Sylvie
Encyclopedia
Sylvie is a Canadian musical group from Regina, Saskatchewan
. It features singer/guitarist Joel Passmore, formerly of the now-disbanded Despistado
, alongside bass player Riva Farrell Racette, guitarist Chris Notenboom, keyboardist Erin Passmore and drummer Jeff Romanyk. All band members also provide backing vocals.
at Studio 11 in Winnipeg. Sylvie has played with such notables as Wintersleep
, Minus the Bear
, Death From Above 1979
, The Smugglers
, Hot Hot Heat
, and The Constantines
.
In 2003 Sylvie was nominated at the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA). Their album I Wish I Was Driving (produced by David j Taylor), released through Does Everyone Stare Records, was nominated for Outstanding Independent album of the year. This category included other artists such as Corb Lund, The Be Good Tanyas
, and Swollen Members
. Sylvie also played at the MuchMusic
/Exclaim!
showcase, as well as the industry awards show.
Their second full-length album An Electric Trace was released October 25, 2005 through Smallman Records
. That year they showcased at NXNE and toured across Canada with Wintersleep and Uncut.
In 2006, they toured with controller.controller
, and again with Wintersleep
and The Ladies and Gentlemen (Small Sins). In February Sylvie headlined with support from Ghosts of Modern Man
and From Fiction for six weeks on their way to Canadian Music Week where they showcased at The Horseshoe for the Chart Magazine Night.
In June 2006 Sylvie was honoured on stage with the CBC
Galaxie Award at their NXNE showcase. The Galaxie Rising Stars Program of the CBC is an original program designed to champion up-and-coming Canadian artists. Launched in 1998, this program sets out to discover, encourage and promote new artists. Past recipients include Arcade Fire, The Ladies and Gentlemen (Small Sins), and Great Lake Swimmers
.
Their highly anticipated third album Trees And Shade Are Our Only Fences, produced by J. Robbins of Jawbox fame, was released on October 21, 2008 on Smallman Records
. In the fall of 2008, Sylvie toured for six weeks, which included several US shows supporting Minus the Bear
.
Former members
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
. It features singer/guitarist Joel Passmore, formerly of the now-disbanded Despistado
Despistado
-History:Despistado was active from 2001 to 2004. The band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Dagan Harding, guitarist Leif Thorseth, bassist Joel Passmore and drummer Brenan Schwartz....
, alongside bass player Riva Farrell Racette, guitarist Chris Notenboom, keyboardist Erin Passmore and drummer Jeff Romanyk. All band members also provide backing vocals.
History
Together since 1999, Sylvie developed alongside the members’ other bands, emerging finally as their main focus with the release of 2005's An Electric Trace. This full-length album was recorded with Juno award winning producer Brandon FriesenBrandon Friesen
Brandon Friesen is a Grammy nominated and multi-Juno Award winning music producer, audio engineer, mixer, and television producer. His current companies include 441 Studios, Raceday Promotions, C4 and C12 Records, Arbor Records, and Arbor Television Inc...
at Studio 11 in Winnipeg. Sylvie has played with such notables as Wintersleep
Wintersleep
Wintersleep is a Canadian indie rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia.-Background:Wintersleep formed in 2001 and released two albums with Dependent Music, a music label and artists' collective that began in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994....
, Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2001, the group features current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving...
, Death From Above 1979
Death from Above 1979
Death from Above 1979 are a Toronto-based Canadian dance-punk/noise rock duo. Their album, You're a Woman, I'm a Machine, was released in late 2004. The band broke up in 2006, but announced a reunion in 2011.-History:...
, The Smugglers
The Smugglers (band)
The Smugglers are a Canadian indie rock band. The band consists of vocalist Grant Lawrence, guitarists Nick Thomas and David Carswell, bassist Beez and drummers Graham Watson and Bryce Dunn.-Discography:* 1990: Up and Down...
, Hot Hot Heat
Hot Hot Heat
Hot Hot Heat is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.-Career:Dustin Hawthorne and Steve Bays had been in many different bands together since 1995 and met Hawley in 1998. In 1999, Hawley bought a Juno 6 keyboard and asked Bays to try playing it, as no one...
