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Canadian Music Fest Day 3
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From sweet and sultry to sexy and sassy, it was onto the Garrison on Queen West to check out Montrea...From sweet and sultry to sexy and sassy, it was onto the Garrison on Queen West to check out Montreal’s Mad June. This six piece all female band is all rock, and pulls their visual and aural style from girl groups across time. Watching singer Vanessa McLean and company do their thing on stage, you can’t help but think of the Runaways in the seventies, The Bangles in the eighties, Luscious Jackson in the nineties and even the Donnas in recent years. While all of these female formed groups may have lent their influence to Mad June, the sexy sextet have created a sound all their own, and a presence and energy that was impossible to resist. Passionate and upbeat vocals, incredibly hooky guitar riffs (courtesy of guitarists Jessica Pion and Tania Desrocher) gives Mad June an inarguably rock sound, but with pop appeal that everyone and anyone is sure to love.
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Wolfheart + Mad June + Diamond Bones - Feels Good Man
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Mad June followed, and they are a band that plays pop punk with some really great choruses that just...Mad June followed, and they are a band that plays pop punk with some really great choruses that just scream to be sung along with. They are a six-piece that has two guitarists, a bassist, drummer, keyboardist, and vocalist. Everyone in the band other than the lead vocalist sang backup vocals. The vocal leads were expertly sung, while the guitars supplied the right amount of grit. The bass and drums were locked in step to create a stellar groove, while the keyboards added a lush dimension of sound to the rock n’ roll grime. The front-lady gets a few extra points from me for the fact that she made the attempt to cross the performer/audience barrier by jumping off the stage and rocking out with the crowd while she sang. It’s always a good move to make, in my opinion.
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Mad June at Musique Plus - Top Musique
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Mad June played their single November live on Musique Plus (Quebec's Much Music), on October 16th 20...Mad June played their single November live on Musique Plus (Quebec's Much Music), on October 16th 2012. Click on the link to view the clip.
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Indie Week Report Card: Mad June@Cherry Cola's
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Sound 4/5
You couldn’t help but think The Runaways when watching Mad June. Six girls spread acros...Sound 4/5
You couldn’t help but think The Runaways when watching Mad June. Six girls spread across Cherry Cola’s tiny stage – two guitars, drums, bass, keys and singer. 'Woo, woo' harmonies and in-unison clapping were on hand, too. Together it concocted a rollicking dose of sound - not always coherent - but an abundance of girl power heroics, nonetheless. Tedium never tapered their air of energy, with every member firmly set in place, solidly delivering in every respect.
Performance 4/5
Always moving and grooving. Vanessa McLean has a pleasant voice (somewhat childlike) that slithers well against the grit. Throughout the set, her footwork would spontaneously lead off stage, belting her pipes amidst the crowd as the band kept the engine revving. While solos were plentiful, and the guitar interplay of rhythm and lead were gracious, the drums offered a nice crispness that evoked some disco flavour in instances.
Professionalism 4/5
Mad June was met with open arms, performing as Cherry Cola’s third act Friday night. A steady stream of people seemed to flow in from Bathurst St., all ages alike. Some patrons, well over 40, were visible, perhaps tickled by the sound emanating onto the outside sidewalk. Appreciation was conveyed by leader McLean, thanking everyone for coming out, with a little Quebecois hospitality sprinkled in, reiterating her gratitude in French as well.
Aesthetic 4/5
If you're a member of Mad June, wearing black is obviously a prerequisite. Black boots, pants, hair, eye shadow and them some. Some flashes of bad teeth were also prevalent, but hey, no one said female rockers had to be glamourous. These ladies were tough and impassioned – with musicianship that was never indulgent.
Authenticity 4/5
Cranking the amps up to 12, Mad June know a thing or two about composition and harmonies. Their formula was simple: give you a little taste of sweetness with McLean's voice, then kick it into high gear with clamouring choruses. A solid act that incite comparison to The Breeders and The Runaways. Just because they are an all girl group doesn't mean they can't bring intensity. When everything gelled, Mad June were a cut above the rest.
Total: 20/ 25
Photography by: Myles Herod
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Indie Music Week - Toronto Friday October 12 2012 - Mad June
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Mad June is a rock band from Montreal that rocked Cherry Cola on Friday and showed that girls can ro...Mad June is a rock band from Montreal that rocked Cherry Cola on Friday and showed that girls can rock as good as the boys and they should be given credit as a great indie band not a great “girl” band. While their sound has a distinctive flavor of Ramones, they should appeal to fans of both post punk (Ramones, Smiths, Clash and so on) but also modern pop rock bands such as Florence and the Machine, The Killers, to fellow Montrealers Arcade Fire. With very distinctive vocals from Vanessa McLean and two guitarists who played riffs that would make Johnny Marr (The Smiths) proud they have a unique and refreshing sound. Mad June was the winner of Friday’s Girls Rock competition at Cherry Cola which garnered them an invitation to play at the El Mocambo on Saturday night.
