Strange Tides is a folk-rock duo from Vancouver, Canada, comprised of Kirsten Bale and Victoria Carbol. Known for their haunting vocals and driving percussion, their arresting debut EP, “Reckless”, depicts a stunning transformation from an acoustic folk ensemble rounding the local pub circuit to an anthemic artist. Drawing on personal experience and social analysis, “Reckless” presents original ballads and bangers that speak from the heart. Formed in 2019, the duo has been awarded a FACTOR Canada Artist Development grant, and their songs have been played on CBC Radio, among other local stations.
Name:
Strange Tides
Genre:
Folk-Rock
Founded:
2019
# of Albums:
1 shiny new EP!
Latest Album:
Reckless – EP
Latest Single:
Don’t Close Your Eyes
Latest Video:
Favourite musician growing up:
Victoria was obsessed with Hilary Duff. Kirsten was always an old soul, preferring the dulcet tones of Joni Mitchell.
Favourite musician now:
Kirsten’s is Fleetwood Mac. Victoria adores Aurora’s haunting vocals.
Guilty pleasure song:
We don’t believe in guilty pleasures, in the sense of finding some artists/genres embarrassing (songs that are actively harmful are another story). People should be free to like what they like!
Live show ritual:
Kirsten: Arrive at venue, attempt setup, some sort of pre-show panic, talk it through with Victoria, get on stage and GO!
Victoria: Stand helplessly by while Kirsten handles the equipment, attempt to charm the crowd with all the awkwardness of an anxiety-ridden introvert, actually accidentally get hyped when the mics start working and remember we do, in fact, adore this.
Favourite local musician:
A very hard call to make–we know personally and know of many talented musicians. Jon Bryant, Megan Emanuel, and Charlie PS are just a few we’re obsessed with!
EP or LP:
EP. And we’re not biased at all.
Early bird or night owl?
Early bird, which means gigs are usually after our bed time! Thank God for naps.
Road or studio:
That’s such a hard call. Our producer, Dan Ponich, is very easygoing and makes recording sessions a riot. We love seeing our musical concepts come alive. But nothing can replace the buzz of connection between you and the crowd when you know they are vibing with your tunes.
Any shows or albums coming up?
Yes! We’re competing in the semi-finals for “Best in Vancouver” on February 4th. We also just dropped our debut EP, so give that a listen here!
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook
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Rapid Fire Vancouver Qs
Favourite local restaurant:
Burgoo, solely for the cheese grillers.
Favourite street in your city:
Probably Granville Street at the moment. Lots of interesting shopping all the way from downtown up to about 16th, and the lights at night are incredible!! Furthermore, while Burrard and Cambie bridges are arguably more pleasant to walk over, the views from the Granville St Bridge are unbeatable.
Favourite park in your city:
Charleston park. It’s walking distance from great locations like Granville Island, has beautiful views, and, best of all, it’s a dog park!
Favourite music venue in your city:
The Orpheum–such a beautiful venue, and many good memories of excellent bands! (eg Hey Rosetta!)
Favourite music store in your city:
Rufus Guitar Shop/Rufus Drum Shop–the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly.
