Beatroute Magazine BC Print Edition - September 2017

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COUSIN STIZZ Cousin Stizz is channeling positivity on his latest release, One Night Only. GRAEME WIGGINS At this point it goes without saying that the internet has really been a boon for aspiring rap artists. What’s often neglected in that narrative, however, is the important role that establishing yourself in one’s local scene has to get you to that point. Cousin Stizz grew up in Dorchester, which is just outside of Boston, built a name from himself there and in two short years has come to established himself as a solid new artist with a contender for song of the summer (“Headlock (ft Quavo)” from his most recent mixtape One Night Only). “The internet played a big role in my success, [especially] after the tape [Suffolk County],” he explains. “I was relatively popular in my city before that. I knew a lot of people; I was just a cool guy [who] built a niche to myself. People around the city just kind of gravitated towards me because they knew me and who I was.” This is impressive given the relative lack of scene in his area. “There wasn’t really a rap scene there. I guess there was like years ago, like 20 years ago. But besides that, when we started there wasn’t anybody.” With important online platform Soundcloud in dire financial troubles, one Stizz used to build his following and share his music, it will be harder for future aspiring rappers to have the same story arc. In his words, “It sucks. Without Soundcloud there’s no Cousin Stizz. Without Soundcloud there’s no a lot of artists; there’s not a Playboi Carti, there’s not a Chance the Rapper. It was a platform for a lot of kids to make money so it kind of sucks.” His latest tape, One Night Only, is step more positive than his first tape, Suffolk County. His music has always had a laid back vibe, possibly due to the music his parents listened to growing up. ”My parents only listened to music, there was TV but not much of it. I watched my cartoons and shit but if my dad wasn’t watching Sports Centre, music was on in the house. Same with my mom, she didn’t watch much TV either.” And much of that music was pretty chill, “Erykah Badu, Tribe Called Quest, Slum Village, all of that kind of stuff.” It’s also reflective of where he is in life and his career right now. “That’s the kind of guy I am. All my music reflects the time of my life that I’m in; all of my music is my life. That’s a perfect description of where I’m at these days. I’ve always been a laid back guy. I’m in LA now; I’m feeding myself; I can pay my mom’s bills. I’m in a good space and it reflects that.” Being in LA in particular seems to have a positive effect in him, giving him the right atmosphere and scenery to keep the laid back vibe strong. “My career, the way things were going at the time. The energy out here. The mountains, the scenery, that shit inspires me. The ocean. I’m from Boston, we don’t have the mountains like that. When I first came out here, the first thing that stuck out to me was that this place looks like a movie and it got me in a good space to start the project. I didn’t come out to kick it, you know, I came out to work. I spend a lot of time in the house. You need those breaks, just being out, being inspired.” If mountains help inspire Stizz to better and more positive things, his show in Vancouver, on his first tour as a headlined, should be the stuff of legend (or at least a pretty amazing party). Catch Cousin Stizz live at the Biltmore Cabaret September 15. photo by Jonna Algarin BONOBO master of migration keeps on moving VANESSA TAM No stranger to Vancouver, British musician, producer and DJ Bonobo can often be seen playing either a DJ set or with a live band at least two or three times a year if not more. Known to his mates as Simon Green, the Ninja Tune signee has always had a personal connection with our little city photo by Neil Krug A travellin’ man, Bonobo AKA Simon Green has a special place in his heart for Canada. nestled between the mountains and the ocean. “I used to come to out to Vancouver kind of from day one really,” Green shares. “I think it was because I was touring with Amon Tobin and some of the [other] Ninja Tune people who had a very strong presence in Canada at the time. Ninja Tune [also] had an office in Montreal at the time so Canada was always, you know outside of the UK, it was always the place that I would come touring most often back in those days. I [actually] think I’ve come [back] to Vancouver more times than [I have] to most cities in the UK.” A master of downtempo electronic beats with applications of live instruments and drums, Green also has an incredible work ethic when it comes to touring. Travelling for nearly 18 months total promoting his last album The North Borders, Green