Chicago is known for producing a lot of good things: Chicago deep dish pizza, architecture, wind (aka. The Windy City) but it's also known for producing a lot of good bands. One of those bands would be A Lull, an indie rock / experimental band that I had the chance of interviewing at NXNE during the Slapback Media BBQ at the Analogue Gallery on Thursday June 16, 2011. Thankfully, I tried to take it pretty easy on Nigel Dennis, Todd Miller, Mike Brown, Aaron Vincel and Ashwin Deepankar who had just driven in from Cornwall, Ontario (where...

Soulive is a funk/jazz trio that originated in Woodstock, New York.  The band, known for its solos and upbeat songs are coming to the Toronto Jazz Festival on Monday June 27, 2011 playing not one but TWO sets at the Horseshoe Tavern. I had the chance to catch up with guitarist Eric Krasno prior to their set here. Amanda/PinkMafia: Soulive has been together for 12 years now. How would you say the group has been developed since you first formed? Eric: When we first grouped, we were just a trio.  All three of us were completely different artists.  At one...

Some might call WIN WIN a supergroup of sorts.  It does help when your group is comprised of heavy-hitters XXXchange (the producer-half of Spank Rock), Devlin and Ghostdad. Well if that isn't convincing enough for you - maybe the fact that they are signed to Vice Records, had a track remixed by the Black Lips or are touring with The Death Set.  Plus, on their album they had vocal contributions from Hot Chip and Andrew W.K. WIN WIN are playing a show on Wednesday May 4th at the United Steelworkers Hall in Toronto (with the Death...

Montreal native MELISSA AUF DE MAUR is definitely no newbie in the industry. With an extensive resume playing for Hole for five years and touring with bands such as The Smashing Pumpkins. Melissa is now touring for her second solo album “Out Of Our Minds” Melissa went to an arts elementary school and high school then went to Concordia University to which she got her BFA in Photography. “Out Of Our Minds” is not only an album it is also a film and a graphic novel. When I asked Melissa as to why she decided to make the album multi-media based...

For those who are musically savvy, you've heard of RJD2 and been on his jock for some time now.  But for those not in the know, RJD2 has been in the hip hop game for ten years now.  For most, his game is just on the DL.  He started in Ohio with his own (now defunct) indie record label and making his own beats.  From there, he traveled the world performing and worked with some notable notables such as Massive Attack, Mos Def and Polyphonic Sphree.  Sure, things have changed for RJD2 (bigger studio, bigger gigs - like his one...

If by now you're not familiar with the goodness that is Dragonette, we can't help with your intense psychological issues, but we will kindly introduce you to mastermind Dan Kurtz, one-quarter of the electro-pop-sex-machines. 1. What is your dream of happiness? Not sure. Most days feel like happiness, though. 2. Blonde or Brunette? Does it have to be either/or? 3. What is the quality you like most in a man? A sense of humour about himself. Same goes for women. 4. What do you fear most? Outliving my loved ones.

It's been a crazy year for British electro-pop duo La Roux. Elly Jackson took some time out of her busy touring schedule to answer a few questions for us. Read the interview below, as well as our review of the fantastic self-titled album and - there's a special surprise for you, yes you, at the end of the post. Your touring schedule's been pretty hectic since March, what's the best concert/city you've played so far? Glastonbury was amazing. 10,000 people losing it and singing In For The Kill and Bulletproof right back at me.  The breakdown in Kill was special,...

Being a local artist in Toronto can be difficult. The amount of designers and artists we have on Queen St. West, shows there is much competition being in the art world. Many want attention, but I feel one must be aware. Local Toronto Artist, Mark O attends OCAD University for Advertising. His work is very abstract and shows much character towards them. When being a young local artist, it takes much pressure being in the business, thriving to get attention, and being known. Friday July 10^th, 2009 I attended one of his shows held at Earth and Fire on Queen...

I have an obsession, and her name is Princess Superstar. No, she's not a drag queen, she's a she, and she is amazing. I'll admit that when I first heard the name way back when, I thought she was a tranny. Those days of naivety are far behind me, and I'm confessing my girl crush. Miss Superstar is a DJ as well as a fucking kick-ass MC from NYC with numerous albums and singles under her Swarovski-studded belt. She cut her first demo at 17, and went on to collaborate with the likes of

I am not not singing a love song for Camila Grey and Leisha Hailey, the duo behind LA-based synthy sensation Uh Huh Her. The girls were at The Phoenix in Toronto Saturday night, and I got the chance to catch up with them before the show. I was pretty much a nervous wreck, trying not to show it as I was escorted onto their tour bus to conduct my first interview ever. I had never met them before, or even seen them live, so I didn't know what to expect. I had briefly walked past them the...

Check out the handsome man below. If you don't know him, get acquainted. This is DL, owner of Peer Pressure in Montreal. Like Pink Mafia's, their parties are the best around with the most in-demand DJs, hottest partiers and highest street cred. See the two meet in Montreal on Sunday July 13th at Blue Dog. DL is hosting the last party of the Get Er Done Tour, so check it out next weekend. Once you read his 20Qs you'll come to adore this man. An you know what they say, Once you go black you never go back... 1. What is your dream...