In a converted, two-story factory workshop, the Atelier Neon Family logo hangs high above a work table. Classical music from a boombox radio fills the room as morning sunshine beams in. The strange glow of neon seems almost eerie in the day but doesn’t suffer for beauty or artistry. Company founder and family patriarch, Gérald…
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Look Vibrant: Adding a Dose of High Energy to Montreal’s Music Scene
This article was originally written for Le Dépanneur magazine: a new Montreal publication dedicated to showcasing local creatives of all sorts. Read the full feature in their 1st edition, to be released October 2015. —“You sure you don’t want a cookie?” The two halves of Montreal-based duo Look Vibrant, Justin Lazarus and Matthew Murphy, sit side…
Read MoreFrom Osaka to Montreal: The Story of Montreal Artisan Mitz Takahashi
Mitz Takahashi is the man. A Japanese man, immersed in the expansive world of the arts. A self-made man with discipline and with drive. And ultimately, he is a man with imagination, who makes his friends smile and his coworkers laugh. During the week, you can find Mitz sitting in a shared studio space, tucked within a Mile-End warehouse-turned-massive…
Read MoreThese Breathtaking Photos Give You the Best Views from Montreal’s Benches
With every bench comes a view, and the support needed to truly sit back and appreciate it. Inspired by the various Montreal benches he encounters every day and the breathtaking views they give us, staff photographer Kalden Dhatsenpa decided to document a series of benches that offer the city’s best perspectives. Take look at some of Montreal’s most spectacular scenes, from…
Read MoreJohn Jacob Magistery: a Powerful New Voice in Montreal’s Indie-Folk Scene
“I feel like we deserve to be here, for sure,” says Johnny Griffin as he squints at me from across the large picnic table, sun in his eyes, “I just didn’t expect us to play this year.” The rest of John Jacob Magistery laugh or nod in agreement, knowing full well that while they are labelled ‘up-and-coming,’…
Read MoreRebicycle: Revolutionizing the Vintage Bicycle Market in Montreal
Unlike many bicycle manufacturers, Rebicycle’s workshop was set up with the customer in mind. From one work station to the next, they walk you through the process: take an old bicycle frame, strip the parts, wash it down, and then move it to the work bench where the transformation begins. Rather than select from stock choices, you can fully…
Read MoreInterview: Seoul on Sound, Images, and Vulnerability
Surprisingly minimalist yet ultimately affective, Seoul are a dream-pop band on the rise. Recently signed to Last Gang Records, the enigmatic Montreal-based trio are set to release their debut LP, I Become A Shade on June 9th. We had the chance to chat with Julian, Dexter, and Nigel—responding together as a unit—before the release. “Everything we…
Read MoreInterview: Yardlets Are Here to Tell You to Shut Up and Have a Good Time
Yardlets have a partnership that would make most other musicians jealous. A power-duo of sorts and friends since forever ago, Sam Goldberg Jr. (of Broken Social Scene) and Jeff Edwards both live by the same set of principles: create what you want when you want to, and have fun doing it. While this may be…
Read MoreChris Dyer: A Visionary Artist Based in Montreal, Recognized World-Wide
A true visionary with extraordinary skill, Montreal-based artist Chris Dyer is recognized around the world for his painted skateboards, intricate canvases, and street murals. You might also know him for the striking mural he produced during Montreal’s first Mural Festival in June 2013, or for being one of the first artists who contributed to shaping…
Read MoreMeet Sam Olson: Montreal’s Newest Pop Darling
“Regardless of what festival it is, when I look up, I always think ‘I need to get on that fucking stage’.” Sam Olson laughs a big, infectious laugh. She knows full well that she doesn’t want her budding career to be some ‘singing project,’ some personal experiment that will eventually fizzle out when she…
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