Just three weeks in the making, the Ottawa Gatineau Compilation Series is throwing it back to the ‘80s and ‘90s mixtape. Launching this Friday, the series drops its first EP-length compilation of exclusive music by eclectic capital-area bands via Bandcamp. The winter collection features one track from each of five artists, with all proceeds going to the Ottawa Food Bank.
The new project started as a chat between two pals sharing previously unheard songs they had up their sleeves in early November, Andrew Grosvenor of GREATHUNTER and Sandy Vance of Teenage Fiction. Grosvenor recalled a former release where his band donated proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank. The duo also spent time reminiscing about music memories from their youth.
Photo provided by Andrew Grosvenor.
“It just kind of took off because we both grew up in the late ‘80s and mostly in the ‘90s where compilation albums were really a popular thing,” Grosvenor says. “It was a record label putting it out or some kind of group. And that way you get a sample of different bands that you maybe weren’t familiar with.”
Photo: Serena Yang.
The musicians’ passion project came together in less than a month, with help from bands with extra tracks laying around just in time for December. They all shared the additional goals of fundraising for local organizations and propping up community culture. They decided compilations will be released quarterly, with the Ottawa Food Bank receiving the first donation.
Photo provided by Andrew Grosvenor.
“It’s one of many local charities that I think people tend to rely on more and more in the winter months and especially around the holidays when money’s stretched a little thinner,” the GREATHUNTER guitarist and pianist says.
The collection includes GREATHUNTER themselves bringing a shoegaze dream-pop tune to the big debut. Stoby picks up the pace with an upbeat indie-punk song. Fellow compilation founder Teenage Fiction rolls in with some up-tempo rock, and Blank Sun adds a mellow electro-synth instrumental. Singer-songwriter Adam Ferris closes out the collection with low-key acoustic guitar and vocals.
Photo provided by Andrew Grosvenor.
On top of the musical contributions, Ottawa visual artist Erin Besseau designed the first edition’s cover art, a whimsical maroon bird on a wood panel. Her artwork is for sale, and its earnings will also go to the food bank. For each future collection, different artists will design a cover.
Photo provided by Andrew Grosvenor.
“Thinking ahead to the future compilations, we’ll try and mix it up a little bit more,” Grosvenor says. “I’d like to get song contributions that are outside of the big umbrella of rock music. If we can get hip hop or even country or, you know, I’m open to basically anything as long as it’s local.”
The group’s throwback series is more than just nostalgia. The series co-founder says the best comparison to the ‘80s and ‘90s mixtape is a Spotify playlist; he hopes to pass on more money to the Ottawa Food Bank by releasing the first compilation on Bandcamp Friday, where artists earn 93% of earnings instead of the usual 82%.
Ottawa-Gatineau Compilation Series releases its first collection for $5 or more, at ottgatcomp.bandcamp.com on Friday, Dec. 2. Email ottgatcomp@gmail.com or visit instagram.com/ottgatcomp for more information.
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