“The opportunity to do Red Bull Symphonic has come at the perfect time in my career,” said Charlotte Day Wilson. “Red Bull was one of the first companies to take notice when I was coming up so I’m really glad to get to do this event with them. I’m at a point in my career where I’m looking forward to reworking my music and looking at it through a different lens”.

“A lot of my work lends itself really well to an event like Red Bull Symphonic since it’s not unusual for me to incorporate some of these instruments into my arrangements. I’m really looking forward to being on that stage and connecting with fans in a different way as they experience a new take on familiar songs”.

This event marks Canada’s first-ever Red Bull Symphonic event, following notable events around the world including events in Atlanta’s sold-out event featuring Rick Ross and most recently at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre with Metro Boomin. Red Bull Symphonic featuring Metro Boomin saw the celebrated music producer perform hits alongside special guests John Legend, Swae Lee and more.

Tickets will be on sale Friday, December 13, 2024 at 11 am EST. For additional information and to purchase tickets please visit redbull.ca/symphonic.

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One of the most popular summer events, which tours across Canada, is the Skratch Bastit BBQ party. The event takes over a public city space called The Bentway, a space well established as the common ground for many cultural and art events. The two-day BBQ-themed festival program is a spotlight on hip-hop culture with breaking battles, scratch DJ performances, rap music showcases, and DJ battles. Needless to say, this space and event are an ideal match, framed by the concrete city atmosphere and a viewing lawn.

Over the years Bastid has participated as the judge in various Red Bull competitions, including Thre3style, so it was no surprise that the event stage was the Red Bull transformer bus. An ingenious invention I must admit. The rest of the space was shaped by beverage vendors serving up samples of Monkey Shoulder cocktails and Casa Del Rey mixed tequila drinks. And then, of course, there were the BBQ and food vendors offering an endless supply of tasty libations.

Between the breakdancing battles the competing and amateur dancers took turns practising moves and tricks. Surrounded by a supportive crowd they were cheering one another through head spins and trips alike. Even the junior attendees were welcome on the dance floor.

Throughout the weekend Skratch Bastid, dressed in a BBQ apron, took the stage a few times himself but mostly shared the space with talent from across the city. Deejay T-Jr, 2X Canadian DMC Champion, set the scene early on Saturday with some firey hip-hop and Latino tracks while another DMC winner, DJ Starting from Scratch showcased his flavour of scratch DJing on Sunday. Raz Fresco, joined on stage by the BKRSCLB, got real and lyrical with the attendees taking the evening into adults-only hours with DJ Koco and Alchemist.

Bastid’s BBQ has been hosting people out in the sun since 2010 and the event is only getting bigger. For many folks, especially in the hip hop community this event is a highlight and a reunion. For many others it is an opportunity to do something different and be a part of something bigger then a tourist-packed street food festival.

The post The annual Skratch Bastid BBQ wins over Toronto once again appeared first on Quip Magazine.

Every year, Red Bull’s Culture Clash travels the world bringing the spirit of Jamaican Sound System (aka Sound Clash) culture by showcasing head-to-head performances from four crews, each celebrating the city’s historically lively parades. This year’s Culture Clash featured Papi Juice (representing the Pride March), Remezcla (representing the National Puerto Rican Day Parade), Eastern Standard Times (representing the Lunar New Year Parade), and No Long Talk (representing the West Indian Day Parade).

Red Bull Culture Clash gives New Yorkers the opportunity to openly display love and pride for the city’s different cultural music scenes on one of the biggest stages in the world.” 

~ No Long Talk Crew

On June 1st, at Greenpoint’s Open-Air Terminal Market, with the NYC skyline and East River as the perfect backdrop, Red Bull’s Culture Clash set up four competing stages. Upon arrival, attendees navigated the long driveway, passing stacked, decorated shipping containers until the East River and skyline were revealed, shimmering in the beautiful 80-degree weather. The anticipation attendees felt during entry was met with excitement and pride for their cultures being a part of this day.

