Toronto Experimental Artists

TEA Volume 15 artist Dana-Marie Battaglia offers up a beautiful track "The Struggle to Forgive" for the TEA Volume 15 compilation CD release. After traveling in and out of her vulnerable, passionate melodies and charming toe tapping grooves, you’ll understand what the phrase ‘emotional roller coaster’ really means. With her sweet, energetic presence, captivating voice, and deeply honest expression, Dana-Marie Battaglia will rip your heart out and gently sew it back in.

Since inspiring Olympic Athletes with her soul baring performances in private concerts and performing solo on site at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the artist developed an international fan base and piqued the interest of European radio.  Over the past few years Dana-Marie made headlines by performing international anthems in multiple languages, taking the stage at festivals, entertaining crowds of thousands, and sharing the bill with several Juno Award winners.

Meanwhile the self-taught composer and gear-headed singer-songwriter built a home studio to fulfill a burning urge to arrange and record accompaniment to her songs.  Exploring her feel for haunting, classical compositions, the resulting sound of her demo was an unparalleled blend of acoustic folk-pop melodies with tragic, grand orchestral elements.

The indie artist was thrilled in 2009 when the complexity of her compositions captivated John MacArthur Ellis (Jeremy Fisher, Dan Mangan, Leeroy Stagger, The Be Good Tanyas), a major label contractor and award winning producer who agreed to work with her as an independent artist. After two years of co-engineering and co-production on top of the same track beds that Battaglia started, came an album of exceptional quality on the indie scene.

Battaglia’s 2011 debut release entitled “Songs of utter despair, guilt, empathy, lust, longing and/or hope” comes to life on stage as she's joined by Tim Bartsch on cello and her sister Tanya Maria on background vocals and keys/synth.  In the summer of 2011, the trio completed a Western Canadian Tour leaving in their wake a vast trail of new enthusiasts suddenly undergoing much self reflection.

When you find yourself strapped in to her emotive wavelength, keep your eyes open and your hands up.  With just enough sweetness to make you forget your anguish, Dana-Marie Battaglia will ensure that when the ride stops, you’ll be excited to line up all over again.

Popularity: 1%

TEA Volume 15 artist Sarah Troy adds a huge spark to the TEA Volume 15 release with her track Arson. Sarah Troy is a prolific songwriter and recognized as a captivating performer. Her unique sound moves audiences with original songs and lyrics that demonstrate knowledge and skills far beyond her years. Couple this with dynamic piano compositions and you have the amazing young performer that is Sarah Troy. Sarah's musical style is pop/rock singer/songwriter with undertones of blues and jazz.  Her songs explore the passion and emotion of her life’s journey, her relationships and her dreams; featuring lyrics full of integrity that are extremely easy to relate to.

Upcoming Events

Over the past year Sarah’s been performing and promoting her 4th independent album release, ‘A Dozen Hearts’. Sarah’s single ‘Arson’ has been featured by Music Week in London, England in the best of Canada feature and is featured in the TEA (Toronto Experimental Artists) compilation CD release. Her recent live performances have included shows in Boston, Vancouver, Edmonton and New York City’s oldest rock club, ‘The Bitter End’. Sarah was also featured in the Shaw Calgary Cable series, ‘A Room Full of Sound’ in September 2011. In March 2012 Sarah will perform in Toronto as part of Canadian Music Week at three venues listed below. Sarah Troy will host and perform at the third annual YoUthtopia on April 20, 2012 in Bragg Creek. This past summer Sarah studied music performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston on a full scholarship.

Sarah was born a musician and loves to perform. Her fans are entranced by her musical abilities and amazed at her maturity and relaxed, captivating stage presence.

“If you haven’t had the privilege - meet Sarah Troy! This young contemporary pop singer/songwriter is causing a stir in the Alberta music scene and giving hometown Bragg Creek much applauded bragging rights.”

Routes Magazine, Sandra Wiebe, 2011

Canadian Music Week Dates

March 21, 2012 - Rivoli at 1am
March 22, 2012 - Free Times Cafe at 9pm
March 23, 2012 - Free Times Cafe at midnight

Popularity: 2%

TEA Volume 15 artist Trevor Davies brings Nostalgia to the TEA Volume 15 compilation release. Born in Winnipeg Manitoba, in 1987, Trevor Davies has spent his entire life as an independent musician on Vancouver Island. Largely self-taught on guitar and vocals, he fronted a rock band at fourteen which performed some original material and performed near his home town in the Cowichan Valley. As his songwriting developed, a more adventurous group called Freedom Toast was formed. Here began his passion for both improvisation and ideas in music…

The teenage experimental band released two professional recordings and played hundreds of shows including the Islands Folk Festival, VIEX, and other gigs typically reserved for grown-ups.

