"So many times I've fallen in love with an electronic artist, and when I look up their live clips, it's somebody bobbing up and down and twisting knobs - basically doing an elaborate karaoke. That's where I strive to be different. I use electronic sounds, but blended with real instruments with real people playing them." 

Before Lauren Malyon fell in love with synth-pop, she appeared to be on the path to inhabiting the elite world of a classical virtuoso. She was known around her town as the quiet girl with long blonde hair who played the violin and piano, practically from the time she could walk. But after hearing Chantal Kreviazuk's cover of "Leaving On A Jetplane" for the first time as a girl, Lauren knew her world would never be the same. "It was so real and full of genuine, raw emotion…it didn't necessarily have to be accurate or technically perfect to give me shivers or make me tear up". 

Writing songs at the piano was something of a mother-tongue for Lauren, so when she teamed up with song-writer and producer Paul Mayer, it made sense that her first EP "At My Window" (2009), was focused around a more real and organic sound. "What I was trying to accomplish with At My Window, was for each track to be a solid piece of pop songwriting". Through touring and the support of local business, Lauren sold 1000 copies of her EP and recently had a song placed on an episode of Wingin' It, a popular TV comedy for teens. In order to get the detailed arrangements from "At My Window" to come together live, Lauren enlisted the help of jazz fusion group,The Restless Age. 

Soon after, Lauren found herself in her producer's basement, developing material to follow the success of her EP. It was there Lauren discovered a keytar collecting dust. The idea of incorporating electronic instruments into her music seemed like an inevitable development in her sound. Channeling the early 80s, Lauren let her hair go back to a natural state of big, blonde chaos. Again teaming up with The Restless Age, she performs her own synthed-out songs, and re-imaginings of some favourite covers. Lauren's live performances are a combination of carefully crafted electronic soundscape, combined with a desire to create moments of real human spontaneity and emotion.

Good things come to those who wait. Patience is a virtue. Success is a journey, not a destination...

What a load of crap.

When forming a band, the last thing any enthusiastic musician wants is to be pummeled by a stream of idioms telling them how it takes time to build merit and value. Artists desire creating with wanton abandon; throwing caution to the wind and reveling in the excesses of creativity, not buckling down with a plan.

In the case of Winnipeg, Manitoba-based outfit Take Me To The Pilot (TMTTP) however, thanks to sage wisdom, patience and enjoying the venture towards their goal, guitarist/vocalist Mike Bilenki, guitarist Eric Grabowecky, bassist Adam Brown and drummer Jon James have easily asserted just how those axioms can ring painfully true yet yield stellar, incomparable results.

Initially just the working title for Bilenki's solo acoustic effort circa early 2009, Take Me To The Pilot has solidified into an enviably dominant and refined unit. Refusing to sacrifice integrity and ability for immediate gratification, Bilenki enduringly crafted Take Me To The Pilot over the course of months, hand-picking members based on ability and drive as well as their congenital passion for uniting pop, punk and bona fide rock. 

Finding those seeds of virtue in Brown, James and Grabowecky, Take Me To The Pilot blossomed beyond an autonomous show into the virile, captivating and fetching experience exemplified on their awe-inspiring, dynamic and virulent independent eponymous debut EP. Diligent, passionate and pointed, Take Me To The Pilot is an effort which not only further amalgamates the worlds of pop-influenced punk and addictive barb-filled rock but overtake it completely.

Assuring the quartet is making nothing less than incredible moves, the works that comprise TMTTP's EP—created under the supervision of Dale Penner’s Paradise Alley Productions (Nickelback, Holly McNarland) who works with the band in a development/management capacity—are amassing a host of achievements despite their ephemeral existence. From sold-out shows during five successful tours to surviving everything the Great White North's roads can throw at them, rotation on major Canadian stations, revered national publications, inclusion of their song 'Tonight' on the hit television series Degrassi and shows with acts such as Fefe Dobson, These Kids Wear Crowns and My Darkest Days, TMTTP has quickly amassed thousands of ravenous fans across the nation, fans which the band are in a prime position to reach since signing on with The Agency Group in April 2011.

Regardless of such accomplishments, TMTTP refuse to relent, intent on razing audiences during their upcoming cross-Canada tour with Aurora pop-rock group Brighter Brightest this August, after which the band will head back into the studio to continue work on their second EP. Analyzing this explosive musical ascension, Bilenki chalks the band's attention and fervent appreciation up to their unique modus.

“We straddle the line between pop/punk-based rock and pure pop music. Our songs have guitars you can rock out to but also feature beats you can dance to. There’s no pretence and no worries: it’s music with hooks you can sing, lyrics you’ll remember and is simply a whole lot of fun. After being part of a classic rock band for four years, it was time for a change. I just write whatever comes out, no pretences, no expectations. Those are the songs you hear on Take Me To The Pilot.”

While Take Me To The Pilot perfectly encapsulates TMTTP's inherent ability and indelible drive, the band is adamant that their music offers more than the mindlessly pedestrian entertainment most pop settles on. To that extent, Bilenki reveals humility and gratitude at Take Me To The Pilot's strength, ability and dedicated following, good fortune he recognizes could only have come about with the grace of that aforementioned patience.

“We don’t just want people to listen. We want them to care,” Bilenki asserts. “Anybody can hear a song but if it can affect you on a level where it stirs something up, that's when it's truly powerful. 50 people will listen to one song and hear a million different things. If the song connects with all of them on any level, then through that song, those 50 people ultimately become the same person. Moments like that are why we do what we do and that's what Take Me To The Pilot is all about. I dare you to find four guys who are more stoked about doing what we do.”  

