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a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Osheaga: 10 for 10

by Rebecca Lavery and Anna St. Clair on

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With Osheaga firmly entrenched near the top of the list of Montreal’s summer highlights, it’s hard to believe that the festival has only been around for a decade. To commemorate the occasion, the Tribune decided to break down the 2015 lineup and highlight five prominent returning acts that blew up after their first appearance and five acts making their first stop at Osheaga that look to be headed for a similar trajectory.

  • Acts to remember

    Half Moon Run

    Montreal-based band Half Moon Run has quickly become a fan favourite, having performed at Osheaga twice in the past three years. They debuted as a low-level act in 2012 shortly after the release of their first album Dark Eyes. They’ve since been dubbed one of the most notable emerging indie bands with atmospherics comparable to those of Radiohead. That explains why they returned as a headlining act in 2014, earning themselves a spot on the poster next to Childish Gambino.

    Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

    The psychedelic folk band with a revolving lineup of 10-12 members first came to Osheaga in 2010 at the top of the up-and-coming acts, following the success of their 2009 single “Home.” The band has since gone on tour with Mumford and Sons, released two more successful albums, and earned themselves the privilege of headlining major festivals. This year, they return to Osheaga for the third time in a well-deserved position of prominence.

    The Black Keys

    The Black Keys are hailed as one of Osheaga’s most consistent acts, but they had to climb their way up to the top. They made their first appearance in 2008 following the release of their fifth full-length album, Attack and Release, which received relative critical acclaim. Shortly thereafter, 2010’s Brothers catapulted the rock duo to commercial success. This year marks their fourth Osheaga appearance and their second time as a headliner.

    Gogol Bordello

    This eccentric gypsy punk band, known for the song “Start Wearing Purple” and their chaotic stage theatrics, first came to Osheaga in 2008 as a well-respected band with little commercial success. Keen to continue bombarding the English-speaking world with Eastern European music, the band has become even more well known on the festival circuit in the past few years and returned to Osheaga last year having climbed the billing ranks.

    Gary Clark Jr.

    Blues legend and Austin, Texas native, Gary Clark Jr. has been on the radar since winning a Grammy in 2013 for Best Traditional R&B Performance and Rolling Stone magazine hailing him as the musician that made Eric Clapton want to play again. Prior to all of this, Clark made his Osheaga debut in 2012 as a lesser-known artist. This year, he returns to Osheaga with greater prominence and a much larger fan base.

  • Acts to watch for

    The War on Drugs

    This Philadelphia group has achieved a completely unique sound in recent years. Their music has a distinct, laid-back vibe and is a great soundtrack for driving through a desert highway at sundown. Vocally, frontman Adam Granduciel sounds like a low-key Bob Dylan without the tonal harshness. The War on Drugs’ music sounds like it was made for those magic nights at a summer festival when the rest of the world seems to fade away.

    Shakey Graves

    With the recent switch in style by Mumford and Sons, it could seem like the trend of foot-stomping Americana is going away, but that can’t be said about Shakey Graves. Inspired by vintage folk and country music, there’s no denying this Austin, Texas musician’s talent. Detailed guitar and soulful folk vocals carry his music. On his most popular track, “Dearly Departed,” he’s accompanied by the powerful voice of Esmee Paterson.

    Marina and the Diamonds

    With her passionate pop ballads and impressive vocal range, Marina Diamandis is sure to wow at Osheaga. She released her latest album, FROOT, in March through slightly unconventional means, releasing one single a month. She manages to captivate in both soulful ballads, and sexy pop jams like “Froot.” Both her voice and her music are distinct and her lyrics have real depth, probably because she writes all of her own music.

    George Ezra

    George Ezra has blown up recently with his hit “Budapest.” His deep bluesy vocals and a range of guitar styles, from country-western to reggae make his music perfect for summer anthems. Not to mention the fact that his feel-good lyrics make Ezra’s music the perfect soundtrack for flower crowned and crop top clad festival goers to drunkenly sing along to.

    St. Vincent

    After winning a grammy for Best Alternative Album and releasing her fourth album, it’s no surprise that electronic alt-rocker St. Vincent will be a coveted act this year. St. Vincent excels at provocative lyrics, talented guitar playing, and catchy rhythms. She makes the kind of addicting rock that everyone will want to jam to at a festival.

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Deep Cuts: Under the Sun

by Jack Neal on

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What A Buzz

Artist: Olly Murs

Album: Right Place Right Time

Released: November 26, 2012

All about a nervous first date, “What A Buzz” boasts simple lyrics, an incredibly catchy chorus, and goofy vocals. “Got ketchup on my trousers and my cheeks are going red […] What a beautiful buzz with the girl I might love,” Murs excitably confesses; and when paired with a ridiculously catchy whistle, it’s bound to get stuck in your head.

