Harea Band

“Magic” is a slow jam love song by Harea Band featuring footage shot at The Gladstone Theatre interspersed with video clips of “magic moments” sent in by friends and family.

Alex Harea, lead singer and frontman, shares the process behind the new song and video with Apt613: “Magic is a song that was written a few years ago. The recording came together over a two year period where we were experimenting and refining our sound and not releasing any music. The song has always been really special to me and has always been a magic moment during our live performances. I thought that, as a feel-good and sentimental song, it would be nice to release it before the end of this crazy year.”

Directed by Ottawa filmmaker Jeff Watkins, the idea to create a video made up of submitted clips came from not being able to get people together due to the pandemic, “but also from wanting to provide the community with an opportunity to be a part of something together,” says Harea. “We asked the public to share their ‘Magic Moments’ and left that very open-ended.”

The music video deftly combines the professional footage of the Harea Band’s live performance (Alex Harea accompanied by producer Caylan Penny on keys) with heartwarming home video clips. We see beautiful love shown in couples kissing, moments with pets, hot coffee, raw beauty of nature, and so much more. Enjoy the magic of the holiday season with this new music video and take a moment for gratitude. - Apt613

At first, quarantine seemed temporary, feeling almost like a vacation. By month three, we realized it might be sticking around for a while.

We know just how many local businesses suffered the effects of shutdowns. However, one industry we might not think of, also affected by the distancing rules, is the music industry. With all in-person events and especially concerts and festivals cancelled, musicians have effectively had their primary form of income disappear, and on top of that have had to find other ways to be creative.

The music continues to flow to our #ottmusic weekly and Spotify New Music Friday releases as if nothing happened, but have you ever thought of how music actually gets created behind the scenes of a nice album cover and a catchy title?

Today, let’s meet Harea Band, a local pop/soul band that released their newest song “It’s Your Birthday” just last month. It was produced and recorded all from the band members’ own homes. No studio meet-ups or recording sessions. Recording a new song isn’t as straightforward as jumping on a Zoom call with your co-workers, so let’s hear from Alex Harea, the singer, songwriter, and bandleader, about the process and how it all felt:

Apt613: How come you decided to release a new song during quarantine? Why this song?
Alex Harea: The plan for 2020 was always to release five new singles, and we didn’t want to let the COVID-19 pandemic affect our plans negatively. The fact that we were all locked up and not working for three months made it more important in my mind that we get some music out for two reasons. The public needs music and art in tough times like this, and it was important for us to release a song with a positive message and vibe to break through the doom of the pandemic.

We also felt this was necessary for the well-being of the local arts community. We took this as an opportunity to allow local artists to spread their creative wings and be a part of something together, even if not in person. Aside from the positive fun vibes of the song, we also released this as a celebration of my birthday.

Tell us the story behind recording virtually. How did it all play out?
This was a first for us and definitely won’t be the last. A huge shoutout goes out to our keyboardist and music director Caylan Penny who really made this happen. He created a skeleton of the song electronically, basically just drums, bass, and keys. Then he dropped the track in a shared Google Drive and everyone started laying out their ideas over it and adding in the Drive too. Everyone got their ideas down and Steve Foley worked his magic on the mixing, turning it into a real bangin’ pop song.

The most important part of this process was allowing the creatives to do their thing with very little creative input or control coming from me. I wanted the musicians, the designer, and the videographer to feel the freedom to do what they do. This was so important to me from the get-go, since the artists have been forced to be at home, and might have been feeling the negative effects of the pandemic. I wanted this to be a moment where they could let that all go and truly insert their own feelings into the song.

What do you miss the most as a performer?
I personally miss the local community the most. I miss being able to hop around from show to show on a weekend and see familiar faces, have a drink with friends, and enjoy how music brings us all together.

When it comes to me performing, I definitely miss the exchange of energy that takes place between the audience and the performer. Performing to me is a conversation between the audience and me, and I do feel a part of me is missing.

That being said, I’m in no rush. The health of my friends, family, and community is far more important to me than being able to perform right now.