The Open-Air Market featured vendors like The West Indian Carnival Association, NYC Pride, BreadxButta, Everything Oxtail, Forsyth Fire, and Boba Guys. BreadxButta, for example, showed their love for Puerto Rico by setting up an immersive photo op where you could hear sounds recorded from the island. As attendees continued through the vendors (sipping newly acquired Red Bulls), there were opportunities to try foods from different cultures and an option to relax at communal picnic tables before the event.

As you entered the battle area, four stages were set up in each corner of the venue, all facing into the DJ and crowd-decibel sound reader. Each stage was decorated almost like a parade float, with intricate details and storylines representing their respective cultures. The Papi Juice Crew, representing PRIDE, had their stage sparkling in silver and pink, wrapped with pink and white airbrushed illustrations of their crew members. Remezcla displayed Puerto Rican cultural staples on their stage, such as life-sized dominos, a card table, a car wrapped in the Puerto Rican flag, and a Piragua cart with the word “Nuyorico” painted across it.

No Long Talk’s stage combined West Indian and NYC culture by displaying street signs reading Eastern Parkway and Utica Ave. Their mega speaker system was built into a yellow truck cab, with a backdrop of illustrated people waving flags as if they were in the parade. Lastly, Eastern Standard Times decorated their stage to celebrate the Year of The Dragon, with traditional symbology and designs celebrating the Asian diaspora.

Before the competition started, attendees celebrated and danced together to music by The Large, a British DJ based in New York known for her unique blend of up-to-the-time soundsystem heaters featuring club music from around the world. Performing crew members could be seen handing out blow horns, cowbells, fans, flags, and other noisemakers. Initially confused but excited, attendees soon realized why these would come in handy.

As the competition started, the hosts Mel Ottenberg, creative director and editor-in-chief of Interview Magazine, and Devin Halbal, a TikTok influencer known for her off-the-cuff phrases like “Met Gala Behavior,” introduced each crew and laid out the rules:

There would be four rounds, with each team having 8 minutes to win over the crowd. Each round’s winner would be decided by crowd cheer and a sound decibel system. This system encouraged attendees to stay in front of the stage they were supporting and make as much noise as possible during voting at the end of each round.

Round 1: Temperature’s Rising

Papi Juice Crew (featuring Papi Juice, Raul Lopez of Luar, Mazurbate, Bronze Goddess, Byrell The Great, Kimberly Drew, and West Dakota), kicked off this round with a high-energy lip sync performance with dancers on stage. Above the stage, their crew held signs saying “Protect Trans Kids,” “Pride Was A Riot,” and “For Marsha.” Their high-energy performance set the tone for what was to come.

Remezcla (featuring J.I The Prince of N.Y, Nina Sky, Tony Touch, DJ Bembona, and Christian Martir with Capicu!), followed with a group playing cards as a DJ played traditional Puerto Rican songs, accompanied by spirited Conga percussionists. They called for the community to come together and celebrate Nuyorican culture, representing the cultural and intellectual movement involving poets, writers, musicians, and artists of Puerto Rican or Latin descent who live in or near New York City.

No Long Talk (featuring DJ Puffy, SilentMatic, DJ Madout, Disco Neil, Jus Jay King, Kevin Crown, Major Penny, Rheezus, Shacia Payne, and Travis World), jumped straight in with classic calypso, soca, reggae, and dancehall hits while dancers waved flags from different Caribbean islands. Kevin Crown spoke to the deep roots of Caribbean culture in NYC, with specific reference to Eastern Parkway and Utica Avenue in Brooklyn.

Eastern Standard Times (featuring P-Lo, Bohan Phoenix, Sunkis, 12 Pell, Ted Park, Inspecta Jones, Deb Kim, Sangarang, and Slayrizz), started with a high-energy set featuring an Asian spin on hip-hop while dragons danced across the stage. They brought out Jay Park, a current hitmaker in the Asian rap scene, to excite the crowd. After introducing their crew, they took a moment to thank the crowd for coming and noted the hardships faced by the Asian communities in recent years. They ended with a message of unity and celebration of the Asian diaspora.

