Metric

Formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1998, Metric is an indie rock band founded by former solo artist Emily Haines (vocals / keyboards / guitar) and James Shaw (guitar / keyboards). Initially calling themselves Mainstream, they changed their name to Metric with the addition of members Joshua Winstead (bass) and Loules Scott-Key (drums). Finding a balance between sparkly synth hooks, rough-edged, DIY spirit and stomping glam rock riffs, Metric started crafting their own brand of melancholy, outsider pop and become one of Canada's most inventive, beloved indie acts. Shortly after forming, they experienced disappointment when a major label deal in England came to nothing. However, they chose to continue and struggled to forge a career as a hard-touring, independent act. Their first album Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? (2003) built a solid cult following in Canada, but it was their second album, 2005’s Live It Out, that made them indie rock favorites and reached platinum status. With their ambition and sonic boundaries growing, 2009's Fantasies was another turning point for the band as they evolved into a glossy, electro-rock beast with throbbing anthems and Haines' barbed, bittersweet songs and effortless delivery. They also won their first Juno Award the following year and featured on the soundtrack to hit movie The Twilight Saga: Eclipse before their cinematic fifth album Synthetica featured a collaboration with Lou Reed and reached number 12 in the US charts in 2012. Over the years Haines also sang regularly with Broken Social Scene, released solo albums, and collaborated on fashion lines, but the band returned again in 2015 with twisted, dark disco, synth storms on Pagans in Vegas and spiky, down-tempo, new wave, guitar-pop on Art of Doubt in 2018. Their eighth album, Formentera, was released in 2022 and landed in the Top 40 in Canada, Australia, and the US. The following year, Metric released Formentera II, which included the single “Just the Once.” Metric has been honored with many awards over the course of their career including five Juno Awards – Group of the Year (2010), Alternative Album of the Year (2010, 2013), Producer of the Year (James Shaw), and Recording Package of the Year – as well as four CASBY Awards.

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