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Music

Maica Mia dive into new territory with their upcoming album

Press photo

Since the band’s inception nearly two years ago, Maica Mia has undergone some major group reconfigurations. What was initially a duo consisting of Concordia graduate student Maica Armata and Jonny Paradise, has now developed into a three-piece and at times a four or even five-piece collective of dedicated friends and musicians.

Press photo

“Now it’s definitely a full band,” said Armata, the band’s vocalist and guitarist. “We’ve got a bigger template to work with.”

Having enlisted Godspeed You! Black Emperor bassist Mauro Pezzente, the band will be releasing Des Era, the follow-up to their debut album, Sparcity Blues.

“When you throw in another perspective, it’s also kind of nice,” Armata said.

The album features almost an hour of experimental rock sounds and instrumentation over five tracks.

“We’re exploring new territory,” explained Armata.

According to the songstress, the album is “a lot more heavy, a lot more intense, a lot more rock.”

The record’s first single, “Eugene,” showcases equally each individual member’s playing in a spectral manner: the track builds up slowly with intensity and transforms itself into a cataclysmic sequence of percussion, guitar and bass.

Like “Eugene,” “Wish” is eight minutes of transcendental instrumentals with just the right amount of guitar feedback reverberating from the amplifiers.

“There’s a lot more layers involved,” noted Armata of the album. “It’s definitely a lot more experimental rock.”

Des Era is laced with ethereal instrumental qualities, paired with Armata’s soulfully textured vocals. On the title track, Armata’s self-described “non-conventional” guitar playing is featured prominently alongside Paradise’s steady drumming.

Since The Concordian last spoke with Maica Mia, before the Pop Montreal festival in September, they have gone on to play several other festivals including M for Montreal. Despite each member balancing bandwork with non-musical endeavours, the trio have been anxiously awaiting the release of their new album.

“We’re working on getting our ducks lined up for the album launch,” laughed Armata.

The album, which officially drops on Jan. 28, will be available through electronic download and on vinyl as well.

“I just think that there’s something very romantic about [vinyl],” she said. “If in a thousand years, somebody could find a record, and find an artefact of this time, I think that is so precious.”

Maica Mia will be performing at La Sala Rossa for their album launch on Jan. 24 with guests Ought, Essaie Pas, and DJ Babi Audi.

 

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Music

Age is nothing but a number for The Skins

Brooklyn natives The Skins opened for Jake Bugg at Metropolis on Jan. 12. Press photo

Walking to the rehearsal studio, Bayli McKeithan is surrounded by drivers angrily honking their horns, and by ambulance sirens shrieking  frantically as they try to make their way through traffic: the backdrop to a typical Brooklyn morning.

Brooklyn natives The Skins opened for Jake Bugg at Metropolis on Jan. 12. Press photo

Composed of New York natives Bayli, Kaya,Reef McKeithan, (vocals, bass and drums respectively,), and guitarists Daisy Spencer and Russell Chell; the Skins have been touring with The Strokes’ guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. and British singer/songwriter Jake Bugg since early January.

The McKeithan siblings met Daisy and Russell several years ago at the School of Rock in New York.

“That’s totally a real thing,” laughed Bayli, referencing the 2003 Jack Black film where students learn to perform and play music. “It was just a perfect coming together.”

The band members, ranging in age from 15 to 21, wanted to create their own pieces and write their own lyrics, and decided to break away from the school to indulge in their own creative pursuits.

“You’re basically just covering songs, learning songs, but you’re not writing your own stuff,” added Bayli.

Based out of Brooklyn, Bayli expresses her appreciation for “the cultural diversity of New York City that makes [the band], and helps [the band] stand out.”

Currently working on new material for a future EP and album, the band does not shy away from mixing different genres other than rock together to create a fresh, eclectic sound.

Citing Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and other legends as main sources of inspiration, Bayli explains how each individual member of The Skins currently has different musical preferences, ranging anywhere and everywhere from Beyonce and Jay Z, to The Strokes and The Arctic Monkeys.

“We try to enmesh a lot of the styles of music that we listen to together,” she said.

Since their first self-released and self-titled EP in 2012, The Skins have been working with Wreckroom Records owner, actor, musician and entrepreneur, Adrian Grenier.

“When he launched [Wreckroom Records], he asked us to come and do a song and a video and it worked out in favour of both parties,” Bayli explained.

“We’re surrounded by creative people, it’s insane.”

Self-described as part of a “super lively” band, the young, energetic frontwoman notes that working with her siblings has made the writing and production processes a lot more enjoyable.

“Since we’re so close, we can just be honest with each other without getting defensive,” she said. “It made it easy for all of us to be just like one big family unit.”

