Teen Sleuth & the Freed Cyborg Choir

Teen Sleuth is a Montreal art rock band. They have become known for their multi-disciplinary performances of their ope-raw Teen Sleuth & the Freed Cyborg Choir, which feature live puppetry, dance, costumes, and video projections– all illustrating the music. Teen Sleuth also plays shows as a band where footage of these live theatrics is incorporated into their set. After a year of recording/band focus, Teen Sleuth recently reunited with their Freed Cyborg Choir to bring their ever-evolving ope-raw to Toronto’s centre for creative music: The Musicgallery. It was part of The Musicgallery’s AVANT-POP series and ran two nights.

Teen Sleuth was an official selection for the 2010 edition of Montreal Studio XX’s HTMlles Biennale of Media Art. Digital Culture and Women. In June 2010, Teen Sleuth self-released their debut EP ”Where the Animals Trace the Stars”, as part of the Montreal Fringe Festival. This outdoor, under the stars performance romanced an estimated crowd of 500 with music and video. The EP recently received a four and a half star review from Montreal arts weekly Hour and Teen Sleuth was named band of the week Nov. 26 on rock media guru BP Fallon’s NYC based radio show.

Teen Sleuth had a successful 5 show run of their ope-raw in Pop Montreal 2009, of which their last 2 shows sold out. This led to a well attended, surprise 6th show. During Pop, Teen Sleuth was featured in the Montreal Gazette, on CBC Radio, the Hitlist of the Hour, Nightlife, and was named as one of 10 bands to watch out for by La Presse. Teen Sleuth also had positive reviews in the Concordian and in the Globe & Mail, stating:
”A multimedia, hipster pop- opera may not sound appetizing but it was hard not to be won over by Teen Sleuth and the Freed Cyborg Choir, which ran every evening in a small theatre upstairs on St-Laurent. Equal parts high- school glee club, Andrew Lloyd Webber, eco-feminist honours thesis and Godspeed You Black Emperor!, its projections, puppetry, dance, pageantry and song burst with youthful talent,”
(Carl Wilson, The Globe & Mail)"

Successfully debuting at the St. Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival 2009, Teen Sleuth had 6 well received ope-raw shows, garnering them the Frankie Next Stage award from Mainline Theatre. This award is given to a production with exceptional potential. Teen Sleuth was the feature cover story of the Hour during fringe and had positive reviews in the Montreal Gazette, Hour, and Voir.

“Teen Sleuth are nothing if not ambitious, as was made abundantly clear during their fantastical and fun debut at the 2009 Montreal Fringe. What began as a multimedia pop-classical psycho-sensual brain-party performance piece has now evolved into a pop-classical psycho-sensual 13-piece brain-party band. There are tints of pink (Floyd) in the grey matter of the prog-tastic. That Humanoid Is Haunted, which burns brighter than an Arcade Fire, and shades of greatness in the epic post-punk, old-soul swing of Pine Tree/Circle Path. At only three songs, the
most satisfying 20 minutes you’ll hear this week. Or possibly any other. Very, very impressive”
(Jamie O'Meara, Editor of Hour, Review of “Where the Animals Trace the Stars”, Oct 28, 2010).

This EP is available on ITunes and at Montreal indie record stores (Phonopolis, Cheap Thrills,
Atom Heart and l’Oblique.

“Band of the week” (BP Fallon NYC based
radio show, Nov. 26, www.bpfallon.com)

“Teen Sleuth’s debut album, “Where The Animals Trace The Stars” (independent) is not only mind-bendingly original but also terrifically uplifting.” (Carla Gillis, NOW Magazine)

“The music is fantastic” (Pierre Landry, CBC Radio)

“Catchy pop music. The band’s EP is as eclectic…, songs unexpectedly shifting tempos and timbre in a positively operatic (ope-rawtic) manner.” Allan Wigney, thewig.ca)

“Mesmerizing” (Pat Donnelly, Montreal Gazette)

Songwriter/ lead vocalist Ellen Smallwood’s lyrics and melodies are arranged, orchestrated and expanded by co-composer, keyboardist Aleks Schurmer (les tabarnaks d’epoque: party like it's 1699). They are further embellished by guitarist/
composer Alexander Formosa (People for Audio, Victory Chimes), The band includes local favourites: folk darling David Simard, Mikael Tobias (Courtney Wing) and drummer Bill Hesselink (Snailhouse, People for Audio), who is featured on the recordings. Teen Sleuth also features up and coming talents, (not to mention a few teens), Gabrielle Girard-Charest (Empire Calypso, Mourning Coup), Mona Varichon (Erin Lang & the Foundlings, David Simard Band, Horns) Megan Alford (Valleymakers), Kate Maloney, and Nick Lavigne (Valleymakers). Since its inception, Teen Sleuth has had the pleasure of working with many talented musicians, including Stef Schneider (Pop Montreal: The Luyas, Bell Orchestre). and Daniel Gelinas (Fringe 09: You, Yourself, and I). Projections, puppets, and costumes featured in the video are by Frances Mckenzie

OPE-RAW: “An ex-girl guides wanders through a disenchanted forest meeting various cyborgs, post-humans, post-mammals & ghosts, wondering which are her friend and which are her foe. Inspired by their collective power, they rise up, gaining freedom from the tyrannous Company of Men, who have long ravaged their world. Becoming Teen Sleuth & the Freed Cyborg Choir, they embark on a journey to examine the raw evidence through singing ope-raw: the excavation/colonization of the mind body, spirit, land. To move forward they must look back in a series of songs/flashbacks. It is a coming of age story that will make you want to stand up and cheer!.. .although no one said coming of age would ever be easy.”

The music is inspired by Ellen Smallwood’s experiences with the removal of a benign brain tumor in 2005. She was hooked up to EEG machines and had electrodes on her brain, reading her brain waves. Ellen wondered about the emotional/spiritual implications of her bond with the machine and considered her connection as a flirtation with cyborgism. To heal, Ellen returned to the countryside of her childhoodin Halifax County, Nova Scotia. Upon arrival, she was disturbed by the destruction of the land due to an open pit lead mine. In a naive effort of escapism, Ellen reread her Nancy Drew novels. Drawing inspiration from the fearless, original teen sleuth, Ellen began to gather raw evidence of this multi-faceted
excavation. She wrote songs telling stories of diverse characters with a common thread of dischenchantment. She created a mirror of fantasy and reality: reflecting her own experiences in the character of ex-girl guide. Returning to Montreal in 2006, where she had lived since 1999, Ellen met art director Frances Mckenzie who brought the characters to life through puppets, illustrations, and projections. A highlight is “the monkey on your back” puppet worn by the ex-girl guide/teen sleuth.

Teaming up with keyboardist/composer /arranger/vocalist Aleks Scurmer (the mastermind of the hit partylikeits1699.com), the songs took on a new life, enhanced by the addition of guitarist/composer Alexander Formosa in Fall 2009. Together they realized that not only were they an art rock band who could perform with projections, but also multi-disciplinary artists capable of versatile performances., including their ope-raw: “Teen Sleuth & the Freed Cyborg
Choir” …a coming of age story that will make you want to stand up and cheer…although no one said coming of age would ever be easy..