Zeds Dead @ Osheaga 2012

Toronto's own electro duo Zeds Dead made their first appearance at Osheaga this year. Made up of DJs DC and Hooks (Dylan and Zack), they performed in Montreal before heading to Chicago for Lollapalooza. I got the chance to chat with the guys after their set.

Here's my article for Faze Magazine:

Click HERE to read the full article!

These guys make dope music - here's their track with Omar LinX, "You and I"

Check out a bit of my interview with Zeds Dead!

How do you prepare for a huge festival like this?

Zack: We just try to bring the newest, freshest stuff we can find that we like.

Dylan: Actually we made some fresh stuff that we dropped tonight and tested out.

Z: It’s all a big continuous experiment, just seeing what works and what doesn’t. You’ve got to try new things all the time.

So tell me about your latest EP The Living Dead.

D: Basically it’s a bunch of rap and electronic music, dub-step, house, drum and bass all mashed together in one crazy EP. We pretty much sat in the studio with Omar LinX and made a whole shit load of tracks, and what came out of it was our previous mix-tape Victor and then this one. So we kind of made it all in one go and this is what came out.

Being from Toronto, how has the city influenced you as artists?

D: A lot of people ask us that and it’s hard to describe. Toronto provides a nice environment, but it’s hard to say because nowhere else is home to me, I love it. I love this city. And I love living there and coming back to it. In ways that probably inspired us creatively but it’s hard to put it into specifics.

Z:  I think in terms of music, like the way the scene in Toronto is, electro was really big in Toronto a while ago. It was really big in the world but Toronto was really up in that and all the big names were coming through. I think that had an impact. I think it was when we became of drinking age, that’s what was going on. Toronto is really up-to-date on stuff. We’re very in tune with that’s going on. In regards to scenes, the Internet has sort of created this global thing where it almost doesn’t matter where you’re from.

How do you guys work together as a duo?

D: It definitely helps when you have a creative block because someone else will always pick up the slack. The most valuable thing for me about being a duo is having someone to bounce your stuff off. And someone to critique you. If we can come to an agreement on something in the long run, it’s better to have two people on board.

What’s the atmosphere like in the studio?

Z: Boring.

D: There’s long lulls of nothingness and looking at YouTube videos and talking shit, but sometimes there are exciting on-to-something moments. Then followed by more lulls of nothingness. And then we call it a day.

Z: Sometimes it can be very exciting when we’re on to something. You can feel the vibe when there’s a good flow but you can also feel when that flow crashes to a halt.

What are some of the highlights of 2012 so far?

D: There have been so many top moments already; it’s hard to put a finger on it.

Z: I think it was really cool to play at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto.

D: That was definitely a special moment, just looking out in the crowd at Yonge and Dundas, where we’ve walked by so many times growing up. So to see it transformed into a rowdy concert venue was such a trip.

Z: As far as the shows go, there have been a lot of amazing highlights; just being able to stand on these stages with the talent that goes up there as well, like at Coachella.

Check them out on Facebook & Twitter (@whoszed)!

- Christina

Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28

The Black Lips @ Osheaga 2012

Osheaga this year definitely got me into a lot of new music and I loved seeing a bunch of awesome artists that I probably wouldn't have gotten a chance to see. On day two of the festival, I caught a performance by the Black Lips and got to interview them after.

Check out my article for Faze Magazine:

Click HERE to read the full article

Check out a quick Q&A with Jared and Cole from the band!

This is your first time at Osheaga – what were you looking forward to about being a part of this festival?

Jared: Seeing our friends, seeing the city that we love so much, poutine, smoked meat, all that. And pretty much just the family reunion aspect. You’re playing with bands that you’ve known forever and that’s the most fun part.

Cole: We got to hang out with Florence + The Machine and MGMT last night, it was so nice. And the food at festivals is great. I ate like 40 oysters and I’m about to go eat 20 more

You teamed up with Ray-Ban and released a new video; tell me more about that project.

Cole: They helped produce our new video for “Noc-A-Homa.” It turned out really good. We grew up Braves fans and their mascot was Chief Noc-A-Homa. They got rid of him because he wasn’t politically correct but we still had good times with him when he was there in Atlanta. So it was an ode to the memory of him.

And being from Atlanta, what’s the music scene like over there?

Jared: It’s a slow city - it’s the capital city of the south, the New York City of the south. But everything down south moves slower so it’s chill I guess you could say. It’s mostly a hip-hop scene but there’s some rock and roll. Everything mixes together though.

