Tag: vancouver

Buy a Record, Make a Difference 25: Alvaro Rojas

Buy a Record, Make a Difference is a new series we have created to help local musicians generate income during COVID-19. It is based on the principle that we should support and reward the hard work local artists have already put into recordings, as it is an immensely difficult undertaking to be creating new material under current circumstances. There is currently a lot of emphasis on livestreaming and innovation in our industry, and while those things absolutely have their place, we think it’s also important to boost projects that have already been completed.

In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask them to talk about other local musicians whose work they admire. It’s our hope that you’ll take the time to listen to & purchase the work of local artists, or at the very least share their work with others.

ALVARO ROJAS

Photo by Tyler Wilson
1. Who are you?

I’m a composer, guitarist, husband and father amongst other things. I’ve been involved in various local music communities since the early 2000’s, and enjoy meeting and collaborating with creative people of all sorts.

2. Describe your music as best you can.

Well, I grew up playing “alternative” music, prog rock and metal, then went through the jazz studies program at Capilano U, and since then have had extended flings with writing film music, chamber music, electronic music, and a bunch of other stuff. The music I’m writing now is the product of all these experiences of course, and I find the music comes out sounding more interesting when I get out of the way and just let all of these elements coexist.

I try to make music that is colourful, energetic, challenging, and most importantly, melodic. Improvisation, and working wth improvising musicians is also an important part of my music, and we are blessed in having a huge community of great players in Vancouver that bring so much life and character to whatever material they are given to work with.

3. What’s your latest recording (or a recording you’d like to promote)? Where can people get it?

My latest recording is called ‘Gran Kasa’, and was released on July 17. A single featuring a guest vocal by Peruvian icon Susana Baca came out on July 3. The band on this recording is completely stacked with some of the finest members of the aforementioned community (Peggy Lee, Meredith Bates, Chris Gestrin, James Meger, Sam Cartwright, and Liam MacDonald are the core, and there is some extra sparkle from Elisa Thorn and Sam Davidson), and everyone sounds amazing! I couldn’t be any happier with how this record turned out, and I’m stoked to finally be able to put it out into the world.

This record is very important to me as it sums up much of my musical activity from the past 10 years or so. Also, for this project I wanted to incorporate some elements from Afro-Peruvian music, an incredibly rich and interesting world of music that I was hipped to through my parents listening to Susana Baca and others around the house when I was growing up. To have her participation on this record is a huge honour, and brings things around full circle.

If I were to sum up this record in a few words, I might say it sounds a bit like a 70s prog band, a salsa band and a string quartet going on a road trip together. Or perhaps like an alternate universe Mahavishnu Orchestra that took a shine to Latin instead of Indian music.

It is available on bandcamp here, as well as all of the usual streaming platforms.

4. Is there another local musician whose work you’d like to give a shout out to? 

There are many, but I’ll just mention two. One of the shows I was really looking forward to playing during this years festival was with Chris Gestrin’s ‘Shadows’ project. The batch of music Chris wrote for this project is really diverse, and very fun to play. His writing is very detailed and beautiful, and incorporates improvisation in really creative ways. He is also a complete keyboard wizard and read my mind more than a few times during the recording of my album (“why of course this song needs an atonal 2 keyboard solo with R2D2 noises!”).

I’d also like to give a shout out to guitarist Chad MacQuarrie, whose music I’ve gotten reacquainted with during some COVID cleaning/organizing… He has a ton of his own projects, and plays guitar on some other great local releases. His writing ticks all the boxes for me, and he’s an inspiring and passionate performer. You can explore his vast discography here. I recommend starting with “In Formation Go the Heard” and spiral outwards from there…

Ok, one more. Mili Hong and Eli Davidovici started a Patreon page of top notch bass/drum play along recordings that I’ve been having a blast practicing along with during this weird time. Also, when I’m playing along and my family asks me to turn down it even feels like a real gig!

Buy a Record, Make a Difference 24: Missy D

Buy a Record, Make a Difference is a new series we have created to help local musicians generate income during COVID-19. It is based on the principle that we should support and reward the hard work local artists have already put into recordings, as it is an immensely difficult undertaking to be creating new material under current circumstances. There is currently a lot of emphasis on livestreaming and innovation in our industry, and while those things absolutely have their place, we think it’s also important to boost projects that have already been completed.

In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask them to talk about other local musicians whose work they admire. It’s our hope that you’ll take the time to listen to & purchase the work of local artists, or at the very least share their work with others.

MISSY D

1. Who are you?

My name is Missy D and I am a hip hop, rap & soul artist and a music lover. I love melodies, rhythm & flow and I translate that love into both rapping and singing.

I was raised in the Motherland so Rwanda, Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe hold a piece of my heart at all times. I am now based in Vancouver, BC and humbled by the learnings that the Coast Salish Territory constantly teaches and reminds me to honor. I started rapping in French at the age of 11 and years later, Hip Hop helped me bridged that language barrier. I am now a bilingual rapper who loves 90’s R&B, jazz, soul, reggae, rock, rap and all music.

