SilverStream Battle of the Bands Competition

Attention MacEwan Music community!

Are you in a band? Do you wanna have your music recorded? Does Studio A sound better than your parent’s basement for a recording space? Well, we at SilverStream have an opportunity for you!

Introducing the first annual SilverStream Battle of the Bands! We want you to send in your best demos or come audition for us live for the chance to fight it out for the top spot at a live show at On The Rocks on the 1st of May. The winner will be awarded three days in MacEwan’s top-of-the-line studios, professional videography for social media, and digital distribution!

Bands must have demos submitted, or be signed up for live auditions by April 24th. Bands must consist of two or more members and must contain at least ONE CURRENT MACEWAN STUDENT.

Auditions will be held at MacEwan University’s Betty Andrew’s Recital Hall on April 26th from 2 pm onwards.

Digital Audition Requirements: 2x MP3 demos + lead sheets/lyrics OR 2x video demos + lead sheets/lyrics. Please note that demo quality is not an issue. That’s what the studio time is for! A voice memo recording or similar will be sufficient.

Click here to sign up for live auditions!

Cover Art Competition Now Open to All MacEwan Students!

Calling all artists!

In the spirit of MacEwan’s long history of artistic collaborations, Bent River Records (BRR) is offering an opportunity to have your design featured on collaborative original work.

This competition honours the continued support of MacEwan’s Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Dr. Craig Monk. His generous contributions to Bent River Records have made student opportunities like this possible. This contest is open to all currently enrolled (Winter 2022) MacEwan students.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION: Artists will submit original cover artwork for the second volume of the Bent River Special Release series. The two pieces featured on the release are the result of our recent Songwriting and Composition competitions with MacEwan Department of Music students, featuring lyrics by Esther Forseth, and compositions by Aaron Addorisio and Esther Forseth. Please see the full lyrics for “Preacher’s Daughter” below:

Preacher’s Daughter
Written by Esther Forseth

Gentle, rocking motion
Like a baby that you’re holding
Keeping it subtle as you’re towing
Me out farther in the ocean

You’re the creature in the water
I’m the preacher’s youngest daughter
Find me swimming with the fishes
Free from breathing old traditions

Weighted wicker basket,
They see freedom as a casket
We’re meant to be one with the water
seeping, swelling into wonder

Shallow breath, a heavy chest
There’s a world that’s under
Heavy fire of promises and guilt to uncover
Diving deeper I’m a seeker
Searching for other ways to live
That let us into what we discover

You’re the creature in the water
I’m the preacher’s youngest daughter
Find me swimming with the fishes
Free from breathing old traditions

Shallow breath, a heavy chest
There’s a world that’s under
Heavy fire of promises and guilt to uncover

You’re the creature in the water
I’m the preacher’s youngest-

A downloadable PDF of “Preacher’s Daughter” is available here:
https://bentriverrecords.macewan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/EstherForseth_PreachersDaughter_Lyrics.pdf

SPECIFICATIONS: Each artist may submit up to two (2) original art pieces for consideration as 300 ppi jpegs. The final output of the vinyl release will be 7.75” x 7.75” (7.5” square plus 0.125” bleeds), CMYK, at 300ppi. However, entries may be submitted in RGB format and, if selected, the artist will work with an advisor to colour correct for print.

The selected artwork must meet these specifications, but the artist may otherwise determine their chosen medium and format. Use of conventional art mediums and mixed media are encouraged, as well as concepts that are open-to-interpretation and can appeal to a wide audience. Use of popular comic or anime genres are not sought for this call. The artist will also submit a one paragraph rationale (maximum of 150 words), explaining their process and how their submission connects to the songs provided.

Please, DO NOT include your name or signature on the art works and rationales since the final selection will be completed by an independent panel.

The winner will be announced on the Bent River Records social media and contacted individually.

PRIZE: $750.00 honorarium

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 4:00 pm MST on March 28th, 2022.

SUBMISSION LINK: https://forms.gle/eAur4rU1XXuNvP7GA

TERMS & CONDITIONS: The author will retain all intellectual property, and BRR will only have the right to print a limited run of the music department CD as well as a single version, both of which will be for promotional purposes only.

Adjudication will be completed by a panel of jurors selected by BRR, and will contain members of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communication and representatives of BRR. The anonymity of entrants will be maintained; judges will not know the identity of the artists they are evaluating until after adjudication is complete.

Bent River Records values, promotes and prioritizes diversity, equity and inclusion in all of its work. We recognize the systemic barriers that have led to many artists being underrepresented and will continue to do work to amplify and uplift voices that reflect Edmonton’s diverse communities. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that represents diverse backgrounds.

