Aukland

Mississauga indie rockers Aukland continue to gain fans opening for Juno award nominees Tokyo Police Club and Hollerado on the current leg of their Canadian tour.

The News caught up with the band after their set at Sheridan College in Oakville on Friday night.

The group formed from the ashes of the Mississauga folk-rock band SEAM when founding members Sean Sroka and Jeff Campana decided they needed to go in another direction. They reformed as Aukland last July with drummer Dave Setton, and Campana’s high school friend and former band mate, Andrew Thomas on bass guitar.

“The first time we met Dave was actually at laser tag. I saw him after he had gotten out of the band he was in. I said to Sean right there, that’s going to be our next drummer. Next thing you know, there’s Dave,” said Campana, the band’s lead guitarist.

They have been writing new songs and performing together ever since. Despite their relatively short time together the trio of Mississauga natives and drummer from Oakville have become a cohesive stage unit and put together an impressive set of songs and energetic live show.

“Without sounding cliché, the one thing that definitely inspires us the most are the new fans or friends we make [at our] shows, hearing about people connecting to our music” said lead singer Sroka.

Combining rock, pop and folk influences into a sound the band calls “Frop”, they have gained enough momentum in relatively short order to open for Canadian indie-rock standouts Hollerado and Tokyo Police Club on the latest leg of their tour.

“It’s going to be awesome to open for Tokyo Police Club and Hollerado … we are always trying to add new things into the mix, by performing with new people and the next thing you know, the show is even better than last time.”

Borrowing their name from Aukland Rd. off which Kipling Station is located, the band says the name serves as a tribute to their roots.

“It’s the in between. We’re Mississauga kids,” said Sroka. “It’s that street where everyone goes to get to Toronto and it seems we’re always in Toronto, but we’re from Mississauga, so it’s kind of that little middle ground.”

When not perusing their ambitions in the music business, the three 21-year-olds in the group spend their days as students. Sroka studies advertising at Sheridan College, Setton is at McMaster for engineering, while Campana is studying at Ryerson. Thomas, 22, studied music for a couple of years and is now working as a session musician.

Aukland has been busy in the recording studio and hope to release their first EP sometime in February.

After appearing at Sheridan College on Friday, the band will continue their university mini tour with Hollerado and Tokyo Police Club on Saturday at McMaster and will wrap things up at the Western on Wednesday. - Graeme Frisque

On Saturday night I attended Aukland’s show at The Garrison and it was a ridiculously good time. Featuring special guests Hisland, Of Gentlemen and Cowards, and Running Red Lights, the line-up proved to be a sweet compilation of some very talented local bands.

Aukland, consisting of Sean Sroka (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Jeff Campana (lead guitar, backing vocals), Andrew James Thomas (bass, backing vocals) and Dave Setton (drums, backing vocals) went on stage near the end of the night and entirely blew my mind. Previous to this show I’d only dabbled in their music a little bit, but I could easily see why there was such an energetic crowd awaiting their performance. Aukland’s catchy hooks, paired with harmonic “ooos” and upbeat acoustic strumming, combines to form the recipe for a perfect hit. Aukland’s music was an ode to the cold, pre-winter nights in the city- everything from the instrumentals to the vocals reverberated with amiability. Their music sounds like something bright and glowing and warm.

Midway through their performance, the guys announced a surprise- they’d made copies of an acoustic EP, which they referred to as a “Paper Bag Sample”, available for purchase. Earlier in the day, they’d gotten together and decorated paper bags with watercolours. It was a cute, personal touch that everyone seemed to appreciate. I snagged a copy for myself which I’m currently listening to as I write this.

I was lucky enough to interview Sean, Jeff, Andrew, and Dave after the show. They were super friendly and seemed like such genuinely nice people. It was a total pleasure.



Read the interview on the Link!

***** - Fresh Print Magazine

Artist to Watch: Seam

By: Rebecka Calderwood (@persBECKtives)
Hailing from Mississauga, SEAM describes themselves as four guys with natural talent, witty personalities, and mutual admiration for composing and performing music. With Sean Sroka on vocals/guitar, Jeff Campana on lead guitar/vocals, Andrew James Thomas on bass, and Davey Setton taking over drums, percussion and vocals, their sound is a blend of indie and folk-rock.
Self-produced by the band, their Sketches EP was released in the summer of 2012. SEAM has shared the stage with various artists such as, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ill Scarlett, These Kids Wear Crowns, FeFe Dobson, Dragonette and more.
Authentic, passionate and entertaining every time, SEAM’s growing popularity means it’s time to officially slap an entertainment-guaranteed sticker on every performance. Dare to be entertained?
Tickets are on sale now: Click Here
For more event info/RSVP: Click Here
___________
Rebecka Calderwood is a staff writer at AnchorShopPresents. - Anchorshop