2. Describe your music as best you can.

I call it Rap & Soul. I grew up listening to sounds from around the world whether it was in French or English or local languages. My love for melodies is infused into my music and mixed with poetry and storytelling. As I created my sound, I could see the inspirations from my childhood from Nina Simone, India.Arie, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, MC Solaar, Diams, and Tupac Shakur. Those voices raised me and allowed me to discover myself and my sound.

My music holds a lot of FEELINGS #toomanyfeelings. From joy to pain or the unexplained, rapping allows me to unpack those thoughts and arrange them with wordplay or hooks. I hope listeners can relate, resonate or empathize with our emotions. In these melodies, you might hear some neo-soul, some jazz, some rock, some reggae mixed in the Hip Hop and Rap sounds of my voice. I speak about my experience as a human, as a Black woman, as an emerging artist, as a member of this community.

3. What’s your latest recording (or a recording you’d like to promote)? Where can people get it?

On March 20, 2020, I released an EP entitled YES MAMA recorded at The Beatcave with David Tallarico. It had been 4 years since my last full release and though it was scheduled in advance, it got released as the pandemic lockdown started. We unfortunately had to cancel the release party and adjust our music video plans. Similarly, the YES MAMA EP is an emotional release following moments of grief, self doubt, imposter syndrome, and identity development. YES MAMA emcompasses all the feelings that I had been cultivating for the past six months. Each song represents a mood, a challenge and a chapter in my life. It is dedicated to all the matriarchs, all the community mamas, to my blackness, to my late father, my family, to Mama D, and to you listeners! Thanks to Creative BC and Wallop Film, we were able to release a music video in May to celebrate the main single of the EP, a song called Yes Mama. The music video, which is available on YouTube, was directed by Alexander Farah and Lawrence Le Lam. Thanks to all our features and creatives, we illustrated the virtual channels of this social distancing we’re all experiencing.

You can buy YES MAMA on Bandcamp or stream it via your favourite platform.

4. Is there another local musician whose work you’d like to give a shout out to? 

I am truly inspired by the friends and artists around me. From my duo group with Sejal Lal named Laydy Jams to my 333 Collective with JB The First Lady and Kimmortal. I can’t help but name the sounds of Tonye Aganaba, Desiree Dawson, and Francis Arevalo that constantly bless my stereo. The Vancouver music scene is growing and I would want to name a lot more people if we had the time (you know who you are!). But I’m hoping that as we create our post-COVID spaces, folks reading this will tune in and listen to that unknown artist, create some playlists or purchase that album on Bandcamp and other platforms. We all need it!

Buy a Record, Make a Difference 23: Shannon Scott

Buy a Record, Make a Difference is a new series we have created to help local musicians generate income during COVID-19. It is based on the principle that we should support and reward the hard work local artists have already put into recordings, as it is an immensely difficult undertaking to be creating new material under current circumstances. There is currently a lot of emphasis on livestreaming and innovation in our industry, and while those things absolutely have their place, we think it’s also important to boost projects that have already been completed.

In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask them to talk about other local musicians whose work they admire. It’s our hope that you’ll take the time to listen to & purchase the work of local artists, or at the very least share their work with others.

SHANNON SCOTT

1. Who are you?

I’m a vocalist/pianist from Alberta, but have been calling Vancouver home for nearly 2 decades. I came to the city to study vocal jazz at Capilano U, and the music community and old growth forests here have essentially become my extended family.

2. Describe your music as best you can.

Honestly I’ve never known what to call it! It was recently called jazz-adjacent on a bill. I love strange chords and progressions that go where you don’t expect them to go, and weaving a pleasing melody through them; but I also love simplicity and allowing a lyric to stand out, unhidden by instrumental complexities. It’s the product of listening to Townes Van Zandt, Neko Case, Brad Meldhau, Bill Evans. Cohen and Joni, like every good moody Canadian. Billie Holiday today, Jeff Buckley tomorrow. Depends on the day which name jumps to the top of the list and there are so many names… I have an undeniable soft spot for a moving folk ballad, yet in my more recent music I’ve been exploring grittier, heavier textures, and my bandmates Jeff Younger and Skye Brooks are fabulous at just digging in and “getting” where the song is going.

3. What’s your latest recording (or a recording you’d like to promote)? Where can people get it?

I’m currently working on a new recording; my most recent recording for sale (Carvings) is on Bandcamp and CDbaby, via my website.

4. Is there another local musician whose work you’d like to give a shout out to? 

My aforementioned bandmates both have multiple projects and recordings that should definitely be checked out! Jeff Younger (guitarist) leads Jeff Younger and the Sensitive Gentlemen, and is featured on nylon string guitar with the group The Dreaming Skies. Skye Brooks (drummer) leads the band Copilots (singing and playing guitar), is currently working on a solo drum recording, and drums with Fond of Tigers.