Photo: Christian Michael Filardo
Readers might remember that I lived in Montreal until the autumn of 2014. Lately, especially since the election, I’ve been really missing everything that is so special about that city, conveniently forgetting all my past frustrations. Which might account for all the Montreal artists I’ve been profiling lately. Catherine Debard (aka YlangYlang), the author of this mix, recently left Montreal herself. Relocating is always difficult, as we miss what is familiar while being curious about the new and unknown, filled with possibility and apprehension. This mix reflects the mindset of finding oneself in a new place, and full of confidence and uncertainty and grounding sonic energies. Catherine used to play with the ensemble A Sacred Cloud, who I first encountered when we were featured together on an episode of the Montreal Sessions for CKUT 90.3 FM. A month later, Stefan Christoff and I shared a bill with them as part of the Howl! Arts Festival, alongside Amir Amiri and Jean-Sébastien Truchy. A Sacred Cloud’s improvised drones were a beautiful way to finish up that evening. I also wrote about their split with Anarchist Mountains (Stefan and his brother Jordan) for this site, which you can find here. Last summer Stefan and I played with Catherine again, but this time she performed solo as YlangYlang, utilizing much the same richly textured electronics but channeled through a more pop sensibility, structured by driving drum beats and introspective lyrics. Enjoy this lovely mix and be sure to dig through YlangYlang’s catalog. (Joseph Sannicandro)
Hi, my name is Catherine Debard, I am a Sagittarius Wanderer, Montrealer recently moved to Hamilton, Canada, in a quest for a Meaningful Life (whatever that is). I started recording music bedroom-style in 2005 during the Holy MySpace Golden Age and, still today, I take care of every aspect of it (oh i learn every day). I’ve adopted the moniker YlangYlang five years ago for my ‘omnipotent solo trip’. I see music as a friction between pure freedom (experiential exploration) and intellectual structures, as jamming with one’s emotions, memories, senses and thoughts, as FUN + POTENT COMMUNICATION TOOL.
I co-founded and co-ran a tape label & collective in Montreal for five years (i’ve quit nearly two years ago), participated in a vast amount of projects such as A Sacred Cloud, R U REAL, Sea Nymph Science, Silver Shadow Counsel and Sally Paradise. I collaborated with Celine Bion, Così e Così, Stefan Christoff, Palgal (for game soundtracks), I also am (was? am? was…?) a booker in the Montreal music scene for various series of e x p e r i m e n t a l music (Noisundaéè, Island Frequencies).
Tell us a bit about the mix.
Hamilton is very welcoming to me, actually. I’m hanging out with the Cool People (♕) from Strangewaves, Casino Artspace, HAVN and potent healing goddesses. I find a lot of Heart, Motivation, Playfulness, Consciousness, a willingness to Work to create something different and purposeful. Slowly, I’ll figure out how I can contribute, what I have to offer. The next shows I’m playing are at Kazoo Fest in Guelph on April 7th [today!] with my friends Persons and Toronto project Ice Cream and April 22nd at HAVN, Hamilton, with Fee Faw Fum, Joyful Joyful and Bunt.
TRACKLIST
a closer listen 