Meet Your Managing Editors – Elizabeth Iwunwa

Image courtesy of Via Reyes

By: Elizabeth Iwunwa

Hi, I’m Elizabeth! I am a second year Psychology major and a Chemistry minor. I was born and raised in Lagos, western Nigeria. My parents are originally from the East and grew up there. I am an introvert and legend has it that I always have been. I draw strength from solitude, quietness and calmness. That being said, I am quite outgoing in social situations. I had a happy childhood. Every time I think about my childhood, it evokes memories of dance, food and lots of relatives. Growing up, everyone including me thought I was going to become a medical doctor. This is because I was the child who would be by myself in a room reading (forget that my baby sister’s grades were consistently better than mine). I was an inquisitive child who was and still is curious about my world. One vivid memory I have from my childhood is a bomb blast at Ikeja Cantonment in Lagos. I was down with a fever that evening and my parents and I were on our way to the hospital. We had almost gotten there when we heard this deafening noise. There had been an accidental detonation of military high explosives at a storage facility. I remember that as my dad tried to turn the car around quickly, one of the tires got stuck in a gutter. While he tried to get the tire out, the hordes of people running to safety drew closer and closer. I sat still in my mother’s arms. Thankfully, the tire was dislodged fast enough to get home safely. We came home to a house full of relatives who had run there for safety. That incident left hundreds of people dead and thousands more displaced.

Time passed and I made it to high school. I attended a Christian high school where we learned and memorized Scripture every week. I am forever thankful for that experience because those six years became the bedrock of my faith. The last two years were by far the absolute best. In those two years, I was also in boarding school. Considering the fact that there were over a hundred girls in one facility, I expected drama. And drama I did get. In grade eleven, I was appointed Food Prefect of the girls’ hostel. Although I had my heart on the post of Head Girl, I was pleased to serve in any way I could. In that period, I learned the use of initiative, accountability, honesty and so many more things that guide me to this day.

Growing up Catholic, meant going to mass at least once every week without fail. It also meant classical music. My parents thoroughly enjoy Handel and Beethoven and have taught me to do the same. As the first daughter of my family, particularly in my culture, I had certain responsibilities by default. I was to fill in the spot for my mom and hold things down when she was away. That has contributed to my overbearing sense of duty.

Tea was also a huge part of growing up. Both mom and dad are tea drinkers and I am too. I find myself sipping tea when I’m alone thinking and meditating. The safest spot in the world is my mind. In there, I can own up to my shortcomings and be free in the knowledge and truth of who I truly am. On some days when I feel inspired, I write poetry. I enjoy all forms of art and think that it is a positive means of self-expression.

Music has a special place in my heart. Although I enjoy classical music, I also enjoy soul music and gospel. I treasure soul for the way it puts my thoughts and emotions into words and melody. Gospel music lifts my spirit. I like to think that I can be G.I Jane in one instant and Mother Teresa in another. These are qualities I find in my mother as well. As I grow older, I find bits and pieces of myself in her and my father.

I love tennis and basketball, although the only time I ever made a basket was in grade eight at P.E practice. One of the best things about being African is being from a rich and diverse culture. I really enjoy African literature, most especially those by Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Adichie, and Sefi Atta. I love how I understand the dialogues and perspectives seamlessly.

I have many dreams and hopes for the future. Until then, I guess there’s more to me than meets the eye.

If you want to contact me, just send an email to eiwunwa@upei.ca.

Top Stress Relievers for Thrifty Students

By Chillhouse Van Houten

Friends, UPEI students, Islanders, lend me your ears. This winter has been a nightmare for anybody for whom snow is less a beautiful substance that covers the world in adventure than the bringer of stuck cars and lost classes/work shifts; basically, anybody over the age of twelve. Us university students have lost so much time that we can’t even figure out what is due when and what should be done and what is even the point. Everybody is demoralized and unmotivated and on top of all that, stress levels are beating even the most steely of personalities into quivering jelly.