Despite the relatively young age of its members, The Skins “don’t think that age really factors in” when it comes to writing or performing.

“Everything that we’ve put out so far is all our own,” says Bayli of their EP. “Sometimes the younger you are, the more creative, or the more enthusiastic, the more imagination, I don’t know. We’re just really about energy, and expressing yourself and vibrancy and amazingness.”

With a slew of upcoming North American tour dates, including a stop last Sunday in Montreal, Bayli admitted that she’s feeling a little nervous.

“This is the most amount of dates we’ve ever done,” she said. “We’re just super grateful that we’ve been able to accomplish all this stuff.”

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Music

For the love of music: an interview with Gisèle Quartet

Montreal four-piece collective Gisele Quartet release their debut album Roger on Dec. 3. Press photo.

Think of a blend of jazz and rock. Add some political speeches about influential figures like Martin Luther King…and there you have it, folks. Welcome to the Gisèle Quartet.

Montreal four-piece collective Gisele Quartet release their debut album Roger on Dec. 3. Press photo.

With beautiful melodies, political themes and crunchy chords, the band’s first album, Roger, is the perfect kind of music to listen to if you are in the mood for good, no-nonsense jazz.

“We are four musicians, and the fun part of this project is that we are all friends,” said, one of the musicians, Louis Beaudoin. “I play electric guitar, Dave Croteau is on drums, Alex Dodier performs on the saxophone and Miriam Pilette plays guitar.”

The four musicians, three of whom live together, thrive on their friendship and maintain it is crucial to let their music reflect just that.

“When you play an instrument, I believe the instrument is an extension of yourself,” posited Beaudoin. “As such, you need to really connect with others in a band. Luckily for us, we get along very well. We are very honest with one another too. If we think something needs to be improved, we say it candidly.”

Influenced by musicians such as Chris Potter, Kneebody, Medeski Martin & Wood and King Crimson, Beaudoin acknowledged that the quartet’s music is heavily nuanced by other musical giants.

“We like to listen to a wide variety of music. We listen to [Dmitri] Shostakovich just as much as we listen to rap. We don’t like to have explicit references to other musicians, but if you listen closely to our album, you will hear sounds that will remind you of other composers,” said the guitarist.

Another influence, though perhaps not musical, manifests itself in the band name. The name of the quartet has personal connotations for one of its members.

“We decided to name our quartet after my grandmother, Gisèle, who is still living and is very excited that we named ourselves after her. She has a special place in my life,” explained Beaudoin.

Making their first album was a challenge, but a rewarding one for the band who prefers being on stage rather than in the studio. According to Beaudoin, expressing themselves in front of an audience allows for a deeper connection with the music, one not necessarily achieved while in a controlled environment.

“When you perform, you can improvise, you can let go a bit, you can really sink into the music. When you record, you are more tight, more restrained. It’s hard recording yourself for the first time and trying not to make any mistakes,” he added.

The titles of their songs are particularly comedic. Mostly in French, the titles take on a lighter tone.

“Since our work is all instrumental, we decided to have some fun with the titles of the songs,” said Beaudoin, who usually is responsible for the made-from-scratch genesis of a song. “We have funny titles such as Littérature sous-marine (Underwater literature) and J’aurais pu être un dauphin mais j’aurais jamais lu Camus (I Could Have Been a Dolphin but I Would Never Have Read Camus).”

Despite the group’s achievements thus far, the idea of making money off of music is not their priority since they all have other jobs and alternate sources of income.

“Although we are all trained professionally at universities, we have other projects on the go. Being a musician is hardly easy, let me say that. But we are not really interested in making money. What we are interested in is transferring our energy to the audience. That is what counts. The 10-second high you get on stage when everything clicks…that is what counts. It’s almost like a drug. We need that 10-second feeling.”

Though he is sure of what his music represents, when asked about the future, Beaudoin shrugged, almost unconcerned.

“We are more of a creative artistic group, meaning that we live primarily for the music, not for what tomorrow brings. Miriam is the best at organizing ourselves. That said, we are planning on going on a tour, going to places like Quebec City and Saguenay.”

The Gisèle Quartet performs at Le Labo on 552 Jarry St. on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.

 

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Music

Krewella climbs to the top of the electronic music charts

Krewella press photo

In today’s rapidly evolving pop culture, artists need to be versatile in order to make it big. It isn’t about being solely a musician, a painter, or a singer anymore; today, you need to be perfect. Electronic trio Krewella has seized that mentality with a perfect score.

Krewella press photo

Climbing to the number one spot last week on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Songs list, the eclectic electro-punk trio has been surprising the world on all fronts. Known best for their singles, “Alive” and “Live For The Night,” Krewella has flowed through the mainstream airwaves and has generated over 18 million views on Youtube and garnered well over 175,000 subscribers.

