Vancouver based synth pop band Dear Rouge have taken off in the past year. Really since winning the 2012 PEAK Performance competition, which allowed them the luxury of quitting their jobs to focus on music. It has paid off as they scored four top 20 singles before releasing “Black To Gold,” their debut full length album approximately a month ago.
So now husband and wife duo Danielle and Drew McTaggart are focusing on writing new material. But they are taking a break from that process to visit Lethbridge for the second time — to play the Railjam, Neon Chalet shaker at the University of Lethbridge, Jan. 15. Mo Kenney and Ria Mae are also on the bill.
“It will be our second time there. It’s a really cool opportunity to play at the university,” said Danielle McTaggart, who enjoys snowboarding.
It is also a chance to try out a couple of new songs.
“There’s a couple of new songs we’re playing ‘Live Through This,‘ which is usually second in the set, but we don’t know because we haven’t rehearsed for the gig yet. And ‘Little By Little,’” Drew McTaggart added.
They will be joined by bassist Stephan Trevares and drummer DJ.
The McTaggarts are excited to begin writing new material.
“We released four singles from the same album. No other band does that these days, except maybe the Arkells,” Drew McTaggart observed.
“I Heard I Heard,” “Tongues,” “ Best Look Lately” and “Black To Gold” have been released to mainstream radio. An additional song “ Nostalgia” has also been released on satellite and internet radio.
“We’re going to spend January and February writing. There are two sides to this, touring and writing and the two don’t necessarily mix,” said Danielle McTaggart.
“ So it is nice to be able to be at home and relax and focus on the artistic side,” she continued.
The year has been full of career highlights. In addition to the Top 20 singles, they also played Europe for the first time as a band in November and December.
“We’ve both been there, but this was our first time there playing together,” Drew McTaggart said.
“A lot of musicians play there and they all say people really listen,” he continued.
“They might be moving around, but they really pay attention. In North America, I feel it is really difficult to get people’s attention,” he continued.
One of Danielle McTaggart’s highlights of last year was a recent gig in Toronto.
“It was sold out and It was just amazing, Everyone was so warm,” she enthused.
For her husband, it was a highlight just being able to release debut full length album.
“It was a huge check mark for us,” he said.
“We released all of the singles which can be difficult, so people heard them, but the album was the chance for people to hear the entire thing,” he said.
They are excited to return to Lethbridge to play for perhaps a different audience as their show last year was an all ages gig at the Gate in June. They are also playing Rossland on the weekend, but then it is back into writing mode.
“We really love Lethbridge. And we are excited to be part of such a cool event. So I hope people come out,” Danielle McTaggart said.
Mo Kenney begins the show in the University of Student’s Union Zoo from 9:15-10 p.m. . She will be followed by Ria Mae from 10:15-11:15 p.m. Dear Rouge play from 11:30 p.m.-12:45 a.m. and Lethbridge Dj Flamboi takes over after that. Tickets are $20.
