Artist Biographies
[SHOWCASE]
Peaches
Berlin, Germany
Genre: Electro / Hip Hop / Rock
Peaches (Merrill Nisker) burst into transcontinental favor with her very particular brand of cocksure rapping and groovebox beats. Indeed, this vulgar Canadian temptress may have come from an underground womb of acoustic folk (Mermaid Café), avant-garde jazz (Fancypants Hoodlum), and deconstructed noise swarms (the Shit), but it wasn't until 2000's new guise that her fearless, apolitical gender play truly raised heads. European trawls unearthed new admirers, and collaborations with the equally lewd Chilly Gonzales certainly fueled the fire for her first solo effort. By the time she signed with Berlin's Kitty-Yo label and unleashed The Teaches of Peaches, her niche had already been carved out. Peaches sounded like a Penthouse Forum together with Grandmaster Flash, Shirley Manson, and Charles Manson -- or just Justine Frischmann hitting her sexual peak. Peaches moved to XL, which reissued The Teaches of Peaches in 2002 and released Fatherfucker in 2003 and Impeach My Bush in 2006. For 2009's I Feel Cream, Peaches worked with Simian Mobile Disco and took her sound in a more electronic, eclectic direction. - Dean Carlson, Rovi
Tanya Tagaq
Cambridge Bay, CA
Genre: A'cappella / Experimental / Folkhttp://www.tanyatagaq.com
http://www.myspace.com/tagaq
Bio: ‘Indescribable’ is not an appropriate word to begin an artist’s bio, nor is it suitable as a description of a musician. The problem is this: when Tanya Tagaqs’ music fills your ears, she is genuinely one of those rare artists whose sounds and styles are truly groundbreaking. ‘Inuit throat singer’ is one part of her sonic quotient. So are descriptions like ‘orchestral’ ‘hip-hop-infused’ and ‘primal’…but these words are not usually used collectively. In the case of Tagaq, however – they are.
So much has happened to Tagaq since the release of her debut CD Sinaa (meaning ‘edge’ in her ancestral language of Inuktitut) in 2005. The Nunavut-born singer has not just attracted the attention of some of the world’s most groundbreaking artists, they have invited her to participate on their own musical projects, not just singularly, but repeatedly. Tanya has recently recorded once again with Björk (specifically on the soundtrack for the Matthew Barney film Drawing Restraint 9) having already appeared on Björk’s Medúlla CD in 2004 and accompanied her on the Vespertine tour. In 2007, another monumental collaborative project came to fruition when the Kronos Quartet invited Tanya to participate – as co-writer and performer – on a project aptly titled Nunavut, which has been performed at select venues across North America, from its January 2008 debut at the Chan Centre in Vancouver, BC through to New York’s Carnegie Hall. Acclaim and respect has followed Tagaq on her solo ventures as well: both Sinaa and Auk / Blood were nominated for a Juno Award (Best Aboriginal Recording) and (Best Instrumental Recording) Both recordings won in several categories at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, including Best Female Artist.
Tanya’s most recent project is the stunning video “Tungijuq” on which she collaborated with Jesse Zubot and Montreal filmmakers Felix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphael. The video received the best short film award at the ImagiNative Film and Media Festival and was invited to be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (2009) and the Sundance Film Festival (2010).
Toronto/New York, Ontario, Canada
Genre: Disco House / New Wave / Pophttp://isisofthunderheist.virb.com/
http://www.myspace.com/isissalam
http://isisofthunderheist.bandcamp.com
ISIS SALAM has never been one to follow the beaten-path, and her latest project is no exception. Having started her career at the tender age of 19 as an emcee Isis hit the ground running. Her feet barely wet , she embarked on a self-promoted "Myspace, Your Couch" tour which went across North America. Around this time she also self released "The Last Minute" Ep which garnered heavy praise from Hip hop heavyweights such as the godfather himself, Kool Herc and Bahamadia. The release later landed her the opportunity to perform at and the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York. In the winter of 2006 Isis became an integral part of the party-starting and JUNO nominated duo, Thunderheist. More critical praise followed Isis and the group along with numerous awards ( SXSW 2009 Best music Video Award) all while playing around the world and leaving many sweaty dance floors in their wake. During this period, Isis also branched-out to make high-profile appearances on The Jimmy Kimmel Show alongside MSTRKRFT and Noreaga . Now, drawing inspiration from legends such as Deborah Harry, Betty Davis and the audacious Grace Jones, Isis is preparing her second solo release; taking a page out of the book of Missy Elliot, Isis is also taking her rightful place as co-pilot in the producer seat. This is a clear testament to her diversity and ever growing writing skills. Her upcoming project promises a selection of songs as eclectic as they are well rounded. An album that can start the dance floor, but also provides the incentive to move things into the bedroom. It is clear that after years on the mic, Isis continues to add her unique style and flair to everything she touches!
Cris Derksen
Vancouver, CA
Genre: Classical / Crunk / Indie
Cris Derksen is a young half-cree classically trained Canadian cellist whose captivating melodies and steadfast baselines have captured the attention of local and international audiences. She is a diverse musician, easily melding into hip-hop, rock, folk, country, or whatever type of music to bring an intense ball of musical passion to her work.
Using a loop station and effect pedals, she is able to create an inspiring multi-dimensional auditory experience. She uses her voice in spoken word and song to layer melodies on top of each other to construct a song form in a way that is uncharted for most classical players. Using sounds from her inherited past Cris mixes the traditional with the contemporary over and over again in both the cultural world as well as the music sphere.
