Zoo Legacy

Zoo Legacy is undeniable an anomaly. Part hip-hop, a little bit of indie, a sprinkle of rock, all mixed together to form a sound that can only be described as collaborative, but certainly not disjointed.

“When we began, it was really a rock group with a rapper,” lead singer Nick Pouponneau wrote in an e-mail to the Tribune. “Over time we’ve worked so hard together to make what is our sound. It’s not a mix between two genres, it’s our sound.”

The group, formed in 2011, hails from Ottawa. One member, keyboardist Samuel Goss, is a McGill alumnus who “still rocks the Redmen hoodie.” Having been together for five years, the group maintains an eclectic mix of musical influences—ranging from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Notorious B.I.G.­—that allows for diversity and adaptability in their sound.

“Lyrically, I think we fall somewhere in between the party, easy-going, get turnt style and handling more heavy themes,” wrote Pouponneau. “Putting together the two styles hasn’t been too difficult because we build from the ground up. We’re not an indie band with a rapper or a rapper with a backing band; we’re true to our process and our sound.”

hat process reflects the palpable joy that Zoo Legacy has for their music. Reflecting on the songwriting process, Pouponneau creates a beat to match the instrumentation before formalizing the lyrics, tuning, and then, “voila, you have a banger!”

Their on-stage presence is equally as positive and electric. OAP veterans, Zoo Legacy closed the first week with all the fanfare you would expect of a band that has opened for Lauryn Hill at Ottawa’s Bluesfest. When preparing for the performance, Pouponneau spoke of the opportunity with graciousness and excitement.

“It’s always such a great vibe, there’s always so much love,” Pouponneau mused. “I feel like this show is going to be that same feeling but on a bigger scale, more people to jam with, more energy which we definitely feed off of. It’s going to be an experience!”

Their performance was exactly that; high energy, fun vibes, and heavy on pumping up the crowd. This type of performance is typical of Zoo Legacy, who likes to stay close to the album sound while still focusing on building a connection with the audience.

“The one thing we always try to emphasize is giving the crowd as much energy and feeling as possible; whether it be a sexy, slow jam or a party record, we want people to walk away with a connection,” Pouponneau wrote. “We make sure everyone is having a good time because we don’t ever take for granted how blessed we are to be able to rock a crowd.”

Zoo Legacy released their third EP, Departures in June. You can check it out on spotify. - McGill Tribune

Ottawa-based rock-rap outfit Zoo Legacy are set to unveil their latest EP Departures at the end of the month, but before it's officially out, Exclaim! is giving you an early listen.

The band created the record in part thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, and laid the tracks down with Gus Van Go and Werner F. at the Boiler Room in Brooklyn.

We previously shared the video for album opener "She'll Never Fall in Love," which blends "echoing guitars and soulful hooks" along with half-rapped/half-sung vocals. Elsewhere on the new EP, Zoo Legacy experiment with other sonic combinations like the synth-pop and reggae-tinged "System Effect" or the indie rock-flavoured "CRWD."

It's a diverse sounding record that offers up a unique mash-up of styles that sound better on speakers than on paper — and you can experience it for yourself right now.

Departures is slated to arrive on June 30, and the band will be celebrating the release with a special show on July 3 at the Mercury Lounge in Ottawa. Give the new EP a listen in the player below. - Exclaim!

Ottawa hip-hop/rock mashers Zoo Legacy have never released a full-length album, but they've got a couple of EPs to their name, and soon they will have another one. Departures will be out this summer, and they've premiered a video for the track "She'll Never Fall in Love" ahead of time.

The song charges out of the gate with a mix of R&B and rock, as echoing guitars and soulful hooks mingle. Once it shifts into the verse, the hip-hop influence rises to the surface with half-rapped/half-sung vocals. In the accompanying clip, we see shots of the band performing against a plan white background while a woman stares impassively at the camera and dark smoke ripples in dramatic slo-mo.

This song, along with the rest of Depatures, was produced by Gus Van Go and Werner F. at the Boiler Room Studios in Brooklyn. The video was filmed by Vinoth Varatharajan. Scroll past the band's live schedule below to watch it.

Tour dates:

06/18 Toronto, ON - Sneaky Dee's (NXNE)
07/03 Ottawa, ON - Mercury Lounge - Exclaim!

Zoo Legacy - City Light Glow [EP Premiere]
Publisher: Earmilk.com
Writer: Phillip Yung

It has always been strange to me how indie bands like Zoo Legacy has managed to stay hushed up in the music scene. Since their first explosive EP release in 2011, they launched themselves full force into the indie world with a unique twist. Instead of relying on the ever popular synths and effects that are readily available, they chose to incorporate an uncommon element: hip-hop. This Canadian quartet has been slowly but surely raising their name on a pedestal by playing in multiple festivals, such as Canadian Music Festival, NXNE, and Bluefest.

Along with great guitar hooks and drum beats that you expect from an indie band, quickly get blindsided by the hip-hop style singing. At first listen, it took me a minute to comprehend how fitting these two styles really complement each other. There isn't anything fancy or complex about this mix, so why haven't many other bands shone through? It's one thing to have a unique style, it's another to execute it. Today, EARMILK is proud to bring you an exclusive early look at Zoo Legacy's latest EP, City Light Glow which is bound to drop on September 5.

I have been in contact with Zoo Legacy for quite some time now. They have experienced some delays in fully completing the EP, but I didn't care. That only meant they are careful and passionate about making their tunes the best they can before release. After my first listen through City Light Glow, I can only say it was definitely worth the wait.

As I touched on before, Zoo Legacy has the components of any other indie band, which includes guitars, bass, drums, piano, synths, and electronic effects. However, it's their hip-hop persona that really carries them beyond being yet another indie band. First up on City Light Glow is "City Light Glow". This track has a slightly dark tone which is only emphasized more by the guitar in overdrive coupled with the classic hip-hop drum beats. You will also notice the singer's talented flow in this particular track. This is actually quite the norm in a majority of their tunes. So get yourself ready, it's only the beginning.

The follow-up to the opening track is "L.K.U.T.". This track was released into the wild a little while ago along with an official music video, yet it still happens to be my favorite of the bunch. This tune is quite hip-hop heavy, with a bit of a party mood to liven things up. Starting with an echoing guitar, it's quickly overshadowed by the prominent drum beat and the fast-spitting singer's flow. With addicting verses and a catchy chorus, this song makes for a fantastic addition to Zoo Legacy's fan-grabbing arsenal. Crank those speakers up.

