We do music industry conferences by showcasing these bands and artists,” said Rishwain, adding that that was how these groups started their careers. He said he remembers booking Grimes and Half Moon Run in England when no one knew who they were and now they can sell out a whole show by themselves.
Last year, he saw Mac DeMarco and Half Moon Run play all around Europe. Rishwain said their crowds were even bigger in Ireland and Germany than in Montreal. “Knowing that they played together at ‘M pour Montreal’ and seeing them play in Europe gave me goosebumps. It shows how fast things can evolve and it happened in a matter of years for these bands,” he said.
Milk & Bone is another example of local success for Rishwain. “It was an honour to be part of their early success. These girls were always practicing. I heard a song and took a chance before ever hearing them perform live,” he said. “My feeling was booking them right away and it became a dream come true on both ends,” said Rishwain.
“I enjoy putting a breath of my own spirit in what I do,” he said. What he loves most about his job is to represent artists from Montreal. “I help pimp lots of bands and artists.”
Make sure to come and party at the OUMF music festival and laugh at Mikey Rishwain’s jokes. For more information regarding the event, visit their website.
The all-female metal rock band conquers the divide between genders
Conquer Divide, an all-female metal rock band, is conquering rock radio stations across America. It’s only been a year since their first self-titled album was released and they have already landed number 13 on Billboard’s HeatSeeker charts and number 33 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock/Radio Charts.
The band consists of screamer and vocalist Janel Duarte, guitarist Kristen Waters, drummer Tamara Tadic, lead vocalist Kiarely Castillo, bassist Ashley Colby and guitarist Izzy Johnson. For Duarte, hearing her band’s name on the radio is surreal. “We’re getting up there and it’s a lot to do with our fans,” she said. “They are calling the radio stations requesting us. It’s such a lovely feeling.” Conquer Divide’s music is a mixture of metal rock and softer rock tunes. Duarte said the bands “Beartooth” and “Attack Attack!” were some of the band’s major musical influences.
The band wouldn’t have been formed if it weren’t for international networking across a multitude of social media platforms.“It originally started with Kristen [Waters] when she was 15. She had the vision of starting a female project. She wanted to prove that it’s possible,” said Duarte. “She looked for girls in the Michigan area, which is where she’s from, but had to broaden her search.” The search for Kristen’s band mates expanded throughout the U.S., Canada and into the UK. Duarte mentions how band members Kiarely, Izzy and herself were discovered through YouTube. “They found me through my song covers that I had posted on my YouTube Channel,” Duarte said. “We all come from different states and Izzy is from the UK. Conquer Divide started with a lot of Facebook and YouTube so we have a lot of love for social media.”
The name ‘Conquer Divide’ has a strong meaning, one that Duarte explained is different for each member. “I see Conquer Divide as conquering the division of how far apart we are, we all live in different parts of the world and we come and make beautiful music together,” she explained. “It also means conquering the division of genders. Essentially, how conquering the fact that we are girls and still kick ass.”
What she loves most about being in the band is when they all get to [jam] together and go to different cities that they’ve never been to. “It’s always a good time when we are out travelling and then the shows are just the highlight of the night,” Duarte said. She added that touring isn’t dreadful: “When we got stuck by the side of the road at the end of our ‘Slave’ tour, we were all giggling. We were in the middle of the desert.” The girls are very close-knit and they conquer all their band issues together. “We’re a really strong band,” she said. Duarte said that the whole experience is worth the sleepless and showerless nights.
Conquer Divide wants listeners to feel comforted through their music. They write their songs based on experiences that everyone goes through. “Everyone goes through a lot of stuff in life, so I have a few things that I want to get off my chest and that’s where my inspiration comes from,” said Duarte.
Janel Duarte, vocalist/screamer performing live. Photo by Lauren Klinge.
What she loves most about what she brings to the band is her sense of humour. “I make a lot of people laugh, I’m just a ball of energy,” she said. “I feel like I help bring the shows together with the hype, craziness and aggression.”
She has a lot to say about her beloved bandmates as well. “Next to me, [Izzy] has a lot of patience, she knows how to get things done—best sense of humour mixed with a pretty personality and sassy accent.” As for their drummer Tamara, Duarte said she’s on fire behind the drums. “She’s a quiet sweet girl and when you see her on drums, it’s like, what? She’s so down to earth. We are all two different people on and off stage but for her it’s definitely apparent.”
