BUZZon - Ross Mair

Charlottetown’s nightlife is about to get a make-over, what with the opening of a couple new joints catering to the needs of those who have seen a real scene. Not to slag on our city’s scene, but I need both hands to count the amount of top-40 dance clubs and none to count the real clubs, I’m talkin electronica, house, someone who can scratch you know? The kind they play in the cities beyond the bridge.

So we got new clubs? Check. A new sound? Check. Donairs? Check. What?! And not those greasy, spicy snacks some of us rock after the bars, I’m talking about the electronica duo Donairs, comprised of Jeff Matheson and Donovan Morgan.

Both have spent some time honing their sound in Toronto, both have roots in the local music scene beyond electronica. Donovan has played Hunter’s more than a few times with The Last Forever, a cover band, Flush, and used to DJ under the name Putty. Jeff has worked the old Waterworks in Summerside and what used to be Thirsty’s in Cavendish. No, I didn’t dig these guys up, they’re not fossils, they’ve been trading places in Toronto making music and gaining contacts.

“I learned a lot, saw a lot and there’s a lot more people with a lot less talent,” said Jeff about his days in Toronto learning audio engineering. “Nowadays anyone can be a digital DJ.” Blame the internet I suppose, but if not for the internet these guys might not of gotten so far so quick.

The group is signed with Reticent Can/US and more recently with Mad Hatter records out of the UK, a firm associated with such names as Carl Cox, and if you know the industry what-so-ever, that name should speak volumes. A few of their singles under the Reticent label sold well before the company fell through—thank the economy—but were noticed by Pete Tong’s label Bedroom Bedlam.

“Thousands of songs come out almost everyday, so for these people to hear our music is pretty good,” said Morgan. As this was happening Cox started paying closer attention to the music coming out of Mad Hatter, playing it frequently on his hit BBC Radio show, The Essential Selection, making it all the more likely Donairs tracks could be played and heard by millions world-wide. Not bad for some local boys.

“We’re in the food trough with the rest of the big pigs now,” said Morgan, optimistic that Donairs has a chance at cracking the world-scene.

Until that happens, you can check them out at those new clubs that will be opening in Charlottetown. Globe, the venue Donairs will figure prominently with its located on Vic. Row and Alibi is next to Baba”s Lounge on University. The two have a host of other gigs planned over the course of the Summer, so stay tuned.

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Talking Bandsby Ross Mair

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Talking Bands
by Ross Mair