Music BC, the voice of British Columbia’s music industry, today announced 15 artists who will be the first to participate in ARC, an intensive accelerator program – providing an opportunity to a range of artists who are as diverse as the musical genres they represent, including Fernie’s Lush Fleece.
ARC was created to advance the business, creative, and technical skills of recording artists to help them build a sustainable career in the music industry—both at home and away. The initiative is supported by a three-year funding commitment of $600,000 from the B.C. government.
“The province recognizes that increasing skills training and cultivating talent is an important pathway to supporting local musicians,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “We responded to a call to action and know there is so much talent right here in our backyard, and we want to support B.C.’s artists to reach for the stars and build sustainable careers. I am excited to see them shine, and I wish the first program participants the brightest future.”
Lush Fleece is Barry Jenkins, a fashionable multi-instrumentalist and ramen enthusiast born in the UK – and Chilli, a neurotic introvert raised in the noise of Toronto’s city streets, as described by Music BC.
“Honest, innovative, and progressive, Lush Fleece is reinventing a wholly modern approach to R&B. Weaving together elements of classic soul and bedroom pop, the duo embodies the beating heart of Canadian Underground R&B – and writes, records and produces all their work in a furniture warehouse tucked away in the Rocky Mountains on unceded Ktunaxa Territory,” stated MusicBC.
“Through their vulnerability, they hope their work will provide a new perspective in the Canadian music scene, one that draws people towards self-acceptance.”
The ARC will include three components throughout late July-September:
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