Mauve Grove is an alternative hip-hop/jazz-funk band from Toronto that recombines elements from an eclectic range of genres to make an energy-dense and thought-provoking sound palette. Made up of members CJ Hall, David Jones, Donnie Drain, and Spencer Bridgwater, the group initially caught quick attention from the local Toronto music scene with their debut LP Hot Laundry, released in July 2018. They’ve been compared stylistically to a combination of A Tribe Called Quest, Anderson .Paak, Rage Against The Machine, and BADBADNOTGOOD.
The band’s live performances are intimate and fluid. Each show is an experiment in both communication and aesthetics. Improvisation takes the spotlight as they flow from one song into another, and each member contributes a unique and engaging personality to the stage. Intricate timing and voicing arrangements are central to the band’s sound. Mauve Grove continues to push boundaries across styles and blur lines between genres as they perform throughout 2022. Mauve Grove is currently working on their third full-length record, with singles from the record released throughout 2022.
Name:
Mauve Grove
Genre:
Alternative Hip-Hop
Founded:
2017
# of Albums:
2, with a full-length LP in the works
Latest Album:
Lush
Latest Single:
Say Her Name
Latest Video:
Favourite musician growing up:
Rage Against the Machine, Living Colour, Nas, Green Day
Favourite musician now:
Tough to pick just one, but we’ve definitely been listening regularly to Black Midi, Royce da 5’9″, Animals as Leaders. If there’s something we’re way into currently, we usually throw it in this playlist.
Guilty pleasure song:
All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow
Live show ritual:
Heavy physical warm-up routine, including push-ups, jumping jacks, etc. to get loose. Stage outfits on-point, no-repeat outfits allowed to keep ’em guessing.
Favourite local musician:
Too many to choose from, Toronto is saturated with talent right now. The guys in Mayraki always throw down an unreal show.
EP or LP?
Depends on what kinda listening experience you’re going for. LPs if you have the patience to sit through the front to back can be really rewarding, but it’s often tough to find a record that paces itself well enough to merit that. Sometimes just 4 well-designed songs back to back are all you need.
Early bird or night owl?
Night owl during the week, early bird on weekends.
Road or studio?
Road in the summer, studio in the winter.
Where can we follow you?
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Rapid Fire Toronto Qs
Favourite local restaurant:
Pat’s Homestyle Jamaican
Favourite street in your city:
Boys of Major Lane off Harbord-Toronto has all these odd laneways darting behind its streets around the city, and a bunch have these cool backstories from way back. The Star did a write-up a long while back on it.
Favourite park in your city:
Toronto Island, all the serenity of a car-free park near the water within a short ferry of the city.
Favourite music venue in your city:
Probably Drom Taberna, Handlebar, Baby G, always something going on.
Favourite music store in your city:
Cask for gear, Rotate This for records/tickets