"Dying Song" is the checkpoint of the EP. As you may infer, this track definitely has a darker mood and darker underlying messages interwoven within the lyrics. Out of the total five songs on City Light Glow, this one is by far the heaviest in effects. This by no means makes the tune the worse so far, it just makes it very different. However, it's like Zoo Legacy knew about our inference about this song. In the last 40 seconds of the song, a sexy guitar solo appears out of nowhere just to completely contradict our assumption.

I absolutely loved this surprise towards the end of "Dying Song", showing that they can indeed rock out if they wanted to, which eludes to the next coming song, "Scene Stealer". They blow you out of the water by starting off with a rocking guitar riff that is accompanied shortly after with heavy bass and loud drums. The beginning of this track is anything but short of rock, which just so happens is the main instrumental style of this piece. Throughout the track, you'll hear edgy guitaring, rock-style drumming, and subtle bass. It's like Zoo Legacy is trying to send us a message that says they can rock out if they wanted, but chose to strut down the hip-hop path more than anything. Even though this may not seem like anything too special, it's still a great piece that you can effectively say, "I rocked out to hip-hop".

"Echo" is the final track of City Light Glow, and for a good reason. This particular tune in my opinion defines what Zoo Legacy is all about. In this track, you'll hear a good amount of indie styled execution partnered with the characteristic hip-hop singing. These two aspects are balanced fantastically which makes for a rare tune that you can't find most anywhere else. The layering isn't complicated. The instrumental aspects aren't terribly difficult to re-create. However, it's the way you execute and master yourself and your own style that really makes a song wonderful and unique. Yet another catchy song that deserves more attention.

When I first discovered Zoo Legacy, I was immediately hooked. Their indie rock style blended with hip-hop singing reeled me in. It's not that they incorporate those styles with one another, it's the fact that they mix them successfully to create - Earmilk.com

On any given Zoo Legacy track, the sound is a blend of styles. What you first notice are frontman Nick Pouponneau’s vocals, with a lyrical delivery that’s part Kanye attitude, part Outkast smoothness. Meanwhile, the rest of the band creates a sense of urgency in atmospheric, Frusciante-inspired guitar riffs and skipping drums. Most of Zoo Legacy’s songs carry with them a sense of being in the moment. Even their titles ("City Light Glow," "Street Lamps," "Echo") reflect lyrics that tell of long nights and a few bad choices.

It’s a vibe that resonates with the campus crowd, which is why Zoo Legacy is one of the local acts on the bill for the E.L.E. (Everybody Love Everybody) Festival on Friday. The block party takes place just outside Café Nostalgica at the University of Ottawa, featuring music from Son Real, The Lionyls, City Fidelia, BlakDenim, NDMA and more. The show kicks off at 3 p.m. and while admission is free, donations are welcome for Candlelighters to help fund childhood cancer support programs. - CBC News

Canadian bands provide the warmth as CMW ends
Publisher: CBC News
Writer: Laura Thompson

Zoo Legacy

Meanwhile at The Painted Lady, a burlesque dancer entertains at the bar, while Zoo Legacy has got the back of house hypnotized. Nick Pouponneau is the name to note here — skilled, charismatic, passionate. He's a natural that could take on any top hip hop talent. There's a cool ease about him, along with an interesting and gifted group of backing musicians who look straight out of an episode of The Big Bang Theory. - CBC News

Welcome to the Zoo
Publisher: Urbanology Magazine
Writer: Aliecia Brissett


With conversations flowing and smiles all around after the announcements of Best Rap and Best Urban Awards, the backstage of the Toronto Independent Music Awards (TIMA) was filled with excitement. Congratulations are due to Ottawa natives Nick (lead vocals), Dominic (guitar), and Sam (guitar, drums and piano) of Zoo Legacy for their win for Best Urban. Urbanology Magazine had the opportunity to chat with the group to get to know more about the group and how they felt about their win.
FIRST THINGS FIRST, HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT YOUR WIN?
Nick: We feel great, we feel really great, super surprised so yeah.
Dominic: Yeah it was a great shock so yeah, really good.
Sam: And we’re also pumped for Philly Moves because they’re from Ottawa like us and they won the Best Rap category. Ottawa’s doing well.

HAS IT BEEN A LONGTIME COMING FOR YOU GUYS, GETTING INTO THE MUSIC INDUSRTY AND BEING FROM OTTAWA? HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM TORONTO?
Nick: The main difference I would say is the size of the music community. The Ottawa music community is a bit smaller so I mean we just spent a lot of time in our home city building that support and getting that community behind us, and now that we’re working towards that direction we decided to make moves out to Toronto, we’re trying to expand more and more to Toronto as fast as we can.
Sam: Surprisingly we haven’t been working on it for that long; I mean we’ve only been a band for two years, so now that we’ve accomplished what we wanted to do in Ottawa we’re trying to move to Toronto and Montreal.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE URBAN AND HIP-HOP MUSIC TONIGHT AT THE AWARD SHOW?
Nick: Oh yeah it’s absolutely important; urban and rap music is my favourite music. It’s what I listen to, it’s what we do and it’s what brought us together as a band. We’re a mix of indie, rock, and hip-hop so without music as a whole we wouldn’t be able to collaborate like this. When you have an event [like the TIMA] and so many different genres of music, it’s easy to see where the lines cross and we’re a good representation of that.
Dominic: Also I think hip-hop in general is doing so well in Canada these days and it’s important that it’s getting appreciated at events like these.

- Urbanology Magazine

Zoo Legacy - Echo Music Video
Publisher: Earmilk.com
Writer: Cat Powell


I'm very proud to present to you today the newest video from Canadian indie hip hop union, Zoo Legacy, presented exclusively by EARMILK. The song is "Echo" and it is the second video off their latest EP City Light Glow, which is available as a free download on their website (seriously, go now). After seeing these guys perform live earlier last month I was pretty sure I was in the presence of something that was about to explode, and after watching the video you'll know why.

These guys comprise all elements of indie excellence, boasting great vocals, guitars, keyboards and a polished style both on the stage and off. However, it's the unexpected element of hip hop surprise that makes their sound unique, and completely awesome. "Echo" is a great introduction to their trademark style, drawing you in with a moody bassline that you might find moderately reminiscent of The xx. The similarities end there, however, because the track quickly picks up with smooth hip hop vocals and a catchy chorus. It's a perfect example of Zoo Legacy's ability to build bridges between genres of music that are usually kept separate. What they've got going on is something wonderful, and I strongly suggest you take the opportunity you have now to download their wicked EP and see them live before they blow up. Because they will.

