Indicator Indicator

It's September now and it's getting colder. Fall is upon us in the Northeast. It seems appropriate to listen to a Canadian band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Indicator Indicator is a band to watch. Keep warm and listen to “Back into the Fire.”

The lyrics are sang passionately and you also get your fix of guitar solos. Not to mention that the entire band is comprised of handsome lads. Here are the lyrics for “Back Into The Fire” which resonated with us in a big way:

Finally I made it out
My clothes all black with smoke
Finally I made it out
What a joke

Amazingly I'm still alive
Carrying the people I love
Amazingly I'm still alive
I should have died

But there is still one spark within me
Invisible addict addicting
Only feels the hurt, the burns, the shame
And wants to swing at the flames

Back into the fire
Back into the fire I go
The only place that I know”

What other fun music videos from Indicator Indicator should you check out? “My Love Don't Belong” is a music video with a $200 budget that had collaboration from a diverse source. “Thanks to Fiverr.com, where people offer their services for $5 a job, dozens of talented people from all over the world came together to make this music video - and they didn't even know it.” When you view “This Place is a Factory” something seems a little off (besides the blood), until you realize that it was filmed in reverse. However, the artist in us really enjoyed “January First” which involved time-lapse portraiture and paint. You can view the rest of their videos on YouTube.

Go to Facebook and request for them to play near you. Feel free to tweet at them on Twitter. Most of all, listen to their music on iTunes and be on the lookout for their next album “Elan Locomotive”, coming out Nov. 15, 2014. - Boston Examiner

Manitoban alternative pop band Indicator Indicator has brought itself back into the music world with its new EP Swarm/Love is Not Enough. While it is a small album of only three songs, what this group lacks in output they make up for with quality and an omnivorous musical style that uses both physical and digital instruments.

Indicator Indicator is a relatively new band, having first released their self-titled EP in September 2012. The group found rapid critical acclaim with the debut, which was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award. Named an act to watch by the CBC, the band has since spent most of its time touring the United States in order to gain an American audience.

Album opener “Swarm” delivers a strong start, with an opening reminiscent of some Mother Mother songs that quickly settles into its own style. Vocalist and keyboardist Sandy Taronno has a smooth and confident voice that fits well with the poetic lyrics which tell a story of relaxation within chaos.

With lyrics such as “Trumpet sounds and walls come down/Passing little stories around to kill the time/Take your flying horse for a ride/Long as you like,” the album explores the sense of freedom that exists at the end of the world.

Albums have a tendency to skew either completely electronic or entirely analog, but with Indicator Indicator the blending of the two styles feels fitting and natural. Neither side overpowers the other or becomes too distracting. Instead, both work in unison to better capture a unique blend of sounds.

The theme of endings continues with second song “Love is Not Enough,” which follows the experience of losing one’s love while being powerless to do anything about it. The electronic aspects take centre stage in this song, creating a frantic yet melancholy mood.

Lyrics like “Take her cold white hand into my hand/Says I can but I better understand/That the verdict’s clear my love is worthless” show the narrator’s desperation, trying to accept what’s happening at the same time as they’re doing whatever it takes to prevent the end.

All three tracks cover the inevitable as well as the various reactions that it causes, and the mood grows appropriately more solemn and dark with each song as a result. “Coward” cements this theme with a song more about regret than acceptance or struggle. It talks of how fragile strength is and how easily it and everything else can weaken and fall apart.

While not the happiest way to end an album, “Coward” is certainly meaningful. The song acts as a fitting conclusion, its musings on the suddenness of change a mirror image to the magnitude that such change can have on your life that is found in “Swarm.” Heard next to one another, the pieces fit together wonderfully.

Probably the worst thing about the album is that it is so short, but nevertheless Swarm/Love is Not Enough has good value for your money. What is here is masterfully done, with all three songs fitting together seamlessly. You’ll find yourself listening to the album on repeat for a long time. - The Sheaf

