The DoneFors

The DoneFors’ debut album isn’t some kind of creepy instruction manual – no Cana Sutra here, thankfully. It is, however, an eclectic mix of Canadiana sailing to many a musical port, from the bossa nova-flavoured “The Narrator” to the quirky modern folk of “The Last Thing You Do.” “Red Fish” stands out as a slinky jazz-club number that makes a Fiona Apple-ish brooding descent into self-discovery as the slow rumble of Liam Smith’s electric bass underscores Janine Stoll’s wispy moan of “You’re a homicidal maniac and I love you.” While other tracks have similarly dark and twisted lyrics, some feel crisp, young, and innocent, like “In a Cornfield’”s tumbling “Kiss me deep until there are no kisses left.” Bands always wish critics couldn’t tag ‘em but we generally do anyway. The DoneFors, however, have the distinction of being genuinely hard to classify. Sometimes folky, sometimes poppy, sometimes jazzy, Sex With Canadians is just merge-y experimental fun. - See Magazine

Canadian act ‘The Done Fors’ are an alternative mellow quartet of eclectic musicians and songwriters. The jazzy mellow feel to opening number ‘The Narrator’ gives a feel of an ethereal Dusty Springfield. A whimsical piece that pushes by on its on merits without so much evident in the way of direction. This picks up beat with ‘In the Cornfield,’ which is seems more urgent in its travel-esque tempo.

Vocal duties are shared around and even include a few guest voices on a few tracks. There is a very deliberate tonal shift not just in terms of song styles, but also vocal styles. Voices cooing one moment, can waver between on and off tone which lends this music of sounds an enigmatic quality.

For the most part the band manage to sustain the alternative styles they bring to the piece, but occasionally it can become tiresome and repetitive. Fans of last years ‘Juno’ soundtrack, provided mainly by Kimya Dawson (who has a repetitive style of her own) will favour this record. There is a breadth of talent that sufficiently endows the album with a slow grace. - Glasswerk, UK

The DoneFors is a Toronto-based outfit composed of The Ladybird Sideshow’s Janine Stoll on vocals, Mr. Something Something’s Paul MacDougall on electric guitar, Liam Smith on bass, and Superstack’s Brian Lahaie on drums. The foursome came together in 2006 to form their “new favourite band.” Now, with their first full-length, How To Have Sex With Canadians, about to debut (February 12), the DoneFors are taking their one-of-a-kind self-described “Canadiana Vanguard” on the road.

The band’s sound is difficult to capture as they aim to push boundaries and bend genres – their only consistency being rooted in their instruments’ organic sound. “In a Cornfield” is a quick-paced folksy single with its roots in bluegrass, while French tune “Septembre en France” showcases Stoll’s versatile vocals in a decidedly drowsy, chanteuse-style light. “Mouth Full of Marbles” sounds like how Fiona Apple would sound if she sang jazz, and “In My Blood” is a dark, free-spirited narrative.

The DoneFors will likely bring unpredictability and improvisation to their emotionally-rich performances – their musicianship can handle it. Their unclassifiable album will be one the most anticipated of the new year, as will their tour. For a complete list of tour dates, check out the band’s website at http://www.thedonefors.com. - Gloss Magazine

When last we heard from Janine Stoll, the Toronto-based songstress was mired in the carnal confusion that was her stark and sensual 2005 debut, This Is Where We Bury It. Inclusive to a fault, both personally and creatively, she invited a host of like-minded friends to bring her personal songs to life, working through her tales of tears, fears, fidelity and all manner of heartbreak and desire. But for Stoll, then by and large a solitary writer, what started out as a gathering of sonic session support among colleagues soon turned into a more unified joint, one whose collective instincts and heart beat as one.

Thus, The Donefors were born – newfound proud purveyors of “Canadiana vanguard.”

“It just kind of came together naturally,” says Stoll of her new band over the phone from her Toronto digs, gearing up for a brief mini-tour of Southern Ontario.

The quartet is now “officially” rounded out by Paul MacDougall (guitar) and Liam Smith (bass), both of whom are members of Afro-funk wunderkinds Mr. Something Something, and drummer Brian Lahaie of Superstack.