The boys will be in New York next month to start working on their third video, and they'll be playing a few shows in Toronto mid-March. - Earmilk.com

Best in Ottawa music 2012 - 20 songs by 20 bands
Publisher: The Ottawa Citizen
Writer: Peter Simpson

The story of the year in Ottawa music is hip hop. It’s expanding in measures of quality, quantity and variety, and it dominates my year-end list of great songs from Ottawa musicians in 2012.

The list also has rock and roll songs that range from easy listening to folk to punk to a bit of highly distinctive, Aboriginal dance music that has already earned international acclaim. But hip hop came first on my personal play list of local music in the past year, with high points from Philly Moves, Zoo Legacy, Atherton, Missing Linx, Crack Moses, and even the gee-whiz rap of Peter Joynt, who’s been heard city-wide with his all-ages odes to the capital city and its (now idle) NHL team.

L.K.U.T., by Zoo Legacy (from City Light Glow): Another hybrid, with an R&B-influenced rap over a bed of restrained indie-rock. Listen to this song and wonder why Zoo Legacy are not on radios around the world. Yet. - The Ottawa Citizen

The story of the year in Ottawa music is hip hop. It’s expanding in measures of quality, quantity and variety, and it dominates my year-end list of great songs from Ottawa musicians in 2012.

The list also has rock and roll songs that range from easy listening to folk to punk to a bit of highly distinctive, Aboriginal dance music that has already earned international acclaim. But hip hop came first on my personal play list of local music in the past year, with high points from Philly Moves, Zoo Legacy, Atherton, Missing Linx, Crack Moses, and even the gee-whiz rap of Peter Joynt, who’s been heard city-wide with his all-ages odes to the capital city and its (now idle) NHL team.

L.K.U.T., by Zoo Legacy (from City Light Glow): Another hybrid, with an R&B-influenced rap over a bed of restrained indie-rock. Listen to this song and wonder why Zoo Legacy are not on radios around the world. Yet. - The Ottawa Citizen

Ottawa’s golden age of hip hop
Publisher: The Ottawa Citizen
Author: Peter Simpson, arts-editor-at-large

[.....Other local bands set to play are not hip hop firstly, but rap vocal and instrumental styles are integral to their music. Zoo Legacy (July 10) are a trio with rap vocals laid over the top of a mix of electronica-influenced rock.

“Some people consider us a rock act, some people consider us a hip-hop act,” says the singer, Nick Pouponneau. It’s a unique sound, and should develop further when the band’s second disc drops soon. Meanwhile, Bluesfest is a big deal for any local band, Pouponneau says.

“In Ottawa, it’s the pinnacle of shows we can play. A year ago, we were just outside of Bluesfest handing out our CDs to people saying, ‘hey, take a listen.’ For us now going to play on the stage, it’s a big jump for us. We’re really looking forward to putting on a good show.” ...]

- The Ottawa Citizen

'Zoo Legacy'
Publisher: Hummingburg
Writer: Adam Ginzburg

A couple weeks ago, I had the chance to discover a wicked Ottawa-based band called Zoo Legacy. Their style is rather eclectic and hard to pinpoint, but it goes a little something like this: Indie-rock instrumentals, hip-hop vocals and electronic arrangements…Something along the lines of OnCue or Gym Class Heroes. On stage, their energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and I was also impressed by how polished some of their tracks sounded. Catchy, well-written and well-produced, some of their hits could easily be getting radio play. The guys were cool enough to answer a few of my questions, so hopefully this’ll give everyone a better idea of what this dope up-and-coming group is all about. Nick is the lead vocalist and resident MC. Dominic is the lead guitarist. Sam plays a little bit of everything (keys, drums, vocals, guitar, etc.). And Mark handles the drums. The featured video is a track called L.K.U.T. and it’s off their sophomore EP City Light Glow, which you can pick up for free right here.

***********************************


HB: Do any of you guys have musical backgrounds?

ZL: All the boys have pretty diverse backgrounds in music. Nick was originally a solo hip hop artist, going by the name Young Legacy. Mark has been in a number of bands, going back years and years. Sam and I have classical training and have been involved in music in one way or another for as long as anyone can remember. Sam in particular can play pretty much any instrument you hand him.

Zoo Legacy is a rather interesting monicker. Is there a story behind the name?

When the band first started, Nick had been writing and performing as Young Legacy, while Sam and I had a project called Zoo Lake that was keeping us busy. After hundreds of names were thrown back and forth, we landed on Zoo Legacy. We felt it was a shout out to our roots, as well as commentary on our unique sound.

Was your combination of hip-hop and indie-rock a predetermined, conscious effort? Or was it something that just happened naturally as a result of two forces colliding?

I don’t think any of us really intended to be in a band that mixed genres like ZL does. But, the first time we heard Nick’s vocals over the instrumentals (that was Let Me Know), our sounds blended so effortlessly that we just had to write more songs. People these days like a lot of genres and aren’t stuck listening to just one, we like to think we’re a reflection of that.

Are you guys all dedicated to music on a full-time basis at this point?

Jobs and school still get in the way a little more than we would like, but with each passing show, that seems to be less and less the case (which is exactly what we want).

You’ve rocked out quite a few venues around Ottawa,Toronto and Montreal in the last year. Have you set your sights on any other particular venues?

As a group, we legitimately love playing shows, so whenever there is a good opportunity we jump on it. This past year we played a number of festivals like NXNE and Ottawa Bluesfest, and there are definitely great vibes when so many fans and musicians all get together, so festivals like that are band favourites.

Are you currently signed to a record label? If not, is it a goal of yours?

Right now we are independent and aren’t signed to a record label. We’re definitely not anti-labels, but we don’t see it as an end goal in and of itself. Everyone has heard horror stories where artists have hurt their careers by signing bad contracts, but there are a lot of success stories too. As a group we think it’s all about finding the right fit and the right opportunity. In the meanwhile we’re happy to keep doing what we do!

What is the dream for Zoo Legacy? What’s your vision for the future?

The four of us really believe that we have something special happening with Zoo Legacy, and the more shows we play, it seems like our fans agree. I think the long term goal for ZL is to share all the ideas in our heads with as many people as possible. The dream is to do it on a bigger and bigger scale. These days, the problem is that we seem to come up with new ideas faster than we can get them on records, but that’s a good sort of problem.

