BESTiE

#Safe Fest is an all-ages music festival that will be taking place from October 10th to 13th. The event, put on by Vancouver-based indie pop band BESTiE, will feature over 70 acts playing 13 all-ages shows over 4 days. All proceeds will go to the Safe Amplification Society and The Music Tree.

Artists playing at the event include BESTiE, The Boom Booms, Fake Shark Real Zombie, Japanese Girls, We Hunt Buffalo, Rolla Olak, Little Wild, ByStarlight, The Cut Losses, Jessica Lee, Alea Rae, Derrival and Within Rust.

The festival will take place at various venues across the city, including Lana Lou’s, The Prophouse, Astorino’s, Red Cat Records and Kozmik Zoo.

Full festival wristbands are priced at $15, while individual showcases range from ‘by donation’ to $10.

As mentioned earlier, the proceeds from the event will go to the Safe Amplification Society and The Music Tree - to help raise money for the establishment of a permanent all ages live music venue in Vancouver.

For more information on the event, including the full schedule, visit the #Safe Fest official website here. - The permanent rain press

#Safe Fest is an all-ages music festival that will be taking place from October 10th to 13th. The event, put on by Vancouver-based indie pop band BESTiE, will feature over 70 acts playing 13 all-ages shows over 4 days. All proceeds will go to the Safe Amplification Society and The Music Tree.

Artists playing at the event include BESTiE, The Boom Booms, Fake Shark Real Zombie, Japanese Girls, We Hunt Buffalo, Rolla Olak, Little Wild, ByStarlight, The Cut Losses, Jessica Lee, Alea Rae, Derrival and Within Rust.

The festival will take place at various venues across the city, including Lana Lou’s, The Prophouse, Astorino’s, Red Cat Records and Kozmik Zoo.

Full festival wristbands are priced at $15, while individual showcases range from ‘by donation’ to $10.

As mentioned earlier, the proceeds from the event will go to the Safe Amplification Society and The Music Tree - to help raise money for the establishment of a permanent all ages live music venue in Vancouver.

For more information on the event, including the full schedule, visit the #Safe Fest official website here. - The permanent rain press

For BESTiE vocalist Tristan Orchard, a love for music began early in life through teacher-run lunchtime jam sessions at his high school — “Mostly did Nirvana covers,” he chuckles — and dozens of nearby shows.

“When you don’t know any local bands and only like the bands that are on Much Music, your first time seeing a local band is just an amazing experience,” he says. “The new generation of music fans and musicians are really the new blood of the local music scene – it’s essential to have a good, healthy all-ages music scene [for that reason].”

#SafeFest – BESTiE’s upcoming four day all-ages music festival – will immerse and involve people in the music community through facilitating various workshops and simultaneously featuring young talent alongside well-established groups like the Boom Booms. Shows will take place at several locations including Red Cat Records, Fortune Sound Club, Astorino’s Ballroom, and BeatRoute’s own office.

“We’re hoping this year’s festival will generate a lot of interest so that we’ll have a larger team to help us put it on next year,” explains bassist Rob Cameron. “Our dream is for it to become an annual event, and something that’s a lot bigger than just us.”

This year’s proceeds will fund the creation of an all-ages music venue through Safe Amplification Site Society and the Music Tree. In two years, the exclusively all-ages venue Astorinos’ lease will expire, leaving few live music options for younger teens.

“We definitely want to spread a message,” Cameron continues. “If you are underage and enjoy playing music, there is a place for you in the Vancouver music scene and you are absolutely wanted.”

To sum it up in three words? Cameron promises that “#SafeFest is going to be fun, and uh…now I can only think of synonyms for fun. It’ll also be inspirational, and communitive.”

“You mean community-oriented, Rob,” someone mutters coyly. “That’s the shit. You just killed that.” - Beatroute Magazine

BESTiE started in Spring 2012 when friends Andrew, Tristan, Daniel and Rob started jamming with the goal of making a fun accessible pop band. Soon after discovering their array of world and pop music influences, they started crafting their unique sound.

In January, BESTiE released their debut single, “Pineapple” shot and directed by lead singer Tristan Orchard, a Gemini nominated film maker whose documentaries have aired on Bravo television and short films played in festivals around the world. The tropical inspired video has had over 10k views providing the group with their first real attention being featured in over 30 music blogs and media outlets in Canada, the US and abroad. In March they followed that up with a well received single release party for “Asleep on the Bus” with a capacity crowd at the Cobalt in Vancouver.

Check out the group’s new video for “Asleep On The Bus” shot in East Vancouver. Download the remix for free.
We talked to Tristan from Bestie about the music, Vancouver and they’re besties with…

Who’s from Vancouver and where’s everybody else from?

Rob is from Burnaby, Andrew is an O.G. East Vancouverite, Daniel is from Columbia and I was born in England.
What do you love about Vancouver?

The summer months June-September Vancouver is the best place in the world. I love that it doesn’t get too cold in the winter. I love the mountains in the winter. The Vancouver Canucks. East Vancouver. Mayor Gregor Robertson’s bike lanes. The music scene and the amount of talent we have here. Third Beach. Wreck Beach-greatest place on earth?? The beauty we are surrounded with that we can escape to in a 5-45 minutes. The air quality. Friends.

Describe your style:

Pop music with a vast array of world music influences.

Are you surprised how quickly you’ve been able to have success?

Every day I am surprised and feel blessed that people like our music and that we have genuine fans of what were doing. It blows my mind and we are hugely appreciative to be able to do what we love and be supported.
Tell us about the making of your new video for Asleep on the bus.