Although Indicator Indicator is a fairly new name on the local music scene, the man behind it is certainly no stranger.
Sandy Taronno first established himself as a pop songwriter to watch as a member of local indie-rock outfit Quinzy, backed by the estimable talents of his brother James Taronno and cousins David and Jason Pankratz.
In 2012, knowing Quinzy was going to take a break, Sandy struck out on his own with Indicator Indicator, a solo bedroom-recording project that offered him the chance to develop an ever-growing pile of experimental pop songs that fell outside the traditional four-piece rock band framework. Taronno was drawn to electronic-production techniques, trading in a guitar-driven sound for one built on loops and synths. Indicator Indicator's self-titled (and Western Canadian Music Award-nominated) debut EP, produced by John Paul Peters, was released last September to critical acclaim.
And the momentum continues to build. This weekend at the Park Theatre, Indicator Indicator is playing a hometown show celebrating the release of a three-song mini EP (also produced by Peters) that includes new singles Love Is Not Enough and Swarm -- a pair of pop opuses strong enough to stand on their own. Digitally released Oct. 1, the EP, which includes B-side Coward, serves as a trailer of sorts for an eventual Indicator Indicator LP.
"I don't want to do full EPs every time, but I do want to release music a little more regularly," Taronno says over the phone from Nashville. "It's low cost for us to produce and it's low cost to purchase, and we stay in people's faces instead of releasing a block of 13 tunes and that's all people have for three years."
It's a release model used by Quinzy, who released a trilogy of EPs -- One Boy's Guide to the Moon, These Nautical Miles and Self Defense -- from 2008 to 2009, followed by a fourth EP, The Flats, in 2010. Taronno has never been shy about growing up on record, as it were, and already, Indicator Indicator has shape-shifted. It's not strictly a one-man band anymore.
"The biggest difference from the EP is that I actually recorded with the guys I play with," Taronno says, referring to House of Doc's Matthew Harder, Kevin Kornelsen and his brother, James.
"It's a bit more collaborative."
What hasn't changed is Taronno's focus. He's been in the music biz for a while now and he's incredibly pragmatic about his career. Indicator Indicator just wrapped up a nine-date U.S. tour, making important inroads with bands, venues and, most importantly, fans.
"I think we're laying some solid groundwork. I love Canada, it's my country, but when the closest city is eight hours west and 24 hours east, you need to go where the action is. I didn't want to nibble around the edges so much," Taronno says.
Indeed, Taronno is interested in working smarter. For him, that means touring strategically, releasing more music more often and getting creative: Indicator Indicator's inventive music videos -- including a 30-day time-lapse clip (January First) and a video shot entirely in reverse (This Place is a Factory) -- have thousands of YouTube views; the latter has been seen nearly 40,000 times.
"We were talking in the van about all the hats you have to wear, and how those hats blur together. It's trying to bring the same level of creativity and love to all aspects of your business. And it's got to be genuine," Taronno says.
"To use a quote from The Wire, 'We're building something here. We're building it from scratch. And all the pieces matter.'" - Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeggers Indicator Indicator are stopping by Babeville's Ninth Ward for a night of catchy-in-a-good-way electro-pop. Their self-titled debut EP has already been making waves throughout Canada, gaining comparisons to artists ranging from Justin Timberlake to Wilco. Structured with well-realized pop songwriting, the band's shimmery sound is perfectly suited for the Ninth Ward's intimate space. - BuffaBlog

Interview and feature piece. - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

I was standing in line for my Indie Week pass when Indicator Indicator took the stage at the Hideout on Wednesday night. All the media and music lovers stood still for a moment, listening intently. Then the space cleared out, everyone rushing to see what band this music was coming from.

The Winnipeg-based trio play a wonderful mix of electro-rock, though their live show relies heavier on the rock side than their recorded material would suggest. Still, on stage, they are entertaining and fun to watch.

Clicking drums, a solid guitar and distorted, yet poppy vocals mix to form a great composition. The band’s rock and electro aspects meld together perfectly – one does not overpower the other, instead complimenting each other perfectly.

‘Love is not Enough’, off of their latest EP, is a perfect example of this balance. Recorded, the synth parts are prominent, transforming the track into a wonderfully dancey, electropop-ish tune. On stage, however, the song lends itself a more relaxed vibe. That wonderful synth still finds its way through, but it’s more mellow, almost folksy, and inspires a lot of sing-alonging.

Indicator Indicator are currently on tour; visit their website to find out where you can see them live!

And be sure to check out our Facebook photo gallery from their performance!

1 comment for “Indicator Indicator at Indie Week 2013”
Aaron
October 18, 2013 at 9:35 am
Yeah, I was there too. Loved it. Different. Would definitively see them again. - Raz Mataz Magazine

On the debut release from Indicator Indicator, Quinzy’s Sandy Taronno brings his own brand of mid-tempo indie pop to the table. Pairing his expressive voice with electronic drums on opener My Love Don’t Belong; a synth hook on January First, and emptiness in the elegiac closer Back into the Fire, the standout track is Your Cocoon, a catchy song about someone who needs to mature that could have been a single from the last Gotye album. Taronno doesn’t do anything unnecessarily fancy vocally; he sticks to what he does well and sounds polished. Synth/piano is usually a good choice in indie pop, and is complemented well here by guitar and electronic drums to make the instrumentation simple but satisfying. Produced along with John Paul Peters (Propagandhi), Taronno has whetted the appetite for a full-length release. Four Stars.
- The Uniter