 

Worship You

Artist: Vampire Weekend

Album: Modern Vampires Of the City

Released: May 14, 2013

With its galloping beat and fast-tempo lyrics, “Worship You” progresses from a single guitar riff, before building momentum over time with the inclusion of various instruments, before reaching a stunning climax within the last 40 seconds. A fantastic and uplifting blend of smart lyricism, synthesizers, and heavy drums, these last few moments of “Worship You” easily render it one of Vampire Weekend’s most memorable moments.

 

Sexotheque

Artist: La Roux

Album: Trouble In Paradise

Released: July 18, 2014

Taken from her second studio album, “Sexotheque” features heavy ’80s guitar riffs and airy vocals. On a record jam-packed with tropical-sounding songs, this one holds its own in providing one of the catchiest melodies released last year.

 

Gotta Get Away

Artist: The Black Keys

Album: Turn Blue

Released: August 19, 2014

One of The Black Keys’ most straightforward, simple, and honest songs, “Gotta Get Away” sees lead singer Dan Auerbach pack up his belongings and drive cross-country in search of a new start. “I went from San Berdoo to Kalamazoo, just to get away from you,” he confesses, delivered over a fantastic blend of guitars and drums that literally makes you want to pack up your belongings too and drive off into the desert. If there was ever a song that /sounded/ like summer, this is it.

a, Martlets, Sports

Building a dynasty: The rise of Martlet hockey

by Nicholas Jasinski on

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The first women’s hockey game at McGill University was played in 1894, back when females possessed an unexpected advantage over their male counterparts: The modest ankle-length skirts that they had to wear. These allowed the ladies to pursue a clever defensive strategy. By crouching in front of their goaltender when the opposing team had possession of the puck, their long skirts spread out and foiled any shot attempts on the net. Needless to say, most of these early games were rather low-scoring affairs and attendance was low, especially given the fact that the referee was the only man allowed to watch the women play.

Luckily for all McGill hockey fans, the game has progressed dramatically since those days, and has blossomed over the last decade in particular. The McGill Martlets have been undeniably dominant since the 2006-2007 season, becoming one of the most feared teams in the country. In the last nine seasons, the Martlets have made an astounding seven appearances in the National Championship game, winning four titles. The Martlets have not lost more than four regular season games in any given year in that same period, and enjoyed an 86-game unbeaten streak lasting from December 2007 until March 2010, which ended in a heartbreaking championship game loss to the University of Alberta Pandas at the 2010 CIS Nationals. A win then would have given the Martlets their third consecutive national title. 

The team’s recent dominance is not a return to previous heights, or anything McGill is used to at all. The team had always been relatively talented, but it had only one appearance in the National Championship game before 2007. In prior decades, women’s hockey was largely dominated by perennial powerhouses, including the Alberta Pandas and the University of Toronto Lady Blues. After winning the Quebec University Athletic Association Championship in 1985, McGill managed to qualify for the playoffs only once until 1999, when Peter Smith was appointed head coach. Smith joined McGill Athletics in 1979 after earning his degree in physical education from the university. After 20 years spent in various roles in the Department of Athletics, Smith took over as part-time coach in addition to his existing duties as facilities manager, and immediately began to improve the team. 

In the early 2000s, the Martlets posted multiple seaons that were above average, but far from dominant, still struggling to compete outside of the RSEQ against stronger teams from western Canadian universities. As the decade progressed, Smith saw a steady increase in the calibre of talent joining the team, culminating in a youthful and star-studded 2007 roster, which included established Canadian Olympic goaltender Charline Labonté, 2007 McGill female Athlete-of the-Year, team MVP Vanessa Davidson, and future Olympian Catherine Ward. 

“I was looking for a new challenge after the Olympics and [McGill] was an amazing experience for me,” said Labonté.

The individual achievements were numerous: Labonté posted a spectacular .957 save percentage on the season; Ward, who had been recruited by Harvard, Princeton, and Yale while captain at Dawson College in Montreal before settling on McGill, won CIS Rookie-of-the-Year; and Davidson won the Quebec scoring title while adding several single-season McGill offensive records to her achievements. Ward attributed her choice of university to the opportunity to be a true student-athlete at McGill.

“It was a great fit for me, because McGill offers me the best of both in terms of hockey and academics,” said Ward, who studied management at McGill. 

The Martlets entered the CIS playoffs as the number one seed in 2007 after losing only one game in regular season play that year. McGill made it all the way to the Championship game before suffering a harrowing 4-0 loss against the rival University of Alberta Pandas. The team gained valuable playoff experience and the will to come back in the 2007-2008 season and do what no McGill womens’ varsity team in history had ever done before—win a CIS Championship. 

The biggest boost to the Martlet hockey program came that March. David and Sheryl Kerr, McGill alumni and former hockey players at McGill, donated $1 million specifically to women’s hockey at McGill. David Kerr (B.Sc. ‘65) skated for the Redmen from 1961 to 1965 and captained the team in his last year at McGill. While still a player on the men’s squad, Kerr was helping to coach the women’s team in his third and fourth years and met his future wife Sheryl (B.Com.’67) when she tried out for the Martlets in 1963.