Artist to Watch: Seam

By: Rebecka Calderwood (@persBECKtives)
Hailing from Mississauga, SEAM describes themselves as four guys with natural talent, witty personalities, and mutual admiration for composing and performing music. With Sean Sroka on vocals/guitar, Jeff Campana on lead guitar/vocals, Andrew James Thomas on bass, and Davey Setton taking over drums, percussion and vocals, their sound is a blend of indie and folk-rock.
Self-produced by the band, their Sketches EP was released in the summer of 2012. SEAM has shared the stage with various artists such as, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ill Scarlett, These Kids Wear Crowns, FeFe Dobson, Dragonette and more.
Authentic, passionate and entertaining every time, SEAM’s growing popularity means it’s time to officially slap an entertainment-guaranteed sticker on every performance. Dare to be entertained?
Tickets are on sale now: Click Here
For more event info/RSVP: Click Here
___________
Rebecka Calderwood is a staff writer at AnchorShopPresents. - Anchorshop

Who the Hell Won ‘Last Band Standing’?
By: Clair Brassard

While Sheridan may not offer a program that focuses solely on music, there are certainly talented musicians in the halls. Seam is the winning band of Sheridan’s ‘Last Band Standing’ competition, which was held in March. They won studio time, $500 and a spot in the provincial finals.

And to think- they almost weren’t even in the competition.

“We found out about it very last minute through a friend at school, who suggested we do it because we might have a chance,” says Sean Sroka (lead vocals/Sheridan Advertising student). “Any show or way of getting exposure for our band is very important to us, so we really wanted to get involved in it.”

Not only did the four competing bands get an opportunity to perform- they were also judged by industry professionals, who gave each band in-depth feedback on their performances. They agreed that Seam’s set and overall image were “really put together,” according to Andrew James (bass).

This shouldn’t come as a surprise after the experience this band has had.

“We opened for Carley Rae Jepsen a few times in the summer. There’s also been Abandon All Ships, Fefe Dobson and Dragonette,” says Davey Setton (drums).

But each member agrees that the small shows are still just as important as the big ones.

“Events like these are really good for the community. Everyone likes to come out, listen to music, have a good time and run up their bar tabs. So hey, it’s good for everybody,” says Jeff Campana (lead guitar).

Seam’s sound has been described as folk-rock. There’s also a bit of a ‘pop factor’ in it, so the band describes it as “frop”. They are influenced by a variety of musicians, including Kings of Leon, Hey Rosetta, Walk the Moon, Wintersleep and Frank Ocean.

Their songs are incredibly catchy- it’s almost impossible not to dance (or at least tap your foot) to them. It’s a collaborative songwriting process that begins with an idea for a melody.

“Lyrics will eventually come out of whatever I’m feeling in that moment that I’m writing. After that I’ll usually show it to the rest of the guys and we go from there,” says Sroka. “Like Jeff says, I come up with the blue prints and then we all build a building.”

After wowing the audience at Sheridan and winning the title of the ‘Last Band Standing’, Seam went on to Brock University to compete against the other bands that had won the same title at their school. Unfortunately, they didn’t win this competition, but they weren’t too distraught about it.

“The last stage of the competition was fun. We got to meet a bunch of other bands and play music. We didn’t win the final round, but we had a really good time so it was great either way,” says Sroka.

If you didn’t catch Seam at the Last Band Standing, check out their Facebook page or website to see where they’ll be playing next. They put on a great show! - The Circuit

Who the Hell Won ‘Last Band Standing’?
By: Clair Brassard

While Sheridan may not offer a program that focuses solely on music, there are certainly talented musicians in the halls. Seam is the winning band of Sheridan’s ‘Last Band Standing’ competition, which was held in March. They won studio time, $500 and a spot in the provincial finals.

And to think- they almost weren’t even in the competition.

“We found out about it very last minute through a friend at school, who suggested we do it because we might have a chance,” says Sean Sroka (lead vocals/Sheridan Advertising student). “Any show or way of getting exposure for our band is very important to us, so we really wanted to get involved in it.”

Not only did the four competing bands get an opportunity to perform- they were also judged by industry professionals, who gave each band in-depth feedback on their performances. They agreed that Seam’s set and overall image were “really put together,” according to Andrew James (bass).

This shouldn’t come as a surprise after the experience this band has had.

“We opened for Carley Rae Jepsen a few times in the summer. There’s also been Abandon All Ships, Fefe Dobson and Dragonette,” says Davey Setton (drums).

But each member agrees that the small shows are still just as important as the big ones.

“Events like these are really good for the community. Everyone likes to come out, listen to music, have a good time and run up their bar tabs. So hey, it’s good for everybody,” says Jeff Campana (lead guitar).

Seam’s sound has been described as folk-rock. There’s also a bit of a ‘pop factor’ in it, so the band describes it as “frop”. They are influenced by a variety of musicians, including Kings of Leon, Hey Rosetta, Walk the Moon, Wintersleep and Frank Ocean.

Their songs are incredibly catchy- it’s almost impossible not to dance (or at least tap your foot) to them. It’s a collaborative songwriting process that begins with an idea for a melody.

