Author Archives: Mackenzie Eide

What is the Best Audio Workspace?

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Remember Alan Cross? He is Canada’s most treasured music historian. I wrote an article looking back on the interview I produced on him and took a heavy angle on digital instruments. I spoke about the technicalities, but if you were looking to actually use these instruments, where would you begin?

John Taran / Pexels

Audio production begins with a digital audio workspace (DAW). There are so many out there, ranging from free to thousands of dollars, all for computer software. The one you’ve most likely seen the most or even used yourself is FL Studio. It is free and extremely user friendly, but when you’re looking for a DAW, you need to set your intentions. Are you a live band or artist, are you recording directly into it, or are you playing midi notes and arranging them by hand?

I find FL Studio to be more post-production focused, so the latter of the three. I got my start on Cubase’s free trial. Cubase was beautiful to work with and understand, and then my trial expired and I was hit with a price tag racking thousands of dollars. As a beginner, I would not spend that money on a DAW. Cubase is fantastic for live recordings, like live-to-tape or editing imported audio. I miss it to this day, it was a smooth experience.

Reaper is the next DAW I used, and the one I recommend to you to try out. It is not a free software, but the license is under $100 CAD. However, I managed to stay on the trial version for up to 2 years after mine expired thanks to a handy, “I’m still evaluating” button. I find Reaper to be great for midi or imported audio, playing live directly into it isn’t as easy as other DAW’s, so I recommend trying something else if that is your style.

Lastly, my beloved Ableton Live. Like many others, Ableton isn’t free. I paid a little over $300 for an “educational license,” which is essentially the entire software at a cheaper price. It is extremely user friendly, including a session view and arrangement view, allowing you to produce live and prerecorded audio seamlessly.

Making music has never been easier and bedroom producers are on the rise!

Featuring Current Swell

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The internet is a scary place, wouldn’t you say? Anything you post, like, or comment can be found and traced back to you, and that is what happened to Current Swell, a beloved Victoria born indie band, in the early 2000’s.

Emily MacDonald / Pexels

They sold out the very first show they played, way back before 2008, in a café downtown Vancouver. Local high school students found a short, 5-song EP Current Swell posted online and traced them to their first gig. The band hoped a few people would stay to watch and instead were met with hoards of highschoolers.

A bit of an interesting first day as a performing band, but they took that online success and let it propel them into Canadian music legends. Their cult following has always been online, and if you haven’t caught Current Swell in person, you have most definitely found them some place else. Their single, “Young and Able,” in 2009 became an internet hit through YouTube streaming. Out of all the artists featured in my articles, Current Swell is the first Canadian band to get their fame online, rather than focusing on touring and promotions.

I think they are a great example of how the internet influences the music industry today, as their following is international as a result of it. In terms of technicality, Current Swell leans into the ‘indie folk’ branch of the genre as opposed to the rock elements. My favourite song by Current Swell is Rollin’ off their 2014 album Ulysses and it is the one I think you’d like the best as well.

It is their best blend of folk and indie and in my opinion, Ulysses is their best record release. As for the single, Rollin’, not to be confused with the same title from Limp Bizkit, it is the third track of Ulysses, released early into the summer of 2014. What were you doing summer of 2014? I was 7, so listening to Current Swell was not high on my list of things to do, but for many this track became the song of the summer. Rollin’ moves fast, with a slow swinging chorus. The bassline in this song is addictive; it is so simple yet works so well to complement their signature sound.

Take a listen and let me know if you remember this song, was it the song of your summer all those years ago?

Featuring Yukon Blonde

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How many sunsets have you seen in your lifetime, how many haven’t you seen? Before you finish your mental checklist, I’d like to introduce you to this sunset-coloured band, Yukon Blonde.

Yukon Blonde / Discogs

This band originates from Kelowna, where the landscape is permenantly tinted orange, yellow, and red. Yukon Blonde’s debut self-titled record was recorded live-to-tape, which I really admire about them. Indie rock can be a hard genre to get right, I have noticed that many indie artists utilize digital instruments and workspaces to build their compositions, but to release an album live-to-tape is impressive, and one of my favourite ways to produce a record.

This 2010 release contained 10 songs, and each one can easily stand out on its own. Yukon Blonde represents the Canadian Indie scene perfectly, their music isn’t overproduced, it is written and played true to the genre without needing to be forced. Can you tell the difference between a digitally composed song versus what Yukon Blonde did, recording live-to-tape? Give their first album a listen and understand the difference. Indie music can be an acquired taste, if you find yourself liking some of it, but not all of it, maybe you’re not looking in the right places.

