Vivek Shraya: Archive

Jul 17th

Bffs Tegan & Sara + Keys/If We're Not Talking... →

Jul 13th

a wee update: summer songwriting

Since the release of Keys & Machines last fall, there hasn’t been a lot of songwriting in your friendly neighborhood washroom studio. A semi-conscious break to work on other projects and funtimez. But also, after five records, it felt important to take a step back. But this week, I dusted off my old bff Garageband and started writing. I am happy to report that my fears of...

Jul 13th

Next Tuesday

Jun 23rd

Watch

Hanging out in Van with my bro Shamik. Stream “A Little Room” (from KEYS & MACHINES) here. Download it here.

Jun 4th

Happy God Loves Hair Day!!

GOD LOVES HAIR IS NOW AVAILABLE @ godloveshair.com. Yay! This project is very much a labour of love for me and I couldn’t be more thrilled that it’s finally ready to make the leap from my heart to yours. Check out the teaser for the book by dj/photographer/videographer/candoanythingrapher Sammy Rawal featuring illustrations from the book by the ONE & ONLY Juliana Neufeld. ...

Apr 29th

Keys & Machines Montreal Mirror review (8/10)

“…sweet beats and smart lyrics…”

Apr 19th

Apr 12th

Stream The Grind on MySpace

I can be confrontational. A good wrestle is good for the blood. The Grind, now streaming on MySpace (and available on iTunes), is about those tense spaces that can either drive or kill a relationship. You’ll never know until you let go.

Apr 9th

TDOT! MTL! Shows! Next Week!

Apr 7th

Mar 18th

Mar 4th

1 note

rehearsaltown

Feb 19th

WEAKNEES now on MySpace

There is a lot you can learn about someone by observing what is in their grocery store cart. What someone looks for in an apple or their favorite brand of bagel can have so much significance in the early stage of a crush. The lyric what do you eat? and consequently this song, was born out of this desire to know every. single. detail. Soon after, you get bored of the person but that’s a...

Jan 31st

Jan 25th

Watch

WEAKNEES teaser! From Keys & Machines, now on iTunes!

Jan 22nd

Jan 16th

January 1, 2010

Doing a short reading from God Loves Hair (and maybe singing) on New Year’s Day @ 3pm as part of Mayworks Poetry Marathon in Toronto. Hope to see you there.

Dec 29th

Bad Romance cover! Free download! Merry Gagamas!

Dec 17th

4 notes

Dec 14th

fave songs of 2009

1. This Tornado Loves You (Neko Case): Wild love expressed perfectly. I get you Neko. You get me. Nothing made me happier than the train ride from Montreal to Toronto, basking in sun and Middle Cyclone, my fave record of the year. 2. Empire State of Mind (Jay Z feat Alicia Keys): Holy, chills on the dancefloor. When Keys wails Newww Yorrrrk!! I am right there. Right there. Hands in the air. Also...

Dec 9th

fave movies of 2009

2008 and was such a great year for movies, I suppose 2009 was never going to compare. And it didn’t. Worse, it was big disappointment after the next. I kept wanting to leave the theatre mid movie. My money felt way better spent on cheese (hello The Proposal) vs. any big blockbuster. That said, here is what I enjoyed the most: 1) Where The Wild Things Are: The line “will you keep out...

Dec 3rd

i(heart)music feature

“If there’s any justice, Keys & Machines will help Vivek Shraya conquer iPods and dancefloors all over the world.”

Dec 1st

Nov 29th

Nov 24th

Happy Keys & Machines Day

Big day! Keys & Machines is now available here at vivekshraya.com and iTunes! “…Keys & Machines is the real deal: it’s an electro-pop fans dream. Smart, intelligent pop that you can dance to, sing along with and play over and over again.” -Quick Before it Melts

Nov 17th

I AM A BASS DRUM now streaming on MySpace

A random song was playing in the background, barely audible except for the drum. Her feet tapped along mindlessly. I AM A BASS DRUM was inspired by that image, that moment. The way our bodies respond mechanically to a beat. Listen. Also, check out this interview and contest to win a free copy of Keys & Machines w/ Quick Before it Melts.

Nov 9th

Watch

The throb in your head.

Nov 2nd

BIG NEWS! Keys & Machines release date! Artwork!...

Keys & Machines will be out on November 17th! YES! Here is the artwork designed by Sammy Rawal, the man also behind the fun teaser videos. Tracklisting: 1) Keys & Machines 2) Where And Tear 3) I AM A BASS DRUM 4) Weaknees 5) In/Out 6) Bump 7) A Little Room 8) The Grind 9) Always You Produced by Meghan Toohey, mixed by Bryan Cook and mastered by Hans DeKline. You can also preorder the...

Oct 27th

1 note

Samsara: The Sketches was recorded in the span of...

Oct 26th

Watch

Oct 19th

1 note

Bump now on MySpace

Bump was the last song written on this record. I had been struggling with a couple of separate song ideas but neither were going anywhere until I decided to string them together. BAM. It’s kind of a magical moment when things collide and gel like that. I love the (supposed) straightforwardness of the lyric and the big 80s drum beat. It’s my favourite jam off of Keys & Machines and...

Oct 16th

Watch

Gunnin for that number one spot.

Oct 13th

K&M update and God Loves Hair gets all www

I am happy to report that Keys & Machines is inching towards the finish line. It’s easy to lose faith during crunch time but Meg has been knocking shit out of the ball park, making a believer out of me over and over and over again. Lots of video chatting happening. This is how records are made in the 09. We also have a new team member on board! Bryan Cook (Beck, Nigel Godrich, Inara...

Sep 22nd

First KEYS single, In/Out, now on MySpace

I bought my first synthesizer in the fall of 2007 and like most new technology I invest in, iPods not included, it sat quietly in some corner for months before I stopped being intimidated of it. A new instrument can be an extraordinary tool, opening new doors, summoning new inspiration. In/Out is the first song I wrote on the synth after I got around to doing more than turning it on and twiddling...

Sep 14th

1 note

vivek shraya dot com (for the very fifth time)

Things look pretty different in these parts thanks to my dedicated webmaster/brother from another (whiter) mother Simon Crowley! I met Simon in 2002 through my “real” brother (or via creeping his LiveJournal, depending on who you ask). My guess is that it was our joint megaboner for Radiohead that compelled him to offer to design a website for me. I am not sure he realized what he was...

Sep 13th

If We're Not Talking returns to iTunes (finally!)

Like all contemporary love affairs, Meghan Toohey and I met over MySpace. It was the summer of 06. We found that we had many things in common: a love for Joni Mitchell, nana’s gloves and hairy armpits. We decided the next natural step was to make a baby. A music baby. Our love was consummated in someone’s AWESOME mansion in Jamaica Plains. A short 5 months later If We’re Not...

Sep 10th

1 note

Watch

From upcoming record KEYS & MACHINES (video by Sammy Rawal). Don’t let em string you along!

Aug 20th

1 note

news news news

First up, a confession. I lied. There won’t be a re-release of If We’re Not Talking (but it will be back on iTunes very soon). Instead, expect a whole wack of new jams on a new full length record this fall! Yes! (Working) title: Keys & Machines. Where possibility and technology intersect. Vibe: synth pop, just the way you and your ass like it. Just darker and dirtier in places. ...

Aug 11th

2 notes

X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....

Big things are happening. Watch this space.

Jul 11th