With Columbia Records backing them they have ventured on numerous world tours and have played at some of the most prominent music festivals, such as Electric Daisy Carnival in Los Angeles, Ultra Music Festival in Miami as well as the infamous Tomorrowland festival in Belgium.

The Chicago-based team has also collaborated with a variety of producers and DJs such as Montreal electronic duo Adventure Club, as well as other big name players like Hardwell, Nicky Romero, Skrillex, Zedd, and Knife Party. With their brand new top-charting album Get Wet, the trio have embarked on a completely sold out 55-day world tour.

The band itself consists of three members, Jahan Yousaf, Yasmine Yousaf, and Kris Trindl. All three play a crucial role to the success of the “Krew.” Yasmine and Jahan are the lead vocalists as well as the DJs for the live performances, whereas Kris is the “behind-the-scenes” producer.

“The dynamic is really important for the infrastructure of Krewella,” said Jahan. “There was a point when we knew we needed to drop everything for the band. At the time, we were working simple jobs and my sister was in college. When we knew that this is what we wanted to do with our lives, we dropped the entire world in order to devote our time.”

Two years later, their single “Alive” hit mainstream airwaves.

When asked about how underground artists should attack the world in order to get exposure, Jahan advised not to “follow in anyone’s footsteps. Maybe analyze them to better yourself, but your path needs to be unique and organic.”

She added, “the infrastructure that you build over years of being an artist is what makes you who you are artistically and that is unique for all [artists] who have made it big. Just be you and people will follow.”

Their latest album truly exemplifies this concept, especially with tracks like “Human.”

Although the band is known for their upbeat and positive music, this song is very deep and emotional, unlike the rest of the album. For artists, it is necessary to be versatile and Krewella has truly shown that through Get Wet; the album invokes a wide spectrum of emotions and energy and is definitely worth a listen.

Krewella has been touring on their Get Wet Live Tour since the album was released on Sept. 24. They will be touring partially in Canada with Seven Lions, an electro-dubstep group signed to Skrillex’s OWSLA Records.

From their two EPs, Play Hard and Play Harder, to their new album, Get Wet, we can definitely expect some more Krewella masterpieces in the future. If ever you should feel like your life has been missing some excitement and adventure, a healthy dose of Krewella is definitely recommended as soon as possible.

Krewella will be at the Telus Theatre on Oct.24.

photo caption: Electronic trio Krewella released their latest album Get Wet on Sept. 24.

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Music

Peter Hook shines with The Light

Peter Hook & The Light perform the 1st 2 New Order Albums live at Koko, London, UK on 17.Jan.2013© Al de Perez - All Rights Reserved

Legendary bassist Peter Hook recreates the sorrowful sound and ambiance of his former post-punk group, Joy Division, with his most recent creative project. Primarily a cover band, Peter Hook & The Light breathe new life into songs Joy Division fans wouldn’t have thought could be reproduced after the suicide of lead singer and songwriter Ian Curtis more than three decades ago.

Peter Hook & The Light perform the 1st 2 New Order Albums live at Koko, London, UK on 17.Jan.2013© Al de Perez – All Rights Reserved

To return to the punk scene in the United Kingdom during its heyday is no simple task. Recreating the vocals of the late Curtis presents theoretical and logistical issues.

“I was kind of propelled into the role of frontman when I decided to do the albums and no one else would take on the vocals,” said Hook.

Having only previously played bass and contributed backing vocals on occasion, he described the transition as “extremely daunting,” but claims that as he played more and more as a vocalist, he was able to adjust.

Despite the tremendous task of replacing the legendary singer, Hook’s style is well suited to Joy Division’s early material. The lyrics may remain the same, but the manner in which they are sung is no longer quite as tortured, in fact it’s quite the opposite.The same beautifully haunting quality which made the band so great during the pinnacle of their success back in the mid-1970s remains, but no longer fraught with unhappiness.

The group consists of Hook as the lead vocalist and bass player, his son Jack Bates also on bass, David Potts on guitar, Andy Poole on keyboard and backing vocals, and Paul Kehoe on drums. Although Hook claims that the relationship can sometimes be “quite tense” between him and his son, the enthusiasm Bates brings along with his mastery of the bass far outweighs the occasional disagreement.

Hook’s current group marks a significant turning point, not just in terms of musical style, but personal growth. After only a moment, listeners can ascertain a certain optimism infused into the original sets. Although there haven’t been extensive changes in the lyrics or acoustics, there are subtle differences in the way they are sung.