Long after graduation in 1986, David joined multinational mining and natural resource company Noranda Inc. as vice-president of strategic planning in development, rising to the role of president of the company just a year later. David would eventually serve as Noranda’s chair and CEO before stepping down in 2002. 

The Kerrs wanted to give back to the team after all that it had given them during their time at McGill and in the years since. 

“Our time at McGill was very special,” Sheryl said. “I was born in Montreal but grew up in Belleville [Ontario] so I didn’t know anybody when I got to McGill. Initially, playing hockey for the university was my whole life. The camaraderie in athletics was wonderful for me and that’s where I first met my husband-to-be.”

David also regarded his time as a Redmen as a formative experience of his college years.

“Hockey was all of the things you hope to enjoy in an intercollegiate sport—the travel to other universities and the camaraderie on the team […] it was just a fun experience,” David added. “You always need something at university to keep you busy outside of academics. Hockey was good for both of us and we were both reasonably good at it.”

Of McGill’s 49 intercollegiate sports programs at the time of the donation, the only teams with full-time head coaching positions were football, women’s volleyball, swimming, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s hockey. The Kerrs’ gift allowed Smith to assume a full-time role as the first “Kerr Women’s Hockey Coach.”

“Once the Kerrs’ gift came along, [it] allowed the department to free me up to exclusively coach hockey and that clearly made a big difference in every aspect of coaching, but especially in the recruiting end of things, which is such an important part of the responsibility,” said Smith.

The donation has helped the Martlets to grow into a true powerhouse in Canadian women’s hockey, posting a 145-9 record in league play under Smith since 2007. 

“I think that Smith has done a fantastic job in terms of coaching the girls, recruiting, keeping them focused […] he’s super.” said David, “That’s really what makes the team work I think—that people want to go and play for him.”

Smith attributes the team’s success to the generosity of its benefactors and the calibre of players that the program is able to attract. The Kerrs’ continued gifts to the program have allowed for the hiring of a second full-time Assistant Coach, Alyssa Cecere.

“The Kerrs have been tremendously loyal and tremendously generous to the Martlet hockey program. It’s clearly made a huge difference,” said Smith, “We’re one of the few programs in the CIS that has two full-time coaches on staff for women’s hockey.” 

The Martlets continue to forge a legacy of success in the RSEQ and CIS. This season, the defending National Champions went all the way to the title game again as the No. 1 seed, only to fall to the Western Mustangs in a disappointing end to the season. Over the last decade, Martlet hockey has risen from being just another team at McGill to becoming one of the signature programs at the university, as CIS basketball is to Carleton or football is to Laval. Under Smith’s strong and committed leadership, there can only be greater things to come from the Martlets. For his part, he attributes the team’s many successes over the last decade to the players who have come to McGill.

“We have had a successful program and it’s easy to answer why: It’s because of the people involved in the program,” said Smith, “The quality of student-athletes that we get at McGill is just tremendous. I can get a whole team of overachievers and they just want to do so well both in the classroom and on the ice. It’s a joy to coach that kind of dynamic, motivated, energetic group of young women.”

McGill’s appeal to Canada’s top student-athletes, the greater resources available to the program, and the coaching prowess that Smith has proven over his career have combined over the past decade to grow Martlet hockey from just another team at McGill to one of the country’s marquee athletic programs. The rest of the coaching staff and the team will be busy in the off-season, welcoming a new cast of talented players and regrouping for another deep playoff push in 2016. 

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

From the beat to the brain

by Eric Noble-Marks on

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Hans Christian Andersen said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” In a similar vein, Victor Hugo stated, “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” It’s no secret that music has the power to change us, to uplift in times of joy, and to comfort in times of sorrow. It is at once intellectual and deeply emotional. Yet until relatively recently, the origins of music’s spellbinding power have remained shrouded in mystery. 

Over the past 20 years, scientists have made astounding strides in understanding how the human brain functions. Armed with this new information, an increasing number of neuroscientists are beginning to look at music through a different lens, often yielding intriguing results.

A worldwide investigation is underway. A 2010 study by McGill researchers Valorie N. Salimpoor, Mitchel Benovoy, Kevin Larcher, Alain Dagher, and Robert Zatorre indicated a clear link between listening to music and the release of dopamine—which serves as the primary pleasure indicator—into the dorsal and ventral striata of the brain. Other things that lead to its release include reaching an orgasm and snorting cocaine. In the brain—as in other things—sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll are linked. 

The same study followed a group of people who claimed to experience “chills” when listening to the climax of a particular song. The researchers found increased neural activity in the caudate region of the brain in the moments before the climax. This activity reflects the powerful effect of anticipation on the brain—any casual listener can recognize this in the build-up to their favourite EDM drop.

Research is finding that music can do much more than simply provide pleasure. A 2009 study by researchers at Imperial College London has suggested that listening to pleasurable music can help people recover from debilitating brain injury. In particular, the study found that the release of dopamine that occurs when we listen to good music can also help damaged parts of the brain function properly. 

