Author Archives: Manraaj Grewal

Evolution 107.9: the best radio station around (objective opinion)

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Imagine this. You are on your way home, in the rush hour traffic. It’s currently 5 15 pm, and you cannot wait to just get out of your work outfit and into cozy clothes. It’s hot outside, and you feel humid inside your car. But there’s nothing to do. The traffic slowly inches forward, and boom, brakes again. You haven’t had the best day, and every little thing seems to annoy you. Why is that driver giving you the left turn signal and yet not merging into the lane when you give him space? Why did your boss have to promote the coworker you despise? And on top of all that, the radio keeps playing the same music again and again. It’s the same four artists with the same ‘new’ music they have put out.

Well, see, if only you could find something different, something with local musicians, something new. And what do you know, you stumble upon 107.9. It’s a young voice telling you that a local band with their new song is coming on next. You turn up the volume knob. And they actually sound good. This is the Vancouver you fell in love with. This exploration, this creativity, this ability to be able to live in this city for so long, yet discover something new every time. The students are crushing it (unbiased opinion).

(BCIT commons / website)

They are interviewing new bands, some familiar ones. But they have got alternative music, new stuff that not many radio stations are picking up on. Slowly, even the ads, the PSA’s sound different, a bit fresh. Evolution is powered by students; everything is done by students, and that’s where its strength lies. You notice how unique each PSA is, how unique each podcast that comes on from Foodopedia to Culture Connection. Each is done uniquely in that student’s creativity. It pulls you into a rabbit hole, a rebellion against the mundane radio music. It’s not your Spotify list playing songs you will like according to your algorithm, no, this is introducing you to new songs that different parts of your personality like. You might have been an R&B guy one day, and now Spotify doesn’t stop playing that genre, but today you feel like listening to Rock, and here is a radio station playing it all.

This was the remedy you needed, the medication you so craved. Unpredictable and unapologetically different. Skip the Spotify playlist. Your ears will thank you, and who knows? You might just find your new favorite band hiding in the static.

Hans Zimmer: A whole new dimension

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As autumn leaves fall and the chill settles on a beautiful October day in Vancouver, entering Pacific Coliseum is going to feel like stepping foot into a cinematic, musical experience like no other. With the lights dimmed down low, warm lights flickering on the ceiling, the vast wooden area echoed with excited whispers of families, couples, and friends alike. Outside, people stand huddled under umbrellas, holding tickets like the prized possessions that it is. You move through the entrance, as the salty aroma of pretzels drifts towards you, and families make their way to their seats. The lobby hums with murmurs as everyone tells their story of how they found out about Hans Zimmer, what songs they are excited to see, and just life. People are taking off their damp coats, ready to enjoy the show. Everyone has brought their loved ones out because they have heard about the success of this tour in Europe.

(Soundtrackfest / website)

These are highly trained musicians handpicked by Hans Zimmer himself, and the show is curated, produced, and the music is directed by him, but conducted by Matt Dunkley. You are still in the most talented hands because he’s got two Grammy nominations. You know someone is a masterful artist when tours in their name sell out even without them present. It promises to be a night filled with the perfect synchronization of talented instrumentalists with epic film sequences. Some musicians are from world-class orchestras such as the Odessa orchestra & friends, and the Nairobi chamber chorus. As it says in the title, you are going to reach a new dimension.

You spot the huge screens up on the stage that you are going to light up with the most enthralling displays. You spot small candles flickering on the stage and some instruments that you may not even recognize. The audience quiets as the first musicians come on stage, they play around with the tuning a bit, and settle into their chairs. The clock strikes 7:30 pm, the lights go out, and the show begins. You had watched Hans Zimmer on his Instagram say that the difference between Hans Zimmer live and this show, beyond the obvious of him not being there, is that this is his romantic side, his orchestral side. And you can’t wait to experience it.