shows no signs of slowing down for his latest release, Migration. “I’ve always toured really heavily and I guess it’s just something that I’ve done since the beginning,” he mentions. “I kind of said that on this record I wasn’t going to tour as much as the last one, but it just ended up being the same amount again. I think because [the record is] doing so well, it’s kind of easier to tour [because] touring becomes a little bit more comfortable. [Like if I was] driving around in a van playing to no one every night I would’ve given up a long time ago, but the fact that it’s a good [album] for touring and it’s a good show and it’s like everybody in the crew is like super cool, it just makes [everything] easier.” True to the title of his last album, Green produced most of Migration on the road from a laptop which was a relatively new experience for the producer. “I think the point that I was making [with that choice to work on the album from the road] was more [about how] I find it’s more inspiring to just sort of be in different environments instead of being in the same studio environment every day,” Green shares. “Your ideas can sort of start slowing down a little bit [when you’re in a studio environment,] but when you’re out [and getting] stimulation from the world everywhere and you use that opportunity in headspace for ideas.” Bonobo performs at Malkin Bowl with his live band on September 15. 28 September 2017
NEW FORMS FESTIVAL the ultimate visual and audible experience BPM HOLLIE MCGOWAN Peverelist Since the early 2000s, Peverelist has remained a cornerstone within the UK’s bass music culture. Through running his record label Punch Drunk Records, managing a record store Rooted Records and spearheading the reputable club night Dubloaded, Peverelist has become well-known for providing artists with a platform to produce and perform new and innovative sounds. SKY H1 Belgian producer SKY H1 will be joining the artist ranks at New Forms this year with her ethereal synth soundscapes. Delicately weaving dreamy melodies and vocal samples over heavy, guttural chords will surely provide New Forms attendees with the musical sojourn they will be looking for. E3 On deck to bring a heavier bass experience to New Forms this year will be E3. Heading up the Pacific Rim from Portland, E3 will take those on the dancefloor through a quality trip via the deep and spacious sounds of dub. Nicolas Sassoon Juliana Huxtable Juliana Huxtable is in a league of her own. Artist, DJ, model and member of New York based collective House of Ladosha, Huxtable is booked to play a set at New Forms this year. However, with such a varied background, who knows what kind of performance will come out of this artistic maelstrom. Julian Hou Local Vancouver based artist, Julian Hou, is known for creating art through a combination of images, textiles, video, sound, music and performance. Not only does Hou have the ability to create alternate realities for audiences to discover and participate in, they are met with a touch of humor too. With an educational background in art, culture, and architecture, we can’t wait to see what Hou has in store for New Forms this year. Nicolas Sassoon Peverelist Sky H1 E3 and Alter Echo New Forms Festival always brings Vancouver a lineup filled with new sounds and sights for art connoisseurs and electronic music enthusiasts to feast upon. Returning to the gorgeous backdrop of the Centre for Digital Media, the festival explores the everchanging and evolving world of art while creating a platform for artistic growth. Feeling a little overwhelmed by this year’s roster? Check out these six musical and visual performers who you should definitely be on your radar for New Forms Festival 2017. New Forms is all about visual and audible windows into the futuristic unknown. Nicolas Sassoon is certainly one of the visual artists on the bill this year who will fulfill exactly that quota. Known for playing with the idea of animated GIFs, Sassoon’s addition to New Forms 2017 could very well take you down a rabbit hole through to a new virtual reality. New Forms Festival 17 takes place at the Centre for Digital Media September 28-30. September 2017 29
Page 3 and 4: September ‘17 PUBLISHER BeatRoute
Page 5 and 6: PULSE-CITY BRIEFS! our finger on th
Page 9 and 10: CITY INTANGIBLE Ronnie Dean Harris
Page 11: FRINGE FESTIVAL “Letters that wer
Page 14 and 15: FOOD CHICKPEA favourite israeli dis
Page 17 and 18: BY EMILY BLATTA North Vancouver ban
Page 19: THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS Life imitates
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Page 25 and 26: WOODHAWK there’s more to stoner r
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Beatroute Magazine BC Print Edition - September 2017

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