Mississauga, ON – June 7, 2024
by Lejla Pepeljak
Arlene and the People are celebrating their debut album, “Ever Onward Believer” on June 14! Join them at the Rec Room at Square One with special guests Wilson and FXRRVST.
Speaking to Arlene of ‘Arlene & the People’, she talks about how the album came about when her guitarist, Kevin Dvorak, and her started collaborating during the pandemic. Through more open and vulnerable writing processes, the music evolved into conversations about mental health and her personal ups and downs which Arlene hopes will resonate with a lot of people. Arlene mentions the term “cinematic indie rock” to describe their style, bringing influences of Radiohead, U2, prog rock, and my fave, 90s alternative to this new album.
When asked about her favourite track of “Ever Onward Believer” Arlene says, “It varies depending on my mood to be honest! Lately it’s been “Everything Off Balance” because of the way the band plays it in rehearsal and the epic breakdown before the last chorus.”
Although originally all playing under Arlene’s solo project, the band officially rebranded as Arlene & the People ahead of the album’s release. Arlene provides powerful vocals alongside the cinematic indie rock band consisting of Kevin Dvorak (guitarist/co-writer), Jan Bilek (drummer), and Len Dvorak (bassist). The band describes themselves as “The lush guitar work of Radiohead and U2, the counterpoint of the best of 90’s and late 80’s melodic Rock alongside the rhythm and arrangement of New Wave and just an insinuation of the drama of classic prog…”. This is one special opportunity to hear the release of their first ever album as a group!
Not only is Arlene the lead vocalist for Arlene & the People but she is also a multi-instrumentalist who plays the piano, guitar, ukulele, harmonica, glockenspiel, percussion, and the violin. Arlene is a Mississauga native and has been a large part of the community’s music scene throughout the years. Arlene won a Mississauga Music Award for Best Pop Artist in 2018 AND even won two MARTY awards; in 2019 for Established Solo Vocalist and in 2014 for Hazel McCallion Volunteer of the Year!
Also performing is WILSON (of Wilson & The Castaways) a two-time Mississauga Music Award nominated indie folk trio that meld the influences of troubadours past with their own unique style to bring a fresh take on a long standing folk music tradition.
FXRRVST will also make an appearance on June 14, who describe themselves as your friendly neighbourhood alternative/indie/emo/whatever-you-want-to-call-them band, based in Toronto, Canada.
The EP release party is presented by Let’s Make Good Productions and Mississauga Music with the help of the City of Mississauga and the Mississauga Arts Council. Get advanced tickets for $20 online HERE and receive the CD version of the newest album!
Be sure to join Arlene & the People on June 14th at the Rec Room for this exciting release!
Buy Tickets HERE.