Good food and good music make for an even better time, but we wondered: Which food pairs best with which kind of music? We reached out to some of the musicians performing at this year’s Taste of Edmonton festival to see what they had to say about it.
What’s the secret to making groovy, danceable music like STVB?
Unfortunately, I ain’t got no secrets. I just usually start with a chord progression and chorus that I dig and form the grooves and licks around the core!
You’ve been working on an EP; what can people expect from it?
The EP will be a mix of dancey tunes and some more experimental tracks such as a groovy ballad and a heavy piano collaboration.
How would you describe your sound?
A warm, rhythmic synth production inspired by influences like Anderson Paak, the Weeknd and Biz Markie.
Since it’s Taste of Edmonton, what kind of food do you think would go best with your music?
Something spicy would be an appropriate fit.
What’s your favourite food to get at Taste of Edmonton?
Panda Hut Ginger Beef. It’s the best!
You just won first place in the Jim Beam National Talent Search; how was that whole experience for you?
Winning the Jim Beam National Talent Search was an incredible experience! We met so many amazing and supportive people in Toronto that week and were able to work with some amazing music industry professionals. We were very impressed with everyone at Jim Beam and Canadian Music Week in the amount of things they scheduled us to do in the days after we won. Everyone worked very hard to ensure we got the most out of time there, and it was a very career-spanning week of activities. Everything from writing and recording with Shaun Frank and David Mohacsi at Noble Street Studios to performing at History kicking off the Jim Beam Indies Awards opening for Charlotte Cardin to working with Tom Jackson on our live performance. It was a very jam-packed week of improving our craft and learning from some of the best in the industry.
A lot has happened for you guys in the past couple of months, so what are your plans for 2023?
The last few months have been really amazing for us, and we are continuing work on new music and shows for 2023 and 2024. We want to keep connecting with as many people as possible through our music, videos, and performances.
How would you describe your sound?
I would describe our sound as a mix between Foster the People and the Weeknd. It is modern pop influenced heavily by the great entertainers of the 60s-80s and the melodies of some of our favourite eras in music.
Since it’s Taste of Edmonton, what kind of food do you think would go best with your music?
This is a really interesting question! A two-part answer may be the best to capture it. Probably some kind of cocktail. Some of our favourites feature bourbon like an Old Fashioned. But for actual food, dessert foods and candy seem like they are best suited to our music because there is a certain sweetness to our songs. Chocolate fondue with strawberries would be a good choice to pair with our music because it’s sweet and tangy with a certain level of audience participation that matches our shows (although actually eating that at our shows may be a difficult task).
What’s your favourite food to get at Taste of Edmonton?
While we would all have different answers on favourite restaurants, I would probably pick jerk chicken or tacos as some of my favourite foods to get at Taste of Edmonton. Both just pair so perfectly with summer days in the city. Irie Foods is one in particular that I have had many times for jerk chicken at their restaurant and food truck, and I just love their food. It is always super flavourful and has just the right amount of spicy.
You don’t hear too many bands with your kind of sound these days; what inspired you all to approach an old-timey sound?
I guess just a love for the music! We like music that swings, is uptempo, and fun to improvise over. Players like Merle Travis, Pokey Lafarge, Django Reinhardt and Hank Williams have definitely been a big influence.
What was the best decade for music, in your opinion?
1930s
How would you describe your sound?
1930s-inspired swing and jump blues music, with a side of tongue in cheek humour.
Since it’s Taste of Edmonton, what kind of food do you think would go best with your music?
Spaghetti and meatballs, with a big glass of wine — the cheaper the better.
What’s your favourite food to get at Taste of Edmonton?
Green onion cakes!
Please tell us a bit about where your name came from.
Our music tends toward the folk/roots genre — a broad category but often a fairly classic and nostalgic type of music. But, our tunes have a modern edge influenced by more singer-songwriter, pop-punk and rock elements, as well as explicit Queer themes, which have relatively recently become more common to discuss openly. Our sound exists in a sort of liminal space as a grab bag of those “classic” and “modern” elements.
Throughout the pandemic, more and more articles along the lines of “x city closes the last remaining payphone” kept appearing. Payphones are, let’s say, recently antiquated. They’re not true “good old days” nostalgia faire, but are officially a thing of the past — in sort of liminal category of… newly old. We felt like that vibe fits with our sound, and decided to run with it!
How has Canadian folk/rock music like the Tragically Hip and Barenaked Ladies influenced you?
Our sound developed fairly organically based on what we were interested in, individually and collectively. So, while we didn’t aim to emulate those artists, we love the use of layered vocal harmonies and acoustic accompaniment present in their work. These incredibly accomplished artists are champions of the genre at this point, and we hope to keep learning and developing our art, in our own way, inspired by their musicianship and cultural impact!
How would you describe your sound?
Eclectic alternative folk music with an edge, perhaps. We incorporate intricate vocal harmonies, a driving shuffling drumbeat, and interplay of light, melodic piano with bright, percussive guitar strums. Top that off with some strong emotions and rock-inspired wailing vocals, and you might just have yourself a Payphones tune.
Since it’s Taste of Edmonton, what kind of food do you think would go best with your music?
Something portable that one could take on a picnic perhaps specifically to an outdoor music festival! These are our favourite events to play, so the image of friends sharing a bite in the sunshine while grooving along to some live music immediately comes to mind.