Although Cris is an emerging artist, she has built up a strong resume performing at festivals such as WOMEX (World Music Expo) in Sevilla, Spain, with Inuit Throat Singer Tanya Tagaq. The Respect Festival and Colors of Ostrava in the Czech Republic. SXSW (South by Southwest), The Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Dawson City Music Festival, Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Brandon Folk Music Festival, APCMA (Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards, CAMA’s (Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards). As a Composer Cris has Composed for Karen Jamieson Dance, The Tomorrow Collective and Aerial Firedance Troupe; Firebelly Productions. She has also performed with international Hip-Hop artist Kayne West at GM place in Vancouver.
As a session musician her diversity continues as she has built up a strong resume recording with Tanya Tagaq on her Album Auk, the Album earned 2 Juno Nominations for Best Aboriginal Album and Best Instrumental Album. Rae Spoon, The Switfy’s, Kinnie Starr, Lightening Dust (Member’s of Black Mountain), Ladyhawk, Bison, E.S.L, Girl Nobody, Fan Death as well as working with Native composer Russell Wallace.
Cris obtained a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance at UBC and shared the Principle Cellist of the UBC Symphony Orchestra title.
Betti Forde
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre: Alternative / Electro / Other
Betti Forde is a force of nature. One of Canada’s most popular DJs, she’s been spinning for over a decade since getting her her start as a DJ on CiTR 101.9fM Vancouver in 1998. Since 2003 she’s been touring internationally, rocking world-renowned club nights like Boombox (now Ponystep) in London and Le Baron in Paris. In her previous hometown of Vancouver she's been hand-picked to open for Diplo, CSS, Chromeo, Keoki, Blowfly, Felix da Housecat, Peaches, Lady Miss Kier (Dee-lite) and Derrick Carter, as well as holding down residencies at the city's most-loved nights and events including Stacked Tuesdays, Sin City, Hershe Bar, and Fuse at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
In Toronto you'll find her Saturdays at the Barn in addition to regular appearances at Slack's, Fuzion and Alto. This summer Betti was truly honored to be selected as the DJ following Cyndi Lauper at her record-breaking Queen's Park Pride concert, where Betti spun for hundreds of thousands of people. A true party-rocker, Betti takes the party from house to hip-hop, disco to electro, retro to futuristic, but her real individuality as a DJ lies with her eclectic and impeccable taste in music and her intense presence and ability to connect with the dancefloor. Betti also loves to sing, rap and bust into the splits, so she's one-third of the critically acclaimed electro/hiphop outfit StinkMitt, who have played with everyone from the Gossip to Crystal Castles, recorded with Peaches, licensed tracks to the L-word, and changed the face of music forever.
When she's not rocking the party, Betti's alter-ego Maren Hancunt/Hancock pursues a PhD at York University and enjoys critical acclaim as a writer, having penned the book Lady Lazarus: Confronting Lydia Lunch (Questing Beast, 2000) as well as several pieces on feminism, music and popular culture.
In Toronto you'll find her Saturdays at the Barn in addition to regular appearances at Slack's, Fuzion and Alto. This summer Betti was truly honored to be selected as the DJ following Cyndi Lauper at her record-breaking Queen's Park Pride concert, where Betti spun for hundreds of thousands of people. A true party-rocker, Betti takes the party from house to hip-hop, disco to electro, retro to futuristic, but her real individuality as a DJ lies with her eclectic and impeccable taste in music and her intense presence and ability to connect with the dancefloor. Betti also loves to sing, rap and bust into the splits, so she's one-third of the critically acclaimed electro/hiphop outfit StinkMitt, who have played with everyone from the Gossip to Crystal Castles, recorded with Peaches, licensed tracks to the L-word, and changed the face of music forever.
When she's not rocking the party, Betti's alter-ego Maren Hancunt/Hancock pursues a PhD at York University and enjoys critical acclaim as a writer, having penned the book Lady Lazarus: Confronting Lydia Lunch (Questing Beast, 2000) as well as several pieces on feminism, music and popular culture.
B-Traits
Vancouver, CA
Genre: Drum & Bass / Electronica / Raphttp://www.myspace.com/djbtraits
www.digitalsoundboy.com
To simply mix two records can easily be accomplished by almost anyone, but to put the dance floor into a hypnotic state of movement and emotional backlash is an art form all to itself. This art form has not only been admired, but closely studied and refined by Vancouver's youngest female DnB DJ, B Traits.
Born and raised in Nelson, BC, B Traits discovered her adoration for music at a very early age. It was this love that drew her to the sounds of the underground, constantly pushing her to quench her soul. In search of a creative outlet, B Traits picked up a turntable and a small pair of headphones and began her journey to pursue her passion for underground music at the age of 16.
In 2004, after relocating to Vancouver, BC, B Traits began to make a name for herself as she assaulted dance floors all over the Pacific Northwest. Her emotional persona of chaos and desire, fused with the heavy beats of Drum n' Bass has now led her to the vanguard of the underground music community.
At only the age of 19, she has played alongside DnB's finest from the shores of the Pacific Northwest, to the streets of Eastern Europe. Currently working with Formation Records, she is slated to release a mix CD with MC Kay entitled "Deep Sound," as well as begin an upcoming tour with MC Kay as they combine their talents to form LTC (Ladies Take Control). With her record bag stuffed with plates and headphones blasting conventional thought, B. Traits is poised to take the world by storm.
