In cities and suburbs around the world, the next
generation of young musicians are emerging. Inspired by the underground
music of the last 30 years, they are unencumbered by the restrictions of
style and attitude that traditionally divided genres. Cities that once
tried to emulate New York or London are coming to the forefront, newly
confident in their local blends. The youth are coming into their own,
cheering the home team, celebrating wherever they can stay out late and
telling their stories with cracked software and cheap guitars. To praise
the metropolises of the world for their diversity seems quaint - it
doesn't seem worthy of self-congratulation if it's all you've ever
known.
Into this environment arrives Bonjay. Drawing
their name from spice island slang for "Good God!", Bonjay were born in a
basement at Ottawa's legendary Disorganised parties. What began as a
simple crowd pleasing party lark has developed into a serious commitment
to songwriting and production, including remixes for labels like Mad
Decent, Ninjatune and Ghetto Arc (XL Recordings).
With Alanna on the mic and Pho on beats &
effects, their live performance is a high-energy sound system of bass
and soul. Dancehall innovation, indie sentiments, and R&B hooks -
these are the sounds booming out from the jeeps, towers and headphones
of young Toronto, and Bonjay makes them their own.
““Gimmee Gimmee” is kinda like T-Dot diasporic lo-fi
dancehall. [...] it works as a transition track for a washed out rave or
soundtrack for your own personal Run Lola Run." — The Fader
“Bonjay certainly know how to make dancehall, but they also know how to make it extremely weird" — XLR8R
“...now it’s time for both the duo’s fire branding, sassed out front woman Alanna and producer Pho to step out." — Dazed and Confused
“Styrofoam Ones and Kid Cudi both turned in great
sets, but it was Bonjay’s dancehall-house-electro-hip-hop that we were
still thinking about the next day. They’re getting better with each
show, and they were already awesome to begin with.” — NOW Magazine
“The Toronto duo of producer Pho and feisty singer-rapper Alanna drop a wicked mix of booty-moving material.” — Montreal Gazette
“[…] soulful Bonjay vocalist Alanna Stuart proved she’s hands-down one of the city’s most enrapturing performers.” — NOW Magazine