The music video is a continuation of our video for Pineapple which I also directed. Pineapple is somewhat of a fantasy, Asleep on the bus is a reality check where the song tells the story of the pain full journey through the work week to arrive to the bliss of Friday. It has me getting pied in the face by beautiful women and things thrown at my head. Also features some our my / our favourite things: dogs, dogs eating ice cream, beer showers, french fry animation, pizza and twerking! Were really excited to share it in full. It was made in part for our first challenge of The Peak Performance Project which we’re super excited to be a part of and be challenged to push ourselves in our art in creating this video amongst other things.
How soon before we get a full length release?

Were working towards our EP release this fall and are recording with Howard Redekopp who’s best known for his work with Tegan and Sara, Said The Whale, Mother Mother and New Pornographers and are super excited on the experience so far. It’s made us better musicians.
Where can we see you play next?

We will be at Ponderosa festival near Osoyos August 30th and then at the Fringe Festival Saturday Sept 7th for a free outdoors show there! October 17th we have our Peak Performance project showcase where we will be pulling out some special stops for!
Do you get many people showing up to your shows wearing coconut bras?

Not enough. Always room for more and we encourage tropical attire at all shows.

What’s your favourite thing to order at Bestie Currywurst in Chinatown?

Bestie is actually in our new video! We eat the currywurst in the video and it’s so good the expression on our faces is very telling. The pretzel is pretty bad ass too and who doesn’t love beer!?
Are you choked that they registered bestie.ca first?

No, were actually IRL besties and bestie gotta support besties. We just launched bbbestie.com and anything “bb” is good. - Vancouver Vantage

Essentially, Vancouver-bred band BESTiE is the incarnation of all the wonderful things in life: drowning in puppy kisses, pineapples, a song about pineapples, girls in coconut bras and high-waisted shorts and music that will transport you back to last month’s sunny vacation in Hawaii.

“People have been very embracive of us,” says vocalist Tristan Orchard, “and they send us pictures of different pineapple things on social media all the time. We all think that’s amazing. The winters in Vancouver get extremely depressing and non-tropical, so [our music] is also like a fantasy escape from that for us.”

The band’s blend of tropical pop and summery post-wave is undoubtedly infectious and will be plentiful on their upcoming album. Though it’s still in the works, BESTiE has revealed a few gems that fans can look forward to, including the sunny-riffed “Sriracha” – yes, named after the hot sauce – that was born after a fantastical journey to Third Beach, dance number “Afraid of the Dark,” and “Asleep on the Bus,” a song about gruelling 9 – 5 work days. “There’s always people falling asleep on the bus here, [so that song] is sort of a metaphor for going through life being on the bus. You didn’t miss the bus and you’re on it going somewhere, but you’re too tired to enjoy it.”

The new music is coming together at a crucial moment for BESTiE: the band was announced as a Peak Performance Project Top 20 artist in June. As part of the project, they travelled to Rockridge Canyon in Princeton, B.C. to partake in a week-long boot camp in late August that coached artists on performance, songwriting, radio tracking, music industry laws, and social media issues and introduced them to industry professionals.

Recalling a favourite moment, Orchard details the band’s collaboration with Rykka, another Top 20 artist. “I saw her for the first time a year ago, when she opened for my friends, Humans,” he says. “I was completely blown away and I even emailed her after the set saying, ‘Oh my God. You are the best. I love you.’”

“When we got chosen by the PPP to work on a song together and she came over to rehearse with us, we had this great energy from the get go. It was really fun.”

Now fresh out of boot camp and ready for more, the band is pulling out all the stops for their October 17 showcase. There, they will perform to earn a spot in the prestigious Top 5 and a continuing chance at winning $102,700 towards their musical careers.

“We have some crazy plans for the showcase,” Orchard says amidst a peal of laughter.

And by plans, they mean animals.

“We’re getting the baby tiger from the Thriller album cover, and we want to get the IKEA monkey riding on a donkey – just for one song, though. We don’t want to overdo it, because it’s all about balance with us.”

“You’re going to get FOMO [Fear of Missing Out] if you miss it,” Cameron interjects. “Fear of Missing IKEA Monkey. FOMIM?”

The future for this charming – and rather comical – band is jam-packed, with a tour planned for the L.A. coast in November and managing the first annual #SafeFest, an all-ages music festival happening in October. “Ultimately, we would like to continue having the most fun ever in the Peak Performance Project and our showcase coming up, and with our charity events. We’re really excited about this upcoming album, making music videos, and doing as much as humanly possible.”

BESTiE plays at Fortune Sound Club on October 17 as part of the Peak Performance Project. - Beatroute Magazine

Essentially, Vancouver-bred band BESTiE is the incarnation of all the wonderful things in life: drowning in puppy kisses, pineapples, a song about pineapples, girls in coconut bras and high-waisted shorts and music that will transport you back to last month’s sunny vacation in Hawaii.

“People have been very embracive of us,” says vocalist Tristan Orchard, “and they send us pictures of different pineapple things on social media all the time. We all think that’s amazing. The winters in Vancouver get extremely depressing and non-tropical, so [our music] is also like a fantasy escape from that for us.”

The band’s blend of tropical pop and summery post-wave is undoubtedly infectious and will be plentiful on their upcoming album. Though it’s still in the works, BESTiE has revealed a few gems that fans can look forward to, including the sunny-riffed “Sriracha” – yes, named after the hot sauce – that was born after a fantastical journey to Third Beach, dance number “Afraid of the Dark,” and “Asleep on the Bus,” a song about gruelling 9 – 5 work days. “There’s always people falling asleep on the bus here, [so that song] is sort of a metaphor for going through life being on the bus. You didn’t miss the bus and you’re on it going somewhere, but you’re too tired to enjoy it.”

