The Imports
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The Imports

Toronto, Ontario, Canada | SELF

Toronto, Ontario, Canada | SELF
Band Alternative Rock

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"The Imports gig open to all ages"

With influences from The Beatles, The Roots and Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Imports will jam on Feb. 27 at The Basement in Mississauga.

Consisting of guitarist/vocalist Heston Jones, Arthur Latoszek on drums/percussion, bassist Manny Da Costa, vocalist Earl Abalajon III, Roydin Monteath on guitar/vocals and keyboardist Nathan Dumancas, the band counts half of its members from Cooksville and Applewood. The others are from Brampton. Nevertheless, they’re all on the same page.

“There is so much we appreciate and learn from, (which) will continue to influence the way we feel and write music. We often share new music with each other and get into new bands that way; it really helps to be influenced together as a band,” says Monteath.

At their approaching all-ages gig, The Imports will perform songs from their first full-length album, Everyday Rhythm, which will be released this spring.

“We’ve been playing a lot of new songs at the last few shows, but now we really know what the songs sound like, having recorded them over the last two months,” explains Jones. “We may throw in a couple of oldies, but we really want to get people pumped for the new album, just as we are getting excited to release it.”

The Imports should be excited about releasing Everyday Rhythm, as they had the privilege of working with producer Jordan Kern (Escalate) and Juno Award-winning engineer Andy Krehm (Ron Sexsmith, Saukrates). Compared to their 2007 EP, Rhythm and Madness, the new album has “more contained madness,” says Latoszek. “In the last three years, we have all grown up and become more mature and focused...for fans that have stuck around, they will definitely be able to hear that similar sound we once had, but there is a better understanding between the six of us that has helped us write better, more cohesive songs.”

Last year, one of the band's founding members, Liam Harasym, left the group. He was replaced by Da Costa, who attended Philip Pocock Secondary School with Jones and Latoszek.

“The majority of our debut (album) was written with Liam. Minus the lyrics, Liam had just as much input on the structures of the songs," says Monteath. "For Manny (Da Costa), it was mainly writing bass lines and adding his own influences and ideas to the table.”

Da Costa has fit nicely into the dynamic.

“He, too, is a first-generation Canadian and adds to the idea behind our name, The Imports,” says Jones. “He is from a Portuguese background and brings his own style of music and influences. Manny already knew our older material, so it was quite an easy task for him to learn the songs; the hard part was writing new parts for songs he had never heard before.”

Also performing at the concert are What If This Dream Is All We Have? and Tiff Lee.

The Basement is located inside Mississauga City Baptist Church (3434 Cawthra Rd.). Admission is $2 and doors open at 7 p.m. - The Mississauga News


"Jam Van Battle of the Bands"

May 31, 2005: Battle of the Bands
West49music.com was pleased to have supporting the 2005 Regional Battle of the Bands Finals presented by Jam Van.

This past weekend at the Opera House top local high school bands from Ajax to Brampton battled it out for the reigning Regional title!

The winning band "The Imports" took home the gold & bragging rights. The band got hooked up with sick prizes, studio recordng time, free pizza for a year, you name it.
The band will also get to play a free show at one of our West 49 Multi media stores & be featured on the west49music.com website. Details to come so check back soon!
Congratulations to all the bands that rocked out & thank you for supporting Canadian Music.

For info visit www.jamvan.com
Click here for Poster!

Portion of ticket sales were donated to the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' (CARAS) MusiCan program in support of music education.

Come out & support the scene!
- West 49


"Imports feature new sound of Canada"

What kind of music do you get when you combine a guitarist from the Middle east, another from India, a Filipino singer, a Polish drummer and bass player from British Columbia?

You get the new sound of CanCon.

"We represent Canada forming together," said Roydin Monteah, guitarsit for The Imports, a how rock dollective of 18-and-19-year-old musicians quickly making its mark. The up-and-coming group has moved from jamming insided the home garage to playing every weekend at clubs across the GTA.

"We're all from different places, but we share the same interests," he added.

The band (comprised of Monteath, Earl Abalajon, Heston Jones, Arthur Latoszek and Liam Harasym) played at The Steady Roller's CD release party at the 2nd Floor Lounge last Sunday, revving up the all-ages crowd with a half-hour set.

The sho featured pieces from the band's website, http://www.myspace.com/theimports.

The smooth vocals, rocking guitars and banging drums came together to create a unique alternative sound, with apparent influences from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Incubus.

Although the band has been together for just over a year, it has already accomplished some feats that take most bands years to achieve. Since its indepedent demo release in May 2005, the band has played a steady scheduale across the GTA and as far away as North Bay.

The Imports, who write and perform their own material, also won the regional Battle of the Bands competition last May.

Vocalist Earl Abalajon III said inspiration comes from many places, including his own life experiences.