Inspiration for the ‘The Light’  name came from the aftermath of the tumultuous years of playing with Joy Division. “I felt that a weight had been lifted from my shoulders,” said Hook. This is a clear contrast to his former band name, Joy Division, which was taken from the name for the prostitution wing of a nazi concentration camp mentioned in the 1955 novel The House of Dolls.

The youthful energy and spirit of rebellion, the je ne sais quoi of expressive despair that characterized Joy Division, can never be reproduced. However, their roots can be built upon, and Peter Hook & The Light do an amazing job of reviving the original sets. “As I’ve aged, I’ve mellowed and my sound has got wider and more rounded,” said Hook. This resulted in an audible difference for the songs once performed in such a state of internal turmoil. For those accustomed to the versions performed by the late Ian Curtis, this gives the covers an almost surreal quality.

Hook is keen to perform in Montreal, where he appreciates the thriving music scene. Although this city in 2013 is far from the English punk rock scene of the 1970s, the liveliness and energy replicate it in many ways.

The beauty of the old and the new come together with Peter Hook & The Light. Whether you’re a punk rock enthusiast, die-hard Joy Division fan or simply appreciate good music, Peter Hook & The Light are sure to deliver on all fronts.

Peter Hook & The Light perform at Club Soda on Sept. 18 at 8 p.m.

 

Categories
Sports

Stingers’ defenceman plans ahead

Photo by Keith Race

For many Canadians across the country, Saturday nights begin when the Hockey Night in Canada theme song is heard and Don Cherry’s fluorescent suits fill up their television screens. For many young hockey players, watching those games on the CBC was the beginning of their hockey careers.

Kabbaj was drafted by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2008 , which brought him one step closer to making it to the NHL. Photo by Keith Race

For Youssef Kabbaj, a defenceman for the Stingers men’s hockey team, things weren’t much different.

“I started playing hockey when I was six years old,” he said. “One day in December of 1997, my dad was watching the Habs. I wanted to watch my cartoons, but he wouldn’t let me. I ended up watching the game with him, which was the first time I watched a full game. From that day on, I fell in love with the game.”

And Kabbaj didn’t look back. After playing most of his novice and atom A hockey in Westmount, he went on to play Bantam BB in Versant-Ouest, Bantam AA in Verdun and Midget AAA in Châteauguay.

It’s every hockey player’s dream to make the NHL. For Kabbaj, it almost became reality when he was 15 and playing Bantam AA.

“It was the first time I was ever considered as being one of the top players of my age in Quebec,” said Kabbaj. “That’s when I started sacrificing vacation time during the summer to workout and get stronger.”

Kabbaj was drafted by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2008 , which brought him one step closer to making it to the NHL.

“At first [playing in the QMJHL] was surreal,” explained Kabbaj. “You’re treated like a pro, you play with great players and become an idol for kids in the town you play in. It’s a great feeling because you know you’re not that far from the ultimate goal of playing in the NHL. It’s like a tap [on] the back of the shoulder just to say ‘keep it up, you’re almost there.’”

However, the dream took a step back when he returned to the Saguenéens’ training camp the next year.

“My coach in Chicoutimi told me I would not be an important part of his team [thereby] just blocking my dream of making the NHL without me being able to do anything about it, because he would rarely make me play,” said Kabbaj.

He was traded from Chicoutimi to the Shawinigan Cataractes and spent his last year of major junior play with the Gatineau Olympiques. His main role was killing penalties or playing against the opposing team’s top-line players.

Most players are forced to move away from home when they’re drafted at 16. Many players, like Kabbaj, move in with billet parents, families who receive money from the junior teams to care for their players.

“[Living away from home] forces you to become more responsible,” said Kabbaj. “The hardest thing was missing my mom’s cooking! [But] I learned how to be tougher and not to be shy. I learned how to control my emotions to a certain extent and maintain a composed mood.”

Now, having returned home, Kabbaj is entering his second year with the Stingers.

“The NHL was definitely the dream, [but] that faded away a bit after my [18th birthday] when I went undrafted,” he said. “I had to choose between playing in minor pro leagues with no long-term guarantees or a university degree with long-term guarantees. The choice was fairly simple to me.”

Kabbaj chose Concordia after head coach Kevin Figsby showed keen interest in bringing him to Concordia while Kabbaj was playing in Gatineau. He is currently studying political science and plans to attend law school after graduation.

“Hockey-wise, I’m a Stinger for now and proud to be. If I get a crack at the pros then why not [continue playing], but realistically I’m aiming for law school after my degree,” he said. Watch for Kabbaj in the Stingers preseason game against McGill on Sept. 12.

Categories
Music

Auresia leaves no musical genre untouched

Press photo

For some artists finding the inspiration for new music is like trying to find a needle in a pile of needles. For Montreal-based musician Auresia, it’s as simple as stepping out the front door in the morning.