Perhaps Yukon Blonde has just defined the style of music you are looking for – live arrangements composed onto tape.

I think Yukon Blonde’s debut album is fantastic. I could listen to the entire thing front to back, and then back to front. My favourite song on the record is Ghosts on Film, it has that western Canadian tune to it, alongside an addictive rhythm guitar. I can’t place where I know it, but it sounds so familiar to me. And in music, familiarity is often a safe space to be.

In their first year as a band, Yukon Blonde was named one of the “Top 10 bands destined to break in 2010,” and that they did. They delivered an outstanding debut album that would become the first of seven studio albums released. Give that first Yukon Blonde record a listen for yourself and find some new music to love, you won’t be disappointed.

Featuring Dear Rouge

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When you hear Canadian music, it is probably this band that you may come across.

Canada is quite literally built into the name, with Dear Rouge being a play on Red Deer, Alberta, where one half of the band, front-woman Danielle McTaggert was born. The other member in the band is Drew McTaggert, the two came together in 2012 to release their debut EP, Heads Up! Watch Out! Independently on Bandcamp.

On streaming services as of today, that EP is nowhere to be found. It exists on other platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube; however, they came back 6 months later to drop Kids Wanna Know, which still exists on all streaming platforms. This EP would mark the point where their brand was set; Kids Wanna Know was eventually moved to their first album release – Black to Gold.

Mick Haupt / Pexels

I want you to take a listen to the corresponding single, Black to Gold. What do you hear, and what do you feel? When I listen Dear Rouge’s first alternative rock album release, I hear a sound definitive of the 2010’s. You know exactly what I mean! Dear Rouge did something incredible where they were able to capture an entire decade in their music, when you listen to Black to Gold, you become immersed into the 2010’s completely.

Their sound is well-produced and polished, but still with enough of a rough edge that tells you they are native to British Columbia’s north. With over 83,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Dear Rouge are all but underground. Are you one of those listeners?

Dear Rouge has won a Juno award for breakthrough group of the year in 2016, toured with acts such as the Arkells, Bush, Our Lady of Peace, and Vance Joy. Their music evokes a feeling of optimism lost in a lot of new releases today, it is visceral and cathartic in each layer of their production.

Why wouldn’t you want to hear that for yourself?

Featuring Said The Whale

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What is at the top of the alternative radio chart, have you checked it recently? Said The Whale is a Canadian indie band created in Vancouver, and they’ve been at the top, twice! Said The Whale isn’t just a band; they have been so crucial to Canadian media since their inception in 2007.

Тямаев Миша / Pexels

Said The Whale wasted no time jumping into the industry, releasing their first album in 2008 titled Howe Sound/Talking Alabama and following it up with their second in 2009 called Islands Disappear. The list could go on forever but let me share with you their features all across international media.

2011 saw Said The Whale touring the United States for the first time, and this wasn’t just a regular tour where you play a few shows, drive around, and go home. They became the feature of a CBC documentary titled “Winning America,” which documented their entire trip along the West Coast of North America. The documentary finished with the band winning the Juno Award for best new band of the year in 2011 – just four years after they formed! These guys must be great then, to achieve that success in such a little amount of time.

What is so special about them that allowed them to stand out so strong? Their music is bright, bubbly, and has that trademark indie sound that Vancouver has come to be known for. What I love about Said The Whale is that their style of indie rock was born in a time when Vancouver’s music scene had that rough edge coming out of the ninety’s grunge.

Their sound reminds me of Britpop bands like Oasis and Blur, minus the accent, of course. If you are a fan of that genre, you will love Said The Whale. In 2012 the band was placed in a list of the “Top 12 Rockstars to Watch in 2012” from Canadian magazine Rockstar Weekly alongside Rush, Van Halen, and The Rolling Stones. Said The Whale is a massive band and crucial to our musical identity here in Vancouver, British Columbia.

You don’t want to be the only one missing out on them, check out Said The Whale on streaming services and see what songs you know.

Featuring The Zolas

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You have heard many multi-award-winning bands come out of Vancouver, but what about multi-award losing? That is the self-proclaimed title of The Zolas, an alternative rock band born in Vancouver, British Columbia.

They’re doing quite well for themselves, sitting at a comfortable 60 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify. If they sound familiar but you can’t quite place a name to a face, their track Molotov Girls off Swooner (2016) might ring a few bells.

