Montreal has been known as a very fertile breeding ground for significant new talent. Why is that so and is it possible to recreate the recipe in other cities? Major players in the industry in Montreal explains and give hints on how to recreate the conditions that made Montreal music scene what it is today.
PATRICE CARON, President of the Quebec Independent Music Association (AMIQ), has been involved in all sorts of events, labels, venues, cultural business ventures, associations and bands in Montreal for the last twenty years. Patrice, also known as Pat K, has developed a vision and an understanding of what makes Montreal what it is. He's deeply in love with Montreal and its music and has been one of its relentless champions since he set foot in its streets and an ear in its venues. Montreal rock!
SEBASTIEN NASRA, founder and president of Avalanche Productions, artist manager and music publisher, Sébastien Nasra has launched the international careers of renowned artists such as JORANE, LES RESPECTABLES, SOUL ATTORNEYS, PROJET ORANGE, TAIMA, PLASTER, ELISAPIE ISAAC, and the trip-hop duo BEAST. In 2006, he founded M for Montreal with the help of his friend Martin Elbourne (festival programmer for the Glastonbury Festival, organizer for The Great Escape and co-founder along with Peter Gabriel of the WOMAD Festival). Since then, the organization has travelled across the world to present showcases in Los Angeles, Austin (SXSW) and in the UK. In the summer of 2008, Nasra put another feather in his cap by becoming the artistic director and general manager of Vega Music, a label created in partnershipwith Bob Ezrin and Universal Music Canada. As a music publisher, Sébastien has been part of the administration council at SOCAN for 5 years.
LAURENT SAULNIER was born and raised in Montreal. He has been the head of programming at Montreal Jazz Fest, Montreal Highlghts Festival and FrancoFolies de Montréal, since 1999. Laurent has also been a music journalist for more than 15 years.
DANIEL SELIGMAN has been active in the Montreal music scene since 2000. He has managed Stars,The Unicorns and Socalled. In 2002 Daniel started Pop Montreal and remains the festival's creative director. Over the years, the fest has worked with such acts as Bun B, Patti Smith, Arcade Fire and Malajube.
