EPK – Polarity – Live Off The Floor at Jukasa Studio (2022)

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BAND

1)      Many years ago during POLARITY’s tour to the East Coast, the band experienced a hilarious incident in Fredericton NB. Jasmine and our ex-bassist Mike Smith at the time were both resting in the motel when the rest of the band decided to go out drinking. Our ex-guitarist Jason got really drunk and started dancing in the streets so we all followed him to make sure he was ok. Back at the motel parking lot, we were next to a lighthouse near the pier. Myself, Jason, and our buddy Mike who came on tour with us decided to climb into the lighthouse while our ex-drummer Eric was inside the tour van smoking a joint. Us 3 made it to the top of the lighthouse and were all enjoying the view until Eric started texting us in a panic. He kept texting saying “GET THE F*** DOWN AND RUN” and then tried calling us a few times but we didn’t hear him. Suddenly numerous flashlights surrounded the bottom of the lighthouse and yelled at us to all get down. Of course, it was the Fredericton POLICE… L They all asked us for our IDs and questioned us about what we were doing. Turns out they were very nice officers and told us never to climb the lighthouse ever again. Sigh of relief we all went back to the motel and found out Eric was hiding inside the van at the time from the police since marijuana was illegal at the time. He then bolted from the van to warn Jasmine and Mike Smith fearing that the 2 POLARITY guitarists might have been arrested! Everything was ok and this became a memorable story afterward. The next day, the exact same police officers passed by us in front of the venue we were playing at. They asked us jokingly “So you guys planning on climbing any more lighthouses tonight?”

2)      On the same East Coast tour during a day off we were all invited along to play an impromptu house party. We accepted the invitation and it ended up being a mini medieval pig roast in the backyard. We all played and had so much fun except that our bassist and guitarist both fell sick (maybe exhaustion, dehydration, food poisoning, etc can’t remember) and started throwing up after the set. Still, a very fun moment that we’ll never forget!

3)      Another fun fact about our band is the numerous stages of band members we’ve had and the musical chairs we had between 3 former members. At one point we had Jason Swait as a guitarist and Matthew Hamilton as a bassist. When Jason left the band, Matt decided to take his place as a guitarist since he’s first and foremost a guitar player. He only played bass for us temporarily to replace Mike Smith the original bassist when he departed. Then we got our close friend Adrian DeSousa to come on bass and he himself is a guitarist that played bass occasionally. Then one night when we opened for New Year’s Day in Toronto Matt was unable to play so we got Adrian (who left the band at that time for personal reasons) to hop on guitar for this one show for us and our current bassist Deren Bostanci had just joined the band as full-time bassist. Confused yet? So were we

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POLARITY’s style of alternative rock is quickly filling up Canadian venues and finding their merch being ordered and shipped out across the world. With their most recent release, the band wanted to capture the raw POLARITY experience so they recorded the songs live off the floor at Jukasa Studio and the result is sonic waves that are real, raw, and in the moment. “We’ve never done anything conventionally so recording these new songs live off the floor is something that really allows us to invite our listeners into songs created completely organically and authentically.  We wanted to capture raw music and invite our listeners to hear what you’ll hear if you come to a show, just five humans making music in the moment.” Says vocalist Jasmine Virginia.

POLARITY is not an average independent band, they’ve thrived being DIY for over a decade playing hundreds of Canadian shows to growing audiences looking for a unique and soulful sonic experience. Since their formation in 2008 the band’s list of accomplishments includes four studio albums, working with grammy winning producers including David Bottrill and Joao Carvalho, Juno-winning producers Darren Magierowski and Jill Zimmermann, Canadian radio play on mainstream rock radio including Rebel 101.7, 97.7HTZ FM & 94.9The Rock FM & a youtube channel showing over half a million views and a growing worldwide audience. 

Their music takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride where the landscape of sounds shifts from harsh and aggressive to transcendental and ethereal in seamless seconds all while the vocals ooze with soul and range from vulnerable and honest to powerful and in demand. The band recently underwent some member changes and welcomed guitarist Sheldon Fernades to the mix whose technical improvisational style easily fits into the band’s unconventional sounds ‘I’m a big fan of small moments that make a big impact in songs. I was drawn to the fact that POLARITY has a lot of ear candy in their music that makes the listener question what exactly happened and wants to go back and figure it out” says Sheldon. As for what genre of music the band considers themselves? ’POLARITY isn’t for one genre, or one scene, POLARITY is for everyone.’ Says bassist Deren Bostanci. 

With a decade of musical friendship behind them, the band is ready to continue its ascent into the realm of well-known Canadian bands and expand its international audience.  ‘Our goal has always been to make music that makes a positive impact on the universal ether and it’s what has kept us creating for over a decade …and we have no plans of stopping anytime soon’ says guitarist Michael Sitana.

Polarity is:
Julian Ryan Craig (Drums)
Deren Bostanci (Bass)
Jasmine Virginia (Vocals)
Sheldon Fernandes (Guitar)
Michael Sitana (Guitar)

Discography:
2008 – Self Titled
2010 – Treeman EP
2016 – Action Potential
2019 – Trilateral EP
2022 – Live Off The Floor at Jukasa Studio