Loon Choir

Bio:

Loon Choir is an energetic septet that formed in early 2009 and began playing regularly in Ontario and Quebec not long after. By the summer of 2009, they had a self made ep titled, ‘No golden Flags’, and continued to perfect their energetic live show while beginning to make a name for themselves by opening for great bands who shared the same artsy-indie-rock aesthetic. In May of 2010, with the help of The Acorn’s Rolf Klaussner and production by Ohbijou’s James Bunton, Loon Choir released their debut record, ‘Expansion Forces’. Hit songs, “Bricks” and “New Forewarnings” have been featured on college radio and are being released as a single in the UK by Glaswegian label Sarasota Records. Loon Choir is comprised of Derek Atkinson, Brad Sheffield, Dan Larmour, Nicole Yates, Jamie LeClair, Julien Jacobi and recently added violinist, Kathleen Cauley. The sound is about strong danceable rhythms and bass lines combined with intense and captivating synth and guitar melodies making for a new blend of indie-rock that keeps audiences moving. Vocally, harmonies and passion entwine for a unique juxtaposition between Atkinson’s grit and Yates’ angelic tones. The lyrics are poetic in their use of symbolism and imagery while often referencing nature, social justice and the human struggle for connection. Loon Choir strives to generate movement through art on the dance floor!

The first full length album, Expansion Forces, is now available online through iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. For a physical copy visit Compact Music (in Ottawa) or contact Loon Choir via email: band@loonchoir.com. ..

Member Since:

December 13, 2008

Members:

Derek Atkinson (vocals, guitar, keyboard).. Julien Jacobi (drums).. Dan Larmour (lead guitar, vocals).. Kathleen Cauley (violin).. Jamie LeClair (bass).. Brad Sheffield (keyboard, guitar, percussion).. Nicole Yates (vocals, keyboard, guitar, percussion)

Influences:

65 million years of eerie sounds

Sounds Like:

"Ohbijou meets Arcade Fire meets Broken Social Scene meets a bit of synth" - Now Playing, CHOU FM ........... “For fans of Canadian-indie fixtures such as Broken Social Scene and the New Pornographers, Ottawa’s Loon Choir should be of interest. Their tracks waver between fun, catchy dance beats and more melodic folk-rock. Loon Choir’s six members display a diverse array of talents, with many taking on several roles within the group. All of Loon Choir’s tracks will have you dancing more with each listen, and that should be taken as a sign of exciting things to come. Sounds like: Metric and the Arcade Fire had a baby.” - by Natalie Tremblay, The Fulcrum, Carleton University Student Newspaper, November 2010............. “Loon Choir is a band finding themselves unharnessed by the boundaries of contemporary rock. Their mash up of catchy riffs matched with memorable hooks and melodies sets them apart among the regular rock get ups in today's music. Don't miss out on a show that promises to rock you till you can't dance any longer.” – Carrie Humphries, Echo Weekly, Kitchener Ontario, March 2010................. “It’s precisely this danceable rock; with random hints of other influences that make Loon Choir’s rich sound fascinating. You can’t ignore the prominent fun dance beats or the melodic layers of synth that strongly evoke the new wave of dance-pop.” – www.APT613.ca by Gloria Song: August 2010........... “They definitely had me captivated! ... You won't be disappointed! Loon Choir is the way to say indie.” – Monthly Indie Mixtapes www.monthlyindiemixtapes.blogspot.com ............ “the band is capable of everything I thought they could be and then some… I've seen them in concert a few times, and each time I was impressed by their brand of buoyant pop… Atkinson sings with a combination of heartache and ennui that brings to mind The Smiths and Joy Division… An impressive ability to combine upbeat, catchy melodies with emotional heft… (Loon Choir) demonstrate that they’re able to explore those emotions further without losing any of their listen-ability. - www.iheartmusic.net ............ “They often sound as if they were singing to each other across a body of water. Each song is somehow outdoorsy and echoes appear out of nowhere along with lingering sounds and short guitar solos.” –Gray Owl Point www.glasspaperweight.wordpress.com .............. “The band blends high octane synth notes, reverb and percussions to create addictive power pop…keep ears and eyes out for Loon Choir.” – www.indierockcafe.com ................. Loon Choir was nominated in Xpress Newspaper’s Best of Ottawa in 3 categories: Best rock/pop/dance album of 2010; Best rock/pop/dance band of 2010; Best New Artist. www.ottawaxpress.ca