Pacific Sound Radio

We’re back and we’ve made some changes to bring you a better show!On this first revamped episode, we’re talking with IAMTHELIVING and Teon Gibbs. Iamtheliving (a.k.a. Rian Peters) is a singer/songwriter and dancer with roots in soul and contemporary R&B Teon Gibbs is a rapper/songwriter/producer/community organizer and together they have joined forces, bridging the gap between a variety of music styles on a fresh and funky collaborative EP titled JNGL. 

There has been plenty of great music to help get us through this pretty crummy year.This week we wrap up 2020 with our annual celebration of our favorite local, Canadian, and international releases with help from our special guest Justice McLellan.Justice is a musician, producer, and podcaster most well known as the driving force behind the indie rock group Blue J and the post-punk project Mesa Luna. This year, Justice started his own Vancouver music podcast called The Department of Justice featuring a number of artists that we have featured on the show. His show is also available on most streaming platforms and we would highly recommend that you check it out.

If the name wasn’t a dead giveaway, SaBand (formerly The Daveed Saband) is the solo project for songwriter, guitarist, and hair aficionado Daveed Saban.Born as a live vehicle for Saban’s self-produced home recordings, the band has developed a reputation for their energetic, humorous, and often chaotic live performances in and around the city of Vancouver.Blending the aesthetics of bedroom pop and dad rock with the dramatic flair of classic jam and prog rock, SaBand aims to take you on a visceral and thrilling musical journey.

LA Solution Center is a studio project helmed by Dan Ponich who is a local producer and musician previously involved in the folk rock act Echo Nebraska and with the synth tinged alternative rock group Civiliana. Drawing from influences ranging from trip hop to alternative hard rock in collaboration with a variety of guest musicians, LA Solution Center is an adventurous and decidedly fun project perfect for these uncertain times for the music industry.

Naoist is the solo electronic music project of drummer Ali Siadat. If you are a fan of Canadian pop rock, you would be familiar with Ali’s work behind the kit for the Juno nominated band Mother Mother.On his recently released debut EP, Ali explores patterns and textures within a IDM framework making for a dynamic, fluid, and engaging listening experience.

Jenny Banai is a gifted vocalist and songwriter whose mature arrangements and stunning live performances have drawn comparisons to the likes of Jeff Buckley, Feist, and Dolores O’Riordan  of The Cranberries.   Banai is a winner and three time nominee of the Fraser Valley Music “Folk Artist of the Year'' award, has had her music featured on on the TV show and web series The Drive along with the CBC Radio program On The Coast.   She has received praise from a variety of publications and writers including Juno nominated artist and host of the Hip Hop Evolution documentary series Shad.

On this week’s episode we welcome back Laverne!Featuring the steady grooves of bassist Pherbie Midgley, the tasteful percussion of drummer Geoff McLellan, and the fitful guitar work and raw vocals of front man Max Anderson Baier, Laverne are a refreshingly unconventional art punk unit and are one of the best kept secrets in the Vancouver underground music scene.After dropping an impressive debut record titled Yarrow back in 2018, the band is looking to push expectations and defy boundaries with their sophomore record Lack of Vocation.

On this double feature Archive Episode we catch up with producer Lee Gauthier and soul singer/songwriter Krystle Dos Santos.Lee Gauthier is a musician and producer most well known as the bassist for Victoria based indie pop band Bridal Party. His production credits include releases by Buchan Buchan, This Day Burns, Bright Boy, Hansmole, Thrift Shopper, and the Blackwood Kings. His solo material has involved the use of a Soundplane music controller, a robotic vibraphone, and digital music platforms including Abelton Live and Max/MSP. Lee is also a software developer for the music sharing platform b andcamp.Krystle Dos Santos is a soul singer/songwriter and is the host/organizer of Underneath the Harlem Moon at the Guilt & Co. club in Vancouver. Krystle performs regularly in Vancouver with The Lovemakers and in Edmonton with the Black Mambas and was working on her third solo album at the time of recording.