- Hummingburg

Welcome to the Zoo
Publisher: Urbanology Magazine
Writer: Aliecia Brissett


With conversations flowing and smiles all around after the announcements of Best Rap and Best Urban Awards, the backstage of the Toronto Independent Music Awards (TIMA) was filled with excitement. Congratulations are due to Ottawa natives Nick (lead vocals), Dominic (guitar), and Sam (guitar, drums and piano) of Zoo Legacy for their win for Best Urban. Urbanology Magazine had the opportunity to chat with the group to get to know more about the group and how they felt about their win.
FIRST THINGS FIRST, HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT YOUR WIN?
Nick: We feel great, we feel really great, super surprised so yeah.
Dominic: Yeah it was a great shock so yeah, really good.
Sam: And we’re also pumped for Philly Moves because they’re from Ottawa like us and they won the Best Rap category. Ottawa’s doing well.

HAS IT BEEN A LONGTIME COMING FOR YOU GUYS, GETTING INTO THE MUSIC INDUSRTY AND BEING FROM OTTAWA? HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM TORONTO?
Nick: The main difference I would say is the size of the music community. The Ottawa music community is a bit smaller so I mean we just spent a lot of time in our home city building that support and getting that community behind us, and now that we’re working towards that direction we decided to make moves out to Toronto, we’re trying to expand more and more to Toronto as fast as we can.
Sam: Surprisingly we haven’t been working on it for that long; I mean we’ve only been a band for two years, so now that we’ve accomplished what we wanted to do in Ottawa we’re trying to move to Toronto and Montreal.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE URBAN AND HIP-HOP MUSIC TONIGHT AT THE AWARD SHOW?
Nick: Oh yeah it’s absolutely important; urban and rap music is my favourite music. It’s what I listen to, it’s what we do and it’s what brought us together as a band. We’re a mix of indie, rock, and hip-hop so without music as a whole we wouldn’t be able to collaborate like this. When you have an event [like the TIMA] and so many different genres of music, it’s easy to see where the lines cross and we’re a good representation of that.
Dominic: Also I think hip-hop in general is doing so well in Canada these days and it’s important that it’s getting appreciated at events like these.

- Urbanology Magazine

Zoo Legacy Set to Release New EP
Publisher: Apartment 613 (leading Ottawa based entertainment blog)
Writer: Jared Davidson

It has been a one heck of a busy year for Ottawa’s Zoo Legacy. In the spring, the alternative/hip-hop band was featured in Canadian Music Week, going on to play NXNE and Junofest. They released a video for their song L.K.U.T. in June, and in July they hit Bluesfest, opening for Snoop Dogg and Lauren Hill.

“[Bluesfest] was a surreal experience,” recalls frontman Nick Pouponneau. It went well; the band left the stage to screams of approval and demands for an encore. “That was a great feeling,” Pouponneau smiles, but the band knew that being allowed to return to the stage was unlikely – this was Bluesfest after all. But much to their surprise, the stage manager ushered them back to the stage to the delight of their screaming fans.

Now, Zoo Legacy is preparing for another kind of encore. This Wednesday, the band will be releasing their second EP, City Light Glow. As has become customary for many forward-thinking bands, the EP will be free and available through the band’s website.

But, since Wednesday is still a long way off, Apt613 readers are getting an exclusive first taste of what the new EP will hold! Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Dying Song!

How very grand!

To celebrate the release of City Light Glow, the band will be hosting a release party at Ritual this Friday. The excellent lineup also features Fire and Neon and Big Dreams Team.

“We’re just excited to get this music out to people,” says Pouponneau. The band has been hard at work, conceiving, recording and mastering the new album, a process they approach far more democratically than many bands. No one figurehead has the final say. Instead, the four members, Pouponneau, Mark Milloy and brothers Dominic and Samuel Goss push their music toward something they all feel proud of.

“It’s the result of hundreds of thousands of emails,” says Dominic Goss, with only the slightest touch of weariness in his voice. Ideas are presented, honed and fleshed-out by all members of the band.
“Someone will bring an idea to the table and we’ll all debate it,” explains Milloy. “And if we all like it, it means it’s a Zoo Legacy song.”

This mindset of egalitarianism has produced a tightly knit group. Born out of a pool of mutual friends, Zoo Legacy has only become closer. Milloy, at first an outsider – a friend of a friend, describes his induction into this atmosphere of camaraderie: “When I joined the band, it was like we’d known each other for years. Everything meshed so well.”

City Light Glow represents a far more cohesive offering than the band’s first EP. Their first offering was, the band says, far from a unified whole. “We were trying to get music out as fast as possible,” notes Samuel Goss.

But the band built this new record from the ground up to be a complete work. “From day one we knew what we were doing,” says Dominic Goss. “We tried to envision how it was going to sound as a whole.”
Poponneau agrees. “With the first EP, we were just figuring out our sound. We weren’t really in our comfort zone yet. I think with this EP, we’ve found our sound and now we’re working on developing it.”

You’ll be able to hear City Light Glow for yourselves this Wednesday. And if you need more Zoo Legacy, tune in to Apartment613 Live on CHUO this Wednesday at 9 and check out a live acoustic set! - Apartment 613

Blogging the Bluesfest: Zoo Legacy
Publisher: Apartment 613 (leading Ottawa based entertainment blog)
Writer: Jared Davidson

Like Gorilaz or M.I.A., Zoo Legacy falls into the category of alternative hip hop, meaning that the rap is generally offset by a melodic chorus. Instrumentation is a focus in this band. Echo-pedaled guitar meanders behind a steady rap in the sample song above, for example. The band has an eclectic vibe, moving from sound to sound without settling down, offering variety. Overall their music is catchy, melodic and beat heavy.

Recently returned from Canadian Music Week and having played Junofest and NXNE this year, this local band is primed for their performance at Bluesfest. In addition, the band just released their first video, for the song “L.K.U.T.” and will be releasing a six song EP later this summer titled “City Light Glow.”

The band’s frontman Nick Pouponneau answered our questions.

How would you describe your sound?

That’s a funny question to be honest. Our sound is a mix of indie rock and hip hop. Depending on who’s listening, they’d call it rap or rock. So I would say we sound like Zoo Legacy. That’s really the best way to describe it.

How did the group start?

Sam and I have known each other for a long while and, well, Sam and Dom have been brothers forever. Sam knew I made music and I knew the same about him. Every time we’d discuss music we’d talk about how we should do a collaboration of some sort.

