NEXT Magazine May 2022

MADE IN CANADA• 05|2022

FREE

DENZEL CURRY FIERY RAP INNOVATOR COMES OF AGE

TATE MCRAE THE NEXT CANADIAN POP SUPERSTAR HAS ARRIVED

VALLEY

SHIMMERING POP POWERS BREAK OUT BAND

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SOFFI TUKKER VINCE STAPLES ELLEVATOR DANNY BOYLE’S PISTOL IS LOADED

KEEPING

LIVE

ALIVE!

EL MOCAMBO FRIDAY, MAY 6 • 7 PM

ANDREW HYATT SATURDAY, MAY 7 • 7 PM

BOLSEN FRIDAY, MAY 13 • 8 PM

STRANGE ADVANCE SATURDAY, MAY 14 • 8 PM

IN CONCERT

FRI & SAT, MAY 20 & 21 • 7 PM

THE ROAD HAMMERS

WITH

ONE UGLY COWBOY

THURSDAY, MAY 26 • 7 PM

ORI DAGAN THURSDAY, MAY 26 • 8 PM

BAD LUCK AND THE DOLLAR SIGNS FRIDAY, MAY 27 • 8 PM

DEVON

STARK NAKED FLESHTONES COLE AND THE

SUNDAY, MAY 15 • 7 PM

JESUS JONES

SATURDAY, MAY 28 • 8 PM

PACIFIC ESTATE

2 MAY 2022 NEXT

464 SPADINA AVE. TORONTO

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Contents

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THE SHORT LIST

The JUNOs are back — live and taking over Toronto, the kids are back in the hall with a new KITH series and Avril Lavigne will be disappointing Sk8r Bois across Canada as she tours with her husband.

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MUSIC FEATURE

Hip hop star Denzel Curry talks about his most intimate album ever and what it’s like to grow up in public.

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NEXT BIG THING

Upstart Ellevators’ brain power pop is personal, not pretentious and they don’t mind being compared to bands like Metric, Stars and even Arcade Fire.

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COVER STORY

Calgary-raised Tate McRae will be the next big Canadian pop star, and she and NEXT’s Rayne Fisher-Quann commiserate about the life after high school and discuss super-stardom ahead.

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ALBUM REVIEWS

Vince Staples, Lydia Persaud, Belle and Sebastian, Tanika Charles, The Regrettes, Syd, Patrick Watson, Awolnation, Grae, Sam Drysdale, Jahmal Padmore, Deanna Petcoff and many more.

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THE LOCAL PAGES

Jam-packed with JUNOs events in Toronto, Just For Laughs shows hit Vancouver and anime animates Calgary

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.

THE FUNNIES

You think you know Kendrick Lamar?

Then try to ace our quiz on the hip hop hero, then, take a NEXT-Libs trip to the JUNOs.

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06 DRINKS Rethinking tequila 08 FOOD Time for sourdough from the pros 11 FASHION We’re on tip toes with excitement 13 CANNABIS Something fun for under your tongue 14 GAMING Seems zombie games will never die 16 TV/MOVIES Oscar-winner Danny Boyle’s joy of Sex Pistols COVER AND THIS PAGE: Lights photographed by Lissy Elle Laricchia NEXT MAY 2022

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SHORTLIST O MAY

T H E

T O P

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T O

D O

I N

C A N A D A

T H I S

M O N T H

AWARDS SHOW

MOVIE

2 WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

�

TOP GUN FLIES ONCE MORE

WATCH THE CHARLOTTE CARDIN JUNO INTERVIEW VIDEO HERE

Charlotte Cardin

JUNOS ROAR BACK — IN PERSON JUNO AWARDS AND MORE Toronto, Sun., May 15, 8 pm ET Budweiser Stage and CBC TV In person: $40 – $266; broadcast, free junoawards.ca

The JUNOS are back live and in person in Toronto, with a packed slate of events honouring Canadian music that’s highlighted by the Sunday night awards show and broadcast hosted by super-dude Simu Liu with performances by Arcade Fire, Charlotte Cardin, Avril Lavigne, Mustafa, Arkells and more. The Songwriters’ Circle (May 11, Massey Hall) features Charlotte Day Wilson, The Weather Station, TOBI and Serena Ryder while emerging acts take over Toronto clubs for JUNO Fest shows throughout JUNO Week. There’s a comedy show, artist talks, even more awards and lots more.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK Where: In theatres When: Fri., May 27 Genre: Action

The 1986 aviation classic gets a revival with a sequel set 30 years after the original. Tom Cruise renews his role as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, who’s tasked with training a new cohort of top gun graduates.

The cast includes Jennifer Connelly and Miles Teller, with Hans Zimmer and Lady Gaga building the soundtrack.

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CONCERT

AVRIL SPREADS THE LOVE

NEXT Magazine

AVRIL LAVIGNE Toronto: Fri., May 13, 7 pm, Coca-Cola Coliseum Calgary: Sat., May 21 & Sun., May 22, 7 pm, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Vancouver: Tues., May 24, 7 pm, Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre $100+ avrillavigne.com

Editor/Publisher Michael Hollett Creative Director Troy Beyer Associate Editor Rayne Fisher-Quann (Vancouver)

Break out your Dr. Martens and colourful hair dye — the Canadian pop-punk queen is going on tour! This spring, Avril Lavigne visits all three NEXT cities as she shares her new album, Love Sux, and older classic hits. She’s joined by new fiancé, Mod Sun, and rising Canadian alternative star, grandson.

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KIDS THESE DAYS

WATCH THE LOVE IT WHEN YOU HATE ME VIDEO HERE

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

Advice Columnist Amy Millan askamy@nextmag.ca Director of Sales and Partnerships Barbara Hefler

FESTIVAL

CONCERT

Advertising Inquiries: sales@nextmag.ca Administrative Assistant Yvette Angela

THE KIDS IN THE HALL Prime Video, 8 episodes, 30 mins.

Fri., May 13 Comedy

Canada’s comedic cross-dressing cutups, The Kids in the Hall are back with all-new shows on Prime Video. Sketch comedy kings, the Kids’ last new shows were in 1995 and a real reunion of the combative clowns, who were also otherwise engaged with their own projects, often seemed unlikely. A KITH doc, Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks, also airs on Prime Video on Fri., May 20.

Contributors Benji Adringa, Away, Keisha Balatbat, Latoya Elle, Kristal Griffin, Ammar Karam, Sarah Khan, Zack Kotzer, Remi Louis Harris, Amy Lloyd, Daniel McIntosh, Sarah Morrison, Kufu Najee, Nicole Richie, Laura Robinson, Sierra Stone, Karen K. Tran, Caely White, Sanjeev Wignarajah

Circulation Coordinator Ian Vidovich Circulation Eric Caldwell, Paul Mckenzie, Callum Miller, Adam Pharoh, Connor Radcliffe, Sharon Rosinke, Henry Voskuil

WATCH THE SEASON 4 TRAILER HERE

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Published by NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc.

THINGS ARE GETTING STRANGE AGAIN STRANGER THINGS Where: Netflix, 9 episodes When: Part 1 on Fri., May 27; Part 2 on Fri., July 1 Genre: Sci-fi thriller

In 2016, an ’80s-inspired synth soundtrack and the eerie sci-fi adventures of five kids enraptured millions around the world. Now, their mysteries unravel even further, with Stranger Things Season 4 , which will be released in two parts. There’s plenty to binge and keep the suspense alive before the show’s confirmed fifth and final season.

NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. Board of Directors Michael Cohl, Michael Hollett, Gary Slaight Distribution NEXT Magazine is distributed in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary For distributor info: distro@nextmag.ca Contact Us 115 Danforth, Suite 302 • Toronto • ON • M4K 1N2 T. 416.519.5004 email: info@nextmag.ca All content property of NEXT Magazine Enterprises Inc. ©2022 May, 2022. Vol. 2, No. 3, Issue #12

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OLMECA ALTOS PLATA The square bottle is unique, but what’s inside is more special.

From the highlands of Jalisco, the vegetal undertones are boosted by a nice clean agave sweetness with a lime-like finish.

If a bar has this as their rail (well) tequila, you’re in good hands.

Works excellently in margaritas, palomas and El Diablos!

TROMBA TEQUILA BLANCO This tequila is the partnership between Canadian businessperson Eric Brass and Maestro Marco Cedano.

Launched in 2010 and now the No. 1 independent tequila in Canada, its balanced profile and pineapple sweetness are unmistakable.

Delicious and refreshing with some soda and a grapefruit twist and the perfect tequila blanco sipper.

HERRADURA REPOSADO Out of one of the oldest houses in Jalisco, this is the world’s first reposado tequila.

This smooth spirit is aged in ex-American bourbon barrels for the longest legal amount of time, 11 months.

This gives it wonderfully complex banana caramel flavours and a nice roundness — for those who truly appreciate quality booze.

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D RI N K

THE SIPPING POINT WHY SHOOT THE BAD STUFF WHEN YOU CAN SIP ON THE GOOD STUFF? Tequila has a historically bad rap of reminding us of sweaty college bars, lime and salt, and nights out where unspeakable things happen.

But proper premium tequilas have arrived in Canada and are making their presence known in a big way. Premium doesn’t automatically mean more expensive, it just means that you’re drinking a 100 per cent agave spirit just the way tequileros intended. The spirit is split into three sub categories, differentiated by how long the tequila is aged: blanco (zero to two months), reposado (two to 11 months) and anejo (one to three years); they all have unique flavour profiles and appeal to different people. We’ve rounded up six of the best. There’s a tequila for everyone — available in all the NEXT Three Cities!

By AMMAR KARAM

FIND THESE TEQUILAS IN YOUR TOWN

JOSE CUERVO TRADICIONAL REPOSADO Didn’t expect to find Jose Cuervo on this list did you? This is an affordable, entry-level reposado to get behind. Aged lightly — approx. two months — it’s quite spicy, with notes of cooked agave, vanilla and a hint of cinnamon. Workhorse in any cocktail you feel like making. Try using it in a Rosita cocktail.

1800 COCONUT TEQUILA Every bartender claims their margarita is the best margarita.

They’re all wrong.

A margarita made with this lovely coconut tequila will be the best.

Don’t let the idea of flavoured tequila fool you, it’s wonderfully integrated and shines when you support it with lime juice, Cointreau and some sugar — a.k.a. a margarita.

CENOTE ANEJO Can’t have a tequila list without at least one slightly baller tequila. Cenote is not as popular as the other brands, but this one-year anejo definitely takes the cake. Warm caramel, vanilla and cooked agave with a black pepper finish, this tequila was made for old fashioneds and after-dinner enjoyment.

HARRY STYLES

Harry’s House

Out May 20th

FO O D

BREAD WINNERS

The hunger for artisan breads peaked early in the pandemic with an explosion of home bakers trying their hand at creating the perfect loaf. Here's some pros that have conquered the dough demons. By NICOLE RICHIE

Calgary’s French 50 Micro Bakery, Pain Maison 8 MAY 2022 NEXT

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he sourdough explosion didn’t just overtake home kitchens over the last two years, bakeries from across our NEXT Three Cities are baking up some of the tangiest, crunchiest and crustiest loaves in the country.

Sourdough became the hobby of many during the darkest parts of pandemic, but this month, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the mighty loaf and give it the praise it deserves.

Sourdough bread is a fermented art form perfected by many bakers and home cooks alike.

Because sourdough starters are alive, you have to look after them in order to ensure fantastic bread. Sourdough has a lively, bright and tangy affect on your favourite loaves and it also helps to get that airy interior and perfect bubbling crunch. These bakeries from across the country are kneading some of the most delectable, classic and creative binge-worthy breads.

WHERE TO SCORE GREAT BREAD IN YOUR TOWN TORONTO DEAR GRAIN, Super Seeded Loaf 48 Ossington Ave. deargrain.com

This Hamilton-based bakery recently opened its Ossington Avenue location and it’s quickly grown a cult following among Torontonians. The Super Seeded Loaf is coated in a layer of black and white sesame, pumpkin, poppy, sunflower, millet and flax seeds to give it that craveable nutty flavour. With a mix of three different organic flours — including dark rye, light spelt and sifted wheat flour — this dark and malty loaf is one of the most desirable breads in Toronto. After one slice, you’ll understand why Dear Grain is slowly becoming a breadhead destination.

MATTACHIONI, Italian Sourdough

1617 Dupont St. & 1501 Gerrard St. E. mattachioni.com

Mattachioni is known for its pizza and pasta, but throughout the pandemic, this bakery was slinging out some of the city’s best sandwiches made on its

VANCOUVER

Italian sourdough bread. This light and fluffy loaf is not your typical sourdough: the exterior is thinner than the crust of a traditional loaf, but it’s chewy and crisp and always spotted with pockets of char for an added smoky flavour. The bread itself has a great sourness and tang contrasting the rich texture.

A BREAD AFFAIR, Cheeky Sourdough 1680 Johnston St. abreadaffair.com

SIDEWALK CITIZEN BAKERY, Red Fife Sourdough Bread

618 Confluence Way SE; 340 13th Ave SW; 338 10 St. NW sidewalkcitizenbakery.com

EMMER’S COUNTRY WHITE LOAF, Country White Loaf 161 Harbord St. emmertoronto.ca

This Harbord Street bakery is a newcomer on Toronto’s bread scene, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t already made its mark.

With praise in the media for its patisserie and viennoiserie, it’s no surprise its sourdough is also off the charts. The Country White loaf is a classic white sourdough made mostly from bread flower with a little wheat flour for added texture, colour and a slightly malty flavour. This is a deliciously traditional loaf and a must-try for sourdough lovers.

CALGARY RUSTIC SOURDOUGH BAKERY, Buttermilk Rye Sourdough

1305 17th Avenue SW rusticsourdoughbakery.com/bread

This super traditional, buttermilk, batched bread is a constant sell-out at Rustic Sourdough.

The crunchy peaks of crust, accompanied by the super moist interior, make this top-tier bread.

The added use of buttermilk enriches the already tangy notes of the fermented yeast and helps to add a little density to the loaf.

Enriched with a combination of organic flours, like unbleached untreated wheat flour, organic dark rye flour, rye sour culture and flax seed, this loaf has a great texture and nutty flavour.