, and The Constantines
The Constantines
-History:The band was formed by Steve Lambke, Bryan Webb, Doug MacGregor, and Dallas Wehrle in 1999, following the break-up of Webb and MacGregor's emotional hardcore band Shoulder...
.
In 2003 Sylvie was nominated at the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA). Their album I Wish I Was Driving (produced by David j Taylor), released through Does Everyone Stare Records, was nominated for Outstanding Independent album of the year. This category included other artists such as Corb Lund, The Be Good Tanyas
The Be Good Tanyas
The Be Good Tanyas are a Canadian traditional music group, whose influences included folk, country, and bluegrass. The style of music they performed can be referred to as alt-country or Americana.-Career:...
, and Swollen Members
Swollen Members
Swollen Members is a Canadian hip hop group from Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada consisting mainly of the duo Mad Child, and Prevail. Frequent collaborators include vocalist Moka Only and producer Rob the Viking, an official group member since 2002...
. Sylvie also played at the MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
/Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Exclaim! is a monthly Canadian music magazine that features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists...
showcase, as well as the industry awards show.
Their second full-length album An Electric Trace was released October 25, 2005 through Smallman Records
Smallman Records
Smallman Records is a Winnipeg based record label created in 1997 by Rob Krause and Jason Smith as an avenue for releasing albums from their own bands. Smallman started out as a side venture but soon became a full time pursuit. Smallman has signed many bands that have become staples of the...
. That year they showcased at NXNE and toured across Canada with Wintersleep and Uncut.
In 2006, they toured with controller.controller
Controller.controller
controller.controller was a Canadian indie rock band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consisted of vocalist Nirmala Basnayake, guitarists Colwyn Llewellyn-Thomas and Scott Kaija, bassist Ronnie Morris and drummer Jeff Scheven. The band took its name from a song by Shotmaker. The band formed in 2002...
, and again with Wintersleep
Wintersleep
Wintersleep is a Canadian indie rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia.-Background:Wintersleep formed in 2001 and released two albums with Dependent Music, a music label and artists' collective that began in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994....
and The Ladies and Gentlemen (Small Sins). In February Sylvie headlined with support from Ghosts of Modern Man
Ghosts of Modern Man
Ghosts of Modern Man are an alternative rock band that was formed in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1994.- Early days :In 1994, Jonah Krieser and Jamie Deal, along with drummer Chris McBennet , began playing together as Pillar...
and From Fiction for six weeks on their way to Canadian Music Week where they showcased at The Horseshoe for the Chart Magazine Night.
In June 2006 Sylvie was honoured on stage with the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
Galaxie Award at their NXNE showcase. The Galaxie Rising Stars Program of the CBC is an original program designed to champion up-and-coming Canadian artists. Launched in 1998, this program sets out to discover, encourage and promote new artists. Past recipients include Arcade Fire, The Ladies and Gentlemen (Small Sins), and Great Lake Swimmers
Great Lake Swimmers
Great Lake Swimmers is a Canadian band built around the melodic folk rock songs of singer-songwriter Tony Dekker. Originally from Wainfleet, Ontario, the band is currently based in Toronto....
.
Their highly anticipated third album Trees And Shade Are Our Only Fences, produced by J. Robbins of Jawbox fame, was released on October 21, 2008 on Smallman Records
Smallman Records
Smallman Records is a Winnipeg based record label created in 1997 by Rob Krause and Jason Smith as an avenue for releasing albums from their own bands. Smallman started out as a side venture but soon became a full time pursuit. Smallman has signed many bands that have become staples of the...
. In the fall of 2008, Sylvie toured for six weeks, which included several US shows supporting Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2001, the group features current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving...
.
Band members
Current members- Joel Passmore - 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... - Riva Farrell Racette - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Chris Notenboom - 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...
, Backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Erin Passmore - KeyboardKeyboard 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...
, Backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Jeff Romanyk - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, Backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
Former members
- Les Schaeffer - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1999–2004)
Discography
- I Wish I Was Driving (2003)
- An Electric Trace (2005)
- Trees And Shade Are Our Only Fences (2008)