“Over a short time, everyone’s contribution was equal, and completely invested in the project. And it just felt like it wasn’t my project alone anymore,” adds Stoll.

Recorded live off the floor in Lahaie’s basement studio over “a marathon weekend” three days last April, The Donefor’s debut, How to Have Sex With Canadians (a title, it turns out, Stoll randomly plucked in part from a National Geographic article, which “just kind of stuck”), is alternately buoyant and brooding, a shapeshifting set of sunkissed rhythms stoked by emotionally wind-chilled wanderlust.

“I wanted to do something that couldn’t necessarily be classified, something outside the box,” says Stoll of the group’s intuitive flickering fusion of country, reggae, folk, jazz, pop and French chansons. “But I think the next record we work on will be even closer to the sound and aesthetic we are hoping to solidify.” - Ottawa XPress

Just step into the London Music Club tomorrow night. That’s when the DoneFors will share tracks from its newly released and unabashedly named album, How to Have Sex With Canadians.

The mellow sound is perfect for more romantic evenings pour deux, while the lyrics will resonate with anyone wondering how, where or why that loving feeling slipped through the cracks.

Male and female vocals wax poetic on the new disc, with sweet songbird Janine Stoll telling most of the lyrical medleys. Joining her onstage are a trio of musically seasoned men: Mr Something Something’s Paul MacDougall on electric guitar; Liam Smith on bass, and Superstack’s Brian Lahaie on drums.

They’ve pooled their talents the last three years, to come up with their own brand of music, which they call “Canadiana vanguard and organica.” Not sure what that means? Preview their sound on at www.thedonefors.com (see link), or clear your schedule tomorrow night and hear it live and loud.

The DoneFors perform in the LMC’s Cellar Lounge at 9 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance, or $10 at the door (but bring a little extra to pick up the new CD). - London Free Press

Let’s face it, there are too many bands out there. The sheer amount of music available, whether it is online, live or through recordings, has grown exponentially in the past decade, as now a simple ProTools set-up can recreate studio quality sound in a bedroom, garage or rehearsal space.

Yet, quantity does not often marry with quality. It’s time to describe some new music, a lovely band from Toronto called The DoneFors. Formed by full-time members of Janine Stoll’s supporting cast, The DoneFors are members of the now defunct Erin Smith band, the brilliant Mr. Something Something and Superstack. Led by Stoll, the quartet began writing in 2006, while on tour supporting her then new album, This Is Where We Bury It. The resulting music struck at something new, a sound untouched by any of the members’ previous projects. Therefore, armed with an in-house studio and some downtime from the aforementioned, The DoneFors sat down and recorded an album, one they have titled How to have sex with Canadians.

So the band, in essence, is not new; but this music is. And given all that’s out there vying for time and attention, this album is one for the top of the pile, much like the bands the members perform in alongside. “At first we formed as my backing band in 2006 after the release of my solo CD,” affirms Stoll. “But quickly, those songs quickly morphed and new songs were added to the catalogue until it became increasingly apparent that all of us were making equal creative contributions. So by 2007 we decided to surgically sew ourselves together, change our collective status to common-law, take family vacations, and have musical make out parties. We’re in love now. And love hurts. But How to have sex with Canadians is the best baby that any of us have ever birthed. So the pain is well worth it.”

While the quartet only had a few weeks to record, the result is quirky, boisterous pop, filtered through global grooves and Stoll’s trademark pipes. Taking from Americana music, power-pop and ’80s funk, How to have sex with Canadians is as fun as its title, offering just as much advice musically as its moniker promises.

“We took a relaxed approach to the making of the record,” explains Stoll. “The big session was the weekend in April ’08 where we hunkered down, ate lots of cookies and hummus, drank coffee and champagne while getting takes. It was rewarding to do three or four takes, have a listen, choose our favourite takes and then except it as that moment in time. Nothing you can do about it now. In terms of challenges, the main hitch we faced was having to take small hiatuses from the mixing phase due to the touring and traveling schedules of each band member. But the breaks in the process proved beneficial in the end analysis as they allowed us to return to the album with fresh ears and new insights.”