The Librarian
aka Andrea Graham, Squamish, Canada
Genre: Dub / Hip Hop / Bass
Andrea Graham - The Librarian - produces and DJ's a unique blend of bass music that defies categorization. Her sound hints of a background in classical and jazz and is rooted in the origins of dubstep, hip hop and anything with soul. The Librarian's DJ sets weave together the established and future sounds of bass music to capture the dance floor with a story.
From Squamish BC, Andrea Graham is a co-founder and musical director for Bass Coast Project, a 4-day electronic music and art festival now in it's third year. Bass Coast has become recognized for it's beautiful location with white sand beaches and a glacial back drop, unique art installations, and quality production featuring international and west coast artists.
Over the past 3 years, The Librarian has played with Pinch, Marty Party, Mimosa, VIbesquad, Ana Sia, Danny Corn, Rusko, Caspa, Appleblim, 2562, Propa Tingz, Fort Knox Five, Mat the Alien, XI, Downlink, Megasoid & all members of Vancouver's Lighta! among many others. The Librarian's productions have been shared at the Live Nation Pemberton Music Festival, Yale School of Theatre (soundtrack production), Finalist - World Ski & Snowboard 72 Hr Film Festival, Whistler Television, Heavy Hitting Horror Festival, web commercials and websites.
Lynx
Oakland, California, United States
Genre: Electronica / Folk / Indie
LYNX, and innovative singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, beat-boxer and producer originally from Colorado and now the Bay Area, has been playing music and performing since the age of 7. Now 25, she has been breaking new ground in both the live and electronic music scenes playing events all over the world including the US, Asia, Europe and Canada. Performance highlights include appearances at events such as Coachella, Austin City Limits festival, BOOM festival, and improv collaborations with Matisyahu, John Popper, Bassnectar and more. LYNX’s music combines elements of electronica, folk, and indie pop. Her lyrics are catchy and thought provoking while her beats keep things dancy and deep. Her new album ‘On the Horizon’ intertwines powerful vocals, lyrics that are both universal and intimate, timely and timeless, and a sound that switches from folky to cutting edge with bumping beats that melt to raw, melancholy melodies and resolve with infectious pop hooks. ‘On the Horizon’ is now available on Cartesian Binary Recordings.
(Image: Ryan Tunnicliffe)
Zenobia
Vancouver/Montreal/UK, CA
Hip Hop / Jazz / Soulwww.myspace.com/zenobiamusic
Born in England raised in Montreal, Quebec. Zenobia brings you an eclectic mix of soul, jazz, hip-hop and, electro-magnetic fusion. Music that takes you to different places, and different times. Influences of the 80's, lend an appealing flavor to this incredibly talented woman's pallet, she not only produced the entire album, she also arranged it, performed it, and mixed all the music. Four years later after her first release "Zenobia Salik and the United ElectroSoul", with brain child mastermind producer Nino de la Torre, she comes back at you with something sexy, classy, funky and soulful....leaving us with something new to discover about this emerging new supernova again!
Vancouver/Montreal/UK, CA
Hip Hop / Jazz / Soulwww.myspace.com/zenobiamusic
Born in England raised in Montreal, Quebec. Zenobia brings you an eclectic mix of soul, jazz, hip-hop and, electro-magnetic fusion. Music that takes you to different places, and different times. Influences of the 80's, lend an appealing flavor to this incredibly talented woman's pallet, she not only produced the entire album, she also arranged it, performed it, and mixed all the music. Four years later after her first release "Zenobia Salik and the United ElectroSoul", with brain child mastermind producer Nino de la Torre, she comes back at you with something sexy, classy, funky and soulful....leaving us with something new to discover about this emerging new supernova again!
DJ SHE
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Genre: Funk / Hip Hop / House
Originally from the East Coast of Canada, now based out of Vancouver BC, SHE is one of the top female DJ's on the Vancouver circuit. Growing up in a house-hold filled with funk and soul, SHE quickly acquired a love for music. From funk and soul, a love for hip hop developed and her journey into music began. As a DJ, her style ranges from the roots of today’s music; classic funk, disco and soul, but SHE also crosses genres of West Coast and Chicago House, funky mid-tempo Breaks and of course Hip Hop and R&B. Through her persistence and passion, SHE has been able to rock the decks alongside some of the West Coast’s finest DJ’s including Vinyl Ritchie, Mat The Alien, U-Tern, Bettie Forde, Luke McKeehan, Neighbour, Flip-Out, and on an international tip, SHE has been billed alongside artists such as Cut Chemist, formerly of Jurassic 5, DJ Ayers and DJ Eleven of The Rub (NYC), Kool DJ Red Alert (NYC), Queen Latifah, Montell Jordan & Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. On top of rocking it with some of the best in the industry, SHE takes the title of first and only female DJ in Canada to compete in the worldwide Red Bull 3 Style competition. Former manager of Canada’s #1 record store; Beatstreet Records, SHE is currently the host and creative director of GROUNDED TV & promoter and founder of JANE BLAZE PRODUCTIONS. SHE has held residencies at major clubs in Vancouver and her corporate clients have included H&M, Aritizia, Nike & Red Bull Canada to name a few. As well, SHE is a resident DJ with Nordic Trax, Hastings Set, Sway Productions, & GirlOnWax Events. Staying true to delivering thought provoking music and memorable events to the Vancouver music scene, SHE has proven to be to be a confident business woman in many respects.
