The Artist Life
Encyclopedia
The Artist Life is a pop punk
band from Toronto, Ontario
signed to Underground Operations
as of September 2008.
(formerly of Jersey
, The Fullblast and Always Outnumbered) on vocals and guitar, and Dean Richards (formerly of Fallen Year and Dreams Among Stars) on guitar and vocals in January 2006. This came as the result of the two discussing the possibility of starting the band and writing some music together in late 2005. They would soon add Andy Crawford (formerly of Beaumont) on bass and Chris Danner (formerly of Grade
and To The Lions) on drums. Within a year, the band had recorded a 5 song demo of which they gave away over 1000 copies in Southern Ontario. They also played several one-off concerts with the original line-up, though they never played outside of Ontario. The Artist Life played their first show April 17, 2006 at the Bovine Sex Club
in Toronto with The Video Dead.
By fall 2006, the band parted ways with drummer Chris Danner for undisclosed reasons and temporarily had friends fill in until a permanent replacement could be found. Later that fall, Andy Crawford would leave the band following the birth of his first child. This left just Ian and Dean, who decided to enter the studio and record an EP with their friend David Palmer (formerly of The Stickup). They released the Living EP in early 2007 as a free download on the band's website.
Following the release of the Living EP, Jake Parsonson (formerly of Madrid is Burning) joined as the full-time drummer and Chuck Leach (formerly of Jude the Obscure and At the Mercy of Inspiration
) joined as the permanent bassist. This line-up would immediately begin touring around the country and venturing into the United States in support of the Living EP. The band also began to receive some radio play and video play of “Waiting Room” on MuchMusic. The bands song “Piss test” was used in a West49 television commercial. The success of Living led the radio station Punk-o-Rama Edge 102 to name The Artist Life the “Up and coming band of 2008” in January 2008.
After the success of the Living EP, the band hit the studio again to record 2 demo songs to pitch to labels. Following an article in AP Magazine
, the band was approached by Canadian Record Label Underground Operations
, who showed great interest in the band. Soon afterwards, the band was signed to Underground Operations in September 2008. The band promptly finished recording their second EP Let's Start A Riot, which was released October 28, 2008 on Underground Operations, marking the bands first official label release. Their second video for "Sleep So Sound" gained the band even more street credit. And their third music video for their title track "Let's Start A Riot" will be directed by actor Jason Mewes (Clerks) on September 1, 2009. Since its release, 102.1 The Edge offered them their second FU Award nomination, this time for Song of the Year, Japan's Boundee Records signed on for a Japanese release, MTV Live witnessed a raucous studio performance and Chartattack.com raved after their sold-out CMW appearance.
This summer The Artist Life is in Ontario for Cutting Edge Music Festival and in Eastern Canada for a stretch of dates with The Snips and Brights to coincide with the digital release of “Let’s Start A Campfire” the acoustic counterpart to LSAR.
In between tours the band has been writing and demoing what will be the full-length follow-up to LSAR whose release date is not yet scheduled.
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band from Toronto, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
signed to Underground Operations
Underground Operations
Underground Operations is an independent punk rock record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1995, the label was originally based in Ajax, Ontario....
as of September 2008.
History
The Artist Life was started by Ian BlackwoodIan Blackwood
Ian Blackwood is a Canadian musician and actor, best known for his front man duties in Toronto based Rock Band The Artist Life and for playing Kyle Bateman on the CTV teen hit Instant Star....
(formerly of Jersey
Jersey (band)
Jersey was a Burlington, Ontario ska punk band from 1996 to 2005. In 1997, the band released a demo tape which they sold at local concerts. The band had immediate hype partially due to frontman Taylor's previous band, Grade....
, The Fullblast and Always Outnumbered) on vocals and guitar, and Dean Richards (formerly of Fallen Year and Dreams Among Stars) on guitar and vocals in January 2006. This came as the result of the two discussing the possibility of starting the band and writing some music together in late 2005. They would soon add Andy Crawford (formerly of Beaumont) on bass and Chris Danner (formerly of Grade
Grade (band)
Grade was a Canadian hardcore/emo group. Grade's first release was the Grade/Believe split which was released in 1994 on a small Canadian label - Workshop Records. And Such Is Progress followed in 1997 and Separate the Magnets was released in 1998, earning them critical praise and high profile...
and To The Lions) on drums. Within a year, the band had recorded a 5 song demo of which they gave away over 1000 copies in Southern Ontario. They also played several one-off concerts with the original line-up, though they never played outside of Ontario. The Artist Life played their first show April 17, 2006 at the Bovine Sex Club
Bovine Sex Club
The Bovine Sex Club is a bar on Toronto's Queen Street West strip. In operation since January 1991, the Bovine Sex Club has at various times found itself at the forefront of Toronto's rock, punk, alternative, and rockabilly music scenes.A haven for independent musicians and artists since day...
in Toronto with The Video Dead.
