Unfortunate quote about Edmonton in NY Times

[Alex.L]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/ar...?smid=fb-share

Indie band "Purity Ring" consists of Megan James and Corin Roddick, both formerly of Edmonton. The two now reside in Montreal and are getting all kinds of attention in the International indie music scene for their upcoming release "Shrines".

The following is an exchange between an interviewer from the NY Times and the band:

Q. What’s it like in Edmonton, where you both grew up?

MEGAN JAMES There’s a lot of weird teenagers doing interesting things. But if you told someone you met that you were an artist or that you were a musician, they’d be, like, “O.K., but how do you make money?” It’s that kind of place. So you kind of have to leave.

This is a problem. I know we have the Fringe and Whyte Ave and all of the liberal arts kids from the UofA to point to, but if we take a step back and look at the wider picture this mentality is definitely prevalent in our city. This is one of the reasons why the "brain drain" that Kris Krol talks about is happening.

"It seems like there's a bit of a brain talent drain where people are leaving Edmonton for bigger centres like Vancouver and Toronto," said Krol. "There is a lot of talent here but I don't think there's support for the artists."
- http://www.edmontonsun.com/2011/05/0...-to-be-exposed

I think it's a perception issue more than anything, because there are tons of artists, events, festivals, etc here.

Thoughts? I don't have a solution at this point, but I do feel as though we're heading in the right direction.

[Dialog]

That is not really all that bad and applies to a whole bunch of places in North America.

Plus, "weird teenagers doing interesting things", in the context of an indie band whose star is rising, is bascially promoting. If you're going to take any impression away from that sentence, it'd be "youngsters there seem to be doing things in spite of a lack of support".

Not ideal, but not a writeoff of the city by any means.

[Alex.L]

Just the last line is what got me. "You kind of have to leave" is brutal.

[Chmilz]

I'm confused. I thought where a band emerged from hasn't mattered since the glorious Sunset Strip and Seattle scenes in the 80's and 90's. With the money being in touring, and recording studios located everywhere, aren't bands essentially homeless anyway? City or province/state of origin is largely irrelevant. A million new bands emerge every year all over the place, then relocate to wherever there's the largest built-in audiences and call it home, which is both unauthentic and irrelevant. How many of the great LA or NY bands started in those cities? Probably slightly higher per capita than anywhere else, but not abnormally so. That's just where they end up because that's where the audiences are and make a home base.

[howie]

Right enough, Chmilz. It doesn't matter where a band emerges from. And as for the money being in touring, I wouldn't be so sure of that. Case in point: On a recent visit to New Brunswick, I caught a Calgary band playing a bandshell gig at a Sunday morning farmers market. They were okay, but that's a long way from home to be busking. Maybe someone gave them the old "touring will tighten you up" line.

I'm in the game myself and, trust me, paid gigs are a problem here. Everybody is looking for something for nothing. All these open stages, battles of the bands, etc. are a right con. The owners get a free night's entertaiment and the musos get 'promises' and 'stage experience'. Oh yeah, they get experience all right. Nothing new about this, of course. Starry-eyed kids sucked into the "think of the exposure you'll get", "music honchos check out our venue regularly" bait. Funny these 'honchos' are never there on the night your band is playing. There are even places where people actually pay to play. That's pretty cute.

It's a funny thing. Put yourself out for nothing, and people will think that's what you're worth - and good luck getting your fee up after that. Charge them something, and the perception is that they're getting something of worth. They have to justify their outlay to themselves.

My advice to any promising Edmonton talent - get out of Dodge now before your enthusiasm/morale gets busted to the point where all you want to do is pack it all in.

Purity Ring made the right call, along with all the others who saw the light over the years.

Cynical views? Maybe, but I've been there, done that.

[armin]

^

Edmonton used to be one of the best cities in North America for underground music.

