You Say Party
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Abbotsford, British Columbia , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
You Say Party (previously known as You Say Party! We Say Die!) is a Canadian band specializing in dance-punk and new wave, hailing from Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Their first album, Hit the Floor!, was launched in September 2005, coinciding with their second tour across Canada. The band also showcased their music at South by Southwest, embarked on a U.S. tour, and extended their reach to audiences in the United Kingdom and Germany.
The sophomore album, Lose All Time, saw its Canadian release on March 20, 2007; it later became available in the United States on August 18, 2007, through Paper Bag Records. In the United Kingdom, it was distributed by Fierce Panda Records starting June 18, 2007, while PIAS handled releases in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as of August 17, 2007.
Their third studio effort, XXXX, debuted in Canada on September 29, 2009, followed by releases in the U.S. and U.K. during early to mid-2010. The band’s fourth album, titled You Say Party, was released on February 12, 2016.
Origins and danskwad (2003–2004)
Formed in November 2003 by Stephen O'Shea, Becky Ninkovic, and Krista Loewen, You Say Party! We Say Die! emerged from a bike gang named The Smoking Spokes. Their initial rehearsals took place during winter in the basement of Ninkovic's parents' home.
Their first live performance occurred in April 2004 at a church basement venue in Abbotsford, where they opened for Fun 100. Known for their willingness to perform in unconventional spaces, they self-released their debut EP titled danskwad (pronounced "Dance Squad"), a name associated either with their fanbase or an earlier musical endeavor.
Hit the Floor and Lose All Time (2005–2007)
Throughout 2005, the group gained media attention while touring Canada as openers for bands such as The Blood Brothers and Pretty Girls Make Graves. Their full-length album Hit the Floor! launched in September to favorable critiques and included performances at Pop Montreal.
In 2006, Edmonton’s Reluctant Recordings released Hit the Floor on vinyl as the band continued touring Canada. They participated in SXSW, appeared on MuchMusic, and secured VideoFACT funding for the music video of "The Gap (Between the Rich and the Poor)." Touring extended to the UK and Germany during May and June, followed by continental Europe with a focus on the UK in August. Singles such as "The Gap" were released on Cheesedream and "You Did It!" through Sink & Stove.
A planned U.S. tour in October 2006 was canceled due to visa complications; Stephen O'Shea faced a five-year ban from performing in the U.S., postponing any shows involving him there until 2011.
In January 2007, You Say Party signed with Toronto-based Paper Bag Records, which also represents artists like Uncut and Tokyo Police Club. Their album Lose All Time was released on March 20 in Canada; distribution in the UK was managed by Fierce Panda Records, while releases for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland were handled by PIAS.
Remik's Cube and XXXX (2008–2009)
On August 26, 2008, they issued Remik's Cube, a digital remix compilation of tracks from Lose All Time, via Paper Bag Digital.
Following intense touring periods, band members pursued individual projects including social work aimed at vulnerable groups both locally in Vancouver and internationally, reinforcing their message that "the loving is the everything."
Work commenced in 2008 on their third album, XXXX, with production led by Howard Redekopp—known for collaborations with Tegan and Sara and The New Pornographers. Recorded between January and August of 2009, XXXX received critical praise and dominated Canadian campus radio charts for six consecutive weeks. Its lead single "Laura Palmer's Prom" achieved the top spot on CBC Radio 3's The R3-30 countdown. The band made an appearance on CBC Radio One’s morning program Q and performed twice during Vancouver’s Winter Olympics in 2010. In November of that year, broadcaster Aux featured an interview pairing lead singer Becky Ninkovic with Martha Johnson of Martha and the Muffins.
Passing of Devon Clifford, band renaming, and REMIXXXX (2010–2011)
On April 16, 2010, shortly after concluding a tour across the United States and Western Canada, drummer Devon Clifford suffered a collapse during a performance at The Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver. He passed away two days later due to complications arising from a brain hemorrhage. The group had intended to embark on a European tour in support of XXXX, commencing in Germany in April and concluding in Mallorca, Spain, by June.
In the aftermath of Clifford's passing, the band officially removed "We Say Die" from their name as a gesture of respect toward Clifford and to reflect the natural progression of life. Krista Loewen departed from the ensemble, while Robert Andow and Bobby Siadat—both from Vancouver’s Gang Violence—joined on keyboards and drums respectively. Their first live appearance following Clifford’s death took place on July 29 at Jubilee Park in Abbotsford. Subsequently, Siadat exited the group and was succeeded by Al Boyle from Hard Feelings.