Trevor maintains a deep interest in literature and language. He has written many poems, short stories, articles and essays, some of which have been published. Some of which have become songs. He has also written and directed several films and worked as director and musical director in theatrical productions.

In 2005, Trevor enrolled in jazz performance at Vancouver Island University, where he studied with some of the best musicians in Canada, including: Buff Allen, Ken Lister, Greg Bush, Bryan Stovell, Myron Makepeace and jazz-guitar jedi Pat Coleman. Trevor has performed with such talented performer/musicians as Ian Finkel, Ken Lavigne, The Nylons and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. Commercial work as a guitarist locally and on cruise ships around the world has resulted in a certain musical versatility and a growing vocabulary of styles. Through a constant exposure to music, Trevor also plays bass, drums, piano and trumpet to respective extents.

Trevor is currently promoting his first “solo” release (with full band), entitled Vanity Press. It is comprised mainly of material that has been accumulating for several years. The title is a reflection of the self-produced nature of Davies’ career. These song-poems are based in personal experience and love, and are strongly influenced by external works of art. They betray a fascination with wordplay, people, nature, and the simplicity (yet depth) of pop music. Over the years, and definitively with this release, the focus of Trevor’s music has shifted from the group collaboration of a jam band to composition and language, with an emphasis on elegance, authenticity, and personal emotive forces.

Listen to Trevor Davies

Popularity: 2%

TEA Volume 15 artists 49 Parellels grace the TEA Volume 15 compilation CD with down to earth passion. A little info........... Musician since an early age, it was obvious Norman Ribidoux's destiny would be making music for a living. A long career has graced his life & this new production & band members triggered a wave of creation named 49 Parallels. Using all the tools in his bag of knowledge, sat down behind the producer’s desk & got working on new material with the help of some phenomenal musicians & friends. Multi-instrumentalist, Engineer, Producer, that is what he is made of, a none stop whirlwind of ideas & creative approaches.He is the personification of persistence & dedication to his art. Simple in his action & life, he calls it like it is,,, true blue to his nature, enjoying his little acreage in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia with his wife and faithful dogs. What a life.

49 Parralel members are...

Jeff Wilcox (guitars) one of the more seasoned players in the Okanagan. Jeff's bands have opened for greats such as Long John Baldry, Helix, Nazareth, Prisim, Trooper, The Powder Blues, members of Kiss (Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer) the list goes on.

Laura Robidoux's (keyboards) very first contact with the music industry happened when she met Norman. From then on it was her main goal in life,  to hold her post in 49 Parallels, and she does it with a touch of brilliance & finesse.

David Mihal (Drums) - David is a drummer with many years of professional experience, having toured and recorded with many Canadian/US artists, including the great Canadian jazz pianist Oliver Jones, Juno nominee Rita Chiarelli, Stacey Heydon of David Bowie and Iggy Pop fame, Refugee/Myles Hunter, Shawne Jackson, Ken Hamilton Show (Las Vegas/NYC) and many others.

A 25 year veteran of award winning bands, Jim Leduc (bass) spent many years performing and recording in the bluegrass/country music industry with along list of credits to his name. He was a member of the award winning
band “Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Boys” who were two time winners of the BCCMA “Bluegrass Performers of the Year”.

Popularity: 1%

TEA Volume 15 artists Naria spark the Canadian release of TEA Volume 15 on January 3, 2012. Created in the Fall of 2010, with professional opera singer Katya Tchoubar at the helm, it didn’t take long for 1 to become 4 with the addition of fellow opera talents Anna Bateman and Michelle Danese with the group rounded out by pop sensation Annaliese Jelilian – thus NARIA was born.

NARIA is and contains 4 brilliant voices whose vocal prowess and original choreographed compositions features opera, pop, techno and world music with classical high notes while exhibiting their intimate personal style. While “aria” refers to the show-stopping moment in an opera, the “n” stands for “the north” — NARIA is proudly Canadian.

Determined to perform original pieces in a techno-operatic format, NARIA sought the professional expertise of two diversified musical arrangers: Haim Mazar from Los Angeles and Toronto’s Dima Graziani. In October 2011 NARIA launched their debut CD, NARIA Opera Pop Supernova, accompanied with their first video, “The Witch”.

NARIA’s music has been featured on The New Classical 96.3 FM, CHIN Radio as well as Britain’s International British Showcase, and internet radio stations including Woman of Substance, Indie Castle and ruKus radio with live performances currently occurring in Canadian cities. Undoubtedly in the not too distant future, NARIA will be taking center stage in Mexico, Europe and Asia, building international fan bases and winning over international audiences.

All in all, recording our fist album was very rewarding in many respects. There is a special feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment when you create something that you can truly call your own. As talks are underway regarding our next album, we are excited for this wonderful journey to continue… We hope you enjoy “Naria: OPERA POP SUPERNOVA”!

