Five Juno winners or nominees will be on hand come February to anchor a star-studded musical lineup for the Whistler Invictus Village Main Stage—and they're all sharing their talent at no cost to attendees.
Hey Ocean!, a band known for its upbeat West Coast pop and indie rock, is part of the quintet. They'll be sharing the spotlight with Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo fame, Ontarian singer-songwriter Barney Bentall, eight-man outfit Five Alarm Funk, and Skratch Bastid: the first Canadian DJ to be nominated for Producer of the Year at any iteration of the Juno Awards.
Regarding the opportunity, David Vertesi spoke on behalf of his fellow Hey Ocean! bandmates Ashleigh Ball and David Beckingham.
"We're excited. I think it's always nice to come up to Whistler—hopefully it won't be too cold," he says. "We haven't been playing much over the last few years, so I couldn't even tell you the last time we played there."
Some locals may remember Ball visited the Sea to Sky last July to perform in Whistler's Summer Concert Series with the Lazy Syrup Orchestra, also part of the Invictus Main Stage roster.
'Distance makes the heart grow fonder'
The trio has taken multiple hiatuses since first beginning their joint career in Vancouver. One such break happened from 2014 (a decade into their history) to 2017, and it concluded with the release of their fourth album The Hurt of Happiness. Yet Vertesi and company would go their separate ways again during the COVID pandemic.
Not that they've lacked for things to do. Each band member invests heavily in his or her own solo pursuits: from Ball's voice acting in the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic animated franchise to Beckingham's work overseeing choirs. Now, however, they've reunited just in time for Hey Ocean!'s 20th anniversary.
"Distance makes the heart grow fonder," Vertesi remarks with a chuckle. "When you're really in the thick of it with each other … you sort of crave some space and not always having to compromise on everything. But all three of us really appreciate what [we bring] to the project. The ways in which I make music with Dave and Ashley? You can't really replace that.
"They're both great people and they both exude an artistic nature. There's always something creative bubbling … and that's what's fun in the long-term. We're all a little inspired by what each of us does individually, so it makes working together all the more exciting."
Hey Ocean! members have also parted with their previous record labels. That's not as jarring of a transition as it may sound like, for Vertesi, Ball and Beckingham are rather DIY in their careers. No one's going to work harder for your own music than you, and the industry has evolved to a point where flying solo is more professionally viable than it was in the past.
In any case, the group remains appreciative for any and all fan support.
"More than any kind of industry recognition, the stories we hear from fans and that personal connection is still the most meaningful to all of us. I can say that pretty confidently," says Vertesi. "We've had people telling us what our albums meant to them: people who have gone through really hard times with our music there to support them and people who have fallen in love and gotten married with our music."
He goes on: "You can get caught up in the ins and outs of the industry, but it's a great reminder when you have those conversations … somebody's out there being affected in a tangible way by the music we've made. I feel like everyone's so obsessed with high scores, like, 'what's your [number of streams] on Spotify?' But those numbers don't necessarily show you how deeply you connect with people."
'Always an honour'
For Taylor James, there is no greater or more unique privilege than playing for the benefit of active duty soldiers and veterans.
James is one of many Sea to Sky artists chosen for the Whistler Invictus Village alongside The Hairfarmers, DJ Foxy Moron, Big Love, Ira Pettle, DJ Vinyl Ritchie, the Spiritual Warriors and DJ Whitness.
"I have a history with performing for Canadian troops and it's always an honour to do anything that's involved with people who have served our country and allowed us to live the life that we live," James says.
Throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, James has been part of initiatives that send musicians around the world to perform for Canadian military members. She has gone to Egypt, Dubai, Sarajevo and Greece, helping put on shows and sharing meals with troops.
Healthy civilian engagement can be vital for the mental health of soldiers, particularly those who have seen combat. One anecdote from Egypt, circa 2008, enters James' mind.
"We arrived in Cairo and had to take a bus to the Sinai desert," she recalls. "A couple of young soldiers rode the bus with us, and they were quite affected because they'd been on the front lines. They were only [about 20], and you could see that their lives were changed forever. We complain about things when we have the most incredible freedom living here, and you just don't realize what's actually going on to give us that freedom."
James is familiar with several of the artists beneath the Invictus banner. She's performed with Cuddy at the Country Music Awards, and Bentall is a personal friend. Doug Craig and Greg Reamsbottom of The Hairfarmers, meanwhile, did their part to help her establish a reputation in Whistler.
Incredible buzz
Big Love Band frontman Erik van Meerbergen and Pettle are likewise humbled to perform for the Invictus Games.
"Whistler's rooted in celebrating sport and it's got an incredible cultural scene, but when you combine the two, it's such a powerful thing," van Meerbergen says. "There's so much respect for men and women who [serve], and to see them compete: it's the spirit of sport. We saw it with the Olympics, and Invictus is bringing sport back [to Whistler] in such a unique way."
Pettle reveals: "When I got the call [to be part of the Invictus concert roster], I was extremely excited. Happy to be sharing a stage with some really amazing local names and some big Canadian names. This will definitely be a first for me, and it's a beautiful heart-centred opportunity for our community."
The Whistler Invictus Village is meant to fit seamlessly into town. Family activities, TV screens displaying the competition and other interactive activities will line the Village Stroll, giving people something to check out while allowing skiers and snowboarders to operate unimpeded. For live performances, be sure to visit the Main Stage located near the Whistler Conference Centre.
All in all, it's music to van Meerbergen's ears.
"[Village Square] is such a cool location," he says. "That's where they had a stage for the Olympics and I think [Invictus organizers] are creating incredible buzz. I've worked personally with them on some Arts Whistler events like Art on the Lake, and they've spread word of how the Invictus Games differ from other sport competitions. I feel like the spirit of Whistler is at its most refined when you bring everyone together in that atmosphere."
Find more details about the Whistler Invictus Village and its music offerings from Feb. 9 to 13 here.
