Top 10 Canadian Voices – Can You Make A List?

None of us could stop at 10 favourite Canadian voices. Trying to keep it as close to 10 as possible, here’s what we came up with.

Amanda – Top 12 (in no particular order):
Bryan Webb (Constantines) → her vote for #1
Sam Roberts
Jenn Grant
Hannah Georgas
Tim Baker (Hey Rosetta!)
Dan Mangan
Matt Mays
Aidan Knight
Wayne Petti (Cuff the Duke)
Dan Vacon (The Dudes)
Max Kerman (Arkells)
Julie Doiron

Rachel – Top 11 (in no particular order):
Tim Baker
Jay Malinowski (Bedouin Soundclash)
Owen Carrier (Sweet Thing)
Dave Monks (Toyko Police Club)
Dallas Green (alexisonfire/City and Colour)
Ash Buchholz (USS)
Scott Anderson (Finger Eleven)
Max Kerman
Dan Mangan
Dan Vacon
Jacquie Neville (The Balconies)

Cath – Top 15 (in no particular order):
Dan Mangan → my vote for #1
Aidan Knight
Tyler Bancroft (Said the Whale)
Owen Carrier
Carleigh Aikins (Fox Jaws)
Max Kerman
Dan Griffin (Arkells)
Jacquie Neville
Craig Stickland (We Are The Take)
Lowell Sostomi (Great Bloomers)
Jason Collett
Gavin Gardiner (The Wooden Sky)
Casey Mecija (Ohbijou)
Jonas Bonnetta (Evening Hymns)
Tim Baker

See a commonality? Dan Mangan, Max Kerman, and Tim Baker… your voices are loved by all here at buying shots for bands. I guess we owe you a shot!

Here’s my challenge for YOU: can you make a top 10? Can you do it? If so, we’d like to hear it!

You can stop reading there, but if you wanna know, here’s how we came up with our lists…

It started off as a thought as I was watching a live stream of the Malahat Revue (courtesy of http://www.duncangarageshowroom.ca and you should all donate to fund the wonderful live streams they provide). I was thinking, “Wow, this is amazing… There are some truly amazing voices on this stage.” If you’re not familiar with the Malahat Revue, it’s a collective comprised of Said the Whale, Jeremy Fisher, Hannah Georgas, and Aidan Knight. They just finished up a mini-tour of British Colombia, mostly around the islands. I narrowed down my favourites on the stage to Aidan Knight and Tyler Bancroft of Said the Whale and declared on twitter that these two had to be in my current top 5 voices. After declaring I had this non-existent top 5, I decided to figure out who was in the rest of my top 5.

Without a doubt, Dan Mangan was placed as my vote for my absolute favourite Canadian voice at the moment. I also added Owen Carrier of Sweet Thing, who not only has a great voice but a great stage presence. Then I was stuck on a fifth, not because I couldn’t think of anyone but because there are so many amazing voices out there. At first I was thinking it was going to be Arkells’ Max Kerman, but then I went to this amazing event that changed my mind. I went to a 50s party hosted by Modernboys Moderngirls with performances by a variety of members of mostly Toronto-based indie bands. The ultimate standout was Carleigh Aikins of Fox Jaws. She’s got this sexy, sultry voice, but wow, can this girl belt it out. I knew, immediately, that she was in the top 5.

Then I decided 5 wasn’t enough and added to the list to make a top 10. It was clear I was going to place Max Kerman in my top 10, but adding a vocalist that was not a lead singer in a band may seem like a surprising move. In fact, I’m not naming Dan Griffin as a secondary vocalist; I’m naming Dan Griffin specifically on his solo work. He’s got a great voice that goes virtually unnoticed. I added We Are The Take’s Craig Stickland to the list based almost solely on this YouTube video. Listen to this acoustic version of ‘Firing Line’ and you will understand why I think he’s got a great voice. Lowell Sostomi of Great Bloomers may also be a surprise, but it’s a unique voice with a country feel that I think is just magic. The Balconies’ Jacquie Neville, the only other female to make my list, is a classically trained musician, has a great voice and a great stage presence.

Immediately, after posting this on twitter, I was yelled at. I’m missing a lot from my list. I know this. It was so challenging to narrow a list down to just 10, so I made my list into an interchangeable top 15. Because I came up with this, I am allowed to make my top 10 an interchangeable top 15. That’s right, I make the rules. I don’t think I need to explain any of the remaining names on the list (Jason Collett, Gavin Gardiner, Casey Mecija, Jonas Bonnetta, Tim Baker). They all have beautiful voices and I’ve heard most of them live. If you’ve heard them live too, then you must understand.

Amanda gave me her top 10 and then added all are subject to change… and then remembered that she also wanted to add Arkells’ Max Kerman. Her exact words were, “I forgot Max… that’s not cool.” She also added Julie Doiron to her list to make her list a Top 12. Amanda might have taken advantage of more additions, but I cut her off at 12 because we were getting out of control with our lists.

Rachel didn’t really have as much trouble stopping her list at 10. However, after pointing out to Rachel that there are no females on her list, she amended and added Jacquie Neville from The Balconies to make her list a Top 11.

Stay tuned for more lists… maybe… if we can manage without a struggle.