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Unsigned Finds: Hey Ocean!
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Summer camp. A time for s'mores, log cabins, first kisses and...meeting your future bandmates?
Th...Summer camp. A time for s'mores, log cabins, first kisses and...meeting your future bandmates?
That's exactly how it went down for Ashleigh Ball and David Beckingham, two-thirds of Vancouver's most promising pop trio, Hey Ocean! "David Beckingham and I went to summer camp together as kids. Then, we started playing together when I was in college in Victoria, Canada," said Ashleigh. The twosome met their now third member, Dave Vertesi, at a show they were playing in Vancouver. "He said he wanted to play bass for us. We were both kinda like 'OK!?' so the next day he bought a bass and that was that."
Well, that was certainly that...and then some. The trio's undeniably catchy repertoire of organic and soulful pop songs (personal faves: "Fish" and "A Song About California") has earned them celeb-worthy status in their hometown of Vancouver, not to mention a coveted spot playing at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics this past February.
Though the Olympics were a huge milestone for the band, it didn't take an Olympic-sized performance to get the Canadian music scene to take note of this talented trio. In 2009, the band's light-hearted and breezy second release, It's Easier to Be Somebody Else, was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award. A huge honor on its own, this nomination was especially meaningful as all three band members co-wrote the songs which earned them that very nomination.
So how can such a popular band in Canada still be relatively unknown in the USA? "The Canadian music scene is incredibly supportive," said Ashleigh, "There are so many talented bands and solo artists that we've grown with over the last couple of years. But, it's definitely tough for a Canadian band to break into the US market."
Well, let us be one of the first to say, WELCOME!
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Hey Ocean! gets Kissed
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Diners were surprised to see Gene Simmons walk into Moxie's Classic Grill at 180 West Georgia with l...Diners were surprised to see Gene Simmons walk into Moxie's Classic Grill at 180 West Georgia with local band Hey Ocean! last Sunday (July 5). The relentlessly busy reality-TV star and occasional bass player for Kiss flew to Vancouver, camera crew in tow, just to check out a hastily organized Media Club performance by the pop-funk group.
Simmons initially left a message for vocalist Ashleigh Ball while she was on holiday in Australia, saying, “I wanna talk to you about Hey Ocean! Weird name, but I think what you guys are doing is spot on.” Ball thought it was a prank until the band's management confirmed that Simmons was indeed scouting talent for his new label, Simmons Records.
There's no deal yet, but “We talked for almost four hours,” Ball told the Straight. “About how he thinks Canada is the next U.K. He's really nice. And he's very intense—in the first five minutes of the meeting, he pulled out a credit card that had Kiss imprinted on it. He said, ‘This is what we're talking about. It's not just music, it's music business.' ” Ball described the prehensile-tongued legend as “a music almanac” and said that he “knows how to deal with fans”, some of whom leapt from their vehicles when they saw Simmons marching along West Georgia Street with the band. Sadly, he wasn't in makeup. “I was a little disappointed,” Ball said.
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Blarer Of The Month: Hey Ocean!
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By fusing together colourful poetry and exotic rhythms , Hey Ocean! is quietly carving their name in...By fusing together colourful poetry and exotic rhythms , Hey Ocean! is quietly carving their name into the Canadian music scene.
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“Some things were made for one thing / For me, that one thing was the sea”
The following lines from the group’s enchanting number “Fish” couldn’t speak the truth with any more passion. Each and every life form that calls Earth its nest knows they were born for a single purpose. In some cases, most of us won’t discover our purpose until it hits us square in the face, while others may not find it at all. There are a few who might present valid arguments, but Hey Ocean! was brought into this world to captivate the souls and senses of individuals with their incomparable breed of music.
Not many listeners around the country know who the young Vancouver four-piece is, but because of their colourful creativity and astounding talents, their popularity is fated to skyrocket. Together, Ashleigh Ball, David Beckingham, Dave Vertesi and Dan Klenner emit an exquisite noise that’s like a rare and brilliant abstract painting. Along with mesmerizing, hip vocals and a groovy rhythm section, they’ve used shades of funk, jazz, folk and reggae to create a masterpiece that defines their name.
One thing that makes Hey Ocean! stand out from the crowd of aspiring musicians is their blinding chemistry. A single glance at the band when they’re together will introduce you to a level of friendship barely seen in the music universe. The reason for such a bold statement is due to the ties which bind the group’s instruments together.
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“I’ve known Ashleigh for a while now because we’ve known each other since grade five,” says vocalist/guitarist David Beckingham. “A couple years ago we started playing shows and then we met Dave and we started to play a lot more. We definitely felt chemistry when we first started and since we’re all starting to write songs, we keep building more and more chemistry.”
