Beast (Canadian band)

Beast
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 2009
Background information
Origin	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres	Electronica, trip hop, electronic rock, trip rock
Years active	2006 - 2010 (hiatus)
Labels	Pheromone Recordings
Associated acts	Afrodizz, Champion, Plaster
Website	www.beastsound.net
Members	Betty Bonifassi Jean-Phi Goncalves

Beast is a Canadian electronic music duo based out of Montreal, Quebec. Beast's members include vocalist and lyricist Betty Bonifassi and composer/producer Jean-Phi Goncalves.

Beast has been described as "an experimental hip hop project filled with psychedelic trip hop-style electronica, aggressive guitars and loud drum beats," or (as Bonifassi describes it) "trip rock".

Beast’s self-titled debut album was made available internationally on iTunes on November 4, 2008 and their first single, "Mr. Hurricane", was offered for free on iTunes as the Single of the Week in 6 major markets including the US, the UK, France and Australia. The album's official commercial release date in Canada is November 18, 2008, with international releases yet to be announced.

Betty Bonifassi and Jean-Phi Goncalves — both originally from France — were both very active members in the Montreal music scene, and had each been making music for about 20 years by the time they began collaborating musically. Bonifassi had previously worked with such local musicians as composer and saxophonist, François D’Amours, DJ/techno musician Champion, and yet another French expat rock musician, Deweare. Jean-Phi Goncalves, a percussionist and record producer, had produced albums for Quebec musicians such as Pierre Lapointe, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Ariane Moffatt and Daniel Bélanger as well as American recording artist Lauryn Hill. He has also played percussion for the singer Dumas and for Montreal bands Afrodizz and Plaster.