Ohbijou
| Company type | Indie pop ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario , Canada |
| Products | Music albums and performances |
Ohbijou was an indie pop ensemble from Canada, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, known for merging elements of pop, folk, and bluegrass into their music.
History
The origins of Ohbijou trace back to the solo efforts of singer-songwriter Casey Mecija from Brantford, who was also employed at MuchMusic. Motivated by the work of Canadian artist Julie Doiron, Casey invited her sister Jennifer Mecija to participate in initial live shows. Subsequently, the siblings moved to Toronto to pursue education at Ryerson University and the Ontario College of Art and Design.
In 2004, the full lineup of Ohbijou was established with Heather Kirby (bass, banjo), James Bunton (drums, trumpet), Anissa Hart (cello), Ryan Carley (keyboards), and Andrew Kinoshita (mandolin) joining. Casey took on lead vocals and various instruments, while Jennifer contributed vocals along with violin and organ among others.
Their musical style often drew parallels to artists such as Bic Runga and Mazzy Star, characterized by a soft, emotionally resonant sound.
Ohbijou released their first album, Swift Feet for Troubling Times in 2006, marking their entry into Canada's festival scene with performances at events like Osheaga and Hillside. They also performed as an opening act at Toronto’s Virgin Festival and earned a nomination for CBC’s 2007 Galaxie Rising Stars Award. The band played a key role in organizing the 2007 charity compilation Friends in Bellwoods, which supported Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank. In 2008, they took part in the Banff Centre's first Indie Band Residency program collaborating with producers and engineers.
Their tracks gained national exposure through CBC Radio 3; notably, the single "St. Francis" climbed to No. 4 on the weekly charts in December 2006 and secured the No. 34 spot on the year-end rankings. They were featured on CBC Radio's The Vinyl Cafe in 2008 and were highlighted as Aux.tv's X3 Artist of the Month in August 2009. Casey Mecija was honored as one of Chatelaine's 80 Women to Watch in 2008.
Distributed nationally by Outside Music, Ohbijou released their sophomore album Beacons in 2009. In 2010, Casey recorded a rendition of The Beatles' "Dear Prudence" for the global charity album Sing Me To Sleep — Indie Lullabies. That same year, the group toured China under the promotion of Split Works.
Their third album, Metal Meets, appeared on the !earshot Campus and Community National Top 50 Albums chart in January 2012.
Ohbijou declared an indefinite hiatus following their final performance on September 7, 2013. Since then, Casey Mecija has engaged in various music, arts, and media endeavors, including hosting CBC Radio One’s documentary series The Doc Project.
Members
- Casey Mecija – vocals, guitar, ukulele, piano
- Jennifer Mecija – violin, harmochord, Glockenspiel, melodica, vocals
- Heather Kirby – bass, banjo
- James Bunton – drums, trumpet
- Anissa Hart – cello
- Ryan Carley – piano, synthesizer, Glockenspiel, electric piano, harpsichord
Past members
- Andrew Kinoshita – mandolin, guitar
Discography
Albums
- Swift Feet for Troubling Times (2006)
- Beacons (2009)
- Metal Meets (2011)
Splits
- The Acorn + Ohbijou - 12" EP (2008)
Contributions
- Friends in Bellwoods (2007): "The Otherside (Remix)"
- Friends in Bellwoods II (2009): "An Ode to an End"
- Swim Drink Fish Music (2010): "Tour Song"