Toronto based production duo Lasko & Kestler (L&K) are a group that finds them selves in the wave of urban and electronic music. After releasing their debut EP ‘Creatures’ this past summer – a project rooted in hip-hop and trap with a blend of cinematic, electro and 90’s rock music, the duo is hoping to build momentum and are working on production for a string of single releases in the new year. They compare themselves to acts such as TNGHT, Purity Ring, Clams Casino and M83. “Creatures” is available for free to download from their website.  I had a chance to speak to L&K about their musical inspiration and the things they love about Toronto.

What was the concept behind “End of September.” Why did you choose this track as the next video?

End of September was based off an old piano riff that we wanted to make cinematic while incorporating elements of hip-hop. It was just one of those tracks where everything seemed to come together perfectly. It evolved in a really natural way and seems to have a strong emotional connection with people.

(Watch the video below)

You released your debut album “Creatures” this past summer and I hear you are planning another release before the year’s end. True?

There is no planned EP or album release before the end of year but there may be some forth coming singles and remixes heading into 2014.

When can we see you next live in Toronto?

As of now we are in the process of getting our live show together so we are are hoping to get out there in the next few months with this new EP.

What are 3 must album haves on your ipod/computer?

Lately the must haves for Lasko & Kestler are:

A$AP Rocky – LONG.LIVE.A$AP for the top end mixing and vocal production.

Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid M.A.A.D City for production and lyrical/conceptual content.

Weezer – The Blue album for nostalgic reasons and cruising to Pho restaurants after a late night production session.

A musician’s life is both rewarding and stressful. What do you do to keep sane? 

Play music.

Best tour story and worst tour story?

There hasn’t been a best or worst moment yet but we are hoping the next leg will give us some of the best with none of the worst.

How would you describe the band in one word? 

Versatile.

If you had to collaborate with one Toronto band, who would it be and why?

It’s a three way tie between Drake, deadmau5 and Feist. They all have unique visions that we think would compliment the Lasko & Kestler sound. If that doesn’t work out we move on to Rush.

Top 3 artists that have inspired you in your life? 

Lasko: Explosions in the Sky, Nas, Radiohead

Kestler: The Beatles, Radiohead, Pharrell

Favourite place to eat in Toronto?

Lasko: Island Foods. Have to fight sleep for at least 2 hours after but it’s worth it.

Kestler: Burrito Banditos and Burrito Boyz. They are convenient and filling.

Favourite thing about the city

Diversity.

Favourite hang out in TO?

The Red Room. The vibe is cool and the shakes are great.

Rapid fire:
Sneaky Dees Nachos or Hey Meatball Spaghetti?

Lasko – Sneaky Dees Nachos. Kestler – Sneaky Dees Nachos

Queen or College St?

Lasko – Queen St. Kestler – College St.

Trinity Bellwoods or Highpark?

Lasko – Highpark. Kestler – Highpark.

Early bird or night owls?

Lasko – Night Owl for sure. Kestler – Night Owl working towards being an early bird.

What are your thoughts of today’s age of downloading free music vs purchasing music?

It is what it is. Make great music and let people decide for themselves.

What do you think of physical vs digital album sales? Do you have a preference? Are CD’s almost extinct?

Digital sales can be more convenient but it’s always a nice feeling to have something tangible with artwork and all. In terms of preference we would like to listen to the digital but look through the LP artwork while we do. Wait…are we allowed to sneak in both like that? As for CD’s we would say they are just about dead. Unless you want to make your significant other a lovely mixed CD of course. Nothing spells out love like M-i-x-e-d C-d. Also they make excellent coasters.

What is one fact about you that people wouldn’t expect?

Lasko – Worked on the movie Twilight. It was magical. #TeamJacob

Kestler – Plays beach volleyball and has one hell of a block.

What’s next for LASKO & KESTLER?

World domination…

The post Lasko & Kestler appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Fast Romantics have a new album out this Tuesday titled “Afterlife Blues” and are about to embark on a North American tour. The band worked with producer Howard Redekopp (Tegan and Sara, Mother Mother, Hannah Georgas) for a second time and said that truly connecting with the fans on all levels is the goal of the new album. The band even exceeded their fundraising goal on their Pledgemusic campaign. Their fans could pre-order the album all the while receiving incentives from the band including advance copies, signed vinyl, and even a chance to be a roadie for the day. I got a chance to speak with Matthew Angus from the band about the new album and things he enjoys about Toronto.

Congrats on the new album. How long did it take and where was it recorded?

Well thanks, we’re kind of congratulating ourselves too, cause it’s been an awful long time coming. We took a bit of a different direction after finishing the last EP. Moved to Toronto, settled in, took some time finding our sound again, starting fresh, and then started working on this a little over a year ago. We did it over two sessions with Howard, in a number of different places. We tracked about half the record at this amazing studio called Revolution in Toronto, and then did the rest of it at Howard’s also amazing studio in Vancouver, and at Steve Singh’s also amazing studio here in Toronto.