As the title suggests, there are moments of musical salacity afoot here. Instead of plying the surface of what makes us and our relationships tick, Stoll and company speak starkly, honestly and at times, crudely, all in an effort to tell the truth, but still have fun with it. “There are certainly prevailing glimpses into different human relationships on this record and perhaps recurring themes of the darker and possibly deviant elements of the human experience,” adds Stoll. “The different moods of each song were a crafted choice in an attempt to create an album that was both cohesive and complete. All of the songs were rehearsed and arranged before it came to recording them, but again, that was based on how we were approaching the capture of the live DoneFors experience.”

“Plus, How to have sex with Canadians differs from previous recordings we’ve done together in that the entire album was produced from the inside out. From the writing right down to the mixing it was a team effort including three collaborative co-writes, ‘The Narrator’, ‘Mouth Full of Marbles’, and ‘Lemons From Argentina’. They seem to be the tunes we’re most drawn to because they represent the direction that we’re headed in, rather than where we’ve come from. Being that we’re still a young band, we’ll continue to nurture a sound that distinctly includes our various paths, pasts and influences.”

Together, the personnel in The DoneFors have recorded and released some of the best alternative and roots music of the past half-decade. Most of that was done independently, without any label or financial support. The campaign surrounding How to have sex with Canadians pipes along the same territory, as it’s being released independently and supported by a tour the band booked in-house. The result is four musicians who, while directed, do not take themselves too seriously, a trait benefits their frolicking pop.

“With us, you will see three guys sporting beards, playing instruments and sometimes singing alongside a girl with no beard, potentially wearing a skirt-based outfit singing and playing guitar. There will be jokes told, and people in the audience will laugh, and relate in a way that makes them feel warm and fuzzy and happy to have made it out to the show.”

Plus, Stoll assures the secret to how the album was titled will be released at a show, as she remains tight-lipped about how the band decided how their debut’s title. “Canadians are a hardy, yet tender people,” retorts Stoll. “Show them love and it shall be returned, tenfold. But you have to buy the record to really understand. Good title though, eh?”

After the tour, the band will return to other projects temporarily, whilst simultaneously throwing ideas around in order to schedule some future recording time. Stoll, as usual, is relaxed about the band’s future, chance of success and direction. “We plan to take a nap, write more songs, make some music videos, flirt with record execs, perfect our baking skills, plan future tours, and spend some time day dreaming about the next great album we make together, tentatively being called “How to gag and spank an Albertan in a polite and pleasurable way”. So here you have it, a new band well worth wasting hours with. The DoneFors may be exactly what Canada needs; a pop band with a heart, a conscience and a sense of humour. Go learn how to have sex with every Canadian you like at one of their CD release shows. Hamilton is this week. - VIEW Magazine

It’s rare that the terms “organic” and “original” can be used in the same sentence anymore to describe an album, but that’s the immediate impression one gets upon first listen to The DoneFors’s debut effort, How To Have Sex With Canadians. The band’s sound is as enigmatic as the album title, hearkening back to groundbreaking Canadian artists like the Rheostatics and Jane Siberry, while at the same time defying any easy categorization.

Fronted by Toronto singer-songwriter Janine Stoll, the group was originally hand-picked from members of the bands Mr. Something Something and SuperstacK to back her for her last solo release, This Is Where We Bury It, but she soon realized that their unique chemistry was spawning new ideas.

“The songs from my solo album got completely rearranged when we played them on stage, and it was soon apparent that we were becoming a band of four equal parts,” Stoll says. “From my perspective, it’s a lot more fun taking on the world of indie rock as a band rather than as a solo artist, and also just being a woman, I think I have a tendency to want to take care of a family. It makes me want to work that much harder.”

She goes on to say that the foundation of The DoneFors is making music that all the members find creatively fulfilling. That notion certainly shines through on How To Have Sex With Canadians as evidenced by the high level of musicianship, as well as the unconventional song structures. Stoll says that she willingly embraced putting herself in an entirely new situation when it came to making the album, and she’s thrilled with the results.

