| IMC in The House | feb 11, 2007 |
| Toronto band In My Coma has signed on for artist development with producer Trevor Kustiak and manager Mari Dew, the team who developed The Pocket/Hollywood Records artist Evans Blue. IMC consists of guitarist/singer/songwriter Justin Johnson and bassist/backing vocalist Laura Doll, who are searching for a solid drummer, 2nd guitarist and keyboardist to complete their lineup. In the meantime, they are writing prolifically and preparing to enter the studio. |
| Yeah, JUNO It! | feb 6, 2007 |
| We are very proud to announce that The Pocket Recordings' own core artist Evans Blue has just been nominated for a Juno Award (Canada's Grammys) for New Group of the Year!!! The band is headed to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on April 1st for the show, hosted by Nelly Furtado. Cross those fingers! |
| The Pursuit Begins | jan 23, 2007 |
| Evans Blue is back in the studio with producer Trevor Kustiak of The Pocket Studios in Toronto, beginning work on their 2nd album, THE PURSUIT BEGINS WHEN THIS portrayal OF LIFE ENDS. EB's drummer Davis H takes to the kit today to begin lay the groundwork on the 13-song collection. Next up is Pitter, and it goes on from there. The album is due early this Summer, with the first single hitting radio in Late Spring. In the meantime, get ready. |
| Zygote in tha Hizzouse | jan 9, 2007 |
| Toronto band Zygote is back in the studio to record with producer Mike Turner. The band will debut material and a brand new CD with a powerhouse live show at Toronto's Opera House on Friday, February 16th. |
| Putting the Green Suite Through The Ringer | dec 1, 2006 |
| The Pocket Studios welcomes producer/songwriter/musician Jason Taylor to the Green Suite, now otherwise known as "The Ringer." Taylor, a veteran of bands such as MAdE and Driveway, is branching out into co-writing and production, from new country to alt country to pop and rock. We are thrilled that he has chosen The Pocket as his home base. |
| Back In The Pocket Again | nov 1, 2006 |
| The Pocket Studios welcomes the return of Evans Blue to their hometown of Toronto after 8 solid months on the road in the US in support of their debut album, The Melody and the Energetic Nature of Volume, which has scanned over 130,000 copies in the US and another 4,000 in Canada. The Pocket family is thrilled to have them back home for the holidays, especially Curtis! |
| Sweet Home Canada | jan 17, 2006 |
| Airplay on Evans Blue's "Cold (But I'm Still Here)" crosses the US border into Canada, with new airplay at CIMX Windsor/Detroit, CHOI Quebec City, The Zone Victoria, The Bear Edmonton, and both Power 97 and Freq107 in Winnipeg. The perfect winter smash is on the horizon, and the Blue Wave begins to spread across the homeland. |
| US COLD Spell | jan 15, 2006 |
| The New Year is here with a bang and The Pocket Recordings is pleased to announce the up and up of its first signing, Canadian artist Evans Blue. The band's debut album "The Melody and the Energetic Nature of Volume" is due out on February 21st in the US and Canada. The single "Cold (But I'm Still Here)" is seeing stellar radio play in the States and is currently at #20* on the Active Rock chart and #36* on the Alternative chart. |
| MUCH Ado About Curtis | jan 11, 2006 |
| Meanwhile in the studio, Much Music were in to shoot promotional spots. If that is conjuring up images of lights, cameras, cables, spandex-clad manflesh and go-go girls, then you're beginning to get the picture. Our very own Curtis the Rock Dog even got to make a cameo in the spots, which will run in February. |
| Once the Ball Starts Rolling... | nov 18, 2005 |
| A busy week here in The Pocket, with Victoria and David up from Hollywood Records in Los Angeles to help organize the Evans Blue photoshoot with renowned photographer Paul Brown. Clothes, hair wax and makeup are everywhere, but with a bit of luck it will all be worth it. Also, a big thanks to all our fans in Houston, Texas, who have secured cage match victories for Evans Blue a record ten times in a row on The Buzz 94.5FM. Y'all Rock! |
| Back In The Pocket Again | nov 1, 2005 |
| The Pocket Studios welcomes the return of producer/singer/songwriter Jason Gleed to the Orange Suite. Jason is preparing for a move to New York City, but he will be working in The Pocket until he relocates in 2006. The Pocket family is thrilled to have him back, especially Curtis! |
| Happy Blue Year | oct 18, 2005 |
