2014 Was A Monumental Year for Canada's Underground Producers

With each passing year, Canada's underground keeps getting bigger and better. But in 2014, a new regime of artists broke out beyond the country's borders to gain international recognition. With labels like 1080p and Mood Hut operating out of Vancouver and Forbidden Planet in Montreal, these cities have become increasingly buzz-worthy both online and off.

Putting these artists into a numbered, ranked list would be a meaningless task. With so many styles, influences, and goals, who is to say which artist is #4 and which is #5? At this point, what we should all be excited about is the fact the scene is thriving and here to stay. In no particular order:

Edmonton-based Dylan Khotin-Foote (Khotin) stirred things up this year with an EP on his own label, Normals Welcome, and a full-length debut on 1080p. His addictive melodies and cheeky TR-707 grooves caught the attention of many, putting his tape release in the top slots of many end-of-year lists. Gigs outside of his home town have begun to sprout up and with dates in Montreal and Vancouver becoming more and more frequent, we wouldn't be surprised to see him become a regular touring DJ as 2015 pans out.

Little has been publicly heard from this Vancouver duo, but an upcoming cassette tape debut on 1080p has been announced for January 2015. A perfect balance between consonance and dissonance is where their tunes tend to sit, giving their dance friendly numbers a sophisticated feel. With a hi-fi approach to sound design, their productions are dense and captivating–a single listen does not do their work justice. Comparison to contemporaries like Aphex Twin and James Blake (albeit his left-field works) is no overstatement.

Experimental music in its purest form, Montreal's Ramzi composes sound environments that neglect trends and genre classifications. Her rhythms suggest an influence from dancehall and house, but the product is a well obscured version of both. Avant-garde sampling and synth work help to then add further depth to her work. With two tapes and a 12-inch in her catalogue, she toured west across Canada and down the American coast this winter.

Thanks in large part to his output in 2014 this Vancouver-based Mood Hut affiliate is now a common name amongst record collectors worldwide. Jack Jutson, also one half of Pender Street Steppers, repurposes disco, boogie and house in a way that cannot be ignored. Jack's dancefloor-filling 12-inch, Looking Forward to You, came out at the end of summer and was mentioned in almost every end-of-year list (Fact Mag, Xlr8r, and Resident Advisor to name a few). Blog love isn't everything, though. He also toured Europe this year, under the Pender Street Steppers moniker, along with Mood Hut cohort, Hashman Deejay.

Jack J.'s devotion to supporting the Canadian underground was most evidensed during his slot at Boiler Room's Dekmantel Showcase, which exclusively featured music from the Canadian West Coast. 2014 was a successful year for both Mood Hut and Jack J., making 2015 that much more exciting.

Since 2012, Wolfey has limited himself to one release per year, each of which delves into a different sect of dance music. From atmospheric, beat centric recordings to sample-heavy techno, in 2014 Wolfey seemed to sit comfortably with an offering of dusty, hardware house. By way of ASL Singles Club, the five-track EP received praised from the likes of Mr. G, Dusky, and Tom Findlay of Groove Armada. Outside of producing, the young Vancouverite has immersed himself in the world of collection and selection. His weekly at Vancouver's Diamond Bar and a sporadic schedule of undisclosed after-hours ensure locals that his sounds won't be far away if you keep your ear to the ground.

Sergio's strength is in his live set. It's a trait that is rare these days, and one that will take him far. Operating out of Calgary, he co-heads Modern Math Recordings and maintains a residency at the city's premiere dance music location, Hifi Club. After debuting his live set this summer at both Bass Coast Festival and Shambhala, Sergio has become a staple in the western Canadian scene. He has also recently inaugurated a collaborative label, Sister City Limited, with Grenier, Eprom and Hej Fund, which we're certain is a small ripple compared to the waves he'll make in 2015.

Closely affiliated with Montreal imprints Booma Collective and Forbidden Planet, Adam Feingold lays low much like his associates. Staying out of the spotlight, and incubating his craft of raw, left-field house and techno, has boded well for him. Earlier this year, Adam joined the roster of Apron Records (a label run by phenomenal talent, Funkineven) who took him on tour through Europe. Having the chance to present mixes on Berlin Community Radio and NTS Radio, Adam was able to present upcoming releases on his yet-to-be-launcher label, Temple. 2015 will see its highly-anticipated debut.

2014 saw the highly anticipated end of Bwana's two year hiatus and his three-track offering on AUS Music made it well worth the wait. Nathan Micay's move from R&B-inspired IDM to melodic techno and house was well received by fans new and old, securing him a slot on Elastic Artists' roster late this year. 2015 will no doubt contain a slew of European dates and festival slots for this young torontonian, and with plenty of unreleased material in his repertoire another release or two would seem very plausible.

Good Timin' label head, and master of the groove, Jex Opolis' output has remained exclusive to his own imprint, in the 12-inch format. With this year's record supported by many (Soul Clap, Andras Fox, and Peoples Potential Unlimited to name a few), Jex is now a undisputed staple in the domestic and international scene of vinyl enthusiasts. Influenced by the complex melodic language of the past, Jex's music results in a laid-back melange of disco and boogie, perfect for the bath, bar, club and car.

Tony Stathos is on Twitter: @TonyStathos