So after our class I have my Music 203 lecture immediately after. Today we had a guest speaker come in who owns his own record label here in Edmonton (Old Ugly, check 'em out here --> http://olduglyco.com/fr_olduglyrecordingco.cfm). When my prof began to introduce "Ugly Joe" I was expecting him to either:
a) be some old hippie or wanna be rock star who never quite made it or...
b) your classic money grubbing suit who's not exactly in it for the love of music.
To my surprise, out came a hipster looking dude who couldn't be more than a few years older than myself. As he spoke he revealed that he is a rapper, who had once been approached by the major label Universal Music to sign on as their next marketable find. He would be flown to the big city of Toronto, and distributed to the masses. Due to a bad gut feeling, he turned them down. He opted instead to start his own label here in Edmonton, void of any interest in profit, and merely about branching into what he described as the huge Edmonton music scene. He mainly signs on friends who aren't sure how to get their sound out into the city.
He continually mentioned how amazing the local talent here in Edmonton is, and how each band or artist, no matter what genre, supports one another. The scene here is apparently all about contribution rather than competition, and that sort of mentality cannot be found in the major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. The main method of support fellow artists and fans can contribute? Going to shows. Most of the albums pressed by the label are for free, and what they really want to see is the music getting out there and for people to attend their gigs. He spoke of how if you regularly attend local Edmonton shows you will discover a community and friends and even more musical talent.
Listening to this speaker and reading some of your blogs have made me realize what a bad supporter of the arts I've been in this city. Its really inspired me to start going to more shows, because I do listen to lots of local sound, but I've never put in a concerted effort to see them live. And when push comes to shove, if I'm going to take part in the scene by consuming (mostly for free thanks to downloads) the least I can do is go hang out for the night in one of the many venues Edmonton has and support some good local music.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Post Numero 2
My favorite city map listed was the NFB Highrise Project. I found it really interesting to see and hear what others experience in the places they call home. If Edmonton had a project/map such as this I'm not sure I would be as intrigued as I am with exploring places more foreign to me, since I already have a fairly generalized idea of the sites and sounds of this city.
Check out the link below to check out my own (poorly made) map of the places I listed last post as those most visited by myself.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=216407967107885958560.00049ac5d469eca7d777e&z=11&iwloc=00049ac5db969f96a54b2
Check out the link below to check out my own (poorly made) map of the places I listed last post as those most visited by myself.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=216407967107885958560.00049ac5d469eca7d777e&z=11&iwloc=00049ac5db969f96a54b2
Thursday, January 20, 2011
My Edmonton
Greetings fellow classmates and Heather, it is time I begin this little blogging excursion with you all.
Despite the fact I am not an official resident of Edmonton, I have found myself spending more and more time there, instead of in my home hamlet of Sherwood Park. This change was brought about by several factors including my entry into post secondary at the U, my friends and I turning 18 and wanting actual night life instead of going to one of the many sports bars here in the park, and finally my hiring at two Edmonton pools. I learn, work, and play in the city. So much so that only time I'm ever really at my home is when I'm in need of food and/or sleep.
Despite my increased visitation to the city, my areas of exploration remain fairly limited. I shop and go out to certain pubs on Whyte Ave., go to school by the Garneau district, work down Walterdale Hill at the Kinsmen, occasionally visit certain bars on Jasper, run in the river valley (during the spring and summer of course; Edmonton winters make for a lengthy treadmill season), attend Oilers games at the run down Rexall Place, and work at the YMCA in Castle Downs. The places listed above are my most visited locations, other places I may venture include WEM and South Edmonton Common, but only when I'm really in the mood to shop.
As a child of the suburbs I am very aware of city limits. There is a subtle change of scenery when I leave Sherwood Park and enter Edmonton. I'm not sure if I can even explain it but there's some sort of shift. Once in Edmonton you see more diversity, people, buildings, etc. There just appears to be more going on than in the quiet burbs. I notice this same shift when I leave St Albert from visiting my boyfriend.
When I'm downtown I can't help but see untapped potential. There are certain areas that are fun, and beautiful, and actually resemble something you'd expect to see from a capital city, while others are in dire need of change. Unfortunately, I don't think such changes will happen when I'm still around this city to enjoy them. For as much as I love the Park and Edmonton, I know I won't stay here. It will always provide that sense of home for me, but I know that the rest of my life involves bigger places than this.
Despite the fact I am not an official resident of Edmonton, I have found myself spending more and more time there, instead of in my home hamlet of Sherwood Park. This change was brought about by several factors including my entry into post secondary at the U, my friends and I turning 18 and wanting actual night life instead of going to one of the many sports bars here in the park, and finally my hiring at two Edmonton pools. I learn, work, and play in the city. So much so that only time I'm ever really at my home is when I'm in need of food and/or sleep.
Despite my increased visitation to the city, my areas of exploration remain fairly limited. I shop and go out to certain pubs on Whyte Ave., go to school by the Garneau district, work down Walterdale Hill at the Kinsmen, occasionally visit certain bars on Jasper, run in the river valley (during the spring and summer of course; Edmonton winters make for a lengthy treadmill season), attend Oilers games at the run down Rexall Place, and work at the YMCA in Castle Downs. The places listed above are my most visited locations, other places I may venture include WEM and South Edmonton Common, but only when I'm really in the mood to shop.
As a child of the suburbs I am very aware of city limits. There is a subtle change of scenery when I leave Sherwood Park and enter Edmonton. I'm not sure if I can even explain it but there's some sort of shift. Once in Edmonton you see more diversity, people, buildings, etc. There just appears to be more going on than in the quiet burbs. I notice this same shift when I leave St Albert from visiting my boyfriend.
When I'm downtown I can't help but see untapped potential. There are certain areas that are fun, and beautiful, and actually resemble something you'd expect to see from a capital city, while others are in dire need of change. Unfortunately, I don't think such changes will happen when I'm still around this city to enjoy them. For as much as I love the Park and Edmonton, I know I won't stay here. It will always provide that sense of home for me, but I know that the rest of my life involves bigger places than this.
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