At first that was just kind of something you say, but one day Sam sent me an e-mail that had a song they had wrote and he asked me to come up with some lyrics. I sent it back to them the next day, and we all knew at that point that this group is what we were going to be doing.

Mark, who is our drummer, got added to the band about a year later. He is also someone we all knew through our circle of friends for quite some time. Our live show at first consisted of a mic, guitar and bass and we had digital drums. We knew that we had to liven that sound up and that a drummer was necessary. So when Mark stepped in at a show the chemistry was there and it clicked, which is how we went from three members to four!

What can we expect from your Bluesfest performance?

You can expect a lot of energy, swag, and good music. We always go up there and enjoy ourselves and I think our crowds can see that and enjoy it as well.

If you had the ability to fly, where would you go?

If I had the ability to fly I would go to England. A lot of our musical influences come from across the pond (and we’re all massive soccer fans) so I think if we could fly over there, record an album and fly back, we’d bring back some magic!

- Apartment 613

10 best local songs of 2011: Sound of Lions, Zoo Legacy, Mehdi Cayenne Club, Prufrock & Hyfidelik Birthday Girls, Tara Holloway, Cold Coffee & Salty Boots, Hippie Campfire, Reverb Syndicate, Garaga, the Cowards
Published by: The Ottawa Citizen
Author: Peter Simpson, Arts-editor-at-large for The Ottawa Citizen

Here’s a grazing sample (in no particular order) of the 10 best songs that came out of the National Capital’s booming music scene this year. It’s the Big Beat 10 Best Local Songs of 2011. . . (and click here to read the Big Beat 10 Best Records of 2011.)

Shockwave, by Zoo Legacy, from the album Zoo Legacy: The problem with almost all rap-rock it that it has too much rock and too little rap. Shockwave, by this new Ottawa band, still rocks, but pushes the balance closer to the rap side, where it belongs. - The Ottawa Citizen

CMW Guide to Live
Publisher: Pinkmafia.ca
Author: Meaghan Turpin


Zoo Legacy at The Piston @9pm

This Ottawa based band combines alternative rock and hip hop sounds that are sure to win over music lovers from all genres. They believe in style and creation and fuse it together so impeccably that you can’t help but stand in awe of their talent. Rhymes and melodic hooks combined with numerous instrumental intricacies, these guys are the ones you should be looking out for in the near future.

- Pinkmafia.ca

Best of 2011: Favourite EPs
Publisher: i(heart)music
Author: Matthew Pollesel, Blogger & Polaris Music Prize Judge

2. Zoo Legacy, Zoo Legacy
As I've been putting together my year-end lists, I've been listening to a lot of Zoo Legacy and a fair amount of The Weeknd, and it's struck me that the two acts have awfully similar sounds. There's a bit more rap in Zoo Legacy's EP/a bit more R&B in The Weeknd's two albums, but both feature the same mix of cockiness and vulnerability. The weird thing, though, is that Zoo Legacy might just do it better. That's not to take anything away from The Weeknd or burden Zoo Legacy with undeserved praise...but if I'm being really honest, I enjoyed Zoo Legacy a whole lot more than both Thursday and House of Balloons put together.

- i(heart)music

One on One: Zoo Legacy
Published by: pinkmafia.ca
Author: Meaghan Turpin

March 21 was the first night of many in the amazing showcase of raw talent that is Canadian Music Week and I hit up the Piston to see the Ottawa based band Zoo Legacy who opened the show for a long list of talented bands like Sound of Lions(another Ottawa based band representing up in Tdot) and Dream Jefferson, all of which rocked the house like no other. I could not have been more moved by the emotion and true untamed talent that performed.

Nick Pouponneau, lead vocals, a rapper by trade, started the show by forcing the crowd to move forward.

“We don’t bite” he said, as people moved up.

This was just the beginning of the engagement that Nick solicits from his audience. As the show continued, he constantly made reference to the crowd and had people making as much noise as he possibly could.

The band consists of 4 members, Nick, a rapper who twists lyrical rhymes with melodic hooks in such a way that even though he doesn’t have your typical front man vocals, his emotion comes through his voice making it completely discernible as his own, there is no other like it. Next we have the band members consisting of three gents of multi-instrumental talent, Mark Milloy, Dominic and Samuel Goss. The three instrumentalists pull together a collective talent for creating music that both moves and inspires the listener.

These guys are dedicated to their work to such an extent that they had their CD’s passed out during the show to all the audience. They put them in sleeves handmade with Z and L stamps done by none other than the boys themselves.

Lucky girl that I am, I got to sit/stand with these guys after the show for a quick and dirty interview on the here and now as well as the future:

When did you get together and start?

Nick: We started in the summer of 2010, Sam and I had been friends for a while, and Dom has been Sam’s brother for…ever? We’d talked about it for a while and eventually just got together and became Zoo Legacy.

Sam: And then Mark came in in October 2011

So then, Mark, where are you on the tracks that are out there now?

Mark: Right, the tracks on the EP are not mine, however, any of the live tracks are…

Sam: Heavily Mark’s, HEAVILY Mark’s, on the new album, Marks played a big role

The NEW Album, when’s that coming out?

Dominic: End of May
Nick: Mid to End of May
(Can’t wait)

How excited are you for next week? You’ll be performing with Classified and Kardinal Offishal on Friday

Nick: Junofest is gonna be off the hook, to do a show like this in our own city means a lot and we’re going to rep hard
Dominic: Our momentum has been growing as-it -is in Ottawa, and to play with two Juno nominees, well I think it’s going to be a HUGE show for us

What are you plans while you’re in Toronto?

Sam: We are taking advantage of the festival, seeing some bands and attending some conferences, we’re also have a photoshoot on Saturday since we added a new member, our photos are all mostly of the three of us.
Mark: And continue the guerilla marketing, handing out CD’s and stuff like that, which we’re famous for

What’s the word for the future?

Nick: Make music forever….Should we add a bit more to that?
Sam: We’ve definitely built a following in Ottawa so we’re trying to expand, we’ve done a few shows in Montreal and this is our first show in Toronto so we’re definitely excited to move things east and west.

So be sure to look out for the boys of Zoo Legacy in the future as well as Friday, March 30 in Ottawa at Ritual, tickets are $20 at the door and they’ll be performing with Classified and Kardinal Offishal, proving to be a great night!

