MIXTAPE
TOPS
Image by Ruby Bateman
The Hook mixtape is compiled through a series of music related questions. Each artist who fills it out can answer as many or as few of the questions as they wish, and elaborate on their choices, or let them speak for themselves.
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Artist
Jane from TOPS
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Members
Jane Penny (vocals), Marta Cikojevic (keys), David Carriere (guitar), Riley Fleck (drums)
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Location
Montreal, Canada
Press Clippings
'Among their compatriots—Blue Hawaii, Sean Nicholas Savage, Braids, and Majical Cloudz—TOPS were the most aligned to conventional notions of rock and pop, a throwback AM-rock band amid a sea of indie-tronica. Their fuzzy, honey-dipped songs were straight out of the school of Fleetwood Mac and Mazzy Star: eminently listenable, easy to digest, romantic, and catchy..' - Pitchfork
The last piece of music you paid for (streaming doesn’t count)
The last time I bought music it was Another Summer on vinyl by the Japanese band Omega Tribe. I got it at a record store in a covered market in Jakarta when we were there to play a show. I bought the record for my boyfriend, and we put it on display in our apartment. We both really love the artwork. The album’s not on Spotify, but here’s a nice song by them that is on there - “Blue Reef” off their 1986 record Navigator.
Your favourite place to listen to music
Driving down a coast when you can see the ocean.
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A song which reminds you of your childhood
“Can’t Run But” by Paul Simon
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Your go-to karaoke song
“Changes” by Black Sabbath
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A song which could change the world if everyone heard it
The Fugue from Bach’s Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major changed my life when I heard it, but I feel like the Prelude is more world changing. I realise I sound a wee bit pretentious saying this, but I feel like these compositions really did change the world (they were a part of the first collection of keyboard compositions written for all 24 keys), and I think it would do the world good if everyone took a moment to listen to them.
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A song you'd rather never hear again
“Closing Time” by Semisonic
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A song which reminds you of someone you don’t see anymore
"Perfect Day" by Lou Reed
A song which gets you in the mood (for dancing)
“My Old Piano” by Dianna Ross or “Read my Mind” by Metro Area
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A song which gets you in the mood (for romancing)
To be honest the idea of listening to music as a form of arousal is really alien to me at this point in my life. The idea of having sex while music is playing is honestly kind of grotesque to me. Maybe it’s because both me and my partner are musicians. But, a lot of people have told me they listen to TOPS in a “Let’s Get it On” kinda way, and I fully support that.
The soundtrack to your last holiday
“Who’s Crying Now” by Journey. Perfect Miami song.
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A song which has changed your mind
“In My Mind” by Gigi D’Agostino - it’s one of my nieces favourite songs, and when she showed it to me I realised that children can have really intuitive, good taste in music.
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A song which makes you cry
“Jezioro szczęścia” by Bajm
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A song which makes you laugh
“Music” by F.R. David and “What Will I Write” by Eddie Rabbit are both songs that I find hilarious because they’re such derivative examples of songwriting, but I also love both songs.
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A song which gives you goosebumps
“S.O.S d’un terrier en détresse” by Daniel Balavoine. It's from a Quebecois cyberpunk musical called Starmania which debuted in 1978. Amazing, shiver inducing melody.
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A song which makes you feel empowered
“Gun Control” by Molly Nilsson
An artist you regret never having seen live
I wish I saw Fleetwood Mac when Lindsay Buckingham was still in the band, but I still wanna see them when I get a chance anyway, who knows, might not make a difference! Also Marvin Gaye and Nina Simone, but they both died well before I would’ve had the chance. Wish I saw Steely Dan before Walter Becker died, really wish I went to see Prince. Also, if Sade every tours again I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
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An artist you hope to see live soon
Sade!
A gig you’ll never forget
Philip Glass playing a solo piano concert in a small church in my hometown. I sat in the balcony above and behind him and watched his hands.
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An album you know by heart
Love Deluxe by Sade, Blue by Joni Mitchell, Tango in Night by Fleetwood Mac, Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves.
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A cover which is better than the original
“99 Miles to LA” - it's a song written by Albert Hammond, but I love the recording by Art Garfunkel, it's so hauntingly beautiful.
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A song you first heard on a film soundtrack
I really love the music for Bitter Moon by Vangelis
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A song you love in a foreign language
“Te gÅ‚upie strachy” by Papa Dance
"Cais" by Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges
An instrumental song you love
“Savoir Faire” by Chic
“The Whale” by Electric Light Orchestra
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A song which gets stuck in your head
I had the Chicken Dance stuck in my head for most of my childhood. Please don’t put it on the playlist though, it’s not something I want to disseminate. David, who plays guitar in TOPS, has a good trick for getting a song out your head. You just have to sing “Guilty” by Barry Gibb and Barbara Streisand. It’s good enough to wipe out whatever is stuck in there, but not so catchy that it lingers after it’s served its head clearing purpose.
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A recent musical discovery
“The Dream” by BEA1991
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