Sound of the City

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Sound of the City

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SOUND OF THE CITY is a series created in partnership by the City of Vancouver and Stir that showcases Vancouver’s diverse music scene, highlighting BIPOC and underrepresented artists and acts.

Every week, we hear from a different local artist—what’s in heavy rotation on their playlist as well as what’s happening in their world.

Each edition features a Q&A and a Sound of the City playlist curated by the artist that features some of their favourite local musicians.

 

SOUND OF THE CITY ARTISTS

Articles
Sound of the City: Sad China talks about the challenges of being a young, racialized, nonbinary artist and the power of community
Sound of the City: Sad China talks about the challenges of being a young, racialized, nonbinary artist and the power of community

The musician also known as Sunny Chen wants to see more Black and Indigenous peoples of marginalized genders in leadership positions, especially in the arts

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Sound of the City: Off Topic sounds off on deep love, their upcoming album, and the healing effects of tea
Sound of the City: Off Topic sounds off on deep love, their upcoming album, and the healing effects of tea

The trio wants Vancouver to become a place where arts and culture are considered core values

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Sound of the City: Genre-defying Vancouver band Dacey on curve balls, live shows, and upcoming releases
Sound of the City: Genre-defying Vancouver band Dacey on curve balls, live shows, and upcoming releases

Alternative R ’n’ B, neo soul, jazz, lo-fi hip hop, and more influence the local group’s music

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Sound of the City: Singer-songwriter TRS draws from her Ethiopian roots
Sound of the City: Singer-songwriter TRS draws from her Ethiopian roots

The emerging artist is carving out a space for herself in the modern R&B and soul landscape

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Sound of the City: Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Turunesh takes a free-form approach to neo soul
Sound of the City: Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Turunesh takes a free-form approach to neo soul

With roots in Tanzania and Ethiopia, the artist is feeling excited by pandemic-induced uncertainty

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Sound of the City: Vancouver singer-songwriter Dawn Pemberton talks humanity, balance, and Elvis: The Musical
Sound of the City: Vancouver singer-songwriter Dawn Pemberton talks humanity, balance, and Elvis: The Musical

The funk, soul, and R&B artist found freedom amid the pandemic

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Sound of the City: From sun dances to vogue, house-music diva Quanah Style finds comfort in creating
Sound of the City: From sun dances to vogue, house-music diva Quanah Style finds comfort in creating

The 2-spirit trans recording artist hopes for more diversity in the local nightlife scene

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Sound of the City: Old Soul Rebel releases new single, reflects on the pandemic
Sound of the City: Old Soul Rebel releases new single, reflects on the pandemic

The Vancouver musical duo dedicates its pandemic-era shows to people who have lost loved ones to COVID-19

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Sound of the City: Vancouver musician ekkstacy finds confidence by fusing indie, post punk, and synth wave
Sound of the City: Vancouver musician ekkstacy finds confidence by fusing indie, post punk, and synth wave

The local artist cites Elliott Smith, Bon Iver among his influences

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Sound of the City: Vancouver dark-punk band Lié sounds off on raving, running, and music to be inspired by
Sound of the City: Vancouver dark-punk band Lié sounds off on raving, running, and music to be inspired by

The local three-piece would like to see more late-night venue options run by people who aren't cis white men

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Sound of the City: Interdisciplinary media artist Nancy Lee, aka Which Nancy, talks Vancouver's opioid crisis, lack of diversity in positions of power, and parties
Sound of the City: Interdisciplinary media artist Nancy Lee, aka Which Nancy, talks Vancouver's opioid crisis, lack of diversity in positions of power, and parties

Based in Chinatown, Lee is a queer Taiwanese-Canadian curator, DJ, educator, \cultural producer, and music-video director

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Sound of the City: Hip-hop artist Boslen wants to bridge the gap between Vancouver and Toronto’s music scenes
Sound of the City: Hip-hop artist Boslen wants to bridge the gap between Vancouver and Toronto’s music scenes

