“Energy Slime is myself and Jessica Delisle, and it began as an outlet for the songs that were too weird, short or drunk for our regular band,” says Vancouver’s Jay Arner. His label, Mint Records, is hosting an HPX showcase on Saturday afternoon with Monomyth, Tough Age and Fake Tears. For this special set, Energy […]
HPX
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Halifax tried to kill Gavin Stephens
“The best way to describe my comedy?” asks Toronto comedy veteran Gavin Stephens. “I would say my style is personal and social philosophy, with a heavy nerd influence. And farts.” For 20 years, Stephens has been touring Canada and the world, with regular stops in Halifax. “I once choked on a donair here, so this […]
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Jazz Cartier’s rising star
2015 has been busy for Toronto’s Jaye Adams, best known by his alias Jazz Cartier. His debut album, Marauding in Paradise, came out in April. It later made the Polaris Prize longlist. Adams’ Pop Explosion performance—opening for Travi$ $cott at the Forum Multi-purpose Centre—will be his first show in town. He says he’s excited to […]
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Jean Grae thrives on creative control
Since the mid-1990s, Jean Grae has been one of the most prolific female MCs in the game, a mogul as head of her company KAGD, an inspiring role model and a fashion icon. Born in South Africa and raised in New York City, where she still lives, Grae has rapped and produced as an independent […]
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Rich Aucoin’s really REALLY big show with the Symphony
Four years ago, Rich Aucoin put on one of HPX’s most memorable shows: a full-record performance of his just-released album We’re All Dying to Live at St. Matthew’s Church, featuring nearly 80 musicians and vocalists on-stage. Now he’s set to one-up that count this year with the help of Symphony Nova Scotia. “I think the […]
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Steve Maloney and the Wandering Kind
If you’ve ever been to St. John’s, Newfoundland, you’ll know that the rocky coastal town can be as unforgiving as it is welcoming. This dichotomy informs the folk songs of Steve Maloney and The Wandering Kind: “There’s a mystical quality to some parts of town,” says Maloney. “The weather isn’t perfect, but I find that […]
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Review: Day One, Halifax Pop Explosion
Hey. Here we are. Pop Explosion. Day one. I’m already exhausted. I didn’t take many pics because my camera is a piece of crap Android and it gives me ‘droid rage because every photo sucks. So please check out these beautiful photos by Lenny Mullins for a visual reference as I ramble on about what […]
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DJ/producer Ryan Hemsworth—the Q&A
Last May, Halifax-bred Ryan Hemsworth began releasing underground jams by new DJs to his fans as Secret Songs. On Wednesday he’s bringing his faves here for HPX’s Secret Songs Showcase, and it’s gonna be fire. Just 25, Hemsworth is a veritable DJ superstar. He’s played Pitchfork Music Festival and Coachella, remixed some of pop and […]
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True rock, harsh and clean
“Rock music is pretty meat and potatoes. That’s all good, but we try to throw a lime wedge or some cilantro in there too,” says Charles Austin, one of the master chefs behind Halifax’s Psychic Fair. Since 2013, Psychic Fair—also with scene veterans Cliff Gibb, Andrew Glencross and Josh Salter—has been spicing up the band’s personal […]
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HPX 2011: Wednesday treats
Fresh from finishing up our HPX guide, I booked it over to the CKDU lobby to see The Weekend Dads and Cold Warps play live (on radio and in person). I missed Weekend Dads because I’m a worky workerson but got there in time for The CWs. New songs were amazing (“Slimer”! OH MAN), it […]