The “momma” of Conquer Divide is guitarist Kristen. “She knows our schedules, when we need to do interviews. Any questions we have, we ask her,” Duarte said, adding that Kristen is the blunt and honest friend of the group. “She’s the friend that will tell you you look fat in those jeans.”
Their bass player Ashley is a tall southern gal who loves country music. “Her personality is so bubbly and happy. She’s always the person trying to keep us positive. It’s really awesome to have her around,” Duarte said. Vocalist Kiarely is Duarte’s best friend, inside and outside of the band. “We can just sit in a room and laugh our asses off for hours. We are inseparable on tour,” said Duarte. “I love all my girls in my band.”
To all bands out there working hard on their music, this is Duarte’s advice: “Get on YouTube, Facebook, post comments, go crazy, network as much as you possibly can, because when you do have a project that’s about to blow their minds, you will have a great audience.”
The girls are currently saving up for a new van for future tours. As soon as they hit the road again they are looking forward to touring and performing in Canada.
Lap guitar and instrumental musical rhythms that nourish the soul. Photo by Kevan Cardoza
Charles Rangel, rock-based lap guitarist native to Los Angeles
Visiting Los Angeles this summer, I knew I would come across a multitude of talented street performers. The one who marked me most is musician Charles Rangel, also known as the “Dime Store Novelist.” I noticed him on 3rd street Promenade in Santa Monica as he was playing lap guitar while trap tapping to “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles. I was in awe. He played lap guitar so naturally and effortlessly, although it looked difficult to do.
Charles Rangel currently performs in the Los Angeles area and in Las Vegas. You would think by the way he plays that he was born with a guitar in hand. Surprisingly, the 27-year-old musician only started street performing at the age of 20. “I was a band geek in high school, and I wanted to be a rock star. When I was around 20, I was getting out of college,” he said. “I was taking these music classes. I wanted to play and start working, no more sitting in a classroom. That’s when I started street performing.”
He said performing on the streets has given him freedom and the ability to control how much money he makes. “The better you get, the more people give you money, the better you feel about your craft,” he explained. “Street performing is a great way for people to be interested in your music. It brings really cool opportunities throughout the years.” It was on the street that he heard about a stage competition by Rolling Stone magazine back in 2011. He submitted his songs, and was featured in four issues of the magazine. He won and got to perform at the Rolling Stone party.
Check out Charles Rangel’s YouTube channel: “The Dime Store Novelist”. Photo by Dmitry Voznesensky
His music can be described as delicate instrumental rhythms that make you want to lay back and enjoy the breeze—they are borderline romantic tunes. Some tracks also have lyrics and a bluesy-rock vibe. Seeing him perform live, I could only wonder where he got those lap guitar moves. “I was just strolling through a music store in Orange County and some guy said ‘Man, you have to go check out this guy here, he plays lap guitar.’ I watched him play and asked him how he does it. I began listening to him and did it,” Rangel said. “I took it to the street and played the same riff over and over again until some bum yelled, ‘play something different!” He said street performing is what keeps him going. “The style I play on my lap is 95 per cent self-taught. I began making things up with it. I have to create techniques on how to play.”
As much as he enjoys street performing, he said his goal is to tour and to make a good living writing songs. “I want to exert a lot of energy on stage. My number one goal is to tour independently or with a band,” said Rangel. His creative process is rather interesting. He said he can write 10 songs in a day if he wanted to. “When I’m driving, I’ll play the instrumental in the car and sing over it, that’s how I wrote most of my songs,” said Rangel. Anything can inspire him, he said. “What I hear in my dreams is f***** awesome and I have no idea how to recreate it so I wake up and hum it into my phone.”
Rangel also performed in Montreal. He toured across Canada with Canadian rapper Nova Rockafeller who hired him as her guitar player in the fall of 2015. They toured with All Time Low and Set it off. “Set it off was like my favourite,” said Rangel. “I really enjoyed watching them perform. That tour was a very good experience—it made me want to be a rapper actually.” When he’s street performing, his favourite spots to play are in Texas at the SXSW music festival and the Santa Monica Pier. “Performing on the Santa Monica Pier, there’s just something romantic about it. The ocean behind you, couples are holding hands… it just creates an atmosphere,” said Rangel.
How does he want his music to make people feel? “I want people to feel really good and take their clothes off. That’s what first came to mind,” he said. His advice to street performers: “Be courteous and respectful to other musicians, have fun and don’t set up in my spot.”
Rangel is currently working on a new album.
Check out Rangel’s music at www.charlesrangelmusic.com.