Since 2009, Sidewalk Citizen’s sourdough starter has been alive and well, helping the bakery to produce dozens of loaves daily for hungry Calgarians. Done in a three-day cold fermentation process, Sidewalk takes very good care of its bread, hand-cutting each loaf. Red Fife Sourdough is Prairie bread that dates back to the late 19th century. Sidewalk Citizen is working with this ancient grain and uplifting it with the sour and lively starter to give it a great bubbly texture and fantastic chew.

A Bread Affair is deeply rooted in the sustainable, non-GMO, “West Coast values” that make its bread some of the best in Vancouver. A Bread Affair handicrafts its loaves from wheat and grains that are native to British Columbia and use the breads to help celebrate the agricultural past and bring it into the present. The Cheeky Sourdough’s culture dates back to 1986 and was started in California wine country. The flavours of Napa are intertwined with the natural tang from the yeast and express wonderfully in the Cheeky loaf.

THE BENCH BAKEHOUSE, Caramelized Onion Sourdough 1641 Commercial Dr. thebenchbakehouse.com

The French-inspired bakery in Vancouver’s Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood, better known as the city’s Little Italy, is known for its creative, fermented loaves of chewy sourdough.

The Caramelized Onion sourdough is a smash hit and is one of the bakery’s most ordered breads. An iteration of The Bench Bakehouse’s Country Loaf, an 18-hour-fermented white sourdough, this version sports layers of ooey-gooey caramelized onions, giving it an added savoury component. This bread is perfect on its own, toasted with butter or sliced up to make the world’s best grilled cheese.

LIVIO FORNO E VINO, Buckwheat & Oat Sourdough

FRENCH 50 MICRO BAKERY, Pain Maison 52 N. Railway St., Okotoks french50bakery.com

This Okotoks-based bakery may be a bit of a drive from downtown Calgary, but French 50’s picture perfect loaves are worth the trip.

The Pain Maison is cool-proofed and naturally raised and made with toasty bread flour. This beauty is decorated in traditional sourdough scores, making for foliage-derived designs to cover the breads exterior. Inside the thick and toasty crust lies the airy and flavourful centre. The Pain Maison is a classic white sourdough and one of French 50’s most desirable breads, selling out almost every day.

1399 Commercial Dr. liviasweets.com

The Buckwheat and Oat Sourdough is not a staple on Livio Forno’s menu, but on the weekends, Vancouverites line up for this nutty and hearty bread. Because of the heavy grains, toasted oats and the natural fermentation process, this bread has a velvety texture and a crispy crust, making it an ideal choice for a stacked sandwich. This rich and dark, textural loaf is an awesome sandwich bread, but because of its roasted buckwheat flavour, it’s also a hit with butter and jam.

LEARN TO MAKE SOURDOUGH AT HOME

NEXT MAY 2022

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TUTU GOOD

ST Y L E

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BALLETCORE: THE FEMININE ATHLEISURE TREND IS A SPRING/ SUMMER MUST-HAVE

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What do you get when you mix the comfort-focused athleisure of the pandemic with NYC rich-girl aspirations and a cultural over-romanticization of Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan? As it turns out, you get one of the hottest trends of the season — a comfy, flirty, hyper-feminine moment colloquially called “balletcore.” This trend has twirled into the spotlight over the last few months as a casual, cool-girl response to the world opening up again. Featuring bodysuits, sheer skirts, cozy cardigans, and leg warmers in luxe fabrics like satin and wool, the trend prioritizes quality over quantity; one cute outfit could easily take you from the gym to class to brunch and beyond. And while the trend is still new, it feels like a step in the right direction toward a more basic, timeless style ecosystem rather than an endless cycle of viral micro-trend items.. Here, we’ve rounded up some high-quality items that are made with care and built to last (and also just might help you live out your eight-year-old self’s prima ballerina fantasies).

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By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

1. Los Angeles Apparel Micro-Mesh Ballet Wrap Skirt / $62 2. Frank & Oak Fleece Wrap Top / $60 3. Aritzia White Manila Cardigan / $98 4. New Balance Pink 237 Sneakers / $100 5. Hot Lava Baby Dancer Unitard / $78 6. Los Angeles Apparel Oversized Velvet Scrunchie / $16

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SHOP THE LOOK HERE

10 MAY 2022 NEXT

Build your own Playlists Now, you can collect and organize all the music you love into playlists for any mood or activity, and it’s totally free.

Check out these expertly curated playlists to get you started.

Download the iHeartRadio app today.

NEXT

NEXT DECEMBER MAY 2022 2021

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C A N NABIS

is said to be even more effective than CBD in boosting serotonin and helping to deal with nausea and anxiety.

Combining the two compounds in one strip allows for a more holistic cerebral and bodily experience. Portable and discreet, these strips are made to ensure you get a consistent, low dose with every use.

Being Fast Acting Oral Strips 10 mg THC per strip Made by Thrive Cannabis, these low-dose THC strips are the perfect way to introduce your non-smoking friends to the cannabis world. The THC strips dissolve under the tongue and quickly release cannabinoids that bypass the digestive system, allowing for a direct absorption into your system.

With less THC than other sublingual or oral products on the market, one might think Being’s strips are not strong enough to compete with an edible or capsule, but because of their unique technology, these QuickStrips will get you high in no time.

Kin Slips Park Life CBD 10 Strip 1 mg THC and 10 mg CBD per strip Feel the effect 10 to 15 minutes after dosing with one of Kin Slips Park Life strips.

These 10 mg CBD strips are the perfect bedtime buddy.

The super-fast-acting strips go under the tongue and release a refreshing peppermint flavour along with a small, but potent, dose of CBD. Carrying terpenes like Linalool, which is found in lavender, these strips help to relax the body and mind, making for a great sleep aid. If you’re not accustomed to CBD, rip the strips apart for a micro dose and see what works best for you.

Optician CB4 Control Sublingual Strips 6 mg CBD and 4 mg CBDA per strip Optician, based in Fort Erie, ON, is combining the power of CBD, CBDA and Versafilm technology to create sublingual strips targeted at getting CBD into your bloodstream in record time. CBDA, another cannabinoid found in plants, 12 MAY 2022 NEXT

Kin Slips Cloud Buster THC 10 Strips 10 mg THC per strip

TONGUE TWISTERS UNDER THE TONGUE AND DONE

The cannabis market is constantly evolving and making a new name for itself on the wellness market. Sublingual strips are a new way to consume cannabis that’s super friendly for non-smokers and cannabis and CBD users looking for something super-discreet. This under-the-tongue strip contains a dose of THC, CBD or both and is extremely fast acting, working with the membranes in your tongue to skyrocket you to almost immediate sensation. Avoiding inhalation and keeping the calorie count low, these little strips are breaking boundaries and making it even easier to jump on the bud bandwagon.

By NICOLE RICHIE

These sativa-dominant strips are made with terpenes and cannabinoids commonly found in the top-selling sativa strains. Similar to their CBD counterpart, these strips take 10 to 15 minutes to fully absorb into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system that keeps other edibles from breaking down faster.

Taking about a minute to dissolve under your tongue, these buzzy strips ensure an uplifting and mood-boosting high with every dose.

LovePharma Auralief Strips 20 mg CBD per strip These long-awaited strips from B.C. wellness pioneers LovePharma are not available on the public market just yet, but we couldn’t put together an article on sublingual strips without giving them a mention. These hemp-based oral strips are super-fast-acting and paper thin, dissolving in less than a minute under your tongue. Made with all-natural, vegan and gluten-free ingredients, these strips are said to help with anxiety, stress, pain, inflammation and sleep. Focussing on wellness, sexual health and psychedelic research, LovePharma is passionate about making sure its products help to heal and uplift customers the way medicinally based products are meant to.

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GAMES AT A GLANCE: MAY

Rogue Legacy 2

ZOMBIE CRAZE REFUSES TO DIE

Before 2011, Toronto-based brothers Kenny and Teddy Lee never spent more than $1,000 making any video game. Then, the two invested 18 months and $15,000 into the addictive 2013 hit Rogue Legacy, now returning with Rogue Legacy 2. Aiming to make the infamously obtuse roguelike genre more accessible, Rogue Legacy places you in a cursed family, having to explore a cursed castle because one cursed ancestor got this whole curse rolling. Every time you die, loot and skills are passed along to your new character, while this next of kin adds weird new quirks like gigantism, colourblindness, pacifism and flatulence.

With the sequel’s new class system, adding on skill sets for bards and gunslingers alike, each game is refreshing, frustrating and compelling.

Heck, you may just find the cursed lifestyle suits you well. Rogue Legacy 2 is now available on PC and Xbox.

WATCH THE EVIL DEAD TRAILER HERE

How many dummies does it take to prevent a demonic apocalypse? Hopefully four will do! By ZACK KOTZER

B

ased on Sam Raimi’s classic 1981 slapstick horror movie series, Evil Dead: The Game resurrects Bruce Campbell as the iconic Ash Williams. With his trusty chainsaw and The Boomstick, Ash must save an ungrateful world from legions of unholy deadites for the umpteenth time. But this time, he’s not coming alone. Characters pulled from the film and TV series are joining him to reassemble the pages of the Necronomicon and stop evil incarnate — and you and all your buddies can fill their shoes.

This is not Ash’s first virtual adventure. The cult films have been adapted and spun off into software for the SEGA Dreamcast, PlayStation 2 and original Xbox in bygone years. Hell, there was even a Commodore 64 game. This new entry is capitalizing on the recent trend of online survival horror games most popularized by Dead by Daylight, which has already

14 MAY 2022 NEXT

featured appearances from the likes of Freddy, Jason, Myers, Leatherface and, yes, Ash. Also known as “asymmetrical multiplayer,” these titles often see one survivor set against some terrible beast.

Deep in those accursed woods, four players can take the role of Ash and company, though another player can opt to take the reigns of the dreadful deadites, corrupting corpses and interfering with the heroes’ progress. Baddies can even fill the boots of Evil Ash, Ash’s decaying, mediaeval doppelgänger. Once running around the forest gets tiresome, you can hop behind the wheel of Ash’s yellow 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale and take it for a joyride.

The splatterfest begins on Fri., May 13, when Evil Dead: The Game rises on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

Ever get déjà vu? In 2013, Stanley found himself at his desk job, pressing buttons every day as he was commanded. Every attempt to escape revealed a postmodern labyrinth, his every action described by a wry British narrator. Hell a la Duck Amuck. Like it or not, Stanley is back at his station for The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, a new edition of the irreverent and surrealist classic. In the years since the original, the creators have published a number of meta-narrative projects and collaborations with Ricky & Morty co-creator Justin Roiland. Expect The Stanley Parable to reveal more tricks when it begins again on PC, Playstation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch April 27.

Citizen Sleeper

Even among the stars, paradise will have to be what you make of it. In Citizen Sleeper, you are a human mind implanted in an android body, on the run from the corporation that leased you. Stowing aboard a commune on a drifting space station, you must build your life anew, make new allies and navigate your alignments. This unique RPG space odyssey launches on PC, Xbox and Nintendo Switch May 5.

This project is funded in part by FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

Ce projet est financé en partie par FACTOR, le gouvernement du Canada et les radiodiffuseurs privés du Canada.

NEXT MAY 2022

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Watch TV / MOVIES / STREAMING

What To

PISTOL GRIPS

DANNY BOYLE'S SEX PISTOL SERIES SHINES NEW LIGHT ON PUNK PIONEERS

By AMY LLOYD

WATCH THE PISTOL TRAILER HERE

Anson Boon as Johnny Rotten

16 MAY 2022 NEXT

May Movies & Streaming

TOKYO VICE

T

elling a story through film is a challenging task on its own, but telling the story of real people and their lived experiences can be a daunting undertaking. No stranger to biographical pieces is Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Days), who sits with me on a phone call one afternoon to chat about his upcoming TV show Pistol. This six-episode miniseries uncovers the origins and inner workings of legendary punk band Sex Pistols, and although I can’t see his face, the passion in Boyle’s voice tells me just how important this project is to him.

“I agreed to do the show immediately because music is such a fundamental part of my own life,” the director shares. “I wouldn’t be here without punk — I wouldn’t be a film director without punk.”

Pistol is based on guitarist Steve Jones’s memoir, Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol, and those unfamiliar with Jones’s life might be surprised by how heart-wrenching the show can be. Many would imagine a punk program to be filled with booze, drugs, outrageous outfits and ear-splitting electric guitars. Don’t be dissuaded — there’s plenty of that in the series.

However, between the studded leather and cocky attitudes are moments of vulnerability. Viewers learn that Jones, who also serves as executive producer on the series, was abused as a child and was illiterate for most of his life.

It’s not much of a stretch to say that being in a band was life-saving for the musician and this rendition of Jones’s story deepens the meaning of the punk movement.

“In the 1970s, you were young and then you were old. It felt like there was nothing in between,” Boyle is the same age as Jones and watched

PISTOL

Where: Disney+ What: Miniseries, 6 episodes, 60 mins.

When: Tue., May 31 Genre: Drama Why you should watch: An in-depth telling of the rise of punk icons Sex Pistols, this miniseries has all the substance abuse and aggressive music you would expect but also the heart and emotion often missing from the crude newspaper headlines that surround this band.

Sex Pistols evolve in real time. “And suddenly there was this movement that said, ‘Yes there is and it’s yours to do whatever the fuck you want with!’ It was a fundamental shift in the world. I know so many people who benefitted from punk.’”

I have to wholeheartedly agree with Boyle. I owe much of my taste in modern music and fashion to punk and the doors it opened for other creators. Punk has spanned decades in one form or another and Pistol has the unique ability of bringing viewers across these generations together.

“When you listen to stuff that’s 40, 50 years old, there’s something old about it. I don’t mean that in a pejorative way, it’s often charming. But Sex Pistols still feel fresh. And when the cast started playing the songs, they felt that as well.

They felt this is relevant and hopefully

it will be to a younger generation. And then there’s those who lived through it, they’ll be watching to see if I’ve done it accurately!”

The cast is a delightfully youthful bunch that carefully embody their historical figures. In only six episodes, the show covers a surprising amount of ground and introduces a lot of key individuals. We meet Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren in their West London boutique before they became household names. We see the recruitment of both John Lydon (a.k.a.

