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Hamilton rock band Strathcona marks their arrival

Pinning down the exact sound of Hamilton’s new rock band, Strathcona, is a challenging task. “If we had a simple answer to that, I think that would be worrisome,” explains Jon Harley, one of the band’s six members.

What makes Strathcona work so well, the band agrees, is the diversity of musical tastes and histories brought in by each collaborator. The creative challenges of melding it all together keeps the work interesting.

Harley, for instance, is a violinist with a background in classical music; not exactly what you’d expect in a band devoted to rock ‘n roll. Though it’s exactly this mix of musical influences that makes Strathcona stand out.

Their name comes from the band members’ various connections to the well-known neighbourhood in Hamilton, and from a desire to pay loving tribute to the band’s roots in a city that has been so openly helpful to them on their music journey.

“We love what’s happening in the music scene, and we’re honoured to be a part of it,” says Strathcona bassist Mark Korczynski.

As the six members of Strathcona sit on a break in the rehearsal space they’ve dubbed The Beacon inside of Laidlaw Memorial United Church – a space they try to gather in three times a week thanks to the kindness and musical interest of the church’s Reverend Doug Moore – it’s easy to get a palpable sense of the energy they all feel.

That unity makes sense, given many of the band members have histories spanning as far back as high school: lead singer Alexander DeRoo originally attended Westdale Secondary with drummer Luke Ormond and lead guitarist Adam Rogerson.

From there, Strathcona came together in a gradual way. As DeRoo attended McMaster University while pursuing his music career as a solo act, he reached out to his former Westdale friends Ormond and Rogerson about collaborating. Ormond and Rogerson had recently started jamming with bassist Mark Korczynski as their own trio, while DeRoo himself met violinist Jon Harley during his time at McMaster.

Suddenly, with five, fresh collaborators onboard, Strathcona was beginning to take shape. It wasn’t until British Columbia-born vocalist and pianist Kaitie Allinger moved to Hamilton this year and joined the gang that the sixth and final piece of the puzzle snapped into place.

DeRoo wrote the basis of a lot of the band’s current repertoire while performing as a solo project. He’s quick to express that the songs would not be what they are without the entire band and what each musician brings to the material.

Strathcona’s first single “Parkdale and Sinclair”, which dropped worldwide on November 1st, is a full-blooded Hamilton product: produced by Glen Marshall of Steady Canoe and executive produced by Johnnie D of Alexr Group with contributions to arrangements and mixing by Westmoreland Recording Studios’ Carl Jennings. The song’s sticky melody and tight musicianship feel like an eclectic, cohesive union of six artists in total simpatico.

“The song was written on a warm, sunny day in my parents’ backyard,” says DeRoo. It then sat tucked away for years and came back out again one day when Strathcona was in rehearsal jamming.

With each musician’s individual talents fleshing out the feel of the song, it was eventually debuted in a live performance at The Mule Spinner — a performance and event space at The Cotton Factory. Music producer Glen Marshall happened to hear the performance, and liked the song so much that he suggested Strathcona develop the tune further and consider recording it.

The official release of “Parkdale and Sinclair” was celebrated with a special event at This Ain’t Hollywood, Hamilton, November 1st to coincide with the track’s worldwide drop: a digital release on all streaming services complete with cover artwork by Hamilton visual artist, Loraine Mohar. Besides the achievement of this being their first official single, the band believes it’s special for other reasons too.

“Parkdale and Sinclair is an intersection (in Hamilton), and it’s also a metaphorical intersection because it’s bringing together these diverse tastes and diverse influences in music. We’ve finally produced something we’re deeply proud of and ready to share,” explains Harley.

“When I hear the song, I always think of The Mule Spinner, and I think of really cold winters,” adds DeRoo, referring to the distinctly Hamiltonian feeling the song conjures. “It seemed like the perfect choice as a first release.”

When asked what Hamilton can expect from Strathcona in the future, it immediately becomes clear that the band is intending to hit the ground running.

“We’ll be releasing more singles in the near future, and we’re planning an EP release in the coming year as well,” says DeRoo.

It can be hard to tell what a band’s future will be while it’s still young, but with their forceful ambition and a vibrant, special sound to share with Hamilton and beyond, the future is looking bright for Strathcona.

“Parkdale and Sinclair”, the first single release by Hamilton rock band Strathcona, is now available worldwide on all streaming services. Upcoming appearances include a University of Guelph private performance for 600 students; a show at This Ain’t Hollywood, January 10; a private fundraiser for a world-class, elite, Hamilton gymnast; and a quick jaunt to an intimate US studio.

Their music will also directly support the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, of which they are proud supporters.

Catch Strathcona on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

For more info, visit their website strathconamusic.com

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