Author Archives: Quinn Taylor

A decade of Zolas

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Apparently in a world of nearly 8 billion people, and the province of BC 6 million people, only 60,000 people are smart. I say that tongue in cheek of course, but 60,000 is the number of monthly listeners to the Zolas. And if you haven’t already given them a listen, you’d understand why I speak so highly of their listeners. 

Led by frontman Zachary Gray, the band has found a unique electric indie sound over their 17 years of releasing music. This April, the band wrapped up their “Swooner 10” anniversary tour, a celebration of the 2016 album that propelled them from local favourites to national indie royalty.

The impact of Swooner cannot be overstated. When it dropped, it gave Zola’s fans a shock of just how good the band could get. With  four of the ten songs in the album reaching over 1 million streams on Spotify. Tracks like “Swooner” and “Molotov Girls” became instant indie anthems, capturing the specific, frantic energy of being young and broke in a city as expensive as this one. My favourite part of the 10 year anniversary is the slight change to the album colour. Although remaining the same image the set colour changed, much like one of my favourite album/deluxe album covers “House of the Holy” from Led Zeppelin.

What makes The Zolas unique is their commitment to the BC ecosystem. Zachary Gray’s passion for music goes far beyond just song writting. He is also a vocal advocate for the preservation of local venues and has often used the band’s platform to mentor younger artists under the 604 Records umbrella. In 2022 Zachary was outspoken about the return of live acts to music venues during the covid pandemic. 

“Vancouver is a place that’s constantly coaxing you to give up music and leave,” Said Zachary.

And you can bet that they don’t worry about involving local Vancouver venues into their own lyrics. In their 2009 Tic Toc Tic (Which was the opener for their first ever album, the lyrics paid an homage to local establishment.  “Love don’t live at home, oh no, it slithers in the wild/ I met her at the Biltmore, she was cold and over-styled.”

In their 2026 anniversary shows haven’t just been nostalgia trips, they’ve featured opening sets from rising BC talent, proving the band is more interested in the future of the scene than living in the past.

As they finish this tour, the band is already teasing new material that leans back into the Brit-pop influences found on their 2021 record, Come Ahead. Whether they are headlining a rainy Khatsahlano Street Party or a sold-out Commodore Ballroom, The Zolas remain a constant. They are a reminder that a Vancouver band can stay in BC and remain successful, and not have to sell out to the big corporations in cities like Los Angeles or Toronto.



This 1970’s band spent time in Vancouver because of Draft dodging

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When you hear about the band Heart, naturally you’re gonna think of Seattle, their hometown. But, what if I were to tell you that the band actually had a crazy connection to Vancouver that involved draft dodging in one of the most crazy BC music stories of all time? 

The 1970’s were the early days of the band. They often spent time in BC performing at local venues and graduations, still not yet broken out. Naturally the band grew a small following but many speculated as to why this Seattle based band were performing in Vancouver. 

The story begins with a young Michael Fisher, the band’s future manager and soundman. In the midst of the Vietnam War, Michael was set to be drafted into the US Army. But, Michael had no interest in this. Instead of reporting for duty, he slipped out a rear window during a home raid and fled to Canada, becoming a “draft dodger” living in Vancouver. Back in Seattle, his brother Roger Fisher (Heart’s guitarist) stayed behind with the band, but they were missing their leader. 

Everything changed when Ann Wilson met Michael during a secret trip he made across the border to see the band play. It was love at first sight, and shortly after, Ann packed a backpack and a guitar case and hitchhiked to Vancouver to be with him.

By 1974, the whole group—including Ann’s sister Nancy Wilson—had moved to BC to reform the band under the name Heart. Because Michael couldn’t cross back into the US without being arrested, Heart spent their early years acting like a local Canadian band. They toured every small town in BC and Alberta, building a massive following from the ground up. In 1975, they walked into Mushroom Studios (then called Can-Base) at 1234 West 6th Avenue to record their debut album, Dreamboat Annie.

The album was a sleeper hit that started in Montreal and Vancouver before exploding globally. Tracks like “Magic Man”were literally written about Ann’s infatuation with Michael and their life in the Canadian wilderness. For a few years, Heart was the biggest “Canadian” band in the world, even though they were technically American expats. Though they eventually moved back to the States after the draft amnesty was granted, their Vancouver connections remain the foundation of their legacy. 

