The winners of the MIMI 2009

Here are the winners of the 2009 MIMI :

Lake of Stew – www.myspace.com/lakeofstew
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Seven (sometimes six; other times eleven) happy ex-punkers who traded the electric guitar for the bluegrass twist of a banjo, take their main inspiration from the folk/americana tradition. Are the Lake of Stew dated? Not at all. Thanks to a stripped-down honest approach of the genre, a sensitive yet slightly cynical attitude, infectious harmonies, and a big o’ bag of fun, they are sure to make you swing.

Parlovr – www.myspace.com/parlourmontreal
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Reacting against a scene saturated with orchestral over-crowded «super-groups», the Montreal trio manages to make quite the impressive statement with their self-titled debut. This melodic piece of moody rock is finely pitched while acknowledging its formative pioneers and contemporaries (Sonic Youth, Morrissey, Interpol) giving Parlovr a musical maturity rarely heard by a band at such an early stage in their career.

Le Matos – www.myspace.com/lematos
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Even without an official album out, Le Matos quickly garnered a lot of attention thanks to solid tracks on some of the year’s most sought-after compilations (Saboteur Records, Ninja Eliminator), as well as remixing tracks by Omnikrom, Numéro#, and Cœur de pirate. So until we get a proper record to chew on, the boys will continue to feed their obsessive hunger for machines, keyboards and shoes.

Random Recipe – www.myspace.com/randomrecipe
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The ultimate eclectic blend of hip-hop combined with elements of electro and rock – and everything in between – this four-piece, fronted by Fab and Franster, the two ladies who started it all, continue to garner rave reviews since they first took the microphone at Montreal’s Rap Maudit event (hosted by Gatineau’s Seba) and left everyone speechless. With their “less is more” approach, and a sound as fresh as it is innovative, this one definitely seems like a sure shot to us.

Witchies – www.myspace.com/witchies
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With a beautiful pop canvas backed by dreamy guitars and ethereal synths, this Montreal trio cultivates melodrama in a most refined way. Directly out of the Mile End-Anglo-Indie school witch has become an institution of its own – with an EP produced by Wolf Parade’s Arlen Thompson – Witchies’ music comes off as small ellipses combining the macabre and its luminous poetic opposition, telling stories of love’s downfalls and death by murder.

These five artists, already declared winners of the 2009 edition, will all perform during the award ceremony. They will then be receiving their prizes given from sponsors (studio recordings, consulting, radio tracking, photo shoot, etc.). This new format is part of MIMI’s new initiative to support emerging artists.

Jury members
Various members of the Montreal indie music scene were part of the MIMI 2009 ballot committee to determine unanimously the five selected artists:

  • Olivier Lalande / Nightlife Magazine
  • Martine Groulx / Société pour la promotion de la relève musicale de l’espace francophone (SOPREF), Camaromance
  • Ariane Gruet-Pelchat / CHOQ.FM
  • Steve Guimond / Casa del Popolo, Sala Rossa, Il Motore, Hour, Nightlife Magazine
  • Marc-André Pilon / Bande à part
  • Éric Cazes / Productions La Bête Rouge
  • Alexandre Jacques / Opak Media
  • Dave Cool / Centre St-Ambroise
  • Dan Seligman / Pop Montreal
  • Patrice Caron / Quebec Indie Music Awards (GAMIQ), Bang Bang