Feature

“I Know” (2:50) As a hotel-bar piano twinkles in the background in a duet with a clarinet—her father also performs a pair of whistling solos—Smith sings a song of adoration to her grandfather back in London, ON, who can’t express emotion aloud, but conveys his feelings through small but mighty gestures such as letter writing […]

It’s early evening on the first day of August, but it feels more like late September—blustery wind capped by threateningly grey skies. Meaghan Smith walks into a north end cafe, sits with her back to the room and waffles between the soup and the pizza before deciding on the latter. She’s small and unassuming, not […]

Olivier Jarda suddenly appears across a high cafe table, looking hurried and apologetic, explaining how his drive down to Halifax from Moncton was snarled in traffic and construction, the day before traffic volume going the other way—up into New Brunswick from Halifax—would increase with SappyFest in Sackville and The Eagles in Moncton. He’s back only […]

Fans of the TV show Clone High remember the character JFK’s dig at lame, lazy hip-hop: “What if we take a ‘sample’ of a song that already exists, and then you rap over that ‘sample.’ I call it ‘song-taking!’” It was funny and all, and then Kanye West did it for real. So for ill-taught […]

Music is a means of self-discovery—some folks write it and others allow it to soundtrack their lives. Both the role of the listener and the author are integral to the craft. Toronto’s own Sandro Perri understands both sides—to be the reflector and the reflected. Prior to heading to Sackville, New Brunswick, for this weekend’s SappyFest, […]

Opera is kind of like electronic music. There are those that fervently love it, and others that hate it with an equal passion. So what happens when you combine the two musical styles? Katie Stelmanis does just that, and the result is dramatic vocals over hypnotic synth lines. Her sound is reminiscent of The Organ, […]

Despite 2008 Halifax appearances by C+C Music Factory, The Weakerthans, Holly Cole and David Cassidy, it might just end up being Antigonish that plays host to the best musical talent to come to this province during the International Year of Planet Earth. Now in its ninth year, Antigonish’s eco-friendly Evolve Music Festival has moved beyond […]

First thing’s first: “I’ve got no plans to leave the Emergency,” says drummer Dave Marsh (longtime rhythmic backbone of Halifax rockers The Joel Plaskett Emergency, and of The Super Friendz). “I’m not leaving that paycheque and my fondness for ‘Joely’ and the tunes…It stems from being a drummer. I love collaboration and playing in a […]

Expecting the unexpected is your best bet when taking in Deerhoof’s quirky and decidedly experimental brand of pop-rock. Considering the group’s influences requires a similar approach. Take Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier’s thoughts on the impact of Star Trek star William Shatner on the band’s music: “His strange sense of timing hits me in a really […]

Hot Panda has a hot practice space. It’s in a crematorium—and while the band produces lively, energetic pop music, it’s sort of fitting that the Edmonton-based quartet spends so much time in a building that roasts the deceased. “There’s a fridge for our beer,” says bassist Keith Olsen. The band’s quirky members hone their jaunty, […]