What’s your favourite food to get at Taste of Edmonton? If you don’t have one, pick a favourite restaurant in Edmonton.
We got into the habit of picking up vegetarian samosas from New Indian Sweets and Restaurant in Argyll Plaza on 99th Street on the way to band practice for a communal snack before we jam. They’re so delicious. We playfully call our little tradition… Jamosas.
What are some of your favourite venues in the city for hip hop music?
My favourites would have to be 9910, and the Common. The staff, management, owners, and culture. They also have an incredible sound system that is like none other in the city.
Your recent track is called “81.” Can you tell us a bit of what it’s about and what the significance of that number is?
“81” is a song that was inspired by Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors back in January 2006. During that historic game, Kobe did not say a word, and as a result, his competitors had no choice but to respect him. I resonated with that because I also work in silence and put-up incredible stats, and my competitors will have no choice but to respect.
How would you describe your sound?
I would describe it as conscious, soulful, uplifting hip-hop music.
Since it’s Taste of Edmonton what kind of food do you think would go best with your music?
The genre of rap I make is considered as soulful hip-hop, and I think it would best be paired with some soul food.
What’s your favourite food to get at Taste of Edmonton? If you don’t have one, pick a favourite restaurant in Edmonton.
I really enjoy the Sheeba Indian Street Food — the butter chicken was always my go-to favourite. One of my favourite restaurants in the city is Pho Hoan Pasteur — I always get the number 16 large, a Beef Satay, [my] favourite dish during the winter time or when I’m feeling under the weather.
In your opinion, what is it that you think people love about folk music?
People love folk music because it offers us a storytelling tradition that we don’t have in any other way in the West. In Canada especially, we have a rich lineage of storytellers and a really impressive canon of songs that we attempt to build on as contemporary songwriters. I also think folk music offers us song without any pomp and circumstance in its simplest form: the melody and the lyric. In an age of elevated tech and AI and the internet, it’s really rare to find something with such self-aware simplicity.
You’ve been to a lot of different countries; in your opinion, what makes Edmonton unique?
Edmonton has a really unique zest and such a strong sense of community and pride. I started my career in Edmonton, and I’m always really proud to tell people that when I tour and travel elsewhere. It’s gritty and cool and leans into the narrative of being an underdog. I love Edmonton.
How would you describe your sound?
I’ll try not to sound too much like a stereotype in answering this question, but I think my sound is always evolving. I went from a major commercial country release and radio tour (highly produced, clean), to the record I’m currently releasing which has much more indie sensibilities, and now I feel myself being pulled back towards simplicity. The better my songwriting gets, the less production I want on it.
Since it’s Taste of Edmonton, what kind of food do you think would go best with your music?
My live show is a combination of songwriting, storytelling, and comedy. I try to blend sweet and spicy, so I think the food that would go best with my music would be a mango salsa.
What’s your favourite food to get at Taste of Edmonton? If you don’t have one, pick a favourite restaurant in Edmonton.
My favourite Taste of Edmonton food is Yo Baba — I can’t wait to absolutely delete some of their wares. I grew up in Dubai, and my Baba would come from Edmonton to visit us once a year. We would be so excited for two things: to have our hair braided (she used to be a hairdresser), and to make perogies with her. I think that story embodies the spirit of Taste of Edmonton: I was a Canadian kid, living in an Arab country, getting excited to make a Polish dish. I love the diversity and pride that Edmonton has. Taste of Edmonton does a great job of representing that.
The last time we chatted was right before JUNOfest; how was your experience during the festival?
That experience was amazing; it was really awesome to see so much happening in the city at once, and to be a part of that really felt special.
From making great business connections to new friends, it was an all-around amazing experience.
I love the synthy funky vibes throughout Paradise: A little taste of Heaven, but I also really enjoyed your recent single Chant of Venus, which was quite different with its aggressive lyrics and guttural bass; what happened there?
I’m glad you like those vibes! I grew up with 70’s disco & 80’s rock kind of music, so to make a project heavily inspired by the sounds I grew up with was really fun. Be on the lookout for “Good Girl,” if you liked Paradise, you’ll love this one!
“Chant of Venus” was a track that Shyler and I did for kicks. We were originally planning on releasing another song that had a lot more meaning and depth, but sadly, due to some complications on the back end of things, we couldn’t get it out the way we wanted. Shyler and I have actually known each other since we were kids, so we have countless unreleased tracks that still may see the light of day.
How would you describe your sound?
I like to genre bend. I’ve always liked putting vocals on as many different kinds of instrumentals as possible. Now I’m working more on the production side with Ryan Stewart out of Vancouver, so I plan to mix it up/genre bend with beats as much as I do vocals.
Since it’s Taste of Edmonton, what kind of food do you think would go best with your music?
You need to be able to dance and move your hands, so I would definitely suggest something like a taco in a bag, haha or anything else you might be able to close up or put down quickly so you can get wild.
What’s your favourite food to get at Taste of Edmonton? If you don’t have one, pick a favourite restaurant in Edmonton.
Hard to pick a favourite at Taste, to be honest. There are so many good ones, and I look forward to trying as much as I can this year. My favourite spot to eat in Edmonton would have to be the Northside classic Swiss Donair. I love that place, and I’ve been going there since I was in the 10th grade. No specific story comes to mind, but I’ve got countless memories of cutting class to grab food and not have to wait in the lunch rush line.
