My discovery and enjoyment of Canadian music began when I started listening to CBC Radio 3 online. The site is easy to navigate by genres, artists and programs but most importantly, they provide listeners with a ‘one stop shop’ of current Canadian musicians. I recommend that you start listening to one of its regular podcasts or programs (Vish Khanna’s Breakfast Club or The R3 30) that features a variety of today’s top artists.
As I write this, I’m listening to Dan Mangan’s latest album, ‘Oh Fortune’, being streamed from CBC Radio 3. I saw Mangan perform recently at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and the concert has cemented a place for him on my commuter playlist (the highest honour I can bestow). Dan Mangan is a musician from Vancouver who’s probably best known for ‘Robots’, a song from his album “Nice, Nice, Very Nice”. It’s about robots and love, what else can you ask for? Here’s his wonderfully weird music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRcXULN6mp4
CBC Radio3 has made discovering Canadian music so easy for me. Spend some time streaming or listening to their station and I’m sure you’ll find an artist or band that will make you proud to be Canadian. If you’re still unsure of where to start, here are 3 artists who I first started listening to and realized just how much the Canadian music scene had to offer. They’re just the tip of the Arctic iceberg:
Said the Whale: Another band from the West Cost whose music has such life and energy. Here is one of their first hits, Camilo (The Magician): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar0bmGshhTs
Matthew Barber: Born and raised in Southern Ontario, Barber released a self-titled album this year and if you like indie folk rock, you’ll enjoy this album. I first saw Barber perform almost a decade ago when he opened for David Usher and I’m still a fan of his music now.
Jill Barber: She’s actually Matthew Barber’s sister who has quite a unique sound and style. She’s inspired by the music of Ella Fitzgerald and Edith Piaf, with the voice to match. The two Barbers toured through Toronto as a part of their Canadian tour titled “Sibling Revelry”.
I hope you enjoy listening to these artists as much as I do and please share some of your favourite Canadian musicians with me.
Stuart Thursby says:
Sihan says: