Toronto Experimental Artists

TEA Volume 11 & 14 compilation artists Columbia Columbia's founding members have spent the past three years creating the New Universal Rock. Big Rock...the way it should be, with catchy licks and meaningful lyrics. Columbia combines talent and emotion. When vocalist Kevin Schallié and guitarist Richard Jacquard first began writing music together, they promised each other that they would be the BEST, and do anything it takes to make music that transcends all boundaries.

Columbia's musical past is rich, with Kevin and Richard starting the band Straitpipe in 1998 and going on to win multiple competitions. Columbia has performed all over the United States and Canada playing at venues such as The Showbox in Seattle, The Cat Club on the Sunset strip in LA, The main stage at Motofest in Vernon, as well as headlining Richards on Richards, The Roxy & The Venue in their home town of Vancouver. Columbia has also shared the stage with acts such as Gob, Swollen Members & Marianas Trench.

With Jason Tait on guitar, Jacques Roussouw on bass, and drummer Brian Welsch, Columbia's Big sound is rounded out. The band is ready to perform around the world. With their combined experience and talent, Columbia has come together at the right time.

Like their favorite bands of the past, Columbia wants to be the BEST and is ready to prove it. Join Our Ride. Listen to Columbia

Popularity: 9%

TEA Volume 13 & 14 compilation artist T Riley keeps herself and band mates busy with many new projects and a killer live show. What has T been doing..."T Riley has been juggling live shows and studio time while working on her latest Video for "Shed Some Light" off her latest CD release. "Shed Some Light" was produced by Howard Redekopp (Mother Mother, Tegan and Sarah, New Pornogrophers) and the video is typical T Riley - do it yourself style - showing T being chased around the globe...literally. Stay tuned for that! Meanwhile, she is busy in the studio with her guitar player Rick Rodney trying their hand at producing together. The demo version of "Let Your Hair Down" is already posted on her myspace page. Look for more demos as they navigate through  the creative abyss. T has also invited Scott Boudrou to guest produce on some of the new songs. This should prove for an exciting album. There is also an acoustic album in the making that will be posted on the web and some tracks will be free for fans to download, just for being you!  While she's not in the studio, look for T gigs coming soon in Vancouver, Whistler, and Saltspring Island"

T Riley's track on TEA Volume 13 called "Hanging On"is just down and dirty with the greatest live sound we have heard at TEA for some time. The guitar work, vox and production is steller! Below is a quote from T as she talks a little about the origins of the track "Hanging On"...was inspired by general family dysfunction and the injustices of society!  It keeps trying to knock me down in defeat, but I keep hanging on! This song was recorded in Mushroom studios all in one take (even the vocals!  yay!), so it is quite pure and sounds the same live. It is our favorite song to play live by far. It has fondly developed two nicknames, one being the "Surf Tune", for obvious reasons, and the the other, the "Orgasm" song. The squeals of frustration have often been misinterpreted as squeals of, well, you know.  When a back up singer took my cd home to learn, she said she had to turn this song down so her mother couldn't hear it, because it was making her blush and she was scared her mother wouldn't let her sing in my band!  Just goes to show how things can be misunderstood. All in all, this is a "won't back down", "knock me down and I'll get back up again" , "never give up", type of song that I hope people can listen to when they feel like they are about to throw in the towel, get inspired, and think to themselves "f--k you!" and keep fighting the good fight.

Listen to T Riley

Popularity: 43%

Infectious as The Killers, cool as Metric, Drive Faster keeps dance-rock slick and savvy. Vroom vroom…

A rhythmic band with an indie pop vibe, drummer Michael Holbrook, guitarist Tony Gare and bassist Jeff Scale lock into up-tempo, new wave grooves that will make you dance even if you don’t know how. Frontwoman Angela Saini, trading in her electric guitar for a micro-Korg synthesizer last year, adds in melodic hooks with small twists and turns that result in memorable songs with catchy choruses that keep rolling on long after the band has packed up and left. “Their music is just like their personality: friendly and upbeat. They are realistic and ambitious. Top that with talented” (Andréanne Sasseville – Sirius Satellite Radio, BOBBi MAGAZINE).