By fall 2006, the band parted ways with drummer Chris Danner for undisclosed reasons and temporarily had friends fill in until a permanent replacement could be found. Later that fall, Andy Crawford would leave the band following the birth of his first child. This left just Ian and Dean, who decided to enter the studio and record an EP with their friend David Palmer (formerly of The Stickup). They released the Living EP in early 2007 as a free download on the band's website.
Following the release of the Living EP, Jake Parsonson (formerly of Madrid is Burning) joined as the full-time drummer and Chuck Leach (formerly of Jude the Obscure and At the Mercy of Inspiration
At the Mercy of Inspiration
At the Mercy of Inspiration was a technical metal band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The band formed in 2000 and went on indefinite hiatus in 2005.They toured with Alexisonfire and The End....
) joined as the permanent bassist. This line-up would immediately begin touring around the country and venturing into the United States in support of the Living EP. The band also began to receive some radio play and video play of “Waiting Room” on MuchMusic. The bands song “Piss test” was used in a West49 television commercial. The success of Living led the radio station Punk-o-Rama Edge 102 to name The Artist Life the “Up and coming band of 2008” in January 2008.
After the success of the Living EP, the band hit the studio again to record 2 demo songs to pitch to labels. Following an article in AP Magazine
Alternative Press (music magazine)
Alternative Press is an American music magazine based in Cleveland, Ohio. It generally provides readers with band interviews, photos, information on upcoming releases, and music charts. It was founded in 1985 by Mike Shea, who is the current president....
, the band was approached by Canadian Record Label Underground Operations
Underground Operations
Underground Operations is an independent punk rock record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1995, the label was originally based in Ajax, Ontario....
, who showed great interest in the band. Soon afterwards, the band was signed to Underground Operations in September 2008. The band promptly finished recording their second EP Let's Start A Riot, which was released October 28, 2008 on Underground Operations, marking the bands first official label release. Their second video for "Sleep So Sound" gained the band even more street credit. And their third music video for their title track "Let's Start A Riot" will be directed by actor Jason Mewes (Clerks) on September 1, 2009. Since its release, 102.1 The Edge offered them their second FU Award nomination, this time for Song of the Year, Japan's Boundee Records signed on for a Japanese release, MTV Live witnessed a raucous studio performance and Chartattack.com raved after their sold-out CMW appearance.
This summer The Artist Life is in Ontario for Cutting Edge Music Festival and in Eastern Canada for a stretch of dates with The Snips and Brights to coincide with the digital release of “Let’s Start A Campfire” the acoustic counterpart to LSAR.
In between tours the band has been writing and demoing what will be the full-length follow-up to LSAR whose release date is not yet scheduled.
Current members
- Ian BlackwoodIan BlackwoodIan Blackwood is a Canadian musician and actor, best known for his front man duties in Toronto based Rock Band The Artist Life and for playing Kyle Bateman on the CTV teen hit Instant Star....
- 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...
and 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... - Dean Richards - Guitar and Vocals
- Jake Parsonson - Drums
- Justin Zoltek - Bass
Former members
- Chuck Leach - Bass (2006 to 2009)
- Chris Danner - Drums (2005 to 2006)
- Andy Crawford - Bass (2005 to 2006)
Discography
| Year | Title | Type | Record Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Living | EP | Self-Released |
| 2008 | Let's Start a Riot | EP | Underground Operations Underground Operations Underground Operations is an independent punk rock record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1995, the label was originally based in Ajax, Ontario.... |
| 2009 | Let's Start a Campfire | EP | Underground Operations Underground Operations Underground Operations is an independent punk rock record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1995, the label was originally based in Ajax, Ontario.... |
| 2011 | Impossible | LP | Underground Operations Underground Operations Underground Operations is an independent punk rock record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1995, the label was originally based in Ajax, Ontario.... |
Interviews
- Recipe of the week: The Artist Life - Interview from TorontoMusicScene.ca
- SceneFest Interview : Fazer Magazine Interview with Ian Blackwood