The Left was recently chosen as one of the twenty finalists for the Peak Performance Project. The Peak Performance Project is sponsored by the 100.5 The Peak FM and Music BC.
The PEAK Performance Project is a seven-year, $5.29 million contest open to all musicians in British Columbia. The project was created by 100.5 The PEAK and Music BC to develop BC based emerging artists. Every year, twenty finalists from BC will receive an intensive, one week training program in the music business, live performance, songwriting, marketing and promotion. Artists will benefit from mentor-ships from some of the music industry’s top professionals and performers. All of these artists will have the chance to perform live in Vancouver on the PEAK Performance Stage. Of these twenty artists, the top three will be crowned as the PEAK Performers of the year and will share $275,000 in cash for career development. First place receives $150,000; second place receives $75,000; and third place receives $50,000.
Interview:
Brian: Tell us about your music and what your musical history has been.
Eric from The Left: Our history can be summed up in a couple of stories that happened early on in our career. Firstly, Eric (drummer) and Kevin (singer) were standing on the balcony outside of their dorm room at college and they saw Jeremy (bass) walking through the courtyard. They yelled down to him, “do you want to join our band?” Jeremy yelled back, “Ok.” Then they yelled, “No, like for the rest of your life! Like, this will be your main passion and focus forever!” Then, without missing a beat he yelled back, “I said Ok!”
Secondly, Kevin was meeting his future mother in law for the first time and she asked him, “if the band doesn’t work out what is your plan B?” To which Kevin replied, “I don’t have one.” She was not impressed. Then Kevin said, “I don’t have a plan B for your daughter either.”
Listen to the track Drinking About You
Brian: Tell us a little bit of how your summer went, from being selected as one of the artists to participate in the project to being selected as a finalist.
Eric from The Left: Being selected as a Peak Artist made this past summer one we will never forget. When we found out that we were selected as Peak Finalists we were obviously so excited. Through all of our experiences as a band, we feel like we’ve been preparing for this competition for years now. We immediately started brainstorming and scheduling events to line up with the project’s time line. We wanted our promotion to be strong and simple. Our aim was to be at the top of every category in this competition so there would be no reasons to not be considered as a winner. We all quit our jobs. This competition became our main focus because it promises to launch a band nation wide if not worldwide.
Brian: What has been the most rewarding aspect throughout the project thus far?
Eric from The Left: The most rewarding aspect in the Peak Project thus far has been the sense of community and support from other artists and industry professionals. We can honestly call up anybody we met through this project and talk to them as a friend; and to be friends with so many people in the same industry benefits everyone.
Brian: There are some great artists and bands and you are in great company with the list of finalists. What sets your music apart from the other finalists?
Eric from The Left: All of the artists are phenomenal and ready to move on to bigger things after this competition is over. Everyone’s sound is so different that it really comes down to personal taste. If I had to say one thing The Left has on the competition, it’s our diversity. There’s a certain comfort from having the same members for 8 years. Once you understand the tendencies, strengths and weaknesses of your band mates, it slowly becomes a little easier to have intimate moments with our audience, which is our goal.
Brian: How do you feel about The Peak, Music BC and Jim Pattison Group of Companies stepping up to assist the growth of BC musicians while the provincial government has reduced funding to many programs. This is a significant contribution of $5.29 million over seven-years.
Eric from The Left: Financial contributions to The Peak Performance Project is not all THE LEFT is thankful for from Jim Pattison. All four members of THE LEFT were privileged enough to graduate from Pacific Academy, a beautiful school he built. The music teacher at Pacific Academy, Ron Davis (Carl and Eric’s father) taught us all music. Carl met his wife at Pacific Academy and has been married for four years and just had his first child, Avery. By attending Pacific Academy, we all got to travel to different parts of the world building houses on mission trips in third world countries. This year we were selected to be a Peak Performance Project Artist. We got the honor of going to Rock Ridge Canyon in Princeton for The Peak Boot Camp where we learnt four years of music business school crammed into one week. Now we have a chance to be awarded finances to be put towards our career and this all because of him. Mr. Pattison, has greatly influenced our families and each of us. He has provided opportunities for people like us to be educated, travel the world, establish a career and even to meet a wife and for all of that we will forever be indebted to him
Peak Performance Project Sponsors:
