Manitoba Music
Snack Sessions Interview : Silence Kit
Manitoba Music is launching Snack Sessions, a new music video series streaming live via Facebook. In each session, a Manitoba act will be featured in a live performance plus a interview and profile. Read on and stay tuned for more Snack Sessions! Snack Sessions is made possible by the support of Corus Entertainment, with snacks provided by Old Dutch and Half Pints Brewing Company. WATCH THE VIDEO
By Graeme Houssin
Silence Kit’s been turning up the volume this year, and they’re not turning it down any time soon.
The quartet exploded onto the Winnipeg music scene with their energetic, grunge-infused alt-rock sound nearly four years ago. Lead singer Manon Smalley, guitarist Natalie Smith, bassist James Stallan, and drummer Mike Pascucci joined forces in 2015, and they’ve been dominating the local rock scene ever since.
This year alone, they’ve graced the stages of numerous festivals and venues, both in-province and out, including sets at Ellice Street Festival, Toba Rock Fest, and Canada Day at The Forks.
Most recently, the self-proclaimed “rock and roll mutts” have traded in the hounds for their latest release, Silence Kit presents… Kitty Kitty, which was release at the beginning of October.
“Started as a Whisper is almost a completely DIY EP,” Smalley explains, “whereas with this new release, we invested as much as we could into it.”
Shortly after their EP release, Silence Kit embarked on a tour through Ontario and Quebec to share their music with the east.
“What’s neat about performing out-of-province is that nobody really knows you out there yet, so there’s a sort of excitement surrounding creating a first-impression,” says Smalley. “Also… most cities don’t have the number of thriving venues that we have, nor the tight-knit scene.”
Next up, the band will be teaching one of their songs to the students of School of Rock Winnipeg, after which the kids will perform the tune for a live audience at the West End Cultural Centre on December 19 for Rock the Halls 2. They'll also hit the showcase stage at the 2019 Big Fun Festival on January 25.
“Most of our time off-stage has been spent writing new tunes and planning for new year,” Smalley says. “We’ve been filling out applications for festivals and showcases non-stop, so (we’re) sure you’ll be finding us on some pretty cool bills.”
Listen to “Kitty Kitty” and other music and videos by Silence Kit on their Manitoba Music profile, and don’t miss out on the chance to see them onstage opening for Duotang and Novillero at The Good Will on December 22.