This is not the only way music can be used for therapeutic purposes. Research out of Queen’s University has found that patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, who struggle with recall, can often remember music perfectly. They could even point out wrong notes in some of their favourite songs. The researchers are now using this information to better understand and combat dementia.  

The amount of scientific study being devoted to the field of musical neuroscience is becoming increasingly more popular. In fact, one of the most active communities exists right here in Montreal. Perhaps its most famous figure is Daniel Levitin, McGill professor and author of three bestselling books, including the seminal This Is Your Brain On Music (2006). The works of Levitin and other McGill neuroscientists such as Zatorre have inspired a new wave of young neuroscience students to challenge the purpose and effects of music on the brain. 

One of these students is PhD Candidate Falisha Karpati. Karpati studies under Professor Krista Hyde in the McGill Neuroscience department. She is currently pursuing her thesis on the effect of dance training on the brain and hopes to compare the effects of dance therapy to the well-documented effects of music therapy. Though Karpati could not divulge the specific findings of her thesis as it is still in progress, she expressed an optimistic view of her findings to date. 

“In general, the work shows us that the brain is very plastic,” Karpati said. “We find changes following long and short-term training in the arts, [and] changes in brain structure as well as function.” 

However, neuroscientists’ attempts to objectively measure and quantify music’s effects have not been met with complete enthusiasm. After recieving a brain scan from Levitin in 2009, Sting, the lead singer of english rock band The Police, expressed discomfort with the results. 

“I’m not even sure asking the question isn’t harmful. It’s kind of scary,” Sting said. “I’m afraid of looking at [my brain scan] too much in case I forget how to [make music].” For some, bringing the long unknown qualities of music to light decreases their wonder and romanticism.

Similarly surprising are the findings from a 2006 study conducted by Emory University. Researchers George Berns and Sara Moore played various types of music to subjects aged 12 to 18. Through careful observation, the scientists began to notice a pattern. The songs that had greater mainstream success elicited a consistent effect in the brain: An increase of neural activity in the nucleus accumbens, a region of the brain that plays a significant role in the processing of motivation and pleasure. Before being tested, the subjects were surveyed on their musical preferences. Interestingly, a subject’s personal music preferences largely failed to predict how their brain would react. This helps explain why Top 40 music is so popular. Even if one claims to love Miles Davis and hate Justin Bieber, their brains just may be telling them the opposite. 

Though there have been strides in the field of auditory neuroscience, there is still much to reveal about the relationship between music and the brain. Though studies have indicated positive correlations between music in everything from intelligence to memory, much about the “brain on music” remains unknown. We stand on the edge of an era of seemingly limitless possibilities. As we continue to unlock the secrets of the brain, what is becoming clear is that music is perhaps even more important than we would have ever considered before. 

a, Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

McGill Athletics Sports Awards 2015

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  • Rookies of the Year

    Karl Forgues

    Karl Forgues, a 5’9”, 200-pound linebacker from Repentigny, Quebec was named RSEQ defensive Rookie-of-the-Year this past season and was arguably the best player for the Redmen footbal team. Forgues was one of the lone bright spots for the team this season, finishing second in the CIS in tackles and third in sacks. He showed off his athletic ability in October, recording an incredible 47 tackles and five sacks over a four-game stretch against the Laval Rouge et Or, the Bishop’s Gaiters, and the Sherbrooke Vert et Or. As Forgues continues to develop his skills under newly-named Head Coach Ron Hilaire, who served as his defensive coordinator at the beginning of this season, he should blossom into one of the best defensive players in the CIS and anchor McGill’s defence for the next three years.

     

    Myriam Robitaille

    Although she missed part of the season due to injury, Myriam Robitaille still managed to put forth an impressive rookie season for the Martlet volleyball team. The 6’0” middle-blocker was named to both the RSEQ and the CIS All-Rookie teams. Robitaille impressed in the time she did get to spend on the court, ranking 10th in the league in points-per-set with 2.78. Her best effort came against the RSEQ-leading Montreal Carabins as she tallied 18 points, including 12 kills and three service aces. Robitaille’s talents were not limited to the offensive side of the ball, as she averaged 0.86 blocks per set, ranking eighth in the league. The Martlets missed the playoffs this season despite finishing with a winning record. Robitaille’s continued development will be crucial if McGill is to be successful going forward.

     

  • Athletes of the Year

    Samuel Labrecque

    McGill hockey’s rookie defenceman, who transferred this year from the NCAA, had himself a season for the record books. He led all CIS defencemen with 13 goals and broke the McGill record by recording six game-winners this season. Not content with that production on its own, Labrecque also recorded a CIS-leading seven power play goals and also contributed nine assists. He also recorded the first hat trick by a Redmen defenceman since 1996. The OUA coaches recognized his statistical and team achievements, naming him an OUA East All-Star and voting him second in the Defenceman-of-the-Year race.

