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Busty and the Bass
Busty and the Bass in 2023
Background information
OriginMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres
Years active2011 (2011)–present
LabelsArts & Crafts
Members
  • Scott Bevins
  • Alistair Blu
  • Eric Haynes
  • Milo Johnson
  • Louis Stein
  • Julian Trivers
  • Chris Vincent
  • Jordan Brown
Past members
  • Mike McCann
  • Nick Ferraro
Websitebustyandthebass.com

Busty and the Bass is a music collective founded in Montréal, Canada. The JUNO-nominated group is known for its unique approach to a diverse range of musical genres, including soul, jazz, R&B, folk, funk, hip hop, and dance music, and for its signature incorporation of its horn section.[1]

Having met while attending the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in 2011, Busty and the Bass has commercially released two EPs, GLAM (2015) and LIFT (2016), and three full-length albums, Uncommon Good (2017), Eddie (2020), and Forever Never Cares (2023).[2][3][4][5] The band was previously signed to Montreal's Indica Records, and signed in 2020 to Toronto-based Arts and Crafts Productions.[6][7]

The band has toured extensively across Canada, the United States, and Europe, and performed at festivals including Osheaga, Pinkpop, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and Made in America.[8][9][10][11]

History

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2011–2014: Formation and early years

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All original members of the band were students at McGill University's Schulich School of Music. The earliest iteration of the band formed for an informal jam session at a house party hosted on the shared patio of guitarist Stein's apartment a block away from the Mont-Royal Metro station.[12][13] Originally, Busty and the Bass performed exclusively instrumental compositions and covers of popular songs, embracing horn melodies in the absence of a lead vocalist.[13]

According to former vocalist Nick Ferraro, the band's name stuck after it came up during their first week of playing together.[14] While the band once considered finding a more serious name, Ferraro says they enjoy the irony of a collective having a mystery front person, and the opportunity for all members of the band to be "Busty" at some point.[14]

In the fall of 2014, Busty and the Bass launched a bid to compete for the title of Canada's Top University Band. The band's first-ever song with vocals, "Tryna Find Myself," was also their entry to the CBC competition.[13] On 27 October 2014, CBC and TD Bank announced Busty and the Bass as the winners of the nationwide competition.[13] Busty and the Bass was awarded a $10,000 prize and a concert at Montreal's Corona Theatre opening for Arkells.[15]

2015: GLAM EP

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Following the band's success in the CBC competition, Busty and the Bass began work on their self-produced debut EP with Los Angeles-based recording engineer Jesse String.[16] In June 2015, after signing to Montreal's Indica Records, the band released GLAM, an eight-track EP led by single "The Real".[17][18]

2016: LIFT EP

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On 1 July 2016, Busty and the Bass released their second EP, LIFT, following the release of the single "Miss Judge".[19][20] The six-track extended play was intended as a precursor to the band's debut album, and was made over the course of two months in the basement of an apartment on Saint Urbain Street shared by four band members, and at the studios of Indica Records on Saint Laurent Boulevard.[13]

The release included a cover of Macy Gray's "I Try", an audience favourite that the band was known to play live.[21] On 20 April 2016, Busty and the Bass posted a video of their "I Try" cover to YouTube, which was met with immediate acclaim. Music blog The Undiscovered wrote, "Taking on Macy Gray's smash hit, Busty and the Bass transform 'I Try' from a vocal-fueled r&b mega hit into a funky, horn-filled jam that will have you singing along and grooving with the beat".[22] The video was later shared by Macy Gray on Twitter, who endorsed the band's rendition of her seminal hit, saying "beeyooteefoh! WATCH DIS!!".[23]

In 2016, Busty and the Bass were announced in the lineups for the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival and the Quebec City Summer Festival.[8][24] The band's performance supporting Half Moon Run at Paris' Fête de la Musique was also praised by Rolling Stone France, which called Busty and the Bass "one of our favourite discoveries this summer".[25]

