NXNE TEAM PHOTOS

Click through to kPod Media to see some team photos taken during out NXNE adventures.

INTERVIEW: LISTENER

Dan Smith and Christin Nelson of Listener

SO YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT TALK MUSIC?
Article By Madison Foster

While I was preparing for my interview with Listener I found a humorous piece of fan art spoofing the Marmite ad stating, “Either you love it or you hate it.” I found the particular drawing interesting because just like the yeasty British spread I could see how some people might love Listener while others dislike the band. Although I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't like Listener, if I do I will probably lose some respect for that person. In the end, love them or hate them, their own brand of music (the best way to describe it would be talk music) with Dan Smith's raw and powerful words over the purest form of rock music, achieved with drums, bass and guitar, is so unique and creative. Some might think that spoken word in music is basically hip-hop or rap but there does seem to be a difference. “With hip hop, you do a verse for awhile then there's a break for the chorus. There's a lot of patterns that you stay in,” explained Smith. “Vocally, for what we're doing, it could just be where ever it needs to go. Word wise, sometimes it could rhyme, sometimes it could not. Sometimes there are patterns, sometimes not. It's just spoken out.” Not wanting to be “avant gard” the band members say they like to stay away from genres as it allows them more freedom then what's expected from hip hop, poetry or rock.  

INTERVIEW: YOUNG RIVAL

TRAINS, PLANES AND DINOSAUR HEADS?
Article By Madison Foster
Young Rival can bring out a crowd. There's no denying that. So maybe that's why London promotion team Half A Dino booked them for a fundraiser show earlier in June. Hmmm. Although the boys from Hamilton don't have too far to travel to get to London it's always great to find out they're taking the trek. I mean, who doesn't like to rock?

Just finishing up a full length album and we can only imagine a tour will be just around the corner, which means these boys will be no strangers to the road. Well, I guess that might already be the case. With drummer Noah Fralick residing in Toronto and his band mates, Aron D'Alesio and John Smith (if that really is his real name....) sticking to their roots in Hamilton the boys are constantly finding themselves in a back and forth situation keeping the band going. But hey, they're not complaining.

PRODUCER'S NOTES

AND THOUGH IT PAINS ME TO TREAT YOU UNKIND, THE GOAL IS GREATER, LOVE IS BLIND
Article By Drew Skitt

Two weeks ago, I got an email from Pat explaining that Handsome Furs (the band) had broken up. The news felt like learning that someone from your high school who was really cool and who had cool parents, you know, the high school sweet hearts (can you see your version of them?) had suddenly decided to call it quits.  Pat's tone made me think that he had lost his cat.   In true Pat form, there was still room for a laugh. After positioning his punch line, a few days later Pat ripped me on gmail chat, writing that our season had taken so long to post that our feature bands were already breaking up. I thought about it and had to laugh – like out loud.  Handsome Furs are road warriors and when we met up with them in Toronto and then in London a couple weeks later, it was obvious that they pour all they have into their music even when there is hardly any to give.  They also like to smoke cigarettes.

LCV EPISODE 02

"PS WE LOVE YOU"

Posted By Brittknee Withikaye

Click through the photo to watch LCV Episode 2 "P.S. We Love You"

Feat. Grooves Band Profile w/ Handsome Furs, a Few Moments w/ PS I Love You, Mesh Boutique: Mesh Sesh Vol. 1, & Gorilla Video w/ Casper the Ghost