Down with Webster’s Tyler Armes shares his shuffle playlist CBC Music - Free Streaming Radio, Videos, Songs, Concerts & Playlists

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Tyler Armes was only 12 when he co-founded the Toronto rock/hip hop band Down with Webster in 1998, but the bassist and keyboardist had some solid musical influence in his corner. “My dad’s a composer and producer, he always had everything from Tom Petty, to Weather Report, to Steely Dan, and the Beatles playing on car trips,” says the young musician, whose father scored advertisements for TV and radio.

This week, the musician spoke to us from Los Angeles, where he's recording new material with his band. We asked Armes to put his iPod on shuffle, and share the first five tracks to play out. His list delivers a few classics along with some new discoveries.

1. “House Party”
Meek Mill

“Meek Mill is a rapper from Philadelphia. When I went down to see the Rangers/Flyers winter classic outdoor hockey game on Jan. 2, every bar we went to after the game was playing this track. This is now one of the party anthems we play on the tour bus before shows to get pumped up.”

2. “Three Views of a Secret”
Jaco Pastorius

“He’s like the Jimi Hendrix of bass players to me. He was like the first bass player who stepped outside of the box in terms of just functioning as the bass in songs. He’d play solo parts and lead parts. He was a jazz bass player prevalent in the ’70s and ’80s. He was the biggest influence for me as a bass player.”

3. “Tracks of my Tears”
Smokey Robinson

“When I was a kid my parents had an old school jukebox that played 45s. This was on there, it was number L7. Before I really knew a lot about music, this song made me really sad. I think it would make a good wedding song.”

4. “Light Up”
Drake & Jay-Z

“This is one of my favourite songs he’s ever done. These guys from Toronto called Tone Mason, these producers who’ve been around forever, did the beat for it. It’s just really ominous, and the bass on it is amazing, when it kicks in it makes your car want to explode. Jay-Z has an amazing verse on it too, so it’s just one of my favourite tracks that Drake’s done so far.”

5. “Something”
The Beatles

“Every playlist I think I’ve ever had usually has this song on it. It’s just an awesome song, it’s Paul McCartney at his best.”

What do you think of Armes’s playlist? Let us know in the comments.

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