The new music is coming together at a crucial moment for BESTiE: the band was announced as a Peak Performance Project Top 20 artist in June. As part of the project, they travelled to Rockridge Canyon in Princeton, B.C. to partake in a week-long boot camp in late August that coached artists on performance, songwriting, radio tracking, music industry laws, and social media issues and introduced them to industry professionals.

Recalling a favourite moment, Orchard details the band’s collaboration with Rykka, another Top 20 artist. “I saw her for the first time a year ago, when she opened for my friends, Humans,” he says. “I was completely blown away and I even emailed her after the set saying, ‘Oh my God. You are the best. I love you.’”

“When we got chosen by the PPP to work on a song together and she came over to rehearse with us, we had this great energy from the get go. It was really fun.”

Now fresh out of boot camp and ready for more, the band is pulling out all the stops for their October 17 showcase. There, they will perform to earn a spot in the prestigious Top 5 and a continuing chance at winning $102,700 towards their musical careers.

“We have some crazy plans for the showcase,” Orchard says amidst a peal of laughter.

And by plans, they mean animals.

“We’re getting the baby tiger from the Thriller album cover, and we want to get the IKEA monkey riding on a donkey – just for one song, though. We don’t want to overdo it, because it’s all about balance with us.”

“You’re going to get FOMO [Fear of Missing Out] if you miss it,” Cameron interjects. “Fear of Missing IKEA Monkey. FOMIM?”

The future for this charming – and rather comical – band is jam-packed, with a tour planned for the L.A. coast in November and managing the first annual #SafeFest, an all-ages music festival happening in October. “Ultimately, we would like to continue having the most fun ever in the Peak Performance Project and our showcase coming up, and with our charity events. We’re really excited about this upcoming album, making music videos, and doing as much as humanly possible.”

BESTiE plays at Fortune Sound Club on October 17 as part of the Peak Performance Project. - Beatroute Magazine

BESTiE came across my radar in one of those beautiful little #NP posts that Arjun graces us with. He had me at “sounds like: Vampire Weekend, The Griswolds.” I started following them on SoundCloud, and today heard a new song of theirs called Asleep On The Bus. Again, they’ve managed to create infectious indie-pop, just like Arjun promised they would. I’ve pressed the play button three times on this song already, and I only found it about 7 minutes ago.

BESTiE provides too perfect explanation of themselves for me not to share: “BESTiE are a band whose influences are summer, ice cream, the beach, girls, floating down a river in an inner tube, high fives and heart break.” I want [almost] all of those things. Use your imagination, I guess. - Sunset in the rearview

BESTiE came across my radar in one of those beautiful little #NP posts that Arjun graces us with. He had me at “sounds like: Vampire Weekend, The Griswolds.” I started following them on SoundCloud, and today heard a new song of theirs called Asleep On The Bus. Again, they’ve managed to create infectious indie-pop, just like Arjun promised they would. I’ve pressed the play button three times on this song already, and I only found it about 7 minutes ago.

BESTiE provides too perfect explanation of themselves for me not to share: “BESTiE are a band whose influences are summer, ice cream, the beach, girls, floating down a river in an inner tube, high fives and heart break.” I want [almost] all of those things. Use your imagination, I guess. - Sunset in the rearview

BESTiE presents the first annual #Safe Fest! All proceeds go to Safe Amplification Society and The Music Tree to help raise money for the establishment of a permanent all ages live music venue in Vancouver, and we’re proud to be a sponsor.

Centred around the local music COMMUNITY, the festival aims to be an inclusive experience where access is granted to people of all ages to not only experience the live music scene but also to participate in it. Featuring a mix of under age bands as well as some of the city’s most established artists such as The Boom Booms, the goal is to promote a sense of ownership and participation in the culture that we all ultimately help to create.

The line-up has been revealed, and an affordable and accessible pricing scheme is in place to allow anyone a chance to see shows. All shows at Astorinos, Red Cat, and Neptoon will be “by donation”. Cover for other showcases will range from $5 – $10 and a full festival passes are $15. - Vancouver is Awesome

East Vancouver band Bestie are the key force behind a four-day all ages music festival that aims to help fund the creation of a permanent all ages music venue in Vancouver.

Drummer Dan Ruiz planned the four-day festival with his bandmates after observing that underage music fans are often unable to see their favourite bands due to provincial liquor laws.

In B.C., minors are not permitted to enter any music venue where alcohol is being served, even barring underage bands from performing.

“Alcohol and music - why do they automatically have to go together?” asks Ruiz.

"Access to the power of the live music experience should not hinge solely on whether one is old enough to order a drink in a bar."

The difficulty of finding cool clubs that will let an underage band play prompted Bestie to invite young bands to toss their hats in the ring and compete for a performing slot in the festival.

Ruiz says the response was slightly overwhelming.
“We received 175 applications from which we chose 75. There’s going to be a lot of great music to discover at this festival. And about 25% of the bands are underage.”

One of the bands who got the nod to appear in the festival is Derrival; some of the band's members are underage, while others are not.

Their latest video demonstrates the magic that young local bands are dreaming up - both musically and visually.

All proceeds of the festival will go to the Safe Amplication Society, a non-profit dedicated to music for people of all ages, and the Music Tree, a grassroots foundation raising awareness of ecological and community projects through music.

The festival headliners will be The Boom Booms, while Bestie will also perform. As well as live performances the festival will also feature workshops by community leaders.

The #Safe Fest festival takes place in a variety of venues around Vancouver October 10 - 13. All events are open to minors and a festival pass for all events costs $15.

Alcohol will be available at only some of the venues and will not be sold to minors.