| Exactly one year to the day from when The Pocket Studios first opened its doors to host the Toronto auditions for the Blue Man Group, The Pocket Recordings announces the signing of its first development project, Evans Blue, to Hollywood Records in the US. The band's first single, "Cold (But I'm Still Here)," was just added to KUPD in Phoenix and is pulling Top 5 Requests on Sirius Octane. Look for Evans Blue's debut album, The Melody and the Energetic Nature of Volume, in stores February 7th, 2006, from The Pocket Recordings/Hollywood Records. The album was produced by The Pocket's Trevor Kustiak, and the story is just beginning. |
| PUSHing It | oct 17, 2005 |
| Rock band Push makes the trek from Fredricton, New Brunswick, to The Pocket Studios in Toronto to record with producer Mike Turner. The band will be recording the first 6 songs from their upcoming debut album and will be back to complete the project early next year. The new album promises to expand the airplay and excitement that Push has already received back home. |
| Get Sirius! | sept 2, 2005 |
| The Pocket Recordings is thrilled to announce that "Cold (But I'm Still Here)" from Evans Blue has just been added into regular rotation at Sirius Satellite Radio's Octane Channel 20. The song will be heard nationally, beginning September 5th. The Octane Channel is the #2 most-listened-to channel on the Sirius dial. Keep listening...the story is just beginning. |
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| Signed, Sealed, Delivered | jun 1, 2005 |
| The Pocket Recordings, The Pocket Entertainment's newly-formed production and management company, announces its first signing. Rock band Evans Blue joins The Pocket family, with Trevor Kustiak producing their debut album and Mari Dew taking the management reins. The timing feels excellent for this intense, agressive and melodic music, and we cannot wait to share it with the rest of the world. Look for new songs on The Pocket's website later this year. |
| Young Guns | july 14, 2005 |
| The Pocket Studios welcomed its youngest clients to date, as the five 13-year-olds collectively known as Arabian Carpet Salesmen took to the studio with Mike Turner to record their rendition of the Guns 'N Roses hit "Sweet Child 'O Mine." Already consummate professionals in their teens, the boys were a pleasure to work with. Look for Photos in the Culture section under "The Pocket Projects." |
| Exchanging the Green | may 24, 2005 |
| Tuesday marked the departure of SkyMedia Workshop, one of the original Pocket tenants, as Christian Hynes and Rose Hurtubise move on to a bigger space on the West side. We wish them well in their new digs and thank them for being a part of The Pocket's launch. Nettwerk recording artist Tara MacLean and Producer Bill Bell move into the Green Suite next week to begin pre-production on Tara's next solo album. |
| Filled With Gleed | may 1, 2005 |
| The Pocket Studios welcomes Producer/Composer Jason Gleed to the Orange Suite. Jason comes to The Pocket from Grayson Matthews, where he established himself as one of the top Toronto composers for commercial music. Jason's past clients include such bigwigs as Pepsi, McDonalds, Sears, and Fruitopia (to name just a few), and he brings a wealth of experience and creativity to the burgeoning Pocket environment. |
| All In a Day's Work, Man | apr 19, 2005 |
| Tuesday was a star-studded day for The Pocket Studios as Producer/Universal recording artist Hawksley Workman took over the board (and the drums, bass, guitar, and piano) in Studio A to demo a new song with Shaye. As big Hawksley fans, The Pocket "Peeps" were thrilled to have this multi-talented musician in the house...and we eagerly anticipate both his and Shaye's upcoming second albums! |
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| Props to the IIP | apr 12, 2005 |
| The Pocket Studios welcomes Sigrun Stella to the IIP (International Intern Posse). Sigrun is a Trebas student who originally hails from Iceland, and she joins rock-star intern Ursula Bero, who was born in Amsterdam to a Polish family and now attends Etienne-Brule, the French Toronto high school. With the IIP on our team, The Pocket is poised to take on the world! |
| Blue Men on a Mission | mar 23, 2005 |
| The world-renowned Blue Man Group returned to The Pocket Studios on Wednesday for final callbacks and successfully completed their Toronto team of musicians. This select group will head to New York City next month for training, then return to launch the Toronto Blue Man Group production in the New Yorker Theatre this summer. The Pocket thanks all those who auditioned, congratulates those who were chosen, and wishes the Blue Man Group huge success with their much-anticipated Toronto show! |