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Mad June. Not another girl band
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When Montreal-based quartet Mad June formed in 2005, three best friends came together with the ultim...When Montreal-based quartet Mad June formed in 2005, three best friends came together with the ultimate goal of playing music and writing songs they loved.
“I know bands say that all the time but I’ve been in other bands where the ultimate goal was success, but this band’s goal is to simply play music and write songs that we love,” said Vanessa McLean, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Mad June.
Their debut album, We’re Not Strangers, was released on Oct. 26, 2009, with their first single following in May 2011 called “November 2011.”
Mad June - We're Not Strangers“It was the lowest high budget we could manage. [Laughs] It was the highest quality with the lowest budget. For us at the time, it wasn’t a demo because our point was to put out a debut album but looking back we call it a demo because we’re at a different place in our recording career,” said McLean.
The band is currently writing their second album in Montreal with producer Jeff Dalziel.
“With our producer, he is pushing us to become better songwriters. It’s like a writing boot camp where he gets together a number of different songwriters and we’re locked in a room for hours and hammer out songs to get out of that Mad June - Novembercomfort zone where you’re always writing with the same people,” said McLean.
In many of the songs from We’re Not Strangers, like “Corporate Convict,” which condemns modern corporations, the band takes a defiant stance on pressing issues. But there's a fine line they try not to cross when writing lyrics.
“We try not to impose our ideas or values on our fans. Even though, like corporations, what inspired us was the documentary The Corporation, but our lyrics are exposing reality but it’s not dictating how the listener should react to it, they can make their own opinions,” said Pascale St-Onge, bassist for Mad June.
However, the band is aware of the effect their strong lyrical voice may have on listeners.
“Music should be honest. But it can become a double-edged sword because if you begin to criticize people for not having the same beliefs, [it’s like] you’re saying your opinion is right and theirs isn’t,” added McLean.
Let’s face it; all-women bands aren’t the newest thing in music. But there is unfortunately still a stigma that they can’t sing or play as well as bands with men. But without looking at a publicity shot or seeing them live, does music really have a gender?
“We didn’t start this band because we’re all women, but because we’re all friends. When you listen to music and you haven’t seen the faces of the musicians, I don’t know if music has a gender. Can you really tell if it’s an all-girl band just by listening to the music?” asked St-Onge.
In the case of Mad June, the stigma takes a back seat to a mutual respect between musicians.
“It has never been that big of a deal. Most people have always treated us with respect and haven’t treated us any differently because we’re an all-girl band. I wouldn’t mind being called an all-girl band but I don’t know what that is, like I don’t know what we’re supposed to sound like. I don’t know what would be expected of us if we were an ‘all-girl band’,” said McLean.
Before Mad June was founded, McLean was a solo musician playing acoustic guitar with a backing band. She was hesitant to be a bandleader, preferring a democratic approach to making music.
“I started out by playing Folk/Rock music and [Mad June] was an unusual transition for me because I already had some songs written. And with the three musicians I was playing with before, I didn’t want to be a bandleader and tell them what to do, but because we started Mad June together, we were on the same level. We only used one of my old songs. All of the other songs we wrote were completely together and because we built up those songs as a band, that was a whole different experience because there wasn’t a need to have a bandleader because it wasn’t ‘mine’, it was ‘ours’,” said McLean.
Mad June started as three women wanting to write and perform the best songs they could. With the addition of their current drummer Lydia (Champagne), they felt it was a natural fit because of their strong friendship with her prior to her permanent role in the band.
“When the band started there were only three of us, we had two guitarists, bass, vocals and a drum machine [Laughs]. I played with Lydia on several different projects before and when we started the band we wanted Lydia to be our drummer but she was just getting out of school. But when our temporary drummer left, we again asked Lydia to join us. It was a very natural transition,” said McLean.
Mad June will be performing at Cherry Cola's Rock N' Rolla Cabaret Lounge as part of Indie Week Toronto 2011 in October.