Dubbed "The new and next Canadian" while featured on the cover of Peace Magazine with Just Blaze, Blondtron has continued to live up to the hype. Her catch me if you can attitude has kept her bouncing forward in a never fading effort to see what she can bring the world of music next.
Graduating top of her class as a Sound and Audio Engineer, Blondtron quickly took a leap that landed her a position in the Red Bull Music Academy in Melbourne. Shows in Tokyo, Los Angeles, San Diego and Vancouver soon followed leaving her scissor kicking the moon with such artists as Tittsworth, Afrobots, LA Riots, Oxy Cottontail and K-Os.
Witty humor, limitless energy, and an amazing ability to play to the crowd and get the dance floor burning gives Blondtron the capability of reaching millions. She will robot you into a dance-fever induced coma with her booty shaking remixes and mash-ups.
How do you define the kind of music that's like "your ears are having sex with your brain"? Electro-booty bass-disco-rave-rap? It's genre-breaking fun and you won't know until you're in it.
To date she continues to roll hard, as a rising deejay - tv host and music director and co-founder of the Hotmess Radio show. Her debut EP is due out in January so start stretching your glutes because Blondtron is coming to a dancefloor near you!
Lady Lane
http://www.facebook.com/DJLadyLane
http://www.myspace.com/djladylane
http://djladylane.podomatic.com
http://www.facebook.com/DJLadyLane
http://www.myspace.com/djladylane
http://djladylane.podomatic.com
Tank Girl
Vancouver, BC, Canadahttp://www.myspace.com/djtankgirl
Tank Girl brings it raw with a combination of past and present dancehall, bashment, reggae, hip hop, hyphy and anything else with a killer beat and lots of low end. From spiritual roots anthems to Passa Passa-worthy slackness, Tank Girl hits all the bases to ensure maximum chaos on the dance floor. Creator and resident of bashment hotspot Thursday Ting and the first lady of Van City's notorious Lighta! Crew, Tank Girl has rocked crowds in Jamaica, Mexico, Las Vegas, Seattle, Bellingham, Victoria, Texada Island, Whistler, Squamish, and all over Vancouver sharing the stage with the likes of Mavado, Richie Spice, Lindo P, Kush Arora, Juakali, Ghislain Poirier, Filastine, Maga Bo, DJ Rap, Dr. Israel, Benny Page, DJ Hive, Third Eye Tribe and more.
Since dj-ing in 2007, DJ Miss M has proven to be one of the busiest female dj’s in North America. Not only does she continue to successfully tour Canada, she is also taking over the US one state at a time. Considering, she’s the new kid on the block, it is hard to believe that she has already received nominations for Toronto’s 2009 and 2010 Marc Ecko Stylus Awards for CENTRAL DJ OF THE YEAR and BEST FEMALE DJ OF THE YEAR, espectively. Don’t be surprised to find Miss M opening for popular artists since she has previously opened or TPAIN, CROOKLYN CLAN’S DJ RIZ, DJ SHORTEE, FATMAN SCOOP, MONTELL JORDAN, GIRLICIOUS, JABBAWOCKEEZ, MARIO, NELLY, and many more. DJ MISS M thrives on her creative music selection and the reactions of her crowd. She loves exploring new music and constantly pleases her audience in a unique manner. “I play great music that people young and old can dance and sing to."
Just Shelia
JB The First Lady
VANCITY and T.O., BC
Genre: Hip Hop / R&Bhttp://www.myspace.com/jbthefirstlady
JB is a triple threat as an Emcee, director of performance and actor. JB has performed over 100 hip hop shows in and around Vancouver anywhere from clubs to Annual General Meetings for community organizations. She is spreading the words of empowerment and the perspective of urban indigenous women in Canada. She is 25 years old, and hails from the Nuxalk and Cayuga Nations."Using my words to go upwards/ not backwards" is lyrics that describe what JB tries to convey in her music. Hip Hop is her chosen avenue of expression. JB’s music is lyrically motivated with depth, meaning, and positivity like none other. JB reveals a gene of hip hop she calls "Cutie Empowerment HIP HOP". In November 2008 JB released her 1st album Called "Indigenous Love". "Indigenous love" is an album with political raps and love songs. JB first album definitely captures the opinions and expression of young urban indigenous women. JB wants young indigenous women to feel proud, inspired, and to finally see someone on stage that looks like them since there are not too many Canadian indigenous women represented in mainstream media.
VANCITY and T.O., BC
Genre: Hip Hop / R&Bhttp://www.myspace.com/jbthefirstlady
JB is a triple threat as an Emcee, director of performance and actor. JB has performed over 100 hip hop shows in and around Vancouver anywhere from clubs to Annual General Meetings for community organizations. She is spreading the words of empowerment and the perspective of urban indigenous women in Canada. She is 25 years old, and hails from the Nuxalk and Cayuga Nations."Using my words to go upwards/ not backwards" is lyrics that describe what JB tries to convey in her music. Hip Hop is her chosen avenue of expression. JB’s music is lyrically motivated with depth, meaning, and positivity like none other. JB reveals a gene of hip hop she calls "Cutie Empowerment HIP HOP". In November 2008 JB released her 1st album Called "Indigenous Love". "Indigenous love" is an album with political raps and love songs. JB first album definitely captures the opinions and expression of young urban indigenous women. JB wants young indigenous women to feel proud, inspired, and to finally see someone on stage that looks like them since there are not too many Canadian indigenous women represented in mainstream media.
