PhotogMusic

La Sécurité – Bingo! [Streaming]

Ming Wu — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:25:28 +0000

Today, the Montreal band La Sécurité dropped their sophomore album Bingo!, via Mothland in North America and Bella Union worldwide.
The Montreal art-punk collective pushes their sound further here, blending post-punk urgency with flashes of disco-punk, no wave, and wiry new wave energy.

Bingo! absolutely slaps with energetic, jam-driven post-punk tracks that feel both loose and tightly wound at the same time.
Pulsing rhythms, sharp wiry guitars, frantic percussion, and infectious basslines keep the album constantly in motion, giving every song a restless, danceable edge.
The band captures a raw live-wire chemistry throughout the record, making these songs feel immediate, chaotic, and irresistibly fun.

There’s a playful tension running across the album where catchy hooks collide with jagged art-punk textures.
Tracks bounce between snarky attitude, quirky humour, and explosive grooves while still sounding tightly constructed beneath the apparent spontaneity.
Whether leaning into disco-punk grooves or noisy post-punk bursts, La Sécurité proves they know exactly how to turn nervous energy into something wildly infectious.
Bingo! by La Sécurité
Bingo! gets: /10.

Qillaniq @ National Gallery of Canada

Ming Wu — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:06:59 +0000

Yesterday I attended the opening of Qillaniq at the National Gallery of Canada.
Qillaniq — an Inuktitut word describing how light from the sun or moon shimmers brightly when reflecting on water — is the world’s largest Indigenous circumpolar art exhibition presented at the gallery.
Beautifully curated by an all-Indigenous team from across the circumpolar world, the exhibition brings together a wide range of powerful contemporary and historical works that explore identity, land, climate, community, and storytelling.

The opening evening featured speeches from the curatorial team along with a short performance by Silla, which added an immersive and atmospheric touch to the celebration.

Walking through the exhibition, there was a strong sense of connection between the artists and the northern landscapes represented in the works.
From sculpture and textiles to photography, painting, and multimedia installations, Qillaniq highlights the diversity and strength of Indigenous circumpolar cultures while creating an important dialogue about resilience, tradition, and the future.

A thoughtful and visually stunning exhibition that is well worth experiencing.

Qillaniq runs until September 20, 2026.
Check out the gallery.

Qillaniq @ National Gallery of Canada

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Magi Merlin – pixxxie [Music Video]

Ming Wu — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:00:21 +0000

Today, Montreal-based musician Magi Merlin (pronounced MAHD-J-EYE) dropped the music video for “pixxxie,” the fourth single from the upcoming debut album POWER HOUSE, arriving July 10, 2026 via Bonsound.
“pixxxie” is a cool retro-inspired 80s new wave electro-pop tune packed with pulsing synths, danceable rhythms, and a slick nostalgic atmosphere. Magi Merlin blends catchy melodies with a confident vocal performance that makes the track instantly infectious and easy to move along to.
The vibrant production gives the song a stylish late-night energy while still feeling modern and fresh.

About the track by Magi:
““Female characters in film are often reduced to this trope, simply a device used to further the plot of the male protagonist” Magi explains.
“This is a role and, at its worst, an expectation many men in real life will cast onto their female counterparts.
The only function of women in their eyes is being a sexual object or a tool to aid them in their growth.”
With pixxxie, Magi Merlin reminds us that this pernicious ideal is not merely a product of man-made fiction, but a reflection of our society.”

POWER HOUSE by Magi Merlin
pixxxie gets: /10.

Edge Conditions ǀ Inawendiwin @ Âjagemô

Ming Wu — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:28:36 +0000

Yesterday I attended the opening of Edge Conditions ǀ Inawendiwin at the Canada Council for the Arts‘s Âjagemô Exhibition Space.

Curated by Ottawa-based digital designer, writer, and student of architecture Leah Snyder, the exhibition brings together close to 40 works from the Art Bank collection.
The exhibition examines the long-standing tradition of landscape art in Canada while expanding the conversation to include a broader range of voices, perspectives, and lived experiences.

Throughout the space, the works are arranged in groupings that resemble archipelagos, encouraging visitors to move through the exhibition as though navigating interconnected environments.
Here, landscapes are presented not as static backdrops, but as active sites of memory, transformation, relation, and change.

Alongside selected poems, the artworks evoke a wide spectrum of emotions — from wonder and belonging to feelings of alienation and loss. The exhibition creates a thoughtful and immersive experience that invites viewers to reflect on how landscapes shape identity, history, and connection.

Edge Conditions ǀ Inawendiwin runs until May 17, 2027.

Check out the gallery from the opening.

Edge Conditions ǀ Inawendiwin

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Allegories – Honestly, that’s enough honesty [Music Video]

Ming Wu — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:25:46 +0000

Today, the Hamilton duo Allegories unveiled the music video for “Honestly, that’s enough honesty,” a minimal, dark electro alt-rock track driven by a uniquely immersive atmospheric soundscape.