July 2010 saw the announcement of their remix album REMIXXXX, which was released on September 21, 2010, coinciding with rescheduled UK and Ireland tour dates slated for autumn 2010.
In September 2010, XXXX earned the Western Canadian Music Award for Best Rock Album and was also long-listed for the Polaris Prize.
On October 25, 2010, You Say Party! issued a split 7-inch record alongside The Duloks through Club.The Mammoth Records.
Hiatus
On April 14, 2011, You Say Party! declared an immediate pause in their activities under the YSP name. Bassist Stephen O'Shea cited a demanding year that necessitated taking time off to prioritize personal health. Despite receiving considerable encouragement from fans and peers, the band opted to step back temporarily to reevaluate their path forward. During this period, vocalist Becky Ninkovic contributed guest vocals for artists including Beta Frontiers, Rich Aucoin, and k-os.
Reunion and You Say Party
In July 2012, the band reassembled with Krista Loewen returning to the lineup for the first time since her departure in 2010. Their comeback performance occurred at Paper Bag Records' tenth-anniversary event on September 29, 2012. Instead of recruiting a new drummer to replace the late Devon Clifford, they integrated drum machines into their percussion setup. In January 2013, they released "Friend," a tribute single dedicated to Clifford’s memory.
April 2014 marked their tenth anniversary with the launch of the DECENNIUM EP. This milestone was followed by their self-titled fourth studio album released on February 12, 2016.
Members
- Current
-
- Becky Ninkovic – lead vocals
- Derek Adam – guitar
- Stephen O'Shea – bass guitar
- Krista Loewen – keyboards
- Former
-
- Devon Clifford – drums (deceased)
- Bruce Dyck – drums
- Jason Nicholas – guitar
- Carissa Ropponen – keyboards
- Robert Andow – keyboards
- Al Boyle – drums
- Adam Fothergill – pedalboard
Studio albums
- 2005 – Hit the Floor! – CD / LP Sound Document
- 2007 – Lose All Time – CD / LP (limited to 600 copies) Paper Bag Records
- 2009 – XXXX – CD / LP (limited to 300 copies) Paper Bag Records
- 2016 – You Say Party – CD / LP Paper Bag Records
Remix albums
- 2008 – Remik's Cube – CD (limited edition of 1000 copies) Paper Bag Digital
- 2010 – REMIXXXX – Digital release Paper Bag Records
EPs
- 2004 – Danskwad EP – CD format (limited to 400 copies) independently issued
- 2010 – YSP/DULOKS EP – 7" vinyl (500 copies) released by Club.The.Mammoth as a split record with the Duloks
- 2014 – DECENNIUM EP – Released digitally
Singles
- 2006 – "The Gap" alongside "Stockholm Syndrome Parts I and II" – 7" released by Cheesedream Records
- 2006 – "You Did It!" paired with "Love in the New Millennium" – 7" from Sink and Stove Records
- 2006 – Split 7" featuring "You Say Party! We Say Die!" and "The Victorian English Gentlemen's Club" – Fantastic Plastic Records
- 2007 – "Monster" single issued through Fierce Panda Records
- 2007 – "Like I Give a Care" coupled with "Opportunity" – 7" under Fierce Panda Records
- 2010 – Virtual 7" releases including "Laura Palmer's Prom," "Dark Days," and "There Is XXXX (Within My Heart)" via Paper Bag Digital
- 2011 – Digital release of "Lonely's Lunch" and a reissued version of "Laura Palmer's Prom" through Paper Bag Digital
- 2013 – Self-issued single titled "Friend"
- 2013 – Digital cover of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's "The Misunderstanding," distributed by Paper Bag Digital
- 2016 – Digital single "Ignorance" released by Paper Bag Digital
See also
External links
- You Say Party on MySpace
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Musical groups established in 2004
- Musical groups disestablished in 2011
- Musical groups reestablished in 2012
- Musical groups from British Columbia
- Canadian indie rock groups
- Canadian dance-punk musical groups
- Paper Bag Records artists
- Canadian dance music groups
- 2004 establishments in British Columbia
- 2011 disestablishments in British Columbia
- 2012 establishments in British Columbia