» Made In Canada ABORT Magazine™ - Canadian Counter-Culture

Montreal Rapper NYCE Releases New Single ’24/7 Remix’ from upcoming album Certified

May 8th, 2012 Filed under: Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

Montreal hip hop artist NYCE who has been keeping busy in studio and shows. He was just recently on the cover of Vandala Mag for April and toured across Canada with Freeway and opened for Raekwon (Wu Tang) back in March along with releasing his music video Fam HC.

Now he’s letting let loose his next single, his third from his upcoming album “Certified” set to be released on Montreal label Hustle Cartel Ent.

Hailing from the streets of Côte-des-Neiges, right in the core of Montreal, Canada, NYCE aka Mista Uptown has released his first music video “Dopest On The Scene” in support of the first single off his upcoming debut album “Certified” set be released in early 2012 on local Montreal hip hop label Hustle Cartel Ent.

Taking his street knowledge and turning it into music to help elevate his life and that of others for years. The charismatic and well-tatted young emcee is out to start a dialogue, to sometimes shock and to always make you laugh with his quick wit and sharp tongue. Signing with Montreal’s Hustle Cartel, NYCE dropped his first mix tape, D’Boy Music, in July 2011 and is set to release his debut album, Certified, in Spring 2012. Produced by one of Canada’s hottest up and coming producers, Fullklip Beats, Certified is set to showcase the best of NYCE, the definition of a street hustla, in other terms, a D’Boy.

NYCE ON FACEBOOK

With a sharped-tongue, yet smooth and witty lyrical execution, Montreal MC NYCE has torn the roof off the motherfucker with his latest joint, check back for more ABORT coverage on NYCE soon.

Copyright © 2004-2012 ABORT Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, in any form or medium without express written permission from Abort Media Publishing Corporation (AMP Corp.) is prohibited. All use is subject to our Terms of Use.

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Team HEARTBREAK Presents: Pacific Pressure West Coast Mixtape – Hosted by Red1

May 1st, 2012 Filed under: Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

TEAM HEARTBREAK PRESENTS: PACIFIC PRESSURE WEST COAST MIXTAPE

Welcome to our West Coast: volatile and ready to enter the stage, mountains meet ocean as rhythms meet rhymes. Canadian hip-hop lives here, and from the earlier days of Red1 and the Rascalz to the newest incarnations of that West Coast sound, Pacific Pressure encompasses it in a cross-section of our cultural and geographical climate.

Team Heartbreak is proud to present the first Canadian West Coast mixtape – an inclusive initiative that hits every team in town, digging deep for that young blood and representing our diverse catalogue of Western rap on a mass scale. Hosted by Red1 and mixed by the master DJ K-Rec, this mixtape carries an embedded message: we’re on the come-up.

The mixtape is available for download, with the option to donate to Battered Women’s Support Services. BWSS work to actualize the elimination of all violence against girls and women, and have been delivering training and education programs to support service providers and to end violence against girls and women for over 30 years.

So what’s not to love? The best of the Canadian West Coast coupled with the strong hearts of the front-line workers. Check out the links below.

www.teamheartbreak.com

<a href="http://teamheartbreak.bandcamp.com/album/pacific-pressure-mixtape">Pacific Pressure mixtape by Team Heartbreak</a>

Download link: http://teamheartbreak.bandcamp.com/album/pacific-pressure-mixtape?permalink

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ABORT Recommends: Stone Iris, May 12th and 13th in Vancouver (Two Venues)

April 30th, 2012 Filed under: ABORT Recommends..., Made In Canada by Editor in Chief

STONE IRIS “ILLUMINATIONS” WESTERN CANADIAN TOUR 2012

Building on musical backgrounds drenched in blues, metal, rock, pop, rap and funk, Stone Iris has tapped into a vein that employs intriguing elements from a diverse range of genres. Stone Iris’s songs possess a strong melodic and rhythmic content that reflect the bands willingness to delve into life’s full palette of emotions.

UPCOMING TOUR “ILLUMINATIONS” TOUR DATES:

May 03 – Saskatoon SK @ Lydia’s Pub
May 05 – Regina SK @ The Distrikt
May 06 – Moose Jaw SK @ 23 Main Street **ACOUSTIC SHOW**
May 11 – Golden, BC @ Rockwater Grill
May 12 – Vancouver, BC @ Lanalou’s
FB Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/281011451981234/
May 13 – Vancouver, BC @ Cuppa Joy Coffee House **ACOUSTIC SHOW**
May 15 – Kelowna, BC @ O’Flannigan’s
May 16 – Quesnel BC @ Caribou Hotel
May 17 – Prince George, BC @ Nancy O’s
May 18 – Hinton, AB @ The Valley Zoo
May 24 – Red Deer AB @ Cheers
May 25 – Canmore AB @ The Canmore Hotel
May 26 – Calgary AB @ The Blind Beggar

STONE IRIS WEB PLEASE VISIT: http://www.stoneiris.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stoneiris
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stoneirisband