There are two faces The Zolas have worn, and they are before Swooner, and after Swooner.

Released under Light Organ Records in 2016, it is an understatement to say that this album just impacted the career of The Zolas, it put them on the map! In October the band will be playing shows all across Canada, beginning on October 7th at The Pearl in their own hometown, Vancouver. The musical sound of The Zolas is more indie pop than it is rock. Their music is consistent though, and if you are a fan of The Zolas, or even just that genre, you will find peace in their music.

Justinas Stanislovaitis / Pexels

The band relies heavily on fast rhythms and synthesizers. The Zolas without a hi-hat is like a fish out of water, their music is bright and rhythmic to a fine precision. I’m using their album, Swooner, as a point for my reference when I say that The Zolas are reminiscent of the band Sloan. The similarities come from their power-pop melodies and bright guitar. Both bands also write for the audience in the crowd with hooks that are bigger and broader than most, making it easy for you to grasp on to them and sing along.

Have you spent much time at The Pearl? It is a popular spot for local bands, especially ones who swing by on tour. The Zolas are hitting that venue twice in October 2026, once of the night of the 7th, and the other on the 10th.

It is so easy to immerse yourself into the music and personality of The Zolas and if you are a Vancouver local, I recommend stopping by to see a home band.

Featuring Elephant Stone: 2

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So far, you’ve heard a sitar and some synthesizers in Elephant Stone’s newest album, ASHA. You have also heard a dilruba and a tabla played underneath the keys; can you pick them out? How often do you come across these instruments in your music? All three instruments are played by Elephant Stone’s front man, Rishi Dhir.

The dilruba is played with a bow on frets and can easily create a similar cadence to a human singing voice. Rishi Dhir takes the opportunity to blend his own soft indie-style vocals with the rich and meditative sound he plays on the instrument. It is closely related to the sitar which Dhir has selected as his main instrument. The song Norwegian Wood by The Beatles was their first song to feature a sitar, if you’re now imagining that song, add in some bright piano, psychedelic guitar, and take some mushrooms, and you’ve just listened to your first Elephant Stone song.

You have made it to the second half of this incredible album. The songs: I Got a Pill, Broken Arrow, A Beautiful Fate, Sleepwalking in Prague, and Spirit, Take Me Away all tell the final story of this album. I Got a Pill is a fast-flowing easy to listen to acoustic style ballad, if you’re familiar with the industrial band Filter, I Got a Pill reminds me heavily of their 1999 track, Take a Picture. I’m almost waiting for Richard Patrick to jump in, instead, filled with a bright piano. Broken Arrow leans into that indie rock sound, while A Beautiful Fate is a true psychedelic musical trip.

The final three songs will take your breath away with their instrumentals. I seem to be repeating myself but if you have never listened to psychedelic rock, you must – and start right here with ASHA. My favorite song in the second half is the 8th track, Sleepwalking in Prague. It is reminiscent to early Pink Floyd levels of psychedelia, under Syd Barrett, it even has a Dark Side of the Moon reference halfway through, quoting the final lyric spoken on that album with … “the sun is eclipsed by the moon.”

Turgay Koca / Pexels

Out of every Canadian release this year, ASHA is my favorite hands down. Have you given the album a listen yet?

Featuring Elephant Stone

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Have you been keeping up with the newest releases in music? My new music release column from early September saw Elephant Stone releasing their 10th studio release, a 9-track album titled ASHA.

After finishing the article, I had to come back. There is so much to unpack about this band album that I can’t wait to share. How much psychedelic rock have you listened to? It is more of a lifestyle than a genre of music – you can’t just be a psychedelic rock band; you have to be a psychedelic rock band. Elephant stone has taken this delicate genre and put a modern-day twist on it – future psych, I heard it called – and I guarantee it is unlike anything you’ve ever heard. The album opens cold with Here Comes the Rising Sun, immediately hitting you with the psychedelic themes you expect from the genre.

Bayram Yalcin / Pexels

Here’s the twist; layered under the rising piano notes are classical Indian instruments such as the sitar, dilruba, and tabla. I once watched a video that played the same scale of music over and over again, it was a simple G major scale but played in countries all over the world. Here in the West, you know what your G major scale sounds like, but each region globally has its own set of culturally significant instruments that change the way their scale sounds. That is what makes this album so unique, the band is Canadian by nature but bring with them a strong musical sound unlike anything we have down here, yet it is still so Canadian.