The festival comes just a month after the province launched a website allowing people to share ideas on how to change liquor laws in the province.

- Read more about the B.C. liquor policy review - Huffington Post

When Vancouver's BESTiE initially announced plans to stage the all-ages #SafeFest in Vancouver, they were still seeking submissions to flesh out the lineup. Now, the full list of artists has been announced for the event, which runs from October 10 to 13.

In addition to previously confirmed acts the Boom Booms and BESTiE, the bill has been expanded to include Fake Shark Real Zombie, Buckman Coe, We Hunt Buffalo, Japanese Girls, NEEDS, Evil Ebenezer, Man Your Horse, Chimpanzebras, Rolla Olak, Lié, Juvenile Hall, Selina Koop, Skye Wallace, Little Wild, Crystal Swells, Tim the Mute, Girlfriends and Boyfriends, and many more.

As previously reported, the festival will take place at a range of venues, including Lana Lou's, the Prophouse, Simply Delicious, Red Cat, Neptoon, Fortune Sound Cloud, Kozmik Zoo, Astorinos and Chapel Arts. Exclaim! and Music Waste will team up to present the October 11 showcase at Chapel Arts.

See the full schedule over at #SafeFest's website.

As previously reported, full festival wristbands are just $15, which individual shows range from by-donation to $10.
- Exclaim!

Over 75 acts will play 13 venues over 4 days at the first annual #Safefest, an all-ages music festival for charity. All proceeds go to the Safe Amplification Society and The Music Tree to help raise money for the establishment of a permanent all-ages music venue.

The festival kicks off Thursday (October 10th), at Lana Lou’s. On Friday Music Waste and Exclaim! Magazine team up for a showcase at Chapel Arts with additional shows at the Prophouse and Simply Delicious. Saturday features daytime events with free shows at Red Cat Records and Neptoon.

Fortune Sound Club’s middle floor art gallery space will host an array of electronic acts with DJ, Ableton and breakdance workshops. Kozmik Zoo hosts a hip hop showcase and 604 Records presents the best of their acts including Fake Shark Real Zombie, while Astorinos features an 8 band lineup.

The closing date, Sunday Oct 13, features 8 bands at Astorinos and a 2-6 p.m. show at Chapel and a 8 p.m.-2 a.m. closing party with festival hosts BESTiE and the Boom Booms headlining. For full schedule visit the #Safefest website.

$15 full-access festival wristbands are on sale now at safefest.ca and at Red Cat, Zulu, Beatstreet, and Neptoon Records. - The Georgia Straight

East Vancouver band Bestie are the key force behind a four-day all ages music festival that aims to help fund the creation of a permanent all ages music venue in Vancouver.

Drummer Dan Ruiz planned the four-day festival with his bandmates after observing that underage music fans are often unable to see their favourite bands due to provincial liquor laws.

In B.C., minors are not permitted to enter any music venue where alcohol is being served, even barring underage bands from performing.

“Alcohol and music - why do they automatically have to go together?” asks Ruiz.

As the band state on the event website, "Access to the power of the live music experience should not hinge solely on whether one is old enough to order a drink in a bar."

The difficulty of finding cool clubs that will let an underage band play prompted Bestie to invite young bands to toss their hats in the ring and compete for a performing slot in the festival.

Ruiz says the response was slightly overwhelming.

“We received 175 applications from which we chose 75. There’s going to be a lot of great music to discover at this festival. And about 25% of the bands are underage.”

One of the bands who got the nod to appear in the festival is Derrival; some of the band's members are underage, while others are not.

Their latest video demonstrates the magic that young local bands are dreaming up - both musically and visually.
All proceeds of the festival will go to the Safe Amplication Society, a non-profit dedicated to music for people of all ages, and the Music Tree, a grassroots foundation raising awareness of ecological and community projects through music.

The festival headliners will be The Boom Booms, while Bestie will also perform. As well as live performances the festival will also feature workshops by community leaders.
All proceeds of the festival will go to the Safe Amplication Society, a non-profit dedicated to music for people of all ages, and the Music Tree, a grassroots foundation raising awareness of ecological and community projects through music.

The festival headliners will be The Boom Booms, while Bestie will also perform. As well as live performances the festival will also feature workshops by community leaders. - CBC News BC

East Vancouver band Bestie are the key force behind a four-day all ages music festival that aims to help fund the creation of a permanent all ages music venue in Vancouver.

Drummer Dan Ruiz planned the four-day festival with his bandmates after observing that underage music fans are often unable to see their favourite bands due to provincial liquor laws.

In B.C., minors are not permitted to enter any music venue where alcohol is being served, even barring underage bands from performing.

“Alcohol and music - why do they automatically have to go together?” asks Ruiz.

As the band state on the event website, "Access to the power of the live music experience should not hinge solely on whether one is old enough to order a drink in a bar."

The difficulty of finding cool clubs that will let an underage band play prompted Bestie to invite young bands to toss their hats in the ring and compete for a performing slot in the festival.

Ruiz says the response was slightly overwhelming.

“We received 175 applications from which we chose 75. There’s going to be a lot of great music to discover at this festival. And about 25% of the bands are underage.”

One of the bands who got the nod to appear in the festival is Derrival; some of the band's members are underage, while others are not.

Their latest video demonstrates the magic that young local bands are dreaming up - both musically and visually.
All proceeds of the festival will go to the Safe Amplication Society, a non-profit dedicated to music for people of all ages, and the Music Tree, a grassroots foundation raising awareness of ecological and community projects through music.

