DIAMOND WEAPON | MORNING COYOTE | KING OF FOXES | LAUREN ASH | GABY DE LOS SANTOS | LOLITSLEA | QUIET PROVINCE | NO EXCEPTIONS | LILA GRAY
ARTIST NAME: DIAMOND WEAPON
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
The opportunity to discover new and exciting bands. We were fortunate enough to play last year, and shared the stage with a great band called Blind Commentary from Saskatchewan, who we became very quick friends with. Outside of an opportunity like NXNE, who knows if that could have happened?
2. What should we expect from your live show?
High energy and chaos. And then shy banter between songs.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
We have an odd tradition where the last practice before each show, we tell each other “please don’t die” before we leave. It’s kind of morbid, I guess, but it’s worked well for us so far!
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
This might be an odd choice, but I would love to redo the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack in the Diamond Weapon style. Not only is it an underrated film soundtrack, but I feel like songs like “Peter Pumpkinhead” or “Crash” or “New Age Girl” would be really fun in an emo/post-hardcore style.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Tough choice – both are outstanding artists, but if I had to choose one, it would probably be Neil Young; especially during the Crazy Horse era. There’s a reason why he’s considered the Godfather of Grunge.
ARTIST NAME: MORNING COYOTE
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
Hearing local, independent music. I’m glad to be a part of Edmonton’s alt/DIY community, and I almost always prefer the energy at local shows to larger touring artists. Besides the obvious importance of financially supporting a city’s independent music community, I find it’s also just generally where the best shows are because it’s a bunch of friends making and enjoying authentic art together. I’m looking forward to doing the same in Toronto.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
Aching, perhaps yearning. Yelling. We’re touring a new EP we’re releasing in June and will be playing tracks from it. I did some shows in London (UK) in February and often got compared to Jeff Buckley. And while it feels conceited to agree, I think he’s a good catch-all for what we sound like and how we work as a band. Sometimes I perform solo, sometimes we perform acoustic with strings, most times we’re loud and Kevin-Shields-y. At Burdock I think we’ll be loud and evil.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
For people in Toronto, probably anything. We’re from Alberta. We are real life cowboys with hats and everything and love oil and gas. and notwithstanding clauses.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
Herzog’s Nosferatu in the style of Mary Lou William’s chorale work. She’s got this song called “Lamb of God” that is the most spiritually distressing song I’ve ever heard.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Neil Young, though both are kind of mid compared to Joni Mitchell. I get the recent sentiment that most modern music, grunge, folk, rock, can be traced to Young, but I’ve always been more interested in Mitchell. I think I stand outside that ilk of Young’s grandchildren and am significantly more related to her and what she began. Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” is a perfect song though.
ARTIST NAME: KING OF FOXES
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
I like getting to explore Toronto and meeting bands from all over the country! This is my second time playing NXNE. It creates a really unique environment where everyone is bouncing between venues and discovering artists from so many different scenes and cities that normally wouldn’t cross paths.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
When you come to a King of Foxes show, you can expect that the skies will open, alien aircraft will appear, the ark of the covenant will descend before ye, and all of your childhood pets will arise from the dead. This is 100% guaranteed, or Galen Weston Jr. will refund whatever ticket price you paid.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
[unanswered]
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
Honestly, I’m fascinated by the story of Jóhann Jóhannsson writing a full score for Darren Aronofsky’s mother! (2017) only to decide that the movie was stronger without it, and to remove it almost entirely from the film. There’s something incredibly ego-free about spending a year creating something and then realizing the art works better without it.
So I think my answer is weirdly… mother!, except I wouldn’t want my songs used either. I would write a giant, emotionally overwhelming score, and then delete it.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
No shade to those iconic dudes, but can I start a festival of women in rock instead?
We’ll have headliners like St. Vincent, Alanis Morissette, Amyl and the Sniffers, Wet Leg, Haim, and Sleater-Kinney. The backstage area will have free childcare, artist payments will be transparent and equitable, and every band will get hotel rooms that don’t contain Doritos and toenail clippings from the previous occupant on the floor.
You can tell Neil and Bruce to reach out if they want to open for it! 😊
ARTIST NAME: LAUREN ASH
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
My favourite thing about a festival like NXNE is getting to reach people who may not already be familiar with my music. There’s a real discovery aspect to this festival that I think is such a cool opportunity as a relatively new artist. It’s also a festival that comes with such legitimacy. Being able to say I performed at the same festival that acts like Billy Talent, The Beaches, St Vincent and Bad Religion have played (to name a few) is just really cool for me personally.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
High energy joy exuding from me for every minute and a surprise medley of cover songs that people lose it over at every show.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
I’m primarily known as an actress. Most people know me as Dina on Superstore. I’ve written music ever since I was a kid and my dream has always been to be in a band. So I’ve been pursuing music for the last 3 years as a gift to my childhood self. I think most people don’t know what to expect when they come see me play live but the feedback I get is that they’re blown away at how great the show is! That it doesn’t seem like an actress who is trying music but more like a band that has been together for years.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
I would love to write the soundtrack for the 90s movie The Craft. Teenaged witches in high school running amok? Uhhh, yes please! The songs would sound like Hole, PJ Harvey, Seven Year Bitch, Bif Naked. Just that iconic 90s “women in alt rock” vibe. I’m actually working on some new music right now that would work perfectly on that soundtrack! Maybe it’s time for a remake!
