It may not look like it from the outside, but the music industry is a pretty small world. There's rarely more than a degree of separation between an “I know them from this” or an “Oh, we emailed about that.” At the same time – and this is not the same thing – it can be quite insular.
See, it's one thing to know about bands coming to your city, but only the most dedicated (read: obsessive) would be able to mention the local talent showing up in Melbourne or Madrid or Montreal. Well, as a New Yorker, I couldn't tell you what's going on in Richmond, Virginia, and that's 100 miles closer than the Quebec metropolis I visited last week on the M for Montreal.
This just goes to show that, as tight as this world may be, events like M remain uniquely important. South by Southwest does its part by introducing fresh talent from around the world to music industry professionals, but this is a convention that takes over a city. M for Montreal takes an immersive approach, inviting delegates to explore the culture of the vibrant art hub while being introduced to a huge variety of artists from across Canada.
More than a marathon festival, however, the convention element of M for Montreal is just as valuable. Every element of this vital industry we call music struggles with constant, unpredictable challenges. However, there are thousands of talented, hard-working people who give their all to keep music scenes alive, their art heard, and constantly giving fans something to get excited about (and, yes, support the business of it all). Any event that brings these people together to learn from each other and build new bridges deserves its flowers — even if it takes place in the fall above 45 degrees north.
While I will keep my new contacts around the world to myself, there were many musicians who played at the various showcases whose talents should be shared far beyond borders. The Official Selection evening shows were held in venues conveniently located across from each other, allowing you, for example, to stroll in and out of the Ausgang Plaza's club atmosphere and the worn-out opulence of Théâtre Plaza throughout. night. Wednesday saw those spots showcase an array of talent, from blind Oji-Cree self-produced emo-trap rapper Mattmac to Saskatchewan indie folk artist Ellen Froese.
Super Plage with Virginie B, photo by Ben Kaye
This kind of delightful variety gave a real taste of Canada's vast scene. It also opened the door to the collaborative nature of the Montreal community, like when electropop artist Super Plage joined Virginie B for a Club Soda set on Thursday. Super Plage, aka Jules Henry, is known for his collaborations with French-speaking female artists on nu-disco bangers, so seeing him perform with Virginie (who would later take to the stage at Consistencyhis own showcase) was a treat. The dance vibes were so hot that Henry seemed to take off a new layer of clothes between each song.