“Edmonton, Alberta’s Stone Iris hit the kathedral stage at 1:00am. Their more Psychedelic /Funk
sound capped off the evening of unparalleled talent like nothing I had ever seen before.” – Portal Magazine

“Stone Iris was a great energy band. They had strong melodies and harmonies with a nostalgic
70’s feel. Tight and tasty, these guys are on a path to bigger things.” – Fazer Magazine

“Stone Iris is a promising rock band from Edmonton, Canada. The 3 track EP “Silhouettes” gives the listener a taste of rocknroll, blues and even reggae.” – Melodic.net

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Little Miss Risk’s Notorious Vancouver: Interview with Watermelon

April 18th, 2012 Filed under: Exclusive!, Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

Vancouver is home to many strange and wonderful characters. Like a beautiful social tapestry with many threads woven together to make up a bigger picture, all character’s play a part in making this city unique and peppy. From the secret spaces of East Vancouver to the sand of Wreck Beach, this lady has been known citywide and indeed, globally for her ‘sweet treats’. When one utters the name ‘Watermelon” in Vancouver city limits, the first thought that comes to mind isn’t of sweet summer melon but of a blonde, curvy, sweet-looking and salty-mouthed smarty-pants.

Watermelon is a comic, marijuana activist, foodie, tango dancer, actress and more, but her latest projects aim to raise the bar higher (pun fully intended) for the average toker. With the decriminalization of marijuana on the rise, the day-to-day smoker isn’t some lowlife ‘fiending’ for their next hit, or breaking into cars to steal stereos to support their habits. More often than not they are tax-paying citizens with respectable careers who want an alternative to having a cocktail at the end of the day to unwind. Conversely, a great deal of people who she touches are people who are battling cancer or find themselves terminally ill. Watermelon’s mandate is to present people with a medical solution and with her delicious delicacies, and give them an opportunity to eat their medicine rather than smoke it. As the Martha Stewart of marijuana, she hosts her own cooking show, Baking A Fool Of Myself. Here, she helps patients to find a way to ease their discomfort, and maybe even pick up a few cooking tips and tricks to aid them in the kitchen.

I caught up with the Weed Diva for a game of Ten questions. She tells about reality cooking shows, her mother and what to get her for gift-giving occasions. I present to you: The Goods.

Tristan Risk: You’re known as The Weed Diva and renowned for your baking skills. What was your first foray that led you into incorporating marijuana into cooking?

Watermelon: I came home one summer after doing comedy all winter in LA. I was broke. I was crashing on my buddy’s couch and he happened to have a big bag of shake in the basement and I happen to be an excellent baker, So I put 2 and 420 together and voila. I sold every cookie the next day on the beach. Demand was HIGH and supply was low. Ultimately I learned everything I know about business on Wreck Beach.

TR: What’s your creation process? Do you test out requests from people who have special needs and gourmet tastes or do you prefer to see where the wind bends you?

W: Wind! Bend me! Actually I have a formula and a code of conduct that I remain true to. I am constantly imploring people not to over do it. I like recipes that give individual servings such as quiche or cookies because that way one serving can equal one “dose”. Putting marijuana in a lasagna and then seeing who is the hungriest doesn’t always produce the greatest results. I love to be creative but within certain guidelines. I also like to make sure I can make it taste good. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do it. I hear a lot of really fucking stupid ideas. However I am considering a marijuana reduction or gravy. Fucking stupid or fucking awesome. TBA

TR: Your more than a marijuana activist. Your an entrepreneur, a comic, an actress, and a tango dancer to name a few. What irons have you currently got in the fire?

W: Oddly, I am working on a Philosophy degree in ethics at Capilano U. Hilarious I know. Ironic? I am also working on a cook book, a food network reality TV show called “Potluck Challenge” (nothing to do with Marijuana) and 6 new episodes for Baking A Fool Of Myself (everything to do with Marijuana).

TR: Your mother plays an active role in everything from your cooking show, Baking A Fool Of Myself, to competing in your Pot Luck Challenge. She seems like a key force in your life.

W: Some people win the Mom lottery and others don’t. I won. I’m rich. My mom is my favorite.

TR: If I give you this next question as a chance to stand on your soap box, what wisdom would you like to espouse?

W: Less is more when consuming marijuana food. Less than a gram per serving is more than sufficient for the “average” person. Don’t be that dickhead who puts a whole ounce in a brownie that serves eight. Put eight grams in for god-sake. And don’t be that other dick who thinks it’s funny to give people potent medicine without telling them.

TR: Is your food menu designed to complement your drink menu? What are some of your favourite pairings, either with marijuana or without?

W: My food menu isn’t by design. It is by accident. By trial and error. Years of honing in on the best ways of serving ingested marijuana. For example a more complex carbohydrate mixed with the medicine will take longer to take effect but be effective much longer. Marijuana converted in alcohol moves quite quickly through the body and therefor the effects are more fast and furious. I prefer to convert in an alcohol or liqueur and then add that to a recipe such as Nice Cream Cones or Rum Resin Balls.