About the track by Adam:
At its core, the song questions the idea of authenticity itself.
Written from the perspective of unreliable narrators, it reflects on how even our most “honest” expressions are shaped by distortion, memory, and self-mythology.
“People often assume I’m a confessional songwriter,” Adam Bentley explains.
“It’s not that elements aren’t drawn from my life, but the songs feel more like channeling characters and fragments of people I’ve observed.”

Honestly, that’s enough honesty gets: /10.

Bye Parula – Something Out Of Nothing [Streaming]

Ming Wu — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:45:26 +0000

The Montreal trio Bye Parula has released their debut album Something Out of Nothing via Secret City Records.
Across 10 tracks, the band blends indie alt-rock with touches of electro, funk, art-pop, and dreamy psychedelic grooves.
The album carries a warm cinematic feel while balancing danceable rhythms with introspective songwriting.
Songs like “KISSBURN,” “I Don’t Know,” and the title track bring infectious funky energy, while tracks such as “Home” and “Needed” reveal a more emotional and vulnerable side of the trio.
A vibrant and stylish debut that shows Bye Parula confidently expanding their sound with personality and heart.

Something Out Of Nothing by Bye Parula
Something Out Of Nothing gets: /10.

Eryn O’Neill & Stewart Jones @ Wall Space Gallery

Ming Wu — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:15:04 +0000

Yesterday I attended the vernissage at Wall Space Gallery for Eryn O’Neill‘s Visualizing Urban Transformation and Stewart Jones‘s And Then, It’s Now.

Eryn O’Neill’s Visualizing Urban Transformation presents a striking new series of paintings examining the infrastructure and materials embedded within constantly changing urban environments. Construction fencing, traffic cones, barriers, and industrial containers — details often overlooked in everyday life — become central subjects, revealing how they quietly redirect movement and reshape public spaces.

Meanwhile, Stewart Jones’s And Then, It’s Now is a thoughtful body of paintings shaped by the feeling of trying to keep pace with a fast-moving world. Drawing inspiration from walks through the city, fragments of travel, roadside memories, and fleeting moments half remembered, Jones captures how certain places continue to linger long after they are encountered.

Both artists beautifully capture landscapes and urban scenes through their own unique painting styles and expressive brushwork. Altogether, it made for a wonderful evening of contemporary art and reflection.

The exhibition runs until June 20, 2026.
Check out the gallery.

Family Man, Neon Ghosthouse & Hypersex Banshee @ The 27 Club

Ming Wu — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:00:29 +0000

First and last time seeing the Montreal-based band Family Man at the 27 Club on June 5, 2026.
Ottawa was the second last stop before the band says bye bye, making the night feel even more special.
They delivered a wild and chaotic set, absolutely tearing up the stage with songs from Iconoclast and their final album And So It Ends.
The energy in the room was nonstop from start to finish.

Second on the bill was Ottawa’s Neon Ghosthouse, bringing an alternative rock edge that kept the crowd moving with their intense and energetic performance.

Kicking off the night was Ottawa’s Hypersex Banshee with a loud, noisy, and raw punk rock set that immediately set the tone for the evening.

Overall, it was a fun and memorable night of local and Montreal underground rock music.
Check out the gallery.

Family Man, Neon Ghosthouse & Hypersex Banshee @ The 27 Club

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Miesha and the Spanks – Smiling [Music Video]

Ming Wu — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:25:12 +0000

Today the Calgary garage rock duo Miesha and the Spanks have dropped the music video for “Smiling,” the third single from their upcoming EP Visions, set for release on September 18, 2026 via Superconnected.
The track is a high-energy, hard-hitting rocker that captures the band’s raw, electrifying sound and punchy attitude.

About the track by Miesha:
“For the last couple of years my mom has been fighting what’s now stage 4 cancer.
I’ve been putting on this face that everything’s fine – mostly for my kids, but also just to stay sane. You wouldn’t know she was sick to see her, because she’s just so strong – and of course I know that’s a loaded thing to say, because for all I know, she’s just smiling through it as well.”

“Working with Miesha and Sean was such a blast,” comments producer, Hill Kourkoutis.
“They’re insanely talented, fearless collaborators, and completely committed to chasing the rawest, realest, grittiest version of every song. ‘Smiling’ captures that spirit perfectly.
It’s loud, messy, cathartic, and full of the angst and rage that comes with pushing forward through life while everything around you feels like it’s falling apart.
That is the realest realness.”
Smiling gets: /10.

Basia Bulat & Mimi O’Bonsawin @ Place Laval

Ming Wu — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:36:25 +0000

My first outdoor show of the year was at Place Laval for a lovely evening with Basia Bulat and Mimi O’Bonsawin.

This was my second time seeing Basia this year, and this solo set felt especially intimate in the outdoor setting. It was wonderful hearing songs from across her vast discography, along with music from her seventh album, Basia’s Palace. Her warm presence and heartfelt performance made for a truly lovely night under the open sky.

Opening the show was Mimi O’Bonsawin, who brought groovy folky pop sounds that perfectly set the tone for the evening. Her performance was both uplifting and engaging, making for a great start to the concert.
Check out the gallery.