Feature piece. - Uptown Magazine

Indicator Indicator is the solo project of Quinzy vocalist/guitarist Sandy Taronno and it’s a logical next step forward from his work in the acclaimed pop/rock band. While the six songs here bear a passing resemblance to his Quinzy material (see: the strong hooks; the hyper-literate lyrics), they’re darker and grittier. The balance between the accessible and the experimental that these songs strike often recalls the work of Wilco (especially opening track My Love Don’t Belong). Still, Taronno hasn’t completely abandoned his pure pop urges: the appropriately anthemic January First comes out with confetti cannons a-blazing. Four stars. - Uptown Magazine

I’ve meaning to blog about Indicator Indicator for a while, but this week seemed like the perfect week to do it!

Indicator Indicator is, of course, the new indie pop project from Quinzy’s Sandy Taronno. Despite being relatively new on the scene, Indicator Indicator is already generating a shitload of buzz, particularly for a novel music video for the track My Love Don’t Belong.

Here’s the deal: Sandy hired a crew of 40 from all over the world to help craft the clip, which cost just $200 to make. You can read the full story here and watch the video here. (Let’s make this go viral, people! It’s amazing. Tell your friends.)

You can catch Indicator Indicator live at Ozzy’s on June 6 (that's tomorrow) as part of Manitoba Music’s New Music Wednesdays. An EP is slated to be released this summer (keep an eye out for a more in-depth profile in a future issue Uptown) but, in the meantime, you can grab a free download of This Place is a Factory here.

Check out http://www.indicatorindicator.com/ for more info. - The Uptown

The first post on the Facebook page for Indicator Indicator, Quinzy frontman Sandy Taronno’s new solo project, says it all: “First things first - gorgeous/genius super-band Quinzy is hale and healthy, of course. This (project) is just another hose to spray the world with music.”

After playing a few solo gigs last summer (usually as a double bill with ex-Quinzy member Brian James), Taronno recorded a handful of songs, including the poppy as heck January First, the sprawling, synth-laden Your Cocoon and the haunting This Place is a Factory which can be found on the project’s website, http://www.indicatorindicator.com.

The songs are exciting, beautifully fleshed out and are guaranteed to stick in your subconscious for days.

Sliding the spotlight away, Taronno made a recent change from simply naming the project after himself. Wanting to use the band name for a while but having no place for it, it seemed to fit this new project, which also consists of Taronno’s brother/Quinzy keyboard player James and House of Doc’s Matthew Harder on guitar.

With Taronno on bass, it’s a throwback to the old days of Quinzy, but in so many more ways, a giant step forward. Now that he’s recording his own songs at such a feverish pace, it won’t be long before Indicator Indicator has something for you to pick up at the merch table.

Check out Indicator Indicator’s live debut with the Mariachi Ghost and Bean on Saturday, March 10 at the Park Theatre at 8 p.m. It’s a sci-fi inspired night of fun and excitement with tickets available online at http://www.ticketbreak.com.

- Nicholas Friesen - The Uniter

Indicator Indicator is Sandy Taronno, better known as a quarter of the pop-outfit Quinzy, one of Winnipeg’s best-kept secrets. It’s not a name I expect many of you to know as Quinzy has, be it from lack of trying or otherwise, never really seemed to break out beyond the perimeter, despite delivering continually excellent tunes and putting on continually excellent performances. But the same can’t necessarily be said for Taronno’s solo-act, seeing as he just put out a video for his track “My Love Don’t Belong” using a crew of 40 people located at just about every corner of the Earth.

It’s comprised of footage pulled together after wrangling people around the world to film the strange and varied jobs they were willing to do for a mere $5, and there’s everything from a Michael Jackson-esque dance number to an Australian dude screaming the lyrics while juggling chainsaws. The final product is charming and weird, and breaks borders in a way Taronno’s other gig hasn’t quite managed yet. - Soft Signal

