Skip to content

Local band borrows from famous rapper (9 photos)

What do you do when your band forms in the summer of 2013 and the trending news story of the day is the birth of Kanye West's baby? Why, you name your band Northwest, of course.

What do you do when your band forms in the summer of 2013 and the trending news story of the day is the birth of Kanye West's baby?

Why, you name your band Northwest, of course.

SooToday recently caught up with Wayne Watkins (guitar, lead vocals), Mike Yakasovich (guitar, backing vocals), Greg Callaghan (guitar, backing vocals), Mike Smykacz (bass), and Marc Santos (drums) at the Rockstar Bar following the release of their debut EP.

Recorded by Dustin Jones at his Mission Control studio, the self-titled four-track release was created to foster some exposure for the band while the boys are busy working on an upcoming full-length album.

"We really want to focus on writing and not rush the recording process," Watkins told us.

"But I get a new idea everyday, and I'm sure everyone in the band is annoyed by me. I guess I need to scale that back," he joked.

While they found capturing the band's live energy in a studio setting a bit challenging, they felt the recording process was easier than actually getting everyone together to jam, which we're told can be "harder than herding cats."

Busy schedules aside, the five lads love and are proud of what they do together, and are far from tired of one another.

"The secret to being in a successful local band is finding like-minded individuals," Watkins said. "It's a relationship. You have to dedicate time to it and respect each other's ideas. You grow together."

To download Northwest's debut EP, visit the band here.

You can also follow them on Facebook.

Northwest will perform live at Loplops, 651 Queen Street East, on Friday, February 27 at 10 p.m. prior to the Poor Young Things' set.

For video footage of our interview with Northwest, see the latest episode of Tuned on Local2.

(PHOTO: Northwest performed at the Rockstar Bar on Saturday, February 21, 2015. Donna Hopper/SooToday)


What's next?


If you would like to apply to become a Verified reader Verified Commenter, please fill out this form.




Donna Hopper

About the Author: Donna Hopper

Donna Hopper has been a photojournalist with SooToday since 2007, and her passion for music motivates her to focus on area arts, entertainment and community events.
Read more