Johnny Rotten) and Sid Vicious and we get a new side of Nancy Spungen, one that’s often left out of the “Sid and Nancy” narrative. Boyle reminds his viewers that Sex Pistols and much of their entourage were incredibly young when their lives changed forever. Their stories have been warped and stigmatized over the years and he hopes to tackle that.

“It’s a chance to look at Rotten, not just the contrarian nature of him, but to look at his humanity and his genius,” Boyle explains. “It’s a chance to look at the beauty of Sid. People have talked about him quite extensively, about how beautiful he was as a human being. You get a chance to look behind the myth.”

Playing Vicious is rising star Louis Partridge, who shares his experience on a separate call with me.

“I didn’t want to mess it up!” Partridge laughs. “I didn’t want to piss off anybody that knows and loves Sid. So I read everything I could, watched everything I could. I learned the accent, which was probably the hardest part. I tinker around with the piano but that’s not gonna cut it for the Sex Pistols! So I had to learn the bass. I watched the way he played so I could get his physicality. Hard work, but fascinating.”

Whether you’re a long-time fan or a punk rock novice, there’s something for everyone in Pistol.

Where: Netflix What: Series, 10 episodes, 58 mins.

When: Now, new episodes Thursdays Genre: Drama Why you should watch: Stylish series set in 1999 has it all: great inside look at journalism in Japan, compelling crime drama, ’90s nostalgia, cultural clashes as a gaijin tries to negotiate life in Japan, cool shots of Tokyo and two fantastic leads with Baby Driver’s Ansel Elgort and skilled veteran actor Ken Watanabe. Based on a memoir, Tokyo Vice is, at times, adrenaline-popping combined with challenging details navigating life in Japan as well as journalism drudge work.

SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE

Where: Netflix What: Series, 3 seasons, 51 episodes, 25 mins.

When: Now, originally 2015 Genre: Sitcom Why you should watch: Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that Volodymyr Zelensky is so good at playing president of Ukraine on this sitcom, he’s proven pretty amazing at it in real life.

Zelensky brings an affable and slightly inept Mr. Beanlike quality to his “accidental” servant of the people that’s adorable — and funny. It’s a slickly produced show that delivers laughs and a few, now historically, loaded moments, including Putin jokes.

NEXT MAY 2022

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May Movies and Streaming

THE BABY

Where: Crave What: Miniseries, 8 episodes, 30 mins.

When: Now, new episodes Sundays Genre: Creepy comedy Why you should watch: Michelle de Swarte plays a parenting-adverse 30-something, irritated by her baby-bearing friends, who suddenly has her own direct experiences of the “horrors” of infant rearing when an apparently ‘‘possessed” baby literally falls into her arms.

Funny, creepy and with a metaphor as obvious as a dirty diaper. It’s a smart, well-acted show that will have you rooting against a baby.

THEY CALL ME MAGIC

Where: Apple TV+ What: Miniseries, 4 episodes, 60 mins.

When: Now Genre: Documentary Why you should watch: Like the man himself, They Call Me Magic, profiling LA Lakers basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, is a an often lighthearted look at the man who helped bring flash to the NBA. Without the same gravitas as Netflix’s The Last Dance series on Michael Jordan, even the player’s challenges get a light touch. Features a treasure trove of archival footage going back to Johnson’s high school days highlights.

18 MAY 2022 NEXT

ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL

PAUL RABLIAUSKAS: UNCLE

Where: Netflix What: Miniseries, 6 episodes, 60 mins.

When: Now Genre: Drama Why you should watch: Smart and sensational, if this series were a book, it would be a page-turner. A British take on The Good Wife scenario, Sienna Miller, no stranger to scandal herself, is strong and struggling as the wife determined not to be a cliché as the collapsing career of her entitled husband (played

by Rupert Friend) upends their world. Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) icily plays a powerful attorney with her own secrets.

The series ably demonstrates women’s often empty but essential search for justice.

Where: Crave What: Special, 48 mins.

When: Now Genre: Standup comedy Why you should watch: Not everything works in Indigenous standup comedian Paul Rabliauskas’ promising, if uneven, comedy special debut.

It’s a set that draws on the last two, COVID years the comic spent back home living in the fly-in community of Poplar River First Nation. While not all the jokes land and some might offend, his hilarious and insightful take on land acknowledgments is worth the viewing alone.

KOTARO LIVES ALONE

SELLING SUNSET

Where: Netflix What: Series, 1 season, 10 episodes, 30 mins.

When: Now Genre: Animation Why you should watch: Quirky cartoon set in Tokyo features Yoda-like five-year-old who inexplicably lives alone in an apartment complex where young adult neighbours mostly help, without question, this boy who speaks in feudal formulations. A struggling manga artist next door is Kotaro’s best pal in this primitively but beautifully inked series that is both sweet and bizarre. A yakusi neighbour vies with the artist for the kid’s attention while a sweet young woman captivates them all.

Where: Netflix What: Season 5, 10 episodes, 30 mins.

When: Now Genre: Docusoap Why you should watch: The campiest, wildest, most ridiculous (but undeniably most addictive) show is back for another (yes, another) season of real estate listings and low-stakes drama. This soapy reality show about a girl-boss team of realtors in L.A. strikes the perfect balance between Million Dollar Listing and Real Housewives: think dream homes and juicy drama and the wildest cast of L.A. yuppies you’ll ever binge-watch.

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Where: Crave What: Series, Season 2, 6 episodes, 50 mins.

When: Now, new episodes weekly Genre: Drama Why you should watch: Chaotic, crisis-fuelled romp around the world that follows Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) as the often-freaking-out titular flight attendant turned CIA spook.

She alternately chases or is being chased, battling bad guys, mysterious strangers and her own demons along the way. Like the archetypal whispering devil-onthe-shoulder, much of the series features the flight attendant in agitated inner dialogue with her various selves, all vying to control our out-of-control heroine.

A VERY BRITISH SCANDAL

Where: Prime Video What: Miniseries, 3 episodes, 60 mins.

When: Now Genre: Historical drama Why you should watch: The Crown’s Claire Foy is very unqueenlike (only a duchess this time) as the wife in a nasty couple whose ugly divorce splashed across the British press in the midcentury. The pre-swinging ’60s fashion and art direction are as intoxicating as the ever-present cocktails.

This scandal is of the brooding type, a slow burn with no apparent good guys, just stylish rich Brits behaving badly.

THE ULTIMATUM

Where: Netflix What: Series, 10 episodes, 60 mins.

When: Now Genre: Reality Why you should watch: This extreme reality dating show differs from the Netflix formula by tracking down warring couples instead of singles looking for love — here, one half of every couple is ready for marriage while the other is not so sure. The show gives the couple an ultimatum to decide or break up on air, and in case that wasn’t stressful enough, has each person date and even live with other potential love matches before making their final decision. Yikes!

WHITE HOT: THE RISE & FALL OF ABERCROMBIE & FITCH Where: Netflix What: Movie, 88 mins.

When: Now Genre: Documentary Why you should watch: An even-handed but scathing look at a once dominant brand that pandered to the “cool kids,” which meant thin, white and young. Explicit hiring practices that kept cute white kids on the retail floor and people of colour and “non-models” in the backroom or after hours are just some of the disturbing details in this compelling doc. A&F branddefining iconic photographer, Bruce Weber, faced many sexual harassment claims, settling one as recently as 2021. A solid entry into crowded Businesses-ThatImplode field.

These five winners were chosen from across Canada for the 2021 Canada’s Walk of Fame RBC Emerging Musician Program and are coming together to perform for one night only during Canadian Music Week in Toronto!

Grand Prize Winner | Mistissini, QC

2nd Prize Winners | Oakville, ON

IG: @angelbaribeaumusic

IG: @yassinfever @sean.terrio.music

Finalist Fi li t | Wi Winnipeg, i MB IG: @boogeythebeat

Finalist | Toronto, ON IG: @yourgirlgrae

Finalist | Vancouver, BC IG: @maddieoldsmusic

NEXT MAY 2022

19

Music SOFI TUKKER HOLDS COURT

Florida-based duo provides a neonhued call for freakiness, freeness and optimism

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

W

hen I get on the phone with exuberant electronica project Sofi Tukker, the first thing I hear is that Sophie Hawley-Weld — one half of the duo, along with Tucker Halpern — has just gotten back from the hospital after herniating a disc. Despite the injury, she and Halpern are equal parts peppy and down to earth, with irresistible energy and rapport; even a spine injury, it seems, didn’t put a dent in their infectious, unending optimism. At this point, it doesn’t seem like

LISTEN TO SOFI TUKKER HERE

20 MAY 2022 NEXT

anything could.

For a duo who rose to fame playing their unique brand of jazz and bossa nova-infused EDM on the global festival circuit, the pandemic could have spelled career disaster.

But Sofi Tukker pivoted and started livestreaming daily sets directly to their fans … until, before they knew it, they were the second-most-viewed solo music streamers in the world. Their streams inspired a new fan community called the Freak Fam, whose emotional and material support for each other helped get everyone

WATCH THE KAKEE VIDEO HERE

through the pandemic’s darkest days. It’s the joy and optimism of the Freak Fam that inspired Sofi Tukker’s new album, WET TENNIS. It sounds like you and your audience grew closer than ever over the pandemic.

HAWLEY-WELD: Definitely, that’s true. I think on a different level, like the people who would come back every day, we just developed such an intense intimacy with, because it was, like, we’re not just going to their city one time a year.

We’re with them every single day throughout what was one of the hardest periods of time for a lot of people. So, you know, we were checking in with how their grandmother was, and how their cat was, and how their surgery went …

We really, truly knew so much about each other’s lives during that time.

HALPERN: I think just as much as it helped them, I think it helped us. You know, we were definitely going through difficult times, and I know, personally, I was very open about talking about what I was going through. I think the reason that the fan connection got so much closer is because people really got to know us on a personal level.

How did you two meet?

HAWLEY-WELD: We met in college. We weren’t actually friends in college, but I was performing a jazz bossa nova set at an art gallery, and Tucker was the DJ at the same event. And he came early and saw me play and he basically

started mixing out of my set.

We basically remixed one of my songs that I was playing live on the spot — it just felt so seamless and natural and sounded really good. And, so, the next day, I literally went to his place and we recorded that track, and we’ve been working together ever since.

What does WET TENNIS mean?

HAWLEY-WELD: There is, kind of, three layers to it. There’s the tennis part of it, which is about how everything we do is a back and forth between the two of us … We also really like the fashion of tennis, and what we really want to do with this is move it from something that is exclusive, like, “You have to wear all white to get into the country club,” and

make it really colourful and inclusive and wet. The “wet” part of it is about that enthusiasm and excitement and flow that makes it a little different from traditional tennis. And then it’s also an acronym — so it actually stands for “When Everyone Tries To Evolve, Nothing Negative Is Safe.” It’s inspired by the Freak Fam and by the experience that we had over the pandemic, whereby all of these people were showing up every single day and they were choosing, even though life was a bit shitty and challenging, to choose optimism.

To choose to be together and to dance and to dress up. That mentality is really something that we wanted to make sure the album represented.

The Magazine That Plays Music and Videos on Your Phone MADE IN CANADA• 05|2022

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What do you hope people get from the album?

HAWLEY-WELD: I mean, it depends on the track. But in general, I think that we want people to listen to the album and, at the end of the album, just feel better than they did before they heard it, you know? And maybe a little freer or freakier — a little happier.

DENZEL CURRY THE RAP INNOVATOR COMES OF AGE

TATE MCRAE

VALLEY

SHIMMERING POP POWERS BREAK OUT BAND

+

SOFFI TUKKER VINCE STAPLES ELLEVATOR DANNY BOYLE’S PISTOL IS LOADED

THE NEXT CANADIAN POP SUPERSTAR HAS ARRIVED

Read NEXT Magazine with your phone handy.

When you see a QR code, Apple Music QR Code or Spotify Code, your phone's camera will instantly deliver extra music, video and exclusive content from your favourite streaming services.

How To

SOFI TUKKER WET TENNIS

Genre: EDM Sound: Electric, hypnotic dance tracks that burst with colour If you like: Icona Pop, the Knocks, the Chainsmokers Why you should listen: Energy-infused duo Sofi Tukker were practically born to play a sold-out festival set — it’s impossible to listen to their jazzy, playful spin on EDM without being taken over by movement. This album, inspired by bright spots of connection during the darkness of the pandemic, is brightly hued, infectiously optimistic, and perfect for the summer months ahead.

Best track: Kakee

QR Code

Apple Music

Spotify

1. Open camera app on your phone.

1. Launch Spotify app on your phone.

2. Hold your device so that the QR code is centred in viewfinder.

2. Go to the search bar on Spotify search page.

3. Tap the notification that pops up to open link associated with the code.

3. Tap camera icon on the right of the search bar and hover camera over the code.

NEXT MAY 2022

21

THE NEW ALBUM

INCLUDES SO CALLED LIFE, LIFETIME, NEUROTIC (FT. LUKAS ROSSI) and I AM THE WEAPON

OUT MAY 6TH

Go to threedaysgrace.com for tour dates!

22 MAY 2022 NEXT

THE MERCH TABLE

JESSIA NEXT TIME T-SHIRT $25 jessiamusic.com/ collections/shop

SUPPORT THE ARTISTS YOU LOVE AND BUY THEIR STUFF

DENZEL CURRY ZELTRON SOCKS $18 bodega.lomavistarecordings.com/ collections/denzel-curry

JACK HARLOW NAIL TECH T-SHIRT $30 shop.jackharlow.us/collections/apparel VALLEY TRUMAN TOTE $26 shopthisisvalley.com

STARS SNOWY OWL PATCH $10 thecbpshop.com/ collections/stars

ARKELLS FACES SCRUNCHIE $10 store.arkellsmusic.com/collections

SIVERSTEIN MISERY MADE ME CROSSBODY BAG $61 silversteinmusic.com

TATE McRAE HEART LOGO SWEATSET $108 store.tatemcrae.com

REGRETTES YOU’RE SO F’ING MUG $23 theregrettes.warnerrecords.com

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE LACE MONSTER SCARF $76 storeca.florenceandthemachine.net NEXT MAY 2022

23

VALLEY TORONTO INDIE POPPERS HAVE BIG DREAMS AND THE WORK ETHIC TO MAKE IT HAPPEN By AMY LLOYD

IT’S FITTING THAT I MEET THE SHIMMERING INDIE pop band Valley on a sunny afternoon. Sunrays brighten our collective Zoom backgrounds, much like their upbeat music brightened my day as I prepared for our call. Used to meeting artists online with several individual video screens, I’m delighted to see the whole band in one frame, all squished together on a couch. From left to right is bassist Alex Dimauro, lead vocalist Rob Laska, drummer Karah James and guitarist Michael “Mickey” Brandolino. The group is taking a break from songwriting in Laska’s apartment to tell me about their recent successes and upcoming plans — both of which are impressive.