– Curtis Sindrey
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The Most Important Meal by Kate B
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« Back to OurStage Magazine
Published by Kate B on August 23, 2010 in Artist News
Tags: rock mus...« Back to OurStage Magazine
Published by Kate B on August 23, 2010 in Artist News
Tags: rock music songs, rock music, rock indie, polaroid, pat benatar, Montreal, Mad June, lillith fair, free music, figure 8, blonde redhead, alternative music, alternative bands
Mad June
A band can spring forth from any number of scenarios—a successful one-off collaboration, approaching a musician after a gig, just goofing off with some friends … the smell of toast. So goes the genesis story of Mad June, a band of four women from Montreal who decided to form a band over breakfast. Leaving sunshine and comfort in the kitchen, the band’s songcraft revolves around brooding, stylized rock. On “Here Again,” slinky basslines, rolling drums and the low gulp of guitar create a tempest of confusion and doubt. The sinister “Polaroid” tackles the media’s skewed perception of beauty with urgent, angular pangs—a moody little rocker redolent of Blonde Redhead. If you need a break from the brooding, skip to “24”—an up-tempo, coursing number about love gone awry—or “The Stranger Ones,” where the band puts a Benatar-esque spin on youth in revolt. Just make sure you give “November” a listen. Manic and playful with a catchy chorus that turns a nice Figure 8—that song alone makes you wish more people would eat toast together.
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You Think Rock Is Dead, Go Fuck Yourself Part 2, by Bob Segarini
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"Bands to keep your eye (and ears) on: In no particular order: Amos the Transparent, Die Mannequin, ..."Bands to keep your eye (and ears) on: In no particular order: Amos the Transparent, Die Mannequin, A Primitive Evolution, Brooklyn Fletcher, The Waxmen, Kitchen Music, The Respectables, Darlings of Chelsea, Cut Throat Kids, Pull Start Rockets, Voodoo Bunny, Mad June, and Helldorado and this is just a personal short list. Who are you following? Who would you like to recommend?"
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'Baby steps' and growing success for Montreal rock quartet Mad June
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If you don't know quite what to make of Montreal's female rock quartet, Mad June, you're right where...If you don't know quite what to make of Montreal's female rock quartet, Mad June, you're right where they want you. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Vanessa says of the band's name, "We wanted something people could read things into. We didn't want people to have a preconceived idea of what the band would be."
As Pascale, the bassist, puts it, "We were looking for a short name that sounded good and that didn't mean anything. We started with Mean Martha, but then Martha Stewart went to prison."
"And everyone said, 'Oh, is your name about Martha Stewart?'" Vanessa chimes in. "We were like 'No!'"
Vanessa and Pascale are joined by Marie-Lyne on lead guitar and Lydia on drums. All four women happen to be lesbians, though they don't necessarily consider themselves a lesbian band.
"If you go through the lyrics, you'll hear stuff about Prop 8 and stuff about other issues like acceptance and non-tolerance, but I don't call us a lesbian band," Vanessa explains. "I don't mind if people want to say 'Oh, that's the lesbian band from Montreal,' but I don't know what that means exactly, soundwise."
Meanwhile, ask the band how they came together, and it's classic lesbian-degrees-of-separation. Marie-Lyne was Pascale's first girlfriend's best friend. Vanessa and Pascale are girlfriends. "And she's my ex," Marie-Lyne jests, pointing to Vanessa.
Mad June sprang from a relaxed, half-joking conversation the three had while vacationing at the beach. "Basically, we wanted to create a project that we'd have a lot of fun in," Vanessa says. "Not all the bullshit of business, but just to do music for the right reasons."
Pascale was the only non-musician at that point, but after picking up Vanessa's old bass, "she starting playing a song by ear. She never played a guitar or bass in her life. I was like, 'Wow, okay. We have a band,'" Vanessa says.
When asked to define their sound, Vanessa and Marie-Lyne laugh, talking over each other in a way that suggests everything they're saying should be enveloped in air quotes: "pop rock, alternative, indie, rhythm-dripping, folk-laden."
"Sometimes we can play heavy metal festivals and the next day a folk show," Pascale says.
Within a month this summer, Mad June went from playing Montebello Rockfest, with "a bunch of scream-o, heavy metal bands," to being hugged by Sarah McLachlan on-stage at Lilith Fair's Boston finale.
Mad June was chosen to play Lilith Fair in Montreal, after winning a contest for independent artists on ourstage.com. "We got an email with the contract," Vanessa explains, "and four days later, we got an email saying, 'Sorry to announce the Montreal show is cancelled.'" As a consolation prize, the band was given tickets to a show in the city of their choosing, along with an invitation to be on-stage in front of 10,000 fans.
"It would have been amazing to play a full set at Lilith Fair," Vanessa says, "but just going to Boston and the fact that we were there, made people ask a lot of questions and led to a whole bunch of other stuff, like a TV special in the US.
"That was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It went by so fast. Thank God we filmed it. I looked over it after, and there were a whole bunch of things I didn't remember. Even the thing of Sarah coming up to me. I watched it after like, 'Oh my God!'"
As for what's next, "I just learned today that we got selected for Canadian Music Week, which is the biggest music festival in Canada," Pascale says.