2017: Uncommon Good

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Busty and the Bass' debut album Uncommon Good was announced by the band on 30 June 2017, via a Facebook post addressed to their fans.[26][27] The album, which took over a year and a half to make, was executive produced by hip hop producer and audio engineer Neal Pogue.[14][28] Perhaps best known for his work with Atlanta-bred hip hop duo Outkast, for which he won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, Pogue has also worked with other notable acts such as Snoop Dogg, Earth Wind and Fire, M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, Aretha Franklin, and Lil Wayne.[8] Pogue travelled to Montreal on three occasions to work with Busty and the Bass after their manager shared the band's demos with Pogue's manager.[29]

The album's ten tracks were developed through the band's collaborative composition process, through which a combination of 1-3 band members begin composing a song, bringing it to the rest of the group for input and experimentation later on.[14] The majority of the record was recorded at the Indica Records studio, in the Plateau neighbourhood of Montreal.

On 19 January 2017, the band released the album's lead single, "Up Top," which was received favourably by fans and critics, with HuffPost remarking, "Discovering this kind of musical chemistry with such a large group in a short span of time is more than just luck—it's a calling".[30] On 14 September 2017, Busty and the Bass released a dance video for the track, which was directed and choreographed by Kate Ramsden.[31]

Uncommon Good's second single, "Memories and Melodies," was released on 5 April 2017.[32] The album's third single, "Common Ground," was released on 30 June 2017, with a music video filmed during the band's spring European tour and directed by Greg McCahon released on 6 July 2017.[27][33][34] The album's final single, "Closer," was released on 25 August 2017, and was included in Spotify Canada's New Music Friday playlist.[27] The full album was released on 8 September 2017 at a sold-out show at the New York venue Mercury Lounge.[2][3][35]

Busty and the Bass continued touring throughout 2017, including performances at Pinkpop,[9] Made in America,[11] SXSW,[36] The Great Escape,[37] Ottawa Bluesfest,[38] and Rifflandia.[39] On 8 July 2017, Busty and the Bass opened for Anderson .Paak at the Montreal International Jazz Festival for a crowd of over 80,000 people.[10][12]

2019–2020: Eddie

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On 5 November 2019, Busty and the Bass returned with the single, "Clouds", which premiered on BBC Radio 1Xtra.[40] The release also contained "Summer", a B-side track that later received a music video filmed in Montreal's St. James United Church.[41]

In early 2020, Busty and the Bass signed to Arts & Crafts. The news, announced by the Canadian record label in a press release, was accompanied by a new song, "Baggy Eyed Dopeman".[42] Featuring funk pioneer George Clinton of Parliament and Funkadelic, the song premiered on the Billboard magazine website.

On August 14, 2020, Busty and the Bass released their sophomore album, Eddie. The album is intended to explore the question: “What advice would you impart on that younger self? And if you could pass your younger self a mixtape, what would it sound like?” [43]

In March 2022, it was announced through Busty's Instagram page that Nick Ferraro would be leaving the band to pursue personal interests.

2021: ET Suite

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On March 17, 2021, Busty and the Bass released ET Suite via Arts & Crafts, a 15-minute EP that reworks the track "ET" from their album Eddie, transforming it into four new, distinct and sonically diverse iterations.[44] Recorded entirely in isolation during the Covid-19 Pandemic, The EP features Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire as well as afro-soul singer Pierre Kwenders, and a trio of artists from the band’s Montreal community: Terrell Morris, Kallitechnis, and Tika the Creator.[45]

2022: Airplanes & Karneval EP

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On February 1, 2022, Busty and the Bass shared a two-song single package, "Airplanes”, featuring Polaris Music Prize winner Cadence Weapon, and B-Side “Caribou".[46]

On May 13, 2022, the band released the “Karneval” EP, teaming up with Philly-by-way-of-Atlanta rapper STS, and vocalists Jordan Brown and Mel Pacifico.[47] Complex described the EP as “soulful late-night hip-hop centred around the theme of an abandoned fairground, evoking memories of relationships, desire, and nostalgia.”[47]

On November 17, 2022, the band released the single “All The Things I Couldn’t Say To You,” a song about “finding the strength to tell the person you love how you feel”.[48]

