Hands & Teeth, a Toronto-based experimental pop group, demonstrate what can be
created when friends unite through a love of complex harmonies and good food.
What began as a series of casual dinner parties with colourful soundtracks quickly blossomed
into an invigorating, full-time musical project. Each of the band’s five members takes
an active role in all elements of production – from composition to lead vocals to
engineering. Four of them even reside together in a live-in studio in Toronto’s Parkdale
neighbourhood. This highly collaborative atmosphere is what brings Hands & Teeth’s
artful fusion of pop, classical composition, angular guitar rock, lush vocal arrangements
and inventive rhythms to life. Their songs tastefully sweep from whisper-quiet ballads to
roaring anthems – a pitch-perfect reflection of each member’s eclectic musical past, rich
on-stage presence, and unparalleled dedication to the creative process.
It’s been just over a year since Hands & Teeth’s inception and their efforts have already
garnered a flurry of interest and attention. In the last 14 months they have headlined
shows from London to Montreal, were invited to play a private island music festival in
Eastern Ontario, had an early single (“Hunting Season”) appear in a McDonald’s online
ad campaign, received airplay on CBC Radio 2, CBC Radio 3 and BBC 6, and charted at
several Canadian college radio stations.
In October 2010, Hands & Teeth rele …
Hands & Teeth, a Toronto-based experimental pop group, demonstrate what can be
created when friends unite through a love of complex harmonies and good food.
What began as a series of casual dinner parties with colourful soundtracks quickly blossomed
into an invigorating, full-time musical project. Each of the band’s five members takes
an active role in all elements of production – from composition to lead vocals to
engineering. Four of them even reside together in a live-in studio in Toronto’s Parkdale
neighbourhood. This highly collaborative atmosphere is what brings Hands & Teeth’s
artful fusion of pop, classical composition, angular guitar rock, lush vocal arrangements
and inventive rhythms to life. Their songs tastefully sweep from whisper-quiet ballads to
roaring anthems – a pitch-perfect reflection of each member’s eclectic musical past, rich
on-stage presence, and unparalleled dedication to the creative process.
It’s been just over a year since Hands & Teeth’s inception and their efforts have already
garnered a flurry of interest and attention. In the last 14 months they have headlined
shows from London to Montreal, were invited to play a private island music festival in
Eastern Ontario, had an early single (“Hunting Season”) appear in a McDonald’s online
ad campaign, received airplay on CBC Radio 2, CBC Radio 3 and BBC 6, and charted at
several Canadian college radio stations.
In October 2010, Hands & Teeth released their debut EP, Enjoy Your Lifestyle, with
a nearly sold-out show at Toronto’s El Mocambo and an ever-expanding list of
glowing critical reviews. Enjoy Your Lifestyle was mixed by Laurence Currie (Sloan,
Wintersleep), mastered by Noah Mintz (Broken Social Scene, Los Campesinos!) and
features guest vocals from Lisa Lobsinger.
Hands & Teeth’s momentum continued to build in 2011. The band started the year off with several well-attended Canadian Music Week performances, then moved on to play three times at NXNE 2011, including a “high-calibre show” (Little Red Umbrella) at Sneaky Dee’s, and a showcase at POP Montreal. They filmed several videos including an intimate acoustic performance with Southern Souls, a haunting rendition of Rainbows and Unicorns at the Toro Magazine studios, and an energetic performance of Hunting Season, filmed at Chalet Studios near Pickering.
2012 is already shaping up to be a busy year for the band. Hands & Teeth’s debut full-length, Hunting Season, is slated for release on January 17, 2012. The band will be touring throughout January to support the release. Next they will head south for a showcase at South By South West 2012 before their showcase at Canadian Music Week 2012 in Toronto.