Auresia plays Club Espagnol de Quebec on Tuesday, Sept. 3 and l’Artère on Saturday, Sept. 28. Press photo

The Edmonton native moved to Montreal almost a decade ago after having visited the city just once before. “I travelled [to] here when I was 17 and completely fell in love with the city,” said Auresia. “I just felt at home instantly,” she added.

Since her self-titled debut album in 2008, Auresia has continuously indulged her sense of wanderlust. She has travelled extensively through North, Central and South America, absorbing all the diverse cultures along the way to create a sound that is not easily classifiable, however a fateful trip to California’s Reggae on the River festival prompted a stronger reggae influence in her music.

“I was just so happy. I danced for three days straight and I don’t even remember sleeping much,” said Auresia. “It was a turning point; it changed my life.”

As a result, her first album garnered much attention from the international music community, and even earned her nominations at the Indie Awards as well as the Canadian Reggae Music Awards. Auresia drew heavily from roots music and reggae and described the album as having “an old school feel and sound.”

For her upcoming album Risin’, out Sept. 3, the singer-songwriter explored new musical territory and drew inspiration not only from her travels, but from her own city as well. “Being around all the different cultures has definitely inspired me,” she said of Montreal. It is evident from the album’s first single “High”, that Auresia created a sound that is as unique and diverse as the city she lives in.

“This time around I just really wanted to express all the music that’s influenced me,” she said. “I wanted to express my whole self in this album. I really love folk music and strong melodies so it’s kind of a mix of all these styles and flavours like reggae, pop, salsa, dancehall, R&B, even some elements of flamenco, reggaeton and rock,” she added.

To add to the plethora of genres in the album, Auresia drew from her own cultural heritage as well. “I was actually born in the Ukraine and moved to Canada when I was a baby,” she said. “I grew up with a lot of Ukrainian music where there’s a lot of strong melodies, a lot of strong harmonies and I think it carried through to my album,” she added.

When she’s not busy touring or recording, Auresia seeks out the simple pleasures the city has to offer. “I hang out with my friends, have sangria, go to the park and walk on the mountain,” she said, referring to Mount Royal. Despite her busy schedule, Auresia tries to get out to the mountain several times a week. “It feels so good to just get out of the hussle-bussle even if for half an hour,” she said.

With most of her family still living back in Edmonton, she tries to get back out West as often as she can; the ambitious musician revels in the time she gets to spend with her family.  Despite her eternal fondness for her hometown, Auresia’s heart belongs to Montreal. “There’s no place like Montreal, and I’ve travelled a lot,” she laughs.

With no signs of slowing down, Auresia could not be more excited for the release of her upcoming album Risin’. It is a unique amalgamation of all the musical styles she’s encountered throughout her travels and carries an overarching empowering message. “Fuel up on love. It’s all about finding your power, your core, your energy,” she said. “This album is the evolution of my growth as a woman, and as a human being.”

Auresia plays Club Espagnol de Quebec on Tuesday, Sept. 3 and l’Artère on Saturday, Sept. 28.

 

Categories
Music

Playing in two worlds

SISU plays Société des Arts Technologiques with Dirty Beaches Wednesday Sept. 4. Press photo

Dum Dum Girls’ drummer, Sandra “Sandy Beaches” Vu, has stepped out from behind the drums and shed the noise-pop band’s persona, as well as their signature ripped nylon and black leather look. Now fronting her own band, SISU, the musician described this transition as “a feeling of utter nakedness” as she stood before a crowd with only her voice and guitar.

SISU plays Société des Arts Technologiques with Dirty Beaches Wednesday Sept. 4. Press photo

“For SISU, I consider it more of a personal project and it’s very honest,” she explained. “I don’t have a set uniform, or a kind of look that Dum Dum Girls has where it’s a set aesthetic. SISU’s aesthetic is more loose and more me – exposed.”

SISU’s sound hovers in limbo over many genres like synth, shoegaze, electronic and dream without treading too deeply into any one. The band’s sound is “able to exist in that space [between subgenres] and have both exist at the same time.” A strong bass melody supports each diverse song, while a mix of light synth, guitar, and Vu’s dream-like voice work to build the shoegaze sound the frontwoman described as being “a wall of sound: maximum sound.”

The shoegaze subgenre can be heard in bands like My Bloody Valentine which acted as an influence on SISU’s sound. Others include Silver Apples, Vashti Bunyan, Serge Gainsbourg and DJ Shadow.

Before starting SISU and joining the Dum Dum Girls, which launched Vu into a whole other adventure, the songwriter found herself at a dead end when her former band Midnight Movies broke up.

