In early May, Cat Clyde released her debut album, Ivory Castanets. Cat is a new artist from Stratford, Ontario, and already has over a quarter of a million and counting monthly listeners on Spotify. We caught up with her over the phone before her Calgary show at the end of May.

In times of adversity, it's incredibly easy for bands in this competitive industry to just give up and throw the towel in when things just aren't going well. In 2014, Fast Romantics could have easily taken that route when only Jeffery Lewis and Matt Angus were still left in the band. However, they persevered, and have come back stronger than ever. Under The Rockies got to talk with lead singer Matt Angus about their latest record, American Love, and what the process of writing and rebuilding the band had in shaping the album.

Earlier this year, Australian stoner-punks Dune Rats released their second record, The Kids Will Know It's Bullshit. This album topped the Australian charts, and the band will be touring all over in support of the record.

“Welcome, it’s here,” is one of the first lines spoken on Fall Out Boy’s third studio album. Not by Patrick Stump, or any member of the band for that matter, but it’s a line spoken by none other than Jay-Z. Infinity on High marked the beginning of Fall Out Boy’s expansion from the safety net of pop punk, into a more unrestricted genre and playing field. While this record, alongside all their others, still maintains elements of what makes Fall Out Boy distinct, it was a brash follow up to 2005’s From Under The Cork Tree, and would be the milestone album which influenced the band to creatively push themselves into making records entirely different from one another.

Iconic Canadian country rock band Blue Rodeo released their fifteenth studio album in late 2016. I had the privilege of speaking with drummer Glenn Milchem over the phone prior to Christmas, to discuss the new album, their upcoming tour and the legacy that Blue Rodeo has created.

A consensus of individuals with a heart shows that 2016 was an incredibly painful and difficult year. Whenever the year comes to an end, I find myself immersed in personal reflection - not by choice, it’s just where my brain seems to swim away to, and by the time I call out for it to swim back to shore, it’s already drowning in the waters of self-doubt and crisis.

More often than not, I underestimate the power of music. Inadvertently shove all meaning and emotional ties to the back of my mind. Seldom do I sit and just listen. Music: it is every cliche that has ever been said about it, and isn’t that the point of a cliche? Only the truth is what makes cliches so. Music is everything: our background noise in busy coffee shops, our comfort on our early morning work commute. The soundtrack to the happiest moments and the dull drone in moments of despair. It’s always somehow there. But how often do we just listen?

“Who is Brand New?” is a question I find myself answering in casual conversation with others more often than not. I don’t claim that they’re some unknown band and feel any sort of pride or uniqueness if a majority of people don’t recognize their name. Their devout fanbase makes Brand New seem to be as legendary as Pink Floyd, and in the hearts of many, they are. Brand New are one of alternative music’s best kept secrets - in their scene, they are huge, but nine out of ten people you will meet will probably ask you: “Who is Brand New?”

The 2016 Calgary Stampede seemed to be doomed with stormy weather, but iconic Canadian pop punk band Simple Plan had no problem singin' in the rain. Under The Rockies sat down with guitarist Sebastien Lefebrve and drummer Chuck Comeau to talk about touring, their new album, and what it was like to work with David Hasselhoff.

During Jocelyn Alice's last visit to her hometown of Calgary, we had the chance to sit down and chat with her about all things Calgary - from the Stampede, to the music scene, as well as what it's like to be signed to a label and the high stakes of breaking into the American music industry.

One year ago, on September 3rd, I was ankle deep in mud at Fort Calgary which was in a state of full blown panic. I found myself asked to leave the premises, trudging to a Phil and Sebastian’s drinking coffee so strong it made me shake, and would end up waiting there for 3 hours only to find out that X-Fest 2015 had been officially cancelled.

Nothing in life is a guarantee. For me, I hold three things as a guarantee, and that’s birthdays, Christmas, and, well, the Calgary Stampede. Because every year, no matter the circumstance, they come around. Walking into the Stampede grounds each year as a born and raised Calgarian has an element of surreal-ness to it. Almost as if each year goes by faster than the last, or that I never really left. The Stampede somehow never loses it’s magic, but I think a lot of that is attributed by the now trendy aesthetic of carnival settings at night. Still, growing up, and even now, I’ve spent so many nights there that I wish would never end.

“I feel like lyrically, we have the same vibe and the same concept where we’re spreading love and positivity and connecting humans with each other - that’s what we’re all about.”

— Kyle McKearney

Meet May's Artist of the Month, The Royal Foundry! We initially caught them throughout last year's Peak Performance Project (and the final one), where they won third place, and were captivated by their sound and stage presence.

The rest of April has felt like January, because coming down from the experience that was the 2016 JUNO Awards was like Christmas. Every other day has felt like Boxing Day or New Years, occasions that are just slightly less exciting than the adrenaline rush of Christmas morning.

Meet April's Artist of the Month, AM Static. When it was announced that Calgary band, AM Static, was nominated for Electronic Album of the Year at this year's JUNO Awards, we'll admit we hadn't ever heard of the duo. We quickly remedied that and checked out their debut album, A Life Well Lived, and caught them live at Calgary's SoundOff Music Festival and fell in love with their sound. With April and the JUNOs coming up, we knew definitely needed to get them on the site as an Artist of the Month as soon as possible.

Melanie Martinez first captivated us with her unique voice and sense of style while on The Voice. Since then she's become one of the few stars of the show to achieve mainstream success, signing with Atlantic Records and releasing an EP and, most recently, her debut full-length, Cry Baby.

A while ago we were given the opportunity to talk to her about her hustle, the visual aspect behind her art and the and her plans to expand upon Cry Baby's world.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of Vance Joy, or at least his song "Riptide". From playing summer festivals (including the Calgary Stampede) to opening for Taylor Swift on her tour, Vance Joy isn't ready to slow down.

Under The Rockies' Mary McComish and Joshua Platt sat down with Vance Joy when he came through Calgary in January (and photographed the show). We asked the Australian musician how he's dealing with Canadian winters, his tour openers, Calgary's own Reuben and the Dark, and his touring tactics.

Between their 2013 "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" Grammy win and Lzzy Hale's stage presence, Halestorm is one of those rock bands you simply can't ignore.

Under The Rockies was given the opportunity to sit down with Halestorm drummer, Arejay Hale, and guitarist, Josh Smith, when they came through Calgary this past winter, opening for Three Days Grace. We talked extensively on touring, their most recent "I Am The Fire" music video and how you reallyyy pronounce "Calgary"

Meet our March Artist of the Month: Marlaena Moore!

After first hearing Edmonton's Marlaena Moore at Calgary's Femme Wave, I was hooked. She has one of a voice that's been described being able to "quiet the loudest of rooms and rattle the quietest of rooms". Not only does she have an amazing voice but her songwriting abilities could rival some of the greats. Singing from personal experiences, each of her songs contain rich imagery, giving you a visual aspect to go along with the music.