“I’m the only one in the band who actually didn’t go to school for music,” she admits. “They think about music in almost a mathematical way, whereas I’m more emotionally centred. So they’ve really challenged me and pushed me to get outside of my own limitations.

“There’s been no hesitation to incorporate reggae or jazz or country, even though people have cautioned us about being too all over the map musically.”

Stoll continues, “We’re going to stay experimental, but I think there’s a few tracks on the album that we feel are pointing the way to a sound that we’re going to try to stick with. It might not be until our third or fourth record when that takes hold, and I like to use Radiohead as the perfect example of a band that took a while until it found a space where it was comfortable.”

Such a statement clearly shows Stoll’s commitment to The DoneFors, even though she has a new solo album entitled Melancholia about to come out as well. “That album was actually recorded long before we did The DoneFors album,” she says. “It’s just been a process of getting it mixed and finding the right time to get it out. The band actually has a break next month so that’s when I’m hoping to release it. It’s a much quieter record, but after that we’re planning on keeping The DoneFors busy for the rest of the year.”

Live: The DoneFors with Blank Blue Sky, Maxwell’s Music House, Waterloo Thursday, Feb. 26 $8 9 p.m. 519-498-5705

DoneFors showcase experimental side of Toronto singer with their CD How to Have Sex with Canadians - The Record

Toronto-based band The DoneFors are currently touring Southern Ontario and teaching various cities and towns about sex, or at least how to listen to songs from their album How to Have Sex With Canadians. Despite its risque title, the album is far from being blatantly raunchy. This is an album with so much class that it could be the background music to a martini party, and yet it’s grounded in folksy spirit that would fit perfectly into a folk festival lineup. Lead singer Janine Stoll has been playing music for years, but her voice is fresh here, while her lyrics are smart and sassy. Two members of the band are also in Mr. Something Something, an Afro-beat/funk band that has visited the city regularly. With any luck The DoneFors will come to teach us how to have sex in Thunder Bay. - The Argus

The DoneFors don’t offer any love advice on How To Have Sex With Canadians, but the album is a surprisingly textured indie rock opus. Hypnotizing guitar melodies flow into the melodic vocals of Janine Stoll, often creating a Neko Case vibe in The DoneFors sound. Despite relying heavily on simple melodies, How To Have Sex With Canadians is an addictive album that’s indie rock at it’s best.

The DoneFors don’t waste your time with any overly experimental songs. “The Narrator” points to the pleasing style that the band develops on the album. The main guitar melody of the track may repeat a few times, but the psychedelic sound established is far from boring. “The Narrator” is complimented with a funky bass line from Liam Smith that ties everything together brilliantly. Meanwhile, Stoll’s lofty vocals will leave you mesmerized.

The rhythmic sense that The DoneFors have is the real power behind How To Have Sex With Canadians. “Mouth Full of Marbles” bounces cleverly between a punchy acoustic guitar rhythm and a lightly played melody on electric guitar. Likewise, “Lemons From Argentina” creates a unique sound out of hand-claps and delicate melodies that grab hold of your attention.

Stoll’s powerful voice also adds enjoyment to How To Have Sex With Canadians. Her ability becomes obvious on “In My Blood,” where the instrumental tracks remain deep in the mix and Stoll is allowed to cut loose.

Later, The DoneFors have more success with “The King And Me.” The reggae influences behind the song create an awesome laid-back jam that makes it one of the best efforts on the album.

From beginning to end, How To Have Sex With Canadians is a fantastic listen. The DoneFors don’t disappoint once and build an album that will quickly find a place among any indie rockers’ favorites.

(Independent) ***** - Muzic Reviews

Their CDBaby page says RIYL: Beatles, Joni Mitchell. Is that a joke? I don’t know how much more disparate you can get unless you add the Sex Pistols to the list. Well, the Donefors don’t sound like any of those if you ask me. But judging by their promo package and their website they do have a healthy sense of humor. But you may have guessed that by reading the title of the record.

