NEXT Magazine July Issue by NEXT Magazine Toronto

MADE IN CANADA• 07|2021

FREE

MOTHER MOTHER MASSIVE NEW TIKTOK AUDIENCE SUPERCHARGES VETERAN B.C. INDIE ROCKERS

LEON BRIDGES • ANNIE MURPHY • QUESTLOVE • LOONY • CALGARY FOLK FEST • H.E.R. • MIGOS • JP SAXE • DOJA CAT

Music Kickstart Your Pride Celebrations with the Ultimate Pride Soundtrack! Listen to iHeart Pride Canada Loud and Proud!

Podcasts

YouTube We’re celebrating Pride by highlighting some of the most influential LGBTQ+ artists and anthems of all time! Join iHeartRadio’s hosts Kylee, Jax, Shannon and Jonny as they share the stories behind their favourite songs.

2 JULY 2021 NEXT

The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie Mattel & Katya Zamo The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie Mattel & Katya Zamo features a pair of grizzled gay ghouls exploring the cultural boundaries of modern beauty through interviews with gorgeous guests who inhabit various facets of the beauty industry. Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson Award-winning journalist LZ Granderson draws from his own lived experience as a gay, Black father to host thought-provoking, poignant and engaging conversations with some of the most influential and inspirational people in the LGBTQ+ community.

Contents

2 0 2 1

THE SHORT LIST

Live music is back baby—in person, the real thing!—and NEXT has Best Bets across Canada.

21 MUSIC

Questlove shines a light on the legendary Summer of Soul, K.Flay talks Freud and LOONY launches.

FEATURE

Grammy-winning, smooth-sounding style icon Leon Bridges storms back with a soulful new album drenched in 70s symbolism.

COVER STORY

A massive new TikTok audience has supercharged the career of Vancouver indie rockers Mother Mother.

ALBUM REVIEWS

New music from: H.E.R., Shawnee Kish, JP Saxe, Charlotte Day Wilson, Doja Cat, Backxwash, Polo G, Migos, Getchnah and more.

THE LOCAL PAGES

NEXT’s Amy Millan and Stars hit the stage in Toronto and Calgary gets Folk Fest and the Stampede, while Vancouver Pride offers virtual vogue viewing.

THE FUNNIES

It’s Paper Doll time as we celebrate Billie Eilish’s upcoming new album with a look back at her fashion-forward looks.

06 FOOD Soft-serve ice cream is the hot summer cool-down 08 DRINKS Fresh tasting, thirst-quenching Radlers are a biker's reward 10 FASHION Lots of Croc talk about fabulous footwear 12 CANNABIS Wake up to which indica is best for in-da-couch snoozing 14 GAMING Gaming’s annual glimpse into the future at E3 16 TV/MOVIES Annie Murphy gives a Schitt and revolutionizes TV—again

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SHORTLIST JULY

T H E

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T O P

T O

D O

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C A N A D A

T H I S

M O N T H

FESTIVAL

LIDO PIMIENTA at the Calgary Folk Festival Sat., July 24, 8:55 pm MDT Summer Serenades concert series Tickets from $150 for tarp plots of up to 4 people Prince’s Island Park, 698 Eau Claire Ave. SW calgaryfolkfest.com

Let’s folk it up! The Calgary Folk Music Festival’s socially distanced Summer Serenades is one of the first in-person concert series to run in Canada since COVID began, and we can’t wait to feel the energy of live music pumping through speakers again. Top Canadian artists fill a packed bill from July 22 to July 28, including Dan Mangan, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Whitehorse, Jim Cuddy, Charlotte Cardin and more. Polaris-winning Lido Pimiento’s performance—layering African and Indigenous folk rhythms from her native Colombia with electronic influences—along with her shimmering tracks and confetti canon aesthetic, is a must-see. Tickets will sell out fast, but if you don’t cop one in time, catch all streams for free at calgaryfolkfest.com. SEE MORE ON THE CALGARY FOLK FEST, PAGE 52 4 JULY 2021 NEXT

Primp

2 WATCH LIDO PIMIENTA AT THE GRAMMYS

ROCK ’N ROLL PRIDE ONLINE

FESTIVAL

Sat. July 31 and Sun. August 1 Virtual festival $17 – $22

Rock ’N Roll Pride is a new music festival featuring two nights of multi-genre, original music from some of the coolest independent queer artists the country has to offer. The local rock, metal, punk, grunge and indie scenes are uniting to bring a mega-bill stacked with can’t miss talent—highlights include indie songstress Kylie V, surfy rockers Primp and midwest-emo-inspired Club Sofa on July 31, and the extraterrestrial vibes of Elle Wolf on Aug. 1. Find showtimes, lineup details, and more on Instagram at @raincityartistadmin.

COMEDY

NEXT Magazine

JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL

July 26-31 Free, plus ticketed shows Livestreamed + in-person hahaha.com

Editor/Publisher Michael Hollett Creative Director Troy Beyer

Montreal’s legendary comedy fest Just For Laughs will feature Kevin Hart, Dave Chapelle, Cassie Cao, Mario Lopez and many more unannounced big-ticket acts in their brand-new festival format, starting July 26. JFL 2021 will include small club shows and an outdoor street festival in its home city of Montreal, as well as satellite shows in NYC and L.A., a livestreamed industry-insider awards show, and affiliate events featuring rising stars and veterans alike.

Associate Editors Laura Robinson (Calgary) Rayne Fisher-Quann (Vancouver) Contributors Kristen Chew, Latoya Elle, Katrin Emery, Amy Lloyd, Zack Kotzer, Khufu Najee, Zuleyyma Prado, Nicole Ritchie, Laura Stanley, Sarah Wade, Caely White, Sanjeev Wignarajah

Dave Chappelle

Advice Columnist Amy Millan askamy@nextmag.ca Sales and Marketing Manager, Sales and Partnerships Barbara Hefler

CONCERT ROY WOODS The Palace Theatre

Advertising Inquiries: sales@nextmag.ca

Thurs. July 15, doors at 8 pm MT Live concert Palace Theatre, 219 8 Ave. SW, Calgary $25 / showpass.com/roy-woods

Administrative Coordinator Amy Lloyd Circulation Coordinator Eric Caldwell Circulation Harry Brewer, Ryan Braun, Simon Jakobsen, Adam Matthews, Olivia Matthews, Callum Miller, Conner Radcliffe, Ian Vidovich, Henry Voskuil

Don’t miss Brampton-born rapper and OVO Sound artist Roy Woods lighting up the historic Palace Theatre in downtown Calgary during Stampede week. Raise your BPMs to the beat of the bass and feel the vibrations through your fresh new sneakers at this event produced by 10 at 10—leaders in producing the best in music, arts and Black culture in Canada.

Published by NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. Board of Directors Michael Cohl, Michael Hollett, Gary Slaight

Distribution NEXT Magazine is distributed in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto For distributor info: distro@nextmag.ca

JIM CUDDY BAND DRIVE-IN

CONCERT

Thurs., July 15, 7 pm EDT Drive-in and virtual event In person $199; live stream $20 Cityview Drive-In, 20 Polson Ave. Toronto horseshoetavern.com

Canadian music legend Jim Cuddy brings his solo band to Toronto’s lakeside CityView Drive-In (July15) before heading west for the Calgary Folk Festival. (July 23).

Issue #6

nextmag.ca

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nextmagcanada NEXT JULY 2021

FO O D

SOFT SPOTS W

ho hasn’t chased a bell-ringing ice cream truck? Sure, Dairy Queen dipped cones and McFlurrys have their place, but this summer, the future of soft serve has arrived—and some of the flavors are as twisted as the creamy goodness itself. Today you can find anything from strawberry rhubarb swirls to activated charcoal cones and waffle fish filled with red bean paste topped with black sesame ice cream. Even gelato shops are getting in on the fun, swirling up some ridiculously niche flavours made with local products. These soft-serve spots across our NEXT Three Cities are deliciously showing how far they’ve come from the humble neighbourhood ice cream truck.

By NICOLE RICHIE

WHERE TO SCORE GREAT SOFT SERVE IN YOUR TOWN TORONTO BAR APE

Serving up swirls of seasonal ingredients and innovative flavours, Bar Ape’s gelato is far from average soft serve. With innovative flavours like saffron and cucumber lime, and pairings like sour cherry and brown butter, this Italian spot doesn’t cling to the traditional. While getting experimental with local ingredients for their weekly bonus flavour, Bar Ape also shows off their Italian chops with items like faithful fior di latte sundaes. Catch them every Saturday and Sunday pumping out silky smooth gelato and ice cream. 283 Rushton Rd., Toronto, bar-ape.com

IHALO KRUNCH With their black activated charcoal cones and electrifyingly colourful soft serve, this rapidly expanding chain of ice cream shops has been turning heads since they opened their Trinity Bellwoods flagship store in 2017. With Asian-inspired flavours like ube (purple yam) and matcha green tea, iHalo are pioneering a new wave of softserve treats. Try a swirl of ube and coconut charcoal for the ultimate iHalo experience. 831 Queen St. W, plus 2 other Toronto locations and 3 more in Ontario, ihalokrunch.com

TAVERNE BERNHARDT’S

This neighbourhood rotisserie is turning heads with their gussied-up soft serve. With flavours like rhubarb currant sour cream twist, and creamsicle meringue topped with candied sunflower seeds, Taverne Bernhardt’s is taking a no-rules approach to what they can mix in the ice cream maker. Although you may have to dine in to experience the magic of these icy desserts, we promise you won’t be disappointed. 202 Dovercourt Rd., Toronto, bernhardtstoronto.com

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CALGARY Made By Marcus

Keeping things classic with a single soft serve option, Marcus Purtzki is focusing his energy into creating Calgary’s most decadent sundaes. With luxurious toppings that include anything from meringue peaks to homemade strawberry jam and roasted marshmallows, these elaborate creations are not your basic childhood treats. With ice cream made from scratch and cream from grass-fed cows, this all-organic creamery churns out some unbelievably fresh ice cream. 121-1013 17 Ave. SW, plus 3 other Calgary locations, madebymarcus.ca

VANCOUVER SOFT PEAKS →

UZU TAIYAKI ↑

Owner Tommy Mac derives most of his flavour ideas for Uzu Taiyaki from the tastes of his childhood spent in Vietnam and Calgary. Translated into soft serve, Mac brings Asian-inspired ingredients like ube (purple yam) and brown sugar milk tea and transforms them into swirls of colourful soft serve. It’s all stuffed into a fishshaped waffle (taiyaki) as a cone, with a crispy exterior and a surprise of sweet red bean or Nutella inside. This frozen dessert is taking soft serve to new heights.

With its treats churned to perfection, this Vancouver institution is all about making natural, organic and non-GMO soft serve. Using all local ingredients, Soft Peaks’ hand-crafted, milkbased soft serve is some of the smoothest on the West Coast. They also finish off their sundaes and cones with some premium toppings like Okanagan and Fraser Valley honeycomb, sweet and sour yuzu marmalade, homemade tiramisu, and organic strawberry agave syrup. 25 Alexander St., Vancouver, and 4603 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C., softpeaks.ca

Town Centre, owner Jaro Mestka is bringing his favourite Czech street food to the people of B.C. Hand-rolled and served hot, these sweet cones are a mix between a beaver tail and a churro. Filled with creamy vanilla soft serve and topped with anything from pumpkin spice to pistachio cream, these may become your new favourite summer treat. Food Truck 1: Gaston Park, 3470 Crowley Dr., Vancouver; Food Truck 2: McArthur Glen Outlet, Richmond, B.C., praguery.com

MILKCOW CAFE Founded in Korea in 2013, Milkcow is one of the most wellrecognized soft serve vendors on this list because of its Instaworthy watermelon ice cream sandwiches. The bright watermelon soft serve, swirled in between two slices of watermelon that have been dimpled with chocolate chips, makes this one of the most popular items on Milkcow’s menu. Made from all-natural milk and without preservatives, Milkcow is dedicated to making their soft serve the lightest possible, without sacrificing that creamy texture we know and love. Milkcow also has cafes in Victoria and Toronto. 105-5668 Hollybridge Way, Richmond, B.C., milkcowcafe.ca

1-110 2 Ave. SE, Calgary, facebook.com/uzutaiyaki

LUKES DRUG MART

This family-run pharmacy has been serving up soft serve to their loyal customers for three generations. Lukes taks advantage of seasonal and local ingredients to create their monthly flavour rotation of soft serve at both their Killarney and Bridgeland locations. With recent hits like blueberries and cream, strawberry rhubarb and coconut lime, Lukes will keep you coming back all summer long. 112-4 St. NE (Bridgeland) and 3207-26 Ave. SW (Killarney), Calgary, lukesdrugmart.com

THE PRAGUERY ↑

This European-inspired food truck is stacking up sugar-coated chimney cakes full of luscious soft serve. With a couple trucks you can spot around Vancouver and a store in Surrey’s Guildford

LEARN TO MAKE SOFT SERVE AT HOME VIDEO HERE.