Congratulations Naria! They are going to Midem in Cannes, France to be showcased as one of three winners in the Sonicbids International competition

Check out their Thank You video to fans

Popularity: 1%

TEA Volume 15 artists The Weak Need are currently working on a new album. You can hear one of their new songs on the up and coming TEA Volume 15 compilation CD release on January 3, 2012.

If COLDPLAY, PINK FLOYD and THORNLEY all hung out and decided to make an album, it would sound just like The Weak Need's  debut band release entitled "Restitution." This eclectic group of guys who's style and influence range from jazz to 80's electronic, to power punk have found one vision, one dream, one band that they all believe in. They are: The Weak Need A high energy pop act being regularly compared to such bands as Keane, Coldplay, Muse, Pilot Speed and U2. Their emotive delivery at their live shows has their fans saying that they were "blown away" and "speechless" afterwards. "They are like the Coldplay of Canada." Sean (Lead vocals and Keyboards) himself is quoted as saying "I love Keane and Coldplay and I really like their sound but honestly, I don't listen to them a lot of the time because I don't want to start writing like they do. I'm totally influenced by their sound, but I really try to take it somewhere totally different." Different indeed.

It is easy to hear the 80's influence of bands like The Cure, The Smiths, Brian Ferry, and U2, along with newer bands like One Republic, and Never Ending White Lights washing through The Weak Need as the listener is bathed in Croley's unique intimate vocals, textured harmonies and intricately woven lyrics.

"There is no other band in Canada with a sound like you guys" says Juno award-winning producer, J. Richard Hutt.

The Weak Need performed a well liked and powerful set at the TEA Summer Showcase on Saturday July 18, 2009 at the Rivoli on Queen Street. They are also on the TEA Volume 12 and 15 compilation releases. New material will be showcased on the up and coming TEA Volume 15 compilation CD release.

Listen to The Weak Need

Popularity: 30%

TEA Volume 12 compilation artists Versus the Nothing dive down deep and surface with driving melodic magic. There’s something about Nothing….. The unabashed, melodic, hard rock band, Versus the Nothing is a quintet that focuses on writing solid songs with tight, energetic performances. Their music combines heavy guitars, with powerful, melodic vocals that are propelled by driving rhythms and anthemic choruses. Clean, quiet moments swell into raging guitars, punctuated by short blasts of screamo gang vocals as they rise into crashing sing-along choruses. Accented by hopeful lyrics, with a sense of desperation that melds into cries from a damaged, disaffected, suburbanite youth. Their namesake draws upon that same energy, inspired by The Neverending Story, where an evil force called The Nothing tries to take over everything in existence. It’s a journey from pain to joy; a story that encourages us to believe that happiness is achievable even in the most dire of circumstances.” The guys couldn’t find a better name to represent their music if they tried. Versus the Nothing independently released their debut album “Let it all Come Down” with the track “Bleed the Ocean” quickly being snapped up by Mazda for an online campaign. They soon caught the attention of the Canadian Music Industry, leading them to a coveted Top 5 winner in the esteemed Vancouver CFOX 2008 Seeds contest (responsible for helping break some of the biggest bands on the rock scene such as Nickelback, Default, Theory of a Deadman, and Art of Dying). The album’s title track “Let it all Come Down” has been getting steady spins at Canadian radio ever since, in addition to spins on American stations WLIX 104.5fm, Indie 104fm, KERX 95.3fm, WAMX 106.3fm, WEGW 107.5fm, and WHBR 103.1fm. Non-stop gigging and a tireless work ethic have transformed Vancouver’s Versus the Nothing into one of the new rock acts to emerge out of Western Canada. Their goal is a modest one, one that reflects the true essence and sincerity of their music; to get on the road, tour non-stop, and be heard by as many new people as possible. They’re creating a unique future for themselves, carving a path that’s full of opportunities for such a young group. The book is wide open for Versus the Nothing, and their neverending story has only just begun. Versus the Nothing are: Ross Archibald – Vocals Jason Scannell – Bass Chris Shaw – Guitar, Vocal Jacob Wyman – Drums, Vocals Ande Otte – Guitar, Vocals.

Vancouver’s hard rock quintet VERSUS THE NOTHING’s single “Let It All Come Down” is featured on SEGA® Europe Ltd. ‘ soundtrack for Vancouver 2010™ - the Official Video Game of the Olympic Winter Games.

Listen to Versus the Nothing

Popularity: 81%

TEA Volume 14 artist Katelyn Dawn makes the top 16 on Canadian Idol.  Read Katelyn's interview on TEA on 148.ca with Phillip Hong. You can check out videos of Katelyn on Canadian Idol and other below...