Having such personal relationships has helped mold the band into what they are today. Without it, they wouldn’t have been able to create the music that leaks from their voices and amps and they wouldn’t have been able to claim the name they carry with them.
“Hey Ocean! came from us yelling at the ocean in Costa Rica,” laughs Beckingham. “It had been two weeks without any sunshine and lots of rain and we couldn’t surf even though were staying in a town known for it. So after two weeks of not being able to surf, we went down to the beach and basically went crazy and started yelling angrily at the ocean, going ‘HEY OCEAN! WHAT THE F**K!?’ So when we were trying to come up with a band name we looked back on that day and decided to use that as our name.”
Even though the musicians screamed profanities at the water that surrounded a tropical island, the band’s collective voice is actually soothing. Comprised of an stunning angel who’s the ultimate hipster at heart (Ashleigh Ball) and a soulful crooner who can swoon you with a hint of his raspy voice (Beckingham), Hey Ocean are one of the most talented bands when it comes to vocals. All because of what they bring with them to the dazzling spotlight.
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“Ashleigh went to a performing arts school so she has had some kind of vocal coaching,” notes Beckingham. “I really haven’t had any though but I kind of grew up around the church and that’s when I started singing.”
Along with the two main vocalists, the band has been recently showing a collaborative effort as each member is consistently contributing to the songwriting process. Instead of having one individual solely write the lyrics, the group has started to brainstorm together to come up with new material.
“The idea of a song usually comes from everybody,” explains bassist Dave Vertesi. “Like we had a competition one time when we were on the road and since we were split up into different vehicles, we decided to see who could write the raddest song by the time we reached our destination.”
When it comes to songwriting, Hey Ocean! is influenced by everything that surrounds them. Even though they hail from the picturesque west-coast, they’re inspired mostly by what they see when they’re on the road, especially the extravagant landscapes that shape Canada.
“I actually had an interview with CBC Radio the other day and they were talking about how people become inspired by Canadian wilderness,” says Beckingham. “It definitely inspires us because we like to get outdoors and write songs based on stuff like that, like the ocean. There are a lot of oceanic references in our songs but we honestly don’t even mean for that to happen!”
“Our music just kind of happened,” says Vertesi. “Like when we first started out our sound was completely different because we were influenced by different things. Its hard for some people now to event point out what kind of music is Hey Ocean!. Like we get a lot of feedback from the industry with people asking us to pick a genre, pick one singer and just make up our mind already!”
Despite being scolded by the industry, Hey Ocean! recently took their unorthodox style and sound with them on a nationwide tour. Hitting stops from British Columbia to Ontario in a van they’ve had for almost two years, the band has gotten use to the touring lifestyle. Instead of tearing each other’s limbs apart, the group passed the time by listening to Canadian music and favourites like Radiohead and Patrick Watson. This time around, the band did have to deal with a surprise flu bug (that was solved with extreme amounts of sleep) but that didn’t stop them from enjoying life on the road.
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“It’s definitely been great,” says Beckingham. “We’ve been touring with Spiral Beach right now and they’ve been an awesome band to tour with. Like to play after them, their energy on stage is so wicked because it sets us up. They make us want to kind of outdo ourselves a little bit. They’re great musicians and great people in general.”
When a long tour comes around, unusual experiences come with them. During a show in Edmonton, the band got to experience something new: what its like when their bassist’s instrument unexpectedly cuts out.
“It happened right in the first song. We got up on stage, got set and literally everything was working fine,” laughs Vertesi. “We started hyping people up and then as we started to play the first song, my bass just wouldn’t play. It just wasn’t my night! Like it happened four other times! I tried using another amp but it just kept cutting out so I ended up using a guitar. But then after the first four bars of the next song, I ended up breaking a string.”
“And it was a completely packed club that night too,” states Beckingham. “People told us after the show that even though they were bummed about the sound, they still enjoyed the show. It was probably the most discouraging show for us but the crowd was so great. Like we kept thinking, if everything was working, we probably would have nailed it that night.”
Even on a bad day, Hey Ocean! can bring out the best in people. Their live performances are almost legendary as their music can sensually touch your ears and force your mind to reminisce about memorable times you’ve shared with friends. Standing in one spot with your hands in your pockets at one of their shows isn’t a choice, as you’ll find yourself smiling, laughing and trying to show your friends you can actually dance like a normal person.
Now that more music junkies are tuning into the band’s music, they’re becoming famous by the minute. Their video for the insanely catchy single “A Song About California” topped the MuchMoreMusic charts, surpassing mainstream artists everyone’s grandparents recognize. Such accomplishments are defining milestones for young, new artists, especially those who don’t live in Toronto, the proclaimed capital of Canadian music.