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D RI N KS

LIT SYC Brewing Company Brewed in Edmonton, available in Calgary, ships to Vancouver and Toronto sycbrewing.com This zippy pick will give you a Mario Kart-style speed boost: zesty tangerine and lemon brighten the brew while the hops add an extra zing. Squeeze into your spandex suit, slip on the speed shades and strap up the Tour de France helmet—we’re going for a ride.

RADLER Fahr Beer Brewed in Turner Valley, Alta., available in Calgary fahr.ca Dripping with smooth malt, this tall boy tastes like sweet tea. Notes of soft honey swirl with refreshing lemon to mellow the typical citrus sour, resulting in a thirst-quenching honey-lemon drop.

GRAPEFRUIT RADLER Waterloo Brewing Brewed in Kitchener-Waterloo, available in Toronto, Calgary waterloobrewing.com Look no further for your summer crush. The sticky-sweet grapefruit draws you in, while the sparkling craft brew mellows out into a satisfying, sunshine-soaked buzz. The lightweight alcohol level in Radlers—typically between three and four per cent—ensures this fling will last longer that the first can.

8 JULY 2021 NEXT

RAD HOT SUMMER Whether pleasure-cruising or full-throttle racing, nothing beats a cold drink after a hot bike ride. Fortunately, there’s a brew tailor-made for the occasion: the Radler (it literally means “cyclist” in German). In 1922, a Bavarian bartender invented the lowalcohol quaff to satisfy thirsty throngs of cyclists by mixing lemonade with his dwindling supplies of beer. Radlers have been remixed with all types of brews and nectars since then, but remain part beer, part carbonated fruit juice—and 100 per cent refreshing. Out for a two-wheeled rip? Bring a few of our goto thirst quenchers along for the ride. By LAURA ROBINSON

GRAPEFRUIT RADLER Citizen Brewing Company Brewed in Calgary, available in Calgary citizenbrewingcompany.com Ale forward with a tasteful splash of pure pink grapefruit. Don’t be surprised if your beer-slinging uncle brings them to a backyard BBQ, self-consciously joking about how he brought them “for the wife” or is “just trying them out.” We all know he, not-sosecretly, can’t get enough.

CRAFTY RADLER Pump House Brewery Brewed in Moncton, N.B., available in Calgary and Toronto pumphousebrewery.ca Marrying grapefruit and tangerine, this taste-bud tantalizer makes single-fruited cans look like they’re riding a unicycle. Freshly cut wheels of grapefruit take the main stage, propelled by light malt and hops, while slices of tangerine balance out the back.

TRICYCLE GRAPEFRUIT RADLER Parallel 49 Brewing Company Brewed in Vancouver, available in Vancouver and Calgary parallel49brewing.com Gentle malt hitches its wagon to ripened grapefruit flavours, resulting in a deep and luxurious flavour profile. It’s the pleasure cruiser with a panier affixed, filled with succulent and syrupy fruits. Take your time with this one: it’s a breezy and leisurely ride.

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ST YL E

ALL CLOGGED UP

�

When I was a kid,

the unofficial start of the summer was always marked by a new pair of Crocs. The versatile sandal was iconic and irreplaceable—when it debuted in 2002, the shoe’s durability and novelty quickly landed them on the feet of every toddler, preteen and granola grandparent in the country. But as clogs shifted out of style, the noble Croc spent years as the butt of a cultural joke. However, after a surprise resurgence (and an Internet-shattering Balenciaga collaboration) that pretty much nobody saw coming, Crocs are cool again… and they’re bringing clogs with them. That’s right, you heard it here first: the clog is the uncontested shoe of the summer. Here’s our roundup of the coolest, craziest and quirkiest clogs you’ll need to make your mark on post-pandemic society.

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

8 10 JULY 2021 NEXT

The Magazine That Plays Music on Your Phone

SCAN THE QRs TO BROWSE THE ONLINE STORES.

1| Swedish Hasbeens Dagny Clog If animal print is more your speed, try these wearable statement slip-ins made from luxury materials in 60s style. $147

2| Women’s Classic Platform Marbled Clog The classic kiddie Croc gets a grown-up update with a trendy platform and cotton-candy colour scheme. $70

MADE IN CANADA• 07|2021

FREE

3| Harley Studded Clogs Free People’s platform Harley shoes are the classic clog’s cooler, edgier cousin. $168

4| Swedish Hasbeens Colour Combo Slip-In Swedish Hasbeens are the clog authority—they offer countless clog designs in sophisticated, retro-inspired colourways and patterns. This earth-toned clog is our flower-power favourite. $147

5| Jeffrey Campbell Alysse These soft, laid-back clogs from Jeffrey Campbell are your new everyday summer shoe. $70

MOTHER MOTHER THANKS TO A MASSIVE TIKTOK AUDIENCE, VETERAN BC INDIE ROCKERS FINALLY GET THEIR DUE

LEON BRIDGES • LOONY • QUSTLOVE • MOONSHINE • CALGARY FOLK FEST • 30-SECOND ALBUM REVIEWS AND MORE

We encourage you to read NEXT Magazine with your phone handy. When you see a QR code, Apple Music QR Code or Spotify Code, your phone's camera will instantly deliver extra music, video and exclusive content from your favourite streaming services.

6| Women’s Crocs Classic Bae Clog If you’re looking to take your clog in an avant-garde direction, the 2.5-inch platform and quirky colourways on this new Croc design are all over TikTok. $80 7| Jacquemus Blue ‘Les Sabots’ Clogs For a high-end option, you can’t beat these sky-blue, sky-high clogs from Jacquemus. $542

8| Bosabo Kety These studded, earth-toned chunky heels are a blast from the past and strike the perfect balance between cute and comfortable. $150

How To

QR Code

Apple Music

Spotify

1. Open the camera app on your phone.

1. Launch Spotify app on your phone.

2. Hold your device so that the QR code is centred in the viewfinder.

2. Go to the search bar on Spotify search page.

3. Tap the notification that pos up to open the link associated with the code.

3. Tap camera icon on the right of the search bar and then hover camera over the code. NEXT JULY 2021

CA N NABIS

HIGHS FOR BETTER BEDDY-BYES

ndica is the chamomile tea to sativa’s coffee, which is appropriate given indica’s legendary “IN-DA” couch qualities. Sometimes it’s not just the strain of cannabis that delivers the most effective lights-out for those looking to catch some Zs—there are a ton of factors that contribute to getting that sedative high that carries us off to hours of sleep. Terpene (aroma) levels, THC content and CBD balance can all help make cannabis a powerful sleep aid. It’s not a one-size-fits-all experience, however, and it’s important to take a look at why you may have trouble sleeping before you start experimenting with THC. If you have anxiety- or pain-induced insomnia, a balanced THC and CBD strain will help to relax your body while easing your mind into a long night’s sleep. If you’re a less experienced toker looking to be K-O’d for the evening, a high THC indica is where it’s at. The six strains here all can act as bedtime’s little helper. by NICOLE RICHIE

12 JULY 2021 NEXT

RIFF SUBWAY SCIENTIST (GRANDADDY PURP)

ROBINSONS CANNABIS PURPLE KUSH

This indica dominant is one of the most faithful strains for a good night’s sleep. Subway Scientist from Riff is essentially Grandaddy Purple, a cross between Purple Urkle and Big Bud. With caryophyllene and myrcene as the dominant terpenes, this bud can act as a strong sedative while also working as an antiinflammatory and an anxiety reliever. Subway Scientist is also pretty high in THC, so make sure to consume with care and in small quantities to start ensuring better REM sleep.

Robinsons Cannabis is one of Nova Scotia’s finest grow-ops, operating in the heart of the Annapolis Valley. Their Purple Kush strain is grown on small-batch and hand-tended farms. A cross of Purple Afghani and Hindu Kush, both known for their sleepinducing effects, Purple Kush is one of the best-known indica-dominant strains today. Purple Kush may not knock you out right away, but the high THC mixed with linalool terpenes will set users stress-free, relaxing their muscles and sending them into a state of bliss.

CANNA FARMS PINK KUSH

AARON’S BC BUD MK ULTRA

STEPHEN HAWKING KUSH (SHK)

Pink Kush is one of the more balanced sleep aids on this list. With a CBD percentage of 5%, this strain is great for a body buzz that relieves tension and stress to get you ready for a good night’s sleep. A coastal relative of OG Kush, this powerful indica from Canna Farms in Alberta is a great option for users with anxiety who are looking for a less cerebral high.

The found of Aaron’s BC Bud, William Marshall, calls their MK ULTRA “a sleep aid extraordinaire”—and he consumes this strain nightly, so, it’s legit. Aaron’s BC Bud only grows indica on their farm near Nanaimo, B.C., and MK ULTRA is a pure indica that’s a cross of G-13, a powerful strain with sedative properties, and OG Kush, well known for its mixed head and body buzz. This strain is perfect for a night of pure couchlocked pleasure.

This 5:1 high CBD strain is the second release of seeds in the Great Minds series from Alphakronik Genes. This strain is a cross between 20:1 CBD strain Harlitsu and Sin City Kush, and is one of the best indica-dominant hybrids. Stephen Hawking Kush’s soothing and relaxing effects help to keep pain at bay while stimulating your stomach, which helps to suppress nausea. This strain is best for regular smokers who want a powerful strain that’s sedating without inducing serious cerebral effects.

Potency: .99% CBD, 16-26% THC

Potency: 0-5% CBD, 22-27% THC

Potency: 0-0.1% CBD, 18-25% THC

Potency: 0-1% CBD, 20-26% THC

TOP LEAF NORTHERN LIGHTS Potency: 0-1% CBD, 20-26% THC

The legendary Northern Lights is a true indica, a cross of Afghani and Thai, that can have euphoric effects on both the body and mind. Known as a medicinal strain and consumed by many medical marijuana users, Northern Lights can relieve depression, insomnia, and pain due to its high levels of myrcene terpenes. Northern Lights is one of the oldest and most trusted buds available, providing an intense high sure to send you straight to bed.

Potency: 13% CBD, 12-15% THC

NEXT JULY 2021

GAMING

Battlefield 2042

E3 Guardians of the Galaxy

Playdate speaker dock and pen

Halo Infinite

Metroid Dread

14 JULY 2021 NEXT

Refall

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2

E3 2021: SMALLER IS BETTER

Once the biggest gaming event of the year, E3 has lost some of it's corporate gusto. But maybe smaller and humbler is actually

better?