Drive Faster, formerly known as Supernal, boasts a long history of touring across the continent from their original headquarters in Calgary, AB, and are not a band to sit curb-side.  Shows opening for Angels and Airwaves and Sum 41, along with airplay on over 300 commercial and college radio stations, led the band to Toronto, and reviewers testified, “the energy and vibe they provide to their audience is infectious” (Uncharted Sounds, 2008).

With a new name and electro-rock style Drive Faster debuted their new sound at Canadian Music Week 2009 to a packed crowd at Holy Joe’s. Drive Faster taped an episode for Aux TV’s “Master Tracks” where producers Moe Berg (Pursuit of Happiness) and Lawrence Currie (Sloan, The Cliks) worked with the band to record their song “Analog” at Metalworks studio. Berg described the process as a “homerun” and during the episode says, “The vocalist is just so outstanding. You almost get a rush when you are recording someone like that.”  The debut, Frame of Mind will be released in July 2010 as Drive Faster heads to the fast lane. For up to date gig listings and other information just follow the blog postings for this feature by clicking on the band title Drive Faster. You can purchase the new debut CD - Frame of Mind here.  SRN Mediaworks have recently completed an interview with Angela from Drive Faster which you can read at Fab Indie. Also, check out the Mississauga News Review

Listen to Drive Faster

Popularity: 2%

TEA Volume 14 artist Sean Peori has made a musical journey that spans the country.  Born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to a family of Italian immigrant coal miners, Sean and his family moved to Deep River, Ontario when he was eight.  It was while growing up in Deep River that he discovered a passion for songwriting that he could not ignore. Sean moved to Salt Spring Island BC and started performing in Vancouver and throughout the islands. It wasn’t long before his unique and powerful voice and songs caught the attention of Canadian pop icons Tom Hooper of the Grapes of Wrath and Matt Johnson of 54-40.  Sean recorded in Tom’s studio, meeting engineer Andy Bowmer, (Randy Bachman, Harry Manx, The Guess Who) along the way.  The songs that resulted from these sessions caught the attention of Deep River native Malcolm Burn, a Grammy Award winning producer (Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Blue Rodeo, Daniel Lanois).

In 2006 Malcolm opened his New York home studio to Sean for a weeklong recording session. Sean’s beautiful songs took on new depth and colour as Australian pop sensation Sandrine and Malcolm himself added background vocals and instrumentation.

Later that year, Sean came full circle as he made his way back to Nova Scotia where he chanced upon a vibrant musical community in the Annapolis Valley. Coincidently, Sean discovered that Andy Bowmer had moved there too, and was eager to get started on a project he could put his heart into. Sean has recently been featured on TEA Volume 14, Indie Love Radio, FM 102X song of the day, and CBC radio 3 breaking new sound. Sean’s new CD, Find Our Place, is now available.

Listen to Sean Peori

Popularity: 1%

TEA Volume 14 artist Jon Bone Jon has his musical roots on the West Coast of Canada where he’s been writing and performing for over 10 years. In 2003 he enrolled in the Jazz Performance Program at Vancouver Island University and during those few years of disciplined training he recruited musicians for the band project he’d envisioned while performing steadily around the Island. In 2007 he had the good fortune of befriending Juno nominated reggae artist IBO, who invited Jon to play on his“Sweet Like A Sugar” tour with Jamaican dancehall artist Culture Brown. This deepened Bone’s appreciation for Island rhythms.

Shortly after the tour, IBO was in a serious car accident that hospitalized him for a year. This tragic event profoundly effected Jon and lead him to take his life and music even more seriously. With IBO still in recovery, Jon launched his band project, The Karuna Movement, with a sold out show in Nanaimo. Karuna means Compassion. The next day he headed into the studio with Juno nominated producer/engineer Rick Salt and began production on his debut album entitled, “The Power of Music”.  A few years later and Jon has produced a top notch EP, toured throughout Western Canada, performed at several major festivals (including Calgary Reggae Festival and a headlining slot at Islands Folk Festival), and enjoyed radio play on stations all across Canada including WOLF, CHLY, VIBE, CJSW, FOX and CBC. He is currently polishing up his band album and completing preproduction on a solo acoustic/reggae/pop album. Keep your eye on this guy!!!