You teamed up with producer Howard Redekopp again. What was different this time around?

Nothing much changed about Howard except his hairstyle, he was brilliant to work with as usual. What really changed was us. This time we were actually ready and confident to make something. Last time we went in a bit confused about who we were and what we wanted to make. This time we had laser vision, and Howard in his usual way helped flesh it out of us.

The recording process of this new album. Live off the floor or each person recorded it separately?

Little bit of both. We did a lot of raw energy stuff at Revolution, but I like to take my time with vocals and stuff.

I enjoyed your video for Funeral song. What church was it filmed in? Tell us a bit about the experience filming it.

Well thanks! It was filmed in the oldest church in Ontario, which is right next to Dundas square, called First Lutheran Church. Lovely people there that were very gracious in letting all these rock n roll and Hollywood types invade for a day. It was a really great experience. Our director Ricardo Temporao was brilliant, the DOP Ian Anderson is a genius… The whole thing went off without a Hitch, which is what happens I guess when you ask talented people to help you out and they agree. Actually there was one hitch – we played so loud that one of the giant lit candles fell over and nearly burned that beautiful historical site to the ground. That woulda sucked. I’da gone to hell for sure for that one.

Watch the video for “Funeral Song” below

You reached and even exceeded your fund raising goal for your Pledge Music campaign to support touring and other expenses to promote the new record. Tell us about that.

Yeah we were humming and hawing on whether to jump on the preorder-crowdfunding-whatever-it-is fad and we’re pretty glad we did. Sold a stash of records to some very awesome early adopters. I think it’s a great way for indie bands to draw attention to their projects and get early support and funding for what is always an expensive and penniless journey. Anyone bashing these kinds of preorder campaigns as ‘charity’ is kind of just spewing garbage. The day that paying money for music is ‘charity’, please just flush me out the airlock.

Songwriting: does everyone bring ideas or is it mainly you (Matt) and the rest of the band adds their magic to the mix?

It’s always changing I think. For this record I would bring the songs to Jeff, and then Jeff would bring some brilliant ideas for arrangement and lay down bass, and then everyone else in the band came in and contributed their genius and it was this very orderly and productive collaborative experience. I’m actually in awe of how good my bandmates are. These songs wouldn’t make any sense to anyone if they weren’t here to make them actually sound good.

Where do you see the band in 5 years? (5 year plan question…I know right?) And where do you want to be in the next 5 years?

Exactly five years from this minute? Likely waking up in some other city getting ready to go to another city. We just want to be playing all the time. That won’t change from today all the way until five years from now.

If you had to collaborate with one Toronto band, who would it be and why?

Is Feist a band? I want to collaborate with Feist somehow. Why is obvious.

Top 3 artists that have inspired you in your life?

Me personally? Leonard Cohen, Otis Redding, Neil Young, Elvis Costello, John Lennon, Thom Yorke, Jarvis Cocker. Did I mention I can’t count?

Favourite place to eat in Toronto? Betty’s.

Favourite thing about the city? How everything is familiar yet anonymous.

Favourite hang out in TO? That’s really hard. Northwood is an amazing little bar.

Random Rapid fire:

Sneaky Dees Nachos or Hey Meatball Spaghetti? The former.

Queen or College St? The former.

Trinity Bellwoods or high park? Trinity Bellwoods on weekdays, High Park on weekends.

Early bird or night owls? Night Owls.

Embracing today’s age of downloading free music while stressing the importance of your fans to purchase your music. Tell us your thought on this.

Yeah well the truth is who the fuck knows what the right thing to do is anymore? Downloading music is awesome. It’s liberated us all to discover amazing new music all the time and that’s great. It’s liberated people without ten dollars to hear our music. But at the same time we ask people with ten dollars to buy our stuff cause, you know, we gotta eat too. It’s balance. I think a lot of people like contributing to artists who work hard and put out meaningful music, which is all we ever try to do.

What do you think of physical vs digital album sales? Do you have a preference? Any thoughts for the future?

I think physical copies are important, but it’s all going to digital and we know that now. And that’s fine. Its about music at the end of the day, so however people consume what we’ve created is fine by me. But I’ll always fight for vinyl, and I’ll always buy vinyl, because I feel like it gives you a complete experience of any one artist’s creation. Things you can feel in your hands and put on your shelf and be proud to own are important, they define us as music fans, and they shouldn’t go away.

What is one fact people don’t know about each band member that they wouldn’t expect?

I know that Jeff originally wanted to be a male model. Beyond that we all know everything everyone else knows about everyone.

You must be excited for your tour and kick off show Oct 11. What vehicle are you travelling in and does it have a nickname

You have no idea how excited. 30 dates or so over six weeks, all around North America, consuming nothing but beer and celery. It’s the fastest way to cleanse body and mind. As for the tour van, thanks for reminding me, it’s a week until we leave and we still haven’t found one. Maybe we’ll be doing this tour on bicycles.

