artist You Say Party

After years of touring, hundreds of shows worldwide, and countless van hours together, patience became a virtue to lead singer Becky Ninkovic, bassist Stephen O’Shea, keyboardist Krista Loewen, guitarist Derek Adam and drummer Devon Clifford. Having reinvented themselves with their spirited style of New-Wave, and a new depth of material, You Say Party! We Say Die! released their much-anticipated third album, XXXX, on Paper Bag Records on September 29th 2009. The album embraced soul, feeling, and rhythm while still bearing the tenets of their original sound, which caused critics around the globe to embrace the band’s first two albums, Hit the Floor! and Lose All Time. Collaborating with producer Howard Redekopp (Tegan And Sara, The New Pornographers), XXXX was recorded between January and August of 2009. Upon its release the album was embraced by the media and fans alike as the band were selected as Exclaim! Magazine, AUX TV and CBC Radio 3’s X3 Artist of The Month and graced the covers of Beatroute Magazine, Exclaim!, Montreal Mirror, Uptown (Winnipeg), and The Georgia Straight (Vancouver) and performed live on MTV and CBCRadio 1’s Q. The band completed a successful and grueling tour of Canada from coast to coast immediately after the release of XXXX and then returned to the United States last spring on a full North American tour. It was on the last show of that tour, during what should have been a triumphant homecoming show in Vancouver, that tragedy struck the band.

Heartfelt thanks for all the messages of love and condolences that you have sent since Devon’s passing. We have drawn a lot of strength from these as we navigate this difficult time. Losing Devon has been a profound loss for the family this band has grown to become. We have taken some time out of the spotlight these last few months to heal, process, reflect and reevaluate the future of this band. – You Say Party, June 2010.

Taking inspiration from each other as well as friends, fans, family and particularly the encouragement of Devon’s parents, the band decided to carry on in their dear friend’s memory. They added friends Al Boyle (drums) and Robert Andow (keys/guitar) as former keyboard Loewen decided that her time with the band had come to and end. The new five-piece shortened their name to You Say Party. Tours were rebooked and the band released the aptly titled REMIXXXX. Shortly after their brave decision to carry on recording and performing, accolades for XXXX began to roll in again with the album winning Best Rock Album at the Western Canadian Music Awards and being included on long list for the Polaris Music Prize. They also released a stunning video for XXXX’s ‘Lonely’s Lunch’ which has received heavy play online and television. In 2011, You Say Party will be touring North America and will also begin work on songs that eventually become their forth full-length album. The band also just completed a grueling 38-date tour of Europe; at each show the band would light a flame on stage in memory of Devon.

XXXX and light.