Live Music Roundup: SUGARFUNGUS, Rosemary Ginger, Nonarchy at 648 Kingswa
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Poster by anna houghton
On April 13th, three bands took 648 Kingsway on a slow journey into space, surrounded by synths and smooth vocals.
Nonarchy opened the night in a sweet saccharine of melodies and slow build ups. Heads nodded in and out of unison as the sounds of shakers and a soft trumpet welcomed listeners into the small space. “We are connected to each other” was a line sung that lingered in the room, way beyond Nonarchy’s performance; it was a reminder of how we all come together and bask in the collective effervescence of being around strangers, loved ones, or new friends to experience the same thing - good music.
Rosemary Ginger followed up with rolling synths and harmonized vocals that could have lasted an eternity. There was a slow realization that keys were at the forefront of their performance - and for good reason: the audience was transported into another decade, another galaxy, through the sounds of synth. “You can build your house around me,” sang lead singer Adam Doucette, a heartfelt invitation that held meaning for many.
Finally, SUGARFUNGUS closed the night with a collection of new and familiar songs, both accompanied by their ever identifiable atmospheric synths and sugary vocals. It was the type of music that makes you want to stick your head out of a car window and lyrics that make you wanna cry happy tears on the beach. The performance contained a certain mastery combining various elements that you don’t often hear. And to top it all off, the audience was asked to make their best bird calls to go along with their final song.
In an interview with all three bands, SAD Magazine was able to delve into each bands’ musical journeys, experiences in the Vancouver music scene, and much more.
Nonarchy
Can you tell us a bit about your band and your musical journey?
Each of us have been playing music since we were kids, but our musical journey together started when Liam (drums) and Kate (vocals, guitar) met in 2018. For months, we would experiment and jam into the wee hours of the night in one of the music rooms in the basement of the Vanier dorms at UBC. Enter Covid-19, we switched gears to writing music straight into Ableton (a digital audio workstation). These recorded pieces make up our first EP, Cheap Tuesdays. We were also in a socially-distanced songwriting group at the time with the challenge to write and record a song every week for nine weeks. Enter Thomas McLeod (keys, trombone). We played our first two gigs as a three-piece before Thomas Ellison (bass) joined in the fun.
What has your experience been like in the Vancouver music scene?
The Vancouver music scene is pretty much the only one any of us know intimately, since we're still young'uns, so we don't have much to compare it to. We think it has issues that any scene might have: cliquiness, insecurity, hierarchy (masculinity...). But we've also met an extensive and growing list of brilliant, passionate artists and organizers who put their love of music above all else; creators who want to connect with people through expression. So overall, we're super grateful for the Vancouver music scene simply because it's the one that we get to be a part of!
What is the biggest challenge throughout the journey of creating and performing music?
With anything collaborative, the greatest challenge is really just getting everyone in the same room at the same time to do the damn thing! We try our best to prioritize band stuff, but the fact is that we don't earn a livable wage as musicians yet, so work often has to take precedence. Manager and musician are also two different job titles, but when you play in a band the size of ours, you have to wear both hats, and that can be pretty challenging. Neither Liam nor Kate even had Instagram before we started playing shows as Nonarchy, and now we're on the bandstagram several times throughout the day just responding to messages! It's great to be connecting with people, but it's definitely been a challenging adjustment to make.
What do you want people to know about your band’s values?
Honestly, Nonarchy is all about love. It seems overly simple, corny maybe, but it's true. The main reason Kate writes lyrics is because she wants to better understand someone, something, or someplace, and thinks that putting in that effort is an extraordinary act of love. Beyond the music itself, we want people to realize how much we value the communal nature of the music scene. People want to create with us, collaborate with us, because we're doing something that they love and want to be a meaningful part of. And that's so effing cool and important. Imagine if the whole world functioned like that! Creative relationships and spaces built around reciprocity, mutual aid, and love is what our name itself, Nonarchy, represents to us; it's the rejection of "archy"—all the authorities and hierarchies that prevent us from loving and understanding. That said, we as a band are not focused on this rejection, rather on the kindness and awesomeness that surrounds us.
What is next for you?
We're currently working on recording our first full-length LP, which will hopefully be finished by the end of the summer and released via Kingfisherbluez! We'll be playing more local shows this summer for sure, and releasing singles as they come. We've also been working with some good friends on a couple of music videos for “Small Towns” and “Stubborn,” so watch out for that, too!
Rosemary Ginger with Adam Doucette (songwriter, keys, vocals)
Can you tell us a bit about your band and your musical journey?
I started writing the first Rosemary Ginger songs in my first year of university, sneaking into my dorm’s practice rooms late at night to play piano and write music instead of studying. When the pandemic hit, I ordered a cheap microphone and some basic recording equipment to record what are now the first two Rosemary Ginger EPs.
Two years later, my childhood best friend Carter Fortney (guitar) and I were offered a gig at a campus pub. So, we recruited some of our best friends Elias Rieger (drums), Amy Tan (vocals) and Jack Zhao (bass) who we met through a student club at UBC called Blank Vinyl Project. After one jam session, everything clicked, and the current version of the band was born.
What has your experience been like in the Vancouver music scene?