The festival headliners will be The Boom Booms, while Bestie will also perform. As well as live performances the festival will also feature workshops by community leaders.
All proceeds of the festival will go to the Safe Amplication Society, a non-profit dedicated to music for people of all ages, and the Music Tree, a grassroots foundation raising awareness of ecological and community projects through music.

The festival headliners will be The Boom Booms, while Bestie will also perform. As well as live performances the festival will also feature workshops by community leaders. - CBC News BC

Following up the release of their buzz worthy single and tropical-inspired video for “Pineapple” which got the Vancouver group recognition in early 2013, BESTiE follow up with “Asleep on the Bus.”

A filmmaker in his own right, the accompanying music video for “Asleep on the Bus” was directed by lead singer Tristan Orchard. His short films have been screened at festivals around the world and Orchard is also a Gemini (Canada’s Emmy’s) nominated documentary filmmaker. The video follows the story of the song which takes the listener through the pain of the work week on Monday to the bliss of Friday.

Made in part as the group’s first challenge for the Peak Performance Project (which the band was announced as a top 20 finalist of this past June), the video made it’s debut on Tuesday along with a new remix of the track by the electronic dance act WMNSTUDIES. Both tracks can be downloaded for free, below.

BESTiE are currently recording with Howard Redekopp (Tegan and Sara, Mother Mother, The New Pornographers, The Zolas) and they are will release their debut EP this Fall. - Kick Kick Snare

In the golden wave of heat that’s finally greeted Vancouver, the Straight chats with BESTiE, a local indie-pop band that’s quickly on the rise. Under the leafy canopy of a stately old tree in Pandora Park, vocalist Tristan Orchard, bassist Rob Cameron, and drummer Daniel Ruiz chill out, sipping coconut water in the emerald shade.
Though no palm trees were swaying, the scene perfectly suits BESTiE’s sun-kissed, surf-pop-and-Afrobeat–inspired sound, epitomized by “Pineapple”, its first single. With the song’s silly lyrics, fizzy rhythm, and equally summery video, it’s a sonic piña colada that is taking Canadian music blogs by tropical storm after its January release.

To the band’s amusement and slight frustration, BESTiE is fast becoming known for its Vampire Weekend–ish ode to the spiky, equatorial fruit.

“We were a tiny band, and then we made a music video, and now people think we’re the ‘Pineapple’ band,” says Orchard, who splits his time between singing in BESTiE, talent-buying at Fortune Sound Club, DJing, and editing Winnie Cooper, a local music blog.

“Whenever we put something ‘Pineapple’-related up on social media, everyone ‘likes’ it, and it feels so cheesy. I’m fine with that. It’s supposed to be cheesy, ridiculous, and dumb. It’s tongue-in-cheek. But we need to do something new. It’s literally the first song we ever wrote.”

Rounded out by guitarist Andrew Janczewski, who was probably busy at the time of the interview soaking in an ice bath with a mojito (as should we all), the quartet is only a couple of years old, but each bandmate is a seasoned member of the local scene. Orchard and a team of friends used to run the covert DIY venue and communal jam space Goody.

Before the powers that be inevitably stamped out that creative fire, Orchard, Cameron, and Janczewski used it as a rehearsal space in separate bands, until a day when Cameron and Janczewski “finally let” Orchard jam with them. And so “Pineapple” and BESTiE were born, following the recruitment of Ruiz. Afterward, everything changed, and the group grew more determined than ever to commit to being a proper band.

This determination propelled BESTiE to earn a top-20 spot in this year’s Peak Performance Project, sponsored by 102.7 the Peak and Music BC, despite having only a few tracks officially released thus far. Alongside “Pineapple”, there’s the bittersweet “Asleep on the Bus”, with scintillating, breeze-blown guitar work, plus “Foolish Hearts”, a lovelorn indie epic that recalls the surf-pop melodrama of the Drums.

The Peak Performance Project acts as an initiative to support and develop local bands, even putting on a music-business boot camp for its top 20 artists, which BESTiE couldn’t be more excited about.

“Achieving the top 20 was validation that we are doing something right,” says Cameron, wearing an impressive array of tattoos—including a gramophone, a cat playing with a ball of yarn, and a badass sleeve of outer-space imagery. “At the announcement party for the top 20, they announced all the bands over the course of two hours, and they ended up saying our name last, so it was such a roller coaster. I was in shock.”

There is definitely something in BESTiE’s Caribbean-blue waters that has produced such a workable chemistry between the four individuals. As Cameron explains, “We each bring a different flavour to the table, but they’re all complementary, so it jells together. We wear our influences on our sleeves. And we’re not trying to make anything brand-new, we’re just trying to make something good and sincere.”

Largely shaped by Janczewski, who grew up on old-school reggae and plays like Johnny Marr if he were a tropical beach bum, BESTiE’s influences range from Afrobeat to Orange Juice to Gang of Four to Katy Perry.

This diversity is based on a blend of Orchard’s love of epic pop, Janczewski’s eclectic, postpunk-leaning tastes, Cameron’s indie upbringing on the Strokes and Interpol, and Ruiz’s background in Colombia, where he fell in love with Spanish political punk, then psych rock, and then jazz.

“My grandfather was a singer in a cumbia orchestra,” explains Ruiz, who’s also a member of baroque pop-folksters Aunts and Uncles. “When I was a kid in my grandparents’ home, I used to bang on the pots and pans to all the cumbia and salsa songs. So I’ve always had music in my life.”

But the question the band always asks itself when it comes to songwriting is “Will this make people dance?” As Ruiz says, “Playing for an audience, we want all of them to be having more fun than we’re having. It’s good to be able to laugh at yourself.”