You guys are known for your crazy live performances, where does this come from?

Cole: Inside, it’s like a fire burning inside.

Jared: We live every day like all hell’s about to break loose.

Cole: You get this balling sensation in your gut and it just has to get out somehow.

Jared: Have you ever been in a war zone?

Me: No…

Jared: Neither have I, but I feel like that’s what we think like sometimes.

During your set here at Osheaga, I saw Cole puked on stage, but kept going like a champ. I was impressed…how do you do that?!

Cole: The show must go on.

Jared: Does he look like a quitter? You earn the right to play on that stage – do you think you’re going to sit down like a little baby?

Cole: Those kids paid their hard earned money to come see a show.

Jared: Those kids are sitting in that crowd and can’t go to the bathroom. They’re sweating their asses off and they paid good money and we’re not going to sit down and cry because of someone puking. We are no better than them and they are no better than us.

What is your ultimate goal with your music?

Jared: To play seven continents and be awesome.

For more from the Black Lips, check them out at http://www.black-lips.com

Here's a video they did with Urban Outfitters:

Cole (middle) & Jared (Right)

- Christina

Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28

Charli XCX @ Osheaga 2012

Kicking off Osheaga this year was UK artist Charli XCX and I got the chance to chat with her after her awesome, high-energy set on the Mountain Stage at the festival. She brought her unique sound to Montreal and the crowd was loving it.

Here's a screenshot of the article I wrote for Faze Magazine:

Click HERE to read the full article

For anyone who hasn't heard her music before...here's one of her hits, "Nuclear Seasons"

Check out a bit of my interview with Charli XCX!

You just performed, kicking off the festival – what was that like?

That was pretty weird. I didn’t even know until I was up on stage. And then I was like, wait, everyone has just woken up. It was amazing though. The crowds here are so much cooler, seriously. Everyone is so happy and just wants to have a good time. I feel like sometimes in the UK people are just judging everything and are a bit afraid to get into it. But yeah, it was really cool and I had a great time.

For people who haven’t heard your music yet, how would you describe it?

I’d say it’s grunge-princessy darkness with a magical overtone. It’s very black and mystical; hip-hop drums over gothic grunginess, that’s what I’d say.

I love your unique style - How do you bring together music and fashion?

I’m all for bringing together music and fashion just because I feel like myself as an artist came from a very fashion-y scene. I came from doing warehouse raves, which was all about how you looked, probably more so than music. And for me, I feel that’s not accurate for me, I’m all about the music. But I want to bring a good style. And these days to survive you need to have that. My thing at the moment is Buffalo shoes, platforms, that’s what I’m all about. So for me, grungy gangster princess, that’s where I’m at I suppose.

You toured with Santigold earlier this year, how was that?

It was amazing. She is really great live and just really on it. I’m all for strong female people in music. I think every girl should be. I’m all for girl power and she’s definitely got that vibe and she’s in control of everything she does. I like people who are control freaks because that means they’re good at their job. We got to play to some really really great crowds and it was cool. And her dancers are sick.

And now you’re touring with Coldplay, how is that going?

It’s going really well, it’s amazing. It’s such an honor to be playing with them and it’s just so weird in a childish way. I feel like a pop princess because I’m on a f*cking huge stage with screens and everything and this is literally my dream. Oh and I met Chris Martin on a flight by accident and I was just so uncool. First of all, I really like rap music so I used to really want to be a rapper, but I told him that my main goal in life was to be a rapper and I was just like what am I saying? Then I went on to invite him to his own after party. I was like yeah so we’re doing an after party in Chicago, maybe you want to come. And he’s like wait, it’s my show. And it was so embarrassing. That was not cool. But I feel like he thought I was endearing. But yeah, other than that, the tour is amazing.

Who are some of your favourite rappers?

When I was younger, I used to really want to be Eminem. And I really like Uffie as well. But I don’t want to be a rapper anymore though. I just try to bring this – I would never call it rap because that would be offensive to people who actually do rap – but I bring my own spoken word shit into my music because I love that lazy style. And I do want to keep elements of hip-hop in my music and blend it with this super darkness.

You mentioned girl power, so who are some female artists you look up to?