With his debut album about to drop, the former Team Canada rugby player is took advantage of pandemic isolation to focus on songwriting

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Sound of the City: Vancouver radio host Nina Panini sounds off on phone calls from listeners, mental wellness, and dance parties
Sound of the City: Vancouver radio host Nina Panini sounds off on phone calls from listeners, mental wellness, and dance parties

The volunteer programmer at UBC’s campus radio station, CiTR 101.9FM, hosts a weekly show dedicated to the local music scene

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Sound of the City: DJ-musician Yu Su chimes in on home, her dream collaborator, and finding comfort in her kitchen
Sound of the City: DJ-musician Yu Su chimes in on home, her dream collaborator, and finding comfort in her kitchen

The artist focused on compositional-based projects throughout the pandemic

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Sound of the City: Floetic emerges from the pandemic maintaining his message of unity
Sound of the City: Floetic emerges from the pandemic maintaining his message of unity

The Vancouver DJ is optimistic about the future despite the difficulties of the past year—as an artist and as a member of the BIPOC community

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Sound of the City: Juno-nominated IAMTHELIVING and Teon Gibbs make music for dancing with JNGL
Sound of the City: Juno-nominated IAMTHELIVING and Teon Gibbs make music for dancing with JNGL

The musicians bridge the gap between R&B, pop, hip-hop, and soul

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Sound of the City: Devours chimes in on depression, hyping other artists, and Tropical Skittles
Sound of the City: Devours chimes in on depression, hyping other artists, and Tropical Skittles

The underground queer pop project of DIY artist Jeff Cancade, Devours curates an all-Vancouver playlist

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Sound of the City: DJ O Show sounds off on representation, writing her first hip-hop track, and the energy of a crowd
Sound of the City: DJ O Show sounds off on representation, writing her first hip-hop track, and the energy of a crowd

The Afro-Indigenous 2 Spirit artist and Squamish Nation member says the pandemic gave rise to new creative skills

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Sound of the City: Crack Cloud
Sound of the City: Crack Cloud

The mixed-media collective models its creative practice around harm-reduction philosophy

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Sound of the City: NADUH
Sound of the City: NADUH

The five-piece femme power group talks Venus, the VPD, and Vancouver talent

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Sound of the City: LOSCIL
Sound of the City: LOSCIL

Electronic-music composer and multimedia artist Scott Morgan sounds off on new artists, Vancouver’s lack of affordability, and his cat

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Sound of the City: Christie Lee
Sound of the City: Christie Lee

The full-time mother and hip-hop lover incorporates her traditional knowledge and ancient hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ dialect into her rap music

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Sound of the City: Softieshan
Sound of the City: Softieshan

The DJ also known as Shanique Kelly chimes in on home-cooked meals, safe spaces for marginalized folks, and the boom of the bass beneath her feet

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Sound of the City: DEBBY FRIDAY
Sound of the City: DEBBY FRIDAY

The Nigerian-born, Vancouver-based multidisciplinary artist and punk god chimes in on the benefits of lockdown, flying, and dancing her ass off

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Sound of the City: Zam Zam
Sound of the City: Zam Zam

The Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter and DJ on spontaneity, Daft Punk, and having time to herself

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Sound of the City: Prado
Sound of the City: Prado

The Vancouver-born singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist sounds off on Lil Uzi Vert, Gucci Mane, and Granville Island

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Sound of the City: DJ Paisley Eva
Sound of the City: DJ Paisley Eva

The artist whose work is rooted in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh teachings chimes in on local DIY venues, friendship, and pre-pandemic travel plans

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Sound of the City: Biawanna
Sound of the City: Biawanna

The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist blends indie-pop, R&B, and dance-pop

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Sound of the City: Tonye Aganaba
Sound of the City: Tonye Aganaba

The queer, non-binary, multidisciplinary artist talks about organizing, the ward system, and life being beautiful and awful

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Sound of the City: Dakota Bear
Sound of the City: Dakota Bear

The activist and hip-hop artist sounds off on travelling, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, and the one thing he would change about Vancouver

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