How has your life as a creative shifted because of quarantine? What have you been focusing on?
Time has been beautiful. Having the time to get out of bed, make a coffee, and sit with my guitar or my laptop for a few hours every day and let the creativity flow has been a real blessing. Life has started to get busy again recently but I’m really trying my best to allow myself at least some of that time every day. Over the past three months, I’ve focused mainly on learning more about music production, and focusing on my mental health in the form of self-care, fitness, and maintaining deep connections with friends, family, and loved ones even when we can’t physically be together.

What’s the best way to support you?
Share as much as possible. If you’ve ever found yourself enjoying something we’ve made, tell your friends about it, share it on your social media, and help us reach even more people! Follow our Spotify, like your favourite songs, and check out the behind-the-scenes on our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts. - Apy613

The Harea Band got things off to an energetic start early Tuesday night under the Bluesville tent, with their sophisticated brand of pop funk jazziness that had the crowd unable to sit still. I was immediately taken by the music and its uplifting themes which flowed straight into my heart and straight down to my feet.

From the first song, lead singer Alex Harea commanded the stage and took the audience on a feel-good ride of infectious rhythms and a multi-instrumental, genre-hopping melange of pop, jazz, latin and disco flavours. Harea’s vocal melodies were percussive and at times wove in and out of falsetto and spoken segments.

The band has now grown into a six-piece from what started as a trio in 2013. Each was highlighted individually, with a special and specific job to do, but together they brought a magical gel of wall to wall sound. Founder, lead singer, and principal songwriter Alex Harea talks about the evolution of the band and the music:

“I started the project in 2013, with Mike Giamberadino, who at the time was our original drummer. We’ve gone through a lot of line-up changes since we began as a trio, and now we’re a six piece and have been so for the past year. We now have a new drummer and Mike has shifted over to electronic percussion and keyboard. We’ve also been reshaping our sound from what was more of an indie/pop sound. A lot of those earlier songs are now cut out of our setlist and have been taken down from social media while we go through a big rebrand. Our main focus is building our PR and social media presence, pushing our content, putting out really good music, and spreading our wings a little more across Canada. We like to make people dance with the new music we’re putting out now. I’m a big Jamiroquai fan… I like that modern latina soul kinda sound, a fusion of pop and rhythmic soul music.”

Early in the set, a song called “Kingscript” jumped out with its thick bassline and its 80’s new age vibrancy which was brought to life with a great use of effects processors on both keyboards and guitar. Their flavourful use of synth added the right amount of bells and whistles to the material, while maintaining a very organic sound.

Their new single release, “Please Hold”, took a turn into a slow rocking three quarter blues, with smouldering minor chords that were very reminiscent of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper”. Beautiful rhythm builds with matching vocal accents brought some nice textural breaks in the flow of the song. Very pretty harmonies sung by Cynthia Tauro, a great guitar solo by Liam Meagher, and short sax synth interludes by way of Mike Giamberadino on the talk box also created additional dimension.

“Try It Again” marked a return to the faster-paced material that retriggered the crowd’s dancing feet. Cynthia shone once again as she played out a cool jazz progression on the keys while bassist Harrison Singer plugged out a thick backbone drive, ever present in all the material. At one point, the band cleared to the side of the stage to let Andrew Ferderber loose on the drum kit with a solo that brought a swell of applause from the audience. As the set continued, the audience grew into a massive crowd that surrounded the stage, and by the end, didn’t want to let them go. Harea Band is definitely making a name for themselves in Ottawa and their performance at Bluesfest most definitely garnered them another fine fresh crop of fans. - Apt613

Harea Band are back with a brand new video for the single “Drop and Dance” off their upcoming EP All The Hits. I say they’re back, but the reality is they never really went away. The five-piece band, lead by principal songwriter Alex Harea, was formed in 2012 and brought together a diverse array of talented individuals with varied musical backgrounds.

This collective takes elements of pop, soul, folk, funk, hip hop, jazz, blues and world music, and effectively fuses them into uplifting, melodic, and downright funky-ass tunes. Since their formation, they’ve been continuously active and have been invited to play notable shows at The Black Sheep Inn, Ottawa Jazz Festival, CityFolk Festival, and other venues across Ontario. Needless to say, this is one hard-working group of musicians – and it shows.

This style can be heard nowhere better than their 2014 EP Hip Hip Harea, an 5-track album that doesn’t try to break any musical boundaries, but succeeds in providing a fun listening experience front-to-back and translates into intoxicating live energy on stage.