- Pinkmafia.ca

Zoo Legacy: Sound of Ottawa 2012
Publisher: Ottawa Xpress
Author: Cormac Rea

What:

Zoo Legacy’s unique mash-up is neither rappers making rock nor rockers making rap.

Who: Nick Pouponneau (lead vocals), Dominic Goss (guitar, bass, synth, backing vox), Sam Goss (bass, guitar, drums, piano, backing vox), Mark Milloy (drums, bass, backing vox)

About: Conceived in the summer of 2010, the multi-striped mammal that is rap/rock/genrebender band Zoo Legacy dances to a very different drummer. Mashing up everything rock, rap and in between, this four-piece falls well outside the limits of most local scenes. "Ottawa’s scene is rich in both indie rock bands that you can dance to and great hip-hop acts," says lead vocalist Nick Pouponneau. "What sets Zoo Legacy apart is that few other bands combine genres like we do. It’s not generic hipster rock and it’s not something you’ve ever heard before." Living in the middle world of gene-spliced music can be tough on any band, especially a band that makes dance floor-driven beats in a city that isn’t especially known for its dance floors. Zoo Legacy hopes to change that perception. "The hardest part about being a band in Ottawa is that there isn’t a mainstream culture of going out to see live music," says bassist Sam Goss. "But the best part is that there is a community of musicians working to change all of that by supporting each other and by making great music. Every day we see more and more people coming to our shows, and that’s because every day Ottawa’s scene is becoming more popular and mainstream."

Download: Zoo Legacy out now


- Ottawa Xpress

September's best new music from across the MAP
Publisher: The Guardian UK
Authors: Various

Every month, 35 music bloggers from around the world, operating together as the Music Allliance Pact, simultaneously post a favourite new track from their patch of the planet.

Read on to learn more about the latest lo-fi pop from Indonesia and Chile, some South Korean hardcore, a splash of Spanish synth-pop, what our own Paul Lester recommends and more. Let us know what you think in the comments thread below.

CANADA: I(Heart)Music
Zoo Legacy - Shockwave

Is it hip-hop? Rock? R&B? I don't know. What I do know, though, is that Zoo Legacy create music that's a genre-bending mish-mash, and they do it extremely well. - The Guardian UK

Building a Legacy
Published by: i(heart)music.net
Author: Matthew Pollesel, Blogger & Polaris Music Prize Judge

Honestly, the thing that surprises me the most about Zoo Legacy's self-titled debut EP isn't how it sounds, or how incredibly good and polished it is for a debut, or anything like that. No, what really leaves me stunned is that an album that sounds as cool and self-assured as this was created by a band from Ottawa.

Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of bands in this city that are populated by some very cool people...but, really, their coolness as people doesn't extend to their music. Zoo Legacy, by contrast, sound like they have coolness oozing out of every pore. I don't mean that in any kind of derogatory way, either: if you were to come up with the musical embodiment of what "cool" sounds like in 2011, you'd probably wind up with tracks like "Shockwave" or "Out All Night", something that brings together hip-hop and rock in one wonderful, genre-bending mishmash.

According to people who know far more about these things than I do, this makes Zoo Legacy the successors to bands like The xx and Kid Cudi. I haven't heard either, so I can't say one way or another whether those comparisons have any merit. (And for the record, I'd compare them to Auto Tune-less version of The Weeknd.) What I can say, however -- with a great degree of certainty -- is that their debut is freaking amazing, and that you need to go download it right now. - i(heart)music

SOUND SEEKERS: The rap-rock rapport of Zoo Legacy, plus John Allaire, TimeKode, Big Money Shot, and Jenn Grant
Published by: Ottawa Magazine
Author: Fateema Sayani, Culture Columnist and Polaris Music Prize Judge

The key to a good rap-rock collaboration is in avoiding the gutters of either genre. Sway too far to the clichéd extremes of either style and you end up with a wince-worthy effort à la Limp Bizkit. Find the nuances of hip-hop and indie rock and marry them well and you end up with a brain-piquing tune mash à la Zoo Legacy.

ZL is an Ottawa trio of rocker-siblings Dominic and Sam Goss and their rhyming pal Nick Pouponneau. The Gosses were raised in Johannesburg and hung out in a nearby park called Zoo Lake, listening to early ‘00s British pop. Pouponneau was raised in Ottawa and started rapping as a teenager under the name Young Legacy. Mutual admiration led to the collaboration last summer. Friendship made the tunes solid, Dominic Goss, 26, an accountant, says.

“When you’re friends first, you come from the same place, and you can jump right into the music.”

In other words, rap-rock needs rapport to work. It happens on the band’s debut EP, which was recorded in a Centretown basement earlier this year.

Pouponneau’s rhymes are crisp and slick, the accompanying music is late-night and cinematic created with a laptop, drum machine, bass and guitar. The band opens their show and sets the tone with this little stanza:

Welcome to the monologue that lives inside my head/ That runs rampant while I lay awake in bed/ Eyes wide shut, mind wide open/ And then I watch it all fall down

This, along with all his verses, comes from a genuine place, Pouponneau, 24, a QA agent with a bank, says. “I’m making music about my reality and trying to challenge myself to come up with new concepts,” he says.

They’re also trying to move away from the musical melancholy — though I’d argue that the push-pull of a thumping delivery and sad guitar songs is what makes Zoo Legacy so appealing. It’s a mix that’s worked well for O-town bands such as StrayOtic and Crush Buildings, the latter of whom have been artfully pushing to the edges of both hip-hop and indie rock for a decade. - Ottawa Magazine

CULTURE: A round-up of local up-and-coming bands to watch
Published by: Ottawa Magazine
Author: Samantha Evertz

Despite the strongest attempts at boosterism, the fact remains that Ottawa’s music scene is generally overshadowed by the success of Montreal and Toronto artists. But that may change. With groups like The Acorn and White Wires performing internationally and others touring with huge bands like the Pixies (The Balconies’ recent honour), the city is slowly staking out its place on the music map. Here, a look at three local bands you can expect to hear a lot of in the coming months, as they take over award nomination lists and concert stages.

By Samantha Everts


Zebrassieres. Photo by Oscar Welsh.


THE BAND: Zebrassieres

YOU KNOW THEM AS…
Two members of The Creeps bring their talents to this more accessible band, which really got the crowds going at upstart Ottawa Explosion fest this past summer. Helps that they have a girl on keys and vocals. For those who like to dance, this party band salutes you.