2023 - Present

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On February 15, 2023, Busty and the Bass released the single “Far From Here” featuring Montreal’s Magi Merlin.[49] In March, the band completed a 4-night sold-out residency at the Drake Hotel in Toronto which was recorded as part of CBC Music’s “Live” series.[48] On July 26, 2023, Busty and the Bass released “Wandering Lies,” a single that is partly inspired by the spiritual teachings of psychologist Ram Dass.[50]

On October 3, 2023, the collective released “Give Me A Smile” and announced their third LP “Forever Never Cares” due November 17, 2023, via Arts & Crafts. The album is engineered and mixed by founding member Christopher Vincent and includes features by Terrace Martin and Katie Tupper, who appears on the song “Never Get Enough”.[5]

In February 2024, Busty and the Bass was nominated for a JUNO Award, under the category of Breakthrough Group of the Year.[1]

Style

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Busty and the Bass is known for blending musical genres.[51] Their style often incorporates elements of soul and popular music, with harmonic concepts rooted in the jazz tradition. They have collaborated with musical icons such as Parliament-Funkadelic pioneer George Clinton, neo-soul singer Macy Gray, soul/funk band Earth Wind & Fire, members of the hip-hop group Slum Village, jazz saxophonist and producer Terrace Martin, R&B artist Son Little, and Canadian voices like Polaris Music Prize-winners Cadence Weapon and Pierre Kwenders.[51]

After Nick Ferraro left the band during the pandemic, the group’s identity evolved as they began to incorporate new musicians into their live shows and recording processes. In the past, the band’s musical approach catered predominantly to the vocal stylings of Ferraro and Alistair Blu. After Ferraro’s departure, the group’s vocal sound expanded and new vocalists including Melissa Pacifico and Jordan Brown began to appear alongside Alistair Blu and guest features.[52]

The collective’s instrumentation pays homage to the soul and funk groups of the 1960s and 70s, though their particular style covers a broader network of influences, from jazz and dance music to alt-R&B and hip hop. The group also credits singer-songwriters, folk artists, and rock bands such as The Beatles as having an impact on their creative output.[53]

Labels, agencies and management

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  • Managers - Michael Sayegh, Lighter Than Air[54]
  • Labels - Arts & Crafts (Canada)[42]
  • Agents - Preste Spectacles (Quebec), The Feldman Agency (Canada), Paradigm Talent Agency (USA), Coda Agency (Europe)[55][56][57][58]

Band members

[edit]

Current members

  • Scott Bevins – trumpet
  • Alistair Blu – vocals, keyboard, synthesizer
  • Eric Haynes – piano, keyboard
  • Milo Johnson – bass
  • Louis Stein – guitar
  • Julian Trivers – drums
  • Chris Vincent – trombone[59]
  • Jordan Brown - vocals

Past Members

  • Nick Ferraro – vocals, alto saxophone
  • Mike McCann - trumpet

Added contributors and touring musicians

  • Jordan Brown – vocals
  • Melissa Pacifico – vocals
  • Wayne Tennant – vocals
  • Dave Hjin – guitar

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]

Extended plays

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  • GLAM (2015)
  • LIFT (2016)
  • ET Suite (2021)
  • Karneval (2022)

Singles

[edit]
  • "Tryna Find Myself" (2015)
  • "The Real" (2015)
  • "Models" (2015)
  • "Miss Judge" (2016)
  • "Stages (Don't Know Why)" (2016)
  • "Up Top" (2017)
  • "Memories and Melodies" (2017)
  • "Common Ground" (2017)
  • "Closer" (2017)
  • "Jimmy" (featuring Pierre Kwenders) (2018)
  • "Out of Love" (2020)
  • "Summer" (2020)
  • "ET Suite" (2021)
  • "Bad Behavior - Busty and the Bass Remix" (2021)
  • "Airplanes/Caribou" (2022)
  • "Karneval" (2022)
  • "All the Things I Couldn't Say to You" (2022)
  • "Far from Here" (2023)
  • "Wandering Lies" (2023)
  • "Give Me A Smile" (2023)
  • "Never Get Enough" (2023)