The Toronto band got its start “serendipitously,” as Laska puts it. Dimauro and Laska grew up in the same suburb and joined a band in high school, which Dimauro recorded and produced in his basement.

As other band members moved away for college, the pair remained determined to create. The duo planned to record a few demos but arrived at the studio to find their engineer had accidentally double-booked the room with James and Brandolino. In what they call their “sitcom moment,” the four bonded and have been writing music together ever since.

Valley has racked up a notable following in the last two years. Their nostalgic hit Like 1999 went viral on TikTok and they’ve toured with Nashville’s COIN and The Band CAMINO. Their most recent accolade is a JUNO nomination for Group of the Year. In the same company as Arkells and Mother Mother, it’s clear this is a band to keep your eye on. Although they’re quickly on the rise, the band could not be more humble.

24 MAY 2022 NEXT

“We write to appease a wide audience, including ourselves. Being recognized is definitely special but not expected,” Dimauro shares.

Based on the online profiles that interact with Valley’s music, their audience is indeed varied.

The band uniquely exudes both youthfulness and maturity, and this duality makes them compelling to many. Their songs playfully reference ’90s TV shows and misbehaving on summer nights, but there’s also a level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence that’s captivating.

Their newest single, Champagne, is a prime example.

“The hook is, ‘I’ll turn this pain into champagne.’ It’s an uplifting song with a dark twist,” James explains.

James is the primary vocalist on this track, which is a fun change of pace for the band. “We wrote Champagne the same week we wrote Like 1999, so it’s been in Dropbox for the better part of a year and a half. We wanted the song to have its own moment.

It’s about taking something that’s challenging and negative and finding the silver lining.”

The group recently returned from their first ever sold-out U.S. headline tour and it’s a high they’re still riding.

“We’ve been a support band for a long time, and we’re very thankful to the artists that have taken us on the road. They changed our world and allowed us to grow a fanbase that’s so supportive,” Laska says earnestly. “We’re just thankful people showed up! We didn’t know what to expect and then we show up to a venue in Chicago and there’s a lineup around the building. It’s nuts for four Canadians. The tour really solidified where this band is and where we’re going.”

The band members are a mellow bunch as they chat with me, politely taking turns to talk and careful not to cut one another off. Their temperaments match their answers when I ask how they stay sane on the road. Far removed from the outdated

rock-and-roll lifestyle, Laska credits therapy as his greatest tour resource. Brandolino loves finding a quiet coffee shop in each new city. James emphasizes the importance of making the tour bus a sanctuary.

“It can be like sleeping in a coffin: you can’t sit up in your bunk,” she explains. “There’s not much room, but it’s your room. We got lights and put up notes and artwork that fans gave us.”

Dimauro brings up cuisine on tour and it gets the whole group excited. If there’s one thing Valley love, it’s food. They start rating their lunches out of 10 and recommend a list of Toronto vegan restaurants (Buddha’s Vegan Restaurant, Matty’s Patties, Odd Burger and Lov all make the list).

Having built their career on singles and EPs, the band is now writing their first full-length album. Although they’re currently collaborating in the same room, they’ve learned how to write while distanced.

“We can pretty much make a record anywhere now; we just need a laptop. Sometimes not even that, a phone will work,” Laska states. “Some days it’s easy, we write a song in two hours. Other days it’s 16 hours. It’s like a Happy Meal, you never know what toy you’re gonna get! We just wake up, show up and go for it.”

As for the future, Valley balance big ambitions with realistic expectations.

“A dream of ours is to play a summer concert at Budweiser Stage. I’m manifesting that!” Laska exclaims. “I picture a hot summer day, everyone biking and walking over and putting on a show with all our friends.”

“We’ve also learned not to have such heavy expectations of ourselves,” James adds wisely. “We have goals, but you can’t expect your career to go a particular way. All we can do is work as hard as we possibly can. What matters is that we still enjoy doing it.”

Valley (from left), Karah James, Rob Laska, Michael (Mickey) Brandolino and Alex Dimauro.

VALLEY

Genre: Indie pop If you like: Lauv, LANY, The Band CAMINO Recent music: Champagne (Single), Last Birthday (EP) Next: Field Trip Festival, Toronto, Sat. July 9

LISTEN TO VALLEY HERE

BECCA HAMEL

Y

WATCH THE LAST BIRTHDAY VIDEO HERE

NEXT MAY 2022

25

By RAYNE FISHER-QUANN

DENZEL 26 MAY 2022 NEXT

CURRY IN HIS MOST INTIMATE ALBUM YET, THE ICONOCLASTIC RAPPER FACES HIS DEMONS AND COMES OUT BETTER THAN EVER

NEXT MAY 2022

27

WHEN

DENZEL CURRY

logs on to our Zoom call on the day of his album release, he’s beaming — and not just because his new record, the sprawling, introspective rap opus Melt My Eyez, See Your Future, is indisputably one of the greatest albums of his career. “I’m feeling really good right now, man,” he grins, his hair styled into anime-style spikes. “I just got off the phone with one of my favourite artists of all time: Goldie.”

I tell him that I’d just read a Pitchfork article where Curry cited the drum and bass innovator as one of his biggest inspirations, and his smile widens. “And he didn’t even know that article came out! He just wanted to reach out to reach out,” he says. “It felt great.”

He goes on to tell me what he’s been up to on the premiere of his most intimate album to date, and meeting his heroes aside, I’m surprised by the endearing normalcy of it all. The Florida-born rapper built his rep on injecting rap with pure, frenetic rage — between the explosive punk-infused hit Ultimate and the manic, tortured album TA13OO, his career has been propelled by an all-consuming intensity that turned every track into a banger and every crowd into a mosh pit. But now, things have changed.

“I’m chilling, for the most part,” he says. “Just came from the doctor’s office, he said everything’s looking good. I went to the Muay Thai gym and told them I’d probably try to compete next year. Chilling with my brother, watching the new Atlanta.”

Melt My Eyez reflects this side of Curry — it’s an album rooted in growth and meditation that seems to match his slowed-down lifestyle. The screaming bars and bass-boosted production that marked Curry’s earlier works have been replaced by self-assured introspection laid down over echoing vocals and skittering, minimalist drums. That fire is still there, though: over the album’s 14 tracks, Curry spits out a tsunami of methodical lyrics about white supremacy, mental illness and personal growth, and the power and precision fuelling his craft are as “It was really a conscious decision to not be as aggressive,” Curry says. “Because they already have that. They have two to three albums of me being aggressive. I don’t need to be aggressive on this 28 MAY 2022 NEXT

album. Let me be calm. You’ve never heard me like this. And I’m pretty sure you’re gonna appreciate this down the line.”

Melt My Eyez has been in the works for years, but until now, Curry had never felt like the time was right to bring it into existence. He knew that he wanted this album, a personal magnum opus with a title that he’d scrawled out on a notepad years in advance, to be something entirely different — something that required a kind of self-reflection and vulnerability that he only recently got in touch with.

“I planned this the same year that I was working on TA13OO. But I just never got the chance to really live life for real because it was always like, I’m over here, I’m over here, I’m over here … just coasting, kind of, and not willing to go outside my boundaries or even soul search. It was kind of fake woke-ish, you know what I’m saying?”

CURRY GREW UP

“

I FEEL LIKE WHEN I GET OLDER, AND I’M LIKE OVER MAKING ALBUMS AND SHIT… THE YOUNGER GENERATION, WHO DID LIKE MY SHIT, THEY’RE GONNA GROW UP AND LISTEN TO THIS AND THEY GON’ BE LIKE, YO, THIS MAN WAS FIRE!”

in Carol City, FL, where his childhood was marred by trauma; he’s spoken about losing friends and family to gun violence and, in 2018, opened up about being molested as a child. After years spent living with that pain, he’s now in therapy.

“In 2019, I wanted to kill myself,” he says. “I had only a few options … Go to therapy and get back in touch with God.” He says it’s that process, in large part, that got him in the headspace to jump into the project he’d been waiting to create.

“I got to see a lot of the stuff that I was actually doing [through therapy]. Working through it was a process.

“Was making music therapeutic? Yeah. Writing it was just like, ‘Yo, like, I’m really digging deep and really putting it all out there’ … I was able to express myself, but it was hard to listen back to it because it was what I was living. It was what I’ve been through, you know? It brings unwanted memories.

“I think that’s probably why I don’t like listening to my own music or looking at my own work,” he says.

He’s speaking with the same hyper-intelligent, methodical intensity that he brings to his music; his words are careful and precise, like he’s thought about them many times before.

“Because I know what I was going through at the time. I was living it. Because there was a point in time — like when I was working on Imperial — I was a dick. Like, I was just mad about everything. And then you have TA13OO, where I was working on it but I felt like I wasn’t getting the respect I deserved. And then, even when I came out with the album, I was still unhappy.”

Now, he’s reflected at length about his need for validation — it’s a theme that spans Melt My Eyez, particularly in the cerebral, repentant track Angelz.

“I was trying to impress people that did not give a damn. For instance, it’s like this: When, say, for instance, you look at a pretty woman, right? And, obviously, you think she’s pretty, but it’s not brought to your attention unless somebody else says she’s pretty. And then you’ll be like, ‘I bet I could get her’ or whatever the case may be. You go in there and you do your thing and you get her. And guess what, you get her. But you didn’t get her because you genuinely like her. You’re getting her because you’re trying to validate to your friends that you can get the girl, which isn’t right. You should like somebody for who they are. That’s, like, objectifying.”

As an alternative, genre-innovating rapper from the South, Curry has spent a lifetime mired in the

quicksand of other people’s preconceptions. Despite being a musical polymath whose chameleonic, acrobatic style has often outclassed many of his peers in both ambition and ability, his career has been subject to countless backhanded compliments and incorrect assumptions — either he’s “good for a Southern rapper” or he’s too good to be associated with the South at all (a 2019 FADER interview noted that Apple Music described Curry as having “an East Coast MC’s furious mentality”). After years of chasing validation, struggling to fit into the box that was seemingly assigned to him at birth, Melt My Eyez is his act of defiance.

And he knows that some people might not be ready for it. “They feel like … the only emotion you could connect to is pain,” he says, referring to the world at large. “When, really, there's a lot of emotions that you connect to — joy, happiness, you know, sadness. Introspection. There's a lot of things, you know?

“Like, people want me to remake TA13OO 20,000 times, but I can’t. The reason why? Because I’m not into part twos. That’s one. And two, I’m not in that headspace where I was sad and depressed. And it’s like, you would much rather me be sad and depressed because it’s gonna give you an aggressive banger than me actually fucking with myself and trying to fix my flaws and give you something beautiful?

I’m not gonna backtrack. That’s not what I’m about.”

At the end of our talk, he looks towards the future.

“I feel like when I get older, and I’m like over making albums and shit … The younger generation, who did like my shit, they’re gonna grow up and listen to this and they gon’ be like, ‘Yo, this man was fire!’ I count on them … I feel like they’re going to be the ones to give me my roses. As of right now, just got a lot of shit to prove.”

Curry has spent his life protecting parts of himself behind alter egos, tough emotions and impenetrable walls. But, with Melt My Eyez, See Your Future, he’s finally ready to show us exactly who he is. “The side that everyone didn’t see enough of … is right in front of you now,” he says. The world is lucky to meet him.

LISTEN TO PEACH PIT HERE

NEXT MAY 2022

29

CRIME & MYSTERY FESTIVAL

In-person and Online

June 3-5, 2022 Author lineup includes Nordic Noir authors: Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, Kurdo Baksi, Thomas Enger, Helene Flood, Mads Peder Nordbo, Agnes Ravatn, Max Seeck, Lilja Sigurðardóttir, Gunnar Staalesen and Antii Tuomainen Shown here: Helene Flood

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NEXT BIG THING

“IF I WASN’T A MUSICIAN, I’d probably be a writer,” says Nabi Sue Bersche, frontperson for Ontario pop band Ellevator, revealing she jots down ideas for song lyrics in the same random notepads she uses for her grocery list, yet she doesn’t have one song about peaches.

Their hooky, bright sound — described by some with a list of musical reference points including Metric, Stars, Arcade Fire, U2, Kate Bush, Talk Talk and Peter Gabriel — disguises some intense insightful lyrics on their new album, The Words You Spoke Still Move Me .

Joined by her husband, guitarist Tyler Bersche, and childhood friend, bassist/ keyboardist Elliott Gwynne, Ellevator ‘s debut release, The Words You Spoke Still Move Me has been a long time coming. The follow-up to their 2018 self-titled debut EP was recorded just prior to the pandemic with producer Chris Walla (ex Death Cab for Cutie guitarist). “It feels like a very big deal,” she says.

ELLEVATOR Ellevator are elevating the game with their brain power pop that’s personal not pretentious. Their hooky bright sound powers their promising debut. By KAREN BLISS

I think people like familiar things, so comparisons allow people to figure out what to expect, but I can totally understand why something that varied would not be in that same vein. We do have a lot of influences and that’s partially because we are truly a band made up of different people and on our own any of us would probably make different music than what we make together.

NOT “I GOTTA FEELING” STYLE LYRICS My favourite part of being in a band is writing the lyrics.

It is super important to me.

I have felt stagnant at times with only writing about my own experience. And without purposely making a life that is wild, you run out of things to write about sometimes or maybe you run out of perspective. The last couple

of years, I’ve been trying to expand upon my own experience and dig into other people’s experiences. A lot of these songs have indirect references to people that I know and love and some historical figures or some mythological creatures.

AND … A COUPLE ABOUT A CULT I grew up in Charismatic evangelical Christianity. The addition of that word “Charismatic” implies things like prophecy, dream interpretation, the belief in miracles, raising people from the dead — some wild stuff like that. That’s the world I grew up seeking myself. I’ve gone through a couple of different

iterations of dealing with that.