Katelyn Dawn - She Talks to Angels (CTV)

Katelyn Dawn - CTV Spotlight (CTV)

Discovery Channel with David Suzuki

What has Katelyn been doing since Canadian Idol? PART 1 - Katelyn recently released her 2nd album, 'The Window'. The new album, produced by Chris Burke-Gaffney (Chantal Kreviazuk) & Dale Penner (Nickelback) combines an organic sunny roots-pop sound, with hummable melodies and jangly hooks. We are very proud of Katelyn here at TEA and we will continue to bring awareness to her many talents. She performed a passionate acoustic driven set at the TEA Summer Showcase at the Rivoli in Toronto. We are thrilled to have Katelyn back on the TEA Volume 14 Compilation CD which is being released on January 14, 2010. Her track "When the Coffee's Cold" will be featured on TEA Volume 14 along with many other talented TEA Artists. Katelyn is currently going to Hollywood to film a Discovery Channel Special with David Suzuki. She will open up the show with a glamorous performance.

PART 2 - At 20 Katelyn is moving forward with her music career with a new EP after having spent a year exploring the road towards independence.  Though there have been many roadblocks heartbreak and hardships, Katelyn has never taken her eye off of that final destination, which is to bring an honest heartfelt message to all you amazing fans through catchy melodies and thought provoking lyrics.

Says Katelyn: "I really just want to be able to create music that I am proud of, and that other people can relate to.  Being on stage and having an audience feel my songs along with me is the biggest high I could imagine, after all, music is the only thing that connects strangers on such an intimate level."

With a new EP on the horizon, a Discovery Channel Showcase, and a top spot from Canadian Idol under her belt, Katelyn Dawn has never been in such an exciting position! Her career is about to take flight and the possibilities are endless!

Listen to Katelyn Dawn

Popularity: 100%

TEA Volume 11 compilation artists Karmetik Underground can best be summed up as Live ElectroOrganic Tribal Groove Fusion. Sonically combining the east, the west, the above and the below, the Karmetik Underground is religiously infusing packed dance floors with live instrumental fusion. Karmetik cleverly creates an ethnically diverse musical tapestry, often incorporating traditional instruments from India with state of the art synthesizers, samplers, and sequencers. A sound influenced by Talvin Singh, Phish, Ravi Shankar, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Fela Kuti, Thievery Corporation, The Chemical Brothers and Sound Tribe Sector Nine to name a few. As part of the creative process, songs are conceived from within the emotional spectrum and given life through a hybrid medium of electrorganic sounds. Allowing the listener to fully explore their musical mind and body while getting down and dirty doin’ it.

As all the members are coming from different backgrounds, each bring their own influence to create a sound that sets an emotional atmosphere. The rhythm section consists of a dynamic duo that taps into an electro-tribal infused groove. The melody makers are gliding over top of the beat using harmonies produced by guitar and synthesized astro-phonics.

Included within this western approach to making music the KarmetiK Underground has great respect for North Indian Classical Music. All members have studied under masters in India, bringing back their eastern influence to fuse with worldly organic dance music. Instruments such as Sitar, Tabla and Santoor are commonly integrated into the performance bringing a sense of culture to the dance floor. Check out Karmetik's latest video.

Listen to Karmetik Underground

Popularity: 29%

TEA Volume 9 Compilaiton artists Au4 began their journey as brothers and ended up on a life long musical journey. For brothers Ben, Aaron and Nathan Wylie and their friend Jason Nickel, music has always been a constant in their lives. Vancouver-based electronic ensemble Au4 (pronounced: oh-four), have created a debut album that explores and celebrates the other endless forces that shape and bind us. On Audio, the groups new full-length release, is an uplifting, ethereal trip through the rhythms of nature and the nature of dreams, mixing blissed-out ambiance with melodic, fairytale songs. Ben Wylie (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Aaron Wylie (keyboards, vocals), Nathan Wylie (drums, percussion) and Jason Nickel (bass, vocals, keyboards) grew up on music, each starting Royal Conservatory training at a young age. In high school, the boys formed the requisite alternative rock bands, while continuing their musical study and touring in jazz, choir and theatrical productions. Jason and Nathan attended Capilano Colleges Jazz Studies program, while Ben and Aaron began experimenting with the electronic loops and beats which would later morph into Au4.

Inspired in part by the electronica explosion, and landmark albums by Underworld, Massive Attack, Bjork, and Nine Inch Nails, Ben and Aaron (who was also DJing in Vancouver clubs) started writing with new tools, layering and shaping sounds late into the night. In 2003, Jason Nickel heard their demos and brought them to producer/engineer Richard Dolmat. The group Au4 was officially formed along with Nathan Wylie their brother.

"On: Audio" was produced by Au4 and Richard Dolmat at Digital Sound Magic studios in Vancouver and is released on their own label, Torn Open Records. The nine tracks draw from trip-hop, ambient and dreampop styles, featuring the breathy, haunting vocals of Ben Wylie, who also scripted the fantastical stories of love and life.     Listen to Au4

Popularity: 60%