“It was like not really knowing what was going on with my life in general. Just imagine putting all your eggs in one basket, that’s kind of what I did at the time. I was having an identity crisis but I just took the time to myself. I started writing, not even with the goal of starting a band, I just wrote for myself. Having decided to really pursue it as a band, it really did take a lot of work to get to where I am now,” she said.

The workload continues to follow Vu as she highlights her struggle to perform as the vocalist for SISU, then rush to do a quick costume change and to resume her role as the noise/dream pop group’s feisty drummer.

“Playing drums, you’re usually in the back but I definitely don’t undervalue playing drums. SISU is more responsibility in the front, scarier because I’m not hiding behind anything or sitting down. It’s more difficult, but it’s more rewarding because it’s difficult. There’s way more responsibility, which can be more fun,” she said.

Nevertheless, being in both bands isn’t all work. Vu recounted a moment backstage at a European music festival, where “we were waiting for the Stone Roses to go on. We were all dorking-out’ and listening to them do their warm up with our ears to the wall.”

As for their name, the band had originally thought they’d come up with the word SISU but after a quick Google search, the word was discovered to have a very strong meaning associated with it. SISU is a Finnish term and means bravery, empowerment, and the ability to face head-on and overcome. The significance of the word worked so appropriately in the context of Vu’s moments of uneasiness between bands and her drive to step out from behind the comfortable cage of the drum-set to the front of the stage.

“Harpoons,” the first single off their debut album Blood Tears, which will be released on Sept. 17, kickstarts the album with its catchy rock/pop tune, heavy bass drum and fleeting synth melodies. Vu explains how the song is about sometimes “having to kind of kill part of yourself in order to move on and in order to grow.”

She continues to write songs in the tour van when she’s not feeling too queasy and plays two very different roles.

“From guitar to drums, I can just switch personalities,” she says. And with just a costume change in between.

SISU plays Société des Arts Technologiques with Dirty Beaches Wednesday Sept. 4.

 

Categories
Student Life

More than just school spirit

Press photo.

While most students might look to a part-time job to keep some cash in their pockets, John Molson School of Business student, Ali Khadjavi, started his own company.

In 2009, Khadjavi launched his company, Nettoyeurs Express, with his brother Reza, after beginning his studies at Concordia as an independent student. A natural go-getter, Khadjavi is currently working towards his Bachelor of Commerce.

Born in Tehran, Khadjavi moved to Canada when he was five-years-old. He and his brother, Reza, had an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age and came up with their business idea together.

Press photo.

“We were looking for a traditional business with a twist and discovered that dry cleaning was an easy business to start since many dry cleaners outsourced the work,” Khadjavi said. “So that means very little start up costs and good margins.”

The brothers target their business to busy students and young professionals who need laundry services and dry cleaning, but might not have time to make the trip to the cleaners or the laundromat themselves.

Nettoyeurs Express has done away with the traditional storefront in favour of a more modern web-based model. The sophisticated website enables their clients to select from a wide range of pickup and delivery hours.

Laundry and dry cleaning is picked up from clients’ homes, workplace or hotel and can be delivered within 48 hours or less, depending on the service option selected.

Always thinking ahead, the brothers turned to additional niche markets as well.

“We also service businesses such as clinics, spas, daycares, firms and other small companies,” Khadjavi said. “We are also very popular for our office weekly pickups for large companies such as Aldo Group, Ernst & Young and for our laundry services in the McGill Dormitories.”

Bursaries, mentorship programs and business coaching through Youth Employment Services were all helpful for Khadjavi to get Nettoyeurs Express off the ground. He notes that Québec is an excellent province for young entrepreneurs to start a new business.

During their interview on CJAD’s program, Today’s Entrepreneur, the brothers advised young people looking to start a business not to underestimate the importance of a strong web presence. It is no longer an aspect of business that can be ignored and it has certainly been essential in setting Khadjavi’s business apart from the competition.

Khadjavi is also quick to point out the campaign his company holds every September on their Facebook page, “Give $20 Get $20,” which he notes is very popular amongst the student population.
There will always be competitors in the laundry business, but Khadjavi and his brother are ready for it and even welcome it.

 

Categories
Sports

Kevin Figsby’s coaching journey

Brianna Thicke

 

Photo Brianna Thicke

“When you do get that kid in, you’re with him almost everyday for four or five years. You watch them grow, you watch them develop through all kinds of life’s different up and downs. Most people don’t get to see that, and it’s phenomenal to see that. To see a first-year mature and graduating, it’s a phenomenal experience.”

That was Kevin Figsby’s reply when asked what his favourite part of coaching was. It’s being a mentor for these kids every single day, an “extended parent,” as he said. That’s what draws him to the job of coaching, ever since he first came out of university.

