Music

Musical Road Trip: 4 Halifax Bands You Need to Check Out

by Anne T. Donahue

Continuing on our musical road trip (our first stop included the iconic and rightfully hallowed New York City), we’re making our way up the East Coast, heading back into the Great White North for a visit to Halifax, where its burgeoning music scene has come to cement the city as another cultural Mecca of Canada.  Diverse, unique and not short of talent, the Nova Scotia town has become renowned for its eclectic musical community, counting electronic artists, folk musicians and pop acts among its roster of bankable talent.  Therefore, here are four bands from Halifax you need to check out.

Botnek

A DJ/production duo hailing from Montreal and Halifax, Botnek has caught the attention of Canadian, UK and European music aficionados with their distinct and self-described blend of tech house, rave and big bassline music.  Far from the sounds that have come to stereotypically define Halifax or the “Canadian vibe” in general (which, granted, are outdated, tiresome and off the mark), the two-piece made headway after winning a Felix Cartal (of Dim Mak Records) remix contest for their track, “Skeleton,” which led to the release of the group’s first single, “If You Wanna.”

With their debut EP, Laid, slated for release this August, Botnek’s profile is set to increase exponentially since listeners’ insatiable craving for commanding and interesting electro-based music shows no signs of slowing down.  Interesting and multi-dimensional, the duo is undoubtedly already contributing to Canada’s eclectic musical presence and will likely not stay confined to one particular music scene for much longer.

Rich Aucoin

Currently touring across the UK, Rich Aucoin has been credited with producing a distinct type of experimental pop that evokes the vivaciousness and free-flowing nature of youth and youth culture.  Therefore, it’s quite fitting that much of his sounds are synced to childhood films (his debut EP, Personal Publication was written in sync to Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and feature the recorder among the 30 other instruments the former Dalhousie student and DJ has learned to perfect.

Not only engaging audibly but visually, the artist plays in front of a backdrop that features favourite childhood cartoons, engaging his audiences while providing a sound that manages to combine classic pop and modern eclecticism.  Having recorded Personal Publication with the help of 500 musicians, numerous producers and musical partner Joel Waddell, Rich Aucoin is helping to justify the intrigue with Halifax’s music scene by refusing to conform to conventions while embracing his love of creating.

Ghost Bees

Haunting, stirring and reminiscent of the classic folk that seemed only to appear in pivotal film scenes and previous musical eras, Ghost Bees have perfected the art of mixing simplicity with substance, as their beautiful harmonies combine with thoughtful lyrics, mandolin, guitar and violin to make for a storybook of musical art.  Consisting of twin sisters Sari and Romy Lightman, the two released their debut EP in 2006, and went on to release their first full-length album, Tasseomancy, in 2008 to acclaim from listeners and critics alike.

Having completed two cross-Canada tours, the duo are currently touring the UK and Europe, bringing their fantasy-folk to new audiences undoubtedly appreciative of the sisters’ ability to illustrate detailed scenarios through instruments and carefully-chosen words.  While no date has been set for the release of their follow-up, Ghost Bees are sure to continue enchanting listeners with their egalitarian vocals and intimate instrumentals, reminding the masses in an era of over-stimulation, sometimes less is truly more.

Dog Day

Offering a combination of classic indie and dreamy pop, Dog Day utilizes all members of its talented four-piece, as the group’s boy-girl dynamic work together to build musical chemistry free of cliché and “he said/she said” stereotypes.  Energetic but subdued, the band fearlessly engages listeners while nonchalantly showcasing their obvious understanding of classic pop/post-punk structure, seamlessly transitioning from edgier sounds to reflective efforts.

Since releasing their self-recorded debut EP in 2005 (that started out as a CDR demo), the quartet have gone on to release two LPs among several other album endeavours, which garnered praise from various Canadian musical authorities as well as the group’s growing audiences.  After releasing Concentration in November of last year, Dog Day have proven an obvious understanding of what indie rock means, further re-enforcing Halifax’s position as a go-to for many of Canada’s musical presences.