Charlotte Gainsbourg may have just finished the first leg of a successful tour (including stops at Coachella and two sold-out dates in Montreal), but the 38-year-old admits performing doesn't come easy. Though she's an experienced actress and her current album, 'IRM,' is a collaboration with Beck, the willowy daughter of late French pop icon Serge ...

New York City is kicking Jamie Lidell's ass -- and that's a good thing. "I've really taken to it," says the British-born Lidell, whose forthcoming album 'Compass' was produced by Beck and comes out on Warp Records on May 18. Reached on his cell phone, the city sounds of horns and sirens provided appropriate background chaos. "It's definitely ...

Metric guitarist/co-founder Jimmy Shaw says it's a good time to be an independent music-maker. When it came time for the Toronto-based synth-rock heroes to make their fourth record, 'Fantasies,' the band turned down offers from majors and indies alike. Rather than work for a label, Shaw explains, they took a moment, put their heads together and ...

Canadian pop-punk rock heroes Sum 41 have been busy in the studio working on the band's forthcoming album, which frontman Deryck Whibley says is "a whole different animal" from anything they've ever done. Before the band unveils their new music at SXSW, Whibley took some time to chat with Spinner about his love of Sinatra, his ex-wife and almost ...

Canadian Music Week's premiere event is its annual Indie Awards ceremony, honouring the creme of the country's independent musician crop. But what does indie even mean anymore? Does it mean stumbling out of bed at noon and moseying around one's hipster hood in search of coffee and sex? Does it imply drawn-out debates about blogging, roommates ...

If Juno-nominated synth punks Shout Out Out Out Out are any indication, then Edmonton loves to dance. This hot electronica outfit has two drummers, four bass players, synths galore and no shortage of electronic energy. Released last year, their pulsing second album 'Regeneration Time' is pure dance floor gold and just one of many reasons to check ...

Long before signing a distribution deal with Arts & Crafts and opening in Toronto for Jack White's band the Dead Weather, Manotick, Ontario's Hollerado self-released their 'Record in a Bag' -- literally, a homemade CD packaged in a plastic baggie. Cute. Yet it's worth a listen for the music: beer-drenched power-pop indie ditties you'll love ...