Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album
Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album
By Andrew D’Cruz | May 23, 2013
By Andrew D’Cruz | 05/23/2013
Whenever a local band or performer blows up internationally these days, it feels almost routine. For that, we can thank Arts and Crafts, the DIY label that helped make Toronto an indie-rock haven. Arts and Crafts was created a decade ago to release Broken Social Scene’s sophomore album You Forgot It in People, which turned that sprawling soap opera of a group into musical ambassadors. Mega-selling records from Stars and Feist followed, and the label soon became the home of the city’s hippest acts, plus a few rising international bands. The sudden success begat backlashes and counter-backlashes, and more than a few easily bruised egos—which just made the whole thing more fun to watch. This month, Arts and Crafts celebrates its 10th anniversary with an all-day music festival at Fort York featuring some of its biggest stars, including Feist, Cold Specks, Timber Timbre, England’s Bloc Party and a one-night-only Broken Social Scene reunion. In addition to the concert, the label is hosting an exhibition of intimate portraits by Norman Wong at a pop-up gallery on Queen West. In the photos, the musicians look cocky, confident and cool—stars of a scene that continues to break big.
ART
A&C X Norman Wong
1093 Queen St. W.
To June 15
214069 Kevin Drew, Broken Social Scene’s co-founder and frontman (Image: Norman Wong) Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-intro.jpg 656 656 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/current-obsession-fine-arts/slide/norman-wong-current-obsession-intro/ norman-wong-current-obsession-intro 0 0
(Image: Norman Wong)
214072 Amy Millan and Evan Cranley of Stars<br />
(Image: Norman Wong) Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/current-obsession-fine-arts/slide/norman-wong-current-obsession-01/ norman-wong-current-obsession-01 0 0
(Image: Norman Wong)
214073 Jason Collett, a solo artist and part of Broken Social Scene’s multi-headed guitar army (Image: Norman Wong) Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-02.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/current-obsession-fine-arts/slide/norman-wong-current-obsession-02/ norman-wong-current-obsession-02 0 0
(Image: Norman Wong)
214074 Vancouver folkie and recent two-time Juno winner Dan Mangan (Image: Norman Wong) Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-03.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/current-obsession-fine-arts/slide/norman-wong-current-obsession-03/ norman-wong-current-obsession-03 0 0
(Image: Norman Wong)
214075 Stars frontman Torquil Campbell (Image: Norman Wong) Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-04.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/current-obsession-fine-arts/slide/norman-wong-current-obsession-04/ norman-wong-current-obsession-04 0 0
(Image: Norman Wong)
214076 Brendan Canning, who started Broken Social Scene with Kevin Drew (Image: Norman Wong) Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album Current Obsession: the indie record label that launched Feist and Broken Social Scene opens up its photo album https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/norman-wong-current-obsession-05.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/current-obsession-fine-arts/slide/norman-wong-current-obsession-05/ norman-wong-current-obsession-05 0 0
(Image: Norman Wong)