The lead female vocals (by Janine Stoll) have a bit of a 60s pop sound. When pop music had a little touch of a jazzy sound to it. Her voice is very likeable.

She’s also the composer and lyricist and a skilled one at that. The songs have fun, interesting melodies and the lyrics are smart and clever if not always quite as happy as the tempo may have you believe.

A particular stand out example:

“I’m a drunken lollipop
Lick my tattoo
I find you kind of pervie
That’s what I say to you
But you don’t speak a lick of English
So honey as you were
I’ll save my regrets for the morning”
The DoneFors – How To Have Sex With Canadians -from ‘Lemons From Argentina’

This is one record I want to have more time with. I have a feeling if I could listen to it and just it for a long time I’d be in love. But I have 30 other CDs to get to. If I get a chance to come back to this one, I will write more. - Collected Sounds

When you are a band and you name your debut album How to Have Sex With Canadians, you probably need to forgive people who have never heard of you for expecting sarcastic power-pop or snotty pop-punk. As one of those aforementioned people, I was surprised to find that The DoneFors make quiet pop songs, alternately romantic and bittersweet. The four-piece band is fronted by Janine Stoll, whose clear, gentle voice is well-served by her casual, conversational lyrics.

“In a Cornfield” starts out with the memorable lines, “Stumbling on the brink / Of too many beers / Brain full of hash / Not enough to numb my fear.” The rest of the band follows Stoll’s lead, keeping the music mostly low-key and unassuming, from smoky blues (“The Narrator”, “In My Blood”, “Red Fish”) to acoustic ballads (“One by One”). The majority of the album is mid-tempo pop, such as the catchy “The King and Me” and the wistful closer “The Last Thing You Do”. It’s all well-crafted and likable, but nothing about How to Have Sex With Canadians is particularly memorable. With the exception of the album title and the standout “In a Cornfield”, The DoneFors aren’t yet making pop music that is sticky enough to lodge in your brain. - Pop Matters

Toronto’s The DoneFors establish an awesome folksy, indie pop sound on their debut album How To Have Sex With Canadians. I’m still not sure what’s different about sex with Canadians (Are things just frigid? Do you get hammered on Molson first?), but I do know that the album is full of addictive songs.

Songs like “In A Cornfield” (video below) have warm guitar melodies played in smart rhythms. Add in the unique, indie-friendly voice of Janine Stoll and it becomes pretty hard not to enjoy The DoneFors. If you dig “In A Cornfield,” check out “Mouth Full of Marbles” on The DoneFors MySpace. If you want a song with a more rock edge to it, “The Narrator” is cool indie rock as well. - tuneslevel.com

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There’s a goofy quality about Toronto’s The DoneFors, made up of Janine Stoll (the Ladybird Sideshow), Brian Lahaie (SuperstacK) and Mr. Something Something’s Paul MacDougall and Liam Smith. See the album title. And the hammy press photos. And the oddball lyrics.

It’s a unique quality considering the sophistication of their music, which features Stoll’s sprightly singing front and centre and navigates an eclectic course through jazz/country/chansons/folk/pop waters throughout the 12-song debut. How To Have Sex is a little all over the place, but its bright, balanced production and strong songs help bring everything together.

Top track: Crazy Eight - NOW Magazine

Toronto singer-songwriter Janine Stoll certainly knows a good thing when she hears it. After assembling a band of top-notch players to back her for shows promoting her last solo album, This Is Where We Bury It, the musical chemistry they shared has led to this new project, a clear departure from Stoll’s normal work. Drawing upon a wealth of technical skill, The DoneFors delve into some daring musical territory while at the same time maintaining an honest and live overall sound. At times reminiscent of vintage Rheostatics and Jane Siberry, the songs are rooted in a storytelling style that’s just as adventurous as the music, driven by Stoll’s wonderfully unpredictable pipes. How To Have Sex With Canadians is a unique first effort from a band that, in spite of their name, deserve to have a long life. - Exclaim Magazine

From the opening track, sounding deliciously zenful, it is impossible not to fall under the spell of Janine Stoll’s mellifluous voice. How to Have Sex with Canadians is all about falling under the influence of various tonics and the allure of total strangers, and basking in the innocence of love and life.