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“It’s nice because its good to know that you’ve worked pretty hard and toured a lot,” says Beckingham. “Like if we pushed the touring, we’d definitely be overwhelmed. But it’s nice to know you’ve been working hard especially since we’ve been self-promoted.”
Staying true to their music, fame and fortune aren’t a goal for Hey Ocean!. Their focus is on sharing the music they create with those willing to listen and those who enjoy having a good time. When it comes to others hearing their name, Beckingham says all they want is for people to look past the letters in the two words.
“We don’t want the illusion that we’re all big surfers and we create surf music. Like when I think about The Beatles, I don’t think about little bugs with shells and wings, I think about the songs. So I hope when people eventually hear our name, they go ‘Oh yeah, I know their tunes’.”
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Hey Ocean! Live Show Review (by: Marlaina Mah)
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It'd be near impossible to dislike Hey Ocean!, even if they ate a basket of babies and peed on your ...It'd be near impossible to dislike Hey Ocean!, even if they ate a basket of babies and peed on your lap.
This Vancouver surf / folk / funk band has been commanding attention with their nonstop energy and the sheer lovability of lead singer Ashleigh Ball. To boot, Hey Ocean!'s Benny Schuetze lays claim to the most phenomenal drummer-face I've ever seen. The "!" in Hey Ocean! manifests itself in their live show, and this contagious vitality had Richard's turned on and buzzin'.
The band held quite the stage party: pianist Tom Dobrzanski from 'Lotus Child' joined in on "Addictions" and members of 'Five Alarm Funk' made cameos galore on drums, trumpet, and trombone producing crowd-howling praise. Fans of Hey Ocean! have long heard of the infamous "Beatboxer Who Broke My Heart" and we finally got to meet Ashleigh's heartbreaker, experiencing his deep sonant skills during "Beatboxer".
Hey Ocean! crowned their set with an epic jam-out with all their stage guests. I was near the front of the stage at this point, and it was a dance-fancy dream pulsating like we all had iBuzzes in our pants.
This happened to be a par-ticularly spectacular set, but for those of you who haven't yet popped your Hey Ocean! cherry, fear not: whether it's in a post-show ghetto party room, spontaneously picking up a mic at The Anza, or playing a packed Richard's on Richards, Hey Ocean! knows how to party. And on top of all of the dancing and debauchery, Ball is likely to steal your heart. This dulcet mantrap will lace catchy hooks into your head for days.
All in all, the show was blue ribbon and Hey Ocean!'s charming live performance is not to be missed.
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Hey Ocean! - Stop Looking Like Music (CD review)
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There's something about a flute that makes music seem lighter. Singer Ashleigh Ball wields it and ...
There's something about a flute that makes music seem lighter. Singer Ashleigh Ball wields it and effectively adds a different colour to Hey Ocean's jazz-inflected funk-pop. Throw in a little hip hop savvy, some reggae, a dash of folk-rock and you've got a hip blend. Nice bass lines too.
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Examiner Bio Hey Ocean! bring their sweet indie sounds to the Vancouver Olympics!
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Yes, the Olympics are here and that's all you hear about these days. Tickets to the Winter Games, co...Yes, the Olympics are here and that's all you hear about these days. Tickets to the Winter Games, cost a fortune, and don't even ask about parking! There are other benefits to being in Vancouver during the Games, as a lot of the best West coast indie bands are performing all around the city.
One of the bands performing are Vancouver natives, Hey Ocean! Their sound can be described, as a mix of light indie pop, with funky basslines, and catchy vocal melodies. It's no wonder they have been given the tag as one of Canada's best up and coming acts.
They have two albums out, the first being "Stop Looking Like Music" (2007) & "It's Easier To Be Someone Else" (2008). Both albums are available off CD baby
On their Myspace it accurately describes the second album as, "a fusion of playfully funked up party-pop and thoughtful lyric-driven ballads." The vocals of lead singer Ashleigh Ball are strong with bits of jazzy inflected pop. If you want a good sampling of the "Hey Ocean!" sound, check below at the mix of live performances and "music videos".
Hey Ocean! is distinctly known as a must see "Live band", able to put in a show that leaves the audience happy at the end of the night. From their Myspace they say, "they form a dynamic live presence that keeps concertgoers captivated and on their feet."
One thing that people have forgotten is, the Vancouver Winter Olympics have brought in many of the best indie artists from Western Canada. If you were there, walking the streets, you would be able to see great live music almost everywhere, that you may even forget the events! (just kidding)
So for those lucky enough to be Vancouver during the Winter Olympics, take advantage of watching some of the live performances. For example, Hey Ocean! will be playing this February 19th at 10:00pm live at Robson Square. They play their last "Olympic show" at the 2010 Olympic Celebration in Surrey at 6:00pm.
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