Hold the phone – local musicians are submitting their mix tapes for a chance to be the next featured act in the city’s phone line “hold” playlist.
The #Ottmusik campaign struck a chord last year, and since last May several talented, independent bands have been played on the city’s phone service when callers are put on hold.
Musicians have until Feb. 15 to enter the competition via the City of Ottawa website, and professional musicians will be judging the entries down to 25 winners shortly afterward.
“I think it’s a really creative way for the city to feature its own artists to its own people,” says Scott Irving, The Peptides’ keyboardist.
The Peptides were one of six winners whose playtime on the phone number has just wrapped up; they perform “indie-pop” music and have held several concerts in venues around Centretown.
The band’s winning song was Love Question Mark, the title track of the album of the same name from 2014.
When callers are put on hold, an automated voice informs listeners that they can find information about the songs being played on the City of Ottawa website.
Irving says the band might make a second entry into the competition, but if not chosen, they will not be too disappointed.
“We’d be happy for other bands to have their chance at it as well,” Irving says.
“We may try but our hearts won’t be broken if we don’t, because we’ve had a kick at the can.”
When the first trial of #Ottmusik concluded early last year, Mayor Jim Watson was ecstatic about its success, saying he was thrilled at the response from the Ottawa music community.
More than 200 bands entered the first run of the program, and given its immediate success, that number is likely to increase this year. Newcomers such as The Dead Centuries have set their sights on the chance to spread their names around while getting involved with the community.
“It’s a good way to get local bands engaged,” says Hayden Emery, the band’s bass guitarist. “Not just in getting themselves out there but participating in the city and the local scene which is really cool.”
The progressive metal band members submitted their upcoming single Crosshairs.
While Emery says they are excited for the potential exposure the contest provides, there are still other means of gaining publicity in town.
“There’s plenty of opportunity in Ottawa to get out and play shows. You just have to put the effort in.”
While #Ottmusik is helping to nourish the city’s rich music culture, there still may need to be some work done to bring it to a state of perfect harmony.
Among five other large Canadian cities, Ottawa’s number of live venues and musicians ranks dead last, a study by the Ottawa Music Industries Consortium found in early 2015.
“There are a variety of different things that the city is doing for music so I think all of that is really positive,” says Andrew Vincent, interim executive director of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition.
“The next steps, I think, is looking at how these various initiatives can be tied together into a larger music strategy,” Vincent says.
Vincent says #Ottmusik is a great way to get independent music out to larger audiences.
But Vincent says he hopes the city will also help support the creation of new, moderately sized music venues to allow its local talent to entertain as large an audience as possible.
He mentioned the upcoming music industry showcase Megaphono taking place from Feb. 2-5 at various venues around the city.
The event will feature performances by local musicians and draw music industry professionals from across the globe.