Could you imagine just how cool it would have been to see one of the best bands of all time due to them dodging the war?



The amazing career of Mission BC’s own: Carley Rae Jepsen

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It was just last month that Vancouver musical legend Carley Rae Jepsen welcomed her first child to the world. But if you asked any fan of pop music in the early 2010’s they would say that this is her second baby, and that her first came over a decade ago. 

In early 2012, Carly Rae Jepsen was working as a waitress in Vancouver, playing coffee shops, and handing out demo tapes. But the dream for any local artist would soon take over. By the end of that year, she had the biggest song on the planet with the release of Call Me Maybe and was opening for Justin Bieber as part of his North American “Believe” tour. 

A once labeled “One hit wonder” Carley has proved over her 19 years of releasing music, that she isn’t just not a one hit wonder, but rather one of the best Canadian artists of all time. Throughout her career, the BC native has cemented her status as one of the most influential songwriters of her generation, and it’s not just me saying that, as she has the accolades and stats to back it up.

Carley’s journey is a masterclass in BC musical heritage. Before the world knew her, she was a student at the Canadian College of Performing Arts and a third place finalist on Canadian Idol. Her early career was forged in the small clubs of the Lower Mainland, eventually leading to a signing with Vancouver’s own 604 Records. It was here, alongside Marianas Trench frontman Josh Ramsay, that she co-wrote “Call Me Maybe.” The song was great. It was catchy, fun and matched every box that an early 2010 pop song needed to go viral. However it wasn’t until her fellow countrymen Justin Bieber would tweet about the song, for it to become a global hit.

“Call Me Maybe by Carley Rae Jepsen is possibly the catchiest song i’ve ever heard lol” Tweeted Bieber in December of 2011.

The song was huge. I remember I was only in Kindergarten when it was released. Every car ride, every radio station, it was a must listen. Today the music video for the song as well as the Spotify version has nearly 2 billion watches and listens. Easily cementing it as one of the staple in Canadian music history.

Carley didn’t just stop there. Since, she has released 4 albums and in 2023 was a nominee for Juno Pop Album of the Year with her hit release “The Loneliest of All Time”.

As Carley Rae Jepsen takes on her new role as parent, she is a reminder to all local artists that you can make it no matter what. And to all world wide artists not to conform to what people label you. Without Carley’s constant songwriting and work ethic the world would be without amazing music like Call Me Maybe. And if Carley were to have listened to the haters she would have conformed to being a “one hit wonder”. Rather she persevered and proved that she’s one of the best BC born musicians of all time.



Why Red Robinson is the Architect of BC Rock

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If you’ve ever eaten at a Red Robbins restaurant then you may already know the legend of Red Robinson. 

Before there were music festivals, streaming services, or even local record stores that stocked rock and roll, British Columbians had Red Robinson. Most people know him as a broadcasting icon, but for those of us in the BC music scene, he was the primary gatekeeper who brought the world’s biggest stars to the West Coast. 

As an up and coming broadcaster, Red Robinson paid his dues. It started in 1954 at CJOR while he was still a student at King Edward High School. At just 16 years old, Red became the first DJ in Canada to spin rock and roll regularly, effectively smuggling the culture into Vancouver living rooms.

For every article I write, I tend to do at least 20-30 minutes of research. But with Red, it was very easy for me to fall down a rabbit hole. One of his most famous encounters happened on August 31, 1957, when the then 20-year-old Red MC’d for Elvis Presley at Empire Stadium. While waiting in the BC Lions’ dressing room, Elvis got restless and borrowed a pair of handcuffs from a Vancouver police officer. In a classic moment of rock and roll hazing, Elvis handcuffed Red to a shower rod and jokingly lost the key. Later that night, the show was so chaotic that it only lasted 22 minutes, and Elvis escaped through a secret trapdoor built into the stage while a decoy in a gold jacket led the fans away.

 

Seven years later, Red was back at Empire Stadium for The Beatles’ first ever Canadian show in 1964. The Beatlemania was so dangerous that manager Brian Epstein ordered Red to go onstage mid set to tell the audience to back off. John Lennon, unaware of the safety concerns, screamed at him to “get the f*** off our stage!“. You would think that a young Red would’ve given in to one of the most famous musicians of all time, but no. Red stood his ground, explaining that the show would be cancelled if the fans didn’t stop crushing the front barriers. Lennon eventually realized the severity, replied with a “Carry on, mate,” and the show continued for its brief 29 minute run.

