NXNE

music video of the day: "Digital Witness" by St. Vincent

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It may just look like a photo but I'm 88% sure Annie Clark's head is moving ever so slightly and she's just acting very still. Either way,  I love it. Gives me an excuse to listen to this song on repeat. Her new album 'St. Vincent' is in stores Feb 24 (UK) / Feb 25 (US). Until then, I recommend you check out the previous single "Birth In Reverse" and Love This Giant - her fantastic collaborative album with David Bryne. 

ps. Did you know that she used to be a member of The Polyphonic Spree and was also part of Sufjan Stevens' touring band? The more I learn about her the cooler she gets. Of course.

pps. She's totally playing NXNE 2014 

 

NXNE 2013 ROUND UP

NXNE is upon us and seeing as I'm live tweeting it up for the @NXNE account, I do know a thing or two about this year's lineup. As requested and promised, here's a list of my festival picks for this year. If you end up discovering something you like and/or end up checking one of these acts out give me a shout in the comments. Enjoy!

AKUA – Friday 8pm @ Hard Luck
Mini Bio: Montreal solo synth soul. Pronounced “A-koo-ah”. Inspired by Little Dragon and CocoRosie. Has opened for Katy B.
Tunes: “Told You So” and “Gravity”

ALVVAYS – Friday 10pm @ Silver Dollar
Mini Bio: Toronto lo fi. Camera Obsura-ish with a pinch of 90s vibes.
Tunes: “Archie Marry Me” and “The Agency Group”

After The Smoke -  Wednesday 11:05pm @ Wrongbar
Mini Bio: Tallahasse hip-hop duo. Smooth stuff. Finalist in the Billboard Battle of the Bands. Over 50,000 followers on Tumblr and Twitter.
Tunes: “Come & Leave” and “OIAM”

Ania Soul – Saturday 9pm @ MOD Club
Mini Bio: Toronto soul signer. Inspired by Solange, Lauryn Hill, and Feist. Latest single “Over You” produced by King Luck. Here’s a link to her YouTube EPK.
Tunes: “Over You” and “All In My Head”

Blank Cinema – Thursday 10pm @ (587 College St)
Mini Bio: Vancouver indie synth rock act. Five piece who’ve been creating music since 2008. Launched an Indiegogo campaign to help fund their new record Eras.
Tunes: “Destroy Together” and “What You Have”

The BB Guns – Saturday 9pm @ Lee’s Palace
Mini Bio: Hazy surf-pop fun from some Toronto ladies who are both a little punk and a little girly. Recently released their EP, Baby I Hate You. 
Tunes: “Pennie Lane” and “Soho”

BRIADS – Thursday 11pm @ Comfort Zone
Blue Hawaii – Thursday 1am @ Comfort Zone
Mini Bio: Partner projects with Calgarian Raphaelle Standell-Preston as the connecting dot. BRAIDS are more indie rock based & tad softer while Blue Hawaii are more electronic and beat based. Both are putting out releases with Arbutus Records, and both are killing it.
Tunes: “The Other Day” by Blue Hawaii and “In Kind” by BRAIDS

Decades – Friday 11pm @ Silver Dollar
Mini Bio: Toronto new wave revival. Just released their self-titled debut with White Girl Records.
Tunes: “Tonight Again” and “In Sequins”

Joey Bada$$ - Saturday 1am @ Wrongbar & Sunday 8pm @ YDS
Mini Bio: 18 year-old Brooklyn kid with mad talent. His fifth mixtape is new out June 12th. Currently with Cinematic Music Group.
Tunes: “Word Is Bond” and “World Domination”

Majical Cloudz – Saturday 12am @ BLK BOX
Mini Bio: Down tempo duo from Grimes’ & Doldrums’ Montreal scene. Haunting live. Debut record just dropped with Matador and Arbuturs.
Tunes: “Turns Turns Turns” and “Bugs Don’t Buzz”

Mozart’s Sister – Wednesday 11pm @ Rivoli
Mini Bio: Solo project of Montreal's Caila Thompson-Hannant, who describes her sound as dirt pop. Past projects include Shapes and Sizes, Miracle Fortress and Think About Life. Grimes credits her as a huge influence. Merok Records put out her EP. Tons of internet hype and rumor has it an album is to be expected this summer.
Tunes: “Mozart’s Sister” which has been making the blog rounds

Prince Innocence – Saturday 11pm Comfort Zone
Mini Bio: Minimal synth duo from Toronto and Montreal. Babe-tastic. Part of the Pretty Pretty Records crew. 
Tunes:  The oh so hip “Golden Hour” and  “To My Right”

Rich Kidd – Saturday 11pm @ Wrongbag
Mini Bio: Mississauga producer and rapper who has worked with Raekwon, Drake and Talib Kweli. Recently released his latest mixtape In My Opinion earlier this year.
Tunes: “SYKE” and “Can I Get A (Bom Bom)”

Ryan Hemsworth – Saturday 1am BLK BOX
Mini Bio: The hippest thing to come out of Halifax since Ellen Page. Producer/DJ dude of the collective known as Wedidit. Recently released his sixth EP Still Awake.
Tunes: “Perfectly” and “Summertime Sadness” Lana Del Rey remix

White Lung – Saturday 11pm @ Horseshoe Tavern
Mini Bio: Vancouver punk act made up of three ladies and one lucky guy. Last year Deranged put out their second LP Sorry. 
Tunes: “Bag” and “Glue”