Robert Shortill (bass, vocals) Chelen Hilmi (drums, vocals) Rajiv Thavanathan (bass, keyboards) Jordan Price (bass) Peyton Leung (violin) Marcius Extavour (trumpet) David Kates (trombone) Reg McLean (cello) Andrew Scott (trumpet)
Influences
Bright Eyes, Hayden, Pedro The Lion, The Beatles, Elliott Smith, Cursive, Neil Young, The Smiths, John Lennon, Mogwai, Howie Beck, Leonard Cohen, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Morrissey, Sonic Youth, The Shins, The Microphones, Pavement, Sloan, The Vulcan Dub Squad, Depeche Mode, The Junction, Wilco, Quasi, Tom Waits, Spitfires & Mayflowers, Broken Social Scene, The Strokes, Bob Dylan, Modest Mouse, The Weakerthans, The Meligrove Band, Paul McCartney, The Most Serene Republic, Sufjan Stevens, hHead, Belle & Sebastian, Royal City, The Hives, Jeff Buckley, M. Ward, The Housemartins, Iron & Wine, Jim Guthrie, Nick Drake, The Vermicious Knid, Ben Kweller, Metric, Feist, Dinosaur Jr, Death Cab For Cutie, Arcade Fire, Ben Harper, George Harrison, Rufus Wainwright & more
Sounds Like
The Weakerthans, Bright Eyes, Hayden, Pedro The Lion, The Beatles, Elliott Smith, Cursive, Neil Young ... our record collections are large.
In becoming acquainted with Toronto, Ontario’s Five Blank Pages, one cannot help but think of the proverbial weekend cottage, indulging in long strolls by a lapping shore or drawing closer to loved ones by camp fire on cool Canadian nights.
The honesty and innocence of Five Blank Pages is conveyed through pop strains of delicate harmonies, bursts of crackling distortion and irresistible melodic hooks – yet it isn’t this that melts your heart as much as the bond this real-life family cultivates on stage. Formed in 2003 in Brampton, Ontario, Five Blank Pages consists of singer/songwriter Noyan Hilmi (vocals, guitars), then girlfriend (now wife), Pinar Ozyetis (vocals, keys), Noyan’s sister Chelen Hilmi, (drums, vocals) and friend of longstanding, Rajiv Thavanathan. Combining expressive melancholic chord structures with often buoyant and uplifting rhythms, Five Blank Pages conjure sketches of artists such as The Weakerthans, Pedro The Lion, Hayden, Death Cab For Cutie, and many East-Coast indie groups of the early 90’s, while recontextualizing this canon with their own originality and mark.
Their debut 6-song EP “Spaces to Occupy and Abandon” (distributed by Universal Music) has allowed the quartet to garner a sizeable following, playing showcases such as the Halifax Pop Explosion, CMW, NXNE, S.C.E.N.E. Fest, Brampton Indie Arts Fest and Over the Top Fest. The long-awaited full-length follow-up, “Last Blush”, is the sonic equivalent of an explosion of indie-pop styling and colour. This said, please don’t misconstrue this band as some calculating denizen of the commercial world of some latter day Partridge Family. This is a group in their earnest creating solemn heartfelt songs that capture the poignancy of Canadian independent lo-fi/hi-fi rock. Understood? Good. Now come warm yourself by the fire.
Also available on iTunes, Puretracks, Rhapsody, E-Music, Napster, Last.FM, Limewire, Lala.com, and many other digital retailers, as well as HMV, Chapters/Indigo and Amazon.ca.
Our friends at Juicebox Recordings have helped us out by making our new EP available for free download. The band consists of ex members from the now defunct Cain & Abel and Kilhuminzu.
I personally think you should play Johnny B's since its a nice place that's not run down. I posted a blog up of promoters/venues in Whitby/Oshawa that I will be updating.
I just moved here so I haven't seen you play in Guelph but I have seen you play in Barrie about 3 years ago I guess. Glad to find you here so I can see a show here. sw
That was a great set at Rancho Relaxo. Indie pop never felt so wistful and intoxicating, a crisp poignant sound that sprawls with introspection. Ringing guitars, great harmonies, colourful energy, this is a sound of melody-strewn delights.
Hey! whats up! hope all is well and hope you are having a great february so far! We have a new myspace up! and please vote for us to play this years taste of chaos .. check our blog section for more info! thanks so much! talk to you soon Jamie
Now that things hopefully have slowed down a little for you we wanted to reach you again and let you know that we would love to work on a new music video and photo shoot with you in the very near future.
We can honestly work within any budget possible. We have our very affordable basic rates that any band can afford, and then of course the sky is the limit. We even work with VideoFact and other possible grants when available to bolster your production budget!
We are dropping you a quick line today to let you know that we are booking up fast for ’09. February is already completely booked. Please contact us or have your management contact us ASAP if you are interested in more information and our price list.
Even if you are planning to release a new single sometime this year, get on our list now and let us worry about everything and make sure proper pre-production planning is done on your project.
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