20 Amp

(Toronto, December 7, 2012) MuchFACT (A Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent) is pleased to announce the 55 award recipients from the December 6 and 7, 2012 jury meeting.

Three hundred and forty-five music video, viral video, epk and website applications were considered, and a total of $518,900.00 was awarded to the following:
- MuchFACT

(Toronto, December 7, 2012) MuchFACT (A Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent) is pleased to announce the 55 award recipients from the December 6 and 7, 2012 jury meeting.

Three hundred and forty-five music video, viral video, epk and website applications were considered, and a total of $518,900.00 was awarded to the following:
- MuchFACT

20 Amp Soundchild, the up-and-coming alternative band from Pickering, Ont. surprised staff and students at both the Oshawa and Whitby campuses with an unforgettable musical performance. - Durham College

While 2012 has already been a great year for 20 Amp Soundchild, it’s clear that the Canadian indie pop/rock act is on the verge of something much bigger. - PledgeMusic

Pickering's 20 Amp Soundchild just dropped their new vid for "Lights Go Out" thanks to a recent MuchFACT grant. The video explores those feelings of "alien"-ation (literarlly) felt during those awkward high school years. Directed by Mike Portoghese (who also did the Darcys' "Don't Bleed Me" video) and produced by Rory Halsall (Shawn Desmon/Danny Fernandes). Be sure to watch at the 3:22 mark for a good laugh and catch them January 28 at the Hideout (buy a birthday shot for bassist Dave!).

"There's just not enough aliens in music videos nowadays." - Mike Portoghese

Check it out now:
- Toronto Music Scene

Pickering's 20 Amp Soundchild just dropped their new vid for "Lights Go Out" thanks to a recent MuchFACT grant. The video explores those feelings of "alien"-ation (literarlly) felt during those awkward high school years. Directed by Mike Portoghese (who also did the Darcys' "Don't Bleed Me" video) and produced by Rory Halsall (Shawn Desmon/Danny Fernandes). Be sure to watch at the 3:22 mark for a good laugh and catch them January 28 at the Hideout (buy a birthday shot for bassist Dave!).

"There's just not enough aliens in music videos nowadays." - Mike Portoghese

Check it out now:
- Toronto Music Scene

This video was by far my favourite. Stop me if you’ve heard this one…an indie band gets double-booked to shoot their video along side a hip-hop artist. The result? Hi-jinks ensue

I won’t give anymore about the video away, because you should just watch it, but I will say a lot of production and creativity clearly went into it. I really like the song too. - Velvet Rope Magazine

Writing dozens of names on papers, and seemingly endless brainstorming to find a name, is a common occurrence for expectant parents. For local Oshawa band 20 Amp Soundchild, this signified the birth of their band.Though the method of acquiring their name was almost by accident, the chemistry of all four band members is more destiny.
This four-piece band is set to play at EP Taylor’s pub later this month and with their new EP, The Others, which was produced by Mike Turner of Crash Karma, (hitting sale numbers of over 750 to date), Nick Vieira, Justin Lant, Dave Hughes and Ryan Walker see bright things ahead.
Growing up in the same area of Pickering, all four guys had a love for music. Though they learned to play their selected instruments in different ways, they have merged together to create a band, which they describe as rock.
“We all grew up in Pickering, around the same block,” said Hughes, the bass guitarist.“I grew up with Nick, went to high school with Ryan, and Justin just lived down the street from me.” Walker, the band’s drummer, learned his craft at age 14. Hughes, the bassist, began playing in his early twenties after seeing a Primus show.The next day he went out and bought a bass. As for Justin Lant, his musical inspirations came earlier.
“ I always liked music and started playing a guitar when I was 13,” said guitarist Lant. Vocalist Nick Vieira began playing at a young age on drums. He learned from his dad, who was a percussionist, and then went on to master the guitar.
“The guitar I started out with only had three strings, so I learned all the bass notes,” said Vieira.“After that I learned the full guitar, then went on to work on my vocals.”
Though all four members played in previous bands, the past experiences have only helped them achieve their success as 20 Amp Soundchild.The name of their band came as a collaboration between effort and a fluke. “By day, I’m an electrician, so I was putting in a breaker and they were all 15 amps then they’re was a 20 in the box which wasn’t supposed to be there,” said Hughes. “ It stood out and that’s what we were trying to go for in the music scene.”
The band has performed in such local venues as the Junction,HorseshoeTavern and Thirsty Monk. When they are not working on their music or practising in the Rehearsal Factory in the heart of Oshawa, they also work different jobs.
Hughes is a full-time electrician, which is how the band got part of their name, Lant works as a landscaper, Walker is a video game tester and Vieira works as a butcher in Whitby.
These jobs help push them as a band to make their music a career. “In five years we would like to be touring and doing this as a living,” said Vieira. “To be touring, not be rich, but make enough off this to live, and travel for free. I have always wanted to travel.”
Their favourite part of performing as a band is the performance itself. “We really pay attention to rhythm and melody, so that everyone can get into it,” said Walker. “There is a freedom in performing. We are very driven by the crowd. It’s a total adrenaline rush.”
As they draw their inspirations from performers such as Primus, Green Day, Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead and U2, they also create their songs based around their own lives and musical ambitions.
“We just play what we like, add our different parts to it,” said Vieira. “If it has legs we work on it. The best songs are the ones that just come naturally, not forced. Most of our songs are about people in the band. It’s a lot of personal stuff. A lot of people try to write catchy pop songs. Our music is literally about people and experiences.”
As their Nov. 29 show at EP Taylor’s approaches, they prepare to amaze fans. “We put a lot of energy into our shows,”said Lant. “We go really hard and go all out and make our shows really intense.” - The Chronicle (Durham College/UOIT

