Feist

Anthony Seck just won a Juno for Video of the Year for Feist's song Honey, Honey. Congratulations to Anthony, The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, and Feist. Here is a link to the winning video, and above is a great photo of Anthony accepting his award.

Mocky, the enigmatic musical maestro and real-life friend of Feist*, is bringing more Mocky™ smoke/mirrors to our planet's sound bank. Of his new album Saskamodie, Leslie is rumoured to have said, "I would spoon this album if I could. I love it".



Never one to spread half-truths, I stand by this rumour and even think the statement is probably true. I did overhear her say that the video companion to Saskamodie (a little film called Mockumentary) was "amazing" and even "[a little film which] fans the flames of musical adventure, taking brave risks into the land of unfettered-by-modernity acoustic instrumentals". Okay, so maybe she didn't say that last part, but trust me, she likes it, she does.



Surely, with your curiousity at its peak/pique, you may too be wondering who is this Mocky? This very question is posed to Dr. Thomas Strauss (Musicologist), Gonzales (Gonzologist), Jamie Lidell, Feist, Peaches and others in this short five minute video (see below). We do know that Mocky co-produced The Reminder and co-wrote So Sorry, but clearly there is much, much more to this elusive, engaging, iconic, brilliant and—perhaps—dangerous musical mind.

Rumours abound, but therein lies a little truth.



Perhaps you have heard here or there that Jeff Tweedy and Feist have recorded a duet together. All true truths. The song is called "You and I".



Of course, "You and I" does not mean You (the reader) and me (the typist), the song is not about us! Unless it is? I haven't heard it yet. I'll let you know when I know, even if Pitchfork gets to it first. But then I'll tell you. Promises.



Moving ahead, this song about us (at long last) is coming out on Wilco's next album, a record to hit the made-up shelves—are there record stores anymore?—in the Summer or Fall.



I, for one, can't wait. Can You?

Scroll down and you will find a charitable post about the more charitable DARK WAS THE NIGHT compilation. Just announced, many of the artists from this record are performing together on the floorboards of The Radio City Music Hall, live from New York. This includes Feist, which is why we are all here today (not on this Earth, which goes without saying, but on this digital site of light).



Visit DarkWasTheNight.com for more information about the record and profiles on the participating recording artists. All proceeds from this venture go to the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising money for prevention, healing and research regarding HIV and AIDS. Tickets go on sale March 13th at 11am and will be available here.

I've handily chosen this picture from Feist's fan album because it is a nice picture of hands, some fine handiwork it is at that.



Feist is up for an award in the FAN CHOICE category at the Junos, the Canadian version of the American Awards to the British Men of Science. Just kidding. It's a Canadian music awards programme, and this is where you come in. Take your clicking hand and mouse-click over here. If you see fit, and if in a fit of Feists, you'll know what to do from there (a fit of Feists, if you're reading this in the Eastern Hemisphere, is quite similar to a shiver of sharks, almost a murder of crows).



If you have a bag, and will travel, you could win a trip to the award show at the link above. If you're one of those super lucky sorts, send us your lottery picks (Ontario 649), then enter to win the chance to present the FAN CHOICE award to the winner at the show (which, if she's the lucky sort, could be Feist).



Signing off as I'm off to enter. I've always wanted to see Vancouver in March.



P.S. Thank you to K. Mercer for submitting this fan-tastic photo.

Feist got a job in an Office episode directed by Ken Kwapis. If you live in the U.S., you should be able to view it on the NBC website. Compatriots, you may need a stealthier approach as we don't have online access in Canada. We do have televisions here, carved from ice, so stay tuned for part II of the episode this week.

If your TV is a bowl of soup, here's some food for thought. Tomorrow night, in Canada, there is an interesting programme airing called, The Musical Brain. Feist is one of the many musicians interviewed in the documentary dedicated to the effect of music on our think tank. Here's an excerpt from the show's description:



"Using the research findings of leading medical experts, including Dr. Daniel Levitin (This is Your Brain on Music), the documentary examines the physical, psychological and emotional responses to music through a variety of tests on children and adults. 'The Musical Brain' also features candid interviews with Michael Bublé, Feist, Wyclef Jean and Sting who share what they have learned about the power of music in their lives"



You can find the documentary on CTV, Saturday, January 31st (7pm, EST).



Do let us know,

what you think of the show.

If you have time,

please tell us in rhyme.

Hello 2009. In December we remember, in January we Can-uary! I thought it might be nice to reflect on the last year. There have been many successes, but none greater than the contributions all of you have made to various charities through Feist's merchandise and food drive.



If you've clicked through the Feist webstore, or click-clacked to the merchandise table at a Feist show in 2008, you surely noticed that 100% of profits from your T-shirt or CD or music box or tote and sundry, went to charity.



We've tallied the numbers, connected the dots, and are delighted to report that over $200,000 has been donated to various excellent organizations.



These organizations include MSF Canada, CARE Canada, War Child Canada and The Salvation Army (for Dr. Paul Thistle, Howard Hospital, Zimbabwe). All of these agencies will continue to do immeasurably positive things, like: build schools, dig wells, educate communities and—in general—do piles of good well beyond the reach of rock and roll. We also undertook an incredible food drive! Near $20,000 was donated to food banks across Canada, not including the incredible 17,000 pounds of food that was delivered to tables across Canada during the November tour.



As much as we're tallying last year's efforts, this is only the beginning. It's January, again. Please continue to think of the food bank through these next cold months and beyond, and if you make a donation, let us know below. Let the giving continueth and floweth and giveth back. If you'd like to volunteer at a food bank near you, click here. Let's all enjoy 2009 on a full stomach.

4AD have released the track list for their Dark Was The Night compilation, the latest album in the (excellent) series in which all proceeds go to the Red Hot Organization. Red Hot is the international charity dedicated to raising money and minds for HIV and AIDS.



This record is record-breaking:



Andrew Bird, Antony + Bryce Dessner, Arcade Fire, Beach House, Beirut, Blonde Redhead + Devastations, Bon Iver, Bon Iver + Aaron Dessner, The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez, Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti), Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues, The Decemberists, Dirty Projectors + David Byrne, Kevin Drew, Feist + Ben Gibbard, Grizzly Bear, Grizzly Bear + Feist, Iron + Wine, Sharon Jones + The Dap-Kings, Kronos Quartet, Stuart Murdoch My Brightest Diamond, My Morning Jacket, The National, The New Pornographers, Conor Oberst + Gillian, Welch, Riceboy Sleeps, Dave Sitek, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, Yeasayer, Yo La Tengo



Available when/how/where, you query? As a double CD, triple vinyl, or by download on February 16th, 2009.