    Labrecque played a huge part in McGill’s 21-5 OUA East regular season record and its overall 28-11 record against CIS opposition. They lost in the OUA bronze-medal game after winning their first two playoff-rounds with four regulars sidelined. Labrecque, along with goaltender Jacob Gervais-Chouinard and centre Cedric McNicoll, all stepped up to help an injury-ravaged McGill through the playoffs. The way Labrecque has meshed so effectively into the McGill’s system has been fun to watch. Hopefully, he can continue this success next year.

     

    Mariam Sylla

    Forward Mariam Sylla has now extended her RSEQ dominance for McGill over three seasons. This year, she was named RSEQ Player-of-the-Year for the second year in a row and led the Martlets to their best ever silver-medal finish at a CIS National Championships. Sylla was a double-double machine over the year, averaging 12.3 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game in the RSEQ regular season. She contributed to McGill’s front-court dominated offense with the most offensive boards in the league (4.1) whilst shooting efficiently from the field (.430) and from the charity stripe (.768). Sylla ended the entire year with an astonishing 13 double-doubles.

    Although her shooting efficiency decreased somewhat during the playoffs, Sylla maintained her statistical consistency with 9.3 points per game and 10.7 rebounds per game on the national stage. After two excellent wins, McGill fell short of national winners, the Windsor Lancers, largely due to a poor shooting performance. However, McGill’s excellent defence, led by Sylla’s 10 boards, managed to hold the Lancers 20 points under their season average offensive output. Her tough, consistent style of play has now been married with playoff experience. With the way that Sylla has developed thus far, a CIS Player-of-the-Year trophy and a future gold medal are firmly within grasp.

     

  • Teams of the Year

    Redmen Baseball

    The McGill Redmen baseball team was the only Redmen program to win a National Championship this year. The club defeated the Concordia Stingers 6-1 in the CCBA Final, avenging a previous 3-1 defeat during which the Stingers captured the CCBA Northern Division title.

    The formidable trio consisting of junior shortstop Tyler Welence, rookie infielder Robert Sedin, and rookie starting pitcher Ryan Kramer led the squad to a 21-9 record, and was named to the All-CCBA First Team. Welence and Kramer continued to excel in the CCBA National Championships, where they were awarded Tournament MVP and Most Outstanding Pitcher, respectively.

    The National Championship was the fourth in team history and the first since 2010. In the years following that championship, the team struggled with consistency and injuries, which ultimately limited its potential. This year, however, the team was able to have an excellent season, buoyed by the efforts of a strong group of freshmen. Though the team will be losing five seniors to graduation, the core of the team remains intact and looks primed for another run at the title.

     

    Martlet Basketball

    Despite failing to win a CIS National Championship—the Martlets fell in the Finals to five-time defending CIS champions, the Windsor Lancers, 60-47—the Martlet basketball team capped off a historic season with a silver medal. Capturing the RSEQ title for the fourth consecutive year, the Martlets finished this season with a 26-5 overall record, with only one loss to an RSEQ opponent.

    The Martlets’ previous best season was in 1996, when they won the CIS bronze medal. Head Coach Ryan Thorne, who completed his 12th season at the helm of the Martlet basketball team, has been steadily improving the program, with an average .813 winning percentage in the last five years compared to .315 in his first seven years coaching.

    Junior forward Mariam Sylla once again led the team and was named a first-team CIS All-Canadian and RSEQ Player-of-the-Year. Sylla’s prowess was bolstered by the efforts of junior centre Alex Kiss-Rusk and senior point guard Dianna Ros, who put up 7.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, respectively. While three seniors will not be returning for the next season, the trio will be back to work with Thorne. Considering the immense strides the program has made under Thorne, the team led by Ros should contend for a title once again in 2015-2016 season.

     

a, Student Life

Summer fashion tips for women

by Tiffany Le on

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  • Festival essentials

    Music festival season is just around the corner. Wide-brimmed hats are an excellent measure to protect against both ultraviolet rays and raindrops, not to mention an added element of style for any outfit. From a sleek black hat with silver concho ornaments, to a more Western Suede-style hat that ties under the chin, wide brimmed hats range in a large pool of colours and shapes.

    Sunglasses are another indispensable accessory, with the eclectic shapes of the 1990s coming back into style. As far as apparel goes, a comfortable shift dress in a funky pattern is easy to pull off and will help keep you cool in a crowded audience. The loose fit will also allow you to comfortably groove out to various bands and musicians—play around with necklines to find what suits you best.

    Adding a necklace can also enhance the outfit; however, jewellery should be kept at a minimum so that nothing weighs you down too much. Finally, make sure you arrive at the concert with comfortable footwear. With the large landscape and uneven surfaces, it will be a lot easier on the feet.

  • Swimsuits not for swimming

    With the innovative and bold designs of bikinis available today, swimsuits have become more of a fashion statement than ever before. If the bikini top is in a flashy or bright print, a sheer or fishnet shirt is a subtle way to show it off while covering a bit more skin. If you decide to pair the swimsuit with a sporty skirt and clunky platform sandals, you are all set for a relaxing day with friends.