By ZACK KOTZER

orgeous summer weather can only mean one thing—time to stay indoors and watch hours of video game trailers during E3, the international, make-or-break gaming launchpad convention usually held in person each year in Los Angeles. Often a noxious, overly corporate and hype-saturated affair, E3 felt more interesting than ever this year—largely due to all the competition out there with knives drawn. E3 has long been a must-attend showcase for the largest games and devices. It’s the event where Nintendo, Sony and Xbox traditionally unveil their biggest plans. If there’s a new Halo or Mario

en route, this is when you’d hear about it—or, it used to be. But, over time, other conferences and conventions have swiped the thunder from the expo while major parties have taken to skipping it entirely. And then there was COVID, pushing the entire event online. Geoff Keighley, a former TV host and Game Awards founder, had a public falling out with E3 last summer and used the livestream after livestream structure to crash the party with his own concurrent streams. Keighley’s competing presentations, from the likes of Double Fine, the Tribeca Film Festival and live performances from Weezer and Japanese Breakfast, rounded out the usual presentations from giant pub-

lishers like Microsoft, Capcom and Ubisoft. Panic and Teenage Engineering, the teams behind Playdate, the handheld monochromatic gaming device with a crank, kicked E3 off by unveiling its game lineup. New games include new work from Katamari creator Keita Takahashi, Getting Over It’s Bennett Foddy and Papers, Please’s Lucas Pope. They also announced that there will be a Playdate speaker dock and pen. A regular pen. A Wholesome Games stream highlighted violence-averse titles, many focusing on gardening, cooking, pets, photography and all manner of puzzle-solving games. Standouts include Hyper Light Drifter co-creator Teddy Dief’s fictional pop band journal We Are OFK, queer witchcraft gem puzzle game Spirit Swap and SkateBIRD (exactly what it sounds like). E3 still had plenty big stuff. Battlefield is leapfrogging from its 2018 WWII entry to the near future with Battlefield 2042, where the climate crisis has sparked a war between refugee coalitions and remaining nations. Climate change, apparently, will regularly drop tornadoes on these military skirmishes as well. Xbox unveiled the gorgeous Forza Horizon 5, which will send drivers racing across the landscapes of Mexico this November. Meanwhile, Fallout and Skyrim publishers Bethesda gave us another peek at Starfield. While it showed little, Todd Howard described the project as “NASA meets Indiana Jones.” One of the most anticipat-

ed games of all was Elden Ring. The collaboration between Dark Souls studio FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin envisions a dark fantasy realm filled with withered lords and mangled beasts, with heavy inspiration drawn from the recently deceased Kentaro Miura’s Berserk series. The game is slated for January, providing there exist deadlines Martin can meet. There were also big surprises. Despite their Avengers game infamously landing on its face, Eidos-Montréal has returned to the Marvel bullpen for a more promising-looking game based on the Guardians of the Galaxy. This original adventure will see Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Groot and Rocket Raccoon butting heads with comic space weirdos like Lady Hellbender and the bumbling Blood Brothers. Many games call themselves Lynchian, but Her Story maker Sam Barlow’s new project could really be. Barlow has assembled a team of notable screenwriters, including Wild at Heart and Lost Highway writer Barry Gifford, for Immortality, a mystery about an actress’s disappearance that could be solved through footage found in three previously lost films. E3’s strangest debut was Ninja Theory’s Stranger of Paradise, supposedly a prequel to the original Final Fantasy, that follows three loud, plain-clothed tough guys looking to slaughter someone named “Chaos.” The most promising game comes from Dishonored

studio Arkane, in the form of a four-player monster mash called Redfall. Layla, Dev, Remi and Jacob are unlikely heroes who find themselves with new-found supernatural powers. Trapped in a small town overrun by vampires, they’ll have to scrap their way through the hordes of bloodsuckers without enjoying themselves too much. No one holds court like Nintendo. We got glimpses of new Metroid, WarioWare, Super Monkey Ball, Shin Megami Tensei and even Advance Wars titles for the Switch, but all were overshadowed by the new Legend of Zelda title, Breath of the Wild 2. Fans have wondered which direction the new Zelda will take after Link’s last expansive adventure. The answer appears to be… up. Calamity Ganon’s curse has hoisted Hyrule Castle and chunks of the kingdom into the sky, forcing Link (now sporting longer hair like many of us post-COVID) to glide, fall and warp through this strange terrain. A humbled E3 has made room for a breath of air. This year, the same parade of Halo Infinite’s multiplayer features was shared by the likes of The Gecko Gods, where a precious tiny lizard solves puzzles by pulling levers and pulleys with its itty-bitty mouth. Here’s hoping these trends are carried over when summer game events return to the real world. WATCH A SHORT ROUNDUP VIDEO ON THE BEST GAMES OF E3 HERE.

NEXT JULY 2021

Watch TV / MOVIES / STREAMING

What To

THE MAGIC OF NATIONAL TREASURE ANNIE MURPHY

WATCH THE OFFICIAL KEVIN CAN F*** HIMSELF TRAILER

16 JULY 2021 NEXT

MAARTEN DE BOER/THE LICENSING PROJECT

By LAURA ROBINSON

I REALIZED JUST HOW MUCH SEXISM AND RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA IS KIND OF SHROUDED JUST UNDERNEATH A LAUGH TRACK.”

INTERVIEW

REVIEW

Emmy-winner Annie Murphy helped revolutionize In an era where film and TV concepts are more TV comedy with her nuanced and spirited portrayal unoriginal than ever—consider how Riverdale of spunky socialite Alexis Rose on Schitt’s Creek, recycled Archie characters for an ominous plot the beloved CBC series that earned a cult following that has absolutely nothing to do with the orig(and a legion of awards) for depicting LGBTQ+ charinal comics, how many Transformers movies the acters in beautiful love stories and offering world actually needs, or all the 80s titles its three million-plus viewers an unpreceKEVIN that are getting the sequel treatment— CAN F*** dented haven of acceptance and humour. AMC’s Kevin Can F*** Himself is refreshNow that the show has wrapped, Murphy HIMSELF ingly unique. Where: AMC; is on a mission to reframe a new genre. Starring former Schitt’s Creek lead Annie streaming on This time, she’s hellbent on saving sitcom AMC+ Murphy, it’s a meta-narrative mindfuck housewives, but beware—there might be a What: TV series, that dives into the bitter psyche of an 8 episodes, 45 body count. overworked, underappreciated sitcom mins. Before the Emmy she won last year for When: Sundays, housewife named Allison. The show takes her breakout role could even collect dust, 9 pm EST two forms: one half is a laugh track-infestthe Ottawa-born actor had already thrown Genre: Dark ed sitcom that focuses on the shenanicomedy herself into a brand-new project: portraying gans of Alison’s immature husband Kevin, Why you should fatally fed-up housewife Allison McRoberts in the vein of King of Queens and Kevin watch: This in the Rashida Jones-produced sitcommale-dominatCan Wait. The other half is filmed as a gone-sour Kevin Can F*** Himself. ed schleppy grey-toned, single-camera close-up on sitcom meets The new role couldn’t be more different Allison, and reveals her aspirational plot to female-driven from Alexis Rose, a character who pranced kill Kevin. crime drama is about with limp wrists, outdated designer eerie, entertainIt isn’t until the show snaps to Alison’s threads in rich-girl gone-broke fashion, and ing and unlike perspective that viewers realize the anything you’ve an egotistically oversized golden “A” neckever seen before. wives in these so-called American dream lace strung round her neck. There is one sitcoms don’t have much of a purpose similarity between them, however: Allison beyond propping up the main-characteralso wears the letter “A” on a necklace. syndrome men for cheap laughs. “It’s a tiny, stained, tarnished thing that was found at Target or something like that,” Murphy muses on As Allison goes from dutifully cleaning dishes the phone from New York. and refreshing beers for the guys to running with It’s fitting for the character—the shiny new hopes the town drug dealer and sneaking out at night, that housewife Allison McRoberts once had for her it becomes a provocative and unprecedented life with blue-collar husband Kevin were crushed comeback story with really, really sharp edges. by his manipulative man-child antics. Worn out and desperate, she does what any self-respecting housewife would do: she decides to kill her husband. Murphy’s decision to pull a 180 from the role that put her on the map is gutsy. It would have been easy to stay in the quirky comedy lane, but she doesn’t care to play it safe. She fills this new, homicidal role with surprising grit and grace for a murderer-in-waiting, proving she’s not to be mistaken for a one-hit wonder. Kevin Can F*** Himself is two shows for the price

of one. The first is a classic multi-cam sitcom with retina-damaging studio lights and slapstick humour, where Allison is consistently the butt of her petulant husband’s jokes and may as well be as inanimate as the hideous, floral-patterned couch upon which he parks his lumpy derrière. When Allison is alone, however, everything snaps into her dark, damp reality as viewers join her in contemplating what the hell is going on in the other room. The series’ title is a jab at CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait, starring America’s husband, Kevin James. The show killed off his wife, played by TV actor Erinn Hayes, after just one season. James told the New York Daily News in 2017 that the move was “needed for [the] show to drive forward” and the sitcom was “literally just running out of ideas.” Right... because it was the wife, not the unimaginative storytelling, that was dragging it down. “I do hope that Erinn Hayes in particular knows that I smashed a few glasses thinking of her,” Murphy says with moxie, referring to the several instances in which her character accidentally smashes the beer glass in her hand, her inner rage manifesting as a death grip. “I realized just how much sexism and racism and homophobia is kind of shrouded just underneath a laugh track. “I hope it allows viewers to really question what we’ve been laughing at all these years,” says Murphy. “Valerie Armstrong, the creator of the show, and I have talked about this a bunch: if there’s any woman or any person out there who sees themselves in Allison, and realizes that they’re not alone, that they can make a change for the better—the show will have been a really great success.” This is Murphy’s magic: she understands the power of storytelling. She wisely chooses roles that have something to say, embedded in shows with purpose. In Schitt’s Creek she took the trope of whiny, vocal-fry rich girl who feels the world happens to her on a steep character-development arc, ending with that girl taking control of the hand she’d been dealt. In Kevin Can F*** Himself, she’s smashing sexist sitcom tropes and grabbing the main character role for all the TV wives that have come before her. “As night and day as Alexis and Allison are, I do think their one similarity is their deep desire to make things better for themselves. Of course, they have very different approaches to that, one a little bit more violent than the other, but I do think there is that deep hope and need to make things better.” Before Murphy was scoring meaningful roles, she had been relegated to playing heavy-hitting, progressive characters like Hot Neighbour and Lady Number Two in Park, and was in two episodes Continued on page 19  NEXT JULY 2021

June Streaming

BLACK WIDOW

CREATION STORIES

HACKS

THE EXCHANGE

GOSSIP GIRL

LUCA

SUMMER OF SOUL

SHRILL

Where: Disney+ VOD What: Film, 133 mins. When: Now Genre: Super heroes Why you should watch: Fists and fun are flying in this origin story for Natasha Romanov, Marvel’s Black Widow. Natasha is expertly played by Scarlett Johansson with the right combination of real drama and a few winks to the audience. There’s a human scale to this movie, even in the fight scenes, that’s more akin to James Bond films than the epic, skyscraper-smashing smackdowns of the Avenger flicks.

Where: Crave What: TV series, 10 episodes, 60 mins. When: July 8, new episodes added Thursdays Genre: Drama Why you should watch: Since there’s no replacing Blake Lively or Leighton Meester as Manhattan’s favourite frenemies, GG picks up with a new generation of elite trust-fund brats exploring how much social media and the city has changed since the original series wrapped. With OG narrator Kristen Bell back and fashion darling Tavi Gevinson in the cast, GG promises seduction and scandal. 18 JULY 2021 NEXT

Where: VOD What: Film, 105 mins. When: July 20 Genre: Bio-drama Why you should watch: A brooding look at the rags to riches to rehab story—and quasi-redemption—of bombastic Scottish music mogul Alan McGee. His company, Creation Records, ruled the 90s, introducing the world to bands such as Oasis and The Jesus and Mary Chain. Reliable actor Ewen Bremner, in almost every shot, is convincing as the manic music man, and you can almost feel the sticky floors in the early club scenes.

Where: Disney+ What: Film, 96 min. When: Now Genre: Animation Why you should watch: Disney’s Luca is a genuinely heartwarming coming-of-age adventure brought to life by an all-star cast, and packs a meaningful message. However, the film’s crowning jewel is its visuals: Pixar’s world-class animation is put to full use crafting underwater worlds, eye-popping Italian scenery and food so delectable you’ll want to lick your screen.

Where: Crave What: TV series, 10 episodes When: Now Genre: Dramedy Why you should watch: It’s the Gen Z vs boomer comedy showdown we’ve been waiting for, as Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), an aging, 70-something, Joan Rivers-esque Vegas comedian, is forced to hire 25-year-old Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a comedy writer whose on-the-rise career has been derailed by a not-so-funny tweet. Initially the two share only mutual contempt, fuelling great generation-gap comedy, but strong writing and fantastic casting take it somewhere deeper.

Where: Theatres and Disney+ What: Film, 117 mins. When: Now Genre: Music documentary Why you should watch: This spectacular music doc chronicles “Black Woodstock,” a celebration of Black pride and culture held in a Harlem park in 1969, the same summer as that “other” fest. Questlove, in his directorial debut, has resurrected amazing performance footage, ignored for 50 years. He also powerfully contextualizes the event in ways that resonate today. Questlove speaks, page 21.