| Shaye What? | mar 14, 2005 |
| The Pocket Studios welcomes Damhnait Doyle, Tara MacLean and Kim Stockwood to Studio B this month. This fabulous trio of songbirds, collectively known as EMI recording artist Shaye, have just started pre-production for their sophomore album with The Pocket's Stuart Cameron. If the beautiful, lush harmonies and positive energy that Shaye brings to the studio are any indication, their upcoming album will be another smash for this Juno- and ECMA-nominated artist. |
| Never a Dull Moment | mar 1, 2005 |
| Mike Langford, aka "Dull Boy," joins The Pocket Peeps as house engineer. Dull Boy comes from Sony Music, where he worked with producer Jeff Dalziel. He also plays drums in the rock band Alcona. The Pocket Studios is honoured to have Dull Boy on the team. |
| Let's Get It Stuarted In Here | feb 18, 2005 |
| The Pocket Studios welcomes a new producer this month, as Stuart Cameron moves in to share the Yellow Suite with Brad Stella. Stuart is an excellent producer, songwriter and has toured as the guitarist for such notable artists as Shaye, Crash Test Dummies, Ashley MacIsaac, Amanda Marshall and David Mead. He travels to his hometown of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, this weekend to appear with Shaye on the East Coast Music Awards. Stuart is the son of legendary Celtic artist John Allan Cameron, and brings the distinction of music royalty to The Pocket...but he is thankfully one of the most down-to-earth guys we know. |
| Pocket Press | feb 1, 2005 |
| The Pocket Studios is featured in this month's issue of Professional Sound magazine. Writer Kevin Young and Photographer Jeff McKay capture the spirit of The Pocket's unique environment and the "peeps" within, and Curtis the A+R Dog makes his national debut in the staff photo. Pick up your copy on newsstands across Canada today. |
| Pilate Takes Off | jan 30-feb 3, 2005 |
| The halls of The Pocket Studios are rocking with the sounds of Pilate as Todd, Chris, Bill and Ruby enter the studio for pre-production on their sophomore album with Producer Joao Carvalho from our neighbouring Joao Carvalho Mastering Studio. The album will be recorded in Vancouver and Toronto and is due out on Maple Music this summer. |
| Feeling So Blue | jan 19, 2005 |
| The internationally-acclaimed Blue Man Group rocked The Pocket on Monday and Tuesday, with another Open Casting Call for Musicians and subsequent callbacks. The studio was a whirlwind of activity, with over 100 musicians over the two-day period. We are always sorry to see the Blue folks leave to go back to New York, but we anxiously await their return for the show's Toronto debut at the new Panasonic Theatre in June 2005. For more information, please visit the Blue Man Group website at www.blueman.com. |
| Talk About...Fake Music | jan 10, 2005 |
Charlie Balderston of Fake Music Inc. moved into the Red Producer Suite today, bringing with him an amazing collection of new and vintage synths. Fake Music offers increased diversity to The Pocket Studios, adding Electronica music production and ProTools Editing and Mixing to the list of services offered under The Pocket roof. |
| Don't Luke Now, He's Back | jan 4-6, 2005 |
| The Pocket Studios started the new year off right, welcoming the return of Producer/Engineer Extraordinaire Andre Wahl and Smooth-Singing Six Shooter recording artist Luke Doucet. Luke was finishing the tracking for his upcoming 5th album, due out in September 2005, on Six Shooter Records, before heading back out onto the road with Sarah McLachlan later this month. We were honoured to share the last couple of days of recording this very special record with Luke and Andre, and we cannot wait to hear the finished album. This is one not to be missed... |
| Happy Blue Year ! | jan 5, 2005 |
| The internationally-acclaimed Blue Man Group's casting team heads back to Toronto on Monday, January 17th, for another Open Casting Call for Musicians (drums, percussion, bass and guitar) at The Pocket Studios. The auditions will take place between 1-7pm at The Pocket Studios, 920 Eastern Avenue, between Leslie and Coxwell. For more information, please visit the Blue Man Group website at www.blueman.com. |
| Cool Man Luke | dec 3, 2004 |
| It's an amazing feeling to hear the halls fill with smooth, melodic grooves, as Six Shooter recording artist Luke Doucet christens the Live Room at The Pocket Studios. Luke is recording new material for his upcoming 5th album. Thanks to Helen Britton and Shauna DeCartier of Six Shooter Records/Management for making our first official recording session a great success. |
