We Were Lovers Find the Right Grooves

We Were Lovers @ Horseshoe Tavern/Rancho Relaxo

   Saskatoon's dance-pop darlings We Were Lovers recently embarked on their North American tour, hitting Toronto for two performances earlier this week at the Horseshoe Tavern, and Rancho Relaxo with Toronto's Freedom or Death. Since the duo's previous appearance in June for Toronto's NXNE 2011, they've added a key element to their live performances, a drummer in Brad Heck. 

Sound Wave: We Were Lovers

We Were Lovers - We've Got It

NXNE 2011: We Were Lovers

We Were Lovers @ Czehoski

NXNE

  A Shattered Vinyl favourite, We Were Lovers hit NXNE Friday night at the Czehoski, and for the handful that attended they were treated to a duo that plays as hard as they sound.

20 Must See Artists At NXNE

Toronto's annual NXNE (North By Northeast) is in full swing and Shattered Vinyl has the lowdown on 20 Artists worth checking out at NXNE 2011. We've got you covered on where to be and when, to get the best music Canada's premiere festival has to offer. 

A Horse And His Boy

LONDON, ON

Friday, June 17th 11pm @ Hard Luck Bar

Saturday, June 18th 3am @ Rancho Relaxo

Genre: Alternative

10 Artists to Watch In 2011

   2010 was another great year in music and 2011 proves to be equally as exciting, and with so much music to look forward to, we've decided to look at ten artists worth watching in the new year. Whether they are new or familiar faces they all look to make 2011 a year worth remembering. 

10. First Rate People  Myspace

  First Rate People aren't exactly creating phenomenal buzz, but that's not to say they haven't already earned enough praise and proven themselves to earn a place as one of 2011's Artists to Watch. 

 The Toronto based outfit started 2010 with praise from Pitchfork, with their first single 'Girls' Night' a bouncy alt slice of '90s R&B, that's pure infatuation and highly addictive. 

 The band followed up their impressive first single with a self-release debut EP, It's Never Not Happening, and their second single, 'Gentlemen's Club' featuring Luke LaLonde of Born Ruffians on backing vocals. That was 2010, so why are they worth watching in 2011? 

   There's no word on what's next for the young Toronto band but if First Rate People manage to produce even one song like the aforementioned singles, full of optimism, relaxed beats and continue to channel a healthy dose of '90s R&B, alt rock and pop elements circa the Tom Tom Club it will be well worth the wait. 


   Gentlemen's Club (feat. Luke LaLonde & GenerationFK) by First Rate People by Shattered Vinyl

Record Review: We Were Lovers

We Were Lovers - We Were Lovers EP   3.5/5

Myspace

Saskatoon may not be at the top of anyone's list for exporting hot music acts, but once you've been introduced to We Were Lovers, you may rethink that statement. The duo made up of Elsa Gebremichael and Ash Lamothe are about as sexy an export from the prairies are one could hope for and their music is just as attractive.

The release of their self-titled EP is mire glimpse of what is to come, yet has all the hallmarks of a band just waiting for that perfect moment to strike it big. In only 3 tracks it's hard not to become drunk on Gebremichael's seductive, girl on the prowl vocals over Lamothe's lush atmospheric pop/rock compositions, all the while drawing from both their contemporaries Controller.Controller, and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs snarling guitars on 'Wild Fire' or 80s staples like New Order on the climatic atmosphere of 'Partners In Crime'.  

The key for We Were Lovers is that while their influences are easy to spot, they never over power and remain focused on layered compositions and Gebremichael's cooing vocals. For these future starlets sexy is a state of mind, that helps take their synth-saturated pop/rock to the next level and the nearest dance floor.

   Partners In Crime by Shattered Vinyl