We had a large indie scene that died off because of external factors like the rise of rap & electronic music and shifting musical tastes. Edmonton being blue collar, doesn't have enough avant gardes to support an eclectic music scene so digital artists tend to hit up Montreal, Toronto, or even Van, which has the lamest night scene around.

We have a lot of kids here, but they don't practice artistic freedom very well, and this city has never done too terribly much to encourage outsider art.

[jbubble]

It s reality.

[Chmilz]

Based on how packed Starlite is every time the hottest new artists come to town, and same when New City (Jasper Ave) hosted electronic and industrial talent from all over NA and Europe, I'd say the fans are here and the appetite is huge. What we lack is the venues.

[edmonton daily photo]

Shout OUt Out OUt never had to leave...

[ChrisD]

^Add 10 Second Epic to that list as well.

But for the most part, in order to truly succeed in the music business it's tough to stay in Edmonton given that the industry (in Canada) is centred in Toronto or Vancouver.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

^ Except that much of our talent moves to Montreal. And Kreesha Turner has moved to the States if I'm not mistaken.

[Komrade]

Speaking on Hip Hop music only, I can tell you there is a serious void in this city.

The biggest success stories from Edmonton are rappers who have left Edmonton (Edot, Cadence Weapon)

Pay to play is quite common in Edmonton, or sell tickets to play. Venues rarely want to have hip hop acts at their venue.

Try to get paid for a show? ha! The promoter acts like you should be greatful you even got stage time, how dare you ask for payment.

I can see how this sentiment is there for all sorts of musicians.

That being said, the digitial age has a lot to do with it. People dont view music as a commodity anymore. To many, music is free. Its easier to sell band tshirts than cds these days

[Kitlope]

Going to the big city for ultimate exposure is nothing new, no different than if you're an aspiring actor you go to Broadway or LA.

[howie]

Originally Posted by Komrade

Speaking on Hip Hop music only, I can tell you there is a serious void in this city.

The biggest success stories from Edmonton are rappers who have left Edmonton (Edot, Cadence Weapon)

Pay to play is quite common in Edmonton, or sell tickets to play. Venues rarely want to have hip hop acts at their venue.

Try to get paid for a show? ha! The promoter acts like you should be greatful you even got stage time, how dare you ask for payment.

I can see how this sentiment is there for all sorts of musicians.

That being said, the digitial age has a lot to do with it. People dont view music as a commodity anymore. To many, music is free. Its easier to sell band tshirts than cds these days

This Hunter S. Thompson quote is quite apropos:
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

Kitlope's phrase, "Going to the big city" speaks volumes.

Thank you, gents.

[armin]

Originally Posted by Komrade

Speaking on Hip Hop music only, I can tell you there is a serious void in this city.

The biggest success stories from Edmonton are rappers who have left Edmonton (Edot, Cadence Weapon)

Pay to play is quite common in Edmonton, or sell tickets to play. Venues rarely want to have hip hop acts at their venue.

Try to get paid for a show? ha! The promoter acts like you should be greatful you even got stage time, how dare you ask for payment.

I can see how this sentiment is there for all sorts of musicians.

That being said, the digitial age has a lot to do with it. People dont view music as a commodity anymore. To many, music is free. Its easier to sell band tshirts than cds these days

I wouldn't want to hold hip hop shows really if I was a promoter.

The biggest problem with that scene is the attitude and the egotism which is sort of self defeating. Newer rappers are starting to push away from that stuff and bring back more positivity, but they aren't getting much help from the news or other outlets like worldstarhiphop which push the trashiest, most violent crap possible.

[Komrade]

^

Thats the problem. All the venue owners think like you. Stereotype the music and culture before hearing what the local crowd offers. Assume because its 'hip-hop' that gangbangers and guns will be at the show. Silly really.

[moahunter]

^I agree, the image of hip hop is way to stereotyped, much of main stream pop today really is just a softer version of the real deal - and many of those pop artists also produce sharper material for the more core audience to gain credibility with their peers.