    A classic one-piece bathing suit that dips low in the back would also be a versatile addition to your summer closet. Paired with high-waisted jean shorts and a crisp baseball cap, you can easily embody your favourite John Hughes heroine. In contrast, go for a feminine and powerful ensemble by pairing the bathing suit with a long chiffon skirt and vintage cat-eye shades. This swimsuit can easily complement and complete a variety of looks. At the end of the day, this will also facilitate any spur-of-the-moment decision to head to the pool or the beach.

  • Classic jumper

    The jumper is one of the best fashion pieces that appear during the summer. The British dub jumpers as “playsuits,” which is quite fitting since it comes from the cute one-piece clothing children wear when it gets warm outside. Exuding a comfortable vibe and usually made of thin material, jumpers can simply be thrown on for a lazy morning to provide an effortless cool look. With a loose-legged number, tying a thin sweater or flannel around the waist of the jumper can provide it with slightly more structure. In soft neutral tones and paired with delicate silver jewellery or with a pair of sporty sandals, the jumper gives a minimalist vibe for the summer. Jumpers also come in ‘trompe-l’oeil’ styles, meaning that although it may look like a skirt at the bottom, it is actually a pair of shorts. Because they give off the impression of wearing a dress—especially with the flattering high, square neckline trending with jumpers right now—they can also be worn for more formal occasions. This shape is flattering for collarbones and shoulders, which is particularly perfect to highlight a healthy summer tan.

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Peer Review: Busty and the Bass

by Max Berger on

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To most graduating students, April represents the final frontier between the familiar bubble of school and the first step into whatever lies beyond. For the eight remaining members of Busty and the Bass at McGill, who will graduate this spring and join vocalist/saxophonist Nick Ferrara in the real world, the challenging transition of going from a student band to professional musicians looms on the horizon—but it certainly helps their cause that they’ve spent the last semester with one foot out the door.

“We basically just spent two months touring—I think we’ve had two weekends off,” said trombonist Chris Vincent. “We played with K.C. Roberts [& the Live Revolution] from Toronto and they’re awesome. We did the States as well [over Reading Week], then Dalhousie; and then last week, we did shows in Toronto and Kingston [….] It’s given us a taste of touring before it really starts to happen.”

“Now [that] we’re back for about a month, we sort of have to focus on our Prom show,” added keyboardist Eric Haynes. “But other than that, we just have to worry about graduating.”

That’s just the type of year it’s been for Busty, a stream of effort aimed at growing the band’s audience in preparation for life outside McGill—all while earning the degrees they came for in the first place. Luckily, they’ve found ways to make it all work.

“I’ve been [a] part-time [student] for the past year, and some of those classes are music classes, which are sub-able if you coordinate with your professors, [….] something we’ve gotten way better about,” explained bassist Milo Johnson. “It’s pretty much been full-time Busty, and I feel like at this point, we’ve sort of figured out the tricks so that McGill doesn’t hate us.”

It’s really the exact opposite. Back in the Fall when the group was entered in TD’s nation-wide Rock Your Campus music competition, the McGill administration hopped on board the Busty bandwagon, helping their cause with tweets and articles of admiration—Principal Suzanne Fortier even made a cameo in the “Tryna Find Myself” music video. Throw in the band’s enormous student following and it’s clear that there’s been no shortage of Busty support at McGill; but over the past year, they’ve gone a long way towards establishing other large fan bases as well. 

“I would say that having online content, so that people can show their friends and show people [our music] before a show to get them interested is really important,” began Haynes. “But I think for us, by far still the most successful way of getting people to come out to our shows and check us out is from recommendation [….] and that’s why I think our Reading Week tour went a bit better [than last year], because we had some places where we’d played before, so people who had seen us last time brought out a group.”

The band will have the opportunity to play some bigger stages and keep reaching new fans this summer. They’re slated to play during Canadian Music Week in Toronto and at the Ottawa Jazz Festival. By that time, GLAM, the follow-up album to their 2014 EP Bustified, will also be released. If you’re wondering how they arrived at that name, don’t expect a thorough answer any time soon.

“It’s our pet elephant,” said Johnson, unwilling to elaborate. He was, however, more forthcoming about the type of music GLAM will feature.

“The approach that this album seemed to take is that we were just trying to find a space for everyone to input their own musical background,” explained Johnson. “Elements from the hip-hop world, from funk, from pop, electronic.”

Unlike Bustified, which was recorded at multiple studios and venues, their upcoming release will have the benefit of a more cohesive sound.

“[GLAM] was pretty much all recorded at the same studio, Planet Studios, up on Beaubien and Papineau,” described Vincent. “And we were so lucky to get a guy named Jesse String out from Los Angeles. This guy is a genius and he basically just engineered and recorded our whole album [….] The songs are all different, but they’re all going to have a similar sound [largely because of him].”