DJ Bles-sed
Vancouver, BC, Canadahttp://bles-sed.com
http://www.myspace.com/djbles_sed
If you've never been fortunate enough to attend a Bles-sed event — which would be strange since she's been a pre-eminent R&B, hip hop, funk /soul DJ in Vancouver since 2002 — you're in for quite the revelation. A clubgoer and self-taught hip-hop dancer/choreographer (SVS) since she could first sneak into bars, Bles-sed made the switch from in front of the decks to behind them because she was enamoured with the art of spinning and loved collecting vinyl. Her unparalleled knowledge of classic tracks made her a natural for parties where one could reminisce about the good ol' times even while forging good new ones. An unquestioned authority on all things old school, Bles-sed has opened up incorporating an impressive range of different musical genres into her already divine flow. So in addition to classic R&B, hip hop, funk & soul, expect disco, classic electro/freestyle, house, dancehall and everything 80's and 90's thrown into the cut as Bles-sed builds the vibe to one of heavenly heights. Having shared the stage with notable artists such as Estelle, Ivana Santilli, Raphael Saadiq, Chin Injeti, Maseo (De La Soul), Love & Electrik, Team Canada DJs and currently the resident DJ for The Hastings Set, Bles-sed is very thankful for all the support she's had over the years and now fully locked into pursuing her art form one night at a time: picking the right songs, putting them in the right order at the right time of the night, for the right crowd. When all those things come together, it can truly be considered a night of divine intervention.
Vancouver, BC, Canadahttp://bles-sed.com
http://www.myspace.com/djbles_sed
If you've never been fortunate enough to attend a Bles-sed event — which would be strange since she's been a pre-eminent R&B, hip hop, funk /soul DJ in Vancouver since 2002 — you're in for quite the revelation. A clubgoer and self-taught hip-hop dancer/choreographer (SVS) since she could first sneak into bars, Bles-sed made the switch from in front of the decks to behind them because she was enamoured with the art of spinning and loved collecting vinyl. Her unparalleled knowledge of classic tracks made her a natural for parties where one could reminisce about the good ol' times even while forging good new ones. An unquestioned authority on all things old school, Bles-sed has opened up incorporating an impressive range of different musical genres into her already divine flow. So in addition to classic R&B, hip hop, funk & soul, expect disco, classic electro/freestyle, house, dancehall and everything 80's and 90's thrown into the cut as Bles-sed builds the vibe to one of heavenly heights. Having shared the stage with notable artists such as Estelle, Ivana Santilli, Raphael Saadiq, Chin Injeti, Maseo (De La Soul), Love & Electrik, Team Canada DJs and currently the resident DJ for The Hastings Set, Bles-sed is very thankful for all the support she's had over the years and now fully locked into pursuing her art form one night at a time: picking the right songs, putting them in the right order at the right time of the night, for the right crowd. When all those things come together, it can truly be considered a night of divine intervention.
THE SQUARE ROOT OF EVIL
Vancouver, BC
Genre: Electronica / Other / Technowww.thesquarerootofevil.com
www.myspace.com/thesquarerootofevil
http://www.ilike.com/artist/The+Square+Root+Of+Evil
The Square Root of Evil (Jen Pearson) has been surrounded by musicians her entire life. It was only natural that as soon as computers were able to keep up with her lightning fast compositional skills, she would use them to translate the thetas and gammas of her weirdo brainwaves into beats and bleeps of dance music. Composing since 1999, playing out since 2004, she's been featured on over half a dozen compilations on US, UK & Canadian labels including Toast and Jam's "We Bore 2" and Uncharted Audio's "Idea Hoard Uncut". She makes songs out of found sounds, from samples of washing dishes to chopped up vocals of extremely popular and awful songs- she has released two EPs, "Chirping Data" out on Belladonna, and "Killerbytes" which can be downloaded from Xynthetic.. She represented Vancouver in the 2006 North American Laptop Battle Championship in Seattle after making her way to the top in her hometown, and has played countless live shows in Vancouver and Europe. She has played alongside such artists as Venetian Snares, Books on Tape, FFF, Cursor Miner, and Captain Ahab, and has received glowing reviews in Grooves and XLR8R magazines. Her work has been described as everything from IDM, Techno, Breakcore, 8-bit, Drum 'n Bass, Glitch & Jungle, as the sub-sub-sub genres continue to split further & further... leaning towards frantic & somewhat complex rhythms made with crunchy low-fi sounds, making people smile while they dance. She's done some touring and has been threatening to release another EP, so be on the lookout for performances and new material by this Canadian laptop artist.
Vancouver, BC
Genre: Electronica / Other / Technowww.thesquarerootofevil.com
www.myspace.com/thesquarerootofevil
http://www.ilike.com/artist/The+Square+Root+Of+Evil
The Square Root of Evil (Jen Pearson) has been surrounded by musicians her entire life. It was only natural that as soon as computers were able to keep up with her lightning fast compositional skills, she would use them to translate the thetas and gammas of her weirdo brainwaves into beats and bleeps of dance music. Composing since 1999, playing out since 2004, she's been featured on over half a dozen compilations on US, UK & Canadian labels including Toast and Jam's "We Bore 2" and Uncharted Audio's "Idea Hoard Uncut". She makes songs out of found sounds, from samples of washing dishes to chopped up vocals of extremely popular and awful songs- she has released two EPs, "Chirping Data" out on Belladonna, and "Killerbytes" which can be downloaded from Xynthetic.. She represented Vancouver in the 2006 North American Laptop Battle Championship in Seattle after making her way to the top in her hometown, and has played countless live shows in Vancouver and Europe. She has played alongside such artists as Venetian Snares, Books on Tape, FFF, Cursor Miner, and Captain Ahab, and has received glowing reviews in Grooves and XLR8R magazines. Her work has been described as everything from IDM, Techno, Breakcore, 8-bit, Drum 'n Bass, Glitch & Jungle, as the sub-sub-sub genres continue to split further & further... leaning towards frantic & somewhat complex rhythms made with crunchy low-fi sounds, making people smile while they dance. She's done some touring and has been threatening to release another EP, so be on the lookout for performances and new material by this Canadian laptop artist.
DJ Tapes
Experimental / Improvised / Otherhttp://diademdiscos.wordpress.com/aja-rose/music/dj-tapes/
DJ Tapes is a project by Aja Rose Bond (Diadem, HerJazz Noise Collective) that utilizes cassette tapes as a musical and conceptual basis for new sonic explosions. Performances vary greatly, covering territory as diverse as live DJ sets at dance parties, Harsh Noise experiments, and highly developed compositions. DJ Tapes’ source materials range from original and dubbed cassettes including everything from pop music, noise, ambient field recordings and “books on tape” to her own original compositions. She is inspired by an endless fascination with the tactile, analog nature of cassettes, the visceral, mechanical experience of handling them, and the intrinsic value of the mixtape as art object. DJ Tapes has performed as a part of Vancouver New Music’s Copyright/Copyleft Festival; Her Jazz Noise Collective’s Women’s Studies; Fuck Off and Dance; and This Summer’s Going to Be a Girl Riot at VIVO Media Arts Centre.
Experimental / Improvised / Otherhttp://diademdiscos.wordpress.com/aja-rose/music/dj-tapes/
DJ Tapes is a project by Aja Rose Bond (Diadem, HerJazz Noise Collective) that utilizes cassette tapes as a musical and conceptual basis for new sonic explosions. Performances vary greatly, covering territory as diverse as live DJ sets at dance parties, Harsh Noise experiments, and highly developed compositions. DJ Tapes’ source materials range from original and dubbed cassettes including everything from pop music, noise, ambient field recordings and “books on tape” to her own original compositions. She is inspired by an endless fascination with the tactile, analog nature of cassettes, the visceral, mechanical experience of handling them, and the intrinsic value of the mixtape as art object. DJ Tapes has performed as a part of Vancouver New Music’s Copyright/Copyleft Festival; Her Jazz Noise Collective’s Women’s Studies; Fuck Off and Dance; and This Summer’s Going to Be a Girl Riot at VIVO Media Arts Centre.
MISS INNOCENT (Colleen Arndt)
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Genre: Electronica / Techno / Trance
Colleen first got involved in the electronic music scene back in 96/97 from such influences as Front 242, Depeche Mode and New Order. She then became acquainted with the art of spinning through DJ Dr Phreak and in the fall of 97 she helped him run the 1409 Afterhours. It became quite popular in the Vancouver underground as they were able to host such djs as Mike Huckaby and David Alvarado.
From 98-03 she worked with the Soundproof Crew, a group which is responsible for building up the underground party scene on the Canadian West coast by putting on quality events that cater mostly towards the harder techno and trance genres. However near the end of 2003 she decided to relocate to Graz Austria to focus more on production and djing. During her time in Europe she became quite heavily influenced from the British, German and Swedish techno producers around and her style has now evolved into a unique blend of techno, tech-trance, funky techno and a bit of acid techno. Over the years she has built up a solid reputation for her dj skills and this has enabled her to be billed with mainstay artists such as Claude Young, Technasia, Chris Liberator, DAVE the Drummer, Massimo, Dean Rodell, Renato Cohen, Jay Denham, British Murder Boys, James Ruskin, Pacou Asuna and Billy Nasty. She has also had the opportunity to play at some of the biggest venues and events around the world (Hifi Bar-Australia, Warehouse-Calgary Canada, Sonar-Vancouver Canada, Ray Junior-Montreal Canada, Y Afterhours-Edmonton Canada, Club Extravaganza-Croatia, Stereodrome-Slovakia, Supalova Club-Slovakia, Eternity-Czech Rep, Fabric-Czech Rep, Cosmic Trip Festival-Czech Rep, Sun City-Austria, Obsession Festival-Austria, Cazin Club-Austria, Kuca Club-Serbia, Euforia Club-Trieste Italy, Stuk-Slovenia, The Zoo-Belgium, Locked-Manchester, Antistatic-Czech Rep). In 2005 Colleen was helping run the Unknown Forces and Drumworks record labels, which are based out of the UK, with Dean Rodell and they also started up the Subdivision booking agency and record label but sadly these projects came to an end in September 2005. After spending two years in Europe, Colleen decided to make the move back to Canada and is now based out of Vancouver BC. She is currently working on producing her own music, has done collaboration work with Dean Rodell and worked briefly with Lori the Hifi Princess. As well, Colleen stays active in the electronic scene by writing a monthly column for the Australian based electronic music website, 12AM, and this features dj interviews and event reviews/pictures.
British-born Vancouver, Canada-based DJ Veronica is known to get booties shakin' with her eclectic collection of phat sexy house beats combined with her technical and programming skills.