Red Robinson’s impact was so significant that in 1994, he became the first Canadian broadcaster inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. He wasn’t just playing records, he was fighting for a genre that many adults at the time called “the devil’s music.” He even received threats for playing “race records” by Black artists like Lloyd Price. Today, as we watch local artists thrive, we owe a huge debt to the kid from Burnaby who refused to turn down the volume. He remains the gold standard for every broadcaster in British Columbia.

EKKSTACY matches Vancouvers vibe with his music

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As beautiful as British Columbia can be, often the non summer times can feel very grey. A lot of the cold rainy cloud days can feel repetitive and dull. So why not listen to an artist from Vancouver that matches the city’s vibe? That’s exactly why I listen to EKKSTACY’s music. EKKSTACY, formally known as Khyree Zienty, is a 24 year old who  grew up in Vancouver and you can really see how his music reflects that. While most pop stars try to have uplifting lyrics or melodies, EKKSTACY authentic sound is what separates him from others. But, just like how his music style is untraditional, so too is the path he took that brought him to success.

EKKSTACY’s rise is the ultimate example of the SoundCloud to superstardom pipeline. He began creating music in his late teens, teaching himself to produce while channeling personal struggles and PTSD into his tracks. EKKSTACY wrote and recorded his first single “Stupid Kids” in his Vancouver home and released it to SoundCloud and TikTok. It wasn’t soon after in 2021 when he would release his breakout hit “I walk this earth all by myself”. The song became a smash and would see over 4,000,000 listens on Spotify just from that song alone. 

What makes his sound so captivating is the evolution. While his early work was rooted in bedroom pop, his 2025 album FOREVER and the 2026 follow-up forever and always have leaned heavily into his love for Vancouver’s guitar lineage drawing inspiration from local legends like Japandroids.

“Their shit makes me feel something that other bands don’t make me feel… Japandroids give me this fucking visceral feeling. They’re like, ‘Let’s fucking go out and party, let’s get hammered and let’s get depressed.’ It’s perfect. They’re the best band ever.” Said EKKSTACY 

His recent 2026 single “Bloody Eyes” (a collaboration with fellow local act Passion Mango) shows he’s still pushing those genre boundaries, mixing shoegaze fuzz with trap-influenced rhythms.

Despite his massive global numbers, EKKSTACY remains deeply connected to the BC scene. You’re just as likely to see him playing a massive festival like Just Like Heaven in California as you are to find him playing at the RickShaw theatre July 5th. He represents a new kind of BC artist, one who doesn’t need traditional radio play to build an empire. He’s built a cult following by being unapologetically himself. And has been able to make listeners of his music feel connected to the music due to its heavy lyrics.



The twins on Billboard

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What is it with twins and BC? Of course there’s the Sedin twins Henrick and Daniel, Lions Peak which is referred to in indigenous language as “the twins” and then now in the music world Alanna and Brianne Finn-Morris. 

Honestly as a person who lives just out of Vancouver, I was disappointed with myself how long it took to discover the Finn-Morris twins. If you do know them though, it may be because you’ve seen the twins busking on Granville Island or playing small sets in White Rock. 

Alanna and Brianne, known professionally as Fionn, have officially graduated from local favorites to national heavyweights. In an era where viral TikTok hits usually get looked down upon as un-serious music. The Finn-Morris twins showed that if you’re good, people will find you. 

Their breakout moment came with the track “Blow”, an anti-mansplaining anthem. The song didn’t just hit the charts and leave, it stayed on the Billboard Canada Modern Rock Airplay chart for a staggering 42 weeks. After 31 weeks of steady climbing, it finally hit the No. 1 spot in late 2025, proving that their grit and persistence under the 604 Records banner was paying off.

What makes Fionn so interesting to follow is their evolution. They started with a folk-pop sound rooted in their Celtic heritage. When I listen to their music I notice a clear shift in sound by 2021 with their release of “Dirty Dancing”. A much more pop upbeat sound that really resonates with young music fans. Since then they’ve released their fourth studio album, scum, in late 2025. They’ve managed to capture the frustration of a generation while keeping the melodies catchy enough for mainstream radio.