The stage is set, the musicians have practised to perfection, and Hans has directed. All that’s really left to do is for you to awaken your senses by being there in person. Experiencing this live means transcending watching music; it’s being immersed in the music. This is the new dimension, Zimmer’s dimension, and he doesn’t do anything but perfection.

 

 

And I’m too perfect ’til I open my big mouth

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“You know I’m impatient
So why would you leave me waitin’ outside the station
When it was like minus four degrees?

 

Okay, so yeah, I smoke like a chimney

 

You told me, “Get a job, ” then you ask where the hell I’ve been
And I’m too perfect ’til I open my big mouth”

 

No, I am not just plagiarizing lyrics. I swear I have a point. See I love it when women are sassy, and so silly, and have so much fun writing up lyrics and singing them and making an unconventional video. The most popular singer right now has been Sabrine Carpenter, who loves those tongue-in-cheek references, those jokes that a girl should never make. But if you are like me, spending way too much time on social media, you recognize the lyrics above.

( Rolling Stone / website) 

It’s ‘Messy’ by Lola Young. The song went viral on TikTok and got her fame and the success she so rightfully deserves. How would I describe her music? It’s fun. And like all Gen Z, when she does something, she also does something else. Like her music isn’t just indie pop, or R&B, or even a mixture, there’s rock, soul, and many more influences. She attended the prestigious Brit School in London (I know what a creative name for a school), where Adele and Amy Winehouse had also gone. So, can you imagine that pressure? I mean, my parents only compare me to my siblings, and occasionally the neighbors’ kids. Can you imagine being compared to Amy freaking Winehouse? Not that we need to anymore, considering she’s made quite a name for herself.

She’s bringing her tour here in Vancouver on December 1st, and tickets are already up for grabs. The journey came with quite a lot of obstacles for her. With rumors of her being a nepo baby because her aunt wrote the Gruffalo. She came out about her ADHD and schizoaffective disorder, which is a mix of symptoms from mood disorder and schizophrenia. She used to perform in local mic events and small venues until Amy Winehouse’s former manager Nick Shymansky and Nick Huggett, who had first signed Adele, noticed her singing in a small event. You know a girl’s got talent when those are her managers. I mean, a quick Spotify search will tell you of her endless talent and how unique her music is, even in this overabundant music landscape. Her honest lyrics just pull you in, and pull you out of whatever you were doing as you listened.

“I wanna get away, far from here
Pack my bags and tell my dealer I’ll miss him.”

Excuse me, who? You want to tell your dealer you’ll miss him. Your family, your friends, anybody else. It’s lyrics like these, with a fresh voice like hers, that just make you laugh, sometimes surprised and always amused. I mean, she’s just this genuine young 24-year-old girl putting it all out there, and I know for one, I am going to be lapping all her music up.

Isn’t rock music just screaming?

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I see tie-dyed pink t-shirts, loads of black t-shirts, jeans with silver accessories, and spiked hair. I know I am in the right place where Linkin Park is performing tonight. This is probably the biggest artist that I have written about. The fans move as a joint, a united front. They all look like they belong, like they have a shared identity. Today, I am not going to be talking about the legendary Linkin Park themselves, because we know they are an American rock band. After the death of their lead singer, Chester Bennington, in 2017, they took a 7-year hiatus. They have only recently returned with a new drummer and a new lead singer, Emily Armstrong. 

(Parisladefense / website)

But, boy, am I glad they did. I mean, all those things I had studied about subcultures in social science back in high school were now being shown to me practically. I saw so many graphic t-shirts, so much gelled hair, so many tattoos, so many leather jackets. And I loved it. It made sense to me that people who are coming to watch a band that’s sold 100 million records and topped charts in over 20 countries would share a similar sense of identity in terms of how they dressed to show up for them. I have always loved seeing this shared camaraderie, like when Taylor Swift came to town and everyone dressed up in colorful dresses, skirts, t-shirts with colorful friendship bracelets.

