Browsing Tag

Canadian entertainment

Some Kind of Wonderful Summer

My Facebook album featuring summer 2012 highlights is called Paradise, after the hit song by Coldplay, which captures my sentiment this summer. Here’s why:

Walt Disney once said, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” Going backstage at a concert has been a dream ever since meeting a Marianas Trench band member working the merchandise table at their 2009 Western O-Week show. 

Ian Casselman, Marianas Trench (September 2009)

Saturday afternoon, I managed to meet Jesse Labelle, a 2012 headliner at the same show. Leaving that tent afterwards broke my heart, but at least I also got to meet my mitZine editor IRL for the first time!

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September 9, 2012 by

Red Bull Supports Musicians

While Red Bull’s commercials tend to be cheeky with simple colour schemes, their interest in supporting aspiring musicians through innovative partnerships is very clear this summer. First on my radar was the Red Bull Soundstage Facebook contest, thanks to which my friends’ band Of Gentlemen and Cowards will appear on The Late Show with David Letterman in September.

UPDATE: Here’s the clip from Of Gentlmen and Cowards’ September 17 performance:

Then today I learned about an interactive billboard Red Bull created in London, England to promote Jessie Ware, who recorded her latest album at Red Bull Studios. Red Bull invited locals to colour in dots on the billboard until the advertisement was completely visible. Below is the final product:

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August 23, 2012 by

Mixed and Ready to Rock

Once Canadian Club posts started taking over my Facebook news feed, I got in touch with my friend Eric, an idea machine, to investigate whether his team in Liberty Village was behind it. Verdict: guilty as charged. A few DMs later, he offered to send me a kit filled with some blue summer essentials, and then I responded “Awesome!” That’s my word of the summer.

Since then, I’ve worn the aqua blue shades everywhere from Yorkdale to the doctor’s office and I love my Canadian Club t-shirt too. I couldn’t help but notice the shirt’s resemblance to old Western t-shirts. I suspect a nostalgic former Londoner influenced the design.

Canadian Club is offering a huge opportunity for emerging bands to enter their Mixed and Ready Cover Challenge contest. To enter, bands must submit a cover of 1 of 5 songs by a Canadian musician, such as The Arkells. The deadline to enter is August 27, but upload a video to Facebook soon so your friends can vote for your video! The winning band will receive $3,000 for transit to Toronto or new gear, as well as studio time to record, mix and master 3 songs.

Even if performing isn’t your thing, you’re eligible to win Ticketmaster gift cards just by voting, so nag your friends and any neighbours with instruments in their basement to participate! I’m on a mission to discover the next Jesse Labelle.

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August 12, 2012 by

Facebook Connects Music Lovers

If you want to star in a music video, there’s no need to respond to a semi-sketchy casting call posted on Craigslist.

Derek Blais, art director at Tribal DDB, helped lead the creation of a music video that suits today’s narcissistic culture and sedementary lifestyle, where people want to invest minimal effort to become stars. Thanks to the “Facebook Connect” function, anyone with a Facebook account can star in Young Empires’ new music video, alongside young actors who look like tastefully dressed Abercrombie models.

I won’t bore you with the details of how the music video works. Slow internet connection? Try playing it on another computer. Director Miles Jay’s vision ensured it’s just that spectacular.

I first learned of Young Empires when fashion retailer FCUK named them artist of the month, following a competitive event promoting unsigned Canadian bands in September 2011. Little did I know that months later, they would achieve international buzz thanks to a creative interactive music video.

June 20, 2012 by

Girls On Film

Below are a few of my favourite picks screened at the TIFF Bell Lightbox tonight for the Packaged Goods series, where aspiring filmmakers, tastemakers and moviegoers celebrated women’s talent in film.

HTC “One, Freefall”

Director: Sara Dunlop

Take your phone, get outdoors and go on an adventure. Bottom line: have fun.

Dove “Growing Up”

Director: Kathi Prosser

As a loyal advocate for Dove’s Self Esteem Fund, it’s great to see a female director furthering the brand’s vision to help girls with body image and bring an important issue to light. Girls are indeed “growing up” in a turbulent time with too much pressure on appearances and this spot thankfully continues the conversation.

“Skyscrapers” – OK Go

Director: Trish Sie

This music video could easily double as an ad for Joe Fresh or Benjamin Moore. Great colours. Great music. Great choreography.

June 13, 2012 by