the interview show: The Zolas

Zack and Tom are The Zolas, one of Vancouver’s newest upstart bands. Their new debut record is called Tic Toc Tic.

The Zolas make piano-driven pop. Some have compared them to currently-crazy 90s superstars like Ben Folds and Fiona Apple. (Damn! Remember them?)

Yes, they all use pianos, but, other than that, I don’t really agree with the comparison–but it is a nice place to start a conversation.

I chatted with Zack and Tom as they wandered around the mean city streets of Toronto. And I still have no idea what the band’s name is about.

The Zolas on the interview show

The Zolas “You’re So Cool” (This track namechecks the Biltmore! One of the best tracks on the album.)

Ben Folds “Bitches Ain’t Shit” (NOTE: This song is a slow starter. Further proof that I am just as crazy as Ben and Fiona, here is Ben Folds covering Dr. DRE.  Enjoy.)

The Zolas will be at The Vogue, December 18th. See you there.

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just friends.. .

Richard X – Just Friends (feat. Annie)

Savage

Tonight! Sean Nicholas Savage is playyying our night with pal Jasper Baydala and superpals, MakeoutVideotape.  I’m excited.

Some music for you.

Sean Nicholas Savage – She’s the Sun
Sean Nicholas Savage – I’ve Got the Worm
Jasper Baydala – Flat Tires

Sci-fi-delity

Yeasayer “Ambling Alp” from Team G on Vimeo.

This video and song are best evs.  Perfection.

oh oh oh, and this also blew my tiny little brain.

Yeasayer’s, “Odd Blood” made Stereogums list for most anticipated albums of 2010, it comes out 2/9.

Yeasayer – Ambling Alp
Yeasayer – Ambling Alp (Memory Tapes remix)

Smoke

Wizard Smoke from Salazar on Vimeo.

A beautiful skateboard short from Salazar Productions.  Shot in Vancouver.

Stop Being Naive Haters

What’s up with all the dubstep haters? I’m coming across a lot people who are unnecessarily aggro towards it and it’s odd.

Is it just too much of a departure from the current music climate of bad electro remixes and bedroom mashes from trust fund kids getting their parents to buy them Ableton and Serato? Could it be that a shift towards dubstep is too much to handle for those who are completely invested in a genre that is probably having difficulty finding new ways to be inventive? Or does it just seem too weird?

I don’t know the answer, but it’s probably a combination of things.

Sure, I can appreciate that dubstep is dark and spooky (believe me, Caspa and Rusko give me nightmares sometimes too), but you’re being naive if you aren’t recognizing the influence dubstep is having on next level music production on both indie and pop records. Everything from Rihanna, Major Lazer, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga… the list goes on and on.

Sooooo, haters… don’t be afraid of the unknown. You know those weird new sounds you’re hearing on that track you like? Yeah, those ones. It came from dubstep.

Drop The Lime – Devil’s Eyes (Diplo’s B-Live Mix)

Bassnectar – Cozza Frenzy (Z-Trip Hellrazor Remix)

Deadmau5 – I Remember (Caspa Remix)

UPDATE: Times Neue Roman

I met Times Neue Roman while working on a piece for R3 on the meaning of “place” Canadian hip hop. You can check that out here.  In the piece, Arowbe, TMR’s lead, was against overtly representing “place” in his music.

Here is the result of a recent TNR jam session with indie TO band Tonka Puma. (Shhhhh! A leaked demo for the interview show and winniecooper.net fans only!)

Times Neue Roman “Toronto”. Hmmm. Irony, anyone?

Promotion is hard for any upstarts. And these guys have created an interesting keepsake to promote the band.

The walkman includes a Times Neue Roman cassette, headphones and batteries. A cassette tape?! Wow. (BTW: The tape has the whole TMR record on it and some bonus tracks, I understand.)

An extinct device from the golden era of hip hop that plays a cassette by a bunch of guys who do video game bleep-bloop hip hop beats.

Awesome.

I think these are sold out but if you are interested, check out the deets here.

FTW

More new material from Fan Death, Vancouver’s disco divas.  Extra creepy new video and more Perez love. A Coin For The Well ep is due in January on Erol Alkan’s, Phantasy Sound.

Fan Death – Cannibal