On this episode, we're speaking with vocalist Laura Mina Mitic and guitarist/vocalist Pat Ferguson of the band Carmanah.Carmanah are a six piece act from Victoria BC who blend the traditional sounds of roots music with  modern indie rock sensibilities into a sound aptly coined “West Coast Soul.”In their fruitful tenure as a band, Carmanah have toured and performed with the likes of Shakey Graves, Moby, kd lang, Current Swell, and Ziggy Marley often traveling from gig to gig in their van run on used vegetable oil. The band has also gained notable critical acclaim and national attention  with two of their singles topping the CBC Music charts along with earning a 2019 Western Canadian Music Award nomination for best Roots artist. Inspired by and deeply connected to the natural beauty of their home on Vancouver Island, Carmanah are an environmentally and socially conscious group looking to spark action and meaningful change through their bountiful song catalog and adventurous performances. 

David Vertesi is a singer/songwriter and solo artist most well known as the bassist and backing vocalist for the Juno nominated indie rock group Hey Ocean.Vertesi is also a session and touring musician who has worked with Shad, Said The Whale, Dear Rouge, and Hannah Georgas and is the executive director and co-founder of Vancouver Mural Festival.With his third album Life Ghouls, Vertesi has crafted a moody and introspective concept record that explores all the regrets, insecurities, and weirdness of modern life.

The Elastic Stars are a psychedelic rock act in the vein of genre pioneers The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, and late career Beatles. Colin Cowan and his band have opened for national and international touring acts including Post Animal, Wand, Lightning Dust, and Destroyer and played the HR MacMillan Space Centre for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 2019.  The band’s fifth album MUZiK is set for release August 25 2020. 

Lazy Ghost are a psychedelic surf rock band from the world famous resort community of Whistler BC. Since 2016, the band has made a name for themselves playing sold out shows in and around Whistler and have grown a devoted international fan base thanks to successful tours in Western Canada and Australia.The band’s 30 date North America spring/summer tour was understandably cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic so Lazy Ghost decided to redirect their energies into writing and recording a new EP.Lazy Ghost’s next EP Hungover Hopeful is set for release on August 21 2020.

Joshua Wood is a vocalist, guitarist, and frontman of the Joshua Wood Orchestra. Hailing from St. Catharines Ontario, Joshua Wood has been an active member in the Vancouver music scene for the better part of a decade, performing in a number of groups including the folk ensemble Devil In The Wood Shack.His latest project the Joshua Wood Orchestra featuring producer Felix Fung and members of Sunday Morning and Wrecked Beach are set to release their debut EP titled Bad Way on August 14 2020.

On this Archive Episode, we revisit our interview with Teon Gibbs, the first hip hop act on Pacific Sound Radio.Teon Gibbs is a rapper and producer who's sound deftly blends trap and R&B in a fashion that is both rhythmically fluid and ear catching. Teon joins James and Travis to discuss growing up in Botswana, his admiration for the discography of Kanye West, his collaborative partnership with videographer KB Kutz, and his thoughts on the state of hip hop.

We head back to the archives for a double feature episode starring DJ Dain and Old Soul Rebel.DJ Dain (a.k.a. Andrew Bowers)  is a Newfoundland born/Vancouver based DJ, producer, and musicologist who got his start remixing songs from video games before moving on to bootleg remixes and mash ups. He has a Masters of Musicology from Oxford University and ran his own show called “Sweet with Heat”.Old Soul Rebel are the powerhouse duo of vocalist/guitarist Chelsea D.E. Johnson and vocalist/banjo player Lola Whyte who have blown the roof off many a venue across North America with their bold, brash, and barn burning soulful rock 'n roll. 

We dive in our Archives to bring you our interview with Missy D and Sejal of Laydy Jams.Laydy Jams are a diverse and eclectic group with influences ranging from hip hop to funk and from jazz to R&B. 

When quarantine measures went into effect in Canada around mid March 2020, the live music industry had to close down for what has proven to be an indefinite amount of time.Multiple news sources have reported that  over 90% of indie music venues in Canada will not survive unless they get financial assistance from the government.On this episode, we’re joined by Mo Tarmohamed who is the owner and general manager of the Rickshaw Theatre in East Vancouver to talk about the current situation facing independent Canadian music venues and what you the listener can do to help.