At one point, that was anger and complete rejection of that experience of faith; and, at this point, I’m feeling pretty open and close with my family, and I have some friends who are still in a similar world.

HIGH PRAISE FOR CHRIS WALLA He’s genius. He’s clever. He’s very intuitive, very attentive and he totally gave us room to have our experience and our own experimentation on the album, but he was, definitely, a huge influence and we’re all super pleased with that. When we were in the studio, he felt like a beam of light. He gave us the energy we needed to make music from this place where we wanted to make music from.

ELLEVATOR The Words You Spoke Still Move Me Genre: Pop Sound: Brain power pop If you like: Kate Bush, Metric, Haim Why you should listen: Ellevator is elevated pop music: pop music with a brain, with lyrics drawn from real-world experience and literary threads. It’s not pretentious, but personal.

And for those who don’t pay attention to lyrics, it’s just fun bright pop — only it ain’t, so pay attention.

Best track: The City

BEING COMPARED WITH OTHER BANDS I feel fine about comparisons; they help people relate to the music on a deeper level sometimes.

LISTEN TO ELLEVATOR HERE

Ellevators (from left), Nabi Sue Bersche, Tyler Bersche and Elliott Gwynne NEXT MAY 2022

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The next Canadian pop 32 MAY 2022 NEXT

superstar

has arrived

r-Quann e h is F e n y a

By R c h ia y E ll e L ar ic s P h ot os b y L is

NEXT MAY 2022

33

about five minutes with Calgary-raised teen pop titan Tate McRae, I find myself shocked that she found the time to speak with me. “I just finished my U.S. tour,” she says, rattling off life-changing commitments with the nonchalance one might use to discuss a grocery list. “I have, like, one week back in L.A., where we’re filming two music videos, we have performances and shoots to film. Then I leave for my European tour next week.”

It’s a lot for an 18-year-old, but McRae says she’s been ready for this for her whole life. After all, she was thrust into the spotlight at the age of 13, when she became the first Canadian finalist on So You Think You Can Dance; she then grew a YouTube following by posting original songs, gaining label attention when the song One Day went viral in 2017 (adorably, her 14-year-old self prefaces the video by assuring her viewers she’s actually “not boy-crazy right now”).

She’s had countless big breaks, but her biggest came with the dark alt-pop track you broke me first, which went viral on TikTok and now sits at 1.4 billion streams (yes, billion). Now, with a global fanbase behind her and more hype than ever before, she’s prepping for the release of her heavily anticipated debut album, I Used To Think I Could Fly. “I’ve always been very busy,” she says. “And I like to be busy. But this is, definitely, the busiest I’ve ever been in my life. And I think as much as it’s exhausting at points, I’m also doing everything that fulfills me as a person.”

With a seemingly inexhaustible work ethic, an acrobatic voice and a wide-eyed, bubbly disposition that’s bright enough to be its own renewable power source, McRae seems custom-built to be the world’s next big pop star. She’s had an unorthodox come-up that she still seems to be internalizing; she went from being bullied all throughout high school for posting her songs online to having her face splashed across billboards on the 34 MAY 2022 NEXT

week of her graduation. She laughs about this now — “When you get made fun of for something and karma ends up working with you in the right way, it’s always a very, very satisfying feeling,” she smiles — but it was undeniably tough. I’m only a couple of years older than her, and we commiserate about the feeling of graduating high school and thinking your problems are finally over only to realize there’s a whole new host of problems waiting for you that you couldn’t have even imagined.

“It’s funny because I moved to LA and I’m like, wow, this is literally the exact same as high school. Literally the same people, just a little bit older … And as soon as I moved into my first apartment alone, I started becoming way more observant of who I was, and the people around me. I had all these insecurities that I never knew I had before. And, you know, that was really scary for me — I didn’t realize what life could look like, because you hear adults talk to you about it, but it could never seem true until you’re there and you realize the weight of it.

“I feel like I’ve lived through 10 different lives. And I’m only 18. I feel like I’m a 40-year-old in an 18-year-old’s body. It’s really strange because now is the first time that I, as an 18-year-old, am experiencing actual adulthood. So, you know, I got my first apartment, and I have to do real adult things.

I’m going through relationships and this very transitional period in my life that’s super emotional … I feel like I really wanted to encapsulate that in this album and bring it as this coming-of-age piece of work.

“Ever since I was like a baby, I’ve always had this infatuation with flying,” she says, explaining the album’s title. “I know how to lucid dream, so I can always fly in my dreams if I’m ever in a terrifying situation or whatever — that’s why I’ve always had this infatuation with it. I feel like, as a child, you have this fearlessness that you

can literally do anything, and you can grow up with no fears and no insecurities and nothing attached to just being who you are. And then I feel like as you get older, you know, the people around you and the places you go, and the toxicity of social media … there are so many different things that just latch on to your soul and make you be scared of certain things that you probably would have never been scared of before.

You grow up and reality kind of slaps you in the face. And you get a taste of what the real world feels like. That’s what I wanted to capture: me turning 18 and getting a real taste of life for the first time.”

Despite the seriousness of her subject matter, McRae makes ev-

“

always kind. As one of the hottest 18-year-olds in the world right now, McRae has found herself at the intersection of millions of different people’s expectations — and she’s aware of what the industry has done to young stars of her ilk in the past.

“If you were to see who the biggest overthinker was for that kind of stuff, it would definitely be me,” she says, after I ask her if she worries about how young women are treated in the industry. “The hard part is that I do have a lot of people telling me how I should be creating my music because I am young. I’ve gotten the spiels from many, many, many people telling me how to write my music — like,

I THINK IT’S WHEN IT BECOMES LESS ABOUT THE ART AND BECOMES ABOUT CAREER MOVES, AND THE ICKY INDUSTRY PORTION OF IT, THAT’S WHEN THIS INDUSTRY BECOMES SCARY. ” erything fun — she favours bright colours, neon lighting, shamelessly Gen Z aesthetics and earnest, plainspoken lyrics about the rollercoaster of teenage emotions.

Her brand of pop leans alternative, with dark, atmospheric production and echoing vocals. She’s been called Canada’s response to Billie Eilish, but that’s perhaps more of a consequence of the misogynist impulse to compare and contrast young female artists far more than it is an accurate prescription; really, she’s her own artist, whole and capable and in control.

But, as with any rising star, the criticism and comparisons aren’t

saying, if I don’t do this, then I’m going to wreck my life, and if I do this, then I’m going to wreck my life. And, you know, I think that’s a very traumatizing thing to put on an 18-year-old. Because I want to say, I have no idea. I’m just writing music that makes me feel good.

“And so, I think it’s when it becomes less about the art and becomes about career moves, and the icky industry portion of it, that’s when this industry becomes scary. But I’m just happy to have a good family who can talk me out of that kind of stuff. But yeah, it is. It’s still there for sure. That whole thing that’s been around for

“

I FEEL LIKE I'VE LIVED THROUGH 10 DIFFEENT LIVES. AND I'M ONLY 18.

I FEEL LIKE I'M A 40-YEAR-OLD IN AN 18-YEAROLD’S BODY.” forever with young women artists, it’s 100% still there.”

McRae says she stays grounded and cuts through industry noise by trying to focus on her emotions, not just create what other people want to see. Dancing, her first creative love, is still a huge part of her practice — her music videos have Britney-esque dance breaks and weave complex choreo seamlessly in with McRae’s own storytelling. And when it comes to that storytelling, her songs are

TATE MCRAE

Genre: Pop If you like: Olivia O’Brien, Tove Lo, Billie Eilish Recent music: chaotic, she’s all i wanna be, feel like shit Next: Upcoming album I Used to Think I Could Fly (Fri., May 27), JUNOS nom for last year’s EP TOO YOUNG TO BE SAD; playing Munich (Sun., May 8), Milan (Mon., May 9), Vienna (Wed., May 11) and more on her European tour

always written for one person and one person only — herself.

“I’ve always just talked about my real life. I mean, it’s not a manufactured song for me. I self-taught myself how to play piano and selftaught myself how to write songs.

It wasn’t ever something that someone taught to me. It was always just something that I instinctually felt — like if I came out of a situation with a guy or something or, you know, a friend breakup, I would instantly just write a whole bunch of songs about it. There was no filter. It wasn’t overthought, it was just exactly how I felt about the situation. And I think that’s the only way.”

LISTEN TO TATE MCRAE HERE

WATCH THE CHAOTIC VIDEO HERE

NEXT MAY 2022

35

TALENT IS EVERYWHERE AT NXNE THIS JUNE SIX INCREDIBLE NIGHTS AND DAYS OF MUSIC HUNDREDS OF THE WORLD’S BEST EMERGING BANDS – BEFORE THEY BREAK BIG

20 22 JUNE 14-19

TORONTO 36 MAY 2022 NEXT

CLUB HOP TO OVER 20 OF TORONTO’S BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUES LOW PRICE ADMISSION GET YOUR TICKETS AT NXNE.COM

NXNE.COM

LISTEN TO THE FUTURE

STARS T STILL SHINE BRIGHT

Star's vocalist Amy Millan talks new music, songwriting for cash and giving good advice

By AMY LLOYD

he meeting of the Amys happens in a quaint Italian restaurant down the street from Toronto’s Massey Hall.

The multi-talented Amy Millan — she even writes the advice column, Ask Amy, in NEXT — is in town with Canadian music collective Broken Social Scene for two packed shows, and she’s stolen some time before soundcheck to say hello.

An incredibly busy woman, Millan balances BSS with NEXT’s advice column, other iconic indie band Stars and, the most important gig of all, motherhood.

We chat about all these things over a glass of white wine, with the conversation centred around Stars’ forthcoming album From Capelton Hill. Their first fulllength release in five years, this album is a scrapbook of memories and emotions

that the band have collected in their 20 years together.

It’s a love letter to the past and an acceptance of life’s impermanence, set to beautiful horn-and-string arrangements and gentle shared vocals from Millan and Torquil Campbell. Though there’s a feeling of closure on the album, the band are far from done.

Capelton Hill Capelton Hill is a street in North Hatley, a small town in Quebec. Campbell’s grandfather built a house there, and we’ve spent a lot of time there as a band. I think a lot of what I wrote was to cheer Campbell up! He’s a catastrophist and we were living in a catastrophe. He was coming from a place that wondered if our career as touring artists was over and, while I was also looking to the past, I wrote love letters to my band instead. Campbell

and I approach our writing differently but always end up coming to the same place.

A sonic balm I hope the album becomes a bath for the pressure that people have been under these last few years. I hope they sit inside the songs as you would in a bath, let go of the stress and come out of it feeling less alone, less sad and scared.

Songwriter for hire During the pandemic, Campbell offered to write personalized songs for $1,000 and I started doing it too. It’s been one of the most moving experiences of my life. So far, I’ve mostly told love stories — we all end up in tears! This couple from Texas got engaged 15 minutes after the Supreme Court passed the law for gay marriage and another couple wanted a song for their

kids. Sometimes, I struggle with lyric writing, but when you give me your story, it’s no problem. So, DM me on Twitter if you want a song!

NEXT’s advice columnist There’s a saying in my group of friends, “When shit hits the fan, call Millan.” I’m known for my counsel and I come from a long line of social workers.

What I find really fun is that it’s not just about the advice, it’s about writing a piece that’s entertaining for the reader.

And it’s completely different to songwriting, it uses a different muscle in my brain.

(Ask Amy appears on page 58).

Destined to tour I think some people are born travellers. I have journals from when I was a teenager and, in one, I wrote I would get married on a bus. Little did I know, I was gonna get married to the bus!

STARS From Capelton Hill

Genre: Indie Sound: Vocal harmonies, orchestral instruments and a balance of acoustic and electric tracks to suit every mood If you like: Broken Social Scene, Rilo Kiley, Death Cab for Cutie Why you should listen: The Indie pop-rock legends return with a deeply personal yet relatable album that dances between romanticism and melancholy. Stars are simply a group of friends using music-making as an excuse to hang out, and it works!

Best track: Pretenders

LISTEN TO STARS HERE

NEXT MAY 2022

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REVIEWS

30¯SECOND ALBUM VINCE STAPLES Ramona Park Broke My Heart

Genre: Hip Hop/Rap Sound: Melodic vocals drenched in 808 Bass If you like: Flatbush Zombies, Joey Bada$$, MellowHigh, Curren$y & Lil Baby Why you should listen: In a genre diluted with the same type of generic, recycled sounds, Vince Staples continues to show why he’s a stand out when it comes to creativity Best Track: East Point Prayer (ft. Lil Baby)

GRAE Whiplash

SYD Broken Hearts Club

THE REGRETTES Further Joy

LYDIA PERSAUD Moody31

Genre: Indie pop Sound: Breathy vocals, woozy guitars and a healthy dose of nostalgia If you like: Conan Gray, AVIV, Babygirl Why you should listen: This rising Toronto indie pop star grabs your attention with her pink hair and keeps it with her dreamy tunes. A triumphant debut release, Whiplash is an infectious journey of youthful musings.

Best track: Room in the Desert

Genre: R&B Sound: An anthem of broken relationships and heartbreaks If you like: Snoh Aalegra, Frank Ocean, Tyler, The Creator Why you should listen: The internet vocalist Syd’s vulnerable second album explores her own experience in a relationship that ended sour. It features sultry R&B production and vocals with sobering yet reminiscent lyrics of a therapeutic journey of a broken heart and healing.

Best track: Fast Car

Genre: Garage pop Sound: Fun, sophisticated pop with clever lyricism and an indie vibe If you like: Wallows, St. Vincent, Olivia Rodrigo Why you should listen: With surf-punk riffs and riot-grrrl spunk, The Regrettes have been teen-punk phenoms for years — which is why the pop direction on their latest surprises. The bubblegum vocals and fizzy production might be new, but this isn’t selling out: their summery brand of pop is fun, and they’ve kept the defiant spirit..

Best track: Monday

Genre: Soul Sound: Impossibly smooth vocals flow like honey and feel like a warm hug If you like: Roberta Flack, The Temptations, Erykah Badu Why you should listen: Longtime Toronto music scene fixture for a reason — a member of Dwayne Gretzky and sought-after collaborator by musicians across Canada, Persaud’s an inimitable jazz, R&B and soul solo artist whose music sounds like sinking into a hot bath after a long day.