Let’s keep going down the album, Everything Evil is the second track, and it lets its lyrics drive the music. The song is angry, heavy, and reminiscent of the early psychedelia of Black Sabbath. Fascists Killed Yer Rock and Roll is next, and I mentioned it briefly in my last story. This song stands out with its strong focus on the sitar, if you’ve never heard one in action, give this song a listen. The use of sitar amongst future psych is a beautiful combination, it evokes that feeling of familiarity because you know the genre, you know the sound, yet it follows a musical scale outside of anything you’ve ever heard before.

Keep reading to following the second half of the album as it spirals into a psychedelic dream.

Best New Canadian Releases – End of August

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How many songs can you listen to in a day? With this many new releases from Canadian artists, you might need to schedule some time off. These five standout artists have released something cool and unique in the last month that you need to hear.

Maor Attias / Pexels

Theo Day has dropped a new single in anticipation of an upcoming album release. Oh, My Lanta! Is his newest indie ballad with fast rhythm, raspy vocals, and a polished sweet-sounding guitar. Theo is a fresh face in the eastern Canada indie scene. I’ve noticed the Eastern parts of Canada to have a much cleaner and more refined sound in their alt rock and indie music, whereas here in the West, it has clear rock and roll undertones, a lot more experimental, and the underground thrives. If you like Rainbow Kitten Surprise, you’ll love Theo Day.

Kiwi Jr. has dropped a new album – “Blowin’ Up” has landed on all streaming services last month with solid songs dominating their streaming numbers. If you’re a fan of The Strokes, you will fall in love with Kiwi Jr. You can’t get more indie than a band with Kiwi in the name. These guys know what to say, when to say it and what string to pull at what time. It is an amazing album; my favourite track is Caught in the Wind for its slower tempo and emotional vocals. Funnily enough, Dinosaur Jr., one of my favourite indie bands to come out of the 90’s had a single on their newest album titled Blowin’ Up as well – the album released in the same month as Kiwi Jr’s. Either way, both are fantastic.

ACTORS, a well loved dark-wave band from Vancouver here in British Columbia have a new album out for you – Our Love Will Live Forever. I love the use of synthesizers on this album, a band I adore who reminds me of this group is Linea Aspera, another group of synth-enthusiasts out of London. This new album from ACTORS has 10 tracks of dark-wave indie pop. My favourite song on the release is Exploded View. I think it is a great song to listen to if you are unfamiliar with the local group.

The end of your summer had so many fantastic releases from Canadian groups across the country. Take some time to give them a listen and keep an eye out of them playing a show near you.

Best New Canadian Releases – Mid September

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Your new release radar for the middle of September will completely book your week, so you better sit down and put on your headphones. It is all Canadian music you get to hear before anyone else.

K / Pexels

 

Malia Laura released a new single last night; “Shallow Waters” hit streaming services everywhere yesterday. For easy R&B with instrumentals similar to The Neighbourhood’s newest album, ULTRASOUND, you won’t want to turn it off. Malia Laura is based in Montreal, further out from us here in British Columbia, but her music carries a culturally unique sound to the area.

Land of Talk has been releasing music since 2006, producing the most authentic Canadian indie rock you have been looking for. The mind and voice behind the name is Lizzie Powell and her band, Land of Talk has been teasing something new with Powell’s dreamy vocals delivering another anticipated release. September 14th, 2026, saw 4:44 released onto all platforms under Next Door Records. You might recognize some other artists signed by the label, such as Ada Lea, Cola, and The Dears – all Canadian, all indie rock. Lizzie Powell produces a more mainstream sound, if that is your taste. I recommend giving a scroll through Next Door Records to find a band or artist that speaks to you the loudest.

The first album release on this list is by the duo Hansom Eli out of Toronto. The Hybrid Tapes is a 13 track album packed full of alternative pop and the indie spirit is ever present in the lyrics. My favourite track is the very first song off the album, Sip ’26. It has an addictive bass line and a unique melody, if you like Mother Mother, you will love Hansom Eli.

The release I’m most excited for is by alternative rock band Nobro. I’ve been listening to them for years now, after hearing their single “LALA” that was released in 2019, I kept returning to hear more. Nobro is great because they have a strong female lead and an ample amount of distortion. Their newest singles, Girls Like Us and DOOMTOWN capture their free spirit and are promised to energize you.

You will only hear the best and most relevant alternative and indie rock on Evolution. featured on this page will be your weekly dose of new Canadian releases from all over the province and the country with an emphasis on new Vancouver talent.