Adam Mah is an electro pop artist previously known for his tenure as the vocalist/guitarist and lead songwriter for the pop/rock act Derrival.Since blazing his own trail as a solo artist, Adam has been featured in the 2019 Westward Music Festival, the Elevate Music Project, Sofar Sounds, and has opened for local pop rockers Hotel Mira and Australian alt rock band The Rubens.Adam’s collaborator and producer Shane Stephenson also joined us on this episode to add his perspective.

Palm Haze are the musical duo of Anna Wagner on vocals and bass guitar and producer/guitarist Lucas Inacio (a.k.a Flover).   Formed in Illhabela Brazil with the band soon relocating to Vancouver BC after writing just two songs together, Palm Haze have crafted a sound that is airy, dreamy, and commanding drawing from a variety of influences including shoegaze, trip hop, and alternative rock. In a few short years, Palm Haze have released two well received self-produced EPs, have had their music featured on the Netflix series Northern Rescue, and have played with touring acts such as Exploded View, Shadowhouse, and The Macks and local bands including Washers, Laverne, and Sleepy Gonzales. 

Soft Plastics is the latest musical project of vocalist/guitarist Carey Mercer who is most well known in Canadian music circles as the songwriter and visionary behind the Polaris Prize nominated art rock act Frog Eyes. After concluding Frog Eyes after an impressive 17 year run from 2001-2018, Carey and his collaborators look to broaden their musical horizons as Soft Plastics with the release of their fascinating and unconventional debut record titled 5 Dreams. 

Jody Glenham is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and DJ who has been heralded by the Vancouver Sun as a MVP of the local music scene. Joined by her band The Dreamers which has at times featured Polaris Prize nominee Louise Burns and drummer Adam Fink of ACTORS, Jody has cast a spell over many an audience with her intoxicating and atmospheric blend of shoegaze and dream pop. Some recent highlights for Jody include having her music featured on legendary Seattle radio station KEXP, performing in a female fronted Spinal Tap tribute act as part of the 2019 Vancouver International Film Festival, and headlining two sold out shows at the HR MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver, BC.

The Golden Age of Wrestling is the new solo project of Jeff Cancade.Jeff Cancade is a DIY electronic artist most known in the Vancouver music scene for his glitchy dance pop act Devours.On his recently released debut record Tombstone Piledriver, Jeff has crafted a contemplative and dreamy sound which incorporates elements of Nintendo video games, film soundtracks, and choral arrangements that he has coined “glambient.”

For more than a decade, the psychedelic rock unit The Psychic Alliance have thrilled patrons of the Vancouver music scene with their punk rock energy, delightfully offbeat songwriting, and theatrical live performances.Over the course of four studio albums and one, shall we say unique, Christmas album, the band has stood apart from many of their contemporaries as a fun and phantasmagorical musical act that takes their music seriously while not taking themselves too seriously.

Andrew Judah is a Kelowna based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who over the course of five full length albums has fine tuned a melodic and structurally complex indie rock sound. Accompanied by his equally talented live band, Andrew has performed some of the biggest music festivals in Western Canada including Skookum, Rifflandia, and Breakout West.  On this episode, we learn about the steps Andrew took to craft his latest release Impossible Staircase. 

Taylor Swindells and Brenon Parry of Tourist Company return to Pacific Sound Radio for the latest edition of Quarantine Edition.Tourist Company are an indie pop rock duo with a sweeping, cinematic sound and arena sized ambitions. After lyrically and musically exploring the wonders of outer space on their last two releases, the group has returned to earth with what could be their most volatile and explosive record to date, the fittingly titled St. Helens.

On this week’s episode of Quarantine Edition, we are joined by Francis Arevalo.Francis is a rapper, beatmaker, poet, and community organizer known for his deeply personal lyrics and effortlessly smooth rhythmic flow. He is very involved in fostering growth and development in artistic communities in and around the city of Vancouver having been featured in the Root Dwellers Music Showcase, Locals Lounge, and Sofar Sounds. We last featured Francis on the program back in August 2019 leading up to his appearance at the Vancouver Mural Festival. His third EP The Sound of Healing is available now.