Monteath echoed those setiments.

"A lot of our songs are really honest lyrically, things we're going through," he said. "But, everyone can relate some way or another to their own life."

Monteath hopes the band will enjoy continued success.

"If I could do this for the rest of my life, it would be great," he said. "Honestly, I don't think there is a better job."

Monteath said the Imports want to bring the same kind of energy to the table as fellow Canadian artists Billy Talent, Moneen and The Junction, in representing Canada.

"Right now, we just want to keep going, get our names out there and get our music heard," said Monteath.

The Imports hope to release a full-length album later this year.

For a list of upcoming concerts, visit www.myspace.com/theimports. - The Mississauga News


"New deal, new album for The Imports"

Chris Clay
Mar 18, 2007

Mississauga band The Imports, fresh off signing a deal with the London-based label Laris Records, host a CD release party for the band's latest album on April 27 at the Duke of Marlborough.
The band, Roydin Monteath, Earl Abalajon, Heston Jones, Arthur Latoszek, Liam Harasym and Nathan Dumancas, will perform selections off the six-track Rhythm and Madness at the concert. The show kicks off a month-long tour of Ontario.

The album is slated to drop May 1.

The band has a new track, Two Clear Ones and Go, available for preview by visiting www.myspace.com/theimports.

The band's singer Abalajon previously told The News that inspiration for material comes from many places, including his own life experiences.

Monteath echoed those sentiments.

"A lot of our songs are really honest lyrically, things we're going through," he said. "But, everyone can relate some way or another to their own life."

- The Mississauga News


"Another Chris Rancourt band here this spring"

NEWS RELEASE

LARIS RECORDS

*******************************
The Imports, a band from Brampton, Ontario has just signed with Sault native Chris Rancourt and his London-based record label, Laris Records.

The band has finished recording its debut album and is set to release on May 1.

The album, titled Rhythm and Madness, was recorded in Scarborough, Ontario and contains six tracks.

The CD release party is scheduled for April 27 in Mississauga, which will kick off a month-long tour of Ontario in support of the release.

The Imports will be appearing in Sault Ste. Marie on May 19 at Madison's Pub.

If you'd like to hear a track from the new album called Two Clear Ones & Go click here.

You can also check out Laris Records by going to www.myspace.com/larisrecords.
- SooToday.com


Discography

The Imports - Everyday Rhythm (Debut Full-Length)
Spring 2010

Rhythm & Madness EP - The Imports
Laris Records
May 1st, 2007

The Imports 3-Song Demo. Released in May 2005 independently.

All songs available online at iTunes & Cd baby.

CONTACT INFO:

Band - theimported@gmail.com

Management - Sarah Mabberley sarah@lessthanthreeentertainment.com

Booking - Jesse O'Hara johara@thepushagency.com

Photos

Bio

Change – It is a constant that can be resisted or embraced, but never ignored. Those who are static rarely succeed. The successful embrace change and find a way to work it in their favour. Toronto progressive soul-rock outfit The Imports have done exactly that.

In 2009, the departure of long-time bassist and founding member Liam Harasym created an urgent need for a re-evaluation of the goals the band had been striving to achieve. What began as six friends coming together to create music for their enjoyment had evolved into growing recognition by their peers, a debut release produced by acclaimed producer Greg Dawson (Moneen, The Arkells, The Junction), a record contract with Ontario based label, Laris Records, scores of fans, and a national headlining tour. The Imports – Earl Abalajon III, Heston Jones, Roydin Monteath, Nathan Dumancas and Arthur Latoszek, were forced to make an important decision: dim the light on their dream and fade into obscurity like so many bands before them, or, continue on? After much internal debate that nearly split the band, a decision was made to continue. Change struck again in the addition of long-time fan and skilled bassist, Manny Da Costa, whose fresh ears and an appreciation of The Imports sound - equal parts psychedelic prog-rock, soul-fused indie-rock, and dirty funk - injected new life and a fresh perspective into the group. With their roster set in stone, The Imports were able to begin writing their first full-length album.

Recorded at Halla music (Broken Social Scene, The Constantines) by producer Jordan Kern (Escalate), and mastered by Juno award winning engineer, Andy Krehm (Ron Sexsmith, Boys Night Out, Saukrates), The Imports debut full-length album titled, “Everyday Rhythm” is a sonic representation of the struggles a band endures while pursuing the dream that is rock ‘n’ roll. Set to be released in the spring of 2010, “Everyday Rhythm” features ten new songs that perfectly reflect the eclectic, progressive, soul-fused rock sound that has come to define the band.

With a renewed sense of purpose and their first full-length album ready for release, the future looks bright for The Imports. The band has embraced significant change, grown both in membership and collective maturity, and will undoubtedly be more successful for it. (Bio written by Ryan Tobin)