Lioness (band)
Encyclopedia
Lioness is a Canadian indie rock
dance
band formed in January 2007 in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
.
(Paper Bag Records
) and No Dynamics' vocalist Vanessa Fischer. Lioness released their debut self-titled EP, Lioness on October 21, 2008 on New Romantic.
Playing in low-key after-hours sets in off-the-radar locales in Toronto has led to supporting appearances with Hercules and Love Affair
, !!!
, You Say Party! We Say Die!
and k-os
.
Their sound combines dark disco
grooves of Scheven's heavy drumming with Morris' unique bass sound and is conspicuous for its lack of guitars. Fischer draws upon jazz
, old soul
and blues
, roaring over layers of electronic
squall. On stage, they are a synthesis of electronic rock band and performance art project, a drum and bass wall of sound bathed in red light.
In 2009 Lioness took part in an interactive documentary series called City Sonic
. The series, which featured 20 Toronto artists, had them talk about Toronto’s Masonic Temple
and the band's attraction to the mystery of the Freemasons.
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...
dance
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
band formed in January 2007 in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, 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....
, 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...
.
History
The band was formed by Ronnie Morris and Jeff Scheven, former rhythm section of controller.controllerController.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...
(Paper Bag Records
Paper Bag Records
Paper Bag Records is a Canadian independent record label and artist-management company, founded in 2002 and based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:...
) and No Dynamics' vocalist Vanessa Fischer. Lioness released their debut self-titled EP, Lioness on October 21, 2008 on New Romantic.
Playing in low-key after-hours sets in off-the-radar locales in Toronto has led to supporting appearances with Hercules and Love Affair
Hercules and Love Affair
Hercules and Love Affair is a musical project from New York based DJ Andy Butler. Members include Andrew Butler, Kim Ann Foxman, Mark Pistel,Aerea Negrot, and Shaun Wright...
, !!!
!!!
!!! is a dance-punk band that formed in Sacramento, California, in 1996. Members of !!! came from other local bands such as The Yah Mos, Black Liquorice and Popesmashers...
, You Say Party! We Say Die!
You Say Party! We Say Die!
You Say Party was a Canadian five piece dance-punk band from Abbotsford, British Columbia. Their album Hit the Floor! was released in September 2005, and the band recently completed their second Canadian tour, an appearance at South by Southwest and a tour of the United States, before touring the...
and k-os
K-os
Kevin Brereton , better known by his stage name k-os , is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer...
.
Their sound combines dark disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
grooves of Scheven's heavy drumming with Morris' unique bass sound and is conspicuous for its lack of guitars. Fischer draws upon jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, old soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, roaring over layers of electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
squall. On stage, they are a synthesis of electronic rock band and performance art project, a drum and bass wall of sound bathed in red light.
In 2009 Lioness took part in an interactive documentary series called City Sonic
City Sonic
City Sonic is a documentary series about Toronto-based musicians and the places that influenced their music. The first five City Sonic films were previewed at Toronto's 2009 North by North East Music and Film Festival.-Films:...
. The series, which featured 20 Toronto artists, had them talk about Toronto’s Masonic Temple
Masonic Temple
Masonic Temple is a term commonly used in Freemasonry with multiple but related meanings. It is used to describe an abstract spiritual goal, the conceptual ritualistic space formed when a Masonic Lodge meets, and the physical rooms and structures in which a Lodge meets...
and the band's attraction to the mystery of the Freemasons.
Current
- Vanessa Fischer (2007–present)
- Ronnie Morris (2007–present)
- Jeff Scheven (2007–present)
Discography
- Lioness EPLioness EP(Lioness album)This self-titled EP is the first release from Canadian indie rock band Lioness . It was released on October 21, 2008 in Canada by New Romantic Music.-Track listing:All songs by Lioness .#"You're My Heart" – 4:30...
, 2008 - Omens, Oracles & Signs - Vol. 1, 2009
- Omens, Oracles & Signs - Vol. 2, 2010
See also
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
- Canadian rockCanadian rockCanadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
- List of Canadian musicians
- List of bands from Canada
- :Category:Canadian musical groups