Please contact bentriverrecords@macewan.ca if you have any questions.

Congratulations to Our Composition Competition Winners!

Thank you to everyone who took part in our Composition Competition. We are happy to announce that the winners have been selected by our wonderful jury. We were impressed by the originality and professionalism of the work submitted!

Category 1 – lead sheet winner: Esther Forseth
Category 2 – fully notated score winner: Aaron Addorisio

Honourable mention to Ryan Johnson, and thanks to all who submitted — your work truly inspired us!

Also, we want to thank our jurors for their time and for deciding on the winners for this competition. 

We are extremely happy with this year’s results and your submissions. It’s amazing to see how much talent exists among our students and we were so impressed with all who participated.

Meet Our New Team Members

Larisa Pitchko is a Design student at MacEwan University. “I believe art and design, just like music, can tell a story. It can also find a story that wants to be told. The key is to find the balance between imagination and reality.” As a freelance photographer, designer, and artist, Larisa tries to bring ideas to life through various genres and mediums. Drawing inspiration from music, people, and nature, she strives to capture a unique moment in time and bring it to life. Larisa is inspired by her life growing up in Russia and Canada. She calls Canada her home, and currently resides with her daughter Masha in Edmonton, Alberta. She started her designing path at the Digital Media and IT program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and finished it with an honour’s degree. Currently, Larisa is working on a Bachelor of Design at MacEwan University in her third year of studies with plans to do a master’s degree after graduation.

Keegan Hewitt is in his last year of studies in the department of Music at MacEwan University, with a general major and a music career management minor. He is new to the Bent River Records team, and excited to learn from and work alongside such a talented group of people. In past years at MacEwan, Keegan has worked with the MacEwan Live Music Club, a group of students dedicated to creating professional performance opportunities for other student musicians. He finds interest in management, creation, and hosting of live & recorded music events, and aspires to work with a band or label in the future. With the team, Keegan hopes to learn more about the business and legal aspects of recording and music production, as well as gain insight into the operations of the professional world of music.

Chris Larsen is a second year recording and production major at MacEwan University and has joined the BRR team as an intern for winter 2022. Prior to MacEwan, he studied music performance on saxophone at Red Deer College for 2 years. During that time at RDC, he took a recording studio class where he discovered his passion for creating and capturing music with technology. He has since been developing his skills doing projects with bands, solo artists, and personal projects, producing everything from singer/songwriter to heavy metal. Fun fact: Chris spent 7 years in The Red Deer Royals, a competitive marching band, playing saxophone, euphonium, tuba, and also held the position of Drum Major. He has traveled to Europe 3 times to compete in Italy, The Netherlands, and Ireland.

Ian Small is a 5th-year Music major, specializing in composition, as well as recording and production. He loves working with artists, helping them take their music to the next level. He hopes to use his time with Bent River to learn as much as he can about the unique music scene in Edmonton and to meet and work with people from all walks of life, adding to the scene in the process. He is very excited to be a part of the Bent River team, ready to work alongside his incredibly skilled peers to learn and create during the last year of his degree.

‘Going Down Slow’ by Kevin Dean is one of CBC’s favourite jazz albums of 2021

Congratulations to Bent River recording artist Kevin Dean for his album Going Down Slow being listed in the top 15 favourite jazz albums of 2021 by CBC Music!

“[Kevin Dean] put together a phenomenally gifted sextet to explore the blues across nine tracks, including six Dean originals. He’s joined in this endeavour by Caoilainn Power (alto saxophone), Gabriel Lambert (guitar), Andrés Vial (piano), Martin Heslop (bass) and Daniel Verdecchia (drums). Dean, who has one of the most attractive trumpet tones going, sounds especially great on “Get Along or Get Along Now,” an energetic boogaloo. Further highlights include the slowly loping “Lonesome Cowboy Blues;” “Can’t Wait to see you Go,” on which the band has fun stretching the tempo; the surprising acoustic guitar on “Down the Dirt Road;” and Heslop’s sign-off when the album comes to a close with the title track.” — RR

Congrats also to all who worked on the album, including the musicians, MacEwan Design student Sohee Kim who created the cover artwork, the Bent River Records (BRR) team, and to Executive Producer Dr. Craig Monk for making projects like this possible.

Purchase or listen to Going Down Slow

Buy it on CD      |      Buy it on Vinyl

Other albums on the list include Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra’s Twisting Ways, which was mixed by BRR’s Paul Johnston, and Embraceable You by BRR alum Josh Rager.

Check out the full article from CBC Music