Down with Webster
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Down with Webster is a Canadian rap rock ensemble originating from Toronto's The Beaches neighborhood. They secured a contract with Universal Motown in April 2009. The band achieved commercial recognition with their 2009 EP, Time to Win, Vol. I, which included the singles "Rich Girl$", "Your Man", and "Whoa Is Me". Their first major-label album, Time to Win, Vol. II (2011), featured the popular track "She's Dope". Their subsequent release in 2014, Party for Your Life, contained the singles "One in a Million" and "Chills". Throughout their career, the band has been nominated for prestigious awards including Juno Awards, MuchMusic Video Awards, and Canadian Radio Music Awards.
1998–2007: Early Formation
Down with Webster originated as an instrumental jazz group formed in 1998 during a music class at Glen Ames Senior Public School by Patrick Gillett and Tyler Armes. The band's name was inspired by the main character from the 1980s sitcom Webster. After winning their school's "Battle of the Bands" contest, Andrew Martino and Martin "Bucky" Seja from Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts joined, alongside additional members from Malvern Collegiate Institute. Initially functioning as a jam band, their sound merged reggae, funk, and jazz influences before integrating hip-hop elements when Seja began rapping alongside Gillett.
In 2003 and 2004, they independently distributed a six-track EP titled The Reverb Session July '03, mainly sold at live shows. The lineup expanded with hype man Kyle "Kap" Fairlie—formerly a voice actor known for roles in series like Redwall and Franklin—and rapper Cameron "Cam" Hunter. Their self-titled debut album was independently released in 2007.
2008–2012: Releases of Time to Win, Vol. I & II
The band cultivated a dedicated fanbase through dynamic live performances. Jill Langlois of Chart characterized their 2008 Canadian Music Week appearance as energetic and unforgettable, describing them as "flashy and obnoxious, but fun and loveable". In June 2008, Rogers Mobile honored them as 'Best Unsigned Artist in Canada', awarding $25,000 toward recording expenses. After facing numerous rejections, industry heavyweights such as Gene Simmons and Timbaland showed interest in signing them. Ultimately, they partnered with Universal/Motown.
Their debut EP Time to Win, Vol. I, which later achieved gold certification, was released on October 6, 2009. The lead single "Rich Girl$", which sampled Hall & Oates' classic hit, climbed to No. 21 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. Subsequently, they toured as an opening act for Forever the Sickest Kids. The next single "Your Man" peaked at No. 12 on the Hot 100 and earned double platinum digital sales status in Canada. Early in 2010, they headlined WINTOUR I across Canada and the United States and also served as an opening act for Timbaland during his Shock Value II Tour.
In 2010, Down with Webster received a Juno Award nomination for New Group of the Year along with several nominations at the MuchMusic Video Awards. Their third single from that period, "Whoa Is Me", reached No. 13 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. That summer included performances at prominent festivals such as SCENE Music Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, and Sarnia Bayfest where they opened for the Black Eyed Peas. Following their participation in the Streets of Gold Tour alongside 3OH!3 in November 2010, the band concentrated on producing their next album. They also performed at the Grey Cup pregame show and secured 'Online Artist of the Year' at the Canadian New Media Awards in 2010.
WINtour II supported their forthcoming album through a nationwide tour between February and March 2011. That year brought two Juno nominations for Group of the Year and Pop Album of the Year; they also performed during the awards ceremony. At the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards, they won Pop Video of the Year for "Whoa Is Me". In May of that year, hype man Kyle "Kap" Fairlie exited due to creative disagreements.
Throughout summer 2011, Down with Webster continued festival appearances including Red River Exhibition and Capital Ex; these shows featured support from Armes' former band The Midway State. The lead single from their upcoming album "She's Dope" reached No. 18 on the Hot 100 chart while its successor "Big Wheels" peaked at No. 51. Released on October 31, 2011, Time to Win, Vol. II attained No. 9 on the Canadian Albums Chart. Later that year they released an iTunes Session EP containing live renditions.
In 2012, Down with Webster launched WINtour III to promote their latest work. Singles "Royalty" and "Jessica" were released from this album cycle. Additionally, they made a brief appearance in the Canadian comedy film The Movie Out Here.
2013–2015: Party for Your Life
On March 20, 2013, the group unveiled the single "One in a Million" and continued as the opening act for Marianas Trench during the second segment of the Face The Music Tour across Canada. The track "Party for Your Life," which serves as the namesake for their forthcoming album, was released on August 13, 2013. Originally scheduled for an October 22, 2013 release, the album's launch was postponed to January 28, 2014, to incorporate additional new songs. It reached a peak position of No. 2 on the Canadian Albums Chart and earned a nomination for Pop Album of the Year at the Juno Awards.
