FOCUS Wales 2024

Calgarian indie experimentalist Astral Swans and  noise-pop multi-media maven Chad VanGaalen have joined forces for a Split EP, featuring three songs of each to be released on October 23 by Astral Swans independently and on lathe cut vinyl via Red Spade Records. The Split EP is the first in a series of sonically stranger releases from Astral Swans continuing into 2024. Birthed from a residency at a downtown hotel in Calgary came a set of experimental pop songs affixed to a moody techno sound-space that sound unlike anything else bearing the name Astral Swans. Debut single ‘Shine the Light Inside’ is a series of satirical affirmations from an AI to a tech billionaire whose rocket has gone off course a la’ Major Tom. The song peaks with a psychedelic sax freakout from Polaris Prize long-listed artist Jairus Shariff which hovers above the live bass guitar, and blown-out 808s. Chad VanGaalen and Matthew Swann met in the 00’s as mutual fans of each others music, DIY outsider artists in a burgeoning oil city, and this split hearkens back to their scrappy, improvisational roots. VanGaalen produced Swann’s first album as Extra happy Ghost!!! the ravishing Modern Horses. VanGaalen "we went through his vault a little" as Swann describes it, carefully selecting his self-recorded songs to put on the split including a cut featuring Alex Edkins (METZ, Weird Nightmare) on broken electronics, the mysterious ‘Frogman.’ Astral Swans has toured North America, Europe, China and Japan performing everywhere from house shows to festival stages, Swann has shared bills with a laundry list of artists including Angel Olsen, Feist, Malcolm Mooney (CAN), Grimes, Julie Doiron, Colin Stetson and & more. 

Pegged as Canada’s breakout alt-diva, Begonia has built a legion of fans online and at her legendary live shows.  Her critically acclaimed discography includes Lady In Mind EP (2017), Fear (2019) and Powder Blue (2023). Among her accolades, she has a JUNO nomination (2021, Adult Alternative Album of the Year), two Polaris Prize nominations, multiple #1 songs on CBC Radio, and was named one of NPR’s Artists You Need to Know. Her sophomore album, Powder Blue emerged in early 2023 and confronts themes of sexuality, self-discovery, acceptance and empowerment. The album was named one of CBC Music’s Best Canadian Albums of 2023 (#7) and was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.  

Begonia’s live performance is world class. She has been playing sold out clubs and theatres in North America, and recently supported indie-all-star, Leith Ross, on their European tour. Her vocal prowess has the power to absolutely floor an audience, evidenced at her Polaris Gala performance. She is riding a wave of momentum with a record number of people discovering Powder Blue and becoming super-fans. Begonia is a standout Canadian talent, and the world is beginning to take notice.

Fold Paper is the post-punk brain-child of Chell Osuntade  

After building up a name for himself by touring the world in multiple well-known bands such as Super Duty Tough Work and JayWood, as well as a plethora of bands in Winnipeg, Chell created a project that would continue to carry his aura while also showing a new side of his musical creativity.

Even prior to putting out a record, Fold Paper has already made rumblings in the music scene; from the press coverage, to the quality of opening slots, festivals in and out of Winnipeg, and the palpable energy that surrounds the band.

Fold Paper is nudging post-punk revivalism into a hopeful and inclusive future; leading by example that black folks can also thrive within the genre. Leaning into its wiry energy, the band lets a head rush of jittery rhythms and glorious guitar slashes guide it toward thrilling dimensions that sees the group take cues from contemporary post-punk stalwarts like Unschooling, Palm, and Preoccupations.

The Garrys are a band of siblings from the coldest part of the landlocked Canadian prairies. Formed in the spring of 2015, The Garrys use layered 3-part blood harmonies, hazy sun-bleached melodies, classic lo-fi guitar tones, and syncopated surf beats to create a unique “doom-wop” sound, dripping with dark nostalgia and touched by psychedelic dread. Their music is likely to leave you with an urge to do the Watusi, bittersweet thoughts about slow-dancing with your middle school crush, or a nagging feeling that it’s not quite safe to go back into the water.

