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Grand Analog is a raw collective of seasoned record collectors, musicians and self-described beat junkies. Creator and lead vocalist, Odario Williams, describes the Grand Analog sound as “a beautiful mess of Rap’n’Roll, Dub & Soul”. Band members include bassist & producer Warren Bray, producer Alister Johnson, drummer & singer TJ Garcia, DJ & producer Ofield Williams. Grand Analog’s latest offering, Modern Thunder, was produced collectively with each band member bringing unique flavour and raw talent to the soundscape. Modern Thunder keeps GA’s amalgamated genre traditions alive by fine-tuning what is now the Grand Analog sound. Modern Thunder is Hip-Hop’s new folklore; skillfully and subtly blending anything from Afro-Beat to Rock (and even a little sunshine itself) into the mix. Odario and DJ Ofield blame their father, a reggae DJ from the 80s, for cursing them with the love of music, bass and trouble. Grand Analog stays true to their name by using vintage analog gear during the creation of their infectious groove. GA’s live show adds soul to the bloodline as well, mixing infrequent stage jams and off the wall tactics.

In 2007, Grand Analog debuted onto the Canadian music scene with Calligraffiti, a collection of Dub infused Funk Rap, enhancing the scope of Canada’s Hip-Hop era. In 2009, GA released their groovy sophomore record Metropolis Is Burning. So far, Grand Analog has won two Western Canadian Music Awards; one in 2009 for the Touch Your Toes EP and in 2010 for the critically acclaimed Metropolis Is Burning. Grand Analog has been nominated for a Canadian Independent Music Award in 2010 & 2014, as well as various CBC Radio 3 Bucky Awards. Grand Analog’s cult classic “I Play My Kazoo” reached number one on CBC Radio 3’s R3-30 Chart.

Ironically, the music of Modern Thunder dwells on everything classic. The album fuses early Afro-Beat rhythms on a hard hitting Hip-Hop drums while the Electro-Hop sounds of Heart the Lonely Hunter lends a Joni Mitchell type vocal to the chorus. The bumpin’ Wild Animal Print hints classic House while The Great Rhyme Dropper has the Funk (and nothing but the Funk). These tracks, and more, solidify Modern Thunder as a cohesive package. Musical guests on Modern Thunder include Saukrates, Shad, Andrina Turenne (Chic Gamine), Amanda Balsys (Wilderness Of Manitoba), Len Bowen, Maylee Todd, Saidah Baba Talibah, Dennis Passley (Bedouin Soundclash), Bahia Watson, Mike Olsen (Hidden Cameras, Arcade Fire), Peter Katz, TALWST and long time collaborators Damon Mitchell and Oliver Johnson. The outcome of these recordings carry a rich authentic analog feel. Most of the project was mixed by Timothy Abraham at the Hive Studios in Toronto.