The DoneFors gracefully capture the essence of the Canadian spirit with sultry, sexy but unpretentious vocals, lyrics, and music. The 12 jazzy, funky and unpredictable tracks will have listeners escaping the doldrums of everyday life with an ounce (sorry, a gram) of typically Canadian self-deprecation. That’s definitely one of our sexier traits. (That, and wearing big woolly socks to bed.) On “In My Blood” for instance, Janine croons: “You keep me tied up/ To a hitchin’ post/ I’ll take my clothes off/ And offer up a toast/ This one’s for the funny bones…” Janine, who penned the lyrics, certainly has a way with words.

The DoneFors are a foursome, each with a strong professional history, including electric guitar and singer-songwriter Paul MacDougall, bass player Liam Smith (both of Mr. Something Something), drummer Brian Lahaie (SuperstacK) and, of course, Janine Stoll (The Ladybird Sideshow).

Ms. Stoll’s delicate voice sounds angelic and fragile. Yet the incongruous lyrics have her either “Drunk with apathy”, or “Stumbling on the brink/ Of too many beers/ Brain full of hash/ Not enough to numb [her] fear”. On “Lemons from Argentina”, she slurs “I’m here to waste my brain cells/ …Hail me a cab I’m sleeping/ In a stranger’s bed tonight”. It’s tragic and poignant but ultimately, it’s just about living in the moment and without regret. It’s about keeping warm in the company of others, anyone.

The DoneFors invite you to good times in bed, in fields, or anywhere and with a promise to keep you aurally stimulated.

Highly recommended. - !earshot Magazine

Following up previous collaborations, Toronto-based Janine Stoll joins forces with two members of Afrobeat band Mr. Something Something in The DoneFors. The songs on How to Have Sex With Canadians are dreamlike concoctions that move along crisply with just a hint of the exotic. “Mouth Full of Marbles” wraps a metaphor-drenched narrative with contraband and a guillotine around a hypnotic hook. Stoll gets sultry on a few numbers that could use a horn or two for ambience. Unrequited love, in “The Last Thing You Do,” combines streaking and stalking in hopes the object of her affection will see her on the TV news. Such a tale needs crazier music.

- The Coast, Halifax

The DoneFors embrace funk, country, pop, jazz and, it seems, sex. Despite its provocatively tilted debut CD, How to Have Sex With Canadians, lead singer and main songwriter Janine Stoll insists the band is actually quite tame.

The name is largely ironic, although sex is a common theme in the album’s 12 songs.

The band also has a strong Sudbury connection. Not only did the group play Northern Lights Festival Boreal last summer, drummer Brian Lahaie is a member of the great Sudbury band Superstack.

Stoll spoke with The Star on Wednesday in advance of the band’s show tonight at the Townehouse Tavern.

In addition to being perhaps the best album title ever, How to Have Sex With Canadians is a pretty provocative way to introduce the band to the world. Is the band all about sex?

Janine Stoll: “It really isn’t. I think a lot of people buy the album expecting they’re going to learn everything about sex. But it’s just silly and tongue-in cheek. But the music is actually a lot more serious than that.”

So people shouldn’t expect a live sex show?

JS: “No, it’s not a live sex show, but we will play fetish parties if we’re offered enough money (laughs).”

How did the DoneFors come together?

JS: “I’ve been playing music with Liam Smith, who’s the bass player, for probably about 10 years. He and I have been pals for a really long time. And Paul (MacDougall) I know from Mr. Something Something, a band Liam also played in. I ended singing backups for Mr. Something Something and we all became really close friends. Out of that grew a musical symbiosis.

“And when I released my solo album, they played with me and we called it the Janine Stoll trio.

“We were asked to play a larger festival, and we thought why not go all out and hire a drummer. And Brian played that show with us and after that, we all agreed we should be a band. Rather than being about my music and everybody backing me up, we decided it should be four parts, all equal, everybody all in. And we’ve been doing this since 2006.”