No points were given as Round 1 was a warm-up. However, the crowd made the most noise for No Long Talk, hitting over 100 on the decibel reader.

Round Two: Parade 

Remezcla started the second round by celebrating the Puerto Rican Day Parade with high-energy dancers decked out in Puerto Rican flags and clothing. They continued by creating a nostalgic soundtrack for their parade with musical guests like Nina Sky, Lumidee, and Judy Santos.

No Long Talk showed love and homage to Trinidad, the originators of the Caribbean Carnival. Masqueraders dressed in carnival costumes danced across the stage, amping up the crowd while some of the biggest Soca hits played.

Easter Standard Time transported the audience to the Lunar New Year Parade with dragons dancing across the stage. Slay Rizz, dressed in a gold outfit emulating a dragon, strutted down the stage, giving the audience the performance they came for.

Papi Juice Crew continued to show their love for Pride by highlighting some of the biggest black female artists in the industry. They celebrated their queerness by reminding the crowd that “Everyone’s a little gay”.

While all the crews put on a stellar performance, the point for this round went to Papi Juice Crew!

Round 3: New York, New York

For this round, the groups had to remix the song “New York Groove” by Hello into their performance.

No Long Talk remixed the song into a traditional reggae mix. The crowd was encouraged to wave their flags and show love for New York City. Eastern Standard Times continued their hip-hop celebration, mixing the song with tracks from their crew and cultures. Papi Juice brought a ballroom performance with voguing, and they brought out rapper Precious who paid homage to the birth of Hip-Hop, turning up the heat and energy on stage. Remezcla put a reggaeton twist on the song, performed by J.I The Prince of New York, ending with signs promoting ForPuertoRico.art, a site with a petition for the freedom of expression and autonomy for the Puerto Rican people.

This round’s point went to No Long Talk, tying them with Papi Juice.

Round 4: Special Guest

Eastern Standard Times expressed their appreciation to the black community for creating hip-hop and invited Philadelphia-based artist Pink Sweat$, who amped up the crowd with call-and-repeat lyrics before performing some of his top hits.

Papi Juice brought out Ms. Boogie, who rapped over a classic New York drill beat, filling the air with a feeling of queer liberation and celebration.

Remezcla brought out legends Laura Styles, DJ Tony Touch, J.I The Prince,  and Jim Jones. During the performances, folkloric characters integral to Puerto Rican culture and festivals were on stage dancing and exciting the crowd. 

No Long Talk wowed the crowd by bringing out YG Marley and Wyclef Jean. Just when the crowd thought it couldn’t get any better, Wyclef Jean played exclusive dubplates of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. The set ended with a remix of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” calling out all the opposing crews.

The fourth round ended in a close call, but the double point went to No Long Talk, crowning them the winners of the Red Bull Culture Clash 2024. We asked the winners how they see this performance contributing to the recognition and celebration of West Indian culture in NYC, to which they replied:

“Our crew hopes to execute a performance that shows the wider world that Caribbean music has the power to unite people from so many different places, and that it is really a source of healing for so many New Yorkers. Hopefully, the show speaks for itself, but we look forward to solidifying Caribbean culture as one of the driving forces for New York’s rich and diverse cultural palette.

“I hope people remember this event as one that showed the world that 1) the Caribbean can dominate against any culture (doe size up),” No Long Talk Crew continued, and “2) we can also dominate in a way that is celebratory and uplifting. I also hope that this event leads to a greater level of respect, recognition, and opportunities for Caribbean culture globally.”

As the sun set over the New York City skyline you could feel the immense amount of love, support, and community. You could feel the melting pot. The celebration of culture and community is something that defines New York, and this experience was incredibly special for all involved. We want to congratulate No Long Talk on this year’s win and celebrate the entire Caribbean culture for their contributions.

The post Red Bull Culture Clash is a spectacular coming together of NYC diversity appeared first on Quip Magazine.

Twenty-four b-boys and b-girls from across the country competed for a place in the World Finals in Rio de Janeiro Brazil and this battle was one for the books. Or Red Bull TV rather, where you will be able to watch it soon enough.