CHECK ‘EM OUT IF YOU LIKE
Devo/ The Ramones/ The Creeps/ Think About Life

WATCH FOR THEM AT
Their record release show on Oct. 14 at Café Dekcuf — and, earlier the same day, at the Vertigo Records anniversary celebrations. Stream the full record now at www.zebrassieres.bandcamp.com


Zoo Legacy. Photo courtesy Zoo Legacy.

THE BAND: Zoo Legacy

YOU KNOW THEM AS…
The band popularized by music critics like Polaris Music Prize judge Matthew Pollesal, who gushed over their “wonderful, genre-bending mishmash.” Their guerrilla marketing tactics were a hit at Osheaga and Bluesfest.

CHECK ‘EM OUT IF YOU LIKE
The Weeknd/ The XX/ Atmosphere

WATCH FOR THEM AT
Shows at a range of venues, from Mavericks to Island Flava, work well for this fusion of hip-hop and indie fusion. Watch www.thezoolegacy.com for show details, music, and videos.

THE BAND: Fire and Neon

YOU KNOW THEM AS…
The youngsters from Kemptville who, after only two years together, are already getting radio play: their danceable indie-pop sound and killer harmonized vocals won $10,000 in The Live 88.5 Big Money Shot.

CHECK ‘EM OUT IF YOU LIKE
The Killers/ MGMT/ The Cure/ Matt and Kim

WATCH FOR THEM AT
Capital Music Hall on Friday, Nov. 18 when they compete for a chance to win top spot (and $250,000) in the Big Money Shot contest. www.myspace.com/fireandneon - Ottawa Magazine

Zoo Legacy “Out All Night”
Published by: mixtape maestro (2.0)
Author: David Allum Jones

With the fans of unsigned Ottawa-based indie-rock/ hip hop trio Zoo Legacy describing the act’s sound as a mixture of Kid Cudi, N.E.R.D. and The xx, we felt the need to check these guys out, that alleged blend of inspiration proving just too enticing a recipe to pass up.

Thankfully, with the expectations that come with that kind of hype, the members of Zoo Legacy (rapper Nick Pouponneau and multi-instrumentalists/ brothers Dominic and Sam Goss) don’t disappoint, their self-titled debut free-P landing as a pretty sturdy six-song set that actually does nod to those aforementioned acts (with a lil’ Gym Class Heroes mixed in) while still showcasing the band’s own sharp song-crafting skills.

Below, check out set stand-out “Out All Night”, which rides a pleasant stomp of a groove layered with a kaleidoscopic array of euphoric instrumental melodies to evoke the mental disorientation that comes at the sunrise-backed tail-end of an all-night alcohol-fueled romp with pals.

“Never drinking again,” raps Pouponneau, his raspy voice sounding worn down from the hours-long run of shots and party-time laughs; but having said the same thing “the night before last”, he’s well aware that that self-promise will never last with not even his parent’s concerns (“My mother fears I drink too much”) nor the early start time of his 9-to-5 being enough to keep him from bypassing the graveyard shift good-times that provide his sole escape from a life weighed down by stress. - mixtape maestro (2.0)

COCO x ZOO LEGACY
Published by: She Walks on Pearls
Author: Coco Baudelle

They say we all fear the unknown. Zoo Legacy, however, embraces the fact that the future is a mystery. As the Ottawa-based band's rapper Nick Pouponneau smiles at my many attempts to describe their genre, guitar player Dominic Goss states "We found our sound, but don't really know how to describe the style". Born in a basement in 2010, Zoo Legacy is the result of a clash of four different musically influenced members. As multi-instrumentalist Sam Goss finds inspiration in legends like Cee Lo Green and Thom Yorke, his brother Dominic admires musicians such as Danger Mouse. As for newly added member Mark Milloy, he is invigorated by The Black Keys' guitarist and vocalist Dan Auerbach, while Nick religiously listens to Pharell and Kanye West's masterpieces. In perfectly unexpected harmony, the Goss brothers, previously known as a duo named "Zoo Lake", met "Young Legacy" Nick and beat maker Mark to give the world "the sound they didn't know they wanted".

"[Zoo Legacy] is going somewhere, but we don't know exactly where. You can't think about it too much", says Dom with excitement before admitting his love for the authenticity of raw outtakes. As most of us aim for perfection, they chase feelings through sounds and lyrics. ZL's second album is currently in the works, and for having the honor of hearing freshly recorded material and live jams, I can assure you that they are here to stay. Ultimately, their goal is for people to breathe their music ? as I already am, just for the record. Thank you boys. - She Walks on Pearls

Sound of Lions & Zoo Legacy
Publisher: Byward of Mouth
Author: Callie Garvey

Ottawa Xpress’ Readers Polls recently named Sound of Lions “Best New Act” and “Best Album” of 2011 with honourable mentions to fellow local talent Zoo Legacy. Thus, it’s no surprise that flocks of fans swarmed Babylon Nightclub on Friday, Nov. 25 to catch both acts live in action.

Under a sea of blue lights & smoke, Zoo Legacy kicked things off with a commanding stage presence displaying a more edgy approach to their softer [recorded] vocals. The set was an infusion of numerous genres-at times indie rock [&roll] like, while bordering on blues/rap at others.

The crowd erupted with cheers and applause at Nick Pouponneau’s [lead vocals] introduction to the trio’s cover of Drake’s Marvins Room. The rendition was a successfully fresh twist on the original that ran rampant with the group’s own touches.

Sound of Lions graced the stage shortly after the opening set, to deliver exactly what fans have come to expect-a seemingly effortless and undeniably flawless set. The group, that have gained a commendable following since their inception, released their debut album this past fall.

While the Sound of Lions have garnered much well-deserved attention and praise for their initiative as a collective, their most unique trait is likely their unparalleled ability to float from the haunting vocals of Whitney Delion to rap/beatmaster, Christian Awad’s with a hip-hop [meets] rock [meets] soul product. The group is captivating in it’s entirety and had fans mesmerized from start to finish. - Byward of Mouth

Zoo Legacy: Arrive le boom!
Publisher: Voir
Writer: Guillaume Moffet

Zoo Legacy, l’une des formations les plus en vue d’Ottawa, lance un nouveau mini-album. Et les résultats s’avèrent plus qu’enthousiasmants.