So many cultures were present there today, so many ages, some young teenagers, some adults who had been teenagers when they discovered Linkin Park. But my god, did the love flow. The merchandise line wait was an hour, and many wore the t-shirts they had gotten from their previous shows. This was a band that, even after 7 years, was able to sell out huge arenas like Rogers. People came from all over BC and from the USA to ensure they did not miss out on a show that wasn’t going to be anything less than spectacular. What a loyal fanbase. People brought their children, wanting to pass on their favorite band to them.

Many people have misconceptions that people who like rock bands are people who are depressed or somehow angry or rebellious. Yes, they could be going through those phases when they discover the band and maybe the music speaks out to them more than it would at any other time, but phases don’t create legends like Linkin Park. Consistency in love for them, in buying tickets, in buying merch, creates a successful band. If people only listened to them when they were depressed, they would not be at the level they are today. I guess what I really want is for us to stop saying that men who listen to romantic songs are feminine, whoever listens to classical music is boring, whoever listens to pop is shallow and predictable, and whoever listens to rock is depressed. What today has proved to me when I saw the thousands of people out there for a sold-out rock band show: a mix of age, culture, gender, I realized how one type of music can speak to so many different people in so many different ways. Don’t you think?

She’s still weird

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Two days ago, I had written an article titled: “Am I weird?”, and the more I thought about it. The more I realized that when I go deeper into it, I might want to tweak some things. Let me explain. Just two days ago, when I was shadowing the digital music director at my workplace, I realized that I love not knowing, but only when it meets certain criteria. Like when I get to interview somebody, and they talk about how they write lyrics. It’s because the poet and writer in me can connect to some of that process, and that knowing makes the unknowing so much easier. I could be sitting in front of Lady Gaga, talking about her creating music, and I would not bat an eye.

Yes, I would appreciate the genius, but there is something in her I understand. Whereas for Kanye West, my eyes wouldn’t stop blinking because I don’t really understand his process. I don’t really relate to the mad genius that is Kanye West. I loved standing there with the digital director, watching as he showed me what software he uses to edit his audio and his videos. How the soundboard works, how the cameras switch for the live stream. I got this tingling, exciting feeling. I get SOOO excited that someone could have this level of expertise, it excites me SOOO much. There’s no sense of Oh man, I am never going to get to that level, or I am so lost. I love being lost. I think that’s where my wanting to interview geniuses comes from. I don’t want to understand them. I just want to appreciate them.

(Techradar/ Website)

Then comes my other side. The side that connects with specific content and wants to learn how to master it. I love the feeling of not knowing what anything is when I start something new. It sounded like a foreign language, and suddenly, after a couple of months, I had mastered it. Like with Premier Pro, I did not know how to crop a clip or how to add text. I couldn’t even edit Instagram reels or use CapCut, and my 12-year-old brother self-taught himself and has been doing it for 2 years. But now I could teach somebody Premiere Pro, and I thought it all looked so weird to me on day one. I guess what I am trying to say is I am a learner, and I love not knowing, but to apply that skill practically, I need to find joy in it. Some people are capable of doing parts of their job that they don’t love, but I find it very difficult to even spend a bit of my time doing something that I don’t think adds any value to me or others, and it objectively might.

But when it comes to interviewing, I love asking people about whatever career they may be in and finding joy in their passion. I relate to not just the content but the emotion with which they speak about their career and those specific parts of their jobs. I am here to learn, but the thing I wish to learn most about is people. I wish to see a world where we are all more curious about each other. Not understanding how someone does something is a learning curve and not a block. Music is a universal language, yet we all like different music. We all have different favorite artists and bands. Music brings us together because, despite not understanding the language of the song, we understand the tonality of those notes, the emotion with which the singer sings. I wish for us to be more curious about Vancouver and its music scene

Disney on Ice comes to town

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Disney has this innate ability to make us all feel like kids again. It’s where nostalgia comes alive, the characters feel like best friends, and the lessons our favorite cartoon shows taught us come into our consciousness again through the new characters. But the characters we grew up with still hold a very special place in our hearts. And when Disney on Ice comes to town every year, we get to celebrate once again, for along with the Christmas spirit, there will be the sparkle and magic of Disney. Goofy and Donald Duck will be starting the fun off with a Holiday sing-along with a preshow that’s included in your ticket.