Playing their distinctly versatile rock, Air Marshal Landing’s quirky pop sensibilities teach their fans that it really is a good idea to grab your two best friends and start a band together.  

Their three-piece, but more like 10-instrument, family of clever songwriting and tight musicality displays an ability to write across a variety of genres while maintaining a sound that is uniquely theirs.

The Canadian band is more like a brotherhood now, but the group was initially formed in sections. Matt Simmonds (bass, keys, vocals, guitars) and Cory Adrian (guitars, vocals, bass) met as young teens through their church in Uxbridge, Ontario and honed their songwriting skills together, playing in various bands along the way. Graham Drummond (drums, synth, percussion), originally from Waterdown, ON, grew up drumming in screamo bands before meeting Matt at The University of Western Ontario and enduring calculus together.

Matt took the big step and brought Graham home to meet Cory in the summer of 2008 and after a short jam, they quickly discovered that the music they made together, well, worked. 

And it has been working ever since, landing them spots in IndieWeek Canada and, most recently, Canadian Music Week. Spending much of their time in the Toronto area, AML is being recognized by their peers and playing alongside well-established bands like Whosarmy and Hey Ocean. The guys of AML have had some quick successes and it doesn’t seem like they are headed anywhere but up.

Fans of AML sure have a lot to look forward to. The trio just finished recording their first full-length album with Nygel Asselin (Half Moon Run, Faded Vanity) at The Farm on Canada’s West Coast and will be releasing it later this year. The record refuses to abide by any one genre’s rules, offering a spectrum of sounds while holding onto the band’s consistently bright, thoughtful, and layered style. The record’s themes are slightly darker and more contemplative than their EP The Industry, but listeners will be unable to ignore the fun they had while making the album. 

Because you can’t talk about Air Marshal Landing without using the word “fun”. 

Matt, Cory, and Graham are simply infectious (think less like a disease and more like contagious laughter). Whether they’re filming dramatic storytelling with Scottish accents or making cheeky comments to the audience, their fans are always in on the joke, like an everwelcome club that anyone who hears about wants to be a part of. Just watch one of their “Tender Moments” videos and you’ll catch the drift.

After all, when talking about why they pursued music in the first place, Matt explains, “Watching DVDs of Zeppelin performing, or Fred Penner...I knew that’s what I wanted to do: play music in front of people.” 

AML’s live show definitely sets them apart. Sure, the boys make up a fairly straightforward trio, but thankfully, they rarely stick to their instrumental roles and end up creating memorable performances and outstanding compositions (like when Graham drums on Matt’s  guitar strings as Matt avoids his sticks like a musical game of dodge ball). 

The three-piece is dripping with possibilities and fans old and new will be eagerly awaiting AML’s year of big shows, anticipated releases, and the tenderest of moments. 

Air Marshal Landing’s album is due in the summer 2012, but their 2009 EP The Industry and single “Bourgeoisie” are both currently available through iTunes.

Colfax is a heavy rock outfit that spawned from Brockville, ON during the spring of 2008. Motivated and eager to discover, the band self-booked shows all over their home province for a year to provide a strong foundation for budding musicianship and relationships alike. By the summer of 2009, Colfax begun work on their debut album "Keys to the Midway", eventually landing the band a distribution deal through Universal Music Canada via Blue Sapphire records.

In the spring of 2010, Colfax embarked on a self-made program designed to support the dwindling music education in Canada that they dubbed "The EducaTOUR". With an innovative presentation that was equal parts workshop and rock show, the band toured cross-Canada twice, cold-calling over 150 shows from Charlottetown to Nanaimo. The band created a novel fan-appreciation program in the process.

The culmination of rigorous touring, ever-growing musical capabilities and presence of a brand new vocalist liberated Colfax and had allowed the band the right means to create their follow up album, "One Big Quicksand". The album was recorded and produced by up-and-comer Jayson DeZuzio (Coheed and Cambria, My Chemical Romance, Four Year Strong) in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Presently, Colfax maintain their strong work ethic while remaining largely indifferent to current trends.  

Final Thought has more going on than most internationally renowned bands. This trio of young musicians are burning the candle at both ends and still pulling off amazing feats musically in the studio, in performance and with their videos. Case in point, Final Thought have just released their superb, high energy single, “This Party” a cut from their upcoming CD entitled “What We Need”, co-produced by a stellar cast including; Luc Tellier (The Mission District, The New Cities), Rob Freeman ( Cobra Starship, Gym Class Heroes, Hit The Lights and Hidden in Plain View) & John Naclerio (My Chemical Romance, Brand New, Bayside).

Final Thought is headed up by singer/songwriter and lead guitar player, Dustin Dopsa, with Brandon Hawthorne on bass and Tom Watson on drums, who bring the undeniably powerful rhythm to this dynamic trio.

Final Thought has managed to garner respectable sales with their previous EP of over 2,000 units while they toured throughout Canada, played private showcases for the likes of rock-legend Gene Simmons & Universal Music and as well as being recently Featured on Much Music TV.

Final Thought also had one of their songs entitled “Take You Home” Featured on the newest season of “Degrassi” and Final Thought’s video for “Tell All Your Friends” is in rotation on MUCH LOUD as of April 2011.

Leaving no stone unturned Final Thought are excited to finally get their brand of rock music out to radio and to get into the intense fray of competition with the best of them. They have yet a few things to prove and nothin’ to lose.