Ash & Bloom
| Ash & Bloom | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | folk pop |
| Labels | Orange Lounge Recordings, JAD Media |
| Associated acts | Peter Katz, Julie Crochietiere, Justin Hines |
| Website | www.ashandbloom.com |
| Members | James Bloemendal, Matt McKenna |
Ash & Bloom is a Canadian folk pop duo, from Hamilton, Ontario. The duo consists of James Bloemendal (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, percussion) and Matt McKenna (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, percussion). Ash & Bloom was formed out of a University choir, in which both members were active. In 2013, Ash & Bloom joined Canadian singer-songwriter and Order of Ontario recipientJustin Hines on his North American Vehicle of Change Tour. Following the tour, the act was signed to Toronto label and management company JAD Media Inc., a division of Orange Lounge Recordings. They have performed alongside other notable acts such as Christopher Cross,Basia Bulat,The Wooden Sky and John & Jacob.
While attending Redeemer University College in Hamilton, Ontario, Matt McKenna and James Bloemendal met in the choir. Shortly after, they joined forces with other local musicians to round out the band Garner. In early 2013 after parting ways with Garner, Ash & Bloom played a show in Port Perry, Ontario alongside singer-songwriter Stacey Kaniuk, a longtime friend of singer Justin Hines. Hines attended the show and loved the performance, asking the duo if they wanted to join him on his North American "Vehicle of Change Tour." From June to October 2013, Ash & Bloom traveled with Hines across North America. Following the tour, the duo signed with Toronto label Orange Lounge Recordings and JAD Media.
Ash & Bloom's self-titled EP was released November 2013, which featured 4 tracks written by McKenna and Bloemendal as well as Julie Crochetiere and Karen Kosowski; "Let The Storm Come", "Heaven Is A Ghost Town", "If You Stay" and "You Need More Than Love". An animated music video for "Heaven Is A Ghost Town" was released the same month, noted by fans as controversial for depicting characters such as Oprah, Gandhi and Ellen DeGeneres not making it into heaven. The video received mixed reviews from press.
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