So, here I am with some helpful remedies to remind you how to calm your short-circuiting nerves. Take them to heart, and remember: Almost nothing is as big a deal as you think it is.

1. Take a nap. 

No, really. Unless you have trouble sleeping at night, short naps in the afternoon are a great way to re-orient your thoughts and recharge your batteries. 30 minutes at about 3:00pm should do the trick. Try to do this a few times a week, as well as getting a full night’s sleep (which is different for everybody). It’s good for your body and your mind.

2. Find new music.

Sometimes it’s good to treat yourself to a new discovery. We all have those core bands that we turn to time and time again, but there isn’t much that’s more exciting than hearing something new that really hooks you. If you’re feeling frazzled, find the names of some bands that you’ve sorta heard of or have influenced a band you love and check them out on YouTube! Feel that electricity! Here are some East Coast favorites that you should have a listen to if you haven’t already: Hey Rosetta!, The Once, The Gramercy Riffs, Tim Chaisson, The Paper Lions, Amelia Curran, Tom Fun Orchestra. Have a little jam session and you should be ready to face the day.

3. Visit Goats!

This is the one I’m most serious about, because it really does help. If you drive ten minutes north of town and pay a measly five dollars to the good people at Island Hill Farm, you can spend up to four hours with the friendliest creatures that walk on four hooves. Goats are living entertainment: they love to stand on things, chew on stuff, and trade hay for pets. The babies are even better: sometimes they are so full of the joy of life that they bounce around without a care in the world. If only us humans could do that without the judgmental stares of fellow humans. In short, they are love and life, and you should go see them! And the alpacas are pretty cool too.

4. Go out for dinner or drinks with friends.

I know everyone is really busy right now, but sometimes the best thing for your studying productivity is to take a break for a couple of hours and go out to spend time with friends. Go to Marc’s Studio or Baba’s for a quick drink and some live music! Or hit up the Old Triangle for a plate of nachos and some foot-stomping fiddle tunes.There’s no cover charge at the Old Triangle, and a plate of nachos split between friends is pretty economical. Wherever you and your friends like to hang out, go there for a couple hours to give your brain a break and relax. 

5. Go for a walk.

Remember that new music you downloaded earlier? Well now is the time to put it to good use. The temperature is finally above the freezing mark (although there’s still ice out there, so be careful), so put in those headphones and go for a half an hour walk. Getting your muscles moving helps recharge your batteries and get those juices flowing again so you can power through the conclusion of that paper you’ve been trying to write for weeks. If you’re still not ready to brave the outdoors, head over to the Cari Complex.

Those are just a few of the ways I go about dealing with stress at this time of the year, and I hope they reminded you that taking study breaks is necessary, no matter how much work you have piled up. Remember to take care of yourselves at this time of the year, and hang in there! The end of the semester is near. Keep your eye out for that first elusive glimpse of green grass.

Q93 Battle of the Bands at the Guild

image courtesy Evan Beatty

By Rhyanne Beatty

It was a full house last Thursday night at the second semi-final round of the 2015 Q93 Battle of the Bands at the Guild.

Mindwaves, who commanded the second half of the evening, were the crowned winners in a landslide victory.

The sensual four-pack of handsome wolves radiated a kaleidoscope of experimental rock. Their well-crafted chaotic swirls had seated show-goers’ feet twitching and cores itching, as urges to groove were hard to subdue.

Many congratulations to the confident men who played a flawless and professional set, all the while humbly thanking Music PEI, the judges, the sponsors, and the audience for the opportunity to perform in the competition.

But it was Big Tilda, who performed first, who were the night’s true underdog heroes.

Jon Gallant, lead vocals and guitar, started the band’s set off alone on stage. His presence was the embodiment of a strapping young Robin Hood ready to lead the audience on a musical journey through the folk rock forest.

Jon was soon joined by his brother Mitch, on bass, and then Jeremy, on drums and later keys.