November 9, 2011

Hey kids - check out the latest vid from 20 Amp Soundchild "Naked Silhouettes." These guys just got a FACTOR grant and will be filming another video come December. In the meantime we've got this baby off their debut The Others for your viewing pleasure.





Next show: Nov 17 | Oshawa's Thirsty Monk | FREE! w/Monster Truck - Toronto Music Scene

We received a MuchFACT grant for Lights Go Out music video - MuchFACT

20 amp soundchild being interviewed by Raina at 102.1 The Edge in Toronto for being indie online band of the month in June 2011 - 102.1 The Edge

The June 2011 Edge Indie Online winner is 20 Amp Soundchild. They will receive air play! - 102.1 The Edge Indie Online

The June 2011 Edge Indie Online winner is 20 Amp Soundchild. They will receive air play! - 102.1 The Edge Indie Online

Pickering four piece 20 Amp Soundchild are presently being featured on MTV Drops. The band's upcoming five song EP titled The Others, which will be released April 19th, is now streaming on MTV.ca. The EP was produced by Mike Turner of Crash Karma. - durhamregion.com

"I saw them at the Horseshoe and just knew we could do something good. I'm proud of the EP..." - durhamregion.com

MTV Drops presents five exclusive tracks from the upcoming 20 Amp Soundchild album 'The Others,' featuring the brand new tracks 'Wonderful' and 'Iron Eyes'! Pick it up everywhere on Tuesday, April 19, 2011. - MTV.ca

Straight ahead radio-friendly rock band from Pickering, Ontario, who have opened for everyone from Kim Mitchell to My Darkest Days. Their new album is being produced by Mike Turner, ex of Our Lady Peace and currently with Crash Karma. - Explore Music w/ Alan Cross

After recently mastering a new EP for 20 Amp Soundchild, I spoke with producer, Mike Turner. He’s a great performer turned producer with the behind-the-scene insights on the music world today. Enjoy!

AC: Can you tell me about Pocket Studios today?

MT: I developed Pocket Studios as a great place for bands to work where we offer the very best gear, without the frills. We turn out radio ready music in terms of the sonics, without the larger overhead of the ‘big’ studios. They also get the benefits of my experience as a producer and player. My background as a musician and the people I’ve worked with like Arnold Lanni and Bob Rock, has given me a unique insight into the producing process. And I’m keeping busy! At the end of the day, everybody in the business is just trying to turn music into food! (we’re both laughing at this point) But I still love what I’m doing, and I just never found the exit sign! My mantra is ‘do good work’ and that’s how I run Pocket.

AC: How do you approach producing?