“Lyrics will eventually come out of whatever I’m feeling in that moment that I’m writing. After that I’ll usually show it to the rest of the guys and we go from there,” says Sroka. “Like Jeff says, I come up with the blue prints and then we all build a building.”

After wowing the audience at Sheridan and winning the title of the ‘Last Band Standing’, Seam went on to Brock University to compete against the other bands that had won the same title at their school. Unfortunately, they didn’t win this competition, but they weren’t too distraught about it.

“The last stage of the competition was fun. We got to meet a bunch of other bands and play music. We didn’t win the final round, but we had a really good time so it was great either way,” says Sroka.

If you didn’t catch Seam at the Last Band Standing, check out their Facebook page or website to see where they’ll be playing next. They put on a great show! - The Circuit

SEAM has an impressive resume for a band that has yet to release an album.
The Mississauga folk/rock group has opened for Steven Page, former leader singer of the Barenaked Ladies, at the Hamilton Music and Film Festival and Spirit of the West at the Mississauga Waterfront Festival. SEAM has also shared the stage with artists Fefe Dobson, These Kids Wear Crowns and Shawn Desman as part of last year's Canada Day festivities at Celebration Square.
The band has even opened for illScarlett at a private event and has been nominated for a MARTY Award (Emerging Performing Arts Group).
The band, comprised of Sean Sroka on vocals and acoustic guitar, Ron Miller on base, Jeff Campana on guitar and Davey Setton on drums, chalks up its success to chemistry and a raw and genuine love for performing.
Whether it's street busking at Streetsville's Bread and Honey Festival or performing at venues in Mississauga, band members say there's nothing quite like being front and centre, playing for a crowd.
Now, nearly two years since its inception, SEAM is ready to release its debut EP album, Sketches.
Their record label, Your Way Records, is hosting a CD release party on Friday at the Masonic Lodge in Streetsville. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $10.
The party features bands Crashing Cars, Hi Kyle and Raising Atlantis.
Sroka, a Cawthra Park Secondary School graduate, says they'll be playing all five songs off their album, as well as a mix of older and newer material.
He says they're trying to expand their horizons and build a bigger fan base.
One of the ways they're doing that is making their new EP interactive. Sketches has a blank cover and fans are encouraged to draw what they'd like, take a picture of their design and post it on SEAM's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/seam.music).
Sroka, 19, says the design the band likes best will be made into a T-shirt, which they hope to sell when they tour late this summer.
Sroka adds that while the band's music falls into the folk rock genre, its sound touches on a number of different genres.
"We tend to switch between genres," he said.
Sketches is available for $7. It's being sold at the CD release party and will be available on iTunes.com.
jle@mississauga.net - Mississauga News

True to our title, we’ve kept it right within Toronto the past few weeks in regards to where the last few artists/bands we’ve featured were from. This week, we’ll going a few minutes outside of Toronto by visiting the growing city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada with the Progressive Folk/Rock band of SEAM.

SEAM, like Union Duke (who we featured just 2 weeks ago) was 1 out of several bands I was exposed to in a classroom at Ryerson University, and 1 out of very few that impressed me enough to care afterwards.

Led by Sean Sroka on guitar and vocally fronted by Jeff Campana, the band belts out Jason Mraz and Paolo Nutini inspired tunes, the kind of music that I’d like to think as music you can take ‘on-the-go.’ Both Sroka and Campana can both strap guitars to their backs and Campana can start singing his heart out while the two walk down the street. Of course, there’s also Ron Miller on bass and Davey Setton who, although in charge of drums and percussion, is known to lend his voice for some back-up vocals too. It’s mellow, it’s upbeat and full of energy, and the music itself sounds like a really good time.

The band has been active for about 1 or 2 years now. Despite this short amount of time, and the fact that most or all of its members are still full-time college/university students, the band his made good use of their talent and time, and have already made a name for themselves. To date, SEAM has already played in numerous festivals and huge events that catered to thousands of people. This includes the Hamilton Music and Film Festival where they opened for Steven Page (former lead singer of The Bare Naked Ladies). Then in July 2011 and once again in July 2012, the band was invited to play during Mississauga’s official Canada Day celebrations which featured Fefe Dobson, Shawn Desman in 2011 and Carly Rae Jepsen and Dragonette in 2012. They have also opened up for fellow Canadian natives iLL Scarlett, a band that has gained international recognition.

Having accomplished so much already, there’s no doubt that SEAM has so much potential to really grow musically. With more love and support from audiences, SEAM is sure to make it to the same level as other successul Canadians like City and Colour amd Carly Rae Jepsen.

So, if you’ve liked what you’ve learned about these guys, and finally want to hear some music, check out their music video for “If We Were” off of their recently released EP Sketches (now available on iTunes). The video was just released just a month ago so it’s still cooling after having spent time in an editing suite. Make sure you also check out the links following the video below. - Faustine