The Four Seasons, typically used for opera and ballet performances has never seen anything like this on stage. With nearly 900 attendees present the Cypher still felt intimate, everyone cheering along and rooting for their favorites. “Hip hop is a culture and this is a part of the culture we don’t get to see a lot,” pointed out the competition co-host Benzo.

The dancers battled in teams of two, teasing one another, pulling tricks and copying each other’s moves, a type of athletic comedy and skill you won’t see anywhere else but in the breakdance challenge. At the end of the day Toronto’s B-Boy Onton took his first win. B-Boy Onton took the mic to address the room, “I want to thank everyone for supporting me. I’m not a young guy so I’m just happy to be up here with all these top-level people” before dedicating the win to his late father.

Surrey’s B-Girl Emma took the win for the women. Emma received a wildcard invite to the World Final last year which makes 2024 her 3rd consecutive year on the global stage. “I had so much fun this year battling, even though it was a bit stressful with the competition, it was the most fun I’ve had in a while dancing,” said Emma. “I am so happy I won because I have been really working hard the past few years and it feels like the work is paying off little by little, I can’t wait to go to Brazil for the last chance cypher!”

Onton competes at Red Bull BC One National Final in Toronto, Canada on March 24th, 2024. // Jahmal Nugent / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202405250025 // Usage for editorial use only //

B-girl Emma competes at the Red Bull BC One Cypher Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Canada on may 24th, 2024. // Little Shao / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202405250050 // Usage for editorial use only //

All images by Jahmal Nugent, courtesy of Red Bull.

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Representing Spin the Block is DJ & founder JAMIE-LEE joined on stage by JORDIOR. We took a moment to chat with the duo about their experience.

Quip: Congratulations on the wine! How does it feel to be the finalist of this first-ever Red Bull Turn it Up?

Spin the Block: Thank you so much! It was such an honour being involved in the competition and being the first ones to win it in North America. It feels surreal, like a fever dream and honestly feels amazing knowing that we did it together.

Q: What does this win mean for you as a DJ now?

STB: It’s such a big milestone in our DJ careers so we’ve made sure to really take the time to celebrate it and we hope to continue the momentum not only within the city but across borders as well.

Q: How does your team dynamic work, can you let us in a bit behind the scenes?

STB: I think being friends outside of the competition we were confident about having a natural team dynamic that we knew would help us excel in the competition. We basically did everything together along with one of our good friends and DJ, Playgirl who helped us a lot behind the scenes. When it came down to it, we knew when it was time to get to work and we knew how to have fun while doing it.

Q: How did you prepare for the competition?

STB: We started off by getting together and sharing all of our ideas than we went right into practice sessions. We practiced almost every day of the week leading up to the competition.

Q: Were any of the rounds particularly challenging for you?

STB: Disco inferno and emo night – it took us a while to figure out what direction we wanted to go in.

Q: Where else can people see you spin music?

STB: We do a monthly party called ‘Crossover’ and spin all over Toronto. We post where we are weekly on our IGs @jamieleesantos and @jordior.

All images by © Anthony Nusca for Red Bull

The post Spin the Block talks about taking part in Red Bull Turn it Up appeared first on Quip Magazine.

Red Bull Turn It Up is an interactive DJ competition with the audience serving as judges. Tracks selection is inspired by various themes and DJ terms go head-to-head in three battles to win over the crowd with the most entertaining and creative mixes in the moment.

This will be the first time the event is held in Canada showcasing some of the best talent from the city. There are four Toronto-based teams: Deh’Ya, Release, Spin the Block, and Traxx & Feels and each team represents a different genre of music.

Deh’ya explores Caribbean culture through the lens of second-generation immigrants of the West Indies, aiming to celebrate their culture through sound, movement, and fashion. Representing Scarborough, Release’s DJing duo incorporate their special chemistry and synchronicity into their sets often feeling as though they can read each other’s minds. Spin the Block brings their diverse taste in music promising the crowd a harmonious set that journeys through multiple genres. Traxx & Feels is a collective commitment to celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, connection, and enjoyment who run tracks from around the globe including Amapiano, hip hop & R&B, UKG, and global club edits.