And you have a direct Sudbury connection — your bass player.

JS: “Yeah, Brian, he’s with Superstack. He’s a local guy.”

Is that how the Sudbury show came about?

JS: “The Sudbury show dates back to when we played Northern Lights this year. It sort of made sense for us to have a follow-up show at The Townehouse. We played the Parker House, which was kind of cool. I think we’re the only musical act they’ve ever had there. It was a little swankier than sleeping in the basement of The Townehouse (laughs). It’s two different worlds. But if there’s an audience that might appreciate our music a little bit more, it’s at The Townehouse.”

It’s such a cool venue.

JS: “It is really cool. We’ve wanted to play there for a long time. We’re really excited. It’s got a great crowd, great sound, great staff.”

Critical reaction to the CD has been quite positive. What about audience reaction?

JS: “In some cases, people seem to love the live show even more than the CD. The live show is just so different and dynamic. Maybe it’s the fact that when you hear a studio record, you think it’s all done in the studio, that there’s a lot of tricks involved in that process. But when people actually see our live show and see that we can reproduce it on stage, they realize that we recorded the CD live off the floor, which is how we did the record.”

Really?

JS: “Yeah, we had some crude isolation — I was in the bedroom and we had a sleeping bag stapled to the wall. And the other guys were in the other room. We just drank champagne and ate cookies all weekend and did a hard-core live-off- the-floor capture. We’re really proud of that fact.”

For someone who isn’t familiar with you, can you take a stab at describing your sound for me?

JS: “Sure. When you come to our show, you might be surprised to find that we play a lot of different genres of music. That’s because we all come from different backgrounds and we all have a wide appreciation for different types of music. Brian is a classically-trained drummer, and Neil and Paul both went to jazz school. And I don’t have any academic accolades at all, just the fact I’ve been writing songs since I was young. So we have everything from folk music to roots music.

“We’ve got some country, definitely a jazz influence, a bit of funk influence and soul, a little bit of reggae. It’s pretty diverse. It’s all over the map.” - The Sudbury Star

The Donefors are far from done for – they’ve just released their first album, How to Have Sex with Canadians. Sadly, this is not an instructive disk for international students; but some cool sounding pop/experimental roots. - The Cannon, Guelph

So, basically the only reason I requested this CD is because of the title. Just one of those things. So now it’s time to see if the music works for me as well. This Toronto band creates what they have termed “Canadiana Vanguard and Organica”, but I’m not exactly sure what that means.

The CD starts off nicely pretty. Perhaps kind of French-poppy, but Canadianified. Smooth groove light spring weather sunshine jazzy, with Janine Stoll’s vocals airy and lilting, lifting, against the slight drum brush breeze and indie-jazz guitars. The next song moves a little more straight and popped, with the vocals now touching upon a little Rainer Maria memory. The music is still faded and subdued in the background, but still moving steady and waterfall-like forwards. It’s very cute, and light, and I don’t know if this CD would help people (at least the people I know) have sex with Canadians, but it would be spinning if I was trying to have a picnic in the park with Canadians.

It’s a bright, fresh, airy EP, and works well with a nice glass of chilled white wine. - The Red Alert

When The DoneFors come to town this Friday from their native Toronto, they’ll be bringing along enough experience to keep them eclectic, at the very least.

Boasting members of Juno-nominated Afro-beat sensation Mr. Something Something, a couple of graduates from the Humber School of Jazz, and a vocalist who describes her solo project as “music for sad people,” The DoneFors can leave one scrambling for a genre to grasp to.

“I would say progressive folk, contemporary pop,” muses frontwoman Janine Stoll, although she admits, “I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re going to hear a lot of jazz influence.

“We call what we do Canadiana Vanguard, kind of putting a fresh spin on Canadian music,” concludes Stoll.

On their whimsically titled debut disc How to have sex with Canadians, The DoneFors combine top-notch musicianship and ethereal stream-of-consciousness lyrics to create a series of Impressionistic vignettes that are both engaging and optimistic. While the spacious arrangements sprinkled with vaguely connected lyrical nuggets are sometimes reminiscent of Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians or perhaps Joni Mitchell around her Hejira period, The DoneFors remain impossible to pigeonhole and incessantly upbeat.