"This is the third year that we applied," Vanessa says. "It's baby steps. Things are moving at a pace that I think is normal for an indie band; we're doing it all ourselves. And I'm really proud of how we run our own business. I'm really proud of how far we've gotten. It's been exhausting and a lot of fun at the same time."
For more on Mad June, check out madjune.com.
Catch Mad June on tour - click here for tour details:
•Oct 14 and 15 in Toronto
•Oct 20 and 29 in Montreal
•Oct 23 in Ottawa
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Don't Believe a Word I Say with Bob Segarini
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Bob Segarini wrote about Mad June's performance at Indie Week 2009:
(...) I was fortunate to catc...Bob Segarini wrote about Mad June's performance at Indie Week 2009:
(...) I was fortunate to catch an amazing hard rock quartet from Montreal called Mad June, four of the most talented female players I have ever heard, and right up there with the best of the best, local guitarist Donna Grantis. Mad June’s CD drops next month, and I can hardly wait…and their drummer is mighty! (...)
Link:
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Segarini Coughs Up Another Roundup
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Mad June – Thicker: I first met and heard these young Montreal women at the Velvet Underground duri...Mad June – Thicker: I first met and heard these young Montreal women at the Velvet Underground during last year’s Indie Week. I was impressed by the lead singer’s Chrissie Hynde-like delivery only fueled by passion more than ‘cool. Threading my way through the crowd to get a better look, I soon discovered the whole band was Estrogen enabled. It was a bit of a shock because the playing was authorative and energetic and driven by a drummer who, on some of the tunes, manages to remind of Keith Moon at his manic best. I’ve been waiting for the CD ever since and it finally came in the mail this week. Real life Energizer Bunnies. Enjoy…and see them when you get the chance.
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Review: Mad June - We're Not Strangers
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Montreal’s Mad June is an all-female quartet who knows how to rock. Cranking up the amps to eleven, ...Montreal’s Mad June is an all-female quartet who knows how to rock. Cranking up the amps to eleven, Mad June also know a thing or two about nuance and composition, as you’ll note on Mad June’s debut album,. We’re Not Strangers. Mad June have spent the last few years gigging regularly and honing their sound; it’s time for them to step out and be more than just a Montreal Band. We’re Not Strangers might just be the project to take them there.
We're Not Strangers opens with the intriguingly sparse Rock N Roll of Here Again. Vanessa McLean has a pleasant voice that works well in this reserved setting on a decent melody. The song isn't overly dynamic but is solid. Polaroid seems to take on the fashion world and the unreality both in its proponents and those who watch from outside. It's a well spoken commentary in a strong arrangement that will stick with you. 24 is a tasty bit of modern rock with real radio legs. This could be a breakout hit. November starts out wonderfully well with a catchy chorus that becomes cloying due to repetition.
Mad June breaks out the punker energy on The Stranger Ones, and takes after big business on Corporate Convict. The message here is well received but comes across in awkward terms. Mad June brings a Breeders-like intensity on I Feel It, keeping things simple and compact for a standout song. This leads into Thicker, the piece de resistance on We're Not Strangers. It's the best songwriting on the album; McLean is fully alive here. Any awkwardness or hesitation is gone as Mad June takes flight and shows you what all of the potential that lurks through We're Not Strangers can lead to when it adds up the right way.
At baseline, Mad June is a solid band with decent material, a likeable vocalist and a lot of potential. When everything gels, they are a musical dream machine. Everything comes together on We're Not Strangers for the last song. Let's hope Mad June can recreate that magic the next time out.
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Mad June at www.myspace.com/madjune. You can purchase We’re Not Strangers as either a CD or Download from CDBaby.com.
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CHARTtrack: Mad June's The Stranger Ones
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"Montreal four-piece Mad June released their We're Not Strangers debut on Nov. 21, and "The Stranger..."Montreal four-piece Mad June released their We're Not Strangers debut on Nov. 21, and "The Stranger Ones" appears on that record. It's Bloc Party-esque bouncy indie rock (think the stuff on Silent Alarm, not Intimacy) by way of Canada's second most-populous city."
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Featured USA4real artist of the Month (April 2010) Mad June
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|| Mad June in April ||
I'm not quite sure what their obsession is with toast, (click here to rea...|| Mad June in April ||
I'm not quite sure what their obsession is with toast, (click here to read artist bio) but their music is much more delightful than the crisp bread. This Montreal all female quartet certainly sparks a chord or more to the senses. Their taste is not bland, they sound golden with a tinge of darkness, not to mention; the four are beautifully molten.
