Skinny Bitches

Friday, January 4, 2013
Skinny Bitches Debut An EP In Toronto

Four months after the break up of the General Staff, Ricardo Temporao found himself contemplating what he might do next in music. What happened was a bit unexpected.

When he picked up his guitar and long-time friend Robyn Craig sat down at the drums, they kicked a few sets back and forth to see what would click. By the time they wrapped their initial jam session, it was "just different enough" to start an alternative indie rock/pop duo called Skinny Bitches.

By June, Skinny Bitches gained enough confidence to book their first show, one they later described as playing the Thunderdome with slightly nicer bathrooms. And from that show forward, they picked up some more (about once a month) before settling down to self-produce a debut EP.

The Skinny Bitches show promise in Toronto.

Although it has yet to be released to the broader market, the 6-pack EP shows plenty of promise for the Toronto-based duo. All they need is a bigger audience. Give them some time. They're working it out.

Their first notable release in advance of the EP was a mini-movie music video, sporting a plot thread about a gummy bear drug bust gone bad. The video, presumably produced and directed by Temporao, showcases a few friends in a campy, modernized pulp fiction-like vignette with Tarantino influences.



The song, Gunsmoke, is one of the hardest hitting tracks off the EP. It demonstrates the duo's ability to play hard without losing their affinity for harmony. It also foreshadows that Temporao most often adds alternative grit to the music while Craig brings in more popish sensibilities.

These contrasting and complementing vocals add a unique dimension to the music, with most variations dependent on who takes the lead or if they approach it as a duet. Nowhere is this more obvious than the opening tracks.

The balance of the self-released debut EP.

Just A Little Different isn't instrumentally as hard as Gunsmoke, but retains its pitch-perfect urgency with Temporao taking the lead. Craig supports him with backing vocals that lend just enough richness as the song builds toward a briskly paced climax in the last third of the song.

Rattlesnake follows, with Craig taking the lead. As the dominant vocalist here, Craig sounds great even if her technique sometimes overshadows her emotive ability. It's also unfortunate that some of the chorus lyrics distract from an otherwise solid song (maybe because one line forces it a few beats too long).

Everything's Cool But Nothing's Exciting brings Temporao and Craig back together as a near equal duo. The five-minute track captures the best of their ability — vocals and instruments. It's a sharp and urgent track, one that sets the duo apart from any number of new bands.

Let's Get Lost is a daydream, but with sexier overtones. Although the band put the track out as a video, this version plays more restrained than the EP. Notably, the instrumental sections are bigger between the verse, making the final cut superior in comparison.



As is the case with some duos, it all works better when they work harder to deliver a fuller sound. That often means bigger music that allows for more passion behind the production. This is also probably why, despite the right lyrics, the last track on the EP left a somewhat flat aftertaste.

Is You Sufferin? is a good experimental duet that only gets a little lost in the execution. The vocals are right, but the mostly percussionless composition is too light. It needs more than a guitar strum to carry it.

Skinny Bitches' Debut EP Shakes Up 6.8 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

Skinny Bitches will be a band to watch break out of Toronto. Overall, the debut EP is strong with four superior standouts. Since their debut EP isn't available via most digital marketplaces, the album can be purchased from the band's Bandcamp page.

Temporao and Craig are asking $1 for a single track, but the EP is also offered up as a "name your price." The cool thing to do here would be to offer up enough to help fund their next EP. You can also support the band on Facebook or follow their blog. They haven't updated anything much since the holidays, but we expect them to kick it up again soon. - LiquidHip.com

Friday, January 4, 2013
Skinny Bitches Debut An EP In Toronto

Four months after the break up of the General Staff, Ricardo Temporao found himself contemplating what he might do next in music. What happened was a bit unexpected.

When he picked up his guitar and long-time friend Robyn Craig sat down at the drums, they kicked a few sets back and forth to see what would click. By the time they wrapped their initial jam session, it was "just different enough" to start an alternative indie rock/pop duo called Skinny Bitches.

By June, Skinny Bitches gained enough confidence to book their first show, one they later described as playing the Thunderdome with slightly nicer bathrooms. And from that show forward, they picked up some more (about once a month) before settling down to self-produce a debut EP.

The Skinny Bitches show promise in Toronto.

Although it has yet to be released to the broader market, the 6-pack EP shows plenty of promise for the Toronto-based duo. All they need is a bigger audience. Give them some time. They're working it out.

Their first notable release in advance of the EP was a mini-movie music video, sporting a plot thread about a gummy bear drug bust gone bad. The video, presumably produced and directed by Temporao, showcases a few friends in a campy, modernized pulp fiction-like vignette with Tarantino influences.



The song, Gunsmoke, is one of the hardest hitting tracks off the EP. It demonstrates the duo's ability to play hard without losing their affinity for harmony. It also foreshadows that Temporao most often adds alternative grit to the music while Craig brings in more popish sensibilities.