| Room For Two More | nov 17, 2004 |
| The ongoing search continues two more exceptional individuals to fill the Orange and Red Producer Suites and join The Pocket community. Please click Available Suites for more information or Contact to schedule a personal tour of The Pocket Studios. |
| 3...2...1...Blast Off! | oct 22 , 2004 |
| The Pocket Studios celebrated its Grand Opening with a fabulous Launch Party. A couple hundred guests spent the evening meandering from room to room of the new facility, mingling, chatting, and admiring the wonderful artwork on display from The Pocket's Winter 04-05 Feature Artist, David Trevor. For those who were not able to attend (or those who wish to reminisce), click here to view the Launch Party pictures of Photographer Karen Braaten. |
| Little Blue Men All Around Us | oct 20 , 2004 |
| “The Pocket Peeps” popped a bottle of champagne with the Blue Man Group Casting Team this afternoon in celebration of the first wildly successful project in The Pocket Studios. The 3-day Blue Man Group event included an open casting call for musicians and actors on Monday and Tuesday and callbacks and workshops on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hundreds of musicians and actors helped to kick off The Pocket's first three days of being open for business. |
| SKYmedia Workshop in Da House! | oct 15 , 2004 |
| The Pocket Studios welcome Christian Hynes, Rose Hurbutise, and Jonathan Paech-collectively known as SKYmedia Workshop-to "The Pocket Peeps" family, as they make the Green Producer Suite their new home base. SKYmedia Workshop offers DVD and CD-Rom Authoring, Production and Post Production services. |
| Feeling Blue | sept 17, 2004 |
The Pocket is just weeks away from opening its doors, and we have already secured a fabulous project. The Pocket Studios will host and help to coordinate the auditions for the Blue Man Group, whose world-renowned show will open in the fully-renovated New Yorker Theatre in downtown Toronto in early 2005. An open call for both actors and musicians will take place in The Pocket on Monday, October 18th, 2004. For more information, please visit the official site of the Blue Man Group or contact The Pocket. |
| Get a Room! | aug 30 , 2004 |
| The Green and Yellow Producer Suites are completed, and if all continues to go well, the Orange and Red Producer Suites should also be finished by the end of the week. The search begins for two more exceptional individuals to fill the available rooms and join The Pocket community. More information is available in the Studio section, under “Available Suites,” or click here to schedule a personal tour. |
| Pocket Peeps | aug 20 , 2004 |
| “The Pocket Peeps” expand, as writer/producer Pete Lesperance and singer/songwriter Brad Stella claim the Yellow Producer Suite and join producers Mike Turner and Trevor Kustiak and manager Mari Dew as founding members of this unique creative community. |
| Where’s The Party? | aug 6, 2004 |
Today was our original (and overly ambitious) target date for the Launch Party, but instead, we are laying hardwood floors and painting. Not too much further to go, though…we are getting there! Look for a revised date for the Launch Party, likely some time in October. |
| Cruel Summer | aug 15, 2004 |
| As September rapidly approaches, we are wondering how the summer could have passed so quickly…time flies when you are immersed in the Construction Zone! Building the studios has proven to be a more challenging (and grueling!) task than anyone anticipated, but the place will be more amazing than ever imagined and worth all the hard work. |
| Gone Corporate? | may 14, 2004 |
| It’s official! Mari Dew, Trevor Kustiak and Michael Turner have incorporated as The Pocket Entertainment Inc., the parent company of The Pocket Studios. The building of our musical empire begins… |
| If These Walls Could Talk | may 01, 2004 |
| The walls of the live room, 2 main control rooms, 2 producer suites and 4 isolation booths have all officially been framed, and the studio is really taking shape. Check out the progress in the Construction Zone Gallery. |
| Heavy Lifting | april 19, 2004 |
| It took the better part of a day and 6 people to load in all the raw materials for the construction of the studio. These include a stack of drywall over 13 feet high, a kilometer’s length of wood studs, 1400 square feet of flooring, and 1900 square feet of soundproofing material. Watch for photos in the Construction Zone Gallery… |
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