Canadian Correlation

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Hey guys, So I thought I would start a new series of posts called the Canadian Correlation. I'm going to post about a few up and coming Canadian groups to demonstrate the clear correlation between good music and Canadian artists!

This week's post features Toronto band THE WOODEN SKY, Vancouver band SAID THE WHALE and London native SHAD.

THE WOODEN SKY formed in 2003 as a project of then Ryerson student, Gavin Gardiner. Gardiner has since been joined by other members and have been signed to the BLACK BOX label. They've put out three LPs and two EPs, including their most recent release EVERY CHILD A DAUGHTER, EVERY MOON A SUN, which came out last year. Like a combination of BOB DYLAN and the TALLEST MAN ON EARTH, Gardiner's unique vocals plays off the increasingly deep and layered backing. Falling somewhere between Folk and Rock, these guys are definitely worth checking out.

SAID THE WHALE is one of my favourite Canadian bands out there. After seeing them last year in Toronto, my love was multiplied! It started in 2007 as the child of lead vocalists Ben Worcester and Tyler Bancroft. A band grew around these two and they put out their first EP in 2007. They've released three LP's, with 2012's LITTLE MOUNTAIN which saw the band gaining much more success. With two vocalists, the band is able to provide a lot of variety in their songs. Lyrically, SAID THE WHALE often combines the themes of love and nature, like on BIG SKY, MT: "Above the ridge and through the valley; to find true love everlasting in delight". SAID THE WHALE was one of the best live shows I've seen, playing a nearly two hour show and never letting up, keeping the audience engaged and involved. I'm eagerly waiting for this bands next release!

Finally we have Kenyan born, London Ontario raised raised and Waterloo/Vancouver educated rapper SHAD. His first album in 2005 was financed by winning an radio contest, during his undergrad at Laurier University. He's put out two more LPs, including the 2010 release TSOL, which earned him more attention among the Canadian media and earned him the 2011 Juno Award for best Rap Recording of the year. SHAD  collaborated with DALLAS GREEN to put out a two song release last year and recently worked with Canadian legend K-OS on SHAD's new album FLYING COLOURS, coming out later this year. I've been waiting three years for this, as he SHAD has been off getting his Masters degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University. SHAD is a self described "student of the game", his lyrics are wonderfully insightful, playful and reflective. Take this for example from LIVE FOREVER:

"Maybe I dwell too much on legacy destinyLike I could ever read whats on the headstone ahead of meBut in my head I see we are carving the lettersEveryday that thought makes me live for the betterThe truth comes out but it starts at the centerThe heart of the matter is the matter of the heartThe hearts made of matter that you can't measureThat matters beyond measure like light when it treavels in the dark"
All these groups are worth checking out and keep an eye out for their upcoming releases!