Interview: Alexandria Maillot

June 09, 2016 by Jessica Brodeur in Interview

This week, Jess spent some time with Alexandria Maillot chatting, listening to records, and playing with her adorable turtle, Porridge. Tomorrow, Maillot's first full-length album, Time comes out. If you haven't heard the singles 'Sunday Sara' or 'Time (on your Own)' yet - definitely stream them up! You'll find some music that's deeply recharging, refreshing, and pleasantly complex. If you like it, don't miss her on June 18th at the Biltmore Cabaret! Here's how our conversation went.

Jess: What makes this album be considered ‘the first’ since you have other music available?

Alex: I released my EP in 2012 which was an amalgamation of songs that I’d written and recorded over several years. I started writing it when I was 12 or 13 and I released it when I was 19 and it was mainly so I had something that I could start with. There was the Peak Performance Project that I wanted to apply for so I released the album so I’d have something to have. It’s the first album with one consistent theme and that was sort of written and recorded in a timeframe under one mindset. It was an album that was conceptualized before the studio and so we were in the studio, and we recorded it sort of with more continuity with something like my last EP.

Jess: What's the theme?

Alex: It’s kind of aptly named ...

Interview: Kaylee Johnson

June 03, 2016 by Jessica Brodeur in Interview

Jess hopped on a weekend phone call with Kaylee Johnston to chat about music, life, and her upcoming release. Kaylee has been busy with everything from creating her own sound style under the umbrella of "pop" music to planning the business end of her art - not to mention running around making a music video, doing press interviews, and so much more. Here's our conversation.

Jess: How did you settle into the pop genre?

Kaylee: I resisted pop music for so long because I felt like it had a stigma around it. Still to this day when I tell someone I sing pop music, they instantly just imagine Britney Spears or this super bubble gum thing, and I don’t think I'm doing anything like that, but that’s how I categorize myself. Every time I tried to do someting weird I'd feel like I'm not being true to myself. I was like 'Man, I’m writing pop songs, I visualize my career going down that path, I should just own that!' When I owned it, doors opened up.

Jess: How did you start to own it?

Kaylee: Change was always possible. I think people sometimes will release these songs that are totally out of their genre, like Justin Timberlake - he does a lot of stuff on the cusp of funk and R&B, and he started in the pop world and I think he’s still considered pop. Everyone goes through these phases, I don’t doubt that my music and direction will shift and go with where I’m at in my life.

Jess: Your press release says you've written over 300 songs - how do you do it?

Interview: talking conflict, accolades, and songwriting by dreams with Luke Roes of Ivory Hours

March 18, 2016 by Jessica Brodeur in Interview

If you've been listenig to alt radio lately and heard an irresisibly danceable tune with jumpy bass and and a great chorus to sing along to at the top of yours lungs, that made bump up the volume and do a little car shimmy, it's possible that you stumbled upon London, Ontario's Ivory Hours. They're currently on their first cross-country tour, playing their way into the hearts of Canadians from coast to coast. Tonight you can catch them at The Media Club - don't miss out because this trio is going big places fast! Here's some of Jess and Luke's conversation from earlier this week, right after the band got back from Bowen Island.