For a nine-person band, creating new material can be as difficult as it is rewarding, and it’s been a learning experience for Busty, who work on the various stages of songs both as a whole and in smaller groups.

“There’s lots of different steps in the process of creating a Busty track,” explained Johnson. “It’s like a storyboard, so [it includes] figuring out the arrangement, the lyrics, the sections. And then you get more and more in detail, like the horn arrangements, the transitions [….] I would say we’re getting better and better about knowing where we’re at in a track’s development.”

Many of their newest tracks will be on display this week at the aforementioned Prom show, when Busty returns to the Corona theatre for the first time since opening for the Arkells as part of winning Rock Your Campus. This time they’ll be the headliner, and as Haynes articulates, they’re quick to appreciate those who helped them get to that point.

“The McGill community are the people who really started us off and they’ve never stopped being supportive, so it’s gonna be really great to play for them one last big show as students.”

Busty and the Bass perform at the Corona Theatre (2490 Notre Dame Ouest) on Friday, April 10 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $16.

a, Science & Technology

Making chemistry greener one silver at a time

by Howie Wu on

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The path to sustainable science achieved another milestone when chemistry professor Chao Jun Li and his team published their findings in Science Advances last week. The group have uncovered a way to convert aldehydes into carboxylic acids. However, unlike traditional synthesis methods, which use prohibitively expensive quantities of silver or carcinogenic chromium reagents, Li’s group developed a way to perform the reactions using small regenerative quantities of silver catalyst in water.

“We wanted to find a way to prevent the [silver] atoms from aggregating,” Li explained. “Then, air or oxygen gas can turn the silver atoms back into silver ions. Now, you have a very efficient catalytic system using tiny amounts of silver.”  

To carry out this objective, Li and his group treated an ensemble of aldehydes with combinations of silver complexes and other starting material.  Reaction parameters were designed to maximize the use of readily available materials by using oxygen from the atmosphere and water as the solvent. Using these conditions, along with mild reaction temperatures, they were able to achieve high yields of the carboxylic acid product. These reactions could be performed using milligram quantities of silver catalyst, thus fulfilling the initial hopes for the synthesis.  

The work done by Li exemplifies an emerging approach to chemical research and synthesis that emphasizes the environmental impact of such processes. Green chemistry, as the field has become known, strives to use less toxic reagents, reduce chemical waste, and increase reaction efficiencies as part of several objectives that are designed with environment preservation in mind. Those involved in the field assert that all the tools needed to achieve these objectives are already available.

“Milling and grinding is probably the second oldest trade known to man,” explained McGill chemistry professor Tomislav Friscic, describing his research in solvent-free chemical synthesis. “Ancient [civilizations] made fire by rubbing wood and stone together. We are trying to find a way to combine this milling and grinding process with chemistry.”

Although seemingly straightforward, researchers are quick to point out that achieving the goals of green chemistry is not something that can be done overnight. Challenges still remain, such as optimizing heavy-scale industrial processes like the Haber-Bosch synthesis of ammonia.  However, in light of the recent focus on environmental issues like climate change and developing renewable resources, the quest for greener protocols in research has become only more urgent. Even so, for many, the connection between greenness and chemistry, a field that generates five to 100 times more chemical waste than chemical product, is not immediately obvious.

“How many undergraduates go to a general chemistry lab and [ask], ‘How much electricity did I consume today running this fume hood?’ or ‘How much water did I use running this overnight reflux?’” Friscic asked. 

This lack of awareness is something that those involved in green chemistry intend to counter.  For green researchers then, one of the essential steps is the changing of conventional ways of thinking.       

“People say that it’s not possible,” said Louis Do, a research assistant in Friscic’s lab. “[But] people in green chemistry have proved that anything is possible. It is just a matter of figuring out how.” 

It’s this question of ‘how’ that makes findings like those of Li’s recent paper important stepping stones towards a more sustainable future in chemistry. The positive impact that such work has had on both science and society has provided encouragement for Li in his own endeavours.

“The most exciting thing is […] finding things that people have never seen before, [while] at the same time benefiting society,” explained Li. 

a, Science & Technology

Brain Awareness Montreal hosts annual Brain Bee

by Lydia Kaprelian on

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On April 2, deep within the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI), Villa Maria 10th grader Melina Thibault was declared Montreal’s annual Brain Bee champion. 

The competition, hosted by Brain Awareness Montreal (BAM), is designed to test high school students specifically on information about the brain.

The day began with a written portion whereby students were asked to answer neuro-trivia questions. Later in the day, small groups of students were asked to diagnose an unknown mental illness based on a given set of symptoms. Students were also given the opportunity to ask brain experts about their research, and could even touch, hold, and ask questions about a preserved human brain.

After hours of trivia on neural anatomy, brain physiology, and neurotransmission, only Thibault and co-finalist 10th grader Tiffany Mach remained.

In order to win, a contestant had to correctly answer three questions before the other contestant. The questions fired at a rapid pace.