Tickets and more information at redbull.ca/turnitup.

All images by Neil Watson for Red Bull Canada

The post The ultimate DJ battle competition lands in Toronto this November appeared first on Quip Magazine.

The mood in the room was friendly and optimistic. “This is nice” I kept overhearing from the attendees, “for all of us to be here together once again”. In many ways, it was a heartwarming, bonding experience reminding us all how much we’ve missed being a community and supporting one another in person.

At the end of the night, Toronto’s Anthony Put aka b-boy Illz and Calgary’s Alexandra Mozil aka b-girl SashaFox took home the championship prize and will not represent Canada in the Red Bull BC One World Final Last Chance Cypher finals in New York.

The night started off with a quick demo from each of the judges, showing us where the bar sits. Special guests like veteran dancers and the next generation, aka a couple of toddlers, stepped out for a quick showcase later in the night as well. Competing in pairs b-boys and b-girls took the spotlight to showcase their unique style, flair, and flexibility. One-by-one they were eliminated but not without a fight.

Following the event Illz shared a few sentiments: “Being able to battle in front of a real live audience again felt amazing,” said Illz. “I’d like to thank my homies who took on the challenge of battling me at sessions. There’s no “I” in team and I couldn’t have been so prepared without them. The dancing, running, breathing exercises, visualizing, and studying all paid off. I’m excited to hit the lab again on Monday. It’s grind time baby!”

“It feels unreal to win Red Bull BC One Cypher Canada 2022,” commented SashaFox “I have been watching Red Bull Cyphers since 2011 and never thought that one day I might actually participate in one. New York is the birthplace of hip-hop and breaking and so it is an amazing opportunity to be included in the World Final there. I am very grateful for it and very excited to represent Canada and my style during the event.”

Illz and SashaFox will be joined by the wildcard from Surrey B.C., Emma Misak AKA who received a wildcard invite to the World Final, she too was able to jump into the circle to share with the room what she is all about.

The post Red Bull BC One Cypher Canada brought Toronto out of the pandemic slumber appeared first on Quip Magazine.

 In anticipation of the competition, we caught up with two local breakers to discuss their careers, music inspirations, and expectations of this upcoming challenge. Meet B-Boy Illz and B-Girl Deep Fried TIFF both of whom are established dancers with 18 and 9 years of experience.

Kateryna Topol: Hello Illz and Deep Fried TIFF – how is your week going coming up to the finals in Toronto?

Deep Fried TIFF: Exciting but also a lot of managing my expectations and psyche in terms of worrying about my performance or the outcome. I’ve been working, doing some light practices, eating too much, and waiting in anticipation for Saturday to hurry up and come!

Illz: It’s going well! I’m enjoying the journey, training hard while also taking the necessary time to rest and recover.

KT: Rest and recover for the win. Do you have any “pre-game” rituals you follow before competitions? 

DFT: Yes, I usually clear my day so there’s nothing I need to do before a competition so I’m in a relaxed and calm mindset. During the competition, you’ll find me party rocking in the corner to keep my positive energy up and my body feeling free and loose. This also helps me turn any battle anxiety or nervousness into excitement.

I: I like to study my material. Rewriting my moves on paper and rewatching my practice footage. Nature walks also soothe my anxiety. The sauna and cold showers also help with my rest and recovery. And lastly, a good haircut for bonus confidence points.

KT: Is this your first time participating in Red Bull BC One?

DFT: In previous years I’ve competed in the Red Bull BC One E-battles where I placed Top 8 in 2021, and the  Red Bull Cypher Canada where I was a finalist in  2021. I also landed in the Top 4 for the 2022 Red Bull BC One  E-battle.

KT: Impressive! What about you Illz?

I: This isn’t my first Red Bull BC One [either] I won the Canadian Cypher back in 2016. I returned to compete last year but lost in the semi-finals.

KT: What would this win mean to you?

I: Winning would be awesome. But more than that, I would love to represent Canada at the World Finals. This year, I feel like I’ve evolved and I’m ready to show the world what I’ve been working on.