(Disney on Ice / website)

Mickey and his friends will be leading the show as the DJ, rocking old Disney tunes with fun remixes.

(Disney on Ice / website)

Frozen characters: Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf will be taking journeys to their respective destinations, and we will be there right alongside them, watching it all happen live. The snow shall fall, the dramatic scenes shall make us feel so many emotions, and at the end, a happy ending as is expected from Disney. Many things can change, but Disney taking us on a beautiful hero’s journey from start to struggle to a beautiful, happy ending is one of the main reasons for Disney being so loved by people from all around the world.

Newer characters such as Stitch will also be taking the stage as the DJ and will surely having us all laughing in stitches. Costumes are welcome for kids under 14, so if you have a younger sibling or your kid, this is perfect for them. I think it’s so important for kids to look at cartoon characters they love, embody the positive qualities and lessons they learn from them, and get a chance to actually get into that costume, that outfit, to see that they are also capable of greatness.

I think it’s equally important for us to experience that childlike wonder, that little chance to breathe and let go, to just focus on stories that made us so happy when we were younger. And Disney on Ice doesn’t leave one chance to make sure we get that experience.

Some things that make this experience so worth it:

There will be giant inflatable ornaments as you sing along to holiday songs during the preshow. You are able to buy numerous gifts from the shop, like Mickey Mouse ears, Moana-themed clothing, Anna accessories, and so much more.

The show goes on for about 2 hours, with gymnasts performing stunts live, special effects like fog, and snow.

(Disney On Ice / website)

You are able to purchase a character meet and greet before specific shows.

If you end up loving the show so much that you wish to be a part of it, you can apply online here. You need to be a professional ice skater to apply. 

Tickets start from only about 40 dollars, with some days having multiple shows, so lots of opportunities for you to go see one.

It’s an experience where grandparents, parents, teenagers, couples, and friends will enjoy equally. Magic doesn’t differentiate; it immerses us in another world altogether.

Vancouver shall shine differently when Disney comes to town, just pure, silly, beautiful magic.

A love letter to Dacey

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Imagine it’s a spring evening. It’s getting chilly, and you put your sweater on. As you walk through the cherry blossoms, through your headphones plays “Hold on”, a new song by Vancouver’s own Dacey. You tap your foot on the beat, your hands sway on their own, and you have somehow started walking according to the music’s pace. You sway your head side to side, nodding to a passerby. Then you reach the Stanley Park waterfront, the beautiful boats glisten, as the next song, “See Thru Me,” plays. The instruments are made to be listened to next to water. You notice little details you never would have if you had blasted this on your car speaker. Like how the sound sometimes comes out from one speaker, the hushed whispers are clear now.

(Stanley Park Waterfront)

You stop and stare at the water for a bit. There’s something magical about feeling music, really feeling it, as if you are living it. You continue walking and are now heading towards the city. The music shifts with you, and it’s changed to “Bitter” now. The mechanical beat of the instruments and Darcy’s voice is much stronger now. You feel an extra pep in your step, you are feeling vengeful as she sings, “Movin on boy, you made your mind late, cause all you are is another weight of mistake.” You want to mess it up, you want him to feel regret for what he’s done. Who is this he? Who knows? Maybe it’s who broke Dacey’s heart, maybe it’s a hypothetical guy, maybe it’s someone from your own life. But that feeling is there. Finally, the encore comes on, it’s just Darcy and some background singers with a guitar, almost accepting what has happened, this feeling of redemption as the music picks up again.

You search her up, and what do you know?