Moody31, is the soulful soundtrack to your own personal ’90s romcom.

Best track: Good for Us

THE NEXT PLAYLIST 1

2

3

4

5

Please Do Not Lean

About Damn Time

Bliss

Restless Restless

As it Was

Gentle vibe from Canada’s next superstar.

Disco-infused Good times from the artist everyone considers their new BFF.

FKA steals the show in a track chanelling post-punk vibes that pay homage to the mundane magic of British suburbs.

Canadian indie super group with Sam Roberts, Chris Murphy, Menno Versteeg and Dave Monks deliver pop passion.

Harry Styles gives We Didn’t Start The Fire vibes on this viral track

Daniel Caesar

38 MAY 2022 NEXT

Lizzo

Yung Lean (ft. FKA Twigs)

Anyway Gang

Harry Styles

REVIEWS

USE YOUR PHONE'S CAMERA TO SCAN THESE CODES TO LISTEN TO ALL THE MUSIC REVIEWED HERE ON YOUR FAVOURITE STREAMING SERVICE.

JAHMAL PADMORE Esparonto

PATRICK WATSON Better in the Shade

CHLOE MORIONDO puppy luv

DEANNA PETCOFF To Hell with You, I Love You

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN A Bit of Previous

Genre: R&B Sound: Smooth electronic beats and wavy vocals If you like: Early The Weeknd, Shamir, Serpentwithfeet Why you should listen: A strong debut from Toronto writer and producer Jahmal Padmore, this album dances between R&B, hip hop and funk.

After working with MSTRKRFT, The Carps and Brendan Philip among others, Padmore finally puts himself front and center as he explores ego and self-love.

Best track: Ride

Genre: Chamber pop Sound: Delicate falsetto vocals over dreamy pianos and gentle percussion If you like: Agnes Obel, Sigur Rós, Basia Bulat Why you should listen: This French-Canadian artist is hard to define because he blends genres so beautifully. On his seventh full-length album, the Polaris Prize winner combines haunting piano compositions with subtle electronic soundbites. A perfect addition to your Dark Academia playlist.

Best track: Height of the Feeling

Genre: Indie pop Sound: Cute and giggly pop music for the dog lovers If you like: Beach Bunny, Cavetown, mxmtoon Why you should listen: Chloe Moriondo’s bubbly five-track EP is an ode to canine adoration, with several dog-related lyrics, it’s complete with a flowing cover of Dog Days Are Over by Florence + the Machine.

Best track: nice pup

Genre: Indie rock Sound: Grandiose, sweeping vocals imbued with longing If you like: Michelle Branch, Ellevator, Loviet Why you should listen: Toronto singer-songwriter Deanna Petcoff’s debut album is full of ambition and honesty. You could picture her performing at an open mic night, a dusky jazz club or even the main stage of a music festival.

Best track: Failing Upwards

Genre: Indie Sound: Wry, melancholic lyrics meander across lilting violin, wailing harmonica, and jaunty guitar riffs If you like: T. Rex, The Shins, Yo La Tengo Why you should listen: In their first full-length album in seven years, Belle and Sebastian do something new. The clever, cheeky lyricism is still there— evocative writing that’ll make you laugh and cry — but it’s joined by exciting new chaos-pop sounds and an ideology based around rebirth and empathy.

Best track: Young and Stupid

10 TRACKS THE NEXT STAFF CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH

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8

9

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Hayya Hayya (Better Together)

Thats Whatsup

You’re So Hot to Me

Booty Call

DON’T TRIP

Distorted, LCD Soundsystemesque vocals are the highlight of this track.

Finneas lends a hand on languorously longing track by rising Canadian star.

Halifax-based R&B singer delivers uplifting soundtrack to hanging in for relationship highs and lows.

COMMUTED

Bülow

AQUAKULTRE

Trinidad Cardona, DaVido, Aisha

New Friends

London, Ontario pop purveyors pen easy going 4:20 anthem.

Official World Cup song offers irresistible laidback Reggae vibes with Afrobeats and Middle Eastern rhythms.

NEXT MAY 2022

39

KOFFEE Gifted

SAM DRYSDALE Testarossa (Fully Loaded)

SOPHIA BEL Anxious Avoidant

Genre: Reggae Sound: Traditional Reggae with splashes of pop If you like: Skip Marley, Chronixx, Tarrus Riley Why should you listen: Gifted as Koffee’s debut album, this energetic reggae album will magnetically spring you into positivity. The project is filled with encouraging words of resilience and optimism. Driven in vibrative beats, 22-yearold artist proudly celebrates Jamaica with her sound.

Best Track: x10

Genre: Pop Sound: A mix of pop and R&B beats with earworm choruses If you like: Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, Bazzi, Miles Hardt Why you should listen: Toronto-based singersongwriter revisits his January EP with catchy new tracks and acoustic renditions. It’s impossible not to sway along to Drysdale’s honest and sensual lyricism.

Best track: Tessarossa ft. Notifi

Genre: Alt-pop Sound: A mix of ballands and anthems, all anchored by Bel’s acoustic guitar If you like: Nessa Barrett, Claudia Bouvette, Royal & the Serpent Why you should listen: There’s an early 2000s revival and Sophia Bel is in the centre of it, with her colourful hair and angsty lyrics. This Montreal singer makes her debut with sounds reminiscent of the pop and post-punk that influenced her teen years.

Best track: All Fucking Weekend

40 MAY 2022 NEXT

AWOLNATION My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers & Me

TANIKA CHARLES Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly

Genre: Electronic rock Sound: Guitar solos, synthesizers and a long list of collaborators If you like: Joywave, Grouplove, Sir Sly Why you should listen: There’s magic in a good cover song, and Awolnation’s covers-only album captures it perfectly.

Ambitious and impressive, it reimagines classic tracks like Madonna’s Material Girl. Guest features include Beck and Portugal the Man. Best track: Eye in the Sky

Genre: R&B/Soul Sound: Any ’70s or ’80s soul record If you like: Al Green, Commodores, Tower of Power Why should you listen: Inspired by a creature that is only noticed when light shines on it, Tanika’s third album captures joy. Swaying us back to ’70s Soul, the Toronto-based R&B artist infuses jazzy tempos and funky vibes into the project.

Best Track: Frustrated

NOW STREAMING

newfriendsmusic.com

NEXT MAY 2022

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MAY

YYZ

GAME

PLAN

1 FESTIVAL

42 MAY 2022 NEXT

PHOTO FEST TAKES OVER TORONTO CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL Thurs., April 28 – Tues., May 31 Free Various locations scotiabankcontactphoto.com

Explore photography beyond your Instagram feed and immerse yourself in one of 60 exhibitions hosted by the Contact Photography Festival, running for the entire month of May. Exhibits are a mix of indoor, outdoor and virtual, spreading art to all corners of the city. Storefronts along Queen Street East will display images of forest spaces; The Power Plant and Ryerson Image Centre will come alive with framed photos; and several artist talks will be available on the festival’s website.

Contact boasts an impressive list of national and international artists, including Toronto’s own Jorian Charlton and Brooklyn’s Tyler Mitchell.

CHECK OUT THE CONTACT SCHEDULE HERE

CONTACT FEST TYLER MITCHELL, UNTITLED (TONI), 2019. © TYLER MITCHELL. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND JACK SHAINMAN GALLERY, NEW YORK.JPG

THE 10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN TORONTO THIS MONTH

GAME PLAN YYZ MAY

CONCERT

Who’s on first?

WHO IS WE: ACROSS THE DIVIDES Thurs., May 12 – Sat., May 14, 8 pm $19 – $89 Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay W.est artoftimeensemble.com

3

2

The Art of Time Ensemble and the Writers Collective of Canada join forces to present the work of 13 writers paired with beautiful original scores and art projections. The theme “Who Is We” asks each artist to explore the meaning of community and close the divides of the last few years.

Mustafa

AWARDS SHOW

JUNOS ROCK CLUBS AND AWARDS SHOW

JUNO AWARDS Sun., May 15, 8 pm Live award show $50 – $105 Budweiser Stage, 909 Lakeshore Blvd. W. junoawards.ca

For Canadian music fans who prefer the rush of a live performance over a television broadcast, the JUNO Awards are coming to town with a massive in-person celebration at Budweiser Stage. Hosted by Mississauga actor turned Marvel movie star Simu Liu, the show will include the presentation of several accolades and impressive performances from Arkells, Arcade Fire, Avril Lavigne, Mustafa and Charlotte Cardin.

For even more JUNO activity, check out CBC Music’s JUNOfest, which hosts smaller concerts the week leading up to the final show. Performers include Elliott Brood (Lee’s Palace, Thurs., May 12) and Korea Town Acid (CODA, Sat., May 13).

FILM FESTIVAL

Leading LGBTQ film fest INSIDE OUT FESTIVAL Thurs., May 26 – Sun., June 5 $10 single tickets;, $55 packages TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W. insideout.ca

4

A leading presenter of queer visual media, Inside Out returns with an 11-day festival that fully embraces the hybrid structure popularized during the pandemic. Returning to its old home on King Street, the festival will feature 25 screenings at TIFF Bell Lightbox, with an additional 35+ screenings online.

Super hero speaks up

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Simu Liu

FASHION

FASHION WEEK’S FLARE FASHION WEEK Fri., May 6 – Sun., May 8 Fashion show $40 – $150 Design Exchange, 234 Bay St. fashionarttoronto.ca

Fashion Art Toronto celebrates contemporary art and design with three fashion-filled days during the first weekend of May. More than just a runway show, 40 Canadian designers will present their work both on and off stage with art installations and pop-up shopping experiences. Wear your favourite outfit and sit front row for one or all three shows and find your next statement piece. Designs include latex dresses from House of Etiquette, the sustainable apocalyptic fashion of 3ndolith and intricate beaded shirts from Naaz Designs.

PUBLIC TALK

SIMU LIU Fri., May 13, 8 pm Book tour $35 Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St.reet W. hotdocs.ca

WATCH MUSTAFA'S THE HEARSE VIDEO HERE

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Before hosting the JUNO awards this month, actor Simu Liu kicks off his North American book tour in Toronto with the release of his memoir, We Were Dreamers. Liu tells the story of his family moving to Canada from China, growing up in dual cultures and his (mis)adventures in the acting world.

THEATRE FESTIVAL

Making musical moments citywide MUSICAL MOMENTS Sat., May 28 – Sun., June 12 Free with registration Pop-up locations musicalstagecompany.com

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Musical Stage Company ignites the city with Musical Moments, a series of interactive pop-up street performances in neighbourhoods like Little Italy, the Waterfront and Withrow Park. Free with online registration, these events include community karaoke and Indigenous artist-led pow wows.

All shows culminate in a final spectacular at High Park (Sat., June 11 and Sun., June 12).

ART FESTIVAL

What’s the story?

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL Fri., May 6 – Sun., May 15 $15 and up Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. storytellingtoronto.org

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Storytelling Toronto brings the magic of traditional and contemporary storytelling to audiences online and in person at Tranzac Club.

Programming highlights include African-American: Keeping Heritage Alive (Mon., May 9) with Sheila Arnold, Comedy Night (Sat., May 7) with Ali Hassan and Spoken Melodies (Fri., May 13), which combines music and spoken word.

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PERFORMANCE

KIDS THESE DAYS

CHECK OUT YOUNG DRUNK PUNK HERE

BRUCE McCULLOCH: TALES OF BRAVERY AND STUPIDITY Thurs., May 5 – Sat., May 7, 8 pm $55 – $75 Crow’s Theatre, 345 Carlaw Ave. crowstheatre.com

_ out now 44 MAY 2022 NEXT

Lakeside Crime Scene CRIME AND MYSTERY FESTIVAL Fri., June 3 – Sun., June 5 Free Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. festivalofauthors.ca

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Toronto International Festival of Authors hosts its first ever mini festival spotlighting the suspenseful crime and mystery genres. Public talks, writing masterclasses and youth programming will be held both indoors and outdoors at Harbourfront Centre. Special programming includes Nordic Noir, in partnership with cultural exchange Nordic Bridges

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Canadian comedy legend Bruce McCulloch (Kids in the Hall, Young Drunk Punk) combines music, standup and storytelling for three special, intimate shows at Crow’s Theatre. Guaranteed to sell out, these performances will take audiences through a lifetime of funny and relatable personal experiences.

LITERATURE FESTIVAL

BERNADETTE PETERS MAY 28, 2022

Don’t miss Broadway’s brightest star, in a glamorous evening of song! Performing from the Broadway shows she’s received accolades for, as well as from her Grammy Award winning albums, including standards, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, and more.

BOOK TICKETS

905 874 2800 1 THEATRE LN, BRAMPTON, ON L6V 0A3 NEXT MAY 2022

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CLUBS & CONCERTS

NEXT PICKS THE 10 ESSENTIAL TORONTO SHOWS THIS MONTH

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LAND OF TALK

Lee’s Palace Fri., May 6, 8:30 pm / $24.50

Catch the dreamy sounds of Montreal indie rock band Land of Talk, led by singer and guitarist Elizabeth Powell.

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JESSE MAXWELL

Supermarket Sat., May 7, 7:30 pm / $20

A Toronto native, Maxwell combines pop, R&B and soul in what promises to be a smooth and infectious setlist.

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CHARLOTTE CARDIN

Winter Garden Theatre Thurs., May 12 & Fri., May 13, 8 pm / $38 – $78

This sultry electro-pop artist finally gets to tour her 2021 album Phoenix with two nights at the gorgeous Winter Garden Theatre.

5

MARIAH THE SCIENTIST

Opera House Sun., May 8, 7 pm / $27.50

From biology student to singer-songwriter, this Atlanta native hits the road to share her smooth R&B album RY RY WORLD.

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SARAH HARMER

Massey Hall Fri., May 20, 7 pm / $35 – $65

A celebrated Canadian folk artist and environmental activist, Harmer finally shares her 2020 album Are You Gone with a live audience.

7

Chiiild

Axis Club Tue., May 24, 8 pm / $26.50

A prime example of genre-bending, this rising experimental Canadian group expertly blends pop, indie, R&B and jazz.

