Slowcity.ca Open Mic: By Divine Right, Sam Jr., Louie Short, Niall Mutter, Les Cooper, Dan Brownrigg, and Simon Ward with Armin van Bururen with R3HAB

Will McGuirk March 11, 2022

By Will McGuirk

"True story. Dream quest. Later that day, in Calgary, Lysh sprained her ankle. The van died the next day. It was magical." - Jose Contreras

“When I was young, I was often rushing to experience everything as fast as possible without thinking of the consequences. Just looking for thrills. Burning away my innocence. I probably should have slowed down a little because sometimes I feel like a cranky 95 year old that never wants to do anything.” - Sam Jr.

“Things in the middle of life tend to be neglected,” he said. “I think that this forgotten middle space is exciting and uncharted. It holds a certain poignancy because it doesn’t have the manipulative magnetism of creation and destruction, birth and death, to grab your attention. It just has itself existing.” - Louie Short

“This song came out of a feeling of helplessness as I recognized my instinct to shield and protect them but struggled with the reality that that wasn't my role,” - Les Cooper

“‘Pass Me By’ is about finding levity in a period of transition. It’s about pain and self assessment, and submitting to things being a bit wacky and out of my control.” - Niall Mutter

Jones & Co · The Same Time - Don Brownrigg

Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Ombiigizi, Haviah Mighty, Keb' Mo', Birds of Bellwood, Canyon City, Avi Kaplan, Gov't Mule, Louie Short, Mike Block,

Will McGuirk November 13, 2021

By Will McGuirk

"These ideas around perceived value got me thinking about the Stock Exchange. Seeing parallels between the way it flows - the constant rising and falling – all dictated by the general public’s perception of an entity’s value, and ultimately how that influences the moves that we make as individuals." - Haviah Mighty

“Whether it be anxiety or depression, anger or addiction, there are parts of ourselves that can lead us down a path that is detrimental to our being. This song is about acknowledging that part of oneself and overcoming it.” - Avi Kaplan

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Tears for Fears, Ouri, Sunglaciers, daysormay, Megan Nash, Opengo, faride, Louie Short, and Houndmouth

Will McGuirk October 7, 2021

By Will McGuirk

“Before everything went so right with this album, everything first had to go wrong, it took years, but something happens when we put our heads together. We’ve got this balance, this push-me-pull-you thing – and it works really well.” - Roland Orzabal, Tears for Fears

“‘Just Existing’ has been a long time coming. Some of these songs have been around for 2+ years, while the others are brand new. It's been a crazy process of stitching it all together, we've never approached an album like this before, it feels new.” - daysormay

“It’s probably the most vulnerable I’ve been with my lyrics so far. Not sure how it will feel to have it out in the world but I was honest with myself when I wrote it in the Fall of 2019 - heartbroken but hopeful, nervous but willing.” - Megan Nash

"My grandmother had an uncommon perception of people's needs. It wasn’t a surprise to my mother when I started having premonitions and intuitions as a child. This song felt feminine and powerful and I wanted to capture the matriarchal wisdom of many ways of knowing." - farideh

Opeongo · maybe maybellene

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Nathaniel Rateliff, Donovan Woods, Debra-Jean Creelman, Soccer Mommy, Louie Short, One True Pairing, Megan Nash, and Suzie Ungerleider,

Will McGuirk July 17, 2021

By Will McGuirk

“‘Golden Arches’ is a song of escape and a song of possibility. Built from a load of software loops during hot days spent inside, dreaming of the drizzling open road.” - One True Pairing

“It’s about sitting with grief and loss. Feeling all of the heavy and uncomfortable feelings. And wanting to hear nothing but your own heartbeat.” - Megan Nash