unique Toronto music

[monkeyronin]

Originally Posted by vid

I would guess that most "Toronto" musicians aren't actually from Toronto, they're just based there because it is a larger market. Same for places like New York and LA.

I would guess thats not true at all. I wouldn't be surprised if "most" musicians in Toronto (or New York or Los Angeles or wherever) came from somewhere else (but then thats not much of a feat when maybe 30% of the population is locally-born) - however, far more likely they came here because its a little more exciting (especially for a young artist) than Bumblefuck, Saskatchewan/Nebraska/Indiana/etc. - y'know, for the same reasons that young people are generally attracted to cities, not so much for the sole purpose of potential economic opportunity as a musician, which isn't really there for most anyway.

[vid]

Originally Posted by monkeyronin

I would guess thats not true at all. I wouldn't be surprised if "most" musicians in Toronto (or New York or Los Angeles or wherever) came from somewhere else (but then thats not much of a feat when maybe 30% of the population is locally-born) - however, far more likely they came here because its a little more exciting (especially for a young artist) than Bumblefuck, Saskatchewan/Nebraska/Indiana/etc. - y'know, for the same reasons that young people are generally attracted to cities, not so much for the sole purpose of potential economic opportunity as a musician, which isn't really there for most anyway.

But they wouldn't have had the experience of being raised in Toronto. Rural Alberta Advantage is based in Toronto, but they're from Alberta and it's Alberta, not Toronto, that inspires their music. More venues is going to add to excitement. Thunder Bay only has about 15 venues that local artists perform at on a regular basis, so of course it will get boring after a few months of playing them all every few days.

I guess the issue here is that you're simply saying "Toronto-based" while I am thinking "Toronto-Inspired". Other than Stars I honestly can't say that any Canadian music I listen to is immediately identifiable as being "of Toronto".

This is probably due to Geography, but I can think of many more bands that I identify with Winnipeg than Toronto, even though I listen to far more "Toronto" bands than bands from Winnipeg.

[Taller, Better]

Originally Posted by vid

This is probably due to Geography

Quite likely that is the answer; probably few of the local bands make it up to TBay. There is a lively music scene in the city that is easier to follow when you live here.
I think when musicians move to a city and form groups, they are probably more "influenced" by either the local scene, or the world scene than their childhood back in Medicine Hat or Saskatoon. Ditto for clothing designers, etc....

Confession Time:
I'll admit right now that there are two very big Canadian bands that I simply never have been able to get into. Broken Social Scene, and Arcade Fire. Not got the time of day for either, unfortunately. Also was never much of a Bare Naked Ladies fan, nor a Tragically Hip Fan. Give me this, anyday over the other dreary stuff.:

[Taller, Better]

or

[Taller, Better]

or

[Gerrad]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Confession Time:
I'll admit right now that there are two very big Canadian bands that I simply never have been able to get into. Broken Social Scene, and Arcade Fire. Not got the time of day for either, unfortunately. Also was never much of a Bare Naked Ladies fan, nor a Tragically Hip Fan. Give me this, anyday over the other dreary stuff.:

I thought it was just me. But nothing puts me to sleep faster than those bands. Except maybe Sarah Mcwhatshername.

[Taller, Better]

Originally Posted by Gerrad

I thought it was just me. But nothing puts me to sleep faster than those bands. Except maybe Sarah Mcwhatshername.

OMG. When her nasal warfare comes on, I just want to pull out a razor blade and end it all!

I had to laugh at one of the comments under this one:



"tried doing homework to this - bad decision"

[monkeyronin]

Originally Posted by vid

But they wouldn't have had the experience of being raised in Toronto...I guess the issue here is that you're simply saying "Toronto-based" while I am thinking "Toronto-Inspired".

But as Taller already alluded to - not being "from" a place doesn't necessarily mean you can't be inspired by it, whether it be the city's culture, or more likely, what other musicians around you are doing. Or take New York's Sonic Youth for example - most of its members came from various towns and cities around the US, but so much of their subject matter are about their experiences in NYC (gotta love The Wonder/Hyperstation - great portrayal of what it must've felt like as kid from Connecticut just having arrived in 1980s New York). For artists in general, their surroundings are much more likely to be an influence than a simple backdrop the way it would be for someone moving to the city for an office job or construction work or something.

Though, just as an experiment I found the 10 most popular (as determined by the number of "likes" they have on Facebook) Toronto-based artists, then checked Wikipedia to see where some of these people were from, the results being that most are from Toronto anyway.

Drake - born & raised in Toronto
Deadmau5 - born & raised in nearby Niagara Falls
Rush - all members born & raised in Toronto
Crystal Castles - both members born & raised in Toronto
Lights - born & raised in Timmins
Metric - various members from a bunch of different places in Canada & beyond, formed in Toronto
Feist - born in Nova Scotia, raised in Regina & Calgary, relocated to Toronto as a musician
The Weeknd - born & raised in Toronto
MSTRKRFT - both members born & raised in Toronto
Zeds Dead - both members born & raised in Toronto

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

Also was never much of a Bare Naked Ladies fan, nor a Tragically Hip Fan.

Cringeworthy.

[vid]

Of those I only listen to Rush and Metric. I forgot Rush, and don't listen to much by Metric.