Since 2016, DOMINIONATED has been committed to conversations about what it means to create and consume music made within the geopolitical area of Turtle Island, referred to as “Canada.” DOMINIONATED’s independent collective of music enthusiasts always aims to amplify and celebrate music that may otherwise go unacknowledged, specifically music made by BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ artists who have historically been marginalized by the music industry and media.
Happening on Friday, August 30 at Green Auto, Vancouver, HEAR HERE: Vancouver captures the spirit and intent of what DOMINIONATED is all about—to recognize local talent and community builders who are doing their part to build connections and start conversations about where they are from. From the moment the organizing team decided to take HEAR HERE to Vancouver, the choice of a headlining performer was clear; it had to be Devours.
Devours (they/them) is the DIY synth-pop project of Vancouver-based artist Jeff Cancade, a vocal champion and supporter of Vancouver’s music scene. Across four acclaimed underground albums, including the recent Polaris Music Prize-longlisted Homecoming Queen, Devours has written confessional and confrontational electronic music about masculinity, body image, gay love, and the darker side of queer existence. Their anticipated fifth record will be released in 2025.
MA$$ANK is the alias of Michelle Masanque, a queer and Filipinx interdisciplinary graphic designer and emerging musical artist. She is a fan of DIY projects and loves experimenting and producing music out of “boredom and curiosity” that is captivating and engaging, mixing her knowledge of visual design and video editing to curate a unique musical world that is fluid, angsty and ever-changing. Nowhere is this dynamic blend of style and substance more evident than on her 2023 album, Once More, With Feeling.
The Hausplants is an indie art-punk band whose members hail from Iran, Mongolia, and Minnesota, USA. Their sound is a synthesis of their diverse backgrounds in music and life. Brought together to create music that is liberated, energetic, and experimental, they have rooted themselves in the local Vancouver scene, developing their sound. Their self-produced and self-released EP, Bright, Indirect Light, was released in December 2023, and they are currently recording a second EP scheduled for release in early September 2024.
Recently heard on the soundtrack of the #1 Netflix show Ginny & Georgia, Bukola blends R&B vocal stylings, jazz guitar and earnest storytelling to create her authentic sound. She is the winner of the Juno Awards Host Committee Battle of the Bands. Her 2021 debut EP, The Chronicles of a Teenage Mind, is the work of a mature artist who radiates power and courage, and she recently worked with LA-based producers Baca & Brandn on her sophomore EP, which is slated to drop this fall.
Tickets for HEAR HERE: Vancouver are on sale now via Eventbrite. Check out the Facebook event link below for more details, and keep an eye out for a chance to win your way into the show coming soon.
Aug 30 HEAR HERE: Vancouver feat. Devours / MA$$ANK / The Hausplants / Bukola
