The Library on Fire is an indie rock band firmly entrenched in the Brooklyn music scene with their band name taken from a poem by Rene Char.

Listening to their new album, Works on Paper,  brings to mind early nineties indie noise pop, Modern Lovers and Pavement, and  visuals of manic panic hair, 16-holed Docs and Lollapalooza.   Melodic crunchy guitar pop wail on songs like “Basquiat” and “Burn it Down.” Other times, they riff off moody and contemplative on songs like “Hypnos on Fire” and “Jewels in Yr Eyes.” →

Young Galaxy‘s “Shapeshifting” is inflective wide expansive dance music. The sounds whirl with romantic cascading guitars, bells and synths.  They’ve recently re-released their album “Shapeshifting” along with a remix album, “Versus”, with artists including Austra, Handsome Furs, Junior Boys and more.  I got a chance to chat to Stephen Ramsay from Young Galaxy about nomadic travels, genre-less music and Fauvist art. →

We all seek happiness. Books and thinkers ruminate on what brings us joy, whether it be the yearly 100K salary, falling in love or spiritual nirvana.  Ideas like moderation, freedom and faith have offered philosophical solutions; self-help books recommend eliminating clutter, meditation and a focus on positivity. The TV documentary, Laughology (directed by Albert Nerenberg), suggests that laughter may be one of the key factors. →

Put the Rifle Down is a Toronto beepy boppy new wave band.  Their live shows are high energy and filled with sweaty, head-tossing fans–extraordinary in a city of residents who usually stand with arms folded at shows.  Now Magazine describes them as  ”New Order meets Minor Threat,” and after experiencing their live show, the title seems apt.
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SIR/FQ magazine art director, Abel Munoz, is a couture shoe designer and Costa Rican native based out of Toronto. With SNL/Bridesmaids actress Kirstin Wiig wearing his shoes, a coveted write up in WWD and a nod in an Italian Vogue spread (for his chic, multi-buckled Petronia,) Munoz is a rising star with few peers.  And for good reason.

His shoes are sassy, yet refined and beautiful, made for women of “any age who love luxury and shoes.” They are architectural, bold and streamlined, perhaps echoing his graphic design back ground.
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Style has always been hard to pin down- the elusive, and often, indefinable notion of  “cool.” It  has been largely co-opted by the elite, the privileged and the exclusive. Yet, nowadays, I think, there is an opening in the ranks of fashion that welcomes the entrance of bloggers, such as Tommy Ton, Garance Dore and the Satorialist, who each offer their point of view. →

Breeyn McCarney is a slip of girl with a dry sense of humour. On her Facebook, she describes herself as a dressmaker who is ridiculous of sorts.

A recent graduate from the prestigious Central St. Martins, McCarney returned to her hometown of Toronto with a distinguished design sense. →

Rita Liefhebber is a nymph with her long, flowing, blond hair and wise -laughing eyes. Rita was the first stylist I assisted and it was from her, I got my intro into the dizzy tizzy, long hour-ed world of showrooms, photo shoots and returns.   Stylist turned fashion editor turned designer, she had her first joint design line with Mikhael Kale, Kale + Liefhebber.  After a stint in New York, she returned to Toronto, launching her own line and is onto her second collection for fall 2010 which she recently at New York Fashion Week. Rita Liefhebber spells effortless chic- understated, worn in elegance for the cool girl who wants to start investing in quality pieces that will outlast trends, yet still has an unnameable flair. →

You Say Party! We Say Die! is glorious melodic stuff- the kind of music you put on and toss your head along to with new-wavey, dark, thrashy riffs and organ synthesizers, recognizing the current milieu of poppy beeps and bops. →

Tank top, Club Monaco. Metallic Top, NADA

Nada Shepherd is a Canadian designer that injects imagination and energy into her designs.  She creates wearable tailored and lady like clothes, ones decorated with lace flounces, sharp shoulders and space like accoutrement and shape . Elegant yet strong, these are clothes one could work in and make a statement in, especially ladies who like wearing leather and long gloves while drinking tea on the Ritz. →