Speaking of intoxicating, let’s talk about their new video for a minute. “Drop and Dance” is a step in another direction for Harea Band as they’ve taken their uplifting, soulful sound and injected a little more funk and disco-inspired aspects into the track. Although the whole album isn’t available yet, this probably signifies an evolution of a band that wants to keep people smiling and dancing, but with new sounds and rhythms over time.

The video’s subject is a young, overworked office dweller that experiences the mundane motions of the 9-to-5 life. This is something a lot of people in Ottawa can probably identify with, but our friend in the video takes it… well, to the extreme.

Filmed at Live On Elgin!, the video follows the subject as he parties to oblivion, refusing to let the boring desk job define his life. However, we can also see how this over-the-top lifestyle isn’t necessarily all it’s cracked up to be either – he experiences some unnecessary violence, performs some not-so-impressive dance moves, and probably sets himself up for a pretty mean hangover the next day.

All The Hits will be released April 28th at KM Theatre (Carleton University campus) starting at 7pm. It’s an all ages show, and $10 at the door (or PWYC if you’re a student), so be sure to head on over and see what the band has in store. Enjoy the video for “Drop and Dance” below. - Ottawa Showbox

It’s been a pretty big week for Ottawa’s Harea Band. They have a new EP coming out on April 28 and they’ve just been called up to the majors once again for their second year in a row performing at the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival. For frontman Alex Harea, this all must feel like a homerun for a band who nearly didn’t get to play their first gig because their bassist wasn’t old enough to get into the club.

The band has been in a state of constant evolution since forming in 2012. Alex was playing gigs in town solo while attending his first year of music studies at Carleton, when he decided he wanted to get a team together. He first called drummer Mike Giamberardino to bat. Things started to grow from there with the duo adding another guitar, synths and additional vocals to a changing line-up that they may have settled upon with this release.

One spin of the coming EP, All the Hits, shows how the band has matured in the year since their last festival performance. Along with some band tweaks, the sound also has a bit more pop compared to their first EP Hip Hip Harea. Calling your second release All the Hits might seem like a bold move, but when every tune is a solid one the music backs it up.

“For all of us it was pretty clear which songs were going to go on our next release. They were all of our favourites. Recording them was an absolute blast,” says Harea, explaining how the release was the result of one long week in the studio last October.

“We ended up just renting the studio for seven days where we could record our tracks anytime we wanted day or night. Needless to say, we basically lived there. It was a cool experience to work together like that in close quarters and also be able to experiment as much as we want. The whole experience brought us closer as a band.”

All The Hits CoverYou can hear the fun the band had in the recording process in the EP’s first single “Drop and Dance”. It’s a pumped-up tune that gets you moving. It seems of another era, dialled in on the radio while you’re cruising one summer evening in upper 1970’s Manhattan or later on that night while you work up a sweat on the dance floor at Studio 54. It’s hard to believe this catchy track or “What You Need”, a groove that is so Motown you wonder if Harea got the Funk Brothers to play backup, were first composed on an acoustic guitar.

“I will write a song on my own with an acoustic guitar and bring it to the band’s next rehearsal,” explains Alex, describing his writing process. “Mike and I work really well together at developing the songs to bring out the potential it has. All five of us have a really fun time working out songs together. There usually isn’t too much disagreement.”

Though the band’s camaraderie is clear during their stage performances, they haven’t been immune to some well placed ribbing. Alex says that the recent addition of Cynthia Tauro has reined in some of their off stage antics and made them a stronger group.

“We get along better when there is a girl around. She has become the mother of the group.”

You can hear her on the EP’s closing track, “Our Love’s Been Cookin’” which, as another funky dance number, is sure to translate well live as Harea’s smooth vocals slow you down for a few moments mid-song and kick you back up again into wanting to move your feet.

Related: TD Ottawa Jazz Festival Announces Diverse 2016 Line-Up

The band is planning on a few tours wrapped around their summer gigs but, mainly, they feel they are ready to step up their game.

“We are actually looking to acquire some form of management because we feel we are at that point now where it’s something that would really help us out, and I want to do another release in less than two years,” says Harea. “So really the plan is to keep playing and keep growing our name and our brand.”