Veronica started her DJing career in 1998 in Vancouver where she produced a weekly 7-hour house music radio show. She has opened for great DJs such David Alvarado, Armand Van Helden, Jon Howard, Lawnchair Generals, Trevor Walker and DJ Preston among others. In 2002, Veronica was voted #1 DJ in Vancouver by the readers of the Georgia Straight's annual "Best of Vancouver" edition, was ranked 3rd Best Club DJ in the WestEnder magazine, and was a nominee for Best Gay & Lesbian DJ.
Veronica started playing international gigs in 2001 which included Liquids (New York, USA), Globe (Sydney, Australia) RTHK Hong Kong Radio & the Lamma Island Power Station Beach Party(Hong Kong), as well as playing at BCM (Spain) for a crowd of over 4000!
In 2002, Veronica played at Room 680 and Seven in Melbourne, Australia, and appeared as a special guest on 2SER 107.3FM underground radio in Sydney Australia.
In 2003, Veronica played in Maui, Hawaii at Casanova with DJs Forrest, Daniel J, and DJ Preston (SF) and also at La Jazzerie. In 2004 Veronica played Portland's popular clubs Fez & 1201.
Vancouverites know DJ Veronica as the organizer of several all-female DJ nights: "The Girls Next Door" (1998) and "Heaven" (2002). Veronica is also responsible for many mix CDs: That Afterhours Sound, That Afterhours Sound II, Deeply Delicious, A Night on Texada, Veronica in the UK, Pride 2002, Sarka's Heavenly Creatures, The Sweetest Sounds, Once Upon A Road Trip, I Give Good House, Props to Madonna, Welcome to My House, The Music that Moved Me, Veronica's Vibe, It's About Time, This One's For You...and many more!
Veronica's music can be venue-dependent, but what sets her apart is her crowd-reading & programming skills. Also, Veronica does not restrict herself to one style of house music: tech, vocal, progressive, deep, tribal, lounge, and even the odd eighties mix of white label may sneak its way into one of her sets occasionally. Veronica plays on the radio, at clubs, lounges and after-hours clubs, fashion shows, and at many lesbian and gay events. Veronica provides her listeners and partiers with musical therapy.
Veronica has also made several appearances in MTV Canada (MTV Link) and she has received a great deal of attention from local, national, and international publications, websites, and dance floors alike. Veronica has recently joined the Hit Girl Collective based in Seattle.
Veronica was the resident DJ at CELEBRITIES (Fridays) with DJs Leanne & Nancy Kyd when it re-opened in 2004. Most notable gigs include the following: in 2004 Veronica played in Kona Hawaii, in 2005 she played in Seattle at See Sound Lounge, in 2006 she played Noir Afterhours in Portland, Oregon, in 2007 she played in Tulum Mexico at Mezzanine and Pez on a two-week tour, in 2008 she played at Lotus for Hollywood Fridays, in 2010 Veronica played in Hollywood with Playboy Playmate DJ Rhiannon at Ecco Night club as well as the Wet Electric Pool After-Party. Veronica now plays "one-offs" around the city as she is now a real estate agent...selling houses by day and playing house music by night! (see http://www.amyrozier.com ) When in Vancouver, check out her deep penetrating basslines at her new residency at Club 686 (Thursdays) or other hotspots in and around the city!
[Media Artist] [Workshop &Conference]
vj electrabelle
Electrabelle Visual Effects is Suez Holland's creation, now responsible for creating upwards of 1,100 live video installations in over 12 years. Most recently, Electrabelle won an award for BEST MUSIC VIDEO at the Bass Coast Music Festival for the Liquid Stranger track: 'Mutants' ( http://vimeo.com/5948543).
Collaborations in the past year include video and lighting installations for the U2 '360 degree' tour wrap party, live visuals for The Rapture, Shiny Toy Guns, Maestro Fresh Wes, INXS, the Canadian pavilion for the 2010 Olympics, and the South Asian Arts Festival 'City of Bhangra'.
Krista Lomax
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Motion graphics designer/ video artist/filmmaker
Krista Lomax [krash hazzard visuals] is a motion graphics designer and video artist who got her start making A/V mashups with VHS decks, high speed dubbing and razor-editing reel to reel tape. She has spent her recent years vj-ing for hundreds of live music and art events (FUSE @ the Vancouver Art Gallery, Kuba Oms/Velvet Collective, Sistahood, A440hz, The Al Neil Project w/ Grunt Gallery and Carole Itter, NOW Orchestra, Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival, LG Electronics, Lighta!/Dubforms, Vancouver Jazz Festival) as well as designing 30+ animations for film and television title sequences (Brightlight Pictures, Toronto International Film Festival, New York Gay Film Festival, Insight Film, Shavick Entertainment). She has also contributed live vj performance content to Coldcut and Crystal Method as well as vj-ed in music videos for TV Heart Attack, Suzy Solar, Michelle Boback and The Next Hundred Years. Her latest project was to design the software interfaces for the spaceships of Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe and her visuals work was most recently seen as the backdrop for Dubrovnik Fashion Week in Croatia.
Claudia Medina
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Filmmaker/ writer/ educator/ visual artist
Claudia Medina began her career as a filmmaker fifteen years ago assisting acclaimed Canadian director Nettie Wild on her feature documentary "A Place Called Chiapas". Since then she has worked alongside a number of respected Canadian filmmakers as a writer, editor, production coordinator, field producer and shooter. Claudia has been the recipient of numerous awards from the Canada Council of the Arts for her short dramatic films she has written, produced and directed. For the past two years she has also been collaborating with artists of different disciplines to create visual projections for performances, and live visuals for electronic musicians throughout Canada and in Barcelona. She also develops and implements curriculum for workshops that combine community development, conflict resolution and ecological awareness through filmmaking to diverse groups nationally and internationally. Claudia has recently completed a master’s degree in Visual Culture from the University of Barcelona with a focus on visual culture and ecology. Recently she has co directed a short documentary about alternative economics called "Life After Growth”, which will be developed into a longer film. Her latest fiction film, "Animal Blessings" set in the Friuli region of Italy, is currently in post production. Most recently, Claudia created a multi media installation that explored our relationship to the natural world.