DFT: It would mean a lot to be able to share my style at the Red Bull BC One Last Chance Cypher and hopefully on the world final stage. It would help validate my growth in breaking but more importantly, I’m excited to do my thing in front of my friends and breaking community. I have been mostly competing internationally this year so being able to have my people around me, share their energy, and potentially win is going to be incredible.

KT: For sure, looking forward to seeing everyone come together as well! So you both have been breaking from a very young age, how did you get into it?

DFT: I started breaking at 18 years old, I saw another b-girl throw down and immediately fell in love with footwork. I became obsessed and trained rigorously with my university crew and members of Ground Illusion. When I came to Toronto, I formed Kuru Crew in Toronto with two other b-girls and our shared ambitions helped keep my drive.

I: I started dancing because of the first ever Red Bull BC One back in 2004. It sparked my interest from the moment I saw it on YouTube. My passion grew as my older brother and his friends used to do it. For me, I just wanted to fit in, but my brother had other plans. This gave me the motivation to want to improve so that I could smoke him and his crew. That was the last of it though, they stopped shortly after high school. 

KT: And here you are keeping the family in the circuit! How would you describe your individual style of breaking?

I: Intricate and precise with a little contemporary feel. 

DFT: Dynamic, flow, and bouncing all over the place.

KT: What kind of influence does music have on your dance?

DFT: I listen to a lot of house and funk, so I try to play more with feeling and flow. Some house music has a spiritual undertone so it taught me to be more free and I try to embody that feeling in my chest when I dance.

I: I really enjoy listening to slower music like Jazz or Adele. It helps get my creative juices flowing. Sometimes, I like that raw-raw gangsta music though. It reminds me of the battle setting and it helps me to dance with conviction and intensity. The 80’s also inspired me to look cool too. 

KT: What are some of your most inspiring artists or songs? 

I: The 21 album by Adele created my entire flow. 

DFT: “Throw your Hands Up” by L.V, “Ain’t no thang” by Outkast, “Guerilla Funk” by Paris, “Word Iz Life” by Poor Righteous Teacher, “Big Bad Mood” by Jordan Stephens & Miraa May, “Follow the Sunshine” by Sabrina Starke, “The Real Thing” by Bitty McLean, “Open Your Eyes” by Bobby Caldwell, “The love” by Jadu Heart.

KT: What a classic list TIFF! We went ahead and made a little playlist haha

KT: Are your music tastes on and off the dance floor same or different?

I: It’s pretty much the same on and off the floor. I just listen to anything that inspires movement. It helps when you dance alone in your own space. You can set the tone and the pace of the practice without any judgment. I truly believe you should dance to whatever music moves you. 

DFT: My music on and off the dance floor is both similar and different. I definitely lean toward funkier tracks for both. If we are hitting a party, my preferred music is house, disco, and funk. The music just makes me want to dance nonstop and hits the soul vibrantly and perfectly. In a battle, I would also prefer to dance to more funky breaks but that’s become a rare occurrence for me. off the dance floor, I like my G-funk, old-school funk, R&B, boombap, neo-soul, soul, reggae, house, alternative, and Disney karaoke haha.

KT: Cool. Let’s go a bit.. broader – breakdancing and music are major elements of hip-hop culture, do you consider yourself let’s say a member of the hip-hop community?

I: Yes!

DFT: Yes, I consider myself a member of the hip-hop community. The breaking community is hip-hop, and I have been fortunate to have many OGs and folks in the community provide guidance, educate me on the history, serve as mentors, share their energies and vibes, and contribute to my growth in this craft.

KT: How has this community influenced you as an individual over the years? 

DFT: Inspire me, uplift me, support me, grow with me…

I: Hip Hop has brought a lot of joy into my life. The places I’ve visited to the people I’ve met, I owe a lot of it to this culture. Hip-hop has given me my identity, a place to express myself, a purpose, and a passion. “You never thought that Hip Hop would take it this far!”

KT: I love that! Anything you’d like to say to the dancers starting up?