After some time off to adjust to some pretty dramatic changes, we’re back with a quarantine friendly version of Pacific Sound Radio!Our first guest for Quarantine Edition is Yung Heazy. Yung Heazy, also known as Jordan Heaney, is a rising talent in the Vancouver music scene having scored a viral hit with his catchy bedroom pop track  “Cuz You’re My Girl” back in 2018. His latest record I UR BOY is available now on all streaming platforms. 

James and Travis are joined by two-thirds of War Baby!War Baby are a heavy rock power trio that incorporates elements of alternative rock, sludge metal, and noise rock in a fashion that they like to compare to “Lightning Bolt covering Nirvana covering Black Sabbath.” Over the course of their 10 plus year career, the band has played over 200 live shows and have opened for international touring acts including Royal Blood, Dune Rats, White Lung, DZ Deathrays, and Eagles of Death Metal.

Travis is back from his vacation in Iceland for our interview with Sunday Morning! Sunday Morning is the brainchild of Vancouver music scene veteran Bruce Wilson. Channeling the soulful and moody spirit of acts like Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Lou Reed, Sunday Morning are dreamy and dark rock and roll balladeers with a penchant for emotionally poignant lyrical subject matter.

James Olson is joined by special guest host Mark Lingelbach of Lambsbreath to chat with Emily Molloy.Emily Molloy is an up and coming singer/songwriter known for her raw vocal talent and electrifying on stage personality. She has had the chance to play Canadian Music Week, the Rockin’ River Fest, and Pemberton Music Festival and was the winner of the 2015 Whistler Music Search. 

Stella Soul are an eclectic musical trifecta that tastefully fuses together the sounds of pop, electronic, soul, and jazz.Kentya Kurban (vocals), James Red (vocals/keys) and Cam Lawrence (drums/production) swing by the Pacific Sound Radio studio to walk us through the recording of their debut album Cherry St., their unique musical evolution, and more.

Ludic are a virtuoso power trio whose modern soul sound combines elements of jazz, pop, funk, and rock in a colourful, melodic, and technically flawless package. They are some of the most accomplished musicians playing in the Vancouver music scene whose popularity only seems to keep growing with each passing month.Ayla Tesler-Mabe (vocals/guitar) and Rhett Cunningham (drums) talk the generational influence of Guitar Hero, juggling multiple projects, and plans for their much anticipated debut album.

Take a drive with James, Travis, and the boys of Black Pontiac. Black Pontiac are a fun, freewheeling, and funky party rock band that have been a fixture in Vancouver’s DIY community since their inception only a couple years ago.  Their latest EP Ponyboy marks a confident step forward for this infectious quartet. 

The Broken Islands are a six piece rock band with a penchant for fusing a variety of sub genres, including shoegaze, post rock, and trip hop, together into a sound that is entirely their own.James and Travis sit down with drummer Mitch Williams, rhythm guitarist Kurits Sheldan, vocalist/keyboardist Rachel Ashmore, and bassist Stephen Cameron to dig into the band’s expansive sound, their unique place as a bilingual musical act, their touring adventures in the United Kingdom, and more!

Daysormay are a dynamic and adventurous alternative pop group who have slowly but surely been making a name for themselves as one of the most promising musical acts to come from central British Columbia.  Listen in as Aidan, Nolan, and Carson shine a light on their small town beginnings, how they keep pushing their boundaries as songwriters, and what's in store for their sophomore EP. 

Join James and Travis as they kick off the first Pacific Sound Radio episode of 2020 with Elle Wolf.Elle Wolf is a galactic synth pop artist who has shed her folk rock roots and has embraced the sounds of the future.Listen in as we chat Tim Burton's underrated classic film Ed Wood, cheese wheel accidents, tour tattoos, and more!

As 2019 draws to a close, your hosts James and Travis team up with producer Jaeden Froese one last time as they share their favorite local, Canadian, and international releases of the year.Along with our picks you'll learn how killer whales take down sharks, what we would name a pet pony, why Jaeden hates sandwiches, and why we don't let Travis do impressions on the air!

James and Travis get funked up with Tayo Branston, drummer and leader of the hulking, high energy heavy funk act Five Alarm Funk. Listen in as Tayo talks the band's upcoming seven studio record Big Smoke, the band's 15+ year legacy, their reputation as one of the best live acts in Vancouver, and collaborating with the one and only Bootsy Collins.