References

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  1. ^ a b "2024 BREAKTHROUGH GROUP OF THE YEAR | Busty and the Bass". The JUNO Awards - Canada's Music Awards. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Busty and the Bass Set to Release Debut Full-Length LP "Uncommon Good" September 8, 2017" (PDF) (Press release). Listen Harder. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Busty and the Bass Set to Release Debut Full-Length LP "Uncommon Good" September 8, 2017" (Press release). Orcasound. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Soul's Busty and the Bass Talk to Their Younger Selves on 'Eddie', PopMatters". PopMatters. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b LaPierre, Megan (3 October 2023). "Busty and the Bass Announce New Album 'Forever Never Cares' with Terrace Martin, Magi Merlin". Exclaim. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Busty and the Bass - Indica Records". indica.mu. Indica Records. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Arts & Crafts - Busty and the Bass". Arts & Crafts - Busty and the Bass. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Osheaga 2016: Fans ecstatic about lineup that includes Radiohead, Lana Del Rey". CBC. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Programme - Pinkpop 2017". pinkpop.nl. Pinkpop. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Festival international de Jazz de Montréal - Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals". montrealjazzfest.com. Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  11. ^ a b DeLuca, Dan (28 August 2017). "'Made in America' schedule announced". Philly.com. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  12. ^ a b Trefor, Cai (27 September 2017). "Busty & The Bass on supporting Anderson .Paak, Montreal's nightlife, protest culture and more". Gigwise. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d e Leijon, Erik (26 July 2016). "Osheaga: Busty and the Bass graduate from McGill to Montreal band". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  14. ^ a b c d Damoui, Yasmin (17 October 2017). "How A Nine-Piece Band Came To Defy Genre & Tour The World: A Q&A With Busty & The Bass". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  15. ^ "Hey Canada, Thanks for voting. Meet your top campus band!" (Press release). TD Music. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  16. ^ Bolger, Katrya (23 October 2015). "Busty and the Bass". Laval Families Magazine. Laval, QC: lavalfamilies.ca. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  17. ^ Vain, Madison (19 May 2015). "Busty and the Bass premiere 'The Real', announce new EP". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  18. ^ Begrand, Adrien (18 June 2015). "Busty and the Bass - 'Glam' (album) (premiere)". Pop Matters. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  19. ^ Harris, Gerrod (6 July 2016). "Review – Busty and the Bass". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  20. ^ Zorgel, Aaron (28 April 2016). "Premiere: Listen to Busty & The Bass' "Miss Judge"". Complex. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  21. ^ Schneider, Jason (12 July 2016). "Five Questions With... Eric Haynes of Busty and the Bass". FYI Music News. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Macy Gray – I Try (Busty and the Bass Cover)". The Undiscovered. 25 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  23. ^ Macy Gray [@MacyGraysLife] (20 April 2016). "beeyooteefoh! WATCH DIS!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "Festival d'été de Québec - Previous Line-up". feq.ca. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  25. ^ Bouttier, Louise-Camille (23 June 2016). "Découverte – Busty and the Bass, quand le jazz joue" [Discovery - Busty and the Bass, when jazz plays] (in French). Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  26. ^ "Busty and the Bass Facebook Post". Facebook. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  27. ^ a b c "Busty and the Bass". Facebook. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  28. ^ "Moir Entertainment - Talent - Neal Pogue". moirentertainment.com. Moir Entertainment. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  29. ^ Maxwell, Owen (15 July 2017). "Busty and The Bass Puts the BIG in Big Band". Ottawa Life. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  30. ^ Duwe, Morena (23 February 2017). "Busty And The Bass Release The First Single From Forthcoming Album". Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  31. ^ Murray, Robin (14 September 2017). "Premiere: Busty & The Bass - 'Up Top - Dance!'". Clash Music. