Every year, some of the brightest musicians flock to Toronto for NXNE. While the week-long festival showcases some of the most exciting international artists around, it’s hard not to get extra excited by the local talent. Not sure who to check out first? Here are 10 acts you need to see if you’re in the city from June 17th-21st.
Bad Channels
Twitter: @badchannelsto
Horseshoe Tavern: Thu, June 18, 9:00 PM
Airy, dark, and melodic, Bad Channels throws dreamscape vocals into a weird, glitchy cavern. We’re pretty cool with staying in there for a little longer.
Jazz Cartier
Twitter: @JazzCartier
Danforth Music Hall: Sat, June 20, 9:00 PM
Jazz Cartier is Toronto’s hottest rapper. His Marauding In Paradise mixtape brought rave reviews, and the emcee looks poised for bigger things very soon. His catalog varies, from incredible street bangers to conscious raps. Catch him opening for Rae Sremmurd at the Danforth Music Hall on Saturday.
Sean Leon
Twitter: @SEANixxi
NXNE Hub ( 170 Spadina Avenue ): Thu, June 18, 2015 10:00 PM
Sean Leon is ambient as hell—it’s an individual aesthetic that sticks out like a sore thumb in a genre cluttered with melodic bars and flashy beats. When he drops a new full-length project, he’ll be contributing to a burgeoning scene that Toronto should be proud of. Full disclosure: Complex Canada has teamed up with BEVSTMODE and NXNE to make sure his performance is something special. Check him out on Thursday at the NXNE Hub performing tracks from his hotly anticipated new mixtape Black Sheep Nirvana.
Vogue Dots
Twitter: @voguedots
Handlebar: Thu, June 18, 11:00 PM
Eerie are the elements that make up Halifax’s Vogue Dots. Bellowing drums are accompanied by wispy, yet commanding vocals. The contrast is strange enough, but the duo pull it off nicely.
Bizzarh
Twitter: @BIZZARH
Danforth Music Hall: Thu, June 18, 8:00 PM
Toronto outfit Bizzarh, blends Hi-NRG, 90s R&B, and hip-hop to form a truly unique sound. Check them out when they open for similarly wavy artist, Willow Smith.
Mexican Slang
Twitter: @mexican_slang
Silver Dollar Room: Sat, June 20, 11:00 PM
If Angel Olsen fronted Savages, it would be Mexican Slang. The gritty band is full of angst and the delivery reeks of a cool indifference. That’s a good thing, by the way.
Raz Fresco
Twitter: @RazFresco
Drake Hotel Underground: Thu, June 18, 10:00 PM
Raz Fresco is definitely on the way up. The Toronto rapper is young, boisterous, and charismatic. Make sure you check out the great 6ix-centric visuals for Screwface City, too.
No Joy
Twitter: @nojoy
Silver Dollar Room: June 18-20 12:00 AM
Their 2013 album Wait To Pleasure was well received by critics and loved by fans and artists alike. No Joy recently released More Faithful on June 9th, so now you can sing along when they play Silver Dollar Room.
Pet Sun
Twitter: @PetSunRocknRoll
Silver Dollar Room: June 19, 20 1:00 AM
The bluesy psychedelia of Pet Sun, is a nice break from all of the festival's surplus shoegaze and electronica. “Feel Like I’m Going Away” has us on board, with some well-utilized punk influences from acts like The Stooges.
ROLEMODEL
Twitter: @rolemodelband
Lee's Palace: Wed, June 17, 1:00 AM
ROLEMODEL takes 80s new wave and blasts it right into space. It's like Tears For Fears, but if they replaced Sandra Bullock in Gravity. Pretty much every track off of their recent EP is just as haunting as the next. You really have to listen to ROLEMODEL to understand what they offer.