The fellows wittily adorned their stage with potted plants and brilliant red-orange curtains to frame the entire spectacle. At one point (as pictured), Jon took the performance to a new height, literally, by performing while standing on a wooden stool.

Keep an eye out, Charlottetown. These three brothers are wildly talented and supply enough unique energy and charisma to engage the attention of an audience 10x the size of that in attendance on Thursday night.

Other highlights of the night included a narrative involving a peanut butter and pickle sandwich from the Mindwaves, along with a tale of solo pre-dancing in the dressing chambers from Big Tilda. For any unsuspecting spectators in the audience that night, the entire show was a real treat.

Check out The Royal North vs Mindwaves in the final chapter of the 2015 Q93 Battle of the Bands this Thursday at 8pm at the Guild! Doors open at 7:30pm and admission is by donation.

Study Song of the Day – FKA Twigs “Two Weeks”

If you haven’t heard of FKA Twigs yet, you are seriously missing out. “Two Weeks” is the first single off of her debut studio album, LP1, that was released over the summer. FKA Twigs is difficult to pin down in terms of musical genre, but the best description I’ve read was in The Guardian (UK) describing her music as “the UK’s best example to date of ethereal, twisted R&B.” Treat yourself to FKA Twigs’ album; you deserve it after all the studying and never-ending papers you’ve been working on.

Halloween Song of the Day: “My Body’s a Zombie For You”

By: Sierra Roberts

“The smell of my breath From the blood in your neck Oh, I hold my soul From the lands unknown So I can play the strings of your death”

Dead Man’s Bones is the project of Ryan Gosling and Zach Shield that developed out of a mutual love for all things undead. Their self-titled album, which was released in 2009, was initially intended to be the soundtrack to a stage show that revolved around a monster love story. The guys play all the instruments on the album themselves, and the haunting backing vocals are the results of a collaboration with the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir.

 

The Cadre Chats With: Gob

image courtesy gobband.com

After a seven-year hiatus, Canadian punk rockers Gob have returned on the scene with Apt. 13. The guys will be in Charlottetown on October 18^th to play a set at Hunter’s Ale House.

Lead vocalist and guitarist, Tom Thacker, was gracious enough to take some time off from his tour to speak with The Cadre about the new album, being out on the road, and touring with Sum41.

Cadre: How would you describe your music to those unfamiliar with Gob?

Thacker: “Well you know we’re a punk rock band. A little bit of metal, a little bit of new wave, all mixed together. Classic pop rock, I guess.”

Cadre: It has been seven years since your last album, was the break deliberate?  

Thacker: “We started making this record in 2010, and just a whole bunch of shit got in the way. I was out touring with another band, two of us live in New York, two of us in Vancouver – it was hard to get together. And we were self-producing it. Eventually when we got it done we had to find a label and we never really had any means of putting the record out. So one thing led to another and unfortunately it took seven years. But it’s out now, and we’re all super stoked.”

 Cadre: How is your new album, Apt. 13, different and how has it evolved from your previous stuff?

Thacker: “I think we evolve with every record – like every record is sort of a reaction to the previous one, and mainly it’s just to keep ourselves interested in playing music. If we just made the same record over and over again we would be pretty bored of it I think, and we probably would have broken up years ago. Lyrically we always write semi-personal lyrics, and it’s sort of a snapshot of our lives at that time and how we are feeling and what kind of music we want to play.”

Cadre: How has the reception been to the album? Have you noticed a lot of the old fans have stuck by you?

Thacker: “I feel like there’s fans that were there in the early days that went out and had kids got married whatever and they’re back, and they’re coming back and are stoked on the old stuff and new stuff. Every time we put out a record, because there’s a little difference, there’s always has been a resistance to the newer sound that we have. Like last night, we were trying to add as many old songs to the set as new ones and people seemed to be stoked about both.”

 Cadre: Gob is currently out on the road doing a national tour – what are the best and worst aspects of being on the road?

