Music

With 14 international magazine front covers to her name, numerous producer/DJ awards, top 10 places in the Resident Advisor DJ polls in both 2011 & 2012, 30+ countries played in the last 18 months, 10 million You Tube views, 165,000+ Facebook fans and over 2.5 million plays on Soundcloud, it’s hard to believe that Maya Jane Coles is yet to release an album.

Imagine you're in the sixth grade and your goal is to become one of the world's best heavy metal bands. Well, that is exactly what a couple of eleven and twelve-year-old kids from Flatbush, Brooklyn want to achieve. Malcolm Brickhouse (electric guitar) and Jarad Dawkins (drums—which by the way, mastered the instrument by the age of two) formed their first band, Tears of Blood in 2007.

If you are going heading to Sled Island this week, be sure to check-out the ION Magazine showcase on Wednesday, June 19th. The showcase will be hosted by Mr. Geography, with performances by Valiska, Burro, Bear Mountain, and The Gaslamp Killer. Swing by and say "hi'. Set times below.

Location: The HiFi Club | 219 10 Ave SW

Doors: 9PM

Mr. Geography: 9:30PM

Valiska: 10PM

A Montréal gem, Le Couleur—fronted by Vietnamese-Quebecoise singer Laurence Giroux-Do—who, together with her band, excellently captures a complete french vintage-disco-pop vibe. 

If you happen to be in Toronto for NXNE this year, we recommend that you come and check out the ION X NXNE Showcase this year. We have a great line-up of super talented musicians from both the West Coast and the East Coast, and we would love for you to join us. The line-up and times are below.

Location: Handlebar 159 Augusta Ave

Doors open at 8PM

Hanni El Khatib's latest music video, "Penny," from his LP Head In The Dirt finds a group of inmates empathizing with the sentiments Hanni expresses in the song.

ION favourites, Kisses have a certain quality to them that makes for not only perfect summer listening, but around the calendar.

One song in, and you’re left to wonder “Why the hell has this guy been hiding out behind a drum kit his whole life?” Sure, Shawn Mrazek is establishing this as his proper solo debut, but not without the helping hands of, oh, you know a few members of Apollo Ghosts, Destroyer, and They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?. So, no, this isn’t really your average singer-songwriter fare: it’s zany, chaotic, and a bit of a mess, in the best possible way.

Saying that your new album is better than the one that made you a poster boy for an entire genre of hip, new music is a bold statement, and one that leaves long times fans skeptical even before hearing the product. When 1995's Maxinquaye came out, not only did it bring 'trip-hop' into the household vernacular, it wasn't uncommon for the former Massive Attack alumni (known to his mum as Adrian Thawes) to grace the cover of major publication with the word JESUS under his name.

We are proud to have the world premiere of Valleys remix of the song, “Hounds” by fellow Montrealers, Mozart’s Sister. “Hounds” is featured on Valleys new full-length, Are You Going To Stand There And Talk Weird All Night?, which was released on Kanine Records on April 30. The duo of Marc St.