As we move through 2026, the momentum isn’t slowing down. They were recently named one of Billboard Canada’s “10 Rising Acts to Watch,” and they are set to headline a major showcase at NXNE this June. For a band that used to play 100 shows a year in BC restaurants just to get noticed, seeing them sell out rooms in Toronto and Ottawa is a massive win for the West Coast. They are proof that in the BC music scene, you don’t need to be an overnight sensation to become a legend, you just need to be too good to ignore.



Why Nelly Furtado’s Hall of Fame Induction is a Win for BC

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If you’ve ever taken the ferry over to Victoria and driven down Gorge Road East, you’ve passed through the literal roots of one of the biggest pop icons on the planet. Long before she was winning Grammys/Junos and releasing World Cup theme songs, Nelly Furtado was a student at Mount Douglas Secondary and working with her mom at the Robin Hood Inn and Suites. 

On March 29, 2026, Nelly finally took her rightful place in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the Juno Awards. It was a massive night, made even crazier when Drake showed up on the big screen to deliver a surprise tribute, calling her a pioneer for every Canadian artist who came after her. 

“You are our North star. The proof that it was possible. The Portuguese princess who could go from spitting 16, to dropping Man eater and Promiscious” Said Drake.

Throughout the night you could see how much this moment meant to Nelly and how proud she is to be a Canadian Musician. In her acceptance speech she stayed true to herself acknowledging the importance of growing up in Canada and how it has influenced her. 

“Canada’s always cared about art and culture. I am a product of that. I’m just really proud to be Canadian. I live in Canada, I make my music in Canada, and I work with Canadians, because I truly believe in the Canadian dream.”

For a lot of young adults in BC today, Nelly was who we grew up with. Her biggest album “Loose” released in 2006 and was a hiphop anthem right away. Nelly is the ultimate proof that you don’t have to change your DNA to make it big. You can come from a working class family in Victoria, maintain your heritage, and still become a global force. Every time I hear “I’m Like a Bird” or “Maneater,” I don’t just think of a pop song, I think of that unique West Coast energy that refuses to be put in a box.

Her induction also came with a huge exhibition at the National Music Centre, featuring her original lyric sheets and stage outfits. It’s a literal timeline of her journey from the Island to the world stage. It’s a reminder to every young creative in BC and Canada that music history isn’t just something that happens in big music cities like LA or New York. Rather it can start on the streets we drive past every single day.



Why Vancouver was a perfect ending for this iconic pop stars world tour

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If you were anywhere near downtown Vancouver in December 2024, you felt it. The air just changed. Usually, when I’m on the Skytrain, it’s just a sea of people in raincoats staring at their phones, but for three nights, it was a sea of sequins, friendship bracelets, and a level of energy I’ve never seen in this city. 

Compared to others I’m definitely not the biggest Taylor Swift fan. But, for the week that BC dawned a massive Swifty themed friendship bracelet, it was hard not to be. It didn’t feel like just another concert, it felt like Vancouver was finally the center of the world. Literally, there’s stories of people spending thousands to get the chance to see her final stop on the Era’s tour, not to mention the full documentary crew following the tour.

As a Vancouverite it’s very hard to not feel a little cocky that the biggest tour in human history chose our city to take its final bow. But, seriously, how could you not? Despite its many amazing features and history Vancouver commonly gets overlooked as a major city. So when the biggest pop artist of my generation chooses BC Place as her final stop in her iconic tour, your Vancouver pride should shine bright.

What’s even wilder is that if you watch the final cuts of her tour documentary and the footage used to archive the “Era,” you see Vancouver. You see the North Shore mountains in the background of the B-roll. You see the fans lined up outside the stadium in the rain. You can even see the BC Lions logo on the side of BC Place.

 

On the final night of the tour, I went to a Canucks game in Vancouver around the same time as the final show. I remember walking past BC Place on my way home and seeing people who had traveled from literally all over the world just to be near the building. It reminded me of the stories about the 2010 Olympics or even 1986 expo. Vancouver being the centre of the world.