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
NEIL YOUNG. One of my favourite songs of all time is “Harvest Moon”. I think it’s a perfect song. The very idea that I could ever even get to be close to that man makes me emotional. A legend, an icon, an inspiration. And a fellow Canadian!
ARTIST NAME: GABY DE LOS SANTOS
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
My favorite thing is seeing so many artists from different genres and stages of their careers come together to share this experience. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and excited to meet everyone and connect through music.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
We are not what you’d expect to hear coming out of the Dominican Republic. Gaby De Los Santos is an alternative rock project with shoegaze and grunge textures. Our live show is energetic and emotionally immersive, and that’s where our Latin roots really come through.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
We are a part of a much bigger alternative music scene in the Dominican Republic, which keeps growing.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
Probably Donnie Darko or The Truman Show. I have a tough time accepting the reality we’re presented with and I think there’s so much more to it. I’d make layered soundtracks that constantly shift between comfort and uneasiness.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
They’re both great but I think my nostalgic and blunt songwriting would fit best opening for Neil Young.
ARTIST NAME: lolitslea
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
Music conferences and festivals are such an awesome way to network, make new friends, discover new musicians, and learn! I really enjoy attending events like NXNE (previously SXSW, Electric City Music Conference, and LAUNCH here in the US) because there’s never a shortage of things you can learn in the music industry and I’ve made so many new friends through events like this.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
Our NXNE live set is 40 minutes packed of upbeat neon pop punk that will literally have you bopping your head, jumping up and down, and hopefully moshing by the end of it! We’re thrilled to bring our hook heavy set to Toronto, as this is our first out of country performance as a band!
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
In the last couple years, I’ve gotten to share the stage with some of my all time favorite emo and pop punk bands here in the US! It’s such an honor to be able to record, share, and perform all original music in front of so many people.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
Can I twist this question a bit? I feel like my music would be perfect as a video game soundtrack! The songs would have a mix of that nostalgic pop punk sound with the digital soundscapes of the early 2010’s scene era. My next record that’s set to come out in September would be the perfect soundtrack to video games like Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Jet Set Radio, Urbz Sims In The City, and RollerCoaster Tycoon. 😉
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Bruce Springsteen. But only because he’s my neighbor! Bruce and I reside only a few towns over in New Jersey. And trust, my hometown would be disappointed if my answer was any different lol.
ARTIST NAME: QUIET PROVINCE
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
The ability to see so many fantastic acts receive a platform for new audiences.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
You should expect close harmonies, killer mandolin playing and legendary banter, of course!
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
We’re pretty new, Quiet Province is a trio, we all sing, write songs and play several instruments.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
The Coen’s Inside Llewyn Davis and the songs would be a mix of the best of that era, Greenwich Village, meets Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Both excellent, but you have to go with Neil, right? Canadian pride!
ARTIST NAME: NO EXCEPTIONS
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
Our favourite thing about festivals like NXNE is that it is a great way to discover new and up and coming bands and artists. Festivals like these are also great for networking for bands of smaller sizes.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
No Exceptions always shoots to exceed expectations. Whatever you are expecting, expect more. A punk foundation with a healthy mix of something for everybody.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
Our frontman Tommy was 12 years old when he started this musical project, and has been through 2 other band names (Elevation and Lifeline) before landing on No Exceptions.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
We would write the soundtrack for John Wick, the scenes in that movie lend itself to the high energy action style that’s a lot of fun for us to write. Our music sounds like if you got punched in the head by John Wick.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
We think both would be a very strange match, though we think we would lean towards Neil Young because he is Canadian and he has some undeniable hits.
ARTIST NAME: LILA GRAY
1. What’s your favourite thing about a festival like NXNE?
I love the opportunity to hear such a wide range of upcoming talent. I am excited at the prospect of meeting a bunch of the other artists on the lineup too.
2. What should we expect from your live show?
We have a really fun show lined up, there’s old songs, some new ones, and a cover that will get people dancing. The vibes are gonna be great, get ready to dance.
3. Tell us something we probably don’t know about your band.
I am a classically trained cellist, and I produce/engineer all of my own music.
4. If you could write the soundtrack for any existing film (from any decade) which film would you choose and what would the songs sound like?
I would have loved a run at scoring Past Lives. It’s done so beautifully as is, but it’s one of my favourite movies so I would love the chance to make my own version. I think I would include some classical influence, and blend that with some Sarah Kinsley style backing vocals.
5. Would you rather open for Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen, and why?
Probably Bruce Springsteen, I feel like we are more of a genre match, and I love how vocal he is about politics.
Festival Links
SPILL FESTIVAL FEATURE: SPILL MAGAZINE PRESENTS INDIE WEEK TORONTO 5 QUESTIONS – PHASE TWO
SPILL FESTIVAL FEATURE: SPILL MAGAZINE PRESENTS INDIE WEEK TORONTO 5 QUESTIONS