Hosts James Olson and Travis Noel Have a brief but insightful chat with multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter Jordan Klassen about his next album, his complicated relationship with the "singer/songwriter" title, and his sonically versatile discography.

James and Travis are joined by Stevie Moonboots of the psychedelic rock act The Orange Kyte to talk about the music scene in his hometown of Dublin, what even is psychedelic music, and the band's sophomore release Carousel.

Travis Goeres of the psychedelic pop band Ponytails returns to Pacific Sound Radio to talk the tricky business of social media promotion, the band's upcoming debut record, and the staggering depth of music talent in Vancouver.

Woolworm are a genre bending alternative rock band who's varied sound incorporates elements of post punk, hardcore, and even black metal. Vocalist/guitarist Giles Roy talks taking a more optimistic lyrical approach to the band's latest record, opening for Orville Peck, and his unlikely affinity for Coldplay.

Louise Burns is a multi-instrumentalist musician, producer, broadcast journalist, and critically acclaimed songwriter who has been twice long listed for the Polaris Music Prize (2011, 2017) and has received praise from publications including CBC Music, The New York Times, and Stereogum. Listen in to learn more about her 20 plus year music career, writing music in Dawson City Yukon, and how the city of Los Angeles inspired her new album Portraits.

One of the many reasons why we love hosting this show is the sheer unpredictability of live conversation. With Late Night Takeaway we had a chance to chat about a certain evil clown movie, the Grand Theft Auto franchise, real estate laws, and the band's upcoming full length LP. Elsewhere, The Lone Palms gave us a snapshot of life as a new band eager to make a proper introduction with their release later this month and treated us with a stellar acoustic performance.

Fresh from his honeymoon, Travis is back in action with James as they host a pair of exciting young rock acts. Psychedelic quartet Meltt dive into their dreamy debut record Swim Slowly and map out how they navigate the sonic seas of their atmospheric sound. Sleepy Gonzales return to Pacific Sound Radio almost a year to the day from their first appearance on the show to talk life as a newly signed artist on Light Organ Records, reptiles, Bob Ross, and their cathartic new EP mellowtrauma.

Summer might be coming to a close but there is still plenty of festival action to enjoy! On this episode, James and our producer Jaeden catch up with a pair of artists featured in the Westward Street Party as part of the 2019 Westward Music Festival. Calling from a Tofino mountaintop, glam garage two piece Phono Pony talk keyboard samples, cat memes, and the perks of having a third arm. In the second half, electro pop act I M U R (pronouned I Am You Are) join us in the studio to give us the lowdown on playing an Indian palace, collaborating with rising R&B artist Biawanna, and their "eventful" West Coast tour.

This past week we had the tremendous pleasure of having rapper, producer and community figure Francis Arevalo join us in the studio to chat about about his passion for music, and bringing the local creative community closer together. Cinematic new wave trio Gang Signs join us for the second half of the show to chat about their unique sound upcoming recent release and future plans!

We're keeping things short and sweet this week as the three-piece rock unit known as The Jins stopped by Sunday afternoon to chat in the studio. The band is in the midst of a pivotal year in their careers as they released their latest EP Death Wish on 604 Records with the assistance of producer Dave Genn of 54-40 and the Matthew Good Band and the band is looking to expand their audience beyond the loyal following they have fostered here in Vancouver.

Pacific Sound Radio hosts James & Travis shoot for the stars as they chat with Tim Bogdachev AKA Russian Tim of Russian Tim & The Pavel Bures about his band, punk music and Rocket From Russia Fest. Four nights of epic punk rock set for lift off July 18th, featuring some of the top acts in Vancouver. The second half of the show brings alt-trio Laverne in to the studio to deliver some stripped down tunes and to chat about their plans for 2019.

Travis and James chat with a pair of rising solo artists on Episode 76. In the first half, Tissa Rahim recounts tales of touring with the The Bleeding Horse Express, recording with Twilight film series alumni Jackson Rathbone, and more. Aza Nabuko joins the show in the second half to shine a light on juggling high school as a signed artist, commuting from Revelstoke to gigs, and the emotional core of her songwriting.