These contrasting and complementing vocals add a unique dimension to the music, with most variations dependent on who takes the lead or if they approach it as a duet. Nowhere is this more obvious than the opening tracks.

The balance of the self-released debut EP.

Just A Little Different isn't instrumentally as hard as Gunsmoke, but retains its pitch-perfect urgency with Temporao taking the lead. Craig supports him with backing vocals that lend just enough richness as the song builds toward a briskly paced climax in the last third of the song.

Rattlesnake follows, with Craig taking the lead. As the dominant vocalist here, Craig sounds great even if her technique sometimes overshadows her emotive ability. It's also unfortunate that some of the chorus lyrics distract from an otherwise solid song (maybe because one line forces it a few beats too long).

Everything's Cool But Nothing's Exciting brings Temporao and Craig back together as a near equal duo. The five-minute track captures the best of their ability — vocals and instruments. It's a sharp and urgent track, one that sets the duo apart from any number of new bands.

Let's Get Lost is a daydream, but with sexier overtones. Although the band put the track out as a video, this version plays more restrained than the EP. Notably, the instrumental sections are bigger between the verse, making the final cut superior in comparison.



As is the case with some duos, it all works better when they work harder to deliver a fuller sound. That often means bigger music that allows for more passion behind the production. This is also probably why, despite the right lyrics, the last track on the EP left a somewhat flat aftertaste.

Is You Sufferin? is a good experimental duet that only gets a little lost in the execution. The vocals are right, but the mostly percussionless composition is too light. It needs more than a guitar strum to carry it.

Skinny Bitches' Debut EP Shakes Up 6.8 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

Skinny Bitches will be a band to watch break out of Toronto. Overall, the debut EP is strong with four superior standouts. Since their debut EP isn't available via most digital marketplaces, the album can be purchased from the band's Bandcamp page.

Temporao and Craig are asking $1 for a single track, but the EP is also offered up as a "name your price." The cool thing to do here would be to offer up enough to help fund their next EP. You can also support the band on Facebook or follow their blog. They haven't updated anything much since the holidays, but we expect them to kick it up again soon. - LiquidHip.com

Thursday October 13th, 2005


TEMPORAO HITS STRIDE WITH THE BEAT!


For Immediate Release

On October 20th Canadian indie underdogs Rick Temporao & the New Low will be opening up for ‘80s hero Dave Wakeling’s English Beat at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern for the Toronto leg of his North American tour.

After some performances as part of the city of Toronto’s “Live with Culture” promotion, Temporao’s band will be centre stage at the Toronto Rock’s season opening party on November 5th at Dundas Square.

Rick Temporao & the New Low will be featuring songs from their debut record “Down in Front”. Their melodic, lush sound has been compared to artists from Elvis Costello to Led Zeppelin. With their video already hitting the airwaves on MuchMusic as well as MuchMoreMusic, their star is rising with every performance.

Rick Temporao & the New Low recorded “Down in Front” with multi-platinum producer Brian Allen. The New Low consists of Steffon Sepa (guitar), Donn Dixon (drums), Ian Morrison (keyboards) and Derek Raby (bass guitar).

Check out http://www.ricktemporao.com for more info.
For more information, contact:
Rick Temporao
(416) 525-4796
mail@ricktemporao.com

###
- Press Release

"Rick Temporao & the New Low" are the winners of the FM 95 Rock Star Search - The Kee to Bala news

Rick Temporao & the New Low

Down in Front

Self-released


If you like... Five for Fighting, Maroon 5

Kick-ass tracks: “By the River,” “Chopsticks”

q4 Buy q Burn q Frizbee


Wait, wait, wait! An album that is both incredibly radio-friendly and good? It’s not possible! That’s only a myth like the yeti or the sasquatch. It just can’t be so!

It is so and, what’s more, it’s a debut album. Down in Front by Rick Temporao and the New Low has everything that should make it a multi-million seller and still be loved by music snobs far and wide.

It kicks off with the rocking “By the River,” which introduces Temporao’s high and energetic voice. It’s followed by “Chopsticks,” a dark yet fun song about first-time teenage sex.

The album continues in this vein, with a couple of slower exceptions in “Emily the Strange” and the last song, “Life of the Party.” Actually, ending the album with “Life of the Party” is the only misstep by the band, as it’s an solo acoustic performance by Temporao — what a typical and cliché way to end an album. Luckily, the song is great.

Sweet, soulful and heartfelt, Down in Front is an amazing debut from Rick Temporao and the New Low. Quality pop rock is rare and deserves to be supported.

—Chad Nevett

- University of Western Ontario Gazette

Rick Temporao & the New Low

Down in Front

Self-released


If you like... Five for Fighting, Maroon 5

Kick-ass tracks: “By the River,” “Chopsticks”

q4 Buy q Burn q Frizbee


Wait, wait, wait! An album that is both incredibly radio-friendly and good? It’s not possible! That’s only a myth like the yeti or the sasquatch. It just can’t be so!