Né à l’été 2010, le quatuor Zoo Legacy s’est vite démarqué dans le paysage musical ottavien. Pour plusieurs raisons, mais principalement parce qu’on arrive difficilement à attribuer un genre spécifique au son de la formation. "Je dois dire que nous aimons tous la musique d’abord et avant tout", d’avancer Sam Goss, claviériste et guitariste au sein du Legacy. "Nous tentons tous de nous exposer à des genres musicaux qui ne nous sont pas familiers. Oui, notre base est hip-hop et alternative, mais ces fondations s’articulent toujours en fonction de ce que l’on écoute au moment où l’on écrit et enregistre les chansons. C’est peut-être pourquoi il est difficile de mettre le doigt sur le son de Zoo Legacy."

Lancé il y a quelques semaines, le second maxi de Zoo Legacy, City Light Glow, mise sur cet éclectisme joyeux, articulant ses réflexions sociales sur des rythmes encore plus variés, rappelant du coup le hip-hop hybride et joyeux du Torontois k-Os. Qui plus est, sur la sautillante L.K.U.T., chanson velcro s’il en est, Zoo Legacy suggère une domination mondiale si, un jour, un programmateur radio en venait à l’ajouter en rotation. "Je ne crois pas que nous voulions absolument faire une chanson qui jouerait dans les radios, mais c’est vrai que nous voulions écrire une chanson accrocheuse. Quand nous sommes arrivés au point de déterminer les chansons qui allaient faire le EP, nous nous sommes rendu compte que plusieurs de nos choix traitaient de sujets sérieux et contemplatifs, donc on a décidé d’ajouter L.K.U.T. à la liste des chansons tout simplement parce qu’elle allait alléger le mood. La plus belle chose qui arrive dans ce mélange des genres, c’est quand tu réussis à créer une chanson comme L.K.U.T. tout en restant toi-même et fidèle à ton son."

La capitale musicaleZoo Legacy n’est pas la première formation pleine de potentiel à émerger de la capitale ces dernières années (on pense à The Balconies, The Love Machine, Kalle Mattson, Fevers et Sound of Lions, qui se démarquent tous à leur façon). Comment peut-on expliquer ce boom musical? "Les changements qui touchent la scène musicale ottavienne sont en parfaite corrélation avec les changements qui s’opèrent dans la ville à plus grande échelle, soutient Goss. Ottawa a grandi beaucoup au fil des dernières années; il y a plus de musique et plus de festivals, de meilleurs restaurants et une vitrine mode plus importante. Ottawa n’a jamais été aussi culturelle. Les gens commencent à se rendre compte qu’il n’est pas nécessaire de se rendre à Toronto ou New York pour vivre de leur art. La scène d’Ottawa a beaucoup à dire et va le dire encore plus fort au fil des prochaines années, j’en suis sûr!"

Malgré son discours, ce sera dans les autres métropoles canadiennes que Zoo Legacy passera le plus clair de son temps au fil des prochains mois. "On a une fanbase bien établie ici, maintenant il est temps d’aller voir à Montréal et Toronto ce qu’on peut faire là-bas. Mais on reviendra toujours ici, n’ayez crainte!" conclut Goss.

Avec Delhi 2 Dublin
Le 25 octobre
Au Mavericks

- Voir

City Light Glow a ‘definite improvement’
Publisher: The Charlatan
Writer: Laura Miele

Ritual Nightclub held a release party for Zoo Legacy’s second EP, City Light Glow, on Sept. 7. The release party was intended to celebrate the band’s determination and commitment to developing their own unique sound, which the band says has been compared to the likes of Kid Cudi, The Weeknd, and M.I.A.

Seen live, the band plays striking guitar riffs that characterize a rock show, but with the addition of Pouponneau’s passionate rap and smooth voice, the songs fall easily into the indie-rock and hip-hop genre that can have listeners of either taste grooving to their music.

The quintet consists of former Carleton student Nick Pouponneau on vocals, Mark Milloy on drums, Dominic Goss on guitar, Sam Goss on piano and vocals, and Jake Ting on bass. The addition of synth and heavy rap make Zoo Legacy’s sound a fair balance between indie-rock and hip hop.

Dominic Goss feels that City Light Glow is a definite improvement from their previous EP. “From day one we had an idea of where we wanted to go with City Light Glow,” he said.

“We developed our sound and our direction,” Pouponneau said.
Andrea Desjardins, Carleton alumna and current event promoter, described the band’s sound as “edgy, innovative, and crowd-pleasing.”
The band faced challenges of their own while producing the EP.
“Sam [Goss] was in Kentucky while we were recording, so we had to do correspondence,” Pouponneau said.

With the help of Skype and countless e-mails sent back and forth, the band was able to complete the EP within one year, Dominic said.
Their correspondence by distance continued as the EP was mixed in England by mastering service company Fix your Mix.
While the process was back and forth, arguments were kept to a minimum.

“It’s about getting the music to the best level . . . it’s nothing personal,” Pouponneau said.

“Everyone has such diverse tastes,” Dominic said.

“We work off each other and debate, and [the music] comes pretty naturally,” Pouponneau said.

“There will be people that love hip hop and people that love rock but both will be able to find a common ground and enjoy themselves.”
The unsigned band formed in Ottawa in 2010, and since then have released two EPs.

They have performed around Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal, and played alongside Lauryn Hill, Classified, and Kardinal Offishall at the Ottawa Bluesfest, something that Milloy described as “mind-blowing.”
“One day hopefully people will one day compare themselves to us cause we’re going in our own direction,” Pouponneau said.

On stage before Zoo Legacy, Fire and Neon favoured the indie-rock genre with strong drums that made their sound very similar to classic rock. However, the use of piano and electric piano made the songs unique and hard to compare to another band or sound. Fire and Neon is a sound you would expect to hear on your local university or college radio with their upbeat mix of rock and pop, with vocals that sound similar to that of Kings of Leon.

Big Dreams Team, a larger rap group from Montreal, produced many of their own beats to their songs. While the members seemed young, their rhymes sounded very mature and developed. Their stage presence was very commanding and had the early crowd very hyped and excited for their own songs and the talent coming up.

When asked for a final comment for Charlatan readers, Pouponneau laughed and gave a supportive response.

“Go Ravens, get another basketball championship like we always do.” - The Charlatan

Zoo Legacy - City Light Glow
Publisher: 1 Love T.O.
Writer: Bryan Brock

Today we’re showing some love to the boys from Ottawa known as Zoo Legacy, an indie-rock/hip-hop band consisting of Nick Pouponneau and multi-instrumentalists Mark Milloy, Dominic and Samuel Goss. They just released a new EP entitled “City Light Glow”, give it a listen and leave a comment if you like what you hear. - 1 Love T.O.