Calgary indie ensemble Thomas Thomas is the result of the creative collision of the sincere singer-songwriter Shannon Thomas and the curious indie-rocker Thomas Englund (Bell Tower, Betaboys). Thomas Thomas has landed a YYC Music Award nomination and a first place win at the Ship & Anchor songwriting contest. Their tunes have seen chart positions on CJSW, CKUA, spins on X92.9, and a dedicated local following.The band has performed with Japanese Breakfast, Shannon & The Clams, and Vundabar, and has graced the stages of Breakout West, Canadian Music Week, Sled Island, and BIG Winter Classic. Their dreamy indie idiosyncrasy on their debut self-titled EP (2019) has drawn comparisons to Born Ruffians, Wallows, and Camera Obscura.

Working with producer Chris Dadge (ALVVAYS, Lab Coast, Chad VanGaalen) the band is returning with a sparkly new set of singles, the pining ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’ about a series of “missed connections” - currently featured on a 2023 Starbucks summer social ad campaign - and the anxious ‘Interesting Times’ about isolation and missing loved ones.

Vox Rea features Kate Kurdyak (lead vocals/piano/guitar/violin) and Lauren Kurdyak (vocals/piano/percussion). The two sisters released their debut album, To Bring You My Heart, on 604 Records in 2017 under the name “The Katherines.” The album garnered over a million spins on Spotify with songs featured on playlists including New Music Friday, Pop All Day, Hot Hits Canada, Indie Pop Chillout and the Canada Viral 50 chart. Their songs were also featured  on TV shows Orphan Black, Reboot, and The Order. The album attracted media attention from Vice, MTV, the Vancouver Sun and the National Post. The band also performed on morning shows in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. 

After a hiatus to study philosophy in the mountains, the band resurfaced under the moniker, Vox Rea, in the fall of 2020. The new name’s intentional ambiguity allowed for an identity beyond the stereotype of being labelled a “girl-band” and represents the reclamation of their creative control. Every part of the project – the music, the image, and the message – is created by the band. Vox Rea focuses on art as an experience as opposed to a product and their music chronicles the odyssey of a group of  artists trying to come to terms with their generation’s place in the human story. Themes of addiction, self-doubt, lust, identity, independence and grief form the undercurrent of lyrics that are deeply introspective. Hell bent on creating a meaningful life amidst the siren songs of consumerism and efficiency, Vox Rea believes in the revolutionary power of art.

The band’s special brand of noir pop blends string arrangements and harmonies into the dreamy collection of songs on their self-titled debut. “Vox Rea'' was written in collaboration with fellow Canadian artists Luca Fogale, Begonia and Joël, and produced by Connor Seidel and Tim Buron (Charlotte Cardin, Matt Holubowski), JUNO nominee Derek Hoffman (Arkells, RALPH, The Elwins) and multi-platinum producer Joel Stouffer (Dragonette, Kayla Diamond). 

Since the release of their first single “Dose Me Up” in 2020, Vox Rea has garnered over 700k streams on Spotify and their music has been added to various editorial playlists including New Music Friday Canada, Indie All Stars, Indie Pop and Chill. Their songs have been played on CBC and local radio stations in British Columbia. Their single “Damn (Unstuck)” was featured on the cover of Folk & Friends and made Spotify’s Top Folk Songs of 2021. Vox Rea has played in music festivals across North America including Reeperbahn, Treefort Music Fest, Laketown Shakedown and Capitol Hill Block Party. In 2022, they were the recipients of CreativeBC’s Career Development Grant, Canada Council’s Research & Creation Grant and were chosen to be a part of RBCxMusic’s First Up Program. 

Vox Rea believes deeply in the power of collaboration and functions with the ethos of an artist collective. The two sisters worked closely on their self-titled album with best friend Kaitlyn Hansen-Boucher and Berklee-alum Mitchell Schaumberg. They also co-directed and produced their music videos and a short film with longtime collaborator Lon Gross. Their innovative and successful merchandise line was made in partnership with Dutch-artist Maud van Baar de Knegt and they have worked closely with a number of local brands including a beer collaboration with Field House Brewing and campaigns for Huha, Charlie Beads and Lost Goodz. 

With new music on the horizon alongside a showcase at SXSW and a residency at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, 2023 looks to be a promising year for Vox Rea.

Vancouver’s Winona Forever combine spicey rock riffs and arts and crafts rhythms to create delicious ready-to-listen pop songs. Since 2015 the band has been releasing music that embraces the warm and free spirited leanings of home recording, producing a sound that is equal parts fresh and timeless.