It is so and, what’s more, it’s a debut album. Down in Front by Rick Temporao and the New Low has everything that should make it a multi-million seller and still be loved by music snobs far and wide.

It kicks off with the rocking “By the River,” which introduces Temporao’s high and energetic voice. It’s followed by “Chopsticks,” a dark yet fun song about first-time teenage sex.

The album continues in this vein, with a couple of slower exceptions in “Emily the Strange” and the last song, “Life of the Party.” Actually, ending the album with “Life of the Party” is the only misstep by the band, as it’s an solo acoustic performance by Temporao — what a typical and cliché way to end an album. Luckily, the song is great.

Sweet, soulful and heartfelt, Down in Front is an amazing debut from Rick Temporao and the New Low. Quality pop rock is rare and deserves to be supported.

—Chad Nevett

- University of Western Ontario Gazette

We’ve all been told never to judge a book by its cover. That same bit of folksy wisdom should also be said about CDs. One of the most recent discs I’ve received is from Rick Temporao & The New Low; its cover shows a modern, darked-eyed, teenaged girl, kneeling on her bed, listening to music on her headphones. In front of her is a record album cover showing the same modern, dark-eyed, teenaged girl, kneeling on her bed, listening to music on her headphones. It would have been easy to assume that this was just another expendable death-metal album.

Luckily I finally listened to it and discovered, to my great surprise, that there is no metal whatsoever on this disc. Instead, I uncovered a little treasure trove of folk- and jazz-influenced pop numbers that should earn top spots on the charts. This independently released gem, titled Down In Front, shows Temporao brooding all the way through, yet he’s certainly not unhappy at all. He keeps much of his vocals and instrumentation fairly understated – which in this case is a great plus. It adds so much to the package.

Temporao, who was used to playing solo, has assembled an amazingly tight band that fits right into this type of low-key material. Hats off to drummer Donn Dixon, keyman Ian Morrison, bass player Derek Raby and guitarman Steffon Sepa.

My favourite cuts are:

the very folksy Fisherman, featuring excellent vocals and keyboard work, accentuated by a few well-placed la-la-la’s (this great number could have easily be mistaken for one of the many hits written by one of those great Atlantic Canadian songsmiths);
Emily the Strange, an absolutely beautiful piano ballad that evokes some of those artsy Lennon-McCartney arrangements and harmonies (those bazuki sounds also helped bring out the Beatlesque feel);
Redhaired Girl, a fun, slightly funky and reggae-tinged winner if I ever heard one;
and the light-rocking The News, highlighting some catchy guitar work.
Down In Front shows a remarkably eclectic mix of performance styles and writing capabilities. It also displays tonnes of talent that will hopefully be rewarded with lots of airplay. - Journal - Prince Edward Island

We’ve all been told never to judge a book by its cover. That same bit of folksy wisdom should also be said about CDs. One of the most recent discs I’ve received is from Rick Temporao & The New Low; its cover shows a modern, darked-eyed, teenaged girl, kneeling on her bed, listening to music on her headphones. In front of her is a record album cover showing the same modern, dark-eyed, teenaged girl, kneeling on her bed, listening to music on her headphones. It would have been easy to assume that this was just another expendable death-metal album.

Luckily I finally listened to it and discovered, to my great surprise, that there is no metal whatsoever on this disc. Instead, I uncovered a little treasure trove of folk- and jazz-influenced pop numbers that should earn top spots on the charts. This independently released gem, titled Down In Front, shows Temporao brooding all the way through, yet he’s certainly not unhappy at all. He keeps much of his vocals and instrumentation fairly understated – which in this case is a great plus. It adds so much to the package.

Temporao, who was used to playing solo, has assembled an amazingly tight band that fits right into this type of low-key material. Hats off to drummer Donn Dixon, keyman Ian Morrison, bass player Derek Raby and guitarman Steffon Sepa.

My favourite cuts are:

the very folksy Fisherman, featuring excellent vocals and keyboard work, accentuated by a few well-placed la-la-la’s (this great number could have easily be mistaken for one of the many hits written by one of those great Atlantic Canadian songsmiths);
Emily the Strange, an absolutely beautiful piano ballad that evokes some of those artsy Lennon-McCartney arrangements and harmonies (those bazuki sounds also helped bring out the Beatlesque feel);
Redhaired Girl, a fun, slightly funky and reggae-tinged winner if I ever heard one;
and the light-rocking The News, highlighting some catchy guitar work.
Down In Front shows a remarkably eclectic mix of performance styles and writing capabilities. It also displays tonnes of talent that will hopefully be rewarded with lots of airplay. - Journal - Prince Edward Island

Honourable mention in the international songwriting competition for the song Fisherman. - songprize

Honourable mention in the international songwriting competition for the song Fisherman. - songprize

"A fresh find" - Alan Cross