Oops, she did it again! Britney is back with her ninth album and she’s bringing back her classic pop sound. It’s been already 18 years since “Baby One More Time” and she continues to kill it. Glory is a record for the ultimate loud party girl who wants to have a good time. It’s flirtatious, girly and obnoxiously fun. It can bring out the diva in anyone. Her hit “Make Me” featuring G-Easy is everything a summer jam should be. It’s a catchy melody that automatically puts you in a good mood. Her hit “Clumsy” is the party girl anthem of the album. It has that catchy hook with Britney’s signature moan as she gasps ‘oops!’ and the fizzy electro beat drops. Her song “Slumber Party” is what you play when you don’t feel like going out on the town but have to. It will give you the adrenaline to dance on tables all night.
His picturesque storytelling and mellow voice with smooth R&B beats were greatly present in this album. The whole album is a story to follow, from the first track up all the way to the end. Compared to previous album Orange Channel, Blond is much more experimental. There are many collaborations, such as “Pink+White” which features Beyoncé’s beautiful vocals in the background, making the song magical. There’s a skit called “Be Yourself” in which a woman sends strong messages about being true to yourself and the impacts of drug abuse. His track “Solo” is sung from the soul, giving the song great depth. Ocean’s lyrics make you want to understand and put together their meanings. “Nights” is a roll your windows enjoy the sunset low key type of track. Frank Ocean mastered a great work of art. Overall, very creative.
Roosevelt takes the classic ‘80s-electro beats and combines them with soft house music rhythms. His melodies are all feel-good, happy sounds with a touch of nostalgia. His song “Wait Up” has a lounge music feel with that ‘80s influence. It’s a song that you will want your favourite club to blast. The beat makes you feel like you are enjoying the sun in Ibiza. His song “Colours” has a more disco, house feel to it. Roosevelt’s soothing voice peaks through with such softness. It’s a dreamy tune that can put you in a trance on the dancefloor. The track “Hold On” starts off with a beautiful rhythm that calls your body to dance. It’s the perfect song for a house dance choreography. Overall, this album is a beautiful combination of ‘80s electro and house/lounge music.
Can you hear that? Boom. “God Pt 2” suddenly blows out of your speakers with a beat that can give anyone the confidence to bust a move. It’s a God-like track with that catchy flow and deep bass line—the type of song that gets stuck in your head and makes you feel like a badass. The Apollo II is Majesty Da God’s second EP record and it’s as versatile as can be. From gold-chain-wearing-fried-chicken-eating monkeys to thanking God for his blessings and appreciating life, this EP has it both—tracks to bump to while riding with the windows down and songs where his lyrical prose inspires people to keep their heads up. Brown sugar, baby, give it to me—Majesty Da God made it hot like it’s supposed to be with his song “Brown Sugar” featuring artist Vee Stoner. It projects a sensual vibe that’s perfect for summer loving. In the last track, “I Hope,” his storytelling gives out the imagery of a father telling his sons all the important lessons in life. It’s a track that you want to focus on, because all he said in there is beautifully true.
Claudiu Pascalau created Style Attorney, your go-to guide for everything menswear. Photo by Sacha Cohen.
Style Attorney enhances classic menswear styles with a contemporary twist
All men looking for inspiration on both classic and casual styles may have a new go-to guide. Claudiu Pascalau is the founder of the fashion blog Style Attorney, and he’s making classical menswear refreshing and appealing to a younger audience.
Claudiu Pascalau created Style Attorney, your go-to guide for everything menswear. Photo by Sacha Cohen.
Pascalau is currently studying at Concordia, majoring in communication studies. In the summer of 2013, he decided to take his passion for men’s clothing to the next level by creating a blog where he could share and express his unique style. Since 2014, he has been a stylist for Boutique Tozzi, which has inspired him for many styles and brands that he shares through his blog. “The concept of inspiring people by doing what you love thrills me,’’ said Pascalau.
The fashion blogging field is saturated with bloggers—so many of them are competing for recognition, yet, Style Attorney has managed to gain awareness regardless of the struggle.
“The blog started with only a simple idea, however, it took a lot of work and determination to implement it. At first, I would post every day and not get any views or feedback,” he said. “It’s important not to give up and remain consistent. If I did not persist, my blog would not have reached the audience it has today.” The website gets over 2,000 visits per month.
Pascalau said his style is all about the “old world charm” adapted to modern standards. His inspirations come from style icons such as Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and Gregory Peck.