Figsby changed the face of Concordia University’s hockey program since first taking over in 2000. He’s instilled an exemplary set of values in the players that are based on two extremely important values.

“Two things that have been instilled in our program is pride and tradition,” said Figsby. “And it’s something we really believe in. You respect the traditions of the people that have been here before you and you take pride in doing it.”

The guiding values and strong core of the team can be attributed to Figsby’s staggering reputation as a coach. Growing up in Pointe-Saint-Charles, Figsby was introduced to community involvement and volunteering from a very young age. It has shaped him not only in his coaching career, but also in his life as well. It’s through these experiences that he’s managed to implant community values in every Stingers player passing through the program for 13 years.

“I think it’s an important mission of the university to make sure the players are involved in an academic, social and community perspective as well,” Figsby said. “It’s one of my big beliefs that you have to be involved with community.”

Throughout the years, Figsby has been involved with countless organizations, raising funds as president of James-Lynn High School where he used to be a student and starting his own organization in his hometown called the Pointe-Saint-Charles Hall of Recognition. Over the years, the organization has raised more than $350,000 for scholarships.

“The scholarships provide almost $25,000 a year for kids to pursue post-secondary education,” explained Figsby. “These are kids from Pointe-Saint-Charles that no one really gave a chance to.”

Although his community involvement is enough to jam pack a schedule, Figsby has made it far as a coach as well, earning himself the title of master through Hockey Canada and has received the highest coaching certification in the world. He’s only one of 31 coaches to have received this honour. He’s coached team Canada at the World U-17 Championships and won a bronze medal in 1995, with current NHL goaltender Roberto Luongo on his roster. He won another bronze medal in 2011 coaching Canada at the World University Championship in Turkey and was invited as a guest coach to the Montreal Canadiens’ training camp in 2005.

If there’s one thing Figsby’s sure about, it’s that staying in coaching was the best decision of his life. Before he became a full-time coach at Concordia University, Figsby had a major position in the banking world. When he was promoted to a director of sales and marketing in North America, he was told he would have to drop his coaching job as head coach of the AAA Lac St-Louis Lions. And he did. This, he says, was his only regret.

“I chose the bank over hockey and over coaching,” he said. “I was probably the most miserable individual you could meet for that period of time, because the passion that I had, the thing that drove me from a creativity perspective had been coaching.”

It isn’t much of a surprise that when he was offered the head coaching position at Concordia in 2000, he accepted it without a backwards glance. It goes to show that no matter the situation, your passion will prevail. He’s been here ever since, has seen the program grow and improve and has been an enormous part of the organization as soon as he stepped onto the scene.

“I still have that passion for coaching right now. I love coming here everyday,” said Figsby. “The university is moving forward and those are things that inspire you everyday.”

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Concordia’s not-so-secret weapon

Photo provided by Bianca Farella

At a glance, Bianca Farella is a regular Concordia student. In reality, though, she’s one of Canada’s rising rugby stars, and is a fierce competitor opponents could do without.

The Concordia Stingers women’s rugby team found a rookie sensation in Farella; the 20-year-old Côte St-Luc native joins Concordia after spending the last two and a half years honing her skills at Dawson College.

“Other schools like Acadia, St. Francis Xavier, and Laval asked me [to join their programs], but I like to stay close to home,” said Farella. “I’m happy I decided to stay.”

Farella, who is studying behavioural neuroscience, is the farthest thing from a rookie in the figurative sense — she led the entire country in tries with 12 in six games, including five in the Stingers’ home-opener, an 80-0 win ober the Sherbrooke Vert & Or. She’s also made her mark at the provincial and international levels, most notably the Team Canada Sevens squad and the Nations Cup team.

Farella’s rugby career began during her first year of high school at Miss Edgar’s and Miss Cramp’s School and she hasn’t looked back since.

“I started in grade seven because I wanted to try something new, and the only spring sports they had at my high school were badminton and tennis,” said Farella. “I’m more of a team sport kind of person, so I chose rugby and I stuck with it.”

It was only later on in her career that Farella started to realize that she was talented enough to compete with the best players locally, nationally and, eventually, internationally.

“I was told by my coaches that I was good enough to play at this level, and when I got there I realized it that I could,” she said. “I think it was when I went to the Nations Cup two summers ago that I realized that I had the talent for it.”

Farella’s rise up the national rugby ranks will continue this coming January when she’ll be moving to British Columbia to continue training with the Canada Sevens team. The country’s top 20 players convene for “centralization” where they will be able to train full-time in good conditions.