Their rendition of "Saturday Night" was featured during the NHL's 2013–14 season broadcasts on Hockey Night in Canada. The single "Chills", which debuted on December 17, 2013, became their fourth entry into the Canadian Hot 100 top 20 and maintained a presence on the chart for 34 weeks—surpassing the longevity of any prior release. An alternative version of "Feel So Alive" was employed during CBC's coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics on February 9, 2014.
Beginning in 2014, the band embarked on a nationwide Canadian tour with the fourth and final chapter of their WINtour series and subsequently opened for American artists in 2015. In that year, DJ Dave "Diggy" Ferris stopped touring due to family obligations. Within the United States market, Down with Webster supported acts such as Hoodie Allen, Timeflies, and Jonny Craig.
2016–present: Other projects, V and reunion
In 2016, Armes and Gillett released two singles under the name Best Night Ever, directing proceeds to Kids Help Phone and The Trevor Project. Meanwhile, Seja initiated a new venture called Karter Park alongside original member Kierscey.
Gillett openly shared his experiences with mental health struggles and collaborated musically with Armes, Martino, and Hunter while maintaining sobriety. This collaboration culminated in the 2018 release of Feel Better under their band Honors.
During summer 2020, the ensemble issued "Love Is Not Enough" and "Take Us Alive," tracks from their album V, which had been recorded back in 2015. Following its surprise release in February 2021, Armes confirmed that V would be their concluding album.
Members continue to pursue musical endeavors: Seja and Hunter have secured songwriting publishing agreements; Hunter remains active with solo projects. Martino contributed to Hunter’s music as well as composing soundtracks for the My Little Pony web series Tell Your Tale and its special episode Bridlewoodstock. Armes has composed scores for CBC productions such as Anyone's Game and Run the Burbs. Gillett independently releases music while Ferris has transitioned into real estate but occasionally returns to DJing.
On April 1, 2024, Down with Webster announced plans for a reunion tour scheduled for summer that year. They subsequently performed at multiple festivals including Calgary Stampede, Ottawa Bluesfest, Super-Spike Volleyball tournament, and Peterborough Musicfest. Their touring continued through December 2024’s WinTOUR and included a show in Hamilton in July 2025.
The band also played live at the Liberal Party’s victory celebration following Canada’s April 2025 federal election. On July 30, 2025, they released "Okae," their first single in five years, performing it at Boots and Hearts festival. This was followed by another single titled "All Night," released on November 27, 2025.
Current members
- Cameron Hunter — lead and rap vocals
- Martin "Bucky" Seja — vocals and rap
- Patrick Gillett — guitar, lead vocals, and rap
- Tyler Armes — bass guitar and keyboards
- Andrew "Marty" Martino — drums
Former members
- Kyle "Kap" Fairlie — backing vocals
- Dave "Diggy" Ferris — turntables
- Kierscey Regozo — keyboards
- Matt Campitelli — guitar
- Mitchell Wong — saxophone
Influences
The band's musical inspirations encompass a diverse range including pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, and electronic genres. Tyler Armes highlights Michael Jackson alongside electronic acts Justice and Skrillex, as well as jazz fusion legends Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius as significant influences. Meanwhile, Patrick Gillett and Cameron Hunter recognize hip-hop icons such as Beastie Boys, Wu-Tang Clan, and Cypress Hill, in addition to rock groups Aerosmith, Rage Against the Machine, and Led Zeppelin, as foundational to their unique sound.
Discography
- 2007: Down with Webster
- 2009: Time to Win, Vol. I
- 2011: Time to Win, Vol. II
- 2014: Party for Your Life
- 2021: V
Awards and nominations
Down With Webster has earned a total of 22 nominations across various award platforms, including 12 nods from the MuchMusic Video Awards and six from the Juno Awards.
External links
| Award | Year | Nominee or Work | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian New Media Awards | 2010 | Down with Webster | Online Artist of the Year | |
| Canadian Radio Music Awards | 2011 | "Rich Girl$" | CHR Song of the Year | |
| 2011 | "Your Man" | Song of the Year | ||
| 2014 | Down with Webster | Heatseeker | ||
| Juno Awards | 2010 | New Group of the Year | ||
| 2011 | Group of the Year | |||
| Time to Win, Vol. I | Pop Album of the Year | |||
| 2012 | Group of the Year | |||
| Time to Win, Vol. II | Pop Album of the Year | |||
| 2015 | Party for Your Life | Pop Album of the Year | ||
| IHeartRadio MMVAs | 2010 | "Your Man" | Pop Video of the Year | |
| 2010 | Down with Webster | UR Fave: New Artist | ||
| 2011 | "Whoa Is Me" | Video of the Year | ||
| "Whoa Is Me" | Pop Video of the Year | |||
| "Whoa Is Me" | UR Fave: Video | |||
| "Down with Webster" | "UR Fave: Artist" | "nom" | "nom" | |
| "Down with Webster" | "UR Fave: Artist" | "nom" |