(Ones to watch / website)

She is from Vancouver and her band is called Dacey named after her and she’s the lead singer. They are a five-member band that met at Vancouver’s Nimbus School of Recording and Media. She’s grown up in a musical family, where her dad had all these old cassettes of the Beatles, James Brown. All the band members also have strengths in different genres, with Marco, the drummer, being an indie rock type of guy, and Nate (the guitarist) being a metal type of guy. Josh (bass) comes from electronic music, and Justin (guitarist/ production) comes from jazz. Hence, the genre-defying music they put out makes sense. The production is a masterpiece. Very high-end, especially when you wear headphones and hear the sound going from one ear to another, sometimes one ear is completely mute while the other shines. Sometimes it’s just the vocals, depending on what the music calls for.

For the production alone, Justin needs to be known as a smooth operator.

You are in awe of the song lyrics and flawless rhythm. These are songs that you know took months to make. You continue listening to all their new music as you head home. The more you listen, the more you want to dance, sometimes groove, sometimes use your entire body, sometimes just a tap. By now you know they are a sacred part of your playlist now. 

Pre save their new album “Call me your sunshine” coming out on October 10! 

 

 

Ice Cube, served hot tonight at Pacific Coliseum

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Some know Ice Cube as the funny guy from movies like “Are We There Yet?”, others know him as the successful rapper. But Ice Cube is a man of many talents, and he puts on a show like nobody’s business. His personality is one of the main reasons for his success, and he’s bringing that charisma to the Pacific Coliseum today. That venue is such a perfect choice for him. It’s right here in PNE, a place where teenagers and adults, young at heart, come to be kids again. It’s a place with a nostalgic feel, with the smell of popcorn from all the past fairs still lingering in corners, as the fresh ones pop in the machine. That’s exactly what his tour is: a nostalgic ride into our memory and an awakening of our senses with all his latest high-energy music.

( PNE / Website)

For kids who were born anytime in the 90s to the early 2000s, Ice Cube is a household name. He’s a part of the household with his family-friendly movies that we can all watch together. It’s only fitting that he gets his name from when his brother threatened to put him in the freezer until he turned into an ice cube when they were younger.

No matter if he’s playing “Straight Outta Compton,” the 1988 song from his time with N.W.A or playing his 2024 song “It’s my Ego”, one thing that hasn’t changed is the energy the music brings to the crowd. His fans are some of the most loyal in the game. His voice still has that grit that it did when he first started as a young rapper. Though the beats, the samples that are used have changed, his voice and lyrics are still as hard-hitting. The crowd is going to be a beautiful mixtape, a mosaic of old school Ice Cube fans, who have known him since their teen years, and Gen Z fans nodding along to the beats they also know very well. Considering they have not only heard his songs, but also his voice in Call of Duty: Black Ops. He is a man of many talents, but today is going to be dedicated to his genius as a musician.

The real high will be dancing together, screaming together, fists up in the air, eyes filled with passion, the collective pulse reverberating through the coliseum. This is Ice Cube, served cold, with attitude in the heart of Vancouver.

Tonight, the Coliseum will erupt in love and oomph in celebration of Ice Cube’s undying legacy.

Believe me, you are going to be asking the driver: “Are we there yet”?

DOOMS NIGHT: Halloween and Beats

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Halloween has been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember. What do you mean, I can just show up to people’s doors, knock, and get candy in my bag? The whole concept made no sense to me, but it didn’t need to because it was so much fun. But once you get older, and you go trick-or-treating, people give you weird stares. So unwillingly, I have had to find new things to do instead of scaring the teenagers who are now giving out candy. And I love the years when something like Dooms Night comes to town. It sounds scarier than it is, I promise, and much more fun than it sounds. Because Alan Walker and Shaquille o Neal are headlining this two-day fun fest.

It’s a night full of bass and shadows, echoes of music and beats. The air thickens with the haze of fog machines, and the thumping of music gets louder as you walk towards the entrance. Lights shine on the roof like lightning as flashes go off and people take photos with their favorite people. The majority of the seats sit empty right now, but you know, in half an hour, as the lights dim and Alan takes the stage, people will cheer, they will stomp, they will raise their hands in the air. And for a moment there, we will all be kids again, experiencing magic.