TR: What are some films that we can see you in?

W: High Times Presents Baked N Baking, The Union, Escape to Canada, Super High Me, Let’s Toke about It.

TR: Are there any upcoming special events that people should be aware of?

W: Yeah, hopefully a planetary shift in controlling archaic attitudes towards basic human rights and bullshit economic slavery.

TR: You continue to be a fixture at Wreck Beach. Are there any other favourite haunts you have?

W: Tulum, Mexico. Dead Man’s Creek, Buenos Aires, my Mom’s house.

TR:Will you ever tire of people giving you watermelon-themed gifts?

There was no reply to question number ten, so I’m assuming that she is still accepting all donations of all things watermelon-themed for her home decor. At least it’s a safe bet that you know what to get her for her birthday.

By: Tristan Risk

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Friends with the Help release new music video for ‘The Flyest’, an unadulterated ‘portrait’ of Vancouver’s Granville street

April 11th, 2012 Filed under: Made In Canada by Editor in Chief

The Flyest was created in Vancouver, Canada on Granville Street in Summer of ’11 by Byron Dauncey and Jem Garrard.

Download the song for free on the bands bandcamp page

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The VANDETTAS release new single ‘FEEL AT HOME’ – TODAY, March 26th, 2012

March 25th, 2012 Filed under: Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

The VANDETTAS are a two man operation with an evolving cast of talented guests. Vancouver’s rap veteran Emmanuel “Heatwave” Matovu and producer Eric J. Breitenbach make up the eclectic team.

The first single “FEEL AT HOME” featuring Dwight James Abell is dropping TODAY! March 26th, 2012. A full length will follow. Canada stand up, the VANDETTAS are here.

FIND THE NEW TUNE STREAMING NOW AT: Bandcamp – Vandettas

The Vandettas on Facebook

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EXCLUSIVE: 21 and Under With… Noah B of The Random Humans

March 20th, 2012 Filed under: Exclusive!, Made In Canada by Editor in Chief

(Photo: Handout)

Hailing from Calgary, AB Canada DJ/Produce Noah B is one half of one of Canada’s fastest rising HipHop Duo’s, The Random Humans. Noah B has performed with some of the worlds finest HipHop acts. As a DJ on tours with Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko, KRS-ONE, Conscience, The Scale Breakers and Kool Keith. These tours would prove to be an inspiring experience for Noah B.

ABORTMagazine: Thanks for meeting with us today Noah, we’ll get right into this. What gave you that musical influance to start you on the road producing and DJ’ing?

Noah B: I’ve been listening to hip-hop since I was 10. My first CD I bought was
Special Ed hahaha. So hip-hop has always been my main inspiration. It’s hard to really pinpoint an exact time when I was really inspired to DJ and produce, It’s been a life long process. It was something that was in me from day one but I never really knew it till I turned 19.

AM: How would you describe your production style?

NB: Original! My beats are different. If i was asked to compare my beats, which I don’t like doing, I would have to say they are like Dan the Automator meets Portishead.

AM: What is your most vital piece of production gear?

NB: My MPC!!! (Music Production Center)

AM: Serrato vs. vinyl?

NB: Both have there positives. I mean when it comes to touring you really can’t beat Serrato. It’s just way easier to travel with! When I’m at home, its a different story. I would rather play Vinyl, the sound is authentic,
which is what you can’t get with Serrato.

AM: Favourite Classic drum loop?

NB: Basically anything Eric B and Rakim did back in those classic days (laughs).

AM: Favourite Hip Hop Era?

NB: Besides the obvious answer, the early 90′s? haha Its right NOW man! Anyone who says Hip-Hop is dead is just lost. Look around you, Hip-hop is everywhere!!! From the way we talk, to the way we dress, the music, everything!! Sure there is Hip-Hop music out there that is just terrible, and lots of it haha but that goes for every type of music. Lets not pick on Hip-Hop for being the only type of music coming out with garbage.

AM: Favourite type of music other than Hip Hop?

NB: My favorite type other then Hip-Hop would have to be rock/alternative rock. I’m really into Nirvana, Rage against the Machine, Led Zep, Sound Garden, and so on

AM: Who are your favourite Canadian producers/DJs?

NB: To many to name (Laughs)! Canada has so much talent man. From guys like DJ
Kemo, Factor, Rich Kidd, Chin, Boi-1da, many many more.

AM: Which Canadian city has the livest Hip Hop scene?

NB: It seems to change on every tour. I would have to say, believe it or not, that Saskatoon has been wild!! But Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto have been just as crazy!

AM: How did you link up with the Raekwon tour? Most memorable show so far?

NB: I’ve been working with agents here in Canada for the past 2 years. Guys
who have really helped me build my resume and have given me priceless opportunities. Most memorable show so far on this tour was Calgary. Not only was the home town crowd wild but DJing for Raekwon in my city was again, a priceless moment.

AM: Random Humans just released the “Mr. Chainsaw” video, any upcoming videos
from RH? Upcoming releases?