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INFECTED RAIN

The Garrison Thurs., May 19, 8 pm / $17.50

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This female-fronted heavy metal band brings the power and noise all the way from Moldova.

LIGHTS

History Sat., May 7, 7 pm / $40

This alt-pop star closes her North American PEP album tour with a party in Toronto — wear your best primary colours!

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CIMAFUNK

Lula Lounge Sun., May 22, 7 pm / $66

Dance the night away to Cimafunk’s Afro-Cuban funk blend as he tours his new album, El Alimento.

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DEVON COLE

El Mocambo Fri., May 27, 8 pm / $20 – $40

WATCH MOTHER MOTHER’S SO MEAN VIDEO HERE

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Some fresh faces in the Toronto pop scene, Cole plays her first headline show with Earth to Emily and Kennen.

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MAY YVR

FESTIVAL

LAUGH IT UP JUST FOR LAUGHS VANCOUVER Wed., May 25 – Sun., May 29 Various theatres Jflvancouver.com

CALEB HEARON TAKES THE STAGE AT WESTERN CANADA’S BIGGEST COMEDY FESTIVAL Caleb Hearon is impossible to miss. The Missouri-born, L.A.-based comic and online creator skyrocketed to viral fame through the addictive character skits he posts to his Twitter account, @calebsaysthings; the clips, usually shot on an iPhone front camera, showcase his inimitable ability to do spot-on impressions of the kinds of personalities you didn’t even know you knew (one of his biggest hits is a video entitled “pov: you’re a close friend venting to me about a situation where you were entirely in the wrong”). He’ll be playing JFL Vancouver on May 28 with his best friend, Holmes Holmes.

GAME

PLAN THE 10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN VANCOUVER THIS MONTH

You recently tweeted: “when gay boys turn 13, the universe assigns them one woman working in entertainment… from that point forward their purpose on earth becomes supporting this woman.” Who are these women for you?

Oh my god. Julia Roberts. Queen Latifah. Monique. Sandra Bullock. I think on the comedy side, I was drawn to Monique especially because she was fat and she did material about being fat. And she was so powerful on stage — like if you watch the Queens of Comedy tour, Monique is like, like, she walks out in a leather suit and she’s like, “Y’all better make some fucking noise for me.” That’s so fucking iconic. And then I think on the, like, actress side, it was like actresses my mom loved. Any movie my mom liked always had Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Sally Field. When you’re gay, you’re like, “Oh my god, they’re so cool. They’re, like, getting hot guys and having a career in the big city.”

What’s the vibe of your shows?

Well, you know, it’s beautiful. It’s with my best friend [Holmes Holmes]. Usually, the two of us will start the show together and talk about, you know, whatever … gay shit, gay stuff … we’ll talk about our sex lives and how bad they’re going, and we’ll talk about our families. And then we each do a half hour.

And our half hours are pretty much about the same stuff. You know, our dating lives are a mess.

Do you ever worry that if you were to get into a fulfilling relationship, you’d miss out on material?

CHECK OUT CALEB SAYS THINGS HERE

I would never allow myself to do that.

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WATCH THE LANDSCAPES OF RESISTANCE TRAILER HERE

FESTIVAL

DOC FILM FEST BRINGS BACK LIVE SCREENINGS REEL LIFE DOXA Documentary Film Festival Thurs., May 5 – Sun., May 15 Various theatres doxafestival.ca

After two years of virtual operation, one of Vancouver’s most groundbreaking film fests returns with 10 days of online and in-person programming. It will be screening its roster of thought-provoking films in theatres across the city, and most of those titles will also be available online throughout Canada for select durations. Don’t miss Colin Askey’s Love in the Time of Fentanyl, a portrait of a community fighting through the opioid crisis (May 10 – 11, Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema and Vancity Theatre) and Landscapes of Resistance, by Marta Popivoda, the story of 97-year-old Sonja who fought against Nazism in the 1940s (May 14, Vancity Theatre).

ART EXHIBIT

EVENT

El Movimiento on view

Van Dusen doozy VANCOUVER CREATIVE EXPERIENCE AT VANDUSEN BOTANICAL GARDENS Sun., May 15, 7 am $10 Van Dusen Botanical Gardens, 5251 Oak St. bit.ly/3rKvmyn

Xicanx: Dreamers + Changemakers / Soñadores + creadores del cambio Premieres Thurs., May 12 $15; free for UBC students and Indigenous peoples Museum of Anthropology, 6393 NW Marine Dr. moa.ubc.ca

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The gorgeous Van Dusen Botanical Gardens has teamed up with Canon Creator Lab to offer a community-focused creative experience like no other. A ticket gets you private access to the Van Dusen Garden (including a rare blooming of Laburnum trees) as well as borrowable top-of-the-line Canon equipment to practice your camera skills.

PERFORMANCE

Waving the Black Flag IN CONVERSATION: Henry Rollins Good to See You Tour Thurs., May 19, 7 pm $206 (VIP meet-and-greet tickets only) Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway riotheatre.ca

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Punk legend, spokenword artist, author, world traveller and more, Black Flag frontman and cultural icon Henry Rollins is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating figures in alternative music history.

Get the chance to meet him during his spoken-word tour in a deluxe package offered by the Rio Theatre.

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COMEDY

No debating the laughs EAST VAN LAUGH RIOT Fri., May 13, 6:45 pm $17 Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway riotheatre.ca

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Another comedy classic in the heart of East Van. This monthly show at the Rio is hosted

by Debaters regular Charlie Demers and features Vancouver’s top standup comedians from CBC, Netflix, Just For Laughs and more.

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SEASONAL FAIR

CIRCUS

RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET Every Friday (7 pm – 12 am), Saturday (6 pm – 12 am) and Sunday (7pm – 11 pm) Free 8351 River Rd. richmondnightmarket.com

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ALEGRIA Until Sun., June 5 $65 – $75 Under the Big Top, Concord Pacific Place, 811 Carrall St. cirquedusoleil.com/alegria

Getting Night Right

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The Richmond Night Market, a luminous summer fair with shopping, live entertainment and lights displays, is on all summer long starting has recently returned!

Make sure to go on an empty stomach since the market’s crowning glory is its one-of-akind collection of some of the finest food in North America.

Send in the clowns

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Alegria is globally adored circus company Cirque du Soleil’s first show in Canada since the start of the pandemic, and it’s not one to miss — this production is an all-time classic Cirque show, reimagined for new audiences, that tells the story of a kingdom in crisis with fantastic tricks and death-defying acrobatics.

The newest and most dynamic exhibit at UBC’s famed Museum of Anthropology is Xicanx: Dreamers + Changemakers / Soñadores + creadores del cambio. This expansive project explores the rich and colourful art, activism and heritage of 33 Xicanx artists, as well as the larger history of El Movimiento, the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s spurred by people of Mexican descent.

COMEDY

Rotating riots JOKES PLEASE! Thursdays at The Beaumont( 326 West 5th Ave); Fridays at Cambrian Hall (215 East 17th Ave.), 8 pm $19 @jokesplease

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Indie comedy production Jokes Please! was a Vancouver staple before its venue, Little Mountain Gallery, was forced to close. Luckily, it’s back with small-room shows in new venues that are as intimate as they are hilarious (and they sell out quick, so stay sharp).

GAME PLAN YVR MAY

10

THEATRE FEST

FIND THE TICKET INFO AND SCHEDULE HERE

LEAN ON ME

rEvolver Festival 2022 Wed., May 25 – Sun., June 5 3-show pass is $51; one ticket is $22 Various venues upintheairtheatre.com

Upintheair Theatre’s annual theatre fest, rEvolver, is back for its 10th anniversary and better than ever. With a theme of “interdependence,” its shows deal with community, connection and sharing. For 10 days starting, you can catch unique, unorthodox productions from local and touring companies that explore queerness, cooking, friendship and much more in venues across Vancouver.

A Concert of Question and Hope

MAY 12, 13, 14 visit harbourfrontcentre.com or call 416.973.4000

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CLUBS & CONCERTS

2

HOMESHAKE

Rickshaw Mon., May 16, 7 pm / $33

NEXT PICKS THE 10 ESSENTIAL VANCOUVER SHOWS THIS MONTH

Homeshake’s atmospheric ruminations on life and depression are pure catharsis.

3

SIR CHLOE

Fox Cabaret Fri., May 20, 7 pm /$26

Edgy, screamable sounds from one of TikTok’s alternative music icons

4

PURITY RING

Hollywood Sun., June 5, 7pm / $50

Eerie electro-pop band Purity Ring have been avant-garde musical innovators since the aughts.

5

SLAUGHTER BEACH, DOG

Hollywood Mon., May 16, 7 pm / $30

The cult-classic band’s shows are a masterclass in laid-back indie.

6

mxmtoon

Vogue Fri., May 13, 6:30 pm / $28

A social media star with the musical chops to back up the hype.

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CAR SEAT HEADREST

Commodore Fri., May 20, 7 pm / $60

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They’re one of the most iconic alternative artists of the 21st century – don’t miss it.

8

THE REGRETTES

Sat., May 21, 6 pm / $40 Fortune Sound Club

With tracks that soared on surf-punk riffs and riot-grrrl spunk, The Regrettes have been a teen-punk phenomenon for years. Their new album, Further Joy, has taken them in an undeniably poppy direction, but don’t mistake it for selling out: their stage presence, relatability, and defiant spirit haven’t gone anywhere. Don’t miss this show if you’re looking for an indie-pop sound with a mosh-pit vibe.

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NIGHT LOVELL

Rickshaw Sat., May 7, 6:30 pm / $35

Tense beats and haunting vocal samples define this Canadian rapper’s sound.

9

KRANIUM

Imperial Wed., May 11, 8 pm / $30

Acclaimed reggae and dancehall artist brings the heat to the Imperial.

10

EZRA FURMAN

Hollywood Tues., May 24, 8 pm / $23

WATCH MOTHER MOTHER’S SO MEAN VIDEO HERE

Furman’s heartfelt, literary lyrics cut right to the heart of teen angst and queer yearning.

A CURATED EXPERIENCE

Guests can now enjoy many more memorable experiences at Melody Bar, with a different style of programming each night, including karaoke, trivia, cabernet, live music and more!

GET AWAY & STAY

EXPLORE

EAT & DRINK

PROUD OFFICIAL HOTEL SPONSOR OF NXNE 1214 Queen Street West • Toronto gladstonehouse.ca

NEXT MAY 2022

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1 FESTIVAL

MAY

YYC GAME

PLAN

THE 10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN CALGARY THIS MONTH

HAIL CAESARS!

DRINK YYCAESARFEST Where: The Big Four Building, Stampede Park (1801 Big Four Trail SE) When: Thurs., May 19 & Fri., May 20 Tickets: $28.92 to $56.76 calgarycaesarfest.com

It’s as Canadian as hockey and maple syrup. In 2010, the federal government actually declared the Caesar Canada’s National Cocktail. Invented in Calgary in 1969 by Walter Chell, the city pays homage to its at YYCaesarfest. Come sample from over 40 versions of the classic Canadian Clamato-juice cocktail that has been made with everything but the kitchen sink in the glass, from string beans to lobster. The two-day, Caesar-lovers dream also has merch and other related goods. YYCaesarfest also has offerings for those who don’t like the clam juice-infused drink from food to craft beer.

TRADE SHOW

Sneaker attack CALGARY SNEAKER SWAP Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre (197 1st SW) Sat., May 14 $6.32 to $11.62 on EventBrite bit.ly/3v1GA3w

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Bring in your sneakers for the biggest sneaker marketplace in the city, where you can trade, buy, compare, price, boast and admire all things sneakers.

YYC SOLEdiers — a private sneaker collector Facebook Group created in 2012 that now has over 17,000 members in its discussion group and online marketplace — started the first annual public swap in 2015.

The organizers are sneakerheads Albert Myles Mejia, Andrew Phung and Adam Kereszte. A+++

RACE CHECK OUT A GREAT CAESAR RECIPE HERE

We like to move it THE CALGARY MARATHON Starts and ends at Stampede Grandstand (3 St. SE) In-person Sun., May 29 or a virtual from Sun., May 29 to Tues., June 28 calgarymarathon.com

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If you haven’t been off your couch in two years, advice from Next is maybe walk this one.

If, however, you kept up or kicked off a fitness regime, then run right into Canada’s first-ever marathon, created in 1963 then held annually since 1971. Registration is required.

Fees vary.

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GAME PLAN YYC MAY

4

FESTIVAL FESTIVAL

Cheers, lotsa beers!

CALGARY BEER FESTIVAL BMO Centre, Stampede Park (20 Roundup Way) Fri., May 6 & Sat., May 7

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ANIME OF THE PEOPLE

THEATRE

Greased lightening

OTAFEST Calgary Telus Convention Centre (136 8 Ave. SE) Sat., May 21 & Sun., May 22 Tickets: $10 – $175; free for caregivers (with valid proof) and children 5 and under otafest.com

If you are deep into anime or just anime-curious, Otafest is the annual anime convention to attend.

Quite simply, anime is Japanese animation, either hand-drawn or computer-generated, that has a distinct look. Come see what it’s all about. Over two days, the non-profit, all-ages event, dedicated to Japanese anime and pop culture since 1999, will include panels, exhibitions, screenings, cosplay contests, concerts, autograph stations, charity auction and voice actors. Dress in your favourite character.

LEARN SOME COSPLAY TRICKS HERE

Leave the car at home for this international beer fest, boasting more than 700 beers from over 200 breweries, and see if you can leave with a more developed palate.

Experts will be on hand to tap their knowledge (pun intended).

GREASED Jubilations Dinner Theatre (1002 37th St. SW) Now until Sat., May 28 Tickets: $38.95 – $75.95 jubilations.ca

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The cast parody the film and stage classic Grease, complete with the songs from the 1950s-style soundtrack. Tell me more, tell me more. Okay: the themed dinner menu items includes Ham-A-Lama Ding Dong and Beef Lightnin’.

CIRCUS

Big time big top ROYAL CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS CrossIron Mills (261055 Crossiron Blvd.)

When: Fri., May 27 – Sun., June 5 Tickets: $35 – $50 royalcanadiancircus.ca

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Feel like a kid under the big top again with these pure, human feats. The Royal Canadian International Circus does not employ animals. Just good old-fashioned tightrope walking, balancing acts, extreme bending, aerials, hoops and troupes.