(PNE / website)

The tickets are so reasonable, with a pass for one day starting at $168 and two days for $300. The fact that you are going to see Alan, the Norwegian artist, who traps you in a bubble with his use of various instruments, all from his soundboard. You enter a dreamlike void as memories of when you first heard “Faded” (his global hit with over 3 billion streams) enter your consciousness.

This two-night EDM apocalypse—tickets from $222.65, presale code DOOMS25—unleashes sonic sorcery, from hypnotic drops to heart-wrenching builds, sweat-slicked skin glowing under UV haze, the scent of energy drinks and adrenaline sharp on the tongue.

R3HAB keeps the energy up as he enters, playing some of his biggest anthems from over the years. He has remixed songs for some of the biggest artists in the game, including Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and KSI (but maybe let’s not hold this one against him!)

Each artist will bring their own fusion of sound, and it will be a delicious buffet in there. With MADDIX performing his blend of techno and trance music, that bass is going to hit.

Will Sparks of the EDM genre from Melbourne has been a success since he was 15 years old. He mixes creativity and techno beats so well, and that’s been one of the main reasons for his success. His knowledge of music has led him to become not only a successful DJ but also a Label executive now. So when he plays, I’ll be listening with both ears.

The next day, I will be wearing my favorite basketball team’s jersey to this festival. Why, you ask? It’s because Shaquille O’Neal is coming to perform as his alter ego, DJ Diesel. With his 7’1 frame, I might be able to see him from outside the venue, but then I won’t be able to feel the floor quake under me as he performs his energetic sets. The second day will bring just as much talent as the first, and with the ticket price, it’s no problem to get the two-day passes. Dooms night isn’t going to be just sound; it’s going to be a sensory experience of euphoria and energy. It’s time to accept the DOOM!

 

Kelowna turned country for the CCMA

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Kelowna had turned country in the past week as the CCMA took place there. Kelowna became the heart of the country as the golden sun dipped behind the mountains and people got ready to see the biggest stars of country on the carpet. The wide-eyed fans came in hordes as the scuffling of cowboy boots and the light of jeweled dresses caught the light. This was a community showing up for local and global stars together, everyone anticipating and guessing the winners of each category.

(Tourism Kelowna / website)

Hosts from various country radio stations lined up the carpet, ready with their most sizzling questions and some fun games. If you were a country fan, it didn’t matter what country you were from. Poutine lovers celebrated alongside Cheeseburger lovers. The performances varied from newer artists like “Artist to watch” Noeline Hofmann to 5x 2024 CCMA Award winner Josh Ross, who all performed their hearts out.

(Josh Ross winning Entertainer of year/ Montreal City News)

The night belonged to all country fans, but the biggest winner was Josh Ross, whose rock-infused country songs rocked the stage. He swept 5 golden CCMA trophies with “Single of the Year”, “Video of the Year”, “Top Selling Canadian Single”, “Top Selling Canadian Album”, and “Entertainer of the Year”. These are all huge wins, some of the biggest recognition you can get. You could tell he truly was a celebrity among celebrities. As he performed “Hate how you look,” the audience had their hands out, phones up as Josh smiled, knowing his charm well.

But the magic came from all the provinces, as Nanaimo raised Cameron Whitecomb, who received “breakthrough artist of the year”. What a hype man he is, as he jumped with excitement watching some of his favorite artists perform. He is just a genuine guy who gave honest answers and played games with the interviewers. Mackenzie Porter claimed Female Artist of the Year. The James Barker Band took home Group/Duo of the Year, and Jade Eagleson won Male Artist of the Year.

The CCMA’s have always been legendary, but with each passing year, they add new categories, new artists that just make me so proud to be from such a talented country. They left an aftertaste of ambition, connection, and hard work. whether you consumed it from home or in person, CCMA was a family reunion with music and meeting new faces that are to stay.