NB: Yeah! We are currently working on a new EP set to be released this summer
and there will definitely be some sweet video’s to come with it!

AM: How would you describe the Vancouver Hip Hop sound, and where do you fit in to the scene here? I don’t think there is much out there that sounds commercial. Which is why I like the Vancouver sound. Most of the hip-hop
you here out there has very meaningful, lyrically put together songs. And the production is very jazzy, funk, rock kinda beats. I’m not sure where I fit in to be honest. I know that my beats are different from most so a lot of the time I feel like I’m just watching what everyone else is doing so that when I go to do my thing, it sounds nothing like them.

NB: What can fans do to support local Hip Hop, and Canadian Hip Hop in general?
Go to shows!! Stop downloading records lol Honestly, if you care about music then take the time to look at some of these artist that are active in the scene. They are active for a reason hahaha. Remember we are the ones who are putting ourselves out there to be judged by everyone else, and we are the ones trying to hold it down for Canada. There is so much talent in this country. KNOW THAT!

AM: Any shoutouts to other artists we should look out for?

NB: Just shouts to my group “Random Humans” and my other family “Conscience”. And shouts to everyone who is putting Canada on the map in the underground.

AM: Thank you Noah, for taking time out to speak with us while on the road with Raekwon! Peace!

Random Humans

By Dave “Corvid” McCallum

WANT MORE EXCLUSIVES? CLICK HERE

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VanCity rapper CORVID releases music video for title track of recently released PURGATORIO

March 7th, 2012 Filed under: Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

This is the official music video for ‘Purgatorio’ the title track off the brand new album from CORVID, Vancouver’s Dark Knight MC. Album available at www.corvid.bandcamp.com now!

‘Purgatorio’ was Filmed/Edited/Directed & Produced by Stephen Gillis on behalf of Random Pictures Inc. and Stoop Fam Records/Corvid Music

Please rate, comment, and subscribe to our videos!

Follow filmmaker Stephen Gillis on Twitter – @stephengillis

Follow Random Pictures on Twitter – @randompictures

Join the Random Pictures page on Facebook

Join Corvid’s Facebook Page to stay up to date on shows & new music

Follow Corvid’s ramblings on Twitter @corvideo

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CORVID Releases Debut Album PURGATORIO – February 28th, 2012

February 27th, 2012 Filed under: Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

CORVID – PURGATORIO

Dark and sinister, profound and sardonically humorous, CORVID’s first full length release “Purgatorio” embodies the visions of his restless and rebellious soul in 11 diverse tracks, produced and recorded by fellow Stoop Fam member, and “the hardest working DJ in Vancouver” – K-Rec.

Inspired by a copy of Dante’s “Divine Comedy – Purgatory” bought from a street vendor on Commercial Drive, Corvid has crafted an intricate vision of struggle and redemption over a shifting backdrop of K-Rec’s Golden Era styled Hip Hop production. Kicking off with the visceral history lesson of “All In”, Corvid’s dense lyrics and smoked out vocals drop mad science while K-Rec’s beats range from Bombsquad-esque bangers to laid back Boom-Bap. Corvid even throws in some live bass on the anthemic “Downtown To East Van” and outro “Paradise”, while the entire work is woven together with a mind boggling array of samples that are both unsettling and hilarious.

Dedicated to the memory of Corvid’s close friend Edward Scott Day, founder and editor of the infamous Abort Magazine, Purgatorio tells the story of humanity’s daily pain and stress through the eyes of a heavily-medicated everyman, whose image of reality is sometimes exaggerated but never false. As characters emerge from the blunt smoke like phantoms, Corvid’s worldview alters to suit their perspectives, like the mirror image of Dante’s visions portrayed on the cover. While his debut EP “Bitter Dragon” presented the twisted mind of his unsettled youth, “Purgatorio” shows a more mature and confident side of Corvid’s work, unafraid to look into the depths of life’s dark corners to find the gleaming gems within.

Purchase the full album February 28th! – CORVID

Track List:
1: All in
2: Catch Your Breath
3: The Pain Eater
4: Pacific Center
5: The Heavy Set
6: Purgatorio
7: Downtown to East Van
8: Off Day
9: Population Control
10: The Pangs
11: Paradise

Check out the title track “Purgatorio” HERE. – Keep an eye out for the video release soon!

Download the “Bitter Dragon” EP HERE!

For fans of : MF Doom, Immortal Technique, Company Flow, El-P, Mr. Lif, Aesop Rock, Cage, Cannibal Ox, Atmosphere, Gangrene, P.O.S., Doomtree, Slow Suicide Stimulus

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EXCLUSIVE: 21 and Under With…Director Michael Dowse, on GOON

February 24th, 2012 Filed under: 21 & Under With..., Exclusive!, Made In Canada by Editor in Chief

Photo: Handout (Alliance)

We’re here with Director Michael Dowse, Director of “It’s All Gone Pete Tong” and “Fubar”, among others. Michael is here with us today fresh off his most recent film GOON, here to talk to us about all things Hockey.