Where: Theatres and VOD What: Film, 93 mins When: July 30 Genre: Teen comedy Why you should watch: Lonely and longing in smalltown western Canada in 1986, the film’s teenaged anti-hero determines that bringing a suave French exchange student to live with him will unblock his thwarted existence. It doesn’t quite work out, and laugh-out-loud hilarity ensues in a charming movie powered by strong leads: with Ed Oxenbould as the nerdy local, and Avan Jogia as the rough-edged and horny exchange student.

Where: Crave What: Series, 3 seasons, 30 mins. When: Now Genre: Comedy Why you should watch: Based on Lindy West’s book of the same name, Shrill has broken boundaries and raised the bar throughout its run— and its third and final season is no different. Aidy Bryant is at her best throughout, and as the last season deals with issues like fatphobia, racism, white feminism and empowerment with intelligence and laugh-out-loud humour, it’s a finale not to be missed.

RED CHEF REVIVAL

Where: CBC Gem What: Season 1, 6 episodes, 20 mins. Genre: Cooking show Why you should watch: Uncovering the rich history of Indigenous cuisine that settler colonialism attempted to suppress, three top Indigenous chefs visit a handful of communities in Canada to learn how to cook their signature dishes. They prepare everything from cougar to beaver tail, and even harvest rare zhylem syrup as they discover more about their people’s stories.

VICIOUS FUN

Where: Shudder, horror streaming platform What: Film, 101 mins. When: Now Genre: Horror comedy Why you should watch: Canadian slasher flick Vicious Fun perfectly lives up to its title – it’s both vicious and fun. The film follows Joel, an awkward horror magazine writer, who traps himself with a support group for mass murderers. Forced to blend in or become their next victim, Joel befriends an assassin and the two dramatically (and comedically) fight to stay alive.

INTERVIEW

THE MAGIC OF NATIONAL TREASURE ANNIE MURPHY  Continued from page 17

in 2010’s testosterone-jacked college football comedy Blue Mountain State. On the latter, set in “bro-town USA” as Murphy puts it, she suffered an epic, ice sculpture-induced injury. “You do shots out of the bottom of this ice shoot, which now I think about it is, like, the least COVID-friendly thing ever. But I have vivid memories of smashing my lip and just having a fat bloody lip for the rest of the night, which kind of suits the environment.” “It gets better,” Annie laughs self-deprecatingly, offering wisdom to her former self. Indeed it does. She’s calling me from Manhattan, where she’s spent the last three weeks in a whirlwind of interviews with everyone from TV’s giggliest host Jimmy Fallon, to Rolling Stone to Christina Applegate for Interview Magazine. As we speak, she’s preparing to jet off to L.A. and do it all over again on the west coast circuit. “The last 21 days of my life have just been pinch-me moments,” she buzzes. The packed schedule calls, but the wisecracking Murphy always has time for some fun. I pull a couple of stories out of the Alexis Rose vault for a quick game of Would You Rather. “Would you rather be an original member of the Pussycat Dolls or attend Megan Fox’s bachelorette on an island off of Montenegro where literally nothing is illegal?” I ask her, drawing the examples straight from the Schitt’s Creek script. “I think I would rather be one of the original Pussycat Dolls because they’re in such good shape. And they can dance so well. And I feel like it would be like a very fun, perhaps deeply catty—no pun intended—boot camp for a little while,” she replies without missing a beat. Though Murphy’s in bicoastal demand in the States, Canada will always have her heart. Speaking of which, if you’re reading this—can you pick her up at the airport with some Tim Hortons when she gets back? “I’m looking forward to coming home and mowing some Timbits,” she says fondly, surprisingly game to talk donut holes. “Timbits over Dunkin Donuts’ Munchkins any day of my life.” Between thriving post-breakout role, intentionally selecting projects that make the world a little bit brighter and desiring Canadian delicaciess (honey and chocolate glazed are her favourites), there’s no question that Annie Murphy is a sparkling national treasure. NEXT JULY 2021

20 JULY 2021 NEXT

QUESTLOVE’S NEW MUSIC DOC SUMMER OF SOUL IS A POWERFUL, JOYFUL REVELATION T he Roots main man and Jimmy Fallon bandleader, Questlove can now add successful feature film director to his impressive resume. His directorial debut, Summer of Soul, is a remarkable music documentary that tells the story of “Black Woodstock,” the Harlem Cultural Festival, which featured top African-American musicians in 1969, the same year as that “other” Woodstock. The documentary captures on film stunning performances by some of Black music’s biggest stars, but also provides amazing context that locates the doc not only in the zeitgeist of that steamy summer of ’69, but also in the struggles that Black Americans still face today. After the Summer of George Floyd, Summer of Soul gives not only musical relief but also a painful measure of how far we have and haven’t come. From Glady’s Knight’s stylishly be-suited Pips hesitantly raising their fists to Nina Simone’s explicit celebration of Black Power to Jesse Jackson’s exhortation for the crowd to declare “I am somebody,” African-American identity and how to encourage and celebrate it is at the core of of the documentary. Zooming with the press in advance of the film’s release this month, Questlove discusses some of the musical highlights from Summer of Soul:

B.B. KING

B.B. King’s set was on fire; my heart was closer with B.B.’s set, in terms of musicianship.

THE 5TH DIMENSION

(Band members say in the film they felt “freer” playing at the Festival than on the Tonight Show or Ed Sullivan). Their set was closer to a gospel revival; I had never heard Billy Davis Jr. use his raspy gospel baritone. I related to what they said because I realized Black people have to code switch all the time, even in entertainment. I’m a guy who has to adjust his show—if we’re touring with Beck, we’ve got to do a show a certain way, if we’re touring with Wu Tang, a certain way. And that was their way of telling me that, they too, had to go through that pressure.

SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE

It would be like if I was taking my nieces and nephews to a Migos concert and, as a 50-year-old I’m kind of like ‘Unh, they’re not Wu Tang but they’re a’right,’ and watching kids go crazy. That’s what adults were doing with Sly and the Family Stone. They’d never seen a Black act not wear a tuxedo. They were wearing regular clothes. Sly knew, being cool is what you leave out, not what you bring in. Questlove is currently working on his second film, a documentary about Sly Stone. Summer of Soul is now streaming on Disney+; review on page 18. By MICHAEL HOLLETT

WATCH THE SUMMER OF SOUL TRAILER HERE.

LISTEN TO THE SUMMER OF SOUL PLAYLISTS HERE.

NEXT JULY 2021

LEON BRIDGES UNEARTHS HIS CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH

By LAURA ROBINSON

22 JULY 2021 NEXT

NEXT JULY 2021

W WATCH THE LEON BRIDGES' TINY DESK CONCERT HERE.

24 JULY 2021 NEXT

LISTEN TO LEON BRIDGES HERE.

WHEN WHEN GRAMMY-WINNING, SOULFUL SINGING LEON BRIDGES TELLS YOU TO BUY THE BOOTS—YOU BUY THE BOOTS. I’m talking style and sonics with the dapper dresser, who helped make retro soul cool again with his irresistible 2015 debut album Coming Home. Then, after a slew of nominations, Bridges grabbed a Grammy two years later for a performance on his sophomore project, Feel Good. In 2021, he is no longer the charming fresh face who made a splash on the scene with his 60s gospel-inspired style and zoot suits so dapper your grandma probably had a crush on him. Instead, Bridges has grown into a suave 70s hustler aesthetic, complete with a coolly confident rhythm and blues feel, on his latest album, Gold-Diggers Sound. I mention eyeing a pair of white cowboy boots online, and Bridges gives me a drawn-out “heeelll yeah” of approval. He counters with a story about one of his favourite vintage pieces: a cream and baby blue-checked blazer that belonged to a preacher in Compton in the 60s. The jacket no longer fits, but that’s okay—he’s matured into his Gold-Diggers Sound era, a decidedly funkadelic period. We’re talking macho sideburn-beards, snazzy button-downs—emphasis on the down—revealing thick gold-link chains atop chest tattoos and bell-bottom trousers, with slick western boots peeping out underneath. There’s a playful 70s sex-symbol feel to the whole thing, which Bridges confirms. “A lot of it is a sexy, in-the-bedroom kind of vibe,” he explains. His early career successes had left him hungry to explore new frontiers in fashion and in music, so he tore himself from his beloved Texas to link up with high-profile artists like Anderson .Paak and John Mayer in a strip club. Well—a former strip club. During his two-year post-up at Gold Diggers, a newly minted boutique hotel, recording studio and former bikini dive bar on Santa Monica Boulevard in L.A., his routine entailed sleeping, eating, drinking, recording and drinking again. A crew of all-star collaborators paid regular visits, and as the liquor flowed, the songs kept coming. Bridges soon realized he had the makings of his third album, and named the sensual R&B record after the historic space itself, in all its seedy and glamourous Sunset Strip glory. Though Bridges feels it’s a big genre change, lovers of his gentle, deep-feeling tunes will hear it

instead as a nuanced development building upon by to direct the video for breezy summer-love tune the foundations of his warm, old-school style. Motorbike in a cinematic Bonnie & Clyde style. Gold-Diggers Sound follows the R&B recipe but Though Bridges’ sound has a nostalgic hue to it, his bears Bridges’ soulful seal. The classic swaggering work with some of the most celebrated artists of bass and punctuating hi-hats are there, but warm today gives his music a contemporary edge. tones of brass and charismatic guitars looping The Gold-Diggers Sound years were clearly catchy compositions are there too, as if R&B stands a damn good time, “but there’s also moments of for riffing and blues. introspection on there,” the naturally soft-spoken Bridges’ silk-and-smoke vocals float intimately Bridges says. through it all—if his previous sound was sweet taffy, Sweeter, a heart-aching track made in collabothe new edition keeps the same great flavour but ration with Terrace Martin, was intended for release stretches it out slowly, its suppleness designed to with the album. Instead, they dropped it early in be savoured. response to the murder of George Floyd. “A lot of this was inspired by my nightlife experi“I saw it as my contribution to the movement, a ence. I remember thinking to myself, how can I make beacon of light for the Black community. The whole music that is true to me, but can be played in this premise of the song is hope—I hope it isn’t always a environment?” relevant message.” It certainly helped that he lived above the hotel Then there’s Magnolias, a romantic and luxuriously bar, and especially helpful that this all went down bass-filled song that’s his favourite on the album. He pre-pandemic. wrote it at his mom’s request. “We were just excessively drinking tequila every “My mother kept encouraging me to write about a night,” he confesses. “It was a party environment. I think magnolia tree because she grew up with one in her it’s pretty evident in the energy of the music.” backyard.” “I didn’t have to go to the studio until about five. He may have hit the artistic gold rush big time out My routine was shop or grab grub during the day, west, but for the Texas faithful, the sweet magnolias then grab some juice from this shop—not your will always be in the south. “I barely got to spend typical gentrified juice shop, but time at home prior to the panlegit Mexico vibes—then go into demic. COVID was a time when I the studio. We had a big live really got closer with my family. It room where we invited some of was nice to be still for a while,” he our favourite musicians to come says. “I just bought an extra piece through and basically have a jam of land in Fort Worth.” session. Lots of the songs were Now, after nearly a year and devised from that.” a half of pandemic lockdowns And if he ever hit writer’s forcing everyone to stay six feet block? More tequila. apart, the United States are “I’d step out of the studio, go virtually restriction-free and Canto the bar, get a drink, and come ada is opening up for summer. back and finish the idea.” Gold-Diggers Sound is an ode to Musicians like legendary fret faintimacy and closeness, and the ther John Mayer, celebrated profact that it’s dropping in the sumLEON BRIDGES ducer and pianist Robert Glasper mer of 2021 feels like a celebraand Kendrick Lamar-collaborator tion of the (albeit cautious) return Gold-Diggers Sound Terrace Martin were all guest stars of these things. Social media is Genre: R&B in this easygoing musical haven, currently rife with “vaxxed girl Sound: Catchy riffs, smooth like creating with ghosts of Gold summer” captions and ambitious honey vocals and velvety bass Diggers past like The Doors and talk of the roaring 20s, but all I If you like: Ginuwine, Lucky Daye, Jimi Hendrix. This spot was their want to do? Jacob Banks rehearsal space in their heydays. Slip on my brand-spanking Why you should listen: The soulThe collab with Mayer resulted new white cowboy boots—yes, ful singer matures into a sexier in the soothing duet Inside Friend, I bought them after Leon gave sound on this addictive R&B released at the beginning of his blessing—pour a little tequila, record that ranges from sensitive COVID, while the rest are on the drop the needle and groove with to seductive. album roster. Renowned music loved ones to some fine-ass Best track: Motorbike maestro Anderson .Paak popped tunes.  NEXT JULY 2021

