Band returns from Cannes

We are the City got their start in coffee shops in Glenmore. If you got their first album it would have cost you $2 then less than a year later they went on to win the Peak Performance Project along with the substantial $150,000 prize. They have the reputation of being “the nicest guys in the music business” and they also have one of the most unique career progressions. After winnning the PPP top prize they decided to head to Norway to shoot a feature film in Norwegian using their ethereal music as the sonic backdrop. 

 

Then in May they went to Cannes Film Festival to present Violent as an official selection in the film festival’s Perspective Canada program. 

 

Ponder what you just read. A small group of three local lads start a band, win the biggest prize in the BC music industry, and go on to use that funds to create a feature film (shot in Norwegian & Norway), go onto take that film to Cannes. Wild! 

 

So tonight, Thursday, they return home to Kelowna for a show at the Habitat with local music producer and songwriter, Andrew Judah (whose music has been featured on international ad campaigns). 

 

Tickets for the show are $15 in advance or $20 at the door http://ticketf.ly/14HOcco, Doors are at 9pm and it’s a 19+ show

 

 

 

RD: How was Cannes and the journey that Violent has led you on?

 

Andrew Hootsalak (We are the City): 

 We made a film with our friends/family Amazing Factory to go along with our latest album. They are both called Violent and they share similar traits, although they are both very much their own thing. The film is a feature length, narrative film that's both shot in Norway and mostly in Norwegian and the film's gone on quite the wild ride. I don't really like bringing this stuff up because it feels like bragging, but I do understand that readers need context, so you can (if you want) mention any of these things about the film: Most recently was selected as one of Canada's Top 10 Films by TIFF, had its world premiere at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, played at San Sebastían International Film Festival, Los Cabos Film Festival, and won Best Canadian Film and Best BC Film at Vancouver International Film Festival as well as the Signis Award at the Amiens International Film Festival in France, and was shortlisted for Critic's Week at Cannes.

 

RD: What's next for "We are the City"?

Andrew Hootsalack:  I'd like to think that 2015 will be a big year for the band! Right now we're in the final stages of signing to a label in the States as well as another label in Europe to re-release Violent. Then we'll begin work on our next album. We've been talking about a lot of exciting concepts for the next project and we're going to try and outdo ourselves.

 

Friends Hurt - We are the City