BeatRoute Magazine [AB] print e-edition - [February 2018]

SOUL IN THE CITY
a seat at the table
As part of Black History Month, Soul
In The City is a collaboration of
artists setting a platform that speaks
to race relations, politics and inclusion.
Lynn Olagundoye, art and musical
director of the event, emphasizes not
only thinking about the past but what’s
on the horizon.
“We’re also trying to think of the
future – daring to dream, daring to
think out of the box, thinking of a
future where we all have a place at the
table and everyone is included.”
Even Donald Trump, does he get
invited?
“Hahaha!” laughs Olagundoye.
“Never! But we do live in a world
where a country like the US is having
problems with race relations, which
they’ve always had, but it’s becoming
that much more prevalent. Even in
Canada we’re having similar issues, and
one of the challenges is having a deep
I AM THE MOUNTAIN
part of the tribe and feeling the vibe
and thoughtful conversation around
these issues.”
The event itself is curated to weave
from one issue to another. Olagundoye
explains that “It seamlessly brings
together music, poetry and visual art to
tell a powerful story of resilience, struggle
and triumph. The overall intention
of Soul In The City is to contribute
to the community and help foster
connection through the use of various
art forms. And we’re committed to
showcasing the amazing local talent
our city has to offer.”
Local artists include singer-songwriter
Lynn Olagundoye, visual artists
Katherine Calnan and Shaleen Ladha,
poet-writers Pierre Mvono and
Priscilla Bukasa and the hip-hop duo
Cartel Madras.
Soul In The City takes place at Festival
Hall Saturday, Feb. 24.
Check out the video premiere for “Motorcycles” on BeatRoute.ca
Am The Mountain are set to release something soulful, funky,
I and complex with their latest EP, ‘We’re Here For Each Other.’ This
short, six track affair is fresh, while playing on the nostalgic sounds
that make their music nostalgic and comfortable. BeatRoute is
proud to premiere the music video for the bubbly album cut “Motorcycles,”
which you can find at BeatRoute.ca.
Singer and primary songwriter Colton O’Reilly began the band
six years ago and has been performing, touring, and making music
with a steady cast of characters for the last three years. O’Reilly’s
smooth, warm voice and soulful folk-inspired lyrics are paired well
with classically-trained trumpet master Keath Mueller, jazz bassist
and singer-songwriter Jesse Shire (Rosalind), and hip-hop and soul
ROOTS
PHOTO: HENRY ACTESON
BY B.SIMM
BY KAITLIN MOERMAN
influenced brothers Robin and
Jason Cillo, who play drums
and lead guitar respectively.
The seeds of the new EP
were crafted when Aacomplished
album producer Nils
Mikkelsen (AM Static) approached
O’Reilly to record after
hearing the band perform
their song “That Old Feelin,’” a
track from their 2015 offering
‘While Off Adventuring,” at a
live performance.
O’Reilly says the song is a
band statement.
It “sums up that familiar
feeling of our band’s name, of
the songs we perform, of the
feeling you feel when you see
us live, all encompassed into I
Am The Mountain,” he says.
The band’s thoughtfully
crafted aesthetic and stage
presence demonstrated during their live shows cultivates a calming
ambience, which in turn echoes the laid-back attitude of their low
tempo bubbly rhythms. It’s right there in the name of the album,
‘We’re Here for Each Other’. I Am The Mountain mounts the tunes
you want to listen to when coming down late at night, or to vibe to
when out on the road.
I Am The Mountain release ‘We’re Here for Each Other’ on Friday, Feb.
16 at the Ironwood Stage and Grill (Calgary) and on Saturday, Feb. 17
at the Mercury Room (Edmonton). Admission includes a copy of the
album.
BEATROUTE • FEBRUARY 2018 | 35