Blog News
It's been many months since I blogged here and it's time to let you in on my bloggy little secret HurryUpFashion. I've dared to blog elsewhere and not let our fans in on it. I apologize for this omission.
So much has been going on, I can't keep up with this little dog. We are still in the preliminary phase of promoting Bright. Spare Change has received sopport from Conseil des arts et des lettres de Quebec and The Canada Council. Ryan is working here, at our house, animating, creating new images...
Musically, we've been writing new tracks and remixing. Reworking the cover art for Bright and reshuffling some tunes. We've been jamming with Eric B., a drummer from St.Simon. To get to his place we drive a few country miles past a couple of farms and silos on the way. Cool jamming out in nowheresville. At these jams we are changing instruments every 15 minutes or so. It's pretty cool to go from bass to drums to vox to keyboards. Our technical proficiencies and deficiencies, make for challenging musical derivatives!
The Buzz on the Montreal Music Scene
Lots of hype lately about the Montreal music scene, a scene I've been privy to, longer than I could say gaga. From the New York Times to the BBC, Montreal is now the cool city baby bands move to, in order to get discovered. CHIWAWA used to hit New York in the late 90's hoping for the chance at the big time playing CBGBs and Arlene's Grocery.I'm glad we sat tight. After 911 our move to New York pangs were permanently thwarted.
I think the Montreal buzz is a brilliantly crafted PR idea that worked like a charm. My conspiracy theory is that Vice Records conjured up the Montreal Scene Buzz as they are a sexy media machine with deep Montreal roots and interests.
I used to rent my old NDG rehearsal space to several bands including Murray Lightburn of The Dears. Murray was also my neighbour on Sherbrooke Street in NDG for a couple of years as well. He lived in a shitty beige brick apartment over Cosmos Snack Bar and I lived in a less shitty flat over Western Auto Parts. Murray and I could have become friends but an amp he was going to buy from me came between us.
Arcade Fire are doing fantastically well and have successfully brought Montreal to the spotlight. Popular producer trendy Howard Bilerman of Hotel2Tango hates MIDI. We love MIDI. I guess we're out of the cool yet again. CHIWAWA - against the grain, in the rain. Wet dog.
Montreal has had several successful bands including Men Without Hats (circa long time ago), Sky, Luba, Lhasa (who once asked me if I thought she had a good voice! Of course darling!), DJs like Kid Koala... Montreal wasn't considered a scene at the time but Montreal has always been steady in its creative output. Nevermind the Cirque de Soleil and Celine. Those two entities alone own Vegas. There is something magical happening in the la belle ville.
We were pictured in the Feb. 17/06 edition of Vancouver Sun Business section. Project Opus wanted to use our image because we're from Montreal. Maybe becasue they think we look good against the sky. Maybe cuz they dig our music and we dig their website. I call them projectopus, as in octopus - 8 armed-legged medusa like water creature. I guess it's project opus as in musical work but I prefer the sound of big squid. In other words, "I like it better my way." ;-)
CHIWAWA is set to release their latest album Bright (2005) which will be available soon for digital download and in stores nationwide. Remixes are being spun in clubs. Christina, guitariste extraordinaire du France, will join CHIWAWA on tours and recording projects.
CHIWAWA also had the great privilige of working with DJ Edwards, son of the Spiritual Native Flute Master Bongo Dave (TreeSpiritFlutes.com).
And of course, Laurie has been busy working with legendary animator, Oscar nominated Ryan Larkin, producing his film Spare Change.
CHIWAWA is creating the soundtrack to Ryan's animation. The song set to be in the finale is Do It For Me (featured on Bright).
Our beloved dog Target died at almost 15 on April 18th, 2005.
"YoYo, our little fat ass, you will always be by our side and our bob barker."