NEXT BIG THING

LOONY LOONY

soft thing Genre: R&B Sound: An uplifting neo-soul collection with sweeping gospel vocals and jazzy instrumentation If you like: Savannah Ré, Sade, Erykah Badu Why you should listen: In an expert blend of genres, LOONY leads a love journey with relatable, raw lyrics and silky smooth beats. Best track: beg

hen Sir Elton John recommends an artist, you’d be inclined to check them out. Soulful Scarborough R&B singer LOONY (Kira Huszar) found herself on the receiving end of John’s praise while gearing up to the pre-pandemic release of her EP JOYRiDE. Barely a year later she’s returned with soft thing, a jazzy, percussive new album that’s both fun and honest, and ready to capture hearts. In early 2020, LOONY was excitedly handling the shock of Sir Elton proclaiming “I love that LOONY!” on his radio show and preparing to go on tour when her plans were abruptly cancelled. She spent the “pause year” searching for her

next sound with a beautiful meld of neo-soul, gospel and hip hop the result. Although soft thing is a reaction to being thwarted by a pandemic, it avoids doom and gloom messaging. “Collectively it felt like a super heavy time, and I felt drawn to lighter topics,” LOONY tells me from her Scarborough home studio. “At times JOYRiDE was cold, and I couldn’t bring myself to write anything like that. So the whole EP is a love story and it’s coming from a much softer place.” With guests Mick Jenkins and Pell, soft thing maps the stages of love and explores a new, light and flirtatious vulnerability for the artist.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES “As a baby, my dad couldn’t wait to get me home from the hospital so he could play music to see my reaction. He had a makeshift studio in the basement—his was much more extensive than mine is. I was always singing and he would document it. “But I didn’t really start recording myself until I was 15. When I got into neo-soul and hip hop in middle school, that’s when music was really blowing my mind. People like D’Angelo, Alicia Keys, Sade, The Roots, Amy Winehouse.”

NEW ACTS? “Sometimes I’m so focused on doing my own thing, I don’t listen to new music. I don’t want it to affect my own direction. I’m coming out of that now, I’m so late on things!”

WATCHING HBO’s dark drama Euphoria for the “beautifully written stories”, and the Netflix reality series Selling Sunset for the extravagant homes.

READING The Secret Life of Trees (Peter Wohlleben) and Letters to a Young Poet (Rainer Maria Rilke).

THE FUTURE Plays NYC’s Governors Ball Festival this fall and is currently perfecting performing with full band. She dreams of collaborating with Drake and Doja Cat. “I want to see how big I can make this, while staying as authentic as I can.” By AMY LLOYD

WATCH LOONY'S LIVE AT HOME VIDEO HERE.

LISTEN TO LONNY SOFT THING HERE.

JP SAXE Debut Album Dangerous Levels of Introspection Out now

Includes “If The World Was Ending” (feat. Julia Michaels) & new single “LIKE THAT”

THE MERCH TABLE SUPPORT THE ARTISTS YOU LOVE AND BUY THEIR STUFF

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MOONSHINE FLEECE FOOT PANTS $150 moonshine.mu

HALF MOON RUN INWARDS & ONWARDS TUNNEL HAT $20. halfmoonrun.store-08.com 28 JULY 2021 NEXT

4?s FOUR QUESTIONS

K.FLAY

Flay (real name Kristine Flaherty) is strikingly smart. Given that the Illinois-born artist started developing her kinetic, darkly alternative sound while finishing her psychology degree at Stanford, this isn’t a surprise. High-profile academics aside, she’s been proving her chameleonic artistic chops since her very first mixtapes, and her complex lyricism and esoteric influences are remarkably impressive. Her latest EP, Inside Voices, might sound like typical pop-punk fare upon first listen. Further investigation, however, unlocks complex inspirations and psychological symbolism (not to mention features from genre giants Tom Morello and Travis Barker). K.Flay more than deserves her spot as one of the most interesting artists in the alternative scene right now—and we sat down with her to talk music, politics, brain science and Freud.

When was your political awakening? What radicalized you?

I don’t know if I can pinpoint a specific moment of awakening—I’d like to think that I’m in a continual state of learning and growing when it comes to my political awareness. I think most of my “radicalizing” experiences have resulted from witnessing violence or injustice. The deep inequities reveal themselves. and you are forced to reckon with your assumptions, your privilege, your own imagination of the future.

What were some of the other inspirations—musical or otherwise—for Inside Voices? A huge inspiration was my background in psychology. Conceptually, Inside Voices is meant to be a manifestation of my id, the primal, impulsive part of my psyche. I don’t subscribe to many Freudian principles, but I do think the id, ego and superego are such helpful divisions of the human mind. Beyond that, I mapped each song on the EP to a different region in the brain: Four Letter Words to the prefrontal cortex, Good Girl to the parietal lobe, Dating My Dad to the hippocampus, TGIF to the amygdala, My Name Isn’t Katherine to Wernicke’s area.

Are there musical styles or inspirations you want to explore in the future? Well, in the immediate future, I’m excited to explore the other end of the human psyche ... the superego.

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

Tell me about this EP’s political influences.

I began writing all of these songs during the final months of the Trump administration. For me, there was a great sense of disillusionment, a loss of faith in terms of our leaders and the structure of our society. TGIF in particular has its roots in that feeling. I was considering the notion of “Friday,” the concept of the work week, how we hold Fridays in this exalted place as a culture. But ultimately, “Friday” is a tool of capitalism. And capitalism is rooted in racism and misogyny, and other deleterious ideologies. But here I am, participating in that very system! So, you want to burn down the house, but it’s also where you live. TGIF was borne of that tension between complicity and agitation.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR FOUR LETTER WORDS HERE. LISTEN TO K.FLAY HERE.

NEXT JULY 2021

30 JULY 2021 NEXT

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

NEXT JULY 2021

“

Now, people decide what they like because they like it, not because they're being told to like it. And there's an ownership there that's offered to young people.” MOTHER MOTHER'S LEAD SINGER, RYAN GULDEMOND

32 JULY 2021 NEXT

MOTHER MOTHER KNOWS BEST THEY WROTE THE SOUNDTRACK TO A GENERATION… FIFTEEN YEARS EARLY. TODAY, MOTHER MOTHER HAS FOUND THEIR AUDIENCE.

Fifteen years ago, in the year 2005, a group of kids going to art school in Vancouver started writing the soundtrack to a generation—it just wasn’t their generation. The band was Mother Mother, and their independently released music was nothing short of extraterrestrial—they pioneered a soundscape where androgynous vocals wailed over shrieking guitar riffs, and lyrics deftly wove together themes of death, sex, love and decay. They were writing anthems for the underground, and they were doing it like almost no one else in the world. There was only one caveat: the generation they were speaking to hadn’t been born yet. Over the past year, during the pandemic, the songs from Mother Mother’s two first albums, Touch Up and O My Heart, have racked up tens of millions of streams. In November, the lyrics to their song Hayloft were the most-searched-for song lyrics in the United States and the second-most in the world. And—in a narrative that’s played out countless times over the past year—it wouldn’t have been possible without video-sharing platform TikTok, where the #mothermother hashtag boasts over half a billion views, and

the number of videos made to their songs has entered the millions. A viral clip or dance will skyrocket any song to the top of global charts, so to be the most relevant artist on the biggest stage in the world is a position so prestigious that billion-dollar labels continue to battle it out for just a few fleeting days on the trending page. Which is why it’s so goddamn fascinating that for the better part of 2020, the title was firmly held by a small, strange, delightfully freaky band from British Columbia. When Mother Mother formed in 2005, lead singer Ryan Guldemond was going to jazz school and living with his sister, Molly. “I’d wanted to be a session guitar player,” he explains, calling in from his home in Vancouver’s Railtown. “But somewhere along the way, I started writing little songs with lyrics, and it only made sense that I sang them.” Neither one of the Guldemonds were trained singers, but Molly’s “extraterrestrial speaking voice” lent itself naturally to Mother Mother’s erratic, madcap musical style. The new band went from open mics to gigs to festival slots to a record deal in just a year—“It was almost like the universe was really looking out for us,” Guldemond said. They started touring, released a couple albums in quick succession, and spent the next 15 years building a relatively small but fiercely loyal fanbase of oddballs, weirdos and outcasts. This time last year, they started writing their just released latest studio album, Inside. Their music was androgynous in ethos, shamelessly loud, rife with screaming guitar riffs and bursts of neon instrumentation; labels were confused by the band’s genre-bending sound, and their music was

often just a little too weird for radio play. Essentially, the world wasn’t quite ready for Mother Mother. But by now, you know how the story goes. Whether it be thanks to a generational shift, a global pandemic, TikTok’s sprawling network of alternative communities or a sprinkle of that otherworldly guidance that helped them out way back in 2005, Mother Mother found themselves this year at the advent of a mythical rebirth. They weren’t the first band to blow up on TikTok, but their presence on the app was essentially unprecedented. After a song goes viral, most artists fall victim to the Internet’s merciless attention span and disappear into the ether, but Mother Mother just… kept going. Track after track after track dominated the app’s For You Page, narrating everything from theatrical cosplays to elaborate, sex-positive thirst traps to queer soliloquies. Over the last few years, young queer communities on TikTok and Twitter have taken to sharing their identities through musical code words: listening to Girl in Red is a lesbian dog whistle, while bisexuals identify themselves through the Neighborhood’s song Sweater Weather. This year, Mother Mother’s Hayloft was adopted as the unspoken signifier of the nonbinary community. With the song’s now-iconic wailing, staccato opening riff serving as a soundtrack to gender chaos, saying “I listen to Mother Mother” has become equivalent to coming out in many online circles. In a fascinating (if only slightly dystopian) phenomenon, there has been a wave of teenagers posting videos saying they only realized they were genderqueer because TikTok’s algorithm started recommending Mother Mother to them. “Our culture is chaotic right now, and the definitions of things are really being stretched and re-examined, especially with young people of today,” Guldemon muses, reflecting on his music’s resurgence. After all, a significant portion of Mother Mother’s new listeners hadn’t even been born when their favourite songs were released. “I feel like the music spoke directly to the struggle to self-identify. And to that feeling that what society offers isn’t enough in terms of where and how to fit in. “It’s outcast music, and really strange music. Those songs were really unconventionally written, the vocals sound weird, and androgynous, and quirky. And I think when you look at Gen Z, they’re all pretty quirky! They’re all out there, and beautifully so. “And when I think back to when I was that age, that’s not how things were. And that’s not the music people are listening to. And that’s not the way the music industry worked, it was much more gatekept and controlled by radio formats and marketing strategy strategies, whereas now you have TikTok and social media, which has created an anarchy. “Now, people decide what they like because they like it, not because they’re being told to like it. And there’s an ownership there that’s offered to young people.” While a large number of their songs have enjoyed the fruits of virality, it’s interesting that only Mother Mother’s first two albums have been represented in NEXT JULY 2021

WATCH BURNING PILE TIKTOK COMPILATION HERE.

LISTEN TO MOTHER MOTHER INSIDE HERE.