The initial beginnings of Rosemary Ginger in the Vancouver scene were super fun! We’d play campus shows, house parties, and DIY venues with our best friends and people we’d never met before. What I love about the Vancouver scene is that people tend not to take themselves too seriously. I think that willingness to get loose and have fun at shows brings out a DIY attitude and sense of community that’s super unique and special. We may not be playing in too many strangers’ backyards anymore, but that DIY spirit is still in our hearts.
What is the biggest challenge throughout the journey of creating and performing music?
My biggest challenge has been trying to keep up! I recently left the city for four months on exchange, and when I came back it felt completely different. The bands that we’d played those initial shows with seemed to all be on hiatus for one reason or another, and an entirely new crop of bands were coming up in the scene. I initially struggled to fully get back into making and performing music. It’s only recently that I feel like we’re getting our footing again. The difference now is that we’re seeing a mix of both new bands and those that we played our first bills with. It’s great to be a part of a scene that’s constantly shifting, changing and growing.
What do you want people to know about your band’s values?
Our band’s number one value is to have fun. This isn’t to say that we aren’t dedicated to our craft, but my whole idea behind Rosemary Ginger was to just try and create, to learn by doing and to make mistakes, to take risks and to get better at all aspects of music. I don’t know exactly what genre we play, and most people I’ve asked don’t know either. All of us in the band have a lot of different musical influences, so for me, the project is about making the music I’ve always wanted to make. The minute it stops being fun is when we’ve lost sight of why we’re doing what we do - hopefully that never happens though!
What is next for you?
Rosemary Ginger was always a solo project, but now I’m opening up the door to more collaboration. I’m recording some new songs, and I’ve been inviting my bandmates to jump on them. It’s been an incredible process, and I’m always amazed at their ability to elevate my ideas and write parts that I never would have expected.
At the same time, I’m also reworking some of those initial songs I wrote. I’ve come a long way in terms of music production, and I now have more resources as well as my bandmates to work with. Listening back to those early demos, I still like what I was going for, and my current goal is to make those songs sound the way I always wanted them to.
SUGARFUNGUS
Can you tell us a bit about your band and your musical journey?
We’re SUGARFUNGUS, an indie pop band from so-called “Vancouver.” We started our band remotely in 2020, writing and recording our first EP Letting Go, Moving Still before meeting in-person. Our music has been described as “dreampop for the haunted and heartbroken,” but we also take influence from alternative rock, new wave, R&B, jazz and electronica.
What has your experience been like in the Vancouver music scene?
Our experience has been fantastic since we started playing live in 2022. It's a small but vibrant community, and we've had the opportunity to connect with some really amazing musicians, artists, and music enthusiasts who share the same passion for music. One thing that has stood out to us is the lack of ego among the musicians we've encountered, which has created a supportive and collaborative environment.
We've had the chance to perform at various venues in Vancouver, including Koerner’s pub at UBC for Goosehunt 2022, Guilt & Co, The Naam in Kits, and 648 Kingsway. Each venue has its own unique mojo and atmosphere, and we've enjoyed the opportunity to tailor our sets to diverse settings.
What is the biggest challenge throughout the journey of creating and performing music?
One of the biggest hurdles we've faced is the cost of living in Vancouver. As a band, we've had to carefully manage our expenses and budget to cover costs related to rehearsals, recording, and other musical necessities. We do the best we can. We still self produce and record at home, and we’ve made a lot of our own art and video content for promotion, which has been a fun journey as well! We’ve also had a lot of help from friends! Chances are, if you’re friends with someone in a small indie band around here, they might ask for some help from time to time haha.
Another challenge we've encountered is finding suitable places to play, especially as a band starting out. Vancouver has a competitive music scene, and that truly is a testament to the talent in this city, so it can be challenging to secure gigs at established venues, which are often in high demand. However, we've been proactive in seeking smaller venues to gain exposure and build our reputation one step at a time.
What do you want people to know about your band’s values?
First and foremost, art comes first for us. We are passionate about creating music that is authentic, original, and meaningful to us, and we strive to deliver our best artistic expression in every performance and composition.
In addition to our artistic values, respect is also fundamental. We believe in treating others with kindness, empathy, and inclusivity, regardless of their background, beliefs, or identity. We aim to create a safe and inclusive space at our shows and promote mutual respect among our fans, fellow musicians, and the wider community.
Collaboration is another key value for us. We believe in fostering a collaborative environment within our music community by supporting and uplifting other local artists. We actively seek opportunities to collaborate with other artists, and contribute to the growth and vibrancy of our local scene.
What is next for you?
We have exciting plans on the horizon! Our new song titled “Synergy” is set to be released on May 17th, and we can't wait to share it with everyone! We’re also working on a fancy new music video with a director named Kevin Shultz who has experience working on the show The Flash.
We're also in the process of recording our first full length album. While we don't have a confirmed title or release date yet, we're thrilled about the creative direction we're taking and the opportunity to share more of our music. Expect to hear from us regularly though, because we’ll drop songs along the way.
Follow Nonarchy, (@nonarchytheband) Rosemary Ginger (@rosemary__ginger), and SUGARFUNGUS (@sugarfungusband) to stay updated on their art and musical activity!
These interviews have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Tasheal Gill (she/her) is a film production student with a passion for storytelling through various artistic platforms. She is dedicated to uplifting BIPOC voices, and telling stories through a socially conscious lens. Follow her on Instagram (@tashealll).