What’s next for Fast Romantics?

Touring until we can’t tour no more, which is forever methinks. Europe and more North America, all in the works for next year. Maybe even Australia, if they’ll let Shane and Lauren back into the colony.

Fast Romantics kick off their tour in support of the new album in Toronto October 11 at The Garrison.  Should be a fun one!

Fast Romantics Website.

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Toronto-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Afie Jurvanen aka Bahamas has songs that will move you and a voice that is soothing to the ears. After his first two albums Pink Strat (2009) and Barchords (2012), the most recent release from Bahamas, iTunes Session EP came out this past April with a batch of new songs performed live including a live and heartfelt version of “I Got You Babe” which was also on “Barchords.”  Afie (pronounced AY-fee) isn’t from the Caribbean, but from Barrie, a working-class town in rural Ontario. In addition to his own work as Bahamas, Jurvanen has played guitar for the likes of Feist, Howie Beck and Jason Collett. He has also had two Juno nominations, a Polaris Prize nomination and a nomination for Songwriter of the Year. While his ties to other artists demonstrated his collaborative skills, it’s his own songs that mark Jurvanen as an exceptional talent. I had the chance to chat with the man himself about his current EP release, what’s to come and the things he loves about Toronto.

Congrats on your current iTunes exclusive release. Will these songs make to your next album with the exception of ‘I got You Babe’ which was on ‘Barchords?.’

Thanks very much. It was an unexpected recording experience. These songs will definitely not be on another record.

The iTunes sessions were so raw and full of emotion like the rest of your music. Are you recording your next album live off the floor at your own studio again? And when can fans expect it?

I’m recording my next album at a studio. I’m playing most of the instruments myself, so the recordings are bound to take on a different quality.

Bahamas performing “I must be in a Good Place Now” on CBC’s Q with Jian Ghomeshi.

Do you have a theme in mind for the next record?

Celtic Folk. I really like the penny whistle and the violin. Really hope they make it through the mix.

Do you draw from your personal experiences mostly for song writing or mix it with a series of stories? Does your family inspire your music at all?

Songwriting is a complicated thing and I wouldn’t say I’ve found a formula. I sometimes mine my own history but mostly I just do what every other songwriter does : steal from Bob Dylan.

How do you write: Lyrics first or melody or music?

I don’t have a set method, but generally it’s melody first. Probably just cause I play a lot of guitar and things come out of that.

With your impressive guitar skills, it seems you were classically trained. If so, where did you go to school for it?

Just learned from listening and trying to play along to Nirvana and The Band.

Before “Bahamas” became your main priority, you were touring as a live session player for many acts such as Feist, Howie Beck, Jason Collett, and more. Do you still tour with them when you find time off from your own project or are you just too busy?

I don’t really do that as much. I miss playing other people’s music.

You must be excited to open for Blue Rodeo. How did that show come about? Long time friends?

I do know some of the guys in the band, but I wouldn’t say we’re long time friends. Colin, the guitar player makes my jeans, and the bass player gigs with my friend Doug Paisley. All gentlemen and great musicians. They have made a very successful career for them selves and I think any musician who has professional aspirations would admire that. It’s hard enough to make one album, let alone keep a band together for 30 years. I’m grateful to be included in their annual summer show.

If you had to collaborate with one Toronto band or singer/songwriter, who would it be and why?

Gordon Lightfoot. Because he’s Gordon Lightfoot.

You have a summer jam you’ve been listening to?

Van Morrison- Cleaning Windows

Top 3 artists that have inspired you in your life?

Tom Thomson, Neil Young, Ray Mears.

Favourite place to eat in Toronto? The Keg

Favourite thing about the city? Rob Ford. Non stop comedy at the expense of every citizen.

Favourite hang out in TO? I love hanging at home. It’s the best.

Random Rapid fire:

Sneaky Dees Nachos or Hey Meatball Spaghetti? 

Never tried either, but I suppose Sneaky Dee’s cause it’s close to my house.

Queen or College St? College has Sneaky Dee’s.

Trinity Bellwoods or Highpark? High Park is amazing. Wish I was there now.

Early bird or night owl? Early bird.

What do you think of physical vs digital album sales? Do you have a preference? Any thoughts for the future?

Digital is probably the more responsible way to go. Most cd’s become landfill anyway. I don’t really have any attachment to the physical objects. The music is what people want.

What is one thing people don’t know about you that they wouldn’t expect?

I have Dave Coulier’s autograph. Got it at an NHL all star game.

What’s next for Bahamas?

Breakfast.

Bahamas opens for Blue Rodeo tomorrow night at the Molson Amphitheatre. Going to be a good one.

Follow Afie Jurvanen aka Bahamas on his Website and Facebook.

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