Thacker: “The best is you get to play your music, the worst is you never get any sleep. We just started the first day and we’re out west so the drives are super long. It’s a little top heavy, I mean in a week we will be more rested than when we first started surprisingly.”

Cadre: What are the themes or ideas behind Apt. 13?

Thacker: “It’s mainly personal stuff dealing with being a musician, resigning yourself to being a musician for life and living for music, the whole music is going to kill you kind of thing and the anxieties that come from that type of a life. I mean, it’s awesome but of course like anything there are problems. I think that’s generally what the theme of the music is and also how we’re maturing as musicians. We’ve been together for 20 years and we are going to write what we feel right now.”

 Cadre: I read that you were touring with Sum41 during Gob’s hiatus – how did that come about?

Thacker: “They had opened for us way back in the day before they were signed and we became friends. And when they started taking off they brought us on the road with them, so we hung out whenever we were in each other’s towns. And Dave quit their band, so it just seemed natural for them to come to one of us and ask us to play with them.”

 Cadre: You’ll be playing here in Charlottetown on October 18^th, what can fans expect from a Gob show?

Thacker: “It’s going to be awesome. We will be a week into the tour and we’re working out our set to make the best set we can – the most awesome set.”

Cadre: What’s next for the band? Any music videos in the works? 

Thacker: “Yeah, we just shot a video and it should be out soon. Not sure when the release date is, but we just shot one for our first single from this record, “Radio Hell.””

Cadre: Gob has been together for over twenty years. What have been the highlights and the best parts about being with the band? 

Thacker: “I think we’re just stoked to have a fan base, a vehicle for putting out our music. We are all musicians and this is what we want to do, and I’m just still stoked that we’re still doing it.”

Cadre: When I think of Gob I immediately think about the “I Hear You Calling” music video that features zombies. Zombies are pretty popular right now – are you guys still into them or have you moved on from zombies?

Thacker: “Well, obviously we started the zombie trend, and we had to let it go. Everyone else can run with it now. It’s funny because when we did this new video the director was like you guys have done everything in videos. They couldn’t think of anything and oddly the video that we did involves skateboarding. As a band that’s considered a skate punk band, it’s funny that after 15 videos and 20 years later we finally did a skateboarding video.”

Find out more about Gob on their website and make sure to check out their show on October 18th at Hunter’s where they will be playing with Seaway.

 

The Cadre Reviews: “Jon McKiel” EP

image courtesy thecoast.ca

By Sierra Roberts

Nova Scotian Jon McKiel released his self-titled EP over the summer, which is a follow-up to his 2012 album, Tonka War Cloud. McKiel’s sound is often classified as indie rock, but I found his music to be much more complex and not so easily pigeonholed.

The six songs on the EP are much more raw and experimental than his previous works. McKiel’s strong lyricism and melodies come together to create songs that are catchy and full of heart. His press release reads, “Like a modest handshake, a wink, or a nod, you can hear a community throughout this record, and with that, echoes of migration.” This is definitely a record worth checking out.

I found myself listening to the album while I was on the bus or laying on the couch in the English lounge relaxing. Clocking in at a mere 17 minutes, you could even check out the album between classes. But if you only have time for a song or two, I’d recommend you go for “Tropical Depression” or “Twin Speaks.”

Tracklist:

New Tracy

I Know, I Know

Tropical Depression

Twin Speaks

Accolades

Chop Through

Read up on Jon McKiel on his website, or for the most up-to-date information, like him on Facebook.

The Cadre Chats With: The Nymphets

image courtesy the nymphets

By Ryan Kirkpatrick

The Nymphets are a trio from Montreal who currently reside in Halifax. They play music that could be described as Punk Pop, a la Ramones or the Buzzcocks. Their music will get you up and moving and get stuck in your head. The band consists of Jared Leon on Guitar/Vocals, Benjamin Leon on Bass, and Johanna Heldebro on Drums. As you will learn in this interview, they are definitely not a bunch of one trick ponies.