With so many opportunities glowing on the horizon, including a string of summer festival appearances, BESTiE is definitely laughing now. But something is still missing: an album. Fortunately, the band is set to start recording either an EP or LP in about two weeks, depending on their schedules and funds.

As Cameron puts it, “We’re not short on material. We’re - The Georgia Straight

Vancouver indie pop outfit BESTiE won themselves some fans with their sunny single "Pineapple," and now they've followed it up with another sprightly tune, this one called "Asleep on the Bus."

The clip finds frontman Tristan Orchard looking a little tired as he lolls about on public transit. Not all of the video is so sleepy, however, as he gets doused in water, flour and pies by various bikini-clad women, dresses up in some goofy outfits against a plain white backdrop, and performs the chiming pop tune in a park with his bandmates.

Check out the video below, along with a dance floor-orented remix of the same tune by WMNSTUDIES.

The band are in the process of recording an EP with Howard Redekopp (Tegan and Sara, Mother Mother). It's due out this fall. - Exclaim!

BESTiE started in Spring 2012 in East Vancouver when friends Andrew, Tristan, Daniel and Rob started jamming with the goal of making a fun accessible pop band. Soon after discovering their array of world and pop music influences, they started crafting their unique sound.

On January 16th, BESTiE released their debut single, “Pineapple” shot and directed by lead singer Tristan Orchard, a Gemini nominated film maker whose documentaries have aired on Bravo television and short films played in festivals around the world. The tropics inspired video has had over 11k views providing the group with their first real attention being featured in over 30 music blogs and media outlets in Canada, the US and abroad. The single also managed to reach the number 25 spot on the Hypem.com’s popular chart and earned the group radio airplay. March 8th they followed that up with a well received single release party for “Asleep on the Bus” with a capacity crowd at the Cobalt in Vancouver. Both the groups existing tracks were produced by Digory Smallz, an emerging talent known for his work with, Young Liars, Jasper Sloan Yip and Joshua Hyslop.

The group’s new video for “Asleep On The Bus” also directed by Orchard is one of the first challenges for the program which include a showcase date October 17th at Fortune Sound Club, week long boot camp in Princeton, BC and a charity event with the bands competing for a one hundred thousand dollar grand prize. The group has had a packed summer full of festival dates at Sled Island, Music Waste and Khatsalano with upcoming shows at The Vancouver Fringe Festival and Rifflandia in Victoria. They are currently in the studio recording their debut EP with Howard Redekopp, a Juno award winning producer best known for his work with Tegan and Sara, Said The Whale, The New Pornographers, Mother Mother, The Zolas and more.
Tell us a bit about charities, green initiatives, or social ventures with which you are involved

We are launching what we believe is the biggest all ages multi-day and venue music festival! We have had amazing support from sponsors like The Georgia Straight, Exclaim! and more. All proceeds go towards Safe Amp for the creation of a permanent all ages music venue. We believe the new genration of music fans and artists are very important to our local music scene. Last year we helped to raise $5k with our friends in Tough Lovers for the ALS society of BC with a benefit show. Personally, I run a local music blog called Winniecooper.net who have put on a Christmas benefit for the St James Music Academy the last two years with bands like The Zolas at the Waldorf and Fortune Sound Club and have raised over 7k for low income children in the dtes to attend after school music programs. We 100% believe in THE POWER OF MUSIC!!!
How will the $10,000 prize help your musical career?

We are a band that have done a lot in the last year, financing music videos and producing them our selves as well funding our own recording and are in the midst of putting together our own multi day and venue all ages music festival for charity (http://safefest.ca). Where there is a void in our career is in the amount of recorded material we have out to the prohibitive cost of doing this. The funding would go towards this and proper promotion and release of our upcoming EP we are recording with Howard Redekopp. The funds would also help fill a void to tour more and allow us to purchase visas and take time off work to tour down to the important NA music hub, LA and have CD’s to sell along the way!!!! - The Shore 104.3 Fm

This is a really great indie pop song from Vancouver, Canada's BESTiE (not to be confused with the Korean girl-pop group). The band are currently recording their first album.

"Asleep On The Bus": Available for FREE on the band's Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/bbBestie/app_220150904689418 - Gumpo's new music blog

asleep

this artist on:
faceboook
twitter
instagram
soundcloud
web
Tags:

BESTiE WMNSTUDIES Dance Electronic Indie
Posted 4 weeks ago
on August 21st, 2013

Two of our favorite up and coming Vancouver talents have connected today, as WMNSTUDIES have taken on BESTiE’s latest single, ”Asleep On The Bus” and injected their irresistible 1-2 punch of 90's dance grooves.
Crack open the spirits, bring out the pineapple and get to the beach asap — oh and before you go, check out the video for ”Asleep On The Bus” (the original) below. - Hilly Dilly

Le blog
Dates de Concerts
Interviews
Les Discotapes
Sélectorama
Nous contacter

logo
Bestie / Asleep on the bus

Les canadiens du groupe Bestie nous avait mis la puce à l’oreille avec leur single Pineapple. Leur balearic-pop vitaminée gorgé d’un hypothétique soleil canadien nous avait réchauffé le coeur et le corps en 4 minutes chrono. Ils sont de retour avec le nouveau single Asleep on the bus et là encore on a les pieds dans le sable ! Le remix de Foolish Hearts par Tribe of Zebras aura lui aussi raison de la torpeur hivernale mais dans un registre plus dance-floor. Bref Bestie on aime et ils nous accompagneront surement jusqu’aux beaux jours… - LeDiscolab (France)

Vancouver's Bestie have a cool, new sound that we're excited to introduce you to. We've only just heard of them ourselves, with this track 'Asleep on the Bus'. - fingersonblast

BESTiE came across my radar in one of those beautiful little #NP posts that Arjun graces us with. He had me at “sounds like: Vampire Weekend, The Griswolds.” I started following them on SoundCloud, and today heard a new song of theirs called Asleep On The Bus. Again, they’ve managed to create infectious indie-pop, just like Arjun promised they would. I’ve pressed the play button three times on this song already, and I only found it about 7 minutes ago.

