Beatroute Magazine BC Print Edition - September 2017

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THE SKINNY PUP giving their all yet never running low PERTURBATOR the layers, violent beats, and dreamlike soundscapes of 1980s nostalgia photo by ryanfaist Toronto punk rockers PUP keep refining their craft JAMES OLSON It’s a challenge to think of a Canadian band that has worked harder than PUP while achieving such widespread critical acclaim in such a short span of time. Within 4 years, the Toronto punk quartet has dropped two incredibly well received albums, toured multiple continents extensively, and have been nominated for numerous industry awards including the Juno’s and the Polaris Music Prize. For vocalist/guitarist the secret to PUP’s success is simple: having an inexhaustible work ethic. “For the first two years of being a band we didn’t say no to any show opportunities no matter what it was, if we could somehow scrape enough money together to make it work we would do it. Now we’re a little more selective but we still tour really hard” Babcock explains “When we’re not touring we’re at home in the jam space 5-6 days a week. I probably spend 10-14 hours each day of my waking life thinking about this band, writing music, rehearsing with the guys, playing shows, touring. We’ve worked really hard and it’s nice to see that in some small ways that it’s paid off.” Babcock draws a direct through line from the scene that birthed the scrappy band of childhood friends to the acclaimed and beloved group that PUP has become in less than 5 years together. Coming up in a thriving environment of equally driven musical acts in Toronto, Babcock reflects that PUP knew that they had to step up their game in order to make a name for themselves. “We felt like if we wanted to keep up with our peers and the people around us we just had to work so hard. And that’s good. Bands in the community have pushed each other to be better and better” 26 says Babcock “I think [the Toronto scene] is just a small microcosm of what the culture of rock music is like today. You gotta work super hard and it’s good when bands can push each other to be the best that they can be.” PUP’s second record The Dream Is Over builds on emotionally charged yet deliriously fun maelstrom that was their self-titled debut. Cuts like the chaotic and self-destructive “DVP” and the anthemically nihilistic “Can’t Win” match if not exceed the high points of the previous album while making up a markedly darker collection of songs. For Babcock, the tonal shift represents genuine growth as a lyricist and as a songwriter. “On the first record, I was really learning to be comfortable in my own skin and be comfortable with presenting myself to strangers in a certain light. Then on the second record I just kind of gained that confidence and felt like I had found my voice. I felt a little more comfortable in tapping into the darkness” he explains. PUP is already in the midst of writing their third album and while Babcock concedes that they won’t be “going off the deep end” in terms of radical experimentation, he can promise that the band will continue to push their own boundaries and to keep refining their craft. With more touring lined up for the rest of 2017 and a recently released music video for “Old Wounds” that Babcock calls “the best video we have made to date,” PUP are coming to your town to kick down some doors and kick some ass. PUP play the Vogue Theatre (Vancouver) September 15 as part of Westward Fest James Kent innovates the boundaries of retrosynth BRAYDEN TURENNE VANCOUVER - As of late, there seems to be a widespread strain of nostalgia for the 1980s that has come to infect our modern pop culture. Shows such as Stranger Things and big budget reboots of old cult classics like Robocop are only the tip of the iceberg regarding this retro revival. In regards to music, an entire sub-genre of electronic is not only invoking nostalgia in older listeners, but also drawing the younger generation into the now iconic world where neon lights and nocturnal cityscapes are now emblematic. One of the titans within this ‘retrosynth’ movement, Perturbator (born James Kent) is, ironically, looking in from the outside. “Even though I wasn’t around in the 80s I feel as though it was somewhat a part of my childhood,” Kent admitted. It’s ironic considering just how steeped in the culture of that era his sound seems to be. Perhaps it is this fact that helps give Perturbator some of its exceeding flare, utilizing the past while simultaneously looking ahead, not dwelling too deeply on tropes or convention. Kent’s music is as much nostalgic throwback as it seems to be experimental fusion. Songs spanning the whole spectrum of emotion and drama, from more intense and violent beats, no doubt influenced by Kent’s own roots in metal, to the more airy and dreamlike soundscapes that tap into a variety of other music genres. “I listen to and find inspiration in a lot of music genres. I think metal might be the most obvious one, but I also love funk, disco, soundtracks, shoegaze, old-school rap, etc.” Kent cites artists such as: Miles Davis, Christian Scott, Pat Metheny as well as Mr. Bungle, Ulver and Deathspell Omega as major influences on his work. Thus, the ‘retro’ is not made from a cheap novelty, as is the case with some other artists. You would be hard pressed to find any filler on a Perturbator release. Every track has its own personality and is exemplary of painstaking composition. “Making one single track can take up to a month or so. I’m very careful regarding each sound and each little detail,” states Kent. “I take inspiration from different places and try to craft tracks with software or hardware synths that all feel different, but still seem logical considering the album’s theme.” Perturbator has risen to become a true force within the music underground, having even been part of the soundtrack to the massively popular video game Hotline Miami, which in itself was born out of the neon infused hyper-violent action movies of the 1980’s. Perturbator has been embraced by fans of varying genres for the sheer energy that Kent brings to his craft, having even being included in extreme metal festivals. “The initial idea was simply to make fake movie soundtracks and recreate the atmosphere of those classic John Carpenter-esque themes. Something quite brooding and gritty,” Kent reflected, yet from that initial intent, most who are familiar with his work would agree the project has surely gone beyond and into broader places. Peturbator plays the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver on Sept. 9 September 2017