I: Don’t limit yourself to the opinions of others. Move the way you want and enjoy the journey. Be original [winks].

DFT: Be passionate, be patient, integrate into the community, and most importantly have fun.

KT: Thank you for your time and best of luck to you both! See you at the Design Exchange 

* * *

Event details for this weekend are as follows:

Where: Design Exchange – 234 Bay St., Toronto, ON
When: October 15, 2022 – Doors at 6 PM, event at 7 PM
Cost: Free at the door on a first come first serve basis

All images by Carlo Cruz via Red Bull Content Pool

The post In conversation with Red Bull BC One Cypher Canada competitors Illz and Deep Fried TIFF appeared first on Quip Magazine.

Red Bull once again joined forces with NUDE for the 3rd annual block party at the Bentway. The family-friendly event was off to an early start with folks of all ages enjoying the custom-built pop-up basketball court, getting tattoos done, hair did, lining up for Raptor’s merchandise, and sipping cold cocktails. The weather felt like early April forcing many people to zip up to the chin but as the crowd got bigger and the wind slowed the temperatures didn’t feel as bad.

First up on stage was LOONY, an up-and-coming local alternative R&B singer-songwriter from Scarborough. Her music is a mix of soul, pop and jazz with hip-hop, all carried out with an impressive vocal range. Last year, Apple Music made her their artist of the week in May for a track “A Small Flame.” Since then LOONY, has released a few new singles, including “Warm Weather” and “Overnight” which was featured on Complex. Her set was gentle and melodic, supported by a 3-piece band. Mid-performance she went into a small speech about all the bad shit that’s been happening in the city and reclaimed summer 2019 as a year free of “fuckery” and fighting, which off course got the crowd clapping in support.

A couple hours later, after a few more ball games, a few cans of beers and haircuts, the RBxNUDE stage welcomed Vancouver-based pop singer-songwriter (Benita) Prado. Prado dipped her toes as a band member but the rules boys created were not the rules she wanted to play. “I want to help women in the industry, not raise up men, who most of the time don’t work as hard as women do,” she told CITR when reflecting on that situation. Today, Prado is all herself: unapologetically fearless, teasing the boundaries of genre from hip-hop, to pop, to indie and R&B.

Joined by two dancers, all dressed in matching outfits, Prado took the audience by surprise with her attitude, stories, and choreographed dance moves. Prado’s performance is engaging, the audience enthusiastically took part playing calls back and forth with Benita. “I’m the teacher now bitch” she pointed out with a laugh, “This next song is called “Monster” … I say: emotional, you say: monster – remember, just taught you this” and play along they did. Wrapping up the set Prado addressed the audience: “Thank you so much for listening to my weirdo set, you were probably like what the fuck was that … yeah, that’s how I like to leave a performance.. find me on Instagram…DM me we can get some fried chicken make it a Toronto ‘ting.’”

Toronto’s Chris LaRocca stepped out on stage just before 8 pm with long-time collaborator Herag Sanbalian and a bass player on the right. The small stage quickly filled with fog and flashing blue lights, at times you could hardly see him through the cloud. Earlier that day we sat down with Chris for a chat to gain some insight into the rising star (multiple publications have dubbed him one-to-watch). So everything you need to know about  LaRocca can be found in that interview shortly but this set is what really brought him to life as an artist. A small crowd of people at the front were singing along to nearly every song and everyone joined in for a cover of  J.T.’s ”Suit & Tie.”

The post Red Bull x Collectif Nude block party with LOONY, Prado and Chris LaRocca appeared first on Quip Magazine.

For the evening the band added two additional keyboardists, a grand piano, a string section, and horns, among other additional live instruments, to the set. What is typically a quartet came to life as a full, interpretive orchestra on the Massey Hall stage. Occasionally joined by River Tiber and Charlotte Day Wilson, while Alexander Sowinski was sharing stories about their collective experiences and love for this city. The interaction really made this show a personal one, despite the fact that people could not dance or participate much otherwise (having to be sitting down all night and all).