I had the chance to chat with Jared Leon about the band’s influences, upcoming projects, and what it’s like being in law school and a band at the same time.

Cadre: How did the band get its name?

JL: “The band’s name came about when we were starting to play music together and I was studying English. I was reading Lolita at the time for a course. Aesthetically and visually on the page it jumped out. It looked something like a band name, like the Ronettes. I thought some of the tensions between Humbert and Lolita, the warped nature of that kind of relationship of audience and object, I guess I felt it was interesting. Sort of a mixture of those two things together.”

Cadre: What is the band’s philosophy?

JL: “I would say it changes depending on what we’re doing. Our philosophy has been something very streamlined. We’ve always been about playing fast, having short breaks between songs, and being unified. The philosophy is a certain amount of antagonism in what we do. I was having a conversation with someone about punk music, they were talking about Crass and about how a great deal of the legacy of punk music is minimizing the distance between the self starter impulse and the creation of something. I would say in hindsight that has been pretty significant.”

Cadre: Who are some of your bigger influences?

JL: “Definitely the Ramones are one of my bigger influences on a lot of levels, like with pop music and pop culture and their relationship to it. I would say that’s the big one.”

Cadre: Do you have any upcoming projects?

JL: “Yeah we always have tons of projects. But right now we have a full record that is basically ready to go. It was recorded with our friend Richard White in Montreal in the studio of a band called Freelove Fenner. The studio is called Bottle Garden. So that’s the next band project, working to put that record out. Then we’ll probably play some show’s in the coming months in preparation. On top of that, Johanna and I make a magazine called Laura, so I’ve been working on interviews for that. So that’s an ongoing project and will hopefully be out in the next couple of months. We also work together for a musical festival called Pop Montreal. It’s on September 17^th to the 21^st. I do the conference and Johanna does the visual arts segment. So we’re beginning to talk to different people about possible talks, and exhibitions and things like that. So those are the three right now that are in the creative realm. I study as well so I’m doing that full time these days and Johanna’s been teaching at the art school in Halifax.”

Cadre: What’s it like being in law school and also part of a touring band?

JL: “It’s great. I think being in school is the best time to play music. The schedule is really flexible and you have a lot of time off. You have a lot of time to reflect on idea’s being presented to you, and usually they are all different texts or ideas that you’re thinking about. And I’ve noticed often times bands have members who are perpetual students. And student loans help bankroll certain things.

Cadre: What’s it like to put together a magazine?

JL: “It’s great, I love it. It’s interview based and we’ve done ten issues so we have talked to some really interesting people whose ideas we find impressive, relevant, and compelling. I’ve learned a huge amount from people and from researching for the articles and reading or listening to the work they’ve done and thinking about what I’m interested to know. Because in interviews you really have the freedom to ask whatever you want. It’s tough, people are hard to transcribe, for example, and it takes time but at the same time I don’t know why more people don’t do it.”

Cadre: How did the band start?

JL: “Johanna and I were dating and we just decided she would get drums and we would start playing music together.”

Cadre: Will anyone in the band pull a Dee Dee King?

JL: “I can only speak for myself so I don’t know if anyone else will. I would say unlikely but you never know.”

 

The Cadre Chats With: The Fox and the Moon

image courtesy The Fox and the Moon

By Sierra Roberts

The Fox and the Moon, a trio based out of Toronto, recently released their first EP, which consists of four tracks. According to their website, the band took a trip to “a family cottage in Quebec” where the album was “recorded live off the floor over the span of a few days.” The band is comprised of  vocalist Stella Green, guitarist and vocalist Chris Blachford, and guitarist and vocalist Kim Wexler. The Fox and the Moon will be at Marc’s Lounge on Friday, March 14^th to celebrate their self-titled album.

I had the chance to talk with band member Kim Wexler about songwriting, being on the road, and how the band spends their downtime.