- See more at: http://www.ottawalife.com/2016/04/harea-band-hits-a-grand-slam-with-new-ep/#sthash.L9hr4qf6.dpuf - Ottawa Life Magazine

As the release of their second EP, All the Hits, prepares for launch, Canadian pop/soul group, Harea Band, drops an energetic music video to make you dance.

While the track itself is groovy and spirited, it’s the pacing of the video that really sells the story. The video features the journey of a man, bored and impatient with his office job, who finds himself venturing into the downtown scene, where the wilder moments of the night await him. Between some dance floor action, hallucinations from a brownie, and an appetite for living the wild life, this track shows its playful side fearlessly.

But “Drop and Dance” isn’t just a groovy, dance track; it’s also a stylish one. Throughout the 5-minute video, theatrical clips of black and white films are featured to accompany the lyrics. This effect really heightens elements of the track and compliments the playful vibe. And while a large portion of the video offers this sense of urgency – both in the music and on screen – the downtempo midsection responds in an almost dreamy, euphoric way (thanks to the brownie) before returning to the chorus in a booming climax.
This first single from Harea Band’s new EP is a fun and energetic step in the right direction. Prepare yourself – it’s time to dance. - Apartment 613

It all started when I heard a voice in my head. That strange voice was Babe Ruth. He was telling me that Harea Band was gonna play all the hits and knock it out of the park.

The first two lines is how Alex Harea, band lead for Harea Band, started his show releasing the band's newest EP. It could not have been more fitting for the band to have picked a baseball theme for this new album. From the sound to the branding of the album, this Ottawa-based band hit a home run with "All the Hits". The line up of the songs during the showcase, the music video they created and the immersive show they performed wrapped up the theme impeccably! Seriously, from the addition of the brass instruments in the upbeat songs to the coziness that entered the room when Alex played acoustically, the band was taking us on a journey. A retro, jazzy and grungy kind of journey. To give you an idea of what I mean by that, just check out the music video for the song Drop and Dance (one of my fave tracks on the EP). It's kinda dirty, kinda grungy, kinda retro and a hell of a lot of fun!
I was first introduced to Harea Band when I took an interest in knowing more about my friend Liam's musical ventures outside of work. I met with him and Alex to chat more about their story and how the band and the sound came together. Here's a brief summary of what was discussed over a glass of wine on a week night (tsk tsk).

The Harea Band story started as a few students from the Carleton University program came together to create some tracks a few years ago. The band went through a few changes since their first EP, Hip Hip Harea (clever, right?) and it now consists of 5 members. 4 boys, 1 girl. Since the addition of a few more members, including a woman, the sound got more full, the rehearsals got more structured and the vibe is all around fun. For this album, the team worked with two different recording companies and worked with other local Ottawa music pros to produce their tracks and videos. Something that surprised and fascinated me was that the whole process for making the "All the Hits" EP took under a year to produce. When you hear all the tracks and all the musical and lyrical layers in them, it's totally impressive...especially for me, a non-musical person. All in all, the group dynamic seems to be what keeps them working together and propelling them in the Ottawa music scene. With two of the members just graduating university and the others working, it's still everyone's common goal to get noticed around some of Canada's biggest cities, notably Toronto, where they've already got some shows lined up...watch out 6 God Drake!

All The Hits and Home Runs
May 13
All The Hits and Home Runs
Stories
It all started when I heard a voice in my head. That strange voice was Babe Ruth. He was telling me that Harea Band was gonna play all the hits and knock it out of the park.

The first two lines is how Alex Harea, band lead for Harea Band, started his show releasing the band's newest EP. It could not have been more fitting for the band to have picked a baseball theme for this new album. From the sound to the branding of the album, this Ottawa-based band hit a home run with "All the Hits". The line up of the songs during the showcase, the music video they created and the immersive show they performed wrapped up the theme impeccably! Seriously, from the addition of the brass instruments in the upbeat songs to the coziness that entered the room when Alex played acoustically, the band was taking us on a journey. A retro, jazzy and grungy kind of journey. To give you an idea of what I mean by that, just check out the music video for the song Drop and Dance (one of my fave tracks on the EP). It's kinda dirty, kinda grungy, kinda retro and a hell of a lot of fun!

