The Archers Win BC’s Best Teen Band Contest

The Archers talk about the road to the BC's Best Teen Band Contest, and what it means to win.

Most industry insiders will tell you that becoming successful in the music business is not easy. In addition to musicality, it takes charisma, intelligence, confidence and huge amounts of determination. The Archers, BC’s Best Teen Band 2011, possess all of these qualities and more.


The Archers are enthusiastic about music. So enthusiastic in fact that they arrived at Tom Lee Music Hall on the morning of Youthink’s Best Teen Band Contest finale far before sound check started. They are friendly, connecting with the other bands instantly. They are charming, bouncing anecdotes off each other while on stage. And, of course, they are incredibly talented, wowing audiences with their amazing harmonies and melodic hooks.


The alt-indie folk band from Victoria was crowned BC’s Best Teen Band on April 30, after a close battle with second-place finalists, Ivory Coast, and third-place band, Stoned Optic.


“This is one of those things that you hear people talk about all the time and you’re sort of like, ‘Man, that’s super cool! I wish I could do that!’ And we’re kind of doing it right now,” says band member Ethan Caleb.


Stiff competition in the BC's Best Teen Band Contest

The Archers beat out over 50 other entries to make it to the final three, overcoming critics on Facebook, busy high-school schedules, and the geographical inconvenience of living a ferry ride away from the band contest workshops and finale venue.


According to Ethan, the success is a direct result of, “hard work and dedication to music.” He continues, “It’s been four and a half long years of working on music.”


Participating in BC’s Best Teen Band Contest has been extremely valuable for the young musicians, who have seized the opportunity to network with other bands and industry professionals, accumulate a larger fan base and grow as a band.


“It’s kind of like the contest gave us the motivation to get to this point.” says band member Liam Moes. “I don’t think any of the songs we’re playing today [in the competition finale], except for one, was written before [we got into the top 10]. It used to be like, ‘Half-an-hour set, what are we going to do?’ Now it’s like, ‘Three-hour set? Bring it!’”


Undoubtedly, the highlight of the experience was the chance to play for a live audience of over 200 people at Tom Lee Music Hall in downtown Vancouver.


“There’s this moment right before you go onstage, and it’s right before you see the audience and the audience sees you, and you’re about to come out and there’s a moment that lasts a little longer than all the other ones,” says Ethan. “And then once you cross that boundary where the crowd can see you, there’s just this feeling... It’s just, like... you’re thrilled to be here and nothing else matters.”


Rather than be intimidated by the size of the finale audience, the band was excited at the prospect of reaching out to more people. “If the crowd gives, we give more. It’s like an exchange. We have to give the first energy, but if the crowd gives it back, then it becomes like a battle... but a battle of awesomeness,” enthuses Ethan.


Band contest prizes

As the winners of the 2011 contest, The Archers have won $3,000, $300 in gift certificates from Tom Lee Music, tuition credit to The Next Level Learning Centre, a recording of one single by Jay Evjen (Hot Hot Heat, Incura, Motion Soundtrack) of ­Juicemix Productions at The Factory studios in Vancouver, a one-day songwriting session with Shaun Verreault of Wide Mouth Mason, free music business and legal consultation from D’Eith & Company Entertainment Law, a band photo shoot and a free concert at Tom Lee Music Hall.


Prizes aside, however, The ­Archers were excited just to take part in the event.


“Regardless of what happens today... we could leave in third and I’d still be happy,” said Liam Moes before heading on stage for his performance. Following their 
victory, he added, “Winning’s like the cherry on top of the sundae which is the show.”


Ethan agrees: “I want to be able to play music, and that’s it.”


To keep up with The Archers, “like” them on Facebook: facebook.com/thearchersband.

2nd Place: Ivory Coast

YT: What’s up next for Ivory Coast?

“Playing a lot more shows. And hopefully in the next year we’ll start turning out some really good songs from the studio – maybe an EP or a full-length album even. So we’re really excited about that.”
– Dave Dueckman, bass
 

3rd Place: Stoned Optic

YT: How do you define success?

“Of course there’s, like, the dream where you’re onstage playing for 60,000 people and everyone knows your songs. But I guess to me... even if we just played around town locally, if people can relate to our songs, I think that’s success.” – Jacob Bentley, bass