Cadre: For those unfamiliar with your sound, how would you describe The Fox and the Moon?

Wexler: “We are an indie-folk-acoustic trio. We draw our influences from a bunch of different genres and we find that really comes through when we write.”

Cadre: How did the band come together?

Wexler: “We all met in college; Chris had already graduated and was interning during our [Stella and Kim] first semester. Chris and I heard each other sing and we wanted to jam, and when we did, we ended up writing “Lady Mercy.””

Cadre: The Fox and the Moon will be performing at Marc’s Studio; will this be your first trip to PEI? If so, what are you most looking forward to in coming to the Island? 

Wexler: “For the majority of us, it’s our first time to PEI. I think we are all looking forward to eating some fresh seafood and just exploring Charlottetown.”

Cadre: When creating new songs, what is the band’s songwriting process?

Wexler: “Chris and I tend to either write music on our own then bring it to the band to arrange in a fashion we all like, or we write together with Stella. We talk about thematic ideas for the song, and where we want the song to lead. Sometimes it takes us an hour to finish a song, and other times it can take months.”

Cadre: What music have you been listening to while touring?

Wexler: “We have listened to a lot of The Lone Bellow, The Staves, James Vincent McMorrow and, of course, Miley Cyrus.”

Cadre: How did you come up with the band’s name, The Fox and the Moon?

Wexler: “It was Chris’ idea. He really likes the imagery, the idea that the moon is the source of guidance for humans and animals. When he suggested that name, I think it really resonated with all of us. There was no doubt that it would stick.”

Cadre: You are currently on tour, what are the best and worst aspects of being on the road?

Wexler: “It’s a test of being in close quarters with people you like for an extended period of time. But traveling, especially to new places, is always exhilarating. Playing for people who have never heard us who are now fans of our music has been an incredible treat. I think the only complaint is the lack of deer sightings.”

Cadre: When the band isn’t writing or making music, what kinds of things do you like to do?

Wexler: “Sushi…but seriously. We love sushi. We all read, and Chris and Stella are both active members in choirs. We are all avid Mario Kart players.”

Cadre: What’s next for the band?

Wexler: “Right now, we are running an Indiegogo campaign in hopes that we will get funded to record a full-length album this summer. Anyone can go check it out and donate. There are some really cool incentives on there, or you can just donate for the sake of donating. Past that, we hope to come back out this way soon.”

Cadre: Any last words?

Wexler: “Thanks for taking the time to talk with us; we can’t wait to play in Charlottetown.”

If you are interested in learning more about The Fox and the Moon, check out their website. And you can also stream the new EP here.

Two Hours Traffic’s Farewell Tour Ends in PEI

By Sierra Roberts

As you may have heard, Charlottetown’s own indie-rockers, Two Hours Traffic, recently called it quits, citing that “it is just the right time,” and that they could no longer support themselves financially. (The band gave a full statement about their breakup on their website.) The band said goodbye through a farewell tour that hit Ontario, the Maritimes, and ended here in their hometown.

THT initially planned for only a single show in Charlottetown, but due to the overwhelming response they added another two. All three shows sold out quickly but I was lucky enough to snag tickets for the second-last show on December 22nd.

The show was held at the beautiful MacKenzie Theatre, which was a fitting venue for the send-off. Smothered in Hugs (now known as English Words) opened for Two Hours Traffic. Iain McCarvill from The Meds stepped in for Nathan Gill on the bass to play with THT for the evening.

Lead vocalist Liam Corcoran went solo for a couple of songs and he invited the audience to sing-along with him for “Stolen Earnings.” For the final song of the night, THT invited anyone who wished to join them on stage to help sing “Stuck for the Summer.” Smothered in Hugs took the stage along with Nathan Gill, and Brittany Banks of TEEM, among others. Also a slightly inebriated girl got up and entertained the audience with her dancing.

Two Hours Traffic ended their long and successful career on a high note, and I look forward to seeing them in their future endeavors.