I was first introduced to Harea Band when I took an interest in knowing more about my friend Liam's musical ventures outside of work. I met with him and Alex to chat more about their story and how the band and the sound came together. Here's a brief summary of what was discussed over a glass of wine on a week night (tsk tsk).

The Harea Band story started as a few students from the Carleton University program came together to create some tracks a few years ago. The band went through a few changes since their first EP, Hip Hip Harea (clever, right?) and it now consists of 5 members. 4 boys, 1 girl. Since the addition of a few more members, including a woman, the sound got more full, the rehearsals got more structured and the vibe is all around fun. For this album, the team worked with two different recording companies and worked with other local Ottawa music pros to produce their tracks and videos. Something that surprised and fascinated me was that the whole process for making the "All the Hits" EP took under a year to produce. When you hear all the tracks and all the musical and lyrical layers in them, it's totally impressive...especially for me, a non-musical person. All in all, the group dynamic seems to be what keeps them working together and propelling them in the Ottawa music scene. With two of the members just graduating university and the others working, it's still everyone's common goal to get noticed around some of Canada's biggest cities, notably Toronto, where they've already got some shows lined up...watch out 6 God Drake!

My 5 highlights of the show:

1. The songs Drop and Dance and Smile.

2. The baseball-themed branding made all the hits a home run!

3. The band dynamic...All the band members seemed like they were having a blast the whole time. Made me want to get on stage with them...but I don't think that would've been welcomed.

4. The songs are catchy! I love it when I hear a song I like, can hear the lyrics, like the lyrics and remember the lyrics and melody. All the hits could be on the radio and hope they will be very soon!

5. The encore. Two words: R Kelly. - Dear Emilie G

The finalists, Alex Harea, Dylan Phillips, Sarah Bradley, Kelsey Hayes, MacKenzie Di Millo, Jillian Kerr and Ty Hall, covered quite the gamut musically. - Ottawa Showbox

More cool music from the inbox in the form of a debut single from Harea Band, a pop trio from Ottawa boasting the perfect track for your last few weeks for summer. Though the band has only been around six odd months, it doesn’t matter one bit – “Room for You” is a wonderfully upbeat tune which instantly gives me a little bit of a Graceland-era Paul Simon vibe. This is in large part due to an incredibly tight rhythm section of bassist Andrew Richer and drummer Mike Giamberardino. Frontman and band namesake Alex Harea’s vocal style is smooth and inviting, showcasing his range through a tasteful key change in the bridge (love that part), and though the guitar playing may not be the first thing in the piece that catches your ear, my guitar nerd brain thinks it’s the coolest clean tone I’ve heard in a while. I like this – watch out for these three around Ottawa! - Music Notes Blog

Harea Band, a three piece group with Algonquin student Andrew Richer playing bass, took the title of this year’s Battle of the Bands, qualifying them for the next round of competitions.

The 2013 edition of Algonquin’s Battle of the Bands kicked off in the Observatory on March 12, showcasing bands from the Ottawa area.

The Observatory, packed with exuberant music fans, saw five bands each get a turn to play a 20-minute set. Blast from the Sun, 60 Glisson Road, Columbia Columbia, S.A.G.E. and Harea Band all graced the stage for a chance to continue towards the Central Canadian last band standing competition.

The bands featured in the show, had to have at least one member from Algonquin to qualify for the competition. The winner, would be decided by a group of judges who voted based on attributes like; originality, proficiency, style, and stage presence

Alex Harea, the vocalist and guitar player for Harea band, started his career with open mics and cafes around the city, and started performing solo at 18 years old.

“Both of my parents are musicians,” Alex said. “I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember.”

The three-piece band has surprisingly only been rehearsing together for four months. “Mike and Andrew have been playing music together forever,” Alex said, explaining the chemistry the group has found in the short period they’ve been together.”It’s really cool playing (live) with guys I really get along with”

Blast from the Sun took the stage first and set the bar high with a blend of alternative rock, blues, reggae and funk. The band, led by front man Justin Guindon had a lively performance and looked as comfortable on stage as they did off.

Between the sets, classic songs like Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean rang through the speakers.