BLUEPRINT EVENTS celebrating 20 years with rhythm and style JEEVIN JOHAL CLUBLAND BPM Alvaro Prol was 13 years old when his family immigrated to Canada in 1990. He spent his youth in Buenos Aires, Argentina where he developed an affinity for the evolving South American punk rock and heavy metal scene of the mid eighties. It wasn’t until his move to Vancouver, and the turn of a new decade, that he became overwhelmed with what was happening in the Western music world. “I got into North American rap and house music that was coming out of New York, Chicago and all these places,” says Prol. “I was just a kid going through all these things and I [developed] a passion for [this music].” This insatiable craving for unique sounds and rhythms would eventually turn into a career for Prol when, at the age of 19, he founded Blueprint. 2017 marks the twentieth year that Blueprint has been operating in Vancouver as one of the city’s largest event companies. Along with partners Bill and Chris Kerasiotis, they’ve expanded their entrepreneurial skills to build relationships with venues, restaurants and liquor stores around town, to not only help amplify their brand, but establish a culture as well. Prol’s hometown of Buenos Aires is an old city that celebrates diversity in its people and history, and the city’s nightlife has been representative of its heterogeneous society for decades. Vancouver on the other hand, though similar in its multicultural heritage, is a much younger metropolis and it took this new wave of musical discovery in the early nineties to really allow the city to encapsulate a nightlife of its own. Prol’s Argentinian roots and quest for the modern would play a huge role in inspiring a movement in this period under the Blueprint trademark. “I threw my first party when I was 19 years old, but before that I was already in the scene quite a bit,” reminisces Prol. But the glitz and glamour of being on stage was never what excited Prol about becoming involved in the music business. “I didn’t have the passion to be a Producer, DJ, or a musician,” confesses Prol. “I knew I wanted to be the guy organizing it.” Today, Prol and his partners head an office of 38 employees, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when discussing how many people are actually involved in Blueprint. Having started out investing in clubs like Celebrities and Venue, to filling arenas and stadiums with some of the world’s biggest DJs and artists, and going even further to create festivals like Fvded in the Park, it clearly takes an army to execute these events rhythmically; and by no means does Prol take any cog in the elaborate Blueprint machine for granted. “Blueprint is not just me, it’s now hundreds of people,” praises Prol. “I’m trying to empower these people to be successful as much as I can.” Yet, even though Blueprint continues to prosper, as in any business endeavour there are always challenges. In Vancouver, the most predominant and obvious hardship is that of affordability, not only to thrive as a company, but also to survive as a human. Prol confesses, “It’s difficult to make a profit in live venues [when] rent and property taxes are astronomical.” Every year venues are shut down by expenses and gentrification, but Prol truly believes these trends will change and he yearns to be a part of that shift in power. “We can’t just be a city full of beautiful apartments and expensive homes, we need to be a city full of culture.” Now at 39, Prol is a family man and, even though he might spend most of his evenings at home being a father, rather than at a club, his finger is still very much on the pulse of the scene. Running a company as vast as Blueprint has become over the past two decades involves clockwork care, and Prol continues to work alongside and support his team as they continue to cultivate their brand. However, one thing that will never change is his dedication to the music. Prol gushes, “I will never lose the lust to go check out an act that I’m interested in or be a part of some of the executions that we do. Music is our foundation and we talk about it everyday.” It’s very evident that ihs heart remains at the core of what Blueprint stands for, and in his eyes, the best is yet to come. “Twenty years is no joke,” exclaims Prol, “but it feels like we’re just getting started.” Blueprint celebrates 20 years strong with guests Diplo, Zeds Dead, Baauer and more at the Pacific Coliseum on Saturday, October 7. The Black Madonna photo by AldoParedes VANCOUVER — Variety is the spice of life, they say. With a little bit of soul, a little bit of hip hop and house, our selection of shows you should check out this month is proven to make your life extra spicy. DJ Heather September 9 @ Open Studios With over two decades of djing experience under her belt, Chicago’s very own DJ Heather returns to Vancouver to celebrate the 20 years since her first gig in Vancouver. Known to infuse her DJ sets with elements of hip hop, disco, soul and techno, DJ Heather maintains her reputation as one of original influencers of Chicago’s house scene. Keith Ape September 9 @ The Vogue Theatre Organized by Breakout Vancouver, an all ages hip hop and R&B concerts series presented by Timbre Concerts and CRESCENDO1, Korean rapper Keith Ape will be returning to the city with support from a grip of local Vancouver talent. Best known for his signature track “It G Ma,” Keith Ape pushes the boundaries of Korean hip hop with his signature narcotic infused delivery style. SZA September 14 @ The Commodore Ballroom The first lady of Top Dawg Entertainment, SZA is an alternative R&B singer and songwriter known by her friends as Solána Imani Rowe. Inspired by artists like Meelah, Jamiroquai and Ella Fitzgerald, Rowe uses minimalistic beats in her music as a base for her soulful vocals. The Black Madonna September 23 @ Celebrities Underground A talented producer and the creative director of Smart Club in Chicago, The Black Madonna is most well known for their uplifting house, disco and techno DJ sets played all around the world. A true artist in every sense of the word in the current landscape of dance music, The Black Madonna is a true and honest work of art and culture. Tank And The Bangas September 29 @ The Fox Cabaret A family man with his finger on the pulse, Alvaro Prol has been building the Blueprint brand organically for the past 20 years. Based in New Orleans, Tank And The Bangas is a funk, sound and R&B band lead by the sweet and soulful Tarriona Ball, also known as Tank. Based around Ball’s powerful words and the band’s undeniable synergy, the group takes on themes of rhythmic soul, spoken word, rock, gospel, funk and folk to create a sound that’s truly all on their own. September 2017 27
Page 3 and 4: September ‘17 PUBLISHER BeatRoute
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Page 9 and 10: CITY INTANGIBLE Ronnie Dean Harris
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Beatroute Magazine BC Print Edition - September 2017

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