Passwords (band)
Encyclopedia
Passwords are an indie rock
band currently based in Montreal
, Canada
, fronted by Thomas L'Allier and Emmanuel Ethier.
They later recruited Carmel Scurti-Belley and Maxime Castellon, becoming an official band and starting work on their first full-length album.
"I guess the way the album came along is pretty unique. Emmanuel came up with all the drum parts, which is odd considering he's not a drummer. It gave the whole thing a very "guitary" approach. We then recorded with a 'real' drummer to make everything work. Also, we tend to go all-out with arrangements, no-holds-barred. Finally, I'd say the fact that we fully commit to our folk/rock influences, but without sticking to the standard forms and structures of those genres, makes everything stand out" says L'Allier.
Recognized for their pastoral pop sound, dwelling between psychedelic rock and lovelorn folk, the band began gathering a lot of interest in their local independent music scene. Noticed during a breakthrough performance at the Pop Music Festival in Montreal, the band was signed to a record deal.
After more than two years in the making, their self-titled debut album was released April 26, 2011 through Mercy in Canada.
In 2011, the band appeared at the NXNE music festival in Toronto. Additionally, the band played the 2011 Osheaga Festival
in Montreal
, as well as many other local shows throughout Canada.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band currently based in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, fronted by Thomas L'Allier and Emmanuel Ethier.
History
Passwords was created by vocalist and guitarist Thomas L'Allier and long-time musical partner Emmanuel Ethier. They both started working on songs together back in their teenage years. "We all met in high school, back when I was part of a blues rock band. I eventually got bored of 3 chord riffs, and started to write songs with Emmanuel, who was studying classical violin at the time," says L'Allier. "We sort of combined sounds and influences, to create something more challenging and substantial."They later recruited Carmel Scurti-Belley and Maxime Castellon, becoming an official band and starting work on their first full-length album.
"I guess the way the album came along is pretty unique. Emmanuel came up with all the drum parts, which is odd considering he's not a drummer. It gave the whole thing a very "guitary" approach. We then recorded with a 'real' drummer to make everything work. Also, we tend to go all-out with arrangements, no-holds-barred. Finally, I'd say the fact that we fully commit to our folk/rock influences, but without sticking to the standard forms and structures of those genres, makes everything stand out" says L'Allier.
Recognized for their pastoral pop sound, dwelling between psychedelic rock and lovelorn folk, the band began gathering a lot of interest in their local independent music scene. Noticed during a breakthrough performance at the Pop Music Festival in Montreal, the band was signed to a record deal.
After more than two years in the making, their self-titled debut album was released April 26, 2011 through Mercy in Canada.
In 2011, the band appeared at the NXNE music festival in Toronto. Additionally, the band played the 2011 Osheaga Festival
Osheaga Festival
The Osheaga Music and Arts Festival is a multi-day rock festival in Montreal, Quebec, that is held annually at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène every summer. The 2006 festival attracted a crowd of around 25,000 people. The second edition was held on September 8 and 9, 2007...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, as well as many other local shows throughout Canada.
Members
- Thomas L'Allier – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Emmanuel Ethier – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Carmel Scurti-Belley – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Maxime Castellon – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Additional members
- Phil Melancon – drums, percussion
- Jose Major - drums, percussion