Presently #4 on the Upstream Radio Hot 25 with "24," Mad June makes its move toward the top. Vanessa McLean sings with a very soulful melodic style above a steady groove provided by Pascale St-Onge on bass, making this a very pop possibility to be a hit. "We're Not Strangers," Mad June's first EP, is packed with several solid jams that have great potential that are easy on the ears and good for the soul.
There is a radiohead style punk to their sound, McLean's voice just rises above to deliver you something else. So when the rain pours this April, and you're praying for the Sun in June, give Mad June a listen. And if you're in Montreal, there is a bigger pleasure if you see them live. They will turn your soggy mind into toast.
-Luke Wryder
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Mad June is artist of the month on Réel-Radio.fm, Outaouais french University Radio
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Mad June Pour ce mois de juin, Réel-Radio vous fait découvrir un groupe de rock de filles!!!
Après ...Mad June Pour ce mois de juin, Réel-Radio vous fait découvrir un groupe de rock de filles!!!
Après The Runaways, Girlschool, Rock Goddess, The Gossip, la nouvelle sensation du rock au féminin est arrivée sous l'énigmatique nom de Mad June.
Amies de longues date, les montréalaises Vanessa McLean (voix, guitare rythmique), Marie-Lyne Thibault (lead guitar), Pacale St-Onge (basse) et Lydia Champagne (batterie) se sont réunies autour de leur passion de la musique et se sont lancés dans un "vrai" band il y a 4 ans et demi.
Influencées par des bands tels que Alexisonfire, City & Colour, Radiohead, Metric ou encore Coldplay, les membres de Mad June nous transportent dans leur univers éclectique aux sonorités "indie-pop-rock-electro-alternatif" dans leur premier album, We're Not Strangers.
Occupées dans plusieurs festivals cet été, les filles de Mad June viendront nous montrer de quoi elles sont capables avec un concert le 5 juin au Petit Chicago, en compagnie de Sunny Duval des Breastfeeders.
Vous pouvez aussi voter pour elles dans le cadre du Concours Rockfest (http://www.outaouaisrock.org/pnrockfest2010/concoursrocker.html) et leur permettre de vous offir un autre show près de chez nous lors du Rockfest!!
Sans oublier d'aller faire un tour sur le Myspace du groupe : http://www.myspace.com/madjune
Bonne écoute!
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Complicité Féminie et PoP Rock Made in Montreal
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À la sortie du café, après ma rencontre avec la formation musicale montréalaise Mad June, j’ai pris ...À la sortie du café, après ma rencontre avec la formation musicale montréalaise Mad June, j’ai pris conscience d’une chose primordiale concernant l’univers de la musique. Loin de moi l’idée et la prétention de percer les mystères du Rock N’Roll, de vous dire pourquoi les Rolling Stones durent encore après plus de 50 ans, ou pourquoi John Lennon a quitté les Beatles, puis fondé le Plastic Ono Band. Cela dit, à la rencontre des 4 filles de Mad June une évidence s’est imposée à moi : le talent et la passion permettent de percer, certes, mais l’amitié et la chimie assurent la longévité d’une carrière. Et en ce qui concerne Mad June, la chimie est bel et bien là, non seulement sur scène, mais d’abord dans la vie de tous les jours. Et le test ultime, l’entrevue, révèle que cette amitié est vraiment bien réelle et que les égos individuels restent derrière la scène, afin de permettre au groupe de briller de tous ses feux. Rencontre avec la sympathique formation pop/rock indépendante.
Mad June c’est: Lydia Champagne : batterie. Formation : DEC et Bac. en musique. « Je gagne ma vie avec la musique, je donne aussi des cours de batterie, avis aux intéressé(e)s…». Trait de caractère : discrète et silencieuse (sauf en concert, grande force de frappe!) Influences : Metric, Radiohead, Créatures, Damien Robitaille. Vanessa Mc Lean : voix et guitare rythmique. Formation : «J’ai suivi une formation classique au secondaire, qui n’a pas duré longtemps, puisque je me suis fait virer! (rires) Pour le chant, je suis autodidacte… C’est extraordinaire la musique, tu apprends de jour en jour et tu ne plafonnes jamais!» Trait de caractère : volubile, avec un bel accent anglophone (à peine perceptible). Pascale St-Onge : Basse. Formation : Autodidacte. « J’ai commencé à jouer de la basse pour le band, ça fait 4 ans et demi. Je travaille fort, mais j’ai de bons bourreaux, qui m’ont torturée pour que j’apprenne, et je dois dire que les chocs électriques stimulent vraiment les neurones, ça m’a beaucoup aidée! Trait de caractère : humoriste née; l’ironie dans le sang. Influences : Metric, Rock Party, Beast, Radiohead, Ariane Moffatt. Marie-Lyne Thibault : «lead guitar». Formation : DEC guitare classique et bac. en musicothérapie. Influences : « J’écoute du jazz, de l’électro et j’adore Metric, ce qui est vrai pour toutes les filles du groupe, nous sommes des fans finies! Et j’aimerais rajouter dans mes influences Slash [le guitariste] de Guns N’Roses… Ma blonde dit que lorsqu’elle m’entend, elle pense à Slash!(rires)» Trait de caractère : les doigts aussi fluides que Slash, mais moins excentrique « capillairement » parlant.