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  32. ^ "#DXclusive: Busty & The Bass Get Down On Bubbly New Single "Memories & Melodies"". HipHopDX. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  33. ^ Kevito (6 July 2017). "Busty and the Bass Deliver Soul-Infused Goodness On "Common Ground" [Premiere]". Okayplayer. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  34. ^ Busty and the Bass (6 July 2017). Busty and the Bass - Common Ground (Official Video) (YouTube). Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  35. ^ Blais-Poulin, Charles-Éric (20 September 2017). "Prise de son: Busty and the Bass, Sarah Bourdon et les Hay Babies" [Sound recording: Busty and the Bass, Sarah Bourdon and the Hay Babies] (in French). La Presse. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  36. ^ Slingerland, Calum (22 February 2017). "M for Montreal Brings out Busty and the Bass, Heat, Duchess Says for SXSW Showcase". Exclaim. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  37. ^ Smith, Thomas (27 March 2017). "The Great Escape 2017: the lineup in full and how you can be there". NME. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  38. ^ Murphy, Sarah (13 April 2017). "Ottawa's RBC Bluesfest Expands 2017 Lineup". Exclaim. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  39. ^ "Busty and the Bass at Rifflandia 2017". rifflandia.com. Rifflandia. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  40. ^ "Busty and the Bass Tracks". rifflandia.com. BBC. 5 November 2019. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  41. ^ Matt Micucci (9 December 2019). "New Music Monday: Busty and the Bass, Swatkins & More". jazziz.com. JAZZIZ Magazine. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  42. ^ a b "MONTRÉAL OCTET BUSTY AND THE BASS SHARE NEW SINGLE "BAGGY EYED DOPEMAN" FEATURING FUNK LEGEND GEORGE CLINTION" (Press release). Toronto, Ontario: Killbeat Music. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  43. ^ Horowitz, Steve (25 August 2020). "Soul's Busty and the Bass Talk to Their Younger Selves on 'Eddie'". Website Name. Pop Matters. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  44. ^ "Busty and the Bass – The ET Suite EP ', The Upcoming". TheUpcoming. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  45. ^ Gregory, Allie (10 March 2021). "Busty and the Bass Get Earth, Wind & Fire's Verdine White, Pierre Kwenders for 'ET Suite'". Exclaim. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  46. ^ LaPierre, Megan (1 February 2022). "Busty and the Bass Team Up with Cadence Weapon on "Airplanes"". Exclaim. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  47. ^ a b Brasil, Sydney (13 May 2022). "Montreal's Busty and the Bass Drop 'Karneval' EP With STS". Complex. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  48. ^ a b "BUSTY AND THE BASS SHARES NEW SINGLE, ANNOUNCES RESIDENCIES" (Press release). Toronto, Ontario: Killbeat Music. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  49. ^ LaPierre, Megan (15 February 2023). "Busty and the Bass Join Forces with Magi Merlin for New Single "Far from Here"". Exclaim. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  50. ^ Melanson, Jenna (26 July 2023). "Busty and the Bass share new single, "Wandering Lies"". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  51. ^ a b "BUSTY AND THE BASS ANNOUNCE NEW LP, FOREVER NEVER CARES" (Press release). Toronto, Ontario: Killbeat Music. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  52. ^ "Busty and the Bass". Arts & Crafts Productions. Arts & Crafts Publishing. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  53. ^ Fischer, Tobias. "Fifteen Questions Interview with Busty and the Bass". Fifteen Questions. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  54. ^ "Michael Sayegh - M for Montreal". mformontreal.com. M for Montreal. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  55. ^ "Busty and the Bass - Preste - Spectacles et tournées". preste.ca. Preste Spectacles. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  56. ^ "Busty and the Bass - The Feldman Agency". feldman-agency.com. The Feldman Agency. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  57. ^ "Busty and the Bass : Paradigm Talent Agency". paradigmagency.com. Paradigm Talent Agency. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  58. ^ "Busty And The Bass - CODA Music LTD - Booking Agent". codaagency.com. Coda Music Agency. Retrieved 4 November 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  59. ^ Kevito (19 January 2017). "Busty and the Bass Takes Us To The Dance Floor w/ "Up Top" [Premiere]". Okayplayer. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
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