ABORTMagazine: Hi Michael, welcome to Vancouver. Have you spent much time here in your Canadian travels?

Michael Dowse: I grew up in Calgary, so I actually worked out here for nine months at one point in my life, and my sister went to UBC so I’ve spent a lot of time in Vancouver.

AM: Doing press for GOON has had you traveling all over Canada lately, I imagine?

MD: It’s just starting. We did the premiere in Winnipeg last night, and then we’ll do the one here. Then on Monday we’ll do a screening in Montreal, next Wednesday we’ll do the Toronto premiere, then Thursday we’ll do the New York premiere. So it’s pretty busy, but it’s fun. That’s why you make the films, to show them to people.

AM: How has the feedback for the film been so far?

MD: It’s been great. Since we’ve screened it at Toronto International Film Festival it’s been nothing but positive. I mean, not everyone loves the film, but most people do. It’s already come out theatrically in the United Kingdom and it’s done really well. I think it’s the highest grossing Canadian film ever in the UK. It’s cool in that it shows that the film can be enjoyed by people who aren’t hard core hockey fans.

AM: So what is the crux of the story for people who haven’t seen the film yet.

MD: Well, Doug sums it up in the first 10 minutes of the film where he says “Everybody’s got something but me.” And he finds his something, which is fighting. He’s got fist smarts. And not only does he find that, but he helps to inspire other people by showing that a guy who can barely skate can learn how to play hockey.

AM: My favourite part of the movie was the fact that the big game wasn’t for the championship, but was for the eighth and final playoff spot.

MD: Thank you. That was something we went back and forth on quite a bit. There was some talk of, “Let’s make it the second to last game is the game that gets them into the playoffs, and then the last game would be the first game of the seven-game series.” I thought we just needed something that was a bit more final. In terms of hockey, the chase for playoff spots is an exciting time! The Rangers – Philly game a couple of years ago is a good example.

AM: You sound like a big hockey fan.

MD: HUGE Habs fan. I live in Montreal now. Been there for 10 years. We’ve had a crazy season.

AM: How was the experience of working with Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg?

MD: Great – Jay is awesome! He’s a great guy. Sometimes when you meet someone in this business they put on airs, then the other shoe drops eventually. But Jay is as advertised. He’s a fantastic guy to collaborate with. Really open to other people’s ideas, yet really firm about his own ideas as you’d expect.

As for Evan, I got to know him through making this film. Evan’s motto is never stop writing. I gleamed a lot of stuff from him. He’s worked on a lot of bigger films where’s they’ve had a little bit more money and stuff to do. But you can take what he does and apply it to this film. Just about grinding out jokes and making it as funny as possible.

AM: How is the relationship between the directors and the writers usually on film sets?

MD: It depends. This was my first time having a screenwriter on set. I had Jay and his writing partner now Jesse Chabot around – not all the time, but they’d come in and out. But it was nice to have two kind of great guys that were always thinking of gags and jokes and lines. And they would send me little pieces of paper. Of 12 different options, I’d take like three and maybe one would work. With ours it was a really great relationship.

AM: Do you find there are many differences between the Canadian and American film industries?

MD: There are vast differences. It’s a great system up here in Canada and I think they’re about to get even better. The reality is that TeleFilm Canada is one of the last independent studios. I love the system in Canada. I think it’s been kidnapped for too long by people making non-commercial films that nobody in their right minds want to see. And what I want to be part of is make films that Canadian’s want to watch. That are entertaining, that are funny, that have good stories. That’s important. And it’s exciting times.

In the States, the trend is to go towards the micro-budget stuff. Thrillers that are under $3 million, the occasional $20 million R-rated comedy that comes out like Bridesmaids that does well. Or there are tent poles. The reality is that because of the economy, there’s a little more risk adverse. So there’s less work in America. But the flip-side is that there are more actors that are available to work in Canada.

AM: Speaking of actors available in Canada, how was having Seann William Scott be a part of Goon?

MD: Seann was amazing. He was involved very early in this project. He always loved the script, and super supportive of this thing. I think what people would be surprised by is the heart he shows in this film. Unfortunately he’s been a little bit pigeon-holed by his success in American Pie as Stifler. But with this film, I think he recognized the opportunity to play a completely different character. I think people will be surprised by the heart that this film has. He really carries this film on his back.

AM: Now that GOON is for your part, finished, what’s next for Michael Dowse?

MD: I’m doing a romantic comedy called The F-Word. It’s a great script, probably shooting it this summer in Toronto. Very completely different from Goon.

Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today Michael, All the best. Goon opens in theatres Nationwide TODAY!

goonthemovie.ca

By Daniel Chai

Want to read our review on GOON? CLICK HERE

WANT MORE EXCLUSIVES? CLICK HERE

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Vancouver hip-hop act Friends with the Help release 13 track Album ‘Confidence’

February 15th, 2012 Filed under: Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

Friends With The Help are Low Lux, Young Nige, and DJ K-Rec. Most recently, the Vancouver hip-hop trio pooled styles on “Confidence”, a 13 track original album produced entirely by K-Rec following hot on the heels of their celebrated self-titled debut mixtape. The new project, available online as of Valentines Day 2012, features 100% K-Rec production alongside a virtual mood garden of thoughts a feelings couched in the rhymes of Low Lux the rap psychologist and his disgraced half brother Young Nige. Outside the studio, FWTH are known to throw Dirty Rap Parties, make music videos, rocks stages, and restore the feeling. Expect more bangers, videos, albums parties and good times with the group in the decades to follow – and, speaking of following, follow the fellas on twitter @friendswthehelp @low_lux and @djkrec.

“Dingus”

“…the tallent is completely undeniable.”

“These guys go much deeper with surprisingly intelligent lyrics and sampling. Whoever is responsible for the final production deserves a warm pat on the back.”

Welcome To Eastvan

“…dope ass music coming outta East Van”

Confidence Track List

1. Chickens
2. Helping
3. K-Lude pt. 3
4. A Dj You Will Like
5. Mama
6. I Got A New Friend
7. As The Light Hits You
8. K-Lude pt. 4
9. Love Thought
10. Come Through
11. Confidence
12. Hollywood Lux
13. Get Out Of Bed

Stream or download the full album NOW! – Friends with the Help

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ABORT Magazine – ISSUE 16: Now Online (Free Download!)

December 10th, 2011 Filed under: Issues, Made In Canada by Editor in Chief

Cover art | Scott Alexander, Jamie Sands, Chris McKibbin

ISSUE 16: featuring Exclusive Interviews with:

GARY NUMAN, TALIB KWELI, CANCER BATS and More!! Plus, We pay tribute to Abort Magazine Founder E.S. Day, and most of our regular features.

BEHIND THE BOARDS: CHIN INJETI (Eminem, New Royales)

PLUS: Tales From the Eastside, Shooting Gallery, ABORTIST: Rank & File, and of course lots of (honest) reviews!

Free To Download and Share As Always. Two resolutions for your downloading displeasure.

Abort Magazine Issue 16 (32.3MB)
Abort Magazine Issue 16 (116.1MB)

READ OUR BACK ISSUES HERE

abortmag.com/index.php/category/issues

We’ll Lead…You Follow.

twitter.com/abortmag

Copyright © 2004-2010 ABORT Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, in any form or medium without express written permission from Abort Media Publishing Corporation (AMP Corp.) is prohibited. All use is subject to our Terms of Use.

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ABORT Magazine photographer Tyler Simpson featured in ‘Open Location’ gallery show in Vancouver, B.C.

November 12th, 2011 Filed under: Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

CLICK TO ENLARGE | Photo – Bryan Mollett)

ABOVE: Tyler Simpson with “Open Location” Gallery curator Shallom Johnson

OPEN LOCATION investigates those moments, people and places that exist on the periphery of our individual and collective consciousness. An exploration of liminal spaces, interstitial realities and transient states, this exhibit is a reclamation of the unnoticed and the forgotten, as seen from the diverse perspectives of some of Vancouver’s most talented emerging photographers.

Photographs by Arseni Khamzin, Eric Cairns, Fabien Belcourt, Jonathan Taggart, Julia Kozlov, Miles de Courcy, Shallom Johnson, Tyler Simpson, Victoria Potter

Kingsway Arts Collective at Rize Mount Pleasant
196 Kingsway (at 10th Avenue)
Vancouver, BC

Open Tuesday -Saturday
11am – 5pm
November 10-22, 2011

Copyright © 2004-2011 ABORT Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, in any form or medium without express written permission from Abort Media Publishing Corporation (AMP Corp.) is prohibited. All use is subject to our Terms of Use.

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MADE IN CANADA: Lazeevil

November 5th, 2011 Filed under: Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

Meet Sri-Lankan born MC Lazeevil – He’s a little dark with a hint of hood, but Lazeevil’s ambition exceeds all other traits. A longish stint in a foreign prison got him more serious about his music, and now he’s settled in Vancouver, laying down tracks like there’s no tomorrow.

Working with producer C-Infamous (Kurupt, Shade Sheist, Nate Dogg) Laze-e’s efforts have culminated in the Halloween release of Mugger Therapy, an LP which HipHopCanada says “provides interesting insight to a true street life while still maintaining a level of intelligent and thoughtful subject matter.”

Check The Track “My Word” Below

07 My Word [ 3:32 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

lazeevil.com

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(THE REAL) FRENCH CONNECTION: Montreal Rapper NYCE Releases New Music Video – “Dopest On The Scene”

November 2nd, 2011 Filed under: Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

NYCE ON FACEBOOK

With a sharped-tongue, yet smooth and witty lyrical execution, Montreal MC NYCE has torn the roof off the motherfucker with his latest joint, check back for more ABORT coverage on NYCE soon.