Comment a débuté l’aventure de Mad June?
Pascale : On est toutes des anciennes maîtresses! (Rires)
Vanessa : J’essaie de penser à quelque chose de créatif à dire, car à chaque fois que les gens lisent notre bio [sur notre site web] ils nous demandent si c’est une vraie histoire…
Pascale : notre bio, c’est plus une «anti-bio», parce qu’on n’avait pas nécessairement envie d’écrire la vraie histoire….
Marie-Lyne : En fait, l’aventure a débuté sur la plage, lorsque nous étions en vacances. Nous avons commencé à jouer de la musique dans le sous-sol, et c’est devenu un band.
Vanessa : Le groupe a été créé, il y a environ 4 ans et demi. Puisque ça fait longtemps que nous sommes amies, on voulait former un groupe de musique pour tripper ensemble. C’était aussi pour trouver une passion à Pascale, qui n’avait jamais joué dans un band.
Pascale : C’est important de dire que le band a été formé au départ par Marie-Lyne, Vanessa et moi, et que Lydia s’est jointe au groupe plus tard. Il ne faudrait pas passer sous silence la contribution d’Isa-belle Lussier à la batterie, puisque c’est avec elle que nous avons offert nos prestations pendant la première année et demie.
Quelle est la signification de votre nom de groupe?
Pascale : En fait, c’était notre deuxième choix, puisque Coldplay était déjà utilisé… (Rires)
Vanessa : Mad June laisse place à l’interprétation, c’est indéfini, un peu androgyne, ça peut avoir plusieurs significations. Aussi, ça revient à l’idée de l’anti-bio, on voulait mettre l’accent sur le band comme ensemble, sur la musique, et non sur les individus qui le composent. On travaille toutes ensemble pour le band, et non pour que l’une soit plus importante que l’autre.
Pascale : Aussi, je crois que l’on voulait laisser l’occasion au band de faire son chemin, avant d’essayer de le définir à l’avance.
Le 21 novembre dernier avait lieu le lancement de votre premier album, au Club Lambi. La salle était pleine à craquer…
Lydia : Honnêtement, j’étais surprise qu’il y ait autant de monde, car nous avions fait un show bénéfice un peu avant et c’était sold out, alors je ne m’attendais pas à ce que la salle soit aussi remplie!
Comment s’est déroulé l’enre-gistrement de votre premier album?
Lydia : Nous avons commencé au mois de mars et l’enregistrement de l’album s’est super bien passé! Nous avons d’abord enregistré trois chansons en pré-production et, de mars à juin, on a donné un gros coup!
Sur votre album We’re not strangers, certaines pièces offrent une critique sociale alors que d’autres touchent à des sujets plus personnels…
Pascale : On aime aborder des thèmes sociaux et des thèmes qui nous sont personnels, mais on n’a pas vraiment de «messages» à faire passer. On veut laisser le loisir aux gens de se faire leur propre interprétation de nos chansons. On n’a pas envie de dire aux gens quoi penser, d’imposer nos idées ou d’être moralisatrices. Bien sûr, on a des opinions, et je crois que cela se ressent dans les chansons.
Est-ce difficile de ne pas imposer ses idées, de ne pas faire la morale ?
Pascale : C’est difficile lorsque tu abordes la musique d’une façon super intellectuelle ou rationnelle. C’est d’essayer de ressentir ce que tu penses, au lieu de le réfléchir et de l’intellectualiser.
Vanessa : Pour moi, lorsque j’écris, c’est aussi pour laisser l’espace à l’interprétation et au chant. J’écris ce que je ressens. Si tu fais passer tes émotions de façon honnête, les gens vont le ressentir. Et c’est ce qui est beau avec la musique, chaque personne va y chercher quelque chose. Par exemple, je peux écrire une chanson sur un thème amoureux, politique ou social qui me rend triste, alors que pour une autre personne cette chanson peut lui faire du bien, faire ressortir son côté revendicateur, etc. Aussi, il y a une façon de manipuler les mots…. [À cet ins-tant, la radio d’ambiance du café fait justement tourner «Je reviens à Montréal», d’Ariane Moffatt…]
Vanessa : Justement là nous entendons Ariane Moffatt à la radio et je trouve que c’est une auteure exceptionnelle pour trouver des métaphores! C’est une autre façon de dire, une façon de trouver une imagerie propre. Par exemple, pour dire le mot amour, elle écrit «j’suis addict au sens strict à tes phéromones»! C’est génial!