MT: When a band gets to a certain professional level, I think that making a record is a balance between doing the best you can do, then accepting the best you can do. A recording is a kind of snapshot of who you are today. In contrast to a live performance, which is very ephemeral, recording is a process. And everybody wants the perfect take, the best song, the perfect solo….you can spend a lot of time sweating the details. The low cost of recording today allows you to do that. But sometimes to get the hypothetical last 2%……is just being too hard on yourself with questionable returns. If you’ve crested in your performance after 5 or 6 takes, well, you’re done. For me, I look for that take that may not be technically perfect, but has an emotional hook and is speaking to me. When I get that, I know I’m there. Many of the other details I can work on later. I like to tell the band,”I hope in five years time you can play the heck out of this song! Why would you want to stop growing?”

AC: What do you think about the industry today?

MT: From a production side, the budgets have changed. Bands are spending their dollar three times over, trying to get the most they can. One problem is that many people don’t value themselves enough to ask for what they deserve. I work hard and have a high standard. I try to work within the band’s budget, but I know the value of my own work and the great value at Pocket as well. Taking too many shortcuts can lead to compromising quality and professional standards and I just won’t do that.

The big change in the industry, over the last 10 years, is that record labels are not signing bands and giving them a budget to go out and record. Record labels today just buy the finished project. If an engineer/producer works on a first album at a low promo rate to help the band out, when it comes time for the next album, they’ll probably be expected to work at that same low promo rate. The band’s budget will not have changed.

AC: How’s the 20Amp Soundchild project fit in your Pocket?

MT: We had great sessions and they’re a great band – So many special things – like the many nuances, the lead singer does, really an amazingly expressive voice, lots of interesting voiced guitar chords, very beautiful! They really have powerful songs – I felt that the first time I heard them play live. In this latest EP, they’ve really focused their style and sound.

Mike A. Turner musician and producer, was the former lead guitarist of the band Our Lady Peace, and played in Fair Ground, and his latest band, Crash Karma, who launched their self-titled debut CD in 2010. Inspired by his work with producers Arnold Lanni (Our Lady Peace, Simple Plan, Finger Eleven) and Bob Rock (Our Lady Peace, The Tragically Hip, Metallica, The Cult), he became very involved in the production side of the industry and opened up his recording studio, Pocket Studios in Toronto. As a producer Mike won best new rock single of the year at the Canadian Broadcast Awards for Afflicted by Age of Daze, and is up for the same honour this year with the single, Awake from his recent Crash Karma record.

20Amp Soundchild will be releasing their new album on April 19. Look for the big bash at Clinton’s Tavern in Toronto! MTV is already doing a Drops segment on the band leading up to the release. Catch the band in Oshawa as they open for Hollerado on March 25 at the Status Lounge.

Adrian Carr is a 4 times Grammy Nominated mastering engineer, and resident mastering advisor and contributor at the Music Producers Forum. For more information on Adrian’s work, visit www.acmastering.com


- music producers forum

Durham's 20 Amp Soundchild have been a busy little band. The group have their new EP coming out on April 19th, with a CD Release Party on April 21st.

In the meantime, they've got a bunch of dates coming up, including tonight at the El Mocambo.

After that, the band play The Hideout on Feb. 17th and open for Hollerado March 25th.

- T.O. Snob Music

You were involved in the music production for the new CK record. Will you be taking a break or can we expect more music from a production standpoint?

I certainly hope so! I’ve been producing for a while now and enjoy the musical collaboration that it presents. Check out ‘Bury The Bully’ or more recently ‘Sixxxer’ as well as ‘Age Of Daze’ as examples of what I’ve been up to on that front and look out for ’20 Amp Soundchild’ that should be done in the next few weeks. I’m always looking for interesting projects to be involved with and excited by. - www.canadianmusicians.com

Pickering rockers 20 Amp Soundchild play a show at the Horseshoe in Toronto tonight. I had the chance to ask the band a few questions about their thoughts on music, etc before they blow your ears off.
- t.o.snob music

"For those who like: Bedouin Soundclash, The Stills

Blending rock, pop, and other sundry styles, this Pickering band holds huge crossover potential while not sucking...that's not an easy thing to do." - t.o.snob music

"This week we welcomed back Pickering based, 20 Amp Soundchild to the studio. The band members returned to Cherry Beach Sound for the recording and mixing of several additional songs for their debut album. The guys have been working very hard on their new album and continue to tour throughout the GTA and Durham."

- Cherry Beach Sound