“

I discovered thousands of videos of kids in the bedrooms, just like going crazy to early Mother Mother music. It was almost like I was watching a different band in an alternate universe.” the gold rush. Their sprawling discography has been left largely untouched by the online masses—it’s the songs they wrote more than 15 years ago are their definitive canon. I can’t help but wonder how this must feel, especially to artists with a sound so diverse and ever-changing. Is it like reading your old diaries? “It’s just beautiful. That’s the only word I could put on it,” Guldemond says, laughing a little. “I’m happy for a former version of myself, and I’m happy for music that I feel like has almost grown its own consciousness. “It’s like—I’m not swept away by being happy for myself in my current incarnation as a person, but I’m happy for young Ryan, for my younger self. “I remember writing the songs, and they felt super channeled and special, and they came so quickly, almost as though there was something else guiding them. And I always felt like, ‘Oh man. Everybody’s got to hear this.’ I was 34 JULY 2021 NEXT

completely sure that they were going to have legs, and that they were going to penetrate. “And so initially, when they didn’t reach as far as I thought they should, I was let down. So I kind of just look back, and I’m happy that that guy was right, the way he felt about those songs did translate on a bigger scale. It’s a blessing.” For all its terrible drawbacks, the pandemic has inspired something of an online renaissance. Over the past year on TikTok, I’ve seen countless videos of teenagers talking about how their time in forced solitude caused them to reckon with their sexuality, their gender, their politics; that the labyrinthine networks of online community, combined with the constant introspection of isolation, led them to reconsider their very sense of self. Kids started cosplaying from their bedrooms, livestreaming their art, writing elaborate storylines to be shared in 15-second clips, and to me, it all seemed utterly important—

MOTHER MOTHER Inside

Genre: Alt rock Sound: Eclectic, androgynous vocals scream over an extraterrestrial soundscape If you like: Mitski, I Dont Know How But They Found Me, Roar Why you should listen: Vancouver’s Mother Mother skyrocketed to fame this year thanks to their one-of-akind, surrealist sound. Their latest album lives up to their newfound fame: it’s cohesive, mature, and just a little bit strange. Best track: Forgotten Souls

as though they were all staging one-person shows in testament to queerness, chaos and angst. This is what created the perfect petri dish for Mother Mother’s idiosyncratic anthems to germinate. Once the tracks started catching on, Mother Mother wasn’t just a band—they were collaborators in an artistic mission. And when Gulemond caught wind of his band’s popularity on the platform, he was overwhelmed by what he saw. “I discovered thousands of

videos of kids in the bedrooms, just like going crazy to early Mother Mother music. It was almost like I was watching a different band in an alternate universe. “What stood out to me was the culture: the cosplay and the gender fluidity and the freedom of expression and heightened creativity. And the way these kids carried themselves, and the way that they responded to music. It was very colourful, and it was very theatrical, and all in the confines of their bedroom during a pandemic. And you have your phone, a window to see it very intimately. “I think the dynamic of the artist being mythic or superior to the listener, I think it’s being squashed. It all feels very collaborative now, which I think is really cool. It’s just a cycle that continues to be, because they create something cool from our music, and then I can do edits in my living room and be inspired by them, and then they see that, and it’s like—okay, we just made a real

connection there. “I was inspired by what they did originally, then they were inspired by what I did, and now I’m inspired by what we did. It’s a synergy of great magnitude.” For Mother Mother, the past year did more than just widen their audience: it served as the main inspiration for their new music. Their new album is a bit darker, more polished, at times a little less chaotic than their early releases ; their lead single, Sick of the Silence, has an electronic ambiance straight out of TRON. “I was really moved by the music of nature and the way the city sounded. During this pandemic, the city just kind of vibrated “The record starts and ends is with that 7 pm cheer that everyone was doing in salute to the health care workers. The applause begins the record, cheering on the individual to go on a heroic journey inside to deal with themselves and their issues. To come out the other side better. And once they do, at the end of the record, it can be applause again and that’s the people cheering for their homecoming. There’s the theme.” Of course, when you gain a couple million listeners over the course of a few months, there’s bound to be some pressure about your next release— but Gulemond isn’t worried. “If there’s anything I’ve learned from what’s happened to us, especially this past year, it’s that music does what music wants to do, when it wants to do it. Maybe 150 years from now will be the right time for people to understand this record -- it’s just up to the forces that be. It’s not up to me. I did the best I could, as a writer, we did the best we could as a band. It’s authentic.” “I’m a bit of a hippie,” he laughs. “So all of this has reminded me that there’s something else going on—that that energy is magical and things don’t happen by accident. At least that’s what I choose to believe. I think that it makes life a bit more sparkly.” 

ALT THERAPY

By Juno Award 2021 NOMINEE Emanuel Out Everywhere June 19th 2021 NEXT JULY 2021

MOONSHINE MOONSHINE SMS For Location, Vol. 4

n a city known for great parties, Montreal artist collective Moonshine has a reputation for throwing some of the best. Pre-COVID, every Saturday after the full moon, they’d light up a local dance floor with experimental, bass-driven Afrobeats to the delight of party people grooving under the light of lunar magic. Their soirées are so popular they’ve taken them on the road, travelling from New York to Santiago to Brussels, and featuring performers from 36 JULY 2021 NEXT

Grammy-winning dance producer Kaytranada to Toronto dancehall DJ Bambii. They’ve even launched a record label and a line of street-style apparel. What sets Moonshine apart is its inclusive ethos. The founders felt the Montreal after-hours scene lacked a welcoming vibe, so they created it themselves. Case in point: attendees just text them at +1 514 613 5464 to get the ever-changing underground location day-of. Come one, come all. Of course, COVID put a stop to their in-person parties. But just like the full moon, these legendary bashes will come back—and that number will again unlock Montreal party locations in real time. To tide over those danceall-night cravings, Moonshine is dropping a mixtape full of bangers aptly titled SMS For Location, Vol. 4. Zooming in from sunny Kinshasa, Congo and Montreal, co-founders DJ San Farafina, Juno- and

Polaris-nominated Pierre Kwenders, and Hervé Kalongo celebrate its release. MADE U A MIXTAPE Pierre: With the mixtape, we want people to feel like they’re at a Moonshine party. Whether there’s COVID or no COVID, you can create your own party at home. INFLUENCES Hervé: We really wanted to nail the global part of it. From Congo to Paris, we featured artists we know and respect. There’s a constant theme of seizing the moment. When COVID was hitting us hard in Canada, we decided to come to Congo and work with artists here, like Sarah Kalume, Uproot Andy and Mc RedBull. San Farafina: Mc Redbull had a really viral song in Montreal, because people know his music at Moonshine. WRITTEN IN THE STARS Hervé: They say there’s an energy around the full moon. It’s also an easy reminder of

the event—when you see the moon it means that Moonshine is around. A bit like Batman. HIGHLIGHTS Pierre: One of my favourite moments is when Dinamarca played at one of our New Year’s Eve specials. He mostly plays songs around 80 or 90 BPMs, so very slow, kind of romantic. It was amazing seeing how the energy took the room. Couples were just enjoying themselves, kissing, it was real love. Just feeling the music, exactly like dancing Congolese Rumba. Hervé: For the five-year anniversary, we lit a Congolese bread dish called chikwanga with candles, and it was just a cute moment where everyone was singing happy birthday to Moonshine.

WATCH INSTAGRAM HIGHLIGHTS HERE.

STAR POWER San Farafina: Kit Harington from Game of Thrones came. That was really fun—he was dancing with the live percussionists. Hervé: I saw this guy that looked like Bas, a rapper signed to J. Cole’s label Dreamville. I was like, “Yo, you look like that guy Bas!”’ And he was like, “I am that guy.” He heard it was a cool party, and he stayed all night. San Farafina: What about Win Butler? Hervé: Yeah, but Win counts as family now. He lost a bag at one of our parties, we gave it back. Since then he’s been supporting us and giving us love—he had the last Arcade Fire album on a laptop inside from what I can remember. I should have sold it on eBay.

By LAURA ROBINSON

LISTEN TO MOONSHINE HERE.

NEXT JULY 2021

REVIEWS

30¯SECOND ALBUM CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON Alpha

Genre: Alt R&B Sounds: Psychedelic riffs weave into seductive rhythm & blues arrangements and sultry, soothing vocals If You Like: LOONY, Daniel Caesar, The Internet Why You Should listen: Masterfully mixing moody, soulful style with experimental samples, deep feelings get a little groovy with this long-awaited debut album from the queer, Toronto R&B Alpha herself. Best Track: I Can Only Whisper (feat. BADBADNOTGOOD)

POLO G

DOJA CAT

TOM ODELL

BACKXWASH

Genre: Hip hop Sound: Smoothed-out drill If you like: Juice WRLD, Pop Smoke, Lil Durk Why you should listen: Twentytwo-year-old Chicago rapper Polo G delivers a powerful follow up to his drill-driven early hits, Finer Things and Pop Out, with this mellower soundtrack to raw street life in his hometown— all from his new L.A. HQ. Best track: Rapstar

Genre: Rap/hip hop Sound: Sparkling hi-hats and taunting vocals ride bouncing basslines If you like: Megan Thee Stallion, Ariana Grande, Kehlani Why you should listen: In a seductive push and pull, Doja Cat twirls around with soft, sugary vocals but bites with bars when those she seduces get too close. Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, SZA and JID feature in the horniest bangers of summer 2021. Best track: Woman

Genre: Electro-pop Sound: Odell’s voice still hits notes that cut to the core, but he’s traded his signature romantic ballads for electro-laced dark pop beats If you like: Billie Eilish, Declan McKenna, Girl in Red Why you should listen: The old Tom Odell has been burned by love, and is opening up about dealing with the monster of anxiety. Addressing all that is fucked in the world, this listen is heavy and darkly comical, yet catchy and insightful. Best track: numb

Genre: Hip hop meets metal Sound: A blend of hip hop, horrorcore and industrial metal that’s angry as hell If you like: Ada Rook, clipping., Death Grips Why you should listen: 2020 Polaris Prize-winner Backxwash returns with an unapologetically powerful record that has a lot to say. Lyrically, it covers mental health, religion and colonization, and expertly pairs South African chants with reverberating beats. Best track: 666 In Luxaxa

Hall of Fame

Planet Her

monsters

I Lie Here Buried With My Rings And My Dresses

THE NEXT PLAYLIST

Welfman

Wolf Castle

Mi’kmaq rapper Wolf Castle sends out urgent beats from his base in Pabineau First Nation, New Brunswick.

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L’orage Eli Rose

Disco-fueled optimism propels wistful curls of longing on this rising Quebecoise star’s irresistible new dance track. .

Solar Power Lorde

An energy-efficient, sultry song that heats up summer with the promise of an excellent new album to come.

Feelings

Zach Zoya

Smooth singing, Montreal-based rapper Zach Zoya drops another groovedrenched single with a debut album just months away.

Brando

Lucy Dacus

Lucy Dacus’s musings on pretentious teenage love hit a little too close to home.

REVIEWS

YANCHAN

The Scarborough Beat Tape

Genre: Instrumental/Hip hop Sound: Mashup of Tamil songs sampled with beats If you like: Saib, Handbook, Tangerine Dream Why you should listen: Yanchan is a Tamil-Canadian mrithangam (South Indian hand drum) player, singer and producer, whose new project is a love letter to his Scarborough neighbourhood in Toronto. Each song transports you, almost wordlessly, to iconic landmarks in Scarborough from parks to restaurants. Best track: Bluffs

BUTCHER BROWN Encore EP

Genre: Hip hop/jazz Sound: Groove driven jazz and hip hop blend that transports you to the 90s If you like: BADBADNOTGOOD, Slum Village, Nujabes Why you should listen: Virginia-based band Butcher Brown’s Encore EP is the perfect play for long drives or at casual gatherings where the mood is just right—it eases the worries from everyday life. Best track: For My Love

RAHEEM DEVAUGHN & APOLLO BROWN Lovesick

Genre: R&B/soul/hip hop Sound: A nostalgic R&B journey with soothing soul and voice If you like: Leon Bridges, Common, Boyz II Men Why you should listen: Raheem DeVaughn is a talented Washington-based singer who brings back the iconic 90s R&B sound while soulfully exploring the trials and, yes, tribulations of love. Best track: One Time (feat. Becky Cane)

USE YOUR PHONE'S CAMERA TO SCAN THESE CODES TO LISTEN TO ALL THE MUSIC REVIEWED HERE ON YOUR FAVOURITE STREAMING SERVICE.

SHAWNEE KISH

H.E.R.