Justement, comment fonctionnez-vous pour l’écriture et la composition des chansons?
Marie-Lyne : Les chansons sont composées souvent à partir d’une ligne mélodique, d’un rythme, ou d’un texte que l’une de nous va amener ou improviser. La grande majorité des textes sont écrits par Vanessa, mais un texte comme Corporate Convict, par exemple, a été écrit par Pascale. Sinon il y a des extraits de chansons, disons des refrains, que moi j’ai écrits et Vanessa a retravaillé les couplets pour les rendre plus actuels.
Vanessa : Dans ces cas-là, je dois trouver une histoire à mettre autour des refrains, car j’ai besoin de m’y identifier pour l’interpréter. Par exemple, Marie-Lyne a écrit les refrains pour les pièces 24, I Feel it et November.
Comment décrivez-vous votre style musical pour ce premier album?
Marie-Lyne : Personnellement, je décrirais le style comme pop/rock, mais c’est certain que ça reste indépendant, parce qu’autofinancé. On sonne plus rock en concert, à cause des gros amplis de guitare; du moins, c’est ce que l’on se fait dire. Beaucoup de gens trouvaient qu’il y avait un traitement plus pop à l’album, dans la réalisation, et on était contentes que ce soit différent de ce que les gens voient en concert, car ça apporte une certaine fraicheur à l’album.
Parlez-moi un peu de l’atmos-phère de vos répétitions, c’est comment d’être 4 filles ensemble à faire de la musique?
Marie-Lyne : Pascale, elle chicane et Lydia lorsqu’elle sent la tension monter, elle enlève son chandail! C’est ça l’atmosphère! (rires)
Pascale : Sans blagues, c’est génial! Peut-être que dans un autre contexte ce serait différent, mais là nous sommes des amies avant tout…C’est comme notre loisir de semaine, mais au lieu d’aller jouer au hockey, on va jouer de la musique!
Est-ce plus difficile pour une lesbienne de faire sa place dans le milieu de la musique?
Vanessa : Je ne pense pas que l’on ait pu ressentir l’impact de ça, car on est un groupe indépendant, c’est notre premier album, et on commence tout juste à avoir une attention médiatique. Évidemment, si quelqu’un cherche un peu, il verra que l’on a performé à la Gay Pride d’Ottawa et de Toronto. C’est sûr que l’on se fait dire pratiquement à tous les shows, «vous jouez bien pour des filles!» Le pire, c’est que leurs intentions ne sont pas mauvaises, c’est leur façon de nous faire un compliment. Mais je ne pense pas que le fait d’être lesbienne sera un problème un jour.
Marie-Lyne : Mais on s’est déjà fait dire par certaines personnes que l’on devrait exploiter le fait que nous sommes lesbiennes, car présentement c’est vendeur et à la mode. Et idéalement une lipstick lesbian, car ça vend encore plus! (rires) On n’a pas honte de ce que l’on est; au contraire, on en est fières, mais on ne veut pas l’utiliser comme un outil de marketing! On veut être reconnues pour notre musique.
Vanessa : Ce n’est pas comme les filles de t.A.T.u qui ont fait semblant d’être lesbiennes pour faire du cash…
Un extrait de votre performance au Medley en 2008 est présenté dans le film canadian rebELLEs: the movie. Feminism Uncensored réalisé par Marie-Noël Arseneau.
Pascale : Oui, et le film débute avec des images de notre concert, sur la chanson Speechless, une pièce inédite. C’est une rencontre pancanadienne qui avait été organisée par des féministes, avec des musiciens de partout au Canada, et un concert au Medley.
Quels sont vos projets à venir?
Vanessa : On va commencer à travailler sur des nouvelles chansons pour le prochain album, parce qu’on ne veut pas arrêter de rouler! On aimerait aussi faire un vidéoclip et une tournée au prin-temps. On essaie de jouer à la radio le plus possible, mais les radios roulent avec ce que les gens écoutent…et en même temps les gens écoutent ce à quoi ils ont accès, c’est un cercle vicieux! Mais un jour, j’aimerais bien jouer à la radio commerciale, tourner plusieurs fois par jour…
Pascale : ... jusqu’à ce que le monde soit écœuré! C’est comme un buffet de Noël : ça finit pas et ça écœure! (rires) Julie Vaillancourt
Pour écouter ce que les filles de Mad June ont à exprimer musicalement, leur premier opus, We’re Not Strangers est disponible pour achat, dans les magasins Oblique, Atom Heart, L’Échange et par téléchargement sur iTunes. Mad June sera en spectacle le 12 février, à 21h, à l’Hémisphère Gauche (221 , rue Beaubien Est). Afin d’aider Mad June à se produire lors du prochain concert Lilith Fair, n’hésitez pas à voter et à commenter le travail du groupe sur ourstage.com/profile/madjune. Pour plus de détails : madjune.com et myspace.com/madjune.