I posted this super-clever video on my page last week, and praised it’s unique value. A mashup of videos obtained by individual personal requests.. make up three minutes of ‘holy shit I can’t believe this guy made a video like this’.
http://youtu.be/xauHYrf62Bc
I had the opportunity to interview the artist responsible for this magnificent treasure, here’s our Q/A:
1. Briefly introduce yourself, where you’re from and where you live now.
Sandy Taronno, born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada and, through a combination of stubborness and loyalty, I remain here still.
2. How did you come up with the band name Indicator Indicator?
It’s the genus and species name of an African bird. Indicator Indicator evolved to lead humans to hard-to-find bee colonies and when the people crack open the honey combs, they all get to share in the sweetness. Amazing!
3. Is this a solo project?
Yes - but I love the flexibility that having a nom-du-plume can bring. If I want to make it a band at some later date, I can. Also, I don’t particularly relish the idea of whoring out my own personal name.
4. What’s the music scene like where you live?
Pretty awesome. There’s brilliant acts all over the place, probably because there’s virtually no music industry. When there’s no chance of getting ‘discovered’ at a gig, you’re only playing because you love it.
5. What inspired the concept of this music video? [Did you see the burger king commercial?]
I stumbled on Fiverr.com at the tech blog Boing Boing, and I spent about an hour just rifling through all the hilarious stuff that people were willing to do for $5… Later that night I literally jumped out of bed and realized I could have the cheapest, craziest video ever made. And, yes, a couple of weeks ago I found out about the Burger King commercial (I was well into the project at this point), and after some initial disappointment, I decided to finish up anyway… I felt I was doing something more awesome than selling crappy burgers.
6. Have you ever considered offering this service to other bands who want obscure music videos created?
Not particularly. It seems like more of a ‘one shot’ idea…
7. Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur?
Not particularly, but I do try to think like one occassionally. When the creativity hat comes off, the marketing hat goes on… It’s not my favourite hat in the world, but it’s pretty important. As far as hats go.
8. How do you personally define ‘virality’?
Just like a real virus spreads itself by making it’s host want to sneeze (spreading itself everywhere), there has to be a certain quality inherent in the thing that encourages the sharing of it… There are some albums you enjoy, but then there are albums that you enjoy and NEED to tell all your friends about, you know?
9. Who first inspired you to play music?
It’s something I’ve been doing for most of my life, and very seriously for about the last decade… Not even sure when it completely took hold, but it’s a full-blown, crippling addiction at this point.
10. Are you signed to a label? What are your thoughts on that?
No. My other band had some real close-calls but, honestly, with the state that the industry’s in right now (read: shitty), it’s foolish to ever rely on anyone but yourself.. If you think someone’s going to come along and make your wishes come true, I’m afraid it’s time to grow the fuck up a bit. The majors are staffed by people who are constantly being threatened with lay-offs, and so cannot afford to gamble on any act that won’t immediately pay-off their advance (which, needless to say, is extremely rare), and the indies seem primarily location based and vaguely clique-y. The only time I’ve ever achieved anything worthwhile has been by ignoring all of those fuckers entirely. The fact is that most labels only come sniffing around when you don’t need them anyway, so get to work not needing them.
11. What’s your least favorite thing about being an artist?
The forced egotism.
12. What’s your most fa - http://whisker-a-nogo.tumblr.com/

Winnipeg musician Sandy Taronno, from the pop band Quinzy, hired a crew of 40 from around the world to make his brand new music video, for the song "My love don't belong".

He did it all for $200.00 and the help of fiverr.com.

* * * * *
As with every idea in the world nowadays, this one struck me while I was obliterating time on the internet.

A tech blog mentioned this fiverr.com thing, where tens of thousands of people offer weird little services for $5 a job... I cruised around it for a while having a good chuckle and later, in the middle of the night, had one of those jumping out of bed moments. I could have the world's cheapest, craziest video.

I spent a couple hours poring through all the various jobs that people were willing to do for $5 - "I'll dance to any song in a hot dog costume! I'll draw your logo under blacklight! I'll edit any video to make it look like an old-timey movie! I'll film Kajar the dancing horse with a piece of paper taped to his side!"

Once I kind of had a sense of what was out there, I made a little storyboard, and over a couple weeks ordered about 40 jobs (or gigs, as Fiverr likes to call them.)

Some of the Fiverr gigs I used:

Dance Like Michael Jackson to Your Music

Record a Video at the Taj Mahal

Hula Hoop In a Bikini For You

Spell Out Your Message in Scrabble Tiles

Strap a Camera to my Car and Drive for an Hour

Some were irredeemably awful - one woman said she'd lip-sync to any song, but what she meant was that she'd semi-rhythmically move her jaw to any song.

Some were crazy good - like the Indian fellow who starts the narration at the beginning of the video, or the Australian dude who juggled chainsaws while screaming the lyrics.

The weirdness, creativity and devotion of these people just blew my mind.

* * * * *

Sandy Taronno is best known as one of the members of the very popular pop band Quinzy. His compositions can be heard on the hit Global/ABC show Rookie Blue, several CBC specials, and will soon be featured in the upcoming American Girl movie.

In addition to Quinzy, Taronno has a solo project he calls Indicator Indicator. The music features his unique vision of smart, melodic alternative-pop. He's just released one of his new songs from his project and has also created a video to showcase it.
- CBC