Genre: Blues rock Sound: Slightly menacing bluesy rock fueled by blistering vocals If you like: Jessie Reyez, Alannah Myles, Adele Why you should listen: Alberta-based, two-spirit Indigenous singer Shawnee Kish keeps winning awards (CBC Searchlight, Allan Slaight Masterclass) as well as winning new fans with a big, soulful voice and a bad-ass attitude. Best track: Burnin Love

Genre: R&B Sound: Buttery vocals croon over smooth, sultry beats If you like: Jorja Smith, Summer Walker, SZA Why you should listen: H.E.R. has one of the best voices in the industry, and her silkysmooth vocal stylings are put to work here. Her first studio album ever comes at the heels of her Oscar win for Best Original Song—and you can’t get a much higher endorsement than that. Best track: Damage

shawnee kish

Back of My Mind

10 TRACKS THE NEXT STAFF CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH

So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings

Caroline Polachek

This track is perfect for that party-related angst we’ll all be feeling again, post-vaccine.

Voodoo Magic

The Front Bottoms

The Front Bottoms call it back to their old-school sound on this brand-new track.

TNT

Ruben Young, Buddy

Calgary’s Ruben Young and Compton’s Buddy link up for a dynamite, brass- and funkfilled summer tune.

seaside_demo SEB

This warm and mellow lo-fi track glints like the sun reflecting off of ocean waves.

Burnin Love Shawnee Kish

Kish channels her inner Adele with a bluesy rock ballad that is a slow burn, but undeniably hot.

NEXT JULY 2021

30¯SECOND ALBUM REVIEWS

GETCHNAH

JP SAXE

Genre: Rock Sound: Vintage, classic rock sounds rife with dueling saxophones and 80s electricity If you like: Bruce Springsteen, Matt and Kim, Lorde Why you should listen: Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff isn’t just the most in-demand pop producer on Earth right now—he’s a rock star in his own right, fighting to fill Springsteen’s shoes as the musical king of New Jersey. Best track: How Dare You Want More

Genre: Hip hop/R&B Sound: Bouncy electronic sounds with beats that range from reggae to trap If you like: Drake, Cardi B, Saweetie Why should listen: Scarborough-based Tamil-Canadian rapper Getchnah impresses with her powerful debut. Getchnah also has spectacular live shows; her most notorious show saw her throw money at the crowd after a stellar set. Best track: Come For

Genre: Singer-songwriter Sound: Ballad-y, brooding, longing love songs If you like: Shawn Mendes, Dermot Kennedy, Julia Michaels Why you should listen: A sincere Canadian singer-songwriter artfully wears his lovelorn heart on his sleeve with piano-powered passion. This debut album delivers on the promise of his global hit, If the World Was Ending. Best track: Like That

CHET FAKER

EVERYTHINGOSHAUN

DENNIS LLOYD

Genre: Electro-funk Sound: Crooning vocals full of desire, stanky bass slaps and crisp drum claps If you like: Dope Lemon, Jungle, James Vincent McMorrow Why you should listen: Seven years after his hit debut album Built On Glass, Nick Murphy has released another masterpiece as Chet Faker. Mixing filmy electronic tracks with hits of dopamine funk, it’s that extra push to wake you from your lockdown slumber. Best track: Feel Good

Genre: Low-fi hip hop Sound: Soft, airy sounds of piano keys and bass guitar, with striking drum tempos If you like: PartyNextDoor, Derin Falana, Mac Irv Why you should listen: His raw beats got played at a Raptors’ game, and his tracks made it on hometown Toronto radio stations. With his third album, the Jamaican-Nigerian rapper is building on this momentum. Best Track: Wylin’ (feat. Kayo)

Genre: Alt pop Sound: Electronic beats meet yearning vocals and rock guitars fond of reggae riffs If you like: Maroon 5, Elderbrook, Allan Rayman Why you should listen: This anticipated debut album is full of deep feelings and swaggering tracks from the Israeli artist, who rose to fame back in 2017 for his masterful fusing of pop, rock, reggae and R&B influences. Best track: Meditation

Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night

Hotel Surrender

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Gem In I

Nothing Is Stopping Everything

Dangerous Levels of Introspection

Some Days

MIGOS

Culture III

Genre: Trap/hip hop Sound: Snappy trap beats and bouncy tempos, with echoes of mumble rap If you like: Lil Yachty, Young Thug, 21 Savage Why should listen: With nothing but solo releases from the trio since their 2018 smash album Culture II, the trailblazing trap stars are back with their classic, sparse, rough and raw Atlanta sound. Best Track: Having Our Way (feat. Drake)

DEF3 & LATE NIGHT RADIO

Weddings & Funerals

Genre: Hip hop Sound: Classic old-school hip hop with jazz, soul and R&B interludes, and deep lyrics If you like: Classified, Brother Ali, Dame D.O.L.L.A. Why you should listen: Regina’s Def3 uses his new album to preach of his young life spent travelling the world on a hospital ship. Def3 uses beats and bass to propel a subtle message of motivation to those who are on the verge of quitting. Best track: Drowning (feat. Recess)

30 SECOND ALBUM REVIEWS ¯

BLEACHERS

NEXT JULY 2021

THE LOCAL PAGES

Y Y Z

STARS, SKYDIGGERS LIGHT UP LAKESIDE SHOWS Horseshoe Tavern Chill-O-Rama

Thurs., July 15 – Sat., July 17, 7 pm ET Drive-in and virtual event In person $199 per car; live stream $15–$25 per show Cityview Drive-In, 20 Polson Ave. horseshoetavern.com

NEXT advice columnist Amy Millan and her band Stars (July 16) join a spectacular, in-person, live lineup of Canadian talent for the Chill-ORama weekend concert series, presented by the Horseshoe Tavern, at the CityView Drive-In—across from Rebel—on the shores of Lake Ontario. You can also stay home and livestream a three-day roots-rock lineup that includes The Jim Cuddy Band (July 15), and Skydiggers and The Sadies (July 17). All show recordings will be available to ticket holders for 10 days after the event.

TORONTO ARTS & EVENTS JULY

A DE WILDE

WATCH THE STARS LIVE AT THE CBC FEST HERE.

Stars

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JULY YYZ CELEBRATE NEW HORIZONS WITH CLASSICAL MUSIC, DANCE New Horizons Music Festival Thurs., July 15 – Sun., Aug. 1 Virtual event Free torontosummermusic.com

Adrianne Pieczonka

JAZZ VIRTUALLY OVER FOUR DECADES OF FLEETING FAME JAMS BELOVED LOCAL VENUES Jesse Ryan

Andy Warhol Exhibit

Wed., July 14 – Sun., Oct. 24 Art exhibit $25 or free with annual pass 317 Dundas St. W. ago.ca/exhibitions/andy-warhol

JazzinToronto Live

Tues., July 20 – Fri., July 23 Virtual event Free, donations welcome jazzintoronto.ca

What started as a daily news source for the local jazz community has blossomed into a four-day virtual music festival. Since 2018, JazzinToronto has connected musicians with venues and audiences through Instagram. Now the team is taking their mission a step further with their very first festival, JazzinToronto: A Community Celebration. Artists like Heather Bambrick, Jane Bunnett, Donovan Locke and Jesse Ryan will be streaming live from some of the city’s most beloved stages. Venue partners include the Rex, Lula Lounge, Jazz Bistro and The Emmet Ray. The event will be free to watch via Facebook: no tickets required, but donations are encouraged to support the artists.

The AGO reopens with a blockbuster Andy Warhol exhibit that spans four decades of the Pop Art icon’s career. A collaboration between the AGO, London’s Tate Modern and the Dallas Museum of Art, the collection includes early drawings, experimental films and famous imagery of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and Campbell’s soup. The art explores personal and political themes, particularly showcasing Warhol’s identity as a gay man, and draws inspiration from underground movements. On display until the fall, this exhibit requires timed entry tickets.

NEXT JULY 2021

ANDY WARHOL, DOLLY PARTON, 1985. ACRYLIC PAINT AND SILKSCREEN INK ON LINEN, 106.7 X 106.7 CM. THE DORIS AND DONALD FISHER COLLECTION AT THE SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART. © THE ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, INC / SOCAN (2021). PHOTO: KATHERINE DU TIEL

Toronto Summer Music (TSM) looks to the future with three weeks of stunning art and performance programming. This year’s festival theme is New Horizons—going beyond the challenges of the pandemic to embrace brighter days. Events include orchestras livestreamed from Koerner and Walter Halls, choreographed dance pieces paired with chamber music and fun-filled concerts for kids. Hear the classical stylings of Mozart, Beethoven and Bach from seasoned performers and talented TSM Academy students. Highlights include the celebrated Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka with pianist Stephen Wilcox (July 20) and the New Orford String Quartet (July 28). Entirely free to the public, all events are virtual and can be watched across the country.

YYZ JULY FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL FRESHY FROLICS ONLINE Toronto Fringe Festival Wed., July 21 – Sun., July 31 Virtual event $5 – $13 fringetoronto.com

A staple in the local grassroots performing arts scene, Toronto Fringe returns for its 33rd year with an online festival. The 11-day event includes pre-recorded, on-demand theatre content and livestream performances. Fringe is an equal opportunity festival and gives artists of all kinds a platform to share their exciting, unique work. New this year is a virtual-reality patio space for guests and creators to meet from any location. Complete your at-home viewing experience with Fringe in a Box, an exclusive merch bundle that includes the full program guide and goodies from local distillers.

SUMMER 2021 With an outdoor theatre experience in Chinguacousy Park, and JUNO Award winners taking over the Mainstage for Live From The Rose virtual events, we can’t wait to escape into summer through the power of live performance!

PHOTO: SERENA RYDER

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FREE TICKETS RESERVE NOW

SUMMER 2021

THEO TAMS’ NEW SINGLE

QUIT U LOVE AVAILABLE AT ALL DSP PROVIDERS.

www.slaightmusic.com We’re back, and looking forward to hearing what you’ve been working on, so start preparing your songs and videos and get ready to take your shot!

PREVIOUS WINNERS

Liz Coyles

Liteyears

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Sam Drysdale

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ITSYOURSHOT.CA

Moscow Apartment

Johnny Shay

until July 31ST, 2021

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Y V R VANCOUVER ARTS & EVENTS JULY

IM-POSH-IBLE PARTY Posh Ball 2021

Sat., July 31, 6 pm–11 pm PST Online vogue competition and Pride celebration Free/by donation

In celebration of Pride Month, Vancouver’s Vogue Jam—a queer collective seeking to strengthen the city’s vogue and ballroom community—is holding their first annual Posh Ball—and it’s all online. The kiki will feature dancers, judges, and performers from around the world competing for vogueing dominance, including special guests DJ Black Catt and Legendary Founding Father Omari NiNa Oricci. The public is encouraged to join in—free or by donation—to spectate and cheer on their faves. But if you’re feeling fabulous yourself—and are up for a challenge—the Vogue Jam collective offers weekly paywhat-you-can classes for potential competitors (and everyone else, too).

YVR JULY

ECO ARTS FESTIVAL DANCE FROM HOME WITH BRINGS THE HEAT Neela

R&B DOUBLE FEATURE Neela and Will TOA at Red Gate

July 10th, 7pm PST Pre-filmed performance event Free, donations encouraged instagram.com/cushyentertainment/?hl=en

This July, CUSHY Entertainment -- a queer, femme-led arts collective dedicated to uplifting marginalized artists -- is streaming a passionate double-feature music showcase out of the Vancouver’s iconic Red Gate arts venue. The lineup features fiery, boundary-breaking R&B artist Neela and Will TOA, a multifaceted writer/producer bridging the gap between melodic hip-hop, dancehall, and afrobeats. The show will be pre-filmed and available to watch online — details and links available @cushyentertainment.

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Art Downtown Summer Program

Until Sept. 30 Eco-arts festival Free Bental Centre Plaza (595 Burrard St.) Tuesday and Thursdays, Lot 19 (855 West Hastings) Wednesday and Fridays vanvaf.com/art-downtown

Art Downtown is Vancouver’s public eco-arts festival: a completely accessible, live series of performances inspired by nature and conservation from artists spanning countless genres, mediums and practices. The events, which began in June, will be shown four times a week in public spaces running all through July and August, and into September. On-site painting demonstrations, musical performances, and live art installations celebrating the Earth in all its beauty are to be part of the fest—and with an ambitious runtime of four months, you’ll have time to catch as many performances as you please.