“Which of the two glutamate receptors do we know [the] most about [that] are often thought of as […],” started Helene Vallieres, co-vice president of BAM’s Brain Bee.

 “Memory molecules,” interjected Thibault, delivering the right answer. “NMDA and AMPA receptors.”

Many of the Brain Bee contestants have studied so thoroughly that they are often able to predict the right answer, before the judges have even finished the question.

Third-place winner Villa Maria 10th grader Laura Lentini explained that she came across a question that didn’t make sense to her, or the BAM volunteers who help contestants study. Instead, Lentini offered up an explanation.

“They were all surprised because they didn’t know [the answer to the question],” said Lentini. “And they thought it was harder than [any] question they had asked before.”

Contestants from schools around Montreal study with the help of BAM volunteers. The neuroscience mentors offer study advice and answer the questions of contestants. 

“The mentors were really amazing,” Thibault said.

One of six students chosen by a committee of teachers at Villa Maria, Thibault explained that her mentors played a huge role in her success. By taking detailed notes on a bilingual book BAM provided to participating schools, Thibault studied key concepts and bolded words.

“[The book] has facts about the brain,” explained BAM Brain Bee Co-Vice President Stephanie Scala, a McGill neuroscience graduate student. “It covers neurodegenerative disorders of the mind, to basic things like the anatomy of the neuron.” 

With the help of the MNI, Brain Bee was able to secure a room and food for everyone who attended. Though Scala and Vallieres reached out to schools all over the island, only a few schools responded, including the all-girls schools Villa Maria— where Mach and Lentini also attend—and The Study in Westmount. 

“We’re open to boys and girls,” said Scala. “But the majority tend to be girls, which is really great because it gets them interested in science.”

The Brain Bee is just one event in an ongoing effort by BAM to raise awareness and interest in neurological affairs. 

 “It’s [just] a good way to spark an interest in neuroscience,” Vallieres explained. 

Following the Canadian finals at McMaster University on May 31, students will have the chance to compete internationally in Australia this summer. 

a, Fact or Fiction, Science & Technology

Fact or Fiction: Is it safe to pee in the pool?

by Lydia Kaprelian on

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With whispers of summers reaching into our Vitamin D deprived souls, many will soon head to the pool to cool off after soaking up the rays. But taking off a wet bathing suit to go to the bathroom is an undeniable pain. Many swimmers, especially those who spend long hours in the pool, don’t bother getting out for a bathroom break.

“I think there’s just something about getting into chlorine water that you just automatically [urinate],” Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte admitted in a 2012 radio interview.

Lochte’s confession understandably raised a few eyebrows, but fellow Olympian Michael Phelps backed him up in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

“It’s kind of a normal thing to do for swimmers,” Phelps explained. “When we’re in the water for two hours, we don’t really get out to pee; chlorine kills it so it’s not bad.”

Like Phelps, many rationalize pool urination because they believe that chlorine, a bacterial disinfectant, will neutralize the urine. However, a study published last year out of the American Chemical Society’s Environmental Science & Technology Journal stakes out an entirely different claim.

One of the authors of the study, Purdue University Professor Ernest R. Blatchley III, explained the danger behind public figures making unfounded pool-peeing assumptions.

“[There are] a lot of people in the swimming community who look up to these people and listen to what they have to say,” Blatchley told The Atlantic. “[Phelps and Lochte] are not chemists and should [not] be making statements that are false.”

Instead of chlorine neutralizing urine, the uric acid in urine actually binds with the chlorine creating chlorine by-products that carry human health risks. In their research, Blatchley and the other authors mixed pure chlorine and uric acid. Within an hour, both trichloramine (NCl3) and cyanogen chloride (CNCl) had formed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cyanogen chloride is a known toxin that can harm the lungs, heart, and central nervous system, while trichloramine has been linked to adverse affects on the respiratory system, in addition to skin and eye irritation. In extremely high doses, Blatchley notes, cyanogen chloride has been used as a chemical warfare agent.

In a Wall Street Journal poll, 63 per cent of poll participants admitted to peeing in the pool, and by most metrics, that percentage is likely understated. Though not everyone pees in the pool, on average 30 to 80 mL of urine is left in the pool per person, which is equivalent to a small shot glass of pee per person. In the summer, when pools fill up, so does the amount of uric acid.

While it is true that the levels of chlorine by-products often remain relatively low, therefore posing a low risk especially for those without preexisting respiratory problems, the veritable formation of chlorine by-products is asking for trouble.

In addition to increasing respiratory risk, chlorine by-products also mean a lowered capacity for chlorine to do its sterilizing job.

“If chlorine is combining chemically with contaminants like urine, then it is not available to destroy germs in the pool that can make swimmers sick with diarrhea, swimmer’s ear, and various skin infections,” Dr. Chris Wiant explained to the Water Quality and Health Council.

Therefore, not only is this form of athlete-approved public urination foul, it also unnecessarily increases poolside health risks.

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