BESTiE provides too perfect explanation of themselves for me not to share: “BESTiE are a band whose influences are summer, ice cream, the beach, girls, floating down a river in an inner tube, high fives and heart break.” I want [almost] all of those things. Use your imagination, I guess. - sunsetintherearview

You like great tropical indie pop? You like pineapples? You like women (and dudes) in luau attire? Really? That’s so weird, I just came across this song and music video that combine all of those things! Fellow Vancouver blogger (of WinnieCooper.net ) and frontman for BESTiE just sent us their new track and it’s quality. The upbeat tropical guitar riffs transport you to a sunny happy place but the vocals are what really make this track. Download this for free by clicking ‘BUY’ after the Soundcloud jump and watch the video for some scantily clad ladies (and dudes) gettin down with pineapples. - HillyDilly

Vancouver tropical pop outfit BESTiE recently emerged with a music video for their song "Pineapple," and now they've followed it up with another clip, this time for "Foolish Hearts (Tribe of Zebras Remix)."

This track carries some tropical overtones, but the remix gives it a dancefloor-oriented, synth-heavy twist. This club-friendly atmosphere is emphasized by the accompanying video, as a woman frolics on a bed in her underclothes before hitting the town to go dancing. Meanwhile, frontman Tristan Orchard sings along in a stairwell and in a hotel room. Ultimately, the girl meets a mysterious and unpleasant end.

Watch the clip below, and scroll past that to hear the previously released original track.

The band have a show at the Cobalt in Vancouver on March 8. - Exclaim!

Let’s face it: 3 p.m. is the cruellest time of the workday. The morning latte has worn off, and the post-lunch crash has you staggering around like an extra from a George A. Romero flick. That’s why, each weekday at 3:01 p.m., we present you with a video hand-picked to kick-start your heart.

Today’s offering: Like us, you’ve probably about fucking had it right now. Had it with a city that’s been shrouded in more-depressing-then-England fog for the past week. Which is a little better, but not much, than the more-depressing-than-Poland pelting rain we normally get in January.

Right now, the only thing that we want (besides an all-expenses-paid weekend in bed with Stoya, and a robin’s-egg-blue ‘57 Chevy) is to get the fuck out of dodge, ideally to some hot and sunny place where pineapples grow on trees. Or wherever the hell pineapples grow.

As a matter of fact, we’re on hold with Air Canada as we speak, looking into tickets to Hawaii. And you know what we’re watching on YouTube while we’re waiting? That would be “Pineapple” by BESTiE. It’s a tossup as to what we love the most about the clip. The parade of complete hotties in bikinis. Guitars that sound like a warm breeze coming off the Pacific ocean during a swaying-palm sunset. Or thee overall sunbaked vibe that makes us wonder what the hell we’re doing wasting our lives in Vancouver when we could be taking root in a place where the only things you’ll ever need for a night out on the town are flip-flops, shorts, and a Wabo Cabo wife-beater.

Enjoy. Preferably with a pina colada, served, of course, in a pineapple. - Georgia Striaght

Yesterday we brought you a pair of superheroes making out and today it's all about girls and fruit. Something awesome is definitely in the Vancouver water, and we want to drink it all up. Indie pop band, BESTiE, comprised of Tristan Orchard, Rob Cameron, Andrew Janczewski, and Daniel Ruiz, give us a tropical escape featuring babes, vintage surf scenes, beach scenes, random scenes, tons of pineapples in various shapes and form, and even a pizza bra to top it all off in their new music video for their single, "Pineapple". BESTIE, a band whose influences are summer, ice cream, the beach, girls, floating down a river in an inner tube, high fives and heart break have succeeded in giving us a feel good song perfect for brightening up any day. - ION Magazine

Vancouver indie troupe BESTiE have just offered some solace from the cold with a summery video for new track "Pineapple."

The tropical track is treated to some green screen trickery, fancy after effects and some projector work for visually stunning results. If you like ladies and dudes wearing all sorts of fruit bras (and even a girl with a pizza bra!) in front of a make believe beach, this clip's for you.

Check out the fun-filled video for "Pineapple" below. You can also stream the track in its entirety here. - Exclaim!

Sharing Secret Hand Shakes with BESTiE

One magical jam session started a Vancouver indie juggernaut

By Scott Wood

BESTiE is Vancouver’s latest promising band. The group started in the spring of 2012 in East Vancouver when friends Andrew Janczewski, Tristan Orchard, Daniel Ruiz and Rob Cameron started jamming, with the goal of making a fun, accessible pop band. In 2013, the band won 3rd place at The Peak Performance Project—a local mainstream radio talent search with the goal of growing new local bands. Finally in April 2014, BESTiE released their debut full-length album, No Bad Days.

Their debut single “Pineapple” is perfect for your personal summer soundtrack.

I’ve known Tristan as a fixture of the Vancouver indie music scene for years, putting on shows, finding interesting new talent and DJ-ing various events. He started the local music blog WinnieCooper.net which has evolved into an influential west coast indie music hub and the place you can find out which shows you need to go to in Vancouver. (You can also listen to and download episodes of the interview show podcast on WinnieCooper as well.) It was almost as if while putting all that effort into the local scene, he was preparing for being in his own band.