“I want people to know that it’s not unusual for young men to dress formally. My blog is all about showcasing how to make these classic styles fit into today’s modern wardrobes,” said Pascalau. He also said honesty and integrity are key concepts for his blog. “I only showcase products that I truly believe are worthy. I won’t promote a product just to get paid, I need to agree with its quality,” he said.
Claudiu Pascalau created Style Attorney, your go-to guide for everything menswear. Photo by Sacha Cohen.
Through Style Attorney, Pascalau has had the opportunity to collaborate with various companies from the menswear industry such as Sprezza Box, Union Jack Boots and Scarzza Shoes. Pascalau reached a milestone while collaborating with Coghor, a Montreal-based custom tailoring and men’s styling company, where they got together to document the process of getting a made-to-measure suit.
When asked what trends to look out for in summer and fall of 2016, he said: “Suede shoes, mainly Chelsea boots or desert boots. White and off-white pants are going to be very trendy as well. A lot of prints; printed shirts are making a huge comeback. As for suits, linen or cotton fabrics—any suit that is deconstructed is in style. It gives the look a more casual allure while remaining chic,” said Pascalau.
He said keeping it simple is key, focusing on comfort, but also confidence in what you wear. Pascalau said it is always best to favour quality over quantity. “Build a wardrobe that will still be in style 10 years from now,” he advised.
Hungry for more fashion recommendations? Check out www.styleattorney.com or visit his Youtube channel “Style Attorney.”
Concordia graduates build 5 Pound Media, a company specializing in media production
Two friends turned their passion for photography, videos and hip-hop into a successful business. Meet Glen Carter and Ryley Mahoney, the founders of 5 Pound Media. They both recently graduated from Concordia—Carter in finance and Mahoney in communication studies.
Concordia graduates Glen Carter and Ryley Mahoney are building our generation’s business community. Photos courtesy of 5 Pound Media.
In April of 2012, as full-time students, they decided to take on creative projects together for their own pleasure. That’s when they first launched 5 Pound Media.
“Music videos were our jump-off point,” said Carter. One of the first videos they shot was for rapper Ceasrock, said Mahoney. From there, they started working on projects that sparked their creative and entrepreneurial spirit which in return, lead them on to bigger contracts.
“Our work is all about collaboration, we do a little bit of everything together. Ryley specializes in production, shooting and editing while I handle more of the administrative side such as setting up shoots and budgeting,” said Carter.
Photos courtesy of 5 Pound Media.
Only a year after their launch, they got in touch with hip-hop artist Mick Jenkins. “Mick was a cool milestone for us. We got in touch with him through his manager who lived in Montreal. We understood Mick’s unique talent and knew that we had to work with him,” said Carter. “At the time his music was still very underground.”
Their first shoot with Mick was in winter 2013 in New York City. During fall of that year, Mick came to Montreal and the pair shot the video for the song “Martyrs” said Carter.
This was Mick Jenkins first viral exposure and it got over 2 million views. The video also appeared on World Star Hip Hop. The success of this project lead them to more collaborations with local artists such as The Posterz, Wasiu and The Narcicyst.
The artistic expertise of 5 Pound Media, combined with their humanistic approach brought them into the commercial business as well. “A lot of the styles we use in our music videos can easily transfer to our commercial work which is based on high-quality, specific style and aesthetic,” said Carter.
They recently collaborated with HRVST, a web design company, and created media content for “My Pop Shoes” brand. “Our work is all about the way we collaborate. We want to make sure that [clients] get exactly what they want from it. The “My Pop Shoes” project was taken care of as if it were our own business,” said Mahoney. “That’s why we enjoy working with young entrepreneurs because they have a lot of ideas and they just need help executing them.”
Photos courtesy of 5 Pound Media.
As their company has grown, Carter and Mahoney reached a milestone—the part-time company they started for fun now became their full-time occupation. “Being a full-time entrepreneur is easier to do today than tomorrow. Most students don’t have as much financial responsibility as someone older would have. If you’re young and do something that you love, it makes it a whole lot easier. Just make sure you have good hustle,” said Carter.
Asking for entrepreneurial advice, they gave their perspective: “If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room. You should always be progressing and learning,” said Carter. Mahoney adds that confidence is key. “The more confident you are, the more people take you seriously.”
From video production to creative marketing concepts, it’s fair to say that 5 Pound Media is here to make creative dreams come true. When asked what success means to them, their answer was simple: “It means that we’ll be doing what we love for a full-time and a long time.”
5 Pound Media will soon organize various events and workshops. For further information, visit www.5poundmedia.com.