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Legal LeakZ: Canuck Metal – Volume 1, feat. Ninjaspy, Endast, Scythia, Titans Eve and More FREE DOWNLOAD!

November 2nd, 2011 Filed under: Legal LeakZ, Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

Free Download – Canuck Metal Vol. 1 Presented by Loudtrax.com & Heavy Metal Music Association of Canada (H.M.M.A.C.)

The Heavy Metal Music Association of Canada (H.M.M.A.C.) and LoudTrax.com have teamed up to present Volume 1 of Canuck Metal, a free download compilation part of series to showcase Canada’s up and coming head banging talent.

Canuck Metal – Volume 1. features the following bands and tracks:

3 Mile Scream – Everything Slips Away 

22Hertz – Detonate 

All Else Fails – This World In Flames 

Avery’s Descent – Rock n Roll Bitch 

Bolero – Pints Held High

 Dissension – Set To Kill

 Endast – Black Cloud 

Fallstaf – The Cost

 Fatality – Thrash Fuck Eat Sleep

 Kill Matilda – Geisha With A Switch Blade

 Ninjaspy – Skaingkh (The Skank)

 Scythia – For The King

 Slaves On Dope – No One To Blame 

Tantrumn – Coward 

Titans Eve – Becoming The Demon

To download the free compilation please visit Loudtrax.com at the following link HERE and type in promo code: HMMAC

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MADE IN CANADA: Today I Caught The Plague – The ABORT Interview

October 29th, 2011 Filed under: Exclusive!, Made In Canada by Editor in Chief

(CLICK TO ENLARGE | Photo – Chris McKibbin)

ABOVE: TICTP frontman Dave Journeaux contemplates holding hands with Ninjaspy’s Joel Parent, during a booze-fueled bonding session

Formed in 2007, this six-piece band based out of Ottawa, Ontario, has been creating quite the buzz in bandland as one of the more notable contenders on the hardcore scene. Fresh off a string of dates with Protest The Hero, Ninjaspy and Threat Signal, we caught up with the groups vocalist Dave Journeaux and plunked him down for a one-on-one with ABORT Magazine’s moonlighting journalist, Ninjaspy’s Joel Parent.

Joel Parent: You guys are on the road, just finished a short tour with Protest The Hero, can you give us some highlights from that?

DAVE: Sure, it was actually a southern Ontario and Quebec tour, so a little more central. Every night we were playing to really big crowds for our style of music. That was obviously great in terms of giving us more exposure. The Montreal show that we played was definitely the best show for all of us that we’ve ever played in our lives. It was great to play Club Soda, which is a venue that a lot of us have always gone to, to see some of our favourite bands play. It was kind of like a dream come true situation. The (Protest) guys were really nice so making better relationships with them was a good thing.

ABORT: It’s all about bro’ing down. What are your thoughts on the Canadian Metal Scene in general?

DAVE: It’s strange actually. It depends on where you are in terms of how much it’s thriving. I’d say that out in the west coast we’ve had better scenes than we’ve had in the east coast. There seems to be a lot more support for the music scene in general out here. Which is funny because the last time we came out a couple years ago it was the exact reverse. So I guess it’s just a cyclical thing. It’s nice to see that while some places may be going down other places are on the rise.

ABORT: What’s it like being in a singular van with seven guys?

DAVE: Seven guys! It’s actually not as bad as you may think, we had eight people on the Protest portion of the tour because we had a professional photographer come along. We all have a place to sleep, it’s pretty good. We have a queen size bed in the back of the van and two benches. There’s really only one person who gets kind of put out.

ABORT: Like sleeping in the driver seat?

DAVE: Or underneath the bed.

ABORT: Out of the band who likes to cuddle the most?

DAVE: (Laughs) I gotta think about that. As much as there used to be cuddling up, it’s usually some of the merch people we bring along will inevitably buddy up because they haven’t been on tour with the other guys for so long and want their space so much.

ABORT: Once you’ve been on the road for with the same guys for a long time you start to just cherish quiet and space.

DAVE: It’s a family. It’s like being around your brothers 24/7.

ABORT: If somebody in your band were to catch the plague for real, who do you think would get it first?

DAVE: I’m gonna go ahead and say Eric Stone.

ABORT: Why is he the most likely person to get dirty and get the plague?

DAVE: You’re trying to get me in trouble here, that’s what you’re doing. (Laughs) He just gets himself into certain situations that aren’t always the cleanest. I remember when we were going over to Newfoundland on the ferry there was a pretty funny hives experience. I’ll leave it at that.

ABORT: When we went to Newfoundland one of us got shingles! Maybe it’s something to do with that boat? Maybe it’s the drinks?

DAVE: Maybe! Did you know we got stuck in the ice for fifteen hours on that boat? We went to sleep and when we woke up we were still in the same location.

ABORT: What did that feel like? Were you afraid?

DAVE: No, we weren’t afraid. But apparently the ice breaker that came around also got stuck in the ice. We luckily made it to the show, it was the same day. Fifteen hour setback but we were alright.