In the end, having the Eras Tour featured in her documentary with Vancouver as the closing chapter is a permanent record of what we’re capable of. It’s not just trivia; it’s a reminder that even in a city that can feel corporate, 60,000 people screaming the lyrics to my favourite “22″ is about as real as it gets. It proves that whether it’s a DIY garage show in East Van or the literal biggest tour in history, this city has a soul. You just have to be there to hear it.



Did you know this crazy connection The Beatles had to Vancouver?

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I bet you probably didn’t know about the Beatles one and only time The Beatles performed in Vancouver. 

August 22, 1964, The Beatles performed at Empire Stadium, marking their first-ever appearance in Canada. Although the show wasn’t remembered just for the music, but for a level of Beatlemania that local authorities were completely unprepared to handle. Over 20,000 fans packed the stadium, while thousands more gathered outside on the PNE grounds just to hear the audio echoing from the north end of the field.

The evening was hosted by legendary local DJ Red Robinson. By the time the Fab Four took the stage at 9:23 PM, the atmosphere had reached a breaking point. Witnesses described the noise of the crowd as an “atavistic roar”. It’s not like today when an artist performs and they have the audio in their ear, back then a loud crowd would make it nearly impossible for the band to hear their own instruments through their small Vox amplifiers. As soon as the first chords of “Twist and Shout” hit, hundreds of fans began climbing over the two rows of fencing and charging the stage.

The situation became so dangerous that both the Vancouver Chief of Police and the band’s manager, Brian Epstein, ordered Red Robinson to go onstage and calm the crowd. Robinson’s interruption was famously met with hostility from John Lennon, who shouted at him to get off the stage, unaware that his own management had sanctioned the move. After Robinson pointed out the police and Epstein gesturing frantically from the wings, Lennon realized the severity of the situation and told him to “carry on, mate.”

The Beatles performed a total of 11 songs, including “She Loves You,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” and “A Hard Day’s Night.” However, due to the escalating risk of a riot and the crushing of fans at the front barriers, the set was cut short. After only 27 minutes of performance, the band was rushed off the stage and into a waiting limousine, which was escorted by police motorcycle outriders to the airport before the final notes had even finished echoing in the stadium.

Despite the briefness of the show, it remains a definitive moment in the city’s cultural history. It was the only outdoor stadium show on their 1964 North American tour and set the template for the massive stadium concerts that would follow in the decades to come as well as display the passion that Vancouver residents have for music.



How does Michael Bublè have a connection to Shohei Ohtani?

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Imagine this. You’re a BC native watching the world’s greatest athlete pitch a baseball game surrounded by 50,000 fans at Dodgers Stadium. It’s not just any baseball game, rather game 3 of the World Series, and both baseball teams are tied. Your natural reaction is to boo, as you are cheering for your home country’s only MLB team, the Toronto Blue Jays. But as you watch the pitcher make his way to the mound, you recognize his walk up song as a song sung by one of North Burnaby’s most talented residents Michael Bublè.

This is a scenario that actually happened to thousands of BC residents and Canadian Bublè fans during last year’s World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. As world renowned baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s walk out song is Bublè’s hit cover “Feeling good”.

The cover was released in 2004 by Bublè and was automatically a smash hit seeing over 700,0000 streams on spotify as well as over 400,0000 views on Youtube. But naturally a song that was released over 20 years ago dies out a little and won’t be seen on the charts as time progresses. That is until 20 years later when arguably the best baseball player ever in Shohei Ohtani, had his wife ask him if he could choose “Feeling Good” as his walk out song for every time he makes his way to hit or pitch.

Like many BC Bublè fans who are proud to call him our own, Bublè admits he felt conflicted when he first heard it. Yes, this great athlete is using his song to walk out but, it’s against Canada’s only baseball team in the World Series.

Would you feel conflicted? It’s okay if you do, because that’s exactly how Bublè felt himself.

“I’m a Canadian patriot, but. But, I can’t believe I am a part of the history with Shohei” Said Michale Bublè on the Stephan A Smith podcast when asked about his conflicting feelings.

Personally I think that Shohei walking out to “Feeling Good” is a very cool thing and should be celebrated by Canadians. It’s not like Shohei is a bad guy. He’s very well respected and has gained a reputation of being a class act. Not to mention that as the legend of Shohei grows and more people start watching him, that means that more people will hear an amazing song sung by an amazing BC artist who is proud of his roots.