And that may or may not change as the band puts the finishing touches on their second album, an exercise Stoll refers to as “archiving your history.”

“It kind of ebbs and flows into different directions in terms of genre, but I think it’s going to be a little more cohesive,” she says of their as-yet-untitled effort. “When people listen to it they’ll be able to say, “Wow, this is unmistakably a DoneFors album.”"

The DoneFors play Irene’s Pub (885 Bank Street) this Friday, January 15th. Opening the show is Ottawa’s own traditional country influenced duo Red Wood Central. - 24H Ottawa

The DoneFors, from How to have sex with Canadians (independent, streaming at myspace.com/donefors) The DoneFors’ Janine Stoll goes all Brazilian on this cool, beat-shifting number from one of Canada’s craftiest indie bands. An instant addiction once you hear it, on the band’s myspace page or during The DoneFors’s Tuesday nights at Toronto’s Cameron House. - The Globe and Mail

It’s rare to find a band not chasing the next big hit.

But meet The DoneFors, the Toronto-based group who played Dunnville’s Flyers Café Saturday night, and you’ll find that for them, creating their own genre is a necessity, not a gimmick.

Listen to a couple of songs from these Canadian musicians and you’ll know why they had to create a name for the genre of music they play. Canadiana Vanguard is, states the band’s biography, an embodiment of contemporary pop and progressive folk sound -”a musical expression that spans genres, stretches boundaries, and stays rooted in an instrument’s organic sound.”

The emotions behind The DoneFors’ songs are as varied as the members themselves. Stoll said that though her fellow band members bring a variety of backgrounds to the group, “we all gelled” from the first day The DoneFors was formed. Everyone has a part to play.

“If any one of us were to leave and a new member were to join, we would be a completely different-sounding band.”

Smith agreed, adding the band aims to set itself apart from mainstream music.

“As a rhythm section, we’re concerned with making sure our songs are different and don’t sound the same (as other groups’),” he said.

Lahaie wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I think it’s natural to be different,” he said. “It’s never been a pursuit (for us) to be different.”

The DoneFors have made their peace with the fact that will likely not result in one of their songs becoming a major hit. But Stoll, MacDougall, Smith and Lahaie believe their success is already written in the stars – the band has the same astrological synastry as 1970s rock band Led Zeppelin.

A far cry from the over-produced, Disney-channel pop sensations and angry rocksters populating the airwaves, The DoneFors create music to dream to – light and airy melodies (‘In a Cornfield’) and pieces that make one envision attending a Spring garden party when in reality they’re confined to a darkened café in the dead of rural Winter (‘Lemons from Argentina’).

Your average bar band, this group is not.

Saturday’s performance brought many a story-telling ballad and peppy, indie-flavoured songs. Stoll’s ‘Septembre en France’ is a jazz-infused piece fit for a lovers’ dance, while ‘The Last Thing You Do’ should soothe many a heart mourning unrequited love.

The group played its first show as an ensemble in Fall of 2006 and played the Junction Arts Festival in Toronto the same year. Their first full-length album How to Have Sex with Canadians was released in early 2009.

A second is in the works. Visit the band’s website at www.thedonefors.com. - The Chronicle, Dunnville

Canada’s Melissa McClelland has a wonderful voice and a great songwriting knack. Check out her Six Shooter Records debut Victoria Day, out now. Here are some artists that she’s really enjoying at the moment.

The DoneFors: It’s time for Janine Stoll to be recognized for her amazing talent & I think that her new band ‘The DoneFors’ may finally get people to pay attention. This group is a collective of musically skilled, cute as button comrades who are not afraid to poke fun at themselves while delivering achingly beautiful songs. the title of their debut record ‘How to have sex with Canadians’ says it all. there’s nothing pretentious or trendy about this band. just good music. how refreshing. - Editorial Emissions

"...on getting laid,... I... think listening to this album is really going
to help people.... If there was a truth… this one would be... it." - CHART Magazine