Passion and European fans drive We Outspoken

February 11, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Mark Pavilons
The seeds have been planted. And the efforts of a Nobleton-based alternative punk rock band are bearing some pretty exotic fruit.
We Outspoken, led by Nobleton brothers Anthony and Alex Mascarin, is marking some major milestones. Their music video and single, A Million People Watching, is scheduled to hit the radio airwaves and YouTube.
The visually stunning video that accompanies the song was shot this past fall at Wasaga Beach and the band is hopeful they’ll add to their legions of faithful followers that currently span the globe.
The group members are unofficial Canadian ambassadors, spreading goodwill and their brand of music to eager, thirstly listeners from Germany to South America.
The band will visit Brazil for the first time this spring, performing concerts in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Curitiba. They’ll be taking in the sights, performing and networking in this Latin market March 22 to April 1.
They’re quite excited to embrace this culture and the upcoming adventure. Exploring the world and playing their music makes them “feel alive,” according to Alex. They’ve been planning the trip for years and fortunately received a lot of help from the venues and promoters in Brazil. One of the biggest marketing tools there is Facebook, radio play and world of mouth.
They’ll be playing along with local bands and they’re hoping for a warm reception.
On a typical Friday night, the crowds venture to see and hear bands. “This is what they do,” Alex said.
They’ve been given an opportunity to do something amazing, and they’re plucking that low-hanging fruit at every opportunity.
They have to strike while the iron is hot, and the hunger for North American music is high.
Their songs are reflective in nature, and comment on societal issues. They’re more personal, too.
The group takes a hands-on approach to everything – from booking venues and travel to marketing and burning CDs. They’re still largely self-funded, putting money aside at every opportunity to take advantage of new ventures.
They’re constantly building bridges and making converts to their brand of music, their message and their inspiration. The reception has been quite amazing.
While most artists struggle to make a dent in the music industry here, a band like We Outspoken is highly regarded in many European nations. One fan in Germany actually got the band’s logo tattooed on his arm. High praise indeed.
The band had nothing but great experiences to share from their second European tour this past September, performing in cities like Paris, Barcelona, Zurich and Prague. They performed 13 shows in 18 days in their journey that just keeps getting bigger and better.
They enjoyed this recent tour more since they knew just what to expect and were familiar with some of the cultures. They met new faces and were reacquainted with fans from their 2012 tour. Some fans drove four hours or more to catch their show.
It was humbling, Alex noted, since they were treated very much like family by their European counterparts. They found the scenery quite beautiful, especially during some of their longer drives across borders.
We Outspoken is turning heads primarily in the 16-25 age group who appreciate groups like this for giving them something unique. We Outspoken is seen as the “real deal” of grassroots music-makers with a story to tell, something that appeals to European music lovers.
Unlike following trends and top hits here in North America, fans in Europe and South America rely on music to get them through the day. They take the messages to heart.
“Music opens doors and strikes a chord,” Anthony observed. He said it was really interesting when he heard people in Europe singing their lyrics, which were downloaded on phone apps or from video games.
The European experience continues to impress the band and increases their own popularity. Alex said it’s important for all of us to “leave the box we live in,” share with other cultures and “appreciate life more.”
When the band returns from Brazil, they’ll be heading off to Montreal for the annual punk rock celebration, Pouzza Fest, featuring 200 bands over the three days (May 16-18).
You can catch them at Toronto’s Hard Rock Cafe Feb. 21.
They may not be household names yet, but this made-in-King export is a commodity well worth listening to.
For more, visit www.weoutspoken.com.