The band played songs from their most recent release, IV, and Sour Soul, some more popular covers. Charlotte Day Wilson played “Work,” “In Your Eyes,” and shared a brand new track about falling in love, while River Tiber touched on his more emotional songs such as “Acid Test.” Both performers generally perform with a much smaller band so having the enhanced BadBadNoGood gave a whole new dimension to their songs. A big surprise came unexpectedly when BadBadNoGood brought out Jay Electronica on stage for “Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)” with no introduction. A few tracks after the show wrapped up with an engaging instrumental set and an interpretive dance by Sowinski.

The friendship, passion, and sheer musical dedication were an ongoing theme this evening. The set was, needless to say, a memorable one, for every single sold-out ticket that walked through the door.

Images courtesy of Red Bull.

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Red Bull Music Academy is taking over Montreal for a month of shows, exhibitions, and talks. Place Des Arts opened its doors to The Cinquième Salle. The room was nearly pitch black upon entrance, with a barely lit stage to match. The balcony seating felt awkward for those arriving late; people clutched their beers tightly as they tried to navigate the space. Photography was prohibited, and phones were kept out of sight for most of the show, in an attempt to embrace and engage with the full experience. But, as usual, a few broke the rules and pulled them out, texting nonchalantly under jackets, looking up every once in and while to make sure the show was still happening.

As the lights dimmed following the second intermission, Jean Michel Blais and CFCF aka Mike Silver entered from opposite ends of the stage. Neither addressed the audience, but instead, made way to their individual instruments, heads down in a gesture of intense focus.

This was the first live collaboration between Silver and Blais, though both are currently based in Montreal, and are highly respected in their individual creative fields. It has been a significant year in the realm of their careers, as Silver was nominated for a Grammy for his reimagined version of “Berlin By Overnight,” a striking violin piece originally composed by Max Richter. Jean-Michel Blais was signed to Arts and Crafts and has just released his debut LP Il, a mixture of classical composition and ambient sound.

The two collaborated effortlessly, or so their live show suggested. They displayed a minimal setup, with only Blais’ piano on one end and Silver’s laptop as well as a few midi controllers on the other. Blais perched in front of the piano, fingers gliding across the keys; he plays with such precision he could be mistaken for a pre-programmed machine. Silver is known for his creation of beautiful textures, layering found sounds over ambient fabrics and electronic drum structures; he did not disappoint, standing stoically behind his apparatus.

The pair created something suggestive of a cinematic experience; sound standing in for image.  Although visuals played out behind them (geometric shapes dancing in monochromatic and pastel colors), they crafted the narrative by way of resonant noise, detached vocal samples, and atmospheric melody. Their compositions started off light and airy, but gradually built into complex and profound stories. Blais’ piano harmonies were artfully pulled through Silver’s setup to feed out looping ambient structures backed by throbbing and oscillating beats. Their re-conceptualization of classic pieces by Steve Reich and John Cage was stunning; Silver adding playful synth tones into the mix, making things feel poppy and upbeat while still maintaining the emotional breadth and depth of each original piece. They performed an adaptation of Silver’s “Berlin By Overnight” remix, which was a personal highlight. The remix alone leaves the listener without words, but seeing it come to life was astounding. Blais took ownership of each note while Silver delicately assembled the intricate accents and vibrations to round out the song; they crafted something heartfelt and cry-worthy.

Blais spoke in French mid-way through their set, explaining to the crowd how he and Silver began working on the project. Later, Silver filled in the Anglo audience. They revealed that the performance was the culmination of a month and a half of intensive work and experimentation. Their dedication was visible, the show appeared to flourish without flaw. Blais and Silver drew the audience in close, held them tenderly in the folds of their mixes, moved them, and brought them outside of their quotidian experience.

They were honestly captivated; the performance was a definite top feature of the ongoing Red Bull Music Academy series currently taking over Montreal. The series thus far has reached well beyond the typical Montreal show, and Jean-Michel Blais and CFCF seemed right at home among the high-caliber work that has been shown.

All images courtesy of RBMA

The post RBMA MTL: CFCF & Jean-Michel Blais at Place des Arts’ Cinquième Salle appeared first on Quip Magazine.