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Le Lancement du premier album de Mad June, We're Not Strangers
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(English translation follows)
Le 21 novembre dernier avait lieu le lancement de We’re Not Strangers...(English translation follows)
Le 21 novembre dernier avait lieu le lancement de We’re Not Strangers, premier album du groupe Mad June. Cette formation montréalaise exclusivement féminine a enflammé la scène du Club Lambi.
Énergiques à souhait, Vanessa Mc Lean (voix et guitare), Pascale St-Onge (basse et vocales), Marie-Lyne Thibeault (guitare et vocales) et Lydia Champagne (batterie) nous ont fait découvrir les pièces de leur album, devant une salle pleine à craquer. Ce premier opus comprend 10 titres de rock-alternatif, produits par Paul-Philippe St-Onge et Étienne Dupuis-Cloutier. Avec des textes revendicateurs, tel celui de la pièce Corporate Convict, en passant par les mélodies accrocheuses de November et The Stranger Ones, le quatuor promet de vous en mettre plein les oreilles!
www.madjune.com
Last November 21st, Mad June released their first album We’re Not Strangers. The exclusively female montreal band lit up the Club Lambi’s stage.
Energetic like we love it, Vanessa McLean (vocals and guitare), Pascale St-Onge (bass and back vocals), Marie-Lyne Thibault (lead guitare and vocals) and Lydia Champagne (drums) introduced the songs from their album to a full packed room. Their first record includes 10 rock-alternative songs produced by Paul-Philippe St-Onge and Étienne Dupuis-Cloutier. With political lyrics like it’s the case with their song Corporate Convict, to the melodic hooks of November and The Stranger Ones, the foursome promises to fill your ears !
www.madjune.com
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Lambi - Fest: Un hommage à la diversité et un tremplin pour la relève
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MAD JUNE - Un groupe rock féminin composé de quatre musiciennes talentueuses qui savent écrire des c...MAD JUNE - Un groupe rock féminin composé de quatre musiciennes talentueuses qui savent écrire des chansons accrocheuses, rythmées et mélodiques.
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Mad June's cd launch Review
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On November 21st, 2009, Montreal sweethearts Mad June visited their favorite Montreal venue, Club La...On November 21st, 2009, Montreal sweethearts Mad June visited their favorite Montreal venue, Club Lambi, to party with friends, family and fans, in celebration of their debut CD "We're Not Strangers" The 10-song CD is now officially available for sale through the band's website, and iTunes.
Marie-Lyne (guitars), Vanessa (lead vocals, guitars), Pascale (bass) and Lydia (drums) rocked the stage, presenting all 10 songs from the new release, plus an acoustic encore of "24" (formerly entitled "Shadows", for those who have followed the band from their early beginnings). They sheepishly told the crowd they weren't even sure how this version would go over, but it did more than fare well.
Black masks were worn during their live rendition of "The Stranger Ones". With strobing colored lights and a darker stage ambiance, this was both engaging and cute. Stage-fright obviously checked at the door, the girls took turns climbing atop amps, and being 100% rockstar. Vanessa even hopped offstage to run around the audience - if that ain't a true rock n' roll star, I'm not sure what is!
The songs on the new CD have been honed and reconstructed, sometimes resulting in "brand new" songs that sound vaguely familiar. Noteworthy changes have been made to "The Arc" and "Polaroid", in particular. It seems studio time and countless jam sessions have also taught them how to slow things down and not rush through a great song. Sometimes slowing down, lets the listener hear subtleties such as the intricate beats Lydia adds, or the various tones Vanessa can achieve with her vocals.
The production on the CD is slick without being too polished. In fact, it's almost like hearing the band live. The bass sound is captured perfectly and the rhythm and lead guitar don't drown each other out, but rather, work in harmony to add layers to the overall sound. At the CD launch, Marie-Lyne did go a little crazy showing off her chops, but I say, if you have 'em, show 'em off! And this guitarist has skills, so why not! Each band member, in fact, is great at what she does. This is what makes a solid band. Four equal parts working together, to create something that is larger than each part on its own.
Congrats, Mad June, for sharing the fruits of your labour with us, and may your success leak to other parts of the world, pronto!
http://www.madjune.com/
http://myspace.com/madjune
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mad-June/19610750896
supersonic