[Workshop &Conference]
Tara Rodgers
Musician/ Composer/ Feminist technology scholar
Tara Rodgers (Analog Tara) is a musician, composer, and feminist technology scholar. Originally from upstate New York, she is now based in the DC area. She performed jazz piano in NYC in the mid-1990s and has made electronic music and sound art for about 10 years. Recent projects include sound installations based on butterfly migrations, human population shifts, and urban landscapes; a quiet album of piano and field recordings; and a live techno set. She received the 2007 New Genre Prize from the International Alliance of Women in Music, and a 2006 Frog Peak Experimental Music Award. Her work has been exhibited at venues including Eyebeam and the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art. Recordings have been released on the Le Tigre Remix 12" and other compilations.
Tara founded the critically-acclaimed website Pinknoises.com in 2000, and a related collection of interviews with women who make electronic music and sound art was published by Duke University Press in 2010. She is currently an assistant professor of Women's Studies and 2011-12 faculty fellow in Digital Cultures & Creativity at the University of Maryland.
Dr. Charity Marsh
Canada Research Chair PhD, MA, BMus, BA
Dr. Charity Marsh holds the Canada Research Chair in Interactive Media and Performance in the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Regina.
Charity earned a Bachelor of Music as well as a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Women's Studies and a minor in German from the University of Ottawa. From York University she earned her MA in Women Studies problematizing the dynamic and contested relationship between nature and technology in the Icelandic artist, Björk's 1997 album Homogenic. In April 2005 Charity defended her thesis entitled, "Raving Cyborgs, Queering Practices, and Discourses of Freedom: The Search for Meaning in Toronto's Rave Culture", completing her Ph.D. requirements for the doctoral programme in Popular Music Studies and Ethnomusicology at York University.
Charity's current research focuses on interactive media and performance and how cultures and practices associated with this broad category contribute to dialogues concerning regionalism, cultural identity, and community specifically within western and northern Canada, and more generally on a global scale.
In 2007 Charity was awarded a Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Grant and a Saskatchewan Fund for Innovation and Science (SFIS) grant to develop the Interactive Media and Performance (IMP) Labs as a way to support her ongoing research.
Denise Sheppard
Denise Sheppard considers herself to be one of the luckiest kids in the sandbox, having spent 15 years living her dreams and being a music journalist. She was the Vancouver City Desk for Rolling Stone for almost ten years, got to fly around the world and talk to some of her favorite musicians and thinks that her favorite interview of all time might just have been Kermit the Frog for Rolling Stone. She loves playing sports, hanging with her dog and doing anything that involves community, especially when women help each other get stronger.
Christie Lee Charles
Erica Dee
Vocal workshop
[Writers]
Vancouver Women Read --- Curated by Nikki Reimer (www.nikkireimer.com) and Alex Leslie (alexleslie.wordpress.com) in association with Real Vancouver Writers Series
Hiromi Goto
Hiromi’s first novel, Chorus of Mushrooms (1994), received the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book in the Caribbean and Canada region and was co-winner of the Canada-Japan Book Award. Her short stories and poetry have been widely published in literary journals and anthologies. Her second novel,The Kappa Child (2001), was a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Regional Book, and was awarded the James Tiptree Jr. Memorial Award. Her first children’s novel, The Water of Possibility, was also published that year. Hopeful Monsters, a collection of short stories, was released in 2004. Her latest novel, Half World, received the 2010 Sunburst Award and has been longlisted for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Her long poem, co-written with David Bateman, came out in Fall 2009. Wait Until Late Afternoon is her first book-length poetry publication.
Antonette Rae
Antonette Rea is part of the Thursdays Writing Collective - a group of writers from Vancouver's DTES that Geist magazine has called "the biggest, boldest, and by far the most vital conspiracy of writers operating in Vancouver at present". A video of Antonette's spoken word piece 'Rewind: Memory On Film' was produced by W2's youth media program and screened at the Roundhouse Memory Festival. Antonette was recently profiled in Sad Mag.
Hannah Calder
Hannah Calder was born in England and grew up there and in British Columbia. Her novel 'More House' was published by Vancouver's New Star Books in 2009. Of 'More House,' Dodie Bellamy wrote, "Calder's prose simmers with hallucinatory heat. She is the most generous and attentive of writers, and one whose experiments crackle and blaze like wildfire, sweeping the landscape of her dreams like panopticon pinlights."
Kim Fu
Kim Fu's work has appeared or is forthcoming in Prairie Fire, The New Quarterly, Vancouver Review, Vancouver Magazine, The Tyee, Room, and on CBC Radio, among others. Her novel in progress has SSHRC funding. Her narrative memoir “How We Keep Our Dogs at Bay” won second place in the 2010 Prairie Fire contest. She was the editorial assistant for the Hugh MacClennan Poetry Series at McGill-Queens University Press; she’s currently on the editorial board for PRISM International and hosts the Locution Reading Series at Pulp Fiction. She lives among writers.
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