“Jon Bone delivers a captivating stage presence with a rich and soulful voice that, reminiscent of inspirational artists like Bob Marley and John Lennon, sings of love, equality, social justice, and a peaceful state of being.“
-Aaron Bethune of PlayItLoudMusic

Listen to Jon Bone

Popularity: 1%

Kelita and Jim Cuddy

TEA Volume 13 compilation artist Kelita has a career that is full of success and all inspiring. When Kelita sings, people pay attention. Her rich, warm voice captures the ear immediately. Her clear, honest lyrics speak directly to the heart. Kelita, who knew she wanted to be a performer at age four, is a singer-songwriter whose career has seen many highlights. Well known across Canada for her superb musical achievements, Kelita’s new Contemporary Christian music is the most personal and moving work she has produced to date.

Amongst many Kelita has shared stages with Jim Carrey, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis and Michelle Wright, and performed on numerous television programs including Nashville Now, The Tommy Hunter Show, Sun Country (a booster of both Kelita and K.D. Lang in their early days and the Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA) show. Her Song "New Love" received the Country Music News Fan Award for Single of the Year and in 1988 Kelita recorded "Neighbours of the World", the official song for Calgary during the Winter Olympics. She soon had three Top 10 singles to her name, and was presented with the CCMA Vista Rising Star Award.

Kelita and Shania Twain

Kelita’s life took a new turn when she met Gord Lemon (Kelita’s producer and co-writer) on her second UN tour. They were married and produced their greatest creation to date - their son Keldon. During that time, Kelita teamed up with Inuit recording artist Susan Aglukark to write "Kathy I" and the top 10 hit "Breakin’ Down" on Susan’s platinum selling album "This Child". But it’s Kelita’s personal work that definitely has her full attention. Her music has taken on the exuberant tones and textures of gospel and her lyrics now reach far beyond the surface. Kelita’s autobiographical ballads are heartbreaking in their honesty, yet uplifting and filled with a gently healing quality. Grappling with vulnerability, coping with a dysfunctional family and finally, finding strength in God.    Listen to Kelita

Popularity: 21%

TEA Volume 2 & 3 compilation artist and TEA Showcase performer Andrew Spice sounds like no one else. Perhaps it was the immersion in classical music studies while growing up in the seclusion of Headingley, Manitoba; absorbing the beats and bravery of artists like Radiohead, Tori Amos, Nine Inch Nails, and Massive Attack. The result is a brilliant new songwriter who, with only a piano and his voice, emotes a timeless quality unmatched in some of the most accomplished singer-songwriters.

After catching the ear of indie legend Emm Gryner with a demo recorded in his basement, Andrew immediately headed to the studio to work on his debut album. Produced entirely by Gryner and released on her Dead Daisy Records label, Pretty Demons came out to immediate critical raves. NOW magazine described Andrew as a "prodigy"; Chart Attack said his songs were "so genuine it breaks your heart", and the Toronto Star called the album a "profound statement... a finger on our collective hearts". Pretty Demons was nominated for an OutMusic Award for Best Debut Album, prompting performances in New York alongside fellow nominees Catie Curtis, Junior Senior, and Rufus Wainwright.

Since moving to Toronto just last year, Andrew has quietly but surely made a name for himself. He has shared the stage with both independent artists such as Gentleman Reg, Jason Collett, Dayna Manning, and Nathan Lawr; and with Canadian stars like Gryner, Sarah Slean, Ron Sexsmith, and Jann Arden. His live show was given a four-star review by Toronto's NOW Magazine, which described his music as "profound". He has been featured twice on the Toronto Experimental Artists compilation Volumes 2 and 3. Check out TEA Showcase Review in the Toronto Star.     Listen to Andrew Spice

Popularity: 37%

TEA Volume 2 compilation artists and showcase performers Martha's Trouble stick to the road and their incredible live shows. The married duo have recently released a Christmas release and received rave reviews from many sources including...Billboard critics choice top 10 in 2006 and a feature interview in Lee Magazine (Jen's Song) This is a very inspiring interview and highlights the bands long and successful journey. An excerpt from the interview is below...When Jen returned to Houston after her one-year commitment, she knew music was her calling. In 1995 she was booking bands for a coffee house, when her future walked through the door. Rob had just returned from Richmond, Va., where a band he was in had fizzled. He was back in Houston, where his parents lived at the time, to regroup. And once again, he was looking for a band. A friend introduced the two, knowing of their common musical interests, but for Rob, something unexpected happened. Standing in the coffee house, he told his friend: “I’m going to marry that girl one day.”