CIN U D O TR

FREE

CHECK OUT OUR CURRATED COLLECTION OF ALCOHOL-FREE WINE, BEER AND SPIRITS  @drinkrivalhouse

CANADA-WIDE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $49 NEXT JULY 2021

YVR JULY

SMALL ROOM BIG LAUGHS

Jokes Please!

Thursdays and Saturdays, 8 pm PT Comedy $14 195 E 26th Ave. littlemountaingallery.ca

Awesome indie comedy staple Jokes Please! delivers reliable laughs at East Van’s Little Mountain Gallery with small-room shows every Thursday and Saturday that are as intimate as they are hilarious (and they sell out quick, so stay sharp). Their recent all-star lineups have included Juno winners, Twitter celebrities and hit TV writers, all mixed in with enough local acts to give them serious indie cred. I’ve been to a lot of comedy in this city, so trust me when I say this is a show you don’t want to miss! Find schedules, tickets, and details at their instagram, @jokespleaseshow

RIO THEATRE REOPENS RIO Theatre

Various times $15 Movie theatre 1660 E. Broadway riotheatre.ca

Beloved Vancouver institution the RIO Theatre, our iconic independent movie house, took some time off during the pandemic and briefly re-opened as a sports bar, but is now back and better than ever for the month of July. The staff is renowned for its expertly curated mix of new releases, cult classics, and esoteric indies, so there’s something for everyone—the July lineup features Dazed and Confused (July 1), New Order (July 2), JAWS (July 2 & 4) and Pulp Fiction (July 9), with more titles being scheduled every day. Plus, after a hard-fought battle with the B.C. legislature, the RIO won the right to serve alcohol, and now boasts an impressive craft beer selection.

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THE LOCAL PAGES

Y Y C CALGARY ARTS & EVENTS JULY

FOLKING UP LIVE MUSIC AGAIN Calgary Folk Music Festival: Summer Serenades

July 22–28 Prince’s Island Park, 698 Eau Claire Ave. SW Tickets from $150 for tarp plots of up to 4 people Calgaryfolkfest.com

e’re so happy to be writing these words live music is back! YYC’s beloved grassroots music festival has finally returned, though it will look a little different from previous Folk Fests. It won’t include the regular artisan market and day stages, but it will boast a boat load of incredible artists—and that’s what we’re here for anyway. If you can’t make i: FolkFestTV is serving up livestreams and live artist interviews for free at calgaryfolkfest.com all festival long. Here are our top picks for folking it up this year!

← WILLIAM PRINCE

Wed., July 28, 7:25-8:25 pm MT Like a gentler Johnny Cash, the Peguis First Nation-raised artist sings soothing country ballads with a voice so clear and deep, the vibrations hit you straight in the heart.

↑ CHARLOTTE CARDIN Tues., July 27, 8:55-10 pm Lending her seismic vocals to catchy compositions that fuse pop, jazz and R&B, the Montreal singer swaggers with cool girl energy.

↑ MOSCOW APARTMENT Sun. July 25, 6-6:50 pm Sparkling folk-tinged rock songs with feminist backbones are the calling card of this veteran, teenaged Toronto indie duo.

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JULY YYC

VIBING ON VINTAGE The Nines x Like New Vintage Pop-Up Sat., July 24, 10 am–3 pm MT 2222 33 Ave. SW Free admission Instagram: @_the_nines; @likenewvintage

Charlotte Cardin • Shad Skratch Bastid • Hawksley Workman Cowboy Junkies • Dan Mangan The Halluci Nation Dominique Fils- Aimé • Whitehorse Lightning Dust • Ndidi O Marlaena Moore • Dragon Fli Empire Terra Lightfoot • iskwē & Tom Wilson William Prince • Fiver

+MORE

Known for curating the coolest and cutest vintage pieces in Calgary, Lauren Price of The Nines operates exclusively online and her drops sell out in seconds. After a successful pop-up at the beginning of the month, she’s linking up with fellow vintage vendor Like New once again to treat sustainable-fashion fiends to another sale so we can accessorize with the band aids on our vaccinated arms. Come for the racks of dope vintage tees, Y2K summer dresses and platform sandals; stay for the giveaways, good music and good vibes.

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YYC JULY

SADDLE UP, WE’RE GOIN’ COUNTRY The Calgary Stampede

July 9–18 $20 general admission Stampede Park, 1410 Olympic Way SE calgarystampede.com

The Calgary Stampede returns to rally Calgarians with the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, so bust out those cowboy boots and saddle up: the midway, rodeo and those highly bingeable mini donuts await. The Nashville North tent is back, hosting an all-Canadian country music lineup that includes George Canyon (July 8), Dean Brody (July 9) and Brett Kissel (July 12). If country isn’t your thing, head to the Summer Stage for acts like Snotty Nose Rez Kids (July 9) and The Sam Roberts Band (July 13). The city’s biggest bash is encouraging attendees to wear masks, introducing digital queueing systems and decreasing capacity. Prefer to watch from afar? Check out the meteoric fireworks display each night at 10:45 pm, watch Global TV’s livestream of the parade on July 9, or catch the rodeo on Sportsnet.

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JULY YYC

COLD BEER HOT TUNES The Blue Jay Sessions: Summer Nights

Wed. July 7–Sat. July 10, 6 pm and 8:15 pm MT 5327 3 St. SE, Calgary $40 for 2 tickets showpass.com/the-blue-jay-sessionssummer-nights

Calgary’s beloved, country-coated Blue Jay Sessions are back with a music pop-up showcasing 24 local artists over four nights under the stars—well, a tent actually—in the Manchester ’hood. Top performers include Mariya Stokes and Country Music Alberta Award-winner Ryan Lindsay (8:15 pm, July 10), plus CKUA faves Wyatt C. Louis (6:00 pm, July 7), Maddison Krebs (6:00 pm, July 8) and more. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the Skipping Stone Foundation, a 2SLGBTQ+ charity. And Russell Brewing Co. has whipped up a Blue Jay Sessions Blonde just for the occasion. Mariya Stokes

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE OPEN DOORS Haze of Youth, Vol. 1

Fri. July 23–Sun. July 25 Opening reception 5–9 pm MT nvrlnd. boutique, 1048 21 Ave. SE nvrlnd.ca @haze.of.youth

Once a dive-y old hotel, the Shamrock Saddledome Inn is now an artists’ residence and event space called nvrlnd. They’re busting open their doors for the first time since last summer to host Haze of Youth Vol. 1, a dreamy collaboration between artists-in-residence Bramble Lee Pryde and Sam Mendoza that marries Mendoza’s graphic design to Lee Pryde’s multidisciplinary strengths. Works by local artists are for sale at White Rabbit Studio, next door.

NEXT JULY 2021

FUNNIES THE NEXT

BILLIE EILISH PAPER DOLL FUN!

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TIME-WASTING PUZZLES, GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

BILLIE EILISH: FASHION ICON GOES HER OWN WAY

We’ll have to wait until the end of the month (July 31) for Billie Eilish’s hotly anticipated new sophomore album, Happier Than Ever— but we don’t have to wait to see her new look! Ever the reluctant style icon, Eilish’s fashionably unfashionable look is getting a major re-boot—will there be boots?—along with the new music. We recently got a major sneak preview, with a newly blonde Billie appearing on the cover of Vogue magazine. As we play her new singles, Lost Cause and Your Power, on perma-repeat, it’s time to revisit and mix-and-match classic Eilish looks with her latest bombshell basics in this Paper Doll Parade of Billie’s best. And please remember, no running with those scissors.

WATCH THE VOGUE FASION INTERVIEW HERE.

WATCH THE YOUR POWER VIDEO HERE.

NEXT JULY 2021

from—Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Tanya Talaga, Angus Anderson 900, Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, Naomi Sayers, Robert Jago, Christi Belcourt, Ryan McMahon and so many more…

ASK AMY RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SHAME NEEDS ACTION RESPONSE Dear Amy; I am a 22-year-old white Canadian who comes from a long line of settlers—colonizers?—and I was of course heartbroken with the recent news about the Residential Schools. But what do I do about it besides feel bad? How can a well-intentioned white girl be an ally or even more? Ashamed Canadian Dear Ashamed: Being ashamed is a good start. Unfortunately, being sad and feeling bad isn’t an action; there is a lot white settlers can do and learn. “Canada” has been pretending to be something it isn’t— we are not the good we were trained to believe. Everyone needs to read the Truth and Reconciliation report. Indigenous peoples have been telling us about the atrocities of residential “schools” (prison camps) for years. “These horrors should come as no shock,” they have told us loud and clear. This is genocide and should be called so by our governments.

FULL-TIME CRISIS FROM PART-TIME CREATIVITY Dear Amy: I have a full-time job and work as a freelancer in a creative field. As an artist yourself with multiple outlets (Stars, BSS, NEXT) how do you balance your time between projects and keep the creative juices flowing? Frustrated Freelancer Dear FF: Nothing blooms all year round. There are periods where we must lay fallow. It’s something I remind myself if creative juices are not flowing. Trying every day to do something is something enough, sometimes. The roots will grow and the blooms will come eventually. I admit juggling all the projects (and two kids!) works a certain part of my brain that has laid dormant this past year. It is a muscle that gets stronger the more I do it. Now that we are picking ourselves back up and planning shows, that part of my brain is coming awake again, but boy it feels like a potato trying to run a marathon. Lastly, once I relaxed into the notion that one can’t actually have it all, it made losing some aspects of certain projects less stressful. It comes down to making choices, and sometimes that means we have to let go of the feeling that we must accomplish every ask and every task.

It lead to drinks with his band and then somehow I ended up on a Ferris wheel!

We have to listen to Indigenous leaders, one of whom, Cindy Blackstock is asking us to “hold Canada to account for its legal obligations and STOP fighting residential school survivors and First Nations kids.” Write daily letters to your MP asking what they are doing to stop these court cases, and demand they fulfill the calls to action in the report. It needs to be repeated, by mail and with phone calls, that they will not get your vote unless you see them make these changes. Set aside a percentage of your income, and give money to Indigenous causes—there are many. Buy Indigenous art, jewelry, books, movies, music: there is depth of culture, so much to learn, so much beauty within it to witness. Listen and make space: there re so many incredible activists and artists to follow on social media. With gratitude, these are just a few of the leaders I am listening to and learning

NEED ADVICE ON LOVE, SEX, RELATIONSHIPS, THE MUSIC BIZ OR HAVE A CONFESSION TO GET OFF YOUR CHEST?

ASK AMY MILLAN.

SAD TO GO SOLO, FRIENDS A NO GO Dear Amy: Live music is back on in my city—Vancouver—and I want to go see new shows but my friends don’t feel ready to be in crowds yet, given COVID. I don’t really want to go alone... what should I do? Lonely Live Dear Lonely: Many sweet fans have showed up to a Stars show alone but

then left that same show with lifelong friends. You never know what kismet friendship might come from venturing solo! One of my favourite memories is buying a solo ticket to Joel Plaskett and moving around the room by myself and having an experience that was just for me. Then I was lucky enough to say “Hi” to Joel. It lead to drinks with his band, and then somehow I ended up on a Ferris wheel! You never know what can happen when you only have yourself to find adventure. Kickstart the party! When you tell your friends what an amazing time you had, surely they will be envious and join you the next time. Let’s get back to music, singing together and dancing!!! Go vaccines!!!

INTERN YEARNS FOR OREGON ANSWERS Dear Amy: I recently got accepted for a great paid internship working for a Portland, Oregon-based shoe company. Turns out the job is mostly remote and I could do it from my home In Calgary. Should I save the money and work from home, or pay the extra cash and have an “American experience” living in Portlandia, even if I don’t really have to go to their office? Pondering Portland Dear Ponder-er: Go! Even if it’s just for a few weeks, months?! You don’t have to commit—you could start slow by staying in an Airbnb. You will get to meet the people you work with, even if it’s not necessary to be around them every day. Go see the sea! Seaside Oregon is gorgeous. Calgary isn’t going anywhere. Put a bird on your suitcase and have an adventure!

Amy Millan is a Canadian indie rock singer and guitarist. She records and performs with Stars and Broken Social Scene and has a successful solo career. Have a question for Amy? askamy@nextmag.ca

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Discover Emanuel

inspired by lyrics from Emanuel’s Alt Therapy