60 Glisson Road took the stage next, and made sure the judges weren’t going to have an easy decision. With a unique blend of blues, jazz, alternative and hard rock, they got the crowd singing along.

Columbia Columbia, with an alternative-grunge-funk sound, was next. Their extremely energetic performance closed with a cover of the infamous Rage Against the Machine song, Bulls On Parade.

S.A.G.E., the fourth band to take the stage, and the first with a true heavy-metal sound, got members of the audience on their feet and rocking out.

At this point the audience seems to be delighted by the performances.

“(The biggest surprise) probably was how talented every band was,” Holden Croucher, a 20-year old Music student at Algonquin said, “they all look like they’ve played live lots”

Finally Harea band came out to play. With a pop-soul-rock vibe, they soon garner the attention of a large crowd at the front.

In the end all five bands played incredible sets to enthused fans, but there could only be one winner.

The next leg of the competition will see Harea Band travel down to Brock University in St. Catherines. The show brings the band closer towards the Central Canadian last band standing competition. The winner of the Central Canadian competition earns touring rights to 12 colleges in Ontario. This will be Harea Band’s first show outside the city. - Algonquin Times

Having won their preliminary round and then their Winner's Circle/quarter-final stage, Harea Band was victorious last night winning the ballot vote at the Lunenburg Pub & Bar and will thus advance to the Beerfest Championship/Final in December 2013. The jazzy-pop trio out of Carleton University, who had just formed when they first played Beerfest in December 2012, showed their finest form yet at the event, and the large audience responded by crowding to the front of the intimate stage. - Beerfest battle of the bands

The next act was The Harea Band.
Pretty much a new up and coming Ottawa act.
Finally got to see what they sound like.
They had that indie pop rock sound to them.
Got the audience getting into their music.
All I know was they ended off with a song about wanting to get laid. - Photogmusic

We meet up with Tim Van Dyke, founder of Lunch, an Ottawa-based caterer, food truck lunch distributor which many local locations and always growing. We talk about how they got their start on Bank street, the charities they help out with, the local companies they use, their future and much more! Music from the up and coming Harea Band! - Nick Bachusky

If there’s one style of music that is filling Ottawa’s airwaves more and more over the last few years, it’s soul. Harea Band have been around for quite a while now, and they’re going to be taking over Babylon Nightclub on Friday night to serve up some soulful tracks, including their new single “Must Be a Dream” with support from local heavyweights Slack Bridges and Aspects & Jeff DeValk. DJ Breakthru will keep the party going on the turntables until late.

The new single finds itself at the crossroads of soul, funk, and modern pop music, which is a turn in a different direction for the band. They approach the song with a confidence that is audible from the first measure.

“This track was a bit of a leap for us,” explains Harea. “We flew up Mixerman from Asheville N.C. who’s a multi platinum award winning producer and worked it pretty much from the ground up. We did a lot of writing in the studio so the creative and recording process all kind of happened at the same time. I’m not sure if it’s a new step, but it’s definitely a step forward, and we hope people like the direction we are going.”

Harea Band is using the night at Babylon to do more than just release their new song. Chef Leroy from Detroit Soul Food will be serving up some delicious goodies for patrons, because what goes better with soul music than soul food? His recipes have appeared at a few parties at Babylon in the past, and needless to say—they are always a smash hit.

“We wanted to host an event that offered more than just a show, and we thought Slack Bridges were the perfect guys to team up with,” says Harea. “Garett (Slack Bridges’ bassist) is kind of known for putting on killer events in the region and our sound works well together. When Babylon asked if I’d be interested in hosting and promoting our own after party as well, we decided on making the whole evening as soulful as possible. Chef LeRoy from Detroit Soul Food cooks up some of the best comfort food in town and it just all fell together. Doesn’t get much more soulful than funky live music, fried chicken, and James Brown!”

Slack Bridges, who are renowned among the local music scene for getting the party going with their boisterous stage presence. Both bands will be partaking in Bangers & Mash Soul Festival happening on April 14th at House of Targ and Black Squirrel Books. There will be an after party with DJ Breakthru going late once the live music is finished, appropriately titled “James Brown Night.” The dance party will also double as a fundraiser for Bangers & Mash, which means there will be raffle prizes available from Ottawa Jazz Fest, Beau’s Oktoberfest, Noisy Kitchen Hot Sauce, Yuk Yuk’s, Happy Goat Coffee, Turning Point Records, Compact Music, and Burgers n’ Fries Forever. Attendees can buy raffle tickets for $2 each, or $5 for 3, or $10 for 7.