For now, Farella’s sights are set on the Stingers next — and most important — game of the season, which will go down on Saturday afternoon in Quebec City. The Stingers will take on the only team that was able to beat them during the regular season, the Laval Rouge et Or, with the Réseau de Sport Étudiant du Québec championship on the line.

“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make the finals,” said Farella. “We knew Laval would be our biggest opponent, and we lost to them during the regular season (27-20).”

“We just need to focus, especially at practice. Sometimes not everyone’s in it, not everyone’s head is at practice. We need everything we have to beat them. They’re stronger and a little smarter. We just have to stay on.”

It’s clear she has appreciated by her teammates and coaches, as head coach Graeme McGravie sang the praises of his first-year centre after the team’s 12-3 semi-final win against McGill Friday night.

“She works so hard at training, and she works on the little things. Good athletes do that,” said McGravie. “There’s a lot of room for her to improve still, but the good thing about it is that she’s very humble and she knows that and she’s prepared to put the time in to work on that.”

Farella has set the bar high for herself going forward; she is gunning for a spot on Canada’s roster for the upcoming 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens, as well as the team Canada will be sending to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Suffice to say, if Farella continues to make an impact on every team she lines up for, her name will appear on both those rosters.

But for now, bring on Laval.

 

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The last man back: protecting the Stingers goal in his first year

Playing university soccer has always been a dream for men’s soccer goalkeeper Remo Taraschi. From an early age, he was already planning out his path to achieve this ambition.

“Since I was younger, I always looked up to these kids playing university soccer,” saidTaraschi. “I aspired to play at the same level.”

Taraschi comes to Concordia University first as a student and second as a varsity level athlete. He is currently in his first year at the school completing a specialization in cellular and molecular biology.

When he is not studying, you can find Taraschi at the training pitch as the Stingers have daily practices Monday through Friday.

The busy schedule of a student-athlete requires organization and preparation. With classes throughout the week, practices almost every day and games once or twice a week, finding time to study can be tough.

“For me, it’s on your breaks where you have to study,” he said. “Every time I’m on break I’m studying. When I’m at home watching T.V., I’ll have a book in my hands. There’s is no time to rest for now.”

Being a goalkeeper in soccer requires a great amount of focus and leadership. Taraschi’s decision to become a goalkeeper happened rather unexpectedly when he was 13-years-old.

“At the time, my team didn’t have a keeper,” he said. “During a practice, we were just having fun and I went in nets. The coach just said ‘look, you’re going to be our keeper from now on’.”

Taraschi listened to his coach at the time and has been in goal ever since.

“It’s a fun challenge,” he said referring to the position. “I like the pressure and the key opportunities. I like to keep my team in game as much as I can. It’s what I love to do.”

But Taraschi’s soccer career started at the tender age of five. Being a Pierrefonds resident, he played for the Pierrefonds Soccer Association until the end of his team when he was 16.

Taraschi was recruited by the Stingers this summer. At club level, he represents Lakeshore Soccer Club in the men’s senior division one elite level. In CÉGEP, last year, Taraschi was also the starting goalkeeper for the John Abbott College Islanders.

“My coach got in touch with Lloyd [Barker, Stingers head coach] and talked about me,” he explained. “[Barker] came and watched me play in the summer.”

Taraschi’s transition has been made easier, as he and five other Stingers play on the same club team.

“It’s stricter for sure because we’re practicing every day. It’s more disciplined,” he said. “With school, it’s harder to balance, but the coaches keep us on track.”

This season, Taraschi has been splitting time with last year’s starting goalkeeper Nicholas Giannone. Both keepers have been providing healthy competition for one and other.

“Honestly, the relationship is really great,” Taraschi said. “We’ve played before for a year on the same team. I find we each have our strengths and weaknesses and we feed off each other in practice. I give him full credit as he’s playing at a higher club level than me right now.”

Playing with the Stingers, both goalkeepers are fortunate to have current Montreal Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton as an assistant coach. Sutton has represented Major League Soccer teams Chicago Fire, Toronto FC, New York Red Bulls and has capped for the Canadian National Team 16 times.

“Right now, I’m just taking in the experience because it’s an MLS keeper and everybody knows who [Sutton] is in Montreal,” explained Taraschi. “It’s an honour to be coached by him.”

In the future, Taraschi wants to pursue his soccer career for as long as possible. The thought of playing at the semi-pro level is something he has definitely thought about.

“If the opportunity comes then for sure,” he said. “For now, I’m going to focus on my studies.”

Until then, the Stinger is fixed on this year’s team as they try to make the playoffs for the first time in years.

 

Follow Taraschi and the rest of the Stingers in action when they face the McGill Redmen on Oct. 11 at Percival Molson Stadium. Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. following the women’s game.

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