Artist of the Week: Jay Malinowski
Vapor Music favourite and showcase performer Jay Malinowski may be releasing his debut solo album next week, but he is already a veteran of the Canadian music industry. As the lead singer and guitarist of Bedouin Soundclash, Malinowski has taken home a Juno award and has opened for No Doubt, but his latest venture strips his music down to the basics: a man and a guitar.
Malinowski is on the verge of becoming a household name due to his involvement in some of Vapor’s latest projects. Alongside Kardinal Offishall and Coeur de Pirate in Coca-Cola’s Canadian “Open Happiness” campaign, he lends his vocals to the song that will be featured throughout the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Also, the track “Life is a Gun” off of his release Bright Lights & Bruises has been chosen by Vapor to be included in the soundtrack for the film ‘Bang Bang Club’, starring Ryan Phillippe, Malin Ackerman (The Watchmen) and Taylor Kitsch (X-Men Origins: Wolverine).
We are ecstatic to have Jay performing at our 2010 Vapor Music Showcase, brought to you with our friends at Stealing Time. Read on to learn more about him, listen to his music, and watch a few videos in preparation for the big day on February 24th at the Revival!
Sounds Like:
“From the haunting and plaintive piano ballad There’s A Light — the album’s opener and first single — to country strummers Life Is A Gun and Loving Hand, and the jangly, McCartney-esque pastoral melodicism of A Vacant Youth, Malinowski explores sonic and emotional spaces that will surprise but allure fans old and new.”
— Official MySpace
Similar to: City and Colour, Matthew Good, Matthew Barber
About:
“There is also a vulnerability in what is NOT there, a stripped down album that relies on simple drums, guitar riffs and a lot of Malinowski’s sweet but rough voice, the something that is missing in the nothing in between is what keeps me hitting play when the tape runs out.”
— Pink Mafia Blog
“While Malinowski’s vocals will remind of the Juno-winning indie-reggae act, the tone of the album is markedly different. Created following the dismissal of former Soundclash drummer Pat Pengelly, mounting conflict surrounding the future of the band, and the collapse of a 7-year romantic relationship, Malinowski admits the album comes from his lowest point. Yet, as many before him have discovered, it seems that your finest work can come from your shittiest of places.”
— Bowling Stone
Links:
MySpace
Pirate’s Blend Records Website
Watch Behind the Scenes of Coke’s “Open Happiness”
Watch Jay’s video for “Santa Monica”
Follow Jay on Twitter
Learn about the film ‘Bang Bang Club’
Vapor Music 