“We’re gonna dance for sure,” ensures Harea. “All the acts are gonna bring it so we can keep the dance floor hot all night and DJ Breakthru is keeping the party going late with an all-vinyl James Brown night. Fried chicken and waffles plus deep friend cookies will keep everyone fed! It’s really a one stop shop for a good time.”

Tickets are no longer available in advance, but plenty will be available at the door. Check out the video for “Must be a Dream” below. - Ottawa Showbox

If there’s one thing we can agree on about the holiday season, it’s that togetherness really brings the cheer. That’s the idea behind one of Ottawa’s hottest December parties happening this weekend at Babylon, as Music.Art.Ppl present Holiday Boogie. The all-night party mashes together some great music, food, and visual art Ottawa has going, and offers an immersive experience for concert-goers.

Music.Art.Ppl is a growing collective the encourages artists to put their heads together and collaborate in order to curate events that electrify the senses. The growing organization has gone from small room parties to big club bangers over the last few years, and the upcoming Holiday Boogie event is no exception. The night will include a DJ, live painters, visual projections, fun decorations, and, of course, delicious food.

The live music programming for the evening focuses on a few bands straight out of Ottawa’s ever-expanding soul, funk, and R&B scene. Earlier this year, Harea Band joined forces with local powerhouse Slack Bridges in the first event of this kind at Babylon. This time, the band returns with another of the city’s soul staples—The Commotions—as well the charismatic soul-rock band The Lionyls. One thing’s for sure—this lineup will get your feet shuffling and hips swaying.

“I just really wanted to throw the best holiday party I could,” explains Alex Harea. “It’s not just about the live music, but the experience. I wanted to bring together who I feel to be some of the best bands in the city, tie it in with DJs , visuals, and food. I guess the approach came from me thinking about what I would want at a holiday party. In the end, I throw parties that I would want to attend, and I hope the rest of the city wants to attend too!”

To make things even more interesting, artists Coblou and Emilie Darlington will be live painting throughout the night, and local photographer and illustrator Nick Revine will be showcasing his stunning works. To close the night out, DJs Pithra, Birks & Socks, and SmoothK will keep the party alive spinning the best soul, funk and disco you want to hear. - Ottawa Showbox

A local lineup of funk, disco and soul bands are joining forces for a holiday dance party at Babylon Nightclub this Saturday, December 15. The Commotions, Harea Band and The Lionyls are performing alongside visual artists and deejays for Holiday Boogie on Bank Street. Doors open at 8:30pm.

There’s going to be live painting by Coblou and Emilie Darlington throughout the night, plus a showcase of artworks by local photographer and illustrator Nick Revine.

Chef LeRoy of Detroit Soul Food fame will be serving up hot food and Music.Art.Ppl deejays Pithra, Birks & Socks, plus SmoothK will be pumping out funk music until closing time at 2am. - Apt613

Harea Band take you into the studio with their funky pop tune “Must Be A Dream”. - Ride the Tempo

We spoke with Ottawa’s own Harea Band surrounding the release of their new single, “Must Be A Dream”. The band is currently putting the finishing touches on their sophomore album, which will be released later this year. Check out the video below, and find out more about them in our newest segment of Five Questions With.

Care to introduce yourself to our readers?

Hello readers! My name is Alex Harea. I’m the primary writer and singer in Harea Band.

Tell us a bit about your music and writing style.

Harea Band is a pop/soul/R&B group. Our music is heavily inspired by 70’s funk and the R&B writers of the 90’s. Combine those influences with our love for hip-hop as well as jazz that we all studied in university and you get an interesting and unique brand of pop music that is sure to get you dancing.

Do you have any upcoming shows? For someone who has yet to see you live, how would you explain your live performance?

We play Banger & Mash Soul Music Festival at House of Targ April 14 in Ottawa, CMW in Toronto in May, and Blacksheep Inn June 16th in Wakefield QC.