LECTURE

Mmm, it’s possible POSSIBLE WORLDS: A TALK

BY ALEXANDER NAGEL Contemporary Calgary Dome Theatre (701 11 St. SW) Thurs., May 19 contemporarycalgary.com/ whats-on

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For something a bit more highbrow, take in this in-person lecture (or livestream) by Alexander Nagel, the Craig Hugh Smyth Professor of Fine Arts at the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU. Reception and exhibition to follow.

CREATIONS

D’yer Maker

COMEDYL

THE CALGARY MAKER FAIRE Where: BMO Centre on the Stampede Grounds (20 Roundup Way SE) When: Sat., May 14 & Sun., May 15 calgary.makerfaire.com

Hick schtick pick

From artisans to inventions, creators of all-ages can show off their STEM projects, art and hobbies at this two-day event from Roots2Stem. There are exhibits, workshops and demonstrations from students to adults, scientists to crafters, geniuses to experimenters.

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JEFF FOXWORTHY Where: Grey Eagle Resort and Casino (3777 Grey Eagle Dr.) When: Sat., May 28 Tickets: $74.99 – $89.99

The iconic comedian, known for his blue-collar schtick, has a new Netflix special called The Good Old Days, his first in 24 years. Maybe don’t watch it until after you see him live, just in case he’s recycling jokes.

NEXT MAY 2022

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KALEO

Grey Eagle Resort and Casino Thurs., May 5, 8 pm / $49 & up

The Icelandic rock band, led by JJ Julius Son, is touring behind their 2021 sophomore album, Surface Sounds.

CLUBS & CONCERTS

3

ACTION BRONSON & EARL SWEATSHIRT

MacEwan Hall Concerts Thurs., May 5, 7 pm / $53.50

The rapper, whose latest album is 2020’s Only for Dolphins, is kindly allowing humans to attend his shows with Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist and Boldy James.

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CHRIS STAPLETON

Scotiabank Saddledome Thurs., May 12, 7:30 pm / $65.50 – $303

NEXT PICKS THE 10 ESSENTIAL CALGARY SHOWS THIS MONTH

The whisky-voiced rocker brings his all-American country cool to Canada, and if you’re lucky enough to snag a ticket, you will be hooked.

5

FUTURE ISLANDS

MacEwan Hal Mon., May 16, 8 pm / $39.50

The American self-described “post-wave” band will finally tour Canada behind its 2020 album, As Long as You Are.

6

BBNO$

MacEwan Hall (2500 University Dr. NW) Sat., May 21, 8 pm / $30 – $90

Doing his own thing since 2016, Vancouver rapper BBNO$ (Baby No Money), whose real name is Alexander Gumuchian, exploded with Lalala, but says his next album is the best he’s ever made. Latest single/video is Mathematics.

7

AVRIL LAVIGNE

Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Sat., May 21; Sun., May 22, 8 pm / $85 & up

Twenty years after the release of her Let Go breakthrough, the ageless pop-rock star is back on home soil touring behind her new album, Love Sux.

8

HENRY ROLLINS

Bella Concert Hall, Mount Royal University Tues., May 24 / $39.50 – $232 (meet & greet package)

The master storyteller and punk-rock legend will no doubt have a lot to say about life during the pandemic, both funny and insightful.

9

DALLAS SMITH

Scotiabank Saddledome Sat., May 28, 7 pm / $39 – $143.50

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The timeless country singer and award collector is directing $2.50 from the sale of each ticket to his Lifted Dallas Smith Charitable Foundation for mental health services.

MOTHER MOTHER

Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons Tue., May 3; Wed., May 4, 8 pm $38 – $152

The Vancouver indie rock act hits the road behind their eight full-length album, Inside, featuring songs of introspection and retrospection from frontman Ryan Guldemond.

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POWFU

MacEwan Hall (2500 University Dr. NW) Sat., May 21, 8 pm /$30 – $90

WATCH MOTHER MOTHER’S SO MEAN VIDEO HERE

Break-out Vancouver artist Powfu (born Isaiah Faber) has got many more songs than the lo-fi smash death bed (coffee for your head), which hit a billion streams on Spotify. He’s dropped four EPs since then.

F U NNIES FUNNIES UNNIES

THE NEXT

TIME-WASTING PUZZLES, GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW

KENDRICK LAMAR?

7. In 2018, Kendrick won which prestigious award? a. Nobel Peace Prize b. Pulitzer Prize c. BAFTA Award d. Academy Awards

After five years of moving in silence, enigmatic rap legend Kendrick Lamar has announced a new album to ravenous anticipation. The rapper tends to stay away from the spotlight, typically preferring to let his dense, cerebral lyricism do the talking — so for even the biggest fans, many aspects of his life remain unknown. How much do you know about Kendrick?

8. What’s the title of Kendrick Lamar’s third album? a. To Pull A Butterfly b. A Pimp and a Butterfly c. To Pimp a Butterfly d. Section .80

1. Where was Kendrick Lamar born? a. Inglewood b. Port-au-Prince c. Compton d. Toronto

9. In which year did Kendrick Lamar play the Superbowl Halftime Show? a. 2016 b. 2009 c. 2022 d. He never did

2. Early in his career, what name did Kendrick go by? a. K Dot b. Kenny c. KD d. kidd

10. Which group of 3 artists stated Kendrick is one their biggest inspirations? a. Lil Baby, Da Baby, Yung Baby Tate b. Dua Lipa, Car Seat Headrest, David Bowie c. BLACKPINK, BTS, 2ne1 d. Tory Lanez, Drake, The Weeknd

3. What label did Kendrick Lamar sign to in 2014? a. Top Dawg Entertainment b. Death Row Records c. LVRN Records d. So So Def

11. What is Kendrick’s favourite pair of sneakers? a. Nike Cortez b. Nike Air Force 1 c. Converse High Top d. Adidas Superstar

4. What film featured a soundtrack curated by Kendrick Lamar and TDE? a. Straight Outta Compton b. All Eyez Me c. Isle of Dogs d. Black Panther

12. What’s the name of Kendrick’s highly anticipated album? a. Mr. Muggles & Sir Kunta b. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers c. Mr. Morris & Mrs. Lamar d. The Big Steppers & Mr. Morale

6. Which pop superstar has Kendrick NOT worked with? a. Taylor Swift b. Rihanna c. Sia d. Shaina Twain

WATCH KENDRICK PLAY THE SUPERBOWL HERE

ANSWERS: 1c, 2a, 3a, 4d, 5b, 6d, 7b, 8b, 9c, 10b, 11a 12b

SHUTTERSTOCK

5. FINISH THE LYRICS: Sit down, be _______ a. GREAT. b. HUMBLE. c. CAREFUL. d. UP

NEXT MAY 2022

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FUNNIES

NEXT-LIBS

MY NIGHT AT THE JUNOS

IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN … THE MUSIC SCENE IS CHATTERING, THE ARTISTS ARE BITING THEIR NAILS, THE CBC IS PROMOTING … IT’S THE JUNOS! WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO TUNE IN, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU ENDED UP ON STAGE SUNDAY, MAY 15 AT CANADA’S BIGGEST MUSIC AWARDS SHOW? GRAB A FRIEND AND FILL OUT THIS NEXT-LIBS TO FIND OUT.

It’s the night of the JUNOs and you’re so excited to see your favourite artist, _____________________, perform _____________________ (musical artist)

(nursery rhyme)

with _____________________. You got your tickets, and you’re ready to be (musical artist)

the first in line to see the _____________________ action unfold. On the (adjective)

night of the show, you put on your nicest _____________________ and (type of hat)

your _____________________ _____________________ and head to the awards. (item of clothing)

(adjective)

But you haven’t been downtown in a while, and when you get to _____________________, where the JUNOs are being held, you get totally (name of place)

turned around — you end up in a _____________________ alleyway next (gross adjective)

to a _____________________ door that says “DO NOT _____________________.” (adjective)

A man with a clipboard opens the door, notices your

(verb)

_____________________ outfit and drags you inside, saying you’re running (adjective)

late! You try to _____________________ the situation, but before you (verb)

know it, you’re pushed on stage in front of ______________people! The (number of people)

speakers start playing _____________________, so you start shaking your (2000s pop songe)

_____________________ and the crowd erupts into _____________________. (body part)

(sounds)

You break into the lyrics in your most _____________________singing (adjective)

voice. You weren’t even on the list of nominees, but you end up winning a JUNO for _____________________ _____________________ ever. (superlative)

(object noun)

NEXT MAY 2022

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I’M PERPLEXED ABOUT PACKING Dear Amy: I see you’re going out on tour — yay! My girlfriend dated a musician and she said the first time they travelled together, she was stunned: he basically could have fit everything he brought in a purse; she brought two suitcases.

Does life on the road turn musicians into great packers? Are you a great packer and, if so, what are your tips for smart travel packing? With COVID maybe lifting, I want to get back on the road myself but would love to do it without needing a cart to carry all my gear.

— Pack o’ Trouble Dear POT: “The only thing you can’t buy is a passport” is what my wise friend Caely once told me when I was having a fret over what I might forget while packing. To have a Marie Kondo mind about the suitcase is certainly helpful — what brings you not just joy but is a “I MUST have this with me!” (my favorite sweatpants as an example). I now not only pack for myself but also my two kids. My learning curve of “Who needs what and why” has become a puzzle of less (stuff) is more (sanity). Remember, laundry is your friend and vintage stores are always a fun place to find new anything. Underpacking is the goal in order to make room for new treasures to bring home. Part of the thrill of travel is to let go of the cling of daily life. Cozy, stretchy, fancy and sleepy times two, then off to the carry-on airport with you.

MY HAPPINESS CAUSING ME ANXIETY Dear Amy: Maybe this is weird but, I’m ecstatically months into a relationship; I’m a straight guy with an awesome girl, and it’s giving me anxiety because it’s so perfect. How 58 MAY 2022 NEXT

can it last? I have had a few girlfriends, but this definitely feels like the most serious.

And I couldn’t be happier except I get occasional flashes of anxiety, almost panic, that it won’t last, that she’ll see something in me that is a real deal-breaker or she’ll fall for some other guy who is way cooler than me. Should I just settle in and enjoy the ride or be on my ninja toes protecting my perfect relationship?

— Too Good to be True?

Dear Too Good: What a tasty way to begin going to therapy: to launch and process your history through a state of current love and happiness while also navigating the quick descent to complex feelings of abandonment. I am a big believer of talk therapy and the way it can help make all aspects of our lives better. The goal posts you have already set up about the end, and the cobweb corners of your doubt are blocking what seems to be a great time in your life.

With a great therapist, and a willingness for change, you can discover rich rivers of questions to ask about yourself, you can swim inside the deeper waters of who you are. The more work you do on yourself and try to discover why, when you start a relationship that you think is amazing, are you immediately worried about its ending, the more likely your “perfect” relationship might last romance novel level long.

If you can get to the bottom of your fast rushing endings, then the top of the long lasting beginnings will come.

ASK AMY

of dating disappointment.

Bad news is my lifelong BFF literally hates him and won’t see me if I’m with him. What do I do? My relationship with her is like family.

— Can’t Win Dear Can’t Win: There is no need to soup your life. We don’t always have to throw everything into the same relationship pot. Separate the feelings and the people and start there. Plan special events with your best friend that don’t need to include your new guy. Boundaries can put up the right kind of walls to protect yourself and those around you. She doesn’t need to have him as a boyfriend if he’s already yours. Awkward is other people’s issues if you are moving through your friendships with love, but you can’t force a cat to love a dog.

Maybe this is weird but, I’m ecstatically months into a relationship; I’m a straight guy with an awesome girl, and it’s giving me anxiety because it’s so perfect.

How can it last?

NEED ADVICE ON LOVE, SEX, RELATIONSHIPS, THE MUSIC BIZ OR HAVE A CONFESSION TO GET OFF YOUR CHEST?

ASK AMY MILLAN.

WORTH LOSING FRIEND FOR RELATIONSHIP? Dear Amy: The good news is I’m finally in a great relationship with a great guy after many years

LISTEN TO AMY MILLAN’S MUSIC WITH THE STARS HERE

DO I HAVE TO BE A GOOD SPORT?

Dear Amy: I’ve never really been into sports; I like to run and go to the gym, but I don’t especially like watching them. But I live with roommates, usually reasonable people but they’re starting to get pumped for basketball and hockey playoffs. It’s like they’re talking another language or discussing a passion for Hummel figurines or esoteric fungus. I hate being the grump, but aren’t sports just sublimated warfare where men are dramatically overcelebrated compared to women? Or should I just chill and learn to enjoy humans doing difficult things? Are you into sports, do you just politely endure or do you race out of the room when the game goes on?

— Not Sporty Spice Dear Not Sporty: “You said I don’t give a fuck about hockey / And I never saw someone say that before.”

The Tragically Hip

You don’t want to watch sports, don’t! There are understandable arguments for the distraction that the sports industry provides to take our minds away from the crucial issues of the moment. Noam Chomsky has a megaphone on this, and Jill Saloway lamented about how much she would rather we gather around the TV every Sunday watching feminist debate rather than football. The capitalist aspect of it is nauseating and, yes, the grotesque imbalance of the genders in both televised events and salaries is ludicrous! All that being said, you asked me my opinion — I LOVE SPORTS. Why? There are rules. When we look at the world, it seems to be coming apart at the seams and all the bad guys are winning and the good people are losing. This brings me such distress and feelings of having no control. In sports, there are whistles blown and red cards if you aren’t following the rules and MOST of the time, the best person or team wins.

My favorite rivalry of all time is between the Canadian and USA women’s hockey teams. Epic, beautiful games. A welcomed distraction for a moment to watch incredible athletes do remarkable things. There are stories and legacies that can only be found in sports, and everyone loves an underdog. I don’t need to convert my underdog sports hater here, but if you are interested in getting into it, there are some great truestory sports movies that you might love, I hear A League of Their Own is going to be new series, maybe through art you might find sports too, but it’s no one’s loss if you don’t.

Amy Millan is a Canadian indie rock singer and guitarist.

She records and performs with Stars and Broken Social Scene and has a successful solo career.

NEXT MAY 2022

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