I’m really inspired by people like Bjork and Kate Bush. And Gwen Stefani, she’s f*cking genius and so amazing on stage, she’s got such a presence. I’m all down for girls who are just doing their thing and don’t feel like they have to try to be sexy. That’s what girl power is for me, just doing your thing, I think that’s cool.

What is your ultimate party song?

Probably Spice Girls “Spice Up Your Life.” But I’m listening to loads of Azalea Banks at the moment – she can definitely party start.

Are you inspired at all by the Spice Girls?

Oh yeah, massively. I feel like my vibe is that if they had one more member, it would be grunge spice, and that would be me. Grunge Spice sounds kind of ugly, like she’s been hit in the face with a brick wall, so I’d probably find a different name. But that’s who I’d be.

What’s up next for you?

My record is probably going to be released over here in the spring of next year. But I just put out a mix-tape [Heartbreaks and Earthquakes - download it HERE] before this and I’ll be putting out another one hopefully in the next couple months. 

Here's another one of her tracks, "Stay Away" - I love this one!

Want more Charli XCX? Check her out at charlixcxmusic.com & on Facebook (facebook.com/charlixcxmusic) & on Twitter (@charli_xcx)

- Christina

Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28

OSHEAGA 2012 - Day 3

Day 3 was full of extreme weather, awesome performances and mud, lots of mud. It went from being super incredibly hot to spontaneous thunder storms within minutes - thank goodness I had my handy poncho (I swear, the best invention ever). Despite the fact that my shoes got completely covered in dirt, it was one of the best experiences; I had no interviews set up for this last day of the festival, so I took it all in and got to fully experience it as a festival go-er. Dancing and cheering from the crowd with  friends was probably one of the highlights of my summer. 

Check out my photos from day 3! Most of them were taken by my tall friend Ben - thank goodness for the non-vertically challenged.

One of my favourite bands: PASSION PIT - I saw them perform at the Indie Awards this year and I can't get enough of their music; it just makes me so happy :)

A red string had made its way throughout the crowd, so I got a shot of it from above!

The incredibly talented Common

Santigold absolutely KILLED it - she's so cool.

Bloc Party in the rain

Hooray for ponchos

Oh yeah, and we ran into Metric after the festival, in downtown Montreal! They are so nice. (Side note - yes, I know the phone on my camera is horrible......)

Up Next: Interviews with Charli XCX, the Black Lips & Zeds Dead

- Christina
Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28

All photos taken by me | Please contact for use

OSHEAGA 2012 - Day 2

Day 2 was a big day - aka the day I would see Snoop Dogg, or the newly reincarnated Snoop Lion, perform. I'm not too sure why I have this love for him, but I was really looking forward to seeing him live. It was even hotter than Day 1, but I was fine with the intense heat...one of my goals was to get tanned, so that was a bonus. Check out my photos from Day 2:

Kandle performed on the Tree Stage. I interviewed her a few months ago for Faze, here's the article: http://www.faze.ca/categories/music/2012/kandle.html

The Black Lips performed and brought their crazy live set to the Tree Stage. Cole (turquoise shirt) even puked on stage and kept on going like a champ. I interviewed Jared and Cole after their set, stay tuned for a Q&A post.

Jared

Cole

The Topshop truck was on-site giving away freezies, water and disposable cameras! 

Another awesome performance: A$AP Rocky

And then for my favourite...SNOOP DOGG! I was so happy that I somehow got a spot in the front row and got to enjoy Drop It Like It's Hot, along with his other classics, up close.

Up next: Day 3 + interviews with Charli XCX, the Black Lips & Zeds Dead!

- Christina

Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28

All photos taken by me | Please contact for use

OSHEAGA 2012 - Day 1

I had no idea what to expect when I was heading out to Montreal for the first time to cover Osheaga, so my expectations weren't too high and I was just super pumped to get to be in the presence of so many awesome performers - just from looking at that huge line-up, I knew it was going to be a good time. On day one, the sun was shining and it was hot, just the way I like it. Parc Jean-Drapeau was THE place to be from Aug. 3-5. Check out my photos from Day 1:

First show of the day: Charli XCX

FUN was awesome live!

Huge crowd for Of Monsters and Men

Florence + The Machine was definitely one of my favourites from the festival - there's something so magical about Florence Welch....

Toronto's own Zeds Dead played a bumpin set - stay tuned for my interview with them!

And that's all for Day 1! Up next: Day 2 & 3, plus a few interviews!

- Christina

Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28

*All photos taken by me; please contact for use.