Our live performances are definitely high energy and engaging. We hope everyone comes away remembering one of the unique moments we try to create on stage between musicians and the audience. If not hopefully we got your booty shaking at least!

If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?

“Must be a Dream” is our newest release and we think you’ll love it!

Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/ artists?

Right now we are all big fans of Daniel Caeser, the amazing R&B singer/songwriter out of Toronto. I also love Charlotte Day Wilson and Geoffroy. - Canadian Beats Media

Pinch us, Ottawa—our city’s very own Harea Band has released a video for their exceptional new single “Must Be a Dream”. If you’ve been waiting for something to tide you over until their sophomore album later this year, this is it: it’s the perfect showcase for the band’s fun-loving, funk-pop stylings, and a great way to whet your appetite for their performance tonight (April 14) at House of Targ as part of the Bangers and Mash: Soul Festival.

This toe-tapping track thoroughly captures the feel-good, funky dance spirit that the band is known for, and was “inspired by those moments that you just can’t believe are happening, whether they are good or bad,” the band recently told Bytown Sound.

Since their last album, All the Hits, was released in 2016, the band has been touring, playing frequent shows around the city, and regularly releasing new videos and singles. This dynamic six-piece group is comprised of professional musicians trained largely in the areas of jazz and composition: it’s a talented lineup that includes three vocalists, drums, bass, guitar, and two keyboard players, making for a solid foundation on which they’ve built a sound that’s purely their own.

It’s a position from which the band has worked to raise the profile of music in Ottawa. “We don’t want the public to have the mindset that local music isn’t good or subpar [compared] to bands coming in from out of town,” they told Bytown Sound, as they’ve done their part to further encourage other local musicians to “take themselves seriously” to help inspire people to leave the comfort of their homes for the city’s many live venues.

Support that spirit by checking out the video, and then head to House of Targ tonight for this hometown neo-soul ensemble will be taking the stage. Snag your tickets here (link) and go get your groove on, Ottawa! - Bytown Sound

The soulful song was produced by Eric Sarafin (Ben Harper, Barenaked Ladies) and features performances by vocalist Alex Harea and his collaborators Mike Giamberardino, Cynthia Tauro, Andrew Ferderber, Harrison Singer and Liam Meagher—a band who produce a deeper, funkier, dancier track every time they hit record.

This rhythm section is funk-fueled, soulful and tight. You can see how true that is by heading to Babylon Nightclub this Friday night when Harea Band take to the stage with support from locals Slack Bridges and Aspects & Jeff DeValk. Chef Leroy from Detroit Soul Food is going to be cooking up delicious and cheap eats all night.

Watch all of “Must Be a Dream” performed in the video below, or find the track on Spotify where previous single “Please Hold” is available along with Harea Band’s All The Hits album and Hip Hip Harea EP.
Harea Band is performing at Babylon Nightclub (317 Bank St) with special guests Slack Bridges, Aspects & Jeff DeValk on March 2, 2018. Doors open at 9pm. Tickets cost $10 online. DJ Breakthru is handling the after party co-presented by Bangers and Mash Soul Music Festival. - Apt613

After several years of cooking funky, soulful and sexy tunes, the magnetic six piece Harea Band will be “getting lit” on Thursday June 8 with a fiery night of pop, funk and soul.

After two zesty EPs, tours between Ontario and Quebec, and energetic performances across many local venues and popular festivals, Harea Band is trying something new – and groovy – as they Get Lit at Mercury Lounge. According to lead singer Alex Harea, the night of funk and pop will be less concert and more dance party.



“We want to play music that a lot of younger people grew up with, as well as Harea Band songs. We want it to become a heavy night of dance music for everyone to enjoy.”

Along with performances of some of their original tracks, Harea Band will also be diving into a collection of early 2000’s pop and more, performing colourful covers of Backstreet Boys, TLC and R. Kelly, to name a few.

“Regardless if someone is a fan of Harea Band or not, we want people to come out, dance with their friends, and have a good time.”

On top of their existing material, Alex also says that the band has a handful of new original tracks that they have ready for the show, which contribute to their proven aesthetic of funky music and fun times.

“I feel that our sound is more stylistically focused and more directional. It makes it easier to write, being in the confines of the aesthetic that we’re going for, which includes learning new covers too.” - Apt613