Martha's Trouble are currently touring and playing shows in both Canada and the United States. Being dual citizens enables them to enjoy the ease of travel between the two nations.  Their live shows are sonically amazing and captivating as you can witness by viewing the Red Deer live performance link below. A new CD is in the works and all other Martha's Trouble CD's are at an amazing discount of $5.00 per CD. You can check out their large discography right here.

Check out radio live performance - Red Deer

Listen to Marthas Troubles

Popularity: 31%

Rubbernekkerz is a genre-crossing musical hybrid characterized by melancholy chords, synths and acoustic guitars. 2006 saw the release of the debut CD, 33 1/3rd, with themes of youth and aging. An upcoming CD release dealing with topics such as the moon landing, is all but complete, we are just awaiting the spacecraft with mobile recording facility to touch down.... and the astronauts are so far not responding.

The debut CD from Rubbernekkerz, "33 1/3rd" (Thirty Three and a Third), delivers an introspective range of alt-pop songs that create an emotional mood from a layering of sounds. Acoustic and synthetic textures blend to create a spacey backdrop for lyrics that circle around the reflective and often melancholy themes of time, youth, and aging.

The person behind the Rubbernekkerz madness is Toronto area musician Mark Harrington, who is joined by a second guitarist (Clay Phillips) on three tracks, and an occasional extra voice. Harrington released a number of independent solo recordings in the late 80s, and 2 CDs in the 90s: 1993's Capricorn Flakes, and 1999's Trash Icon. Rubbernekkerz music is different in feel from most of Harrington's previous music, hence the new name.

Phillip Hong from SRN mediaworks recently interviewed Mark Harrington about his long career in the music industry and how the Rubbernekkerz CD 33 1/3 came into being. Here is a sample of the interview...PHIL: What inspired you to write your latest featured track, "Sometimes"? From observation, there's a bit of rock, an anti-climax in the middle... let's just say it's like a hurricane.

MARK: The music was lying around from the Rubbernekkerz "sessions". It sounded too upbeat and happy to be in that collection. I started ear-marking it and a bunch of other songs for a later "Mark Harrington" CD release.

So, back to the track, "Sometimes", I had the basic tune, started from layering different frequencies of guitar (low to high) on a drum groove. Clay Phillips added some of his trademark bluesy guitar noodling to the track (about 2002), giving it fresh direction, and I continued to rework it for four more years! My focus recently has been on sonic textures first, then adding words at the end. Getting the correct match of words to tune is often tough, and sure enough, I had to erase some vocals from this tune that didn't work. You can read the rest of the interview here.

Listen to Rubbernekkerz

Popularity: 1%

TEA Volume 12 & 13 compilation artist Bob Rylett takes songwriting to new heights. His songs are honest, truthful, genuine and hopeful. As a storyteller he is prolific and dangerous, surprisingly honest and insatiably curious about life. He sings of lust filled angels and repenting devils. He sings of peace with a knife and the cowardly bully. He sings of revenge against teachers and preachers and chance. He sings of lust and life and loss and luck. He sings of the love of truth and the lies of hate. He sings about you and about me.

Root Cellar Records comment on Bob's recording..."Things turned out much the same when I took him into the studio. The intention was simply to run a few takes of songs, so we could see what we liked and figure out what to do with it. But he got right down to work just as soon as engineer Rick Salt finished setting him up in a booth. No messin' and no stopping. No repeats and no second tries. Just one song after another. That's what he does. That's how he works. That's what we captured." Listen to Bob's songs here.

Bob is living his dream writing, recording and performing on the road. Check out Bob Rylett on A Channel News.

Listen to Bob Rylett

Popularity: 14%