ABORT: You have a new album out called Lore. It’s very epic from the sounds of it.

DAVE: It’s based both in fact and fiction. Fiction in the sense that all the subject matter for the songs are mythology and legends from around the world. Fact in the fact that they are real life legends and myths from history. So basically we did a bunch of research on everything, every major region of the world.

ABORT: How many different regions?

DAVE: There’s ten, actually it worked out perfectly to the length of the album. and each song has a different region. So we did that research and put the subject matter to the songs. It turned out really well.

ABORT: Did you write the lyrics or did you guys do it together?

DAVE: I wrote the lyrics.

ABORT: But the research and all that you guys did together?

DAVE: I did the research as well.

ABORT: Oh, you did all the research. So when you say “we” you mean “you”?

DAVE: (Laughs) Yeah, I mean me, my part in the band.

ABORT: What do you guys listen to mostly?

DAVE: It’s all over the map. It comes out a lot heavier because some of the guys have more metal influences. I myself don’t even really listen to metal. Although my favorite bands are like Dillinger Escape Plan and stuff like that. But it’s very few and far between, the heavier bands that I listen to. It’s usually a lot of folk stuff. Iron & Wine I really love. Dallas Greene, City & Color, Bright Eyes, stuff like that. I may be wrong in calling it folk. I don’t really classify music, it’s lighter.

ABORT: You don’t actually scream very much on Lore. Was that a choice based on a vocal preference or did it suit the music more to not scream?

DAVE: It was a vocal preference thing. But as we got further along into the musical writing process we felt that it also suited it better for what we were doing at the time.

Lore is available at todayicaughttheplague.bigcartel.com and on iTunes.

todayicaughttheplague.com

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THIS SATURDAY! Aug. 27th, ABORT IS Proud To Sponsor: END OF SUMMER SLAUGHTER Feat. Little Guitar Army, West of Hell and More! – Rickshaw, Vancouver, B.C.

August 25th, 2011 Filed under: ABORT Presents..., Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

DENSIXX & BABALON PRESENT:

END OF SUMMER SLAUGHTER

featuring

LITTLE GUITAR ARMY

WEST OF HELL (CD RELEASE)

OMEGA CROM

SNAGGLETOOTH (Motorhead Tribute)

Saturday, August 27th

RICKSHAW THEATRE
Doors 8:00 PM
Tickets $10 in advance  – $15 at the door (subject to availability)

BUY TICKETS HERE 

Also available through Scrape, Red Cat, Zulu, Scratch

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ABORT Is Proud To Sponsor: NINJASPY – “No Kata” Canada Tour Aug. 19 – Oct. 7, 2011

August 22nd, 2011 Filed under: ABORT Presents..., Made In Canada, News/Calendar/Industry by Editor in Chief

Vancouver’s finest unsigned trio are preparing to drop their new EP “No Kata” , it also comes as a deluxe edition complete with a graphic novella as a companion to the EP. More details to follow.

Full List Of Dates and Info at:

WWW.NINJASPY.NET

twitter.com/#!/ninjaspy

facebook.com/ninjaspy

VIEW THE TOUR TRAILER BELOW!

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Album Review: Friends with The Help – S/T

July 11th, 2011 Filed under: Made In Canada, Reviews - Music by Editor in Chief

Album Review: Friends with The Help
S/T
Stoop Fam Prod.

Canadian pride has been taken to a whole new level with the Vancouver-based rap group Friends with the Help. Mix in two friends from East Vancouver, one solid DJ producer (K-REC) (of the 5-man clique Stoop Family: FWTH, DJ K-Rec, Corvid and Joose Justis from Killawatt) and a whole life time of smoking weed and you have the perfect recipe for the birth of their newest self-titled mixtape Friends with The Help.

Fortunately as a listener it is not required to be completely stoned off your rocker to enjoy the carefree rhymes of these two emcees (which is free to download off the internet). Musically this partnership is fronted by emcees Young Nige and Low Lux, two individuals who visually scream East Vancouver but for better or worse lack the rough & tumble vibe of some
Vancouver rappers.

Their styles are extremely different with Young Nige having a smoother flow with cadences that run back and forth in waves while Low Lux is adorably grating with a high
nasally acoustic that is distinctive and otherwise enjoyable. The blend of their voices over the almost too long whooping seventeen track album is a cross between early Outkast and Dose 1.
It is a refreshing situation when you can throw on a mixtape from an unknown artist and find a summer groove almost immediately.

The second track of the tape is titled “East Van Shit“and its laid back melodies mixed with tongue-in-cheek references recognizable by any Vancouver resident is perfect for the kick back nature of summer times This tends to be the theme throughout the entire mixtape: good times, just cutting the superficial surface of hard-time realities with the perfect beat backbone to bop your head to.

It almost makes me one to light up for a job well done for Friends with The Help.

friendswiththehelp.com

By Fierce “Reppin’ NYC Now” Kitty

WANT MORE ALBUM REVIEWS? CLICK HERE

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