By Aisha Sharipzhan

Those looking to expand their indie music horizons will look forward to a night with Canadian artists Stars and opening act Dan Mangan + Blacksmith at the 9:30 Club April 23.

Indie band Stars released their first album, “Nightsongs” in 2001 and are already on album number eight, giving them plenty of room to experiment and expand their sound. Their earlier albums feature more electronic-pop, while newer songs feature heavier instrumentation that lean toward the rock genre. The band’s latest album “There Is No Love in Fluorescent Light” was released last October, described by Pitchfork as “airy and danceable.”

In an email to NPR, Stars wrote the following about the album: “Does no one fall in love under fluorescent light? Pretty sure that’s not true, as many an office romance could attest … But as a statement in support of love’s delusions, we will stand by it. In love, the lights are different, softer; the air has more oxygen in it; and for a second, all you need is a good chorus to believe this might be the one.”

The whimsical description is reflective of their art as their songs feature dreamlike beats and romantic lyrics, while also addressing the darker complications of love. Stars’ music may sound familiar to some, as their work has been featured on a number of television shows such as “Gossip Girl” and “Vampire Diaries.”

Opening act Dan Mangan + Blacksmith is a JUNO award-winning singer-songwriter based in Vancouver. He is known for his folk-inspired experimental music and for scoring the film “Hector and the Search for Happiness.”

Tickets to see Stars and Dan Mangan + Blacksmith at the 9:30 Club April 23 are available here.

A dollar from every ticket purchase will go toward the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal as Stars has partnered with PLUS1 to support indigenous women and children.

Featured Photo Credit: Courtesy of Stars’ Facebook page.

Aisha Sharipzhan is a senior journalism major and can be reached at aisha.echelon@gmail.com.


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