Artist Spotlight 2024: Muskrat Meadows
Muskrat Meadows
Artist Spotlight
Formed in 2016 in East Van, Muskrat Meadows has taken on several formulations before arriving at the heavy, blisteringly loud, and aesthetically terrorizing sound they have now. Once described as ‘music for a bad acid trip’, they have abandoned making music that ‘sounds pleasing’, without sacrificing groove, magnitude, or pace. With Stu on bass, Ben on vocals and guitar, and Nolan on drums, they seek to make art that inspires calm within anxiety and persistence within change.
Tell us, what drew inspiration for your sound?
We come from very different musical tastes/backgrounds, but commune at our love for music so loud you can feel it in your bones. We were all raised on black sabbath, and get to share our individual tastes with each other in collaboration to make something none of us would have done on our own.
Any dream collaborations/venues you’d like to play at?
The next venue in our cross hairs is the Rickshaw, and we’d love to play with some international acts like Slift, the Spoonbenders, or Lowrider
What sort of challenges in this industry have you had to overcome?
The music industry is broken, and we feel privileged to be able to do this for fun and the love of art, and often get/have to bring together community by putting on DIY shows where we can hang out with our friends and listen to everyones amazing music together
Any advice to aspiring musicians getting started in the scene?
Life is for doing, not dreaming. Whatever it is, start doing it, and define what ‘success’ means for yourself.
What’s next in line to tell the fans out there?
July 6th we’ll be playing at the Fox Cabaret for Gadfly’s album release, and beyond that, we’ll be working on new material and hopefully playing a couple festivals.
Next show: July 6th at Fox Cabaret, Gadfly Album Release show. You can purchase tickets here
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