BESTiE frontman Tristan Orchard answered my questions while BESTiE was on its first proper tour!
Scott Wood: You guys write that you’re inspired by “ice cream, the beach, girls, floating down a river in an inner tube, high fives and heartbreak…” Who was the last person you high fived and why?

Tristan from BESTiE: That would be Daniel our drummer. We do a side-fist-pound thing where you also lean in and say "safe" into the other person’s ear. It's our band's signature thing that we like to spread to others to promote safety. It started while we were in our van realizing we’re on tour as we were en route to Kelowna—our first stop. It was a good moment!
Scott Wood: Tristan when was the last time the other guys in the band would be tempted NOT to call you their BESTiE?

Tristan from BESTiE: We're all polar opposite signs. I'm the one always pushing people out of their comfort zones and more of a "dive in head-first" person. It causes tension, but it all works out and we balance each other out—it makes us ‘us,’ if you will.

Scott Wood: I've read that BESTiE came together because you all shared a practice space, called Goody. But you guys (Tristan, Rob, and Andrew) used it as a rehearsal space in separate bands, until a day when Rob and Andrew “finally let” you (Tristan) jam with them. What was holding them back from jamming? Why did this origin jam finally happen?

Tristan from BESTiE: It was really good timing with everyone being in between bands. The previous one I played in was coming to an end. Life events at the time had me in a bad place; everything I had worked towards in the last two years was in flux. The music they were playing was inviting and the opposite of how I felt, and BESTiE was born from there.
Scott Wood: Tristan, in Vancouver you are well-known AND well-loved for putting on indie music shows and being a club promoter. You've been active on the scene for years. This experience can only have helped BESTiE immensely. What's a good piece of advice that younger bands should know when trying to get shows and dealing with promoters and/or clubs?

Tristan from BESTiE: Aw thanks. I remember saying once, “ask not what your music scene has done for you, but what you can do for your music scene.” A little nod to JFK, but I think it rings true. Get involved, put on your own shows, start your own space/night/blog/label/jamspace/whatever. Create your own scene. You already have everything you need to do so and pretty soon people will be coming to you.

Scott Wood: A lot of music writers say that your track "Pineapple" sounds like Vampire Weekend. Before starting Vampire Weekend, lead singer Ezra Koenig created a "serious" rap band L'Homme Run (which sounds awful). Tell me some embarrassing dark secrets from BESTiE's past—before BESTiE made you all legit.

Tristan from BESTiE: The first "band" I ever played in was called Weekend at Lily's and our one song we had was called “Dancing Lily” and it was about Lily and her brother Jack who we once tricked and fed dog biscuits too. I'm really big into pranks apparently.

Scott Wood: BESTiE videos are becoming well-known for always containing beautiful women. (Nothing wrong with that!) What do you find tremendously attractive in men?
Tristan from BESTiE: This is a great question. I think it’s very similar actually. Confidence, personality and a person's drive to be their complete unique self and letting that out and not hiding behind a wall of pretentious insecurity.

Scott Wood: You guys have been together since 2012. Like most indie bands you've had to pause your momentum while you try to find ways to fund your music. How should a band navigate these kinds of inevitable choppy waters?

Tristan from BESTiE: Don't be afraid to put yourself out there to pursue any means of pursuing your art. Whether it's doing a radio station talent contest like The Peak Performance Project, which inevitably has greatly helped us, or entering for grants or putting in any outside work for your music on the business side. It's unfortunately also pretty essential.

Scott Wood: Your debut record is called No More Bad Days—that's a slogan I've seen on many t-shirts and bumper stickers in always warm places like Florida and Puerto Vallarta. So many indie bands like to revel in depression and low self-esteem (and there's nothing wrong with that). So far, it seems like BESTiE always keeps it upbeat, positive and escapist. Why is that? Will we ever see BESTiE's dark side?
Tristan from BESTiE: I think the dark will always be there and even in saying “no bad days,” it's acknowledging that. It's more of a focus on the positives and steering to the light that we try to do. That being said, I think we do have dark songs—“Foolish Hearts,” for example was created in the depths of winter and is about heartbreak and death. You can't have one without the other.

Scott Wood: Tristan you have a degree in film and have shot various music videos (for other bands) and TV documentaries. You have shot all of the BESTiE videos so far. How does BESTiE music inspire your visuals and/or vice versa?

Tristan from BESTiE: Yes. I think to write a song you really have to enter its world and walk around in it or a song idea never really gets fleshed out. The two art forms are really exchangeable. The videos are great as another almost more direct, (being there are visuals and audio) way of conveying the song meaning and vibe. I'm thinking of the music video a lot of the time while were writing the music and how we can create something achievable and hopefully effective with available resources.

Scott Wood: Thanks for answering my questions! Could you introduce your favourite BESTiE video?

Tristan from BESTiE: Thank you for your time! Great questions. This is our new video for “Foolish Hearts.” It was shot on basically no budget with friends. The shoot happened spur-of-the-moment the day after my grandmother died and the person I was dating broke up with me. It was very improvised. It's great how life can inspire you to create and express yourself when you find yourself in inexplicable places. I hope you like it. - Earshot online

BESTiE may have gotten a little dark on their video for "Foolish Hearts," but now they're back to their usual summery ways on the newly unveiled clip for "Sriracha" from this year's No Bad Days.

The Vancouver tropical pop band filmed the video for this upbeat tune in Colombia. It features all the things we've come to expect from the band: sunny brightness, bathing suits, dancing and emojis that scroll across the screen. To reinforce the South American vibe, a Spanish translation of the lyrics appears karaoke-style at the bottom of the shot.

It was directed by the band's own Tristan Orchard. Watch it below. - Exclaim!