Art Imperial: Surf Music From Toronto

We know that folks in Los Angeles are enjoying the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival right now. There's been some great movies showcased at the Festival and we got to attend some of them.  (More about that later). However, looking ahead towards summer fun and summer time music, we are going to blog about music today.

Living on the West Side of Southern California means that you must have tried to surf at least once in your life. In elementary school, kids would have birthday parties where we would learn to surf on the beach. During the summer holidays, after running out of good academic enrichment experiences to send us to, my parents would sign us up for surf camp. While terrifying, after a couple of summers, I am at least able to paddle out into the ocean, climb onto the surf board, and surf a short distance back before falling off. 


Beach Boys music are a perennial favorite when you think about surfing.  But when have you heard any good new surf music . . . until now? 

Well, we've got a bit of a treat for you!  We all know how hard it is to find Asian-Americans/Canadian in the media -- be it film, music, or modeling -- so it's always very special to come across a fresh new Asian-American face (or voice). This week, we'd like to introduce Art Imperial, a "one-man band project". 

So far, it's released two albums, Surf Suburban EP (2011) and Cult of Love (2012)   Both albums feature lazy, upbeat, beachy tunes and Art's own voice and self-produced/written/performed tunes.  He wasn't kidding when he said he was a one-man band!


Art is a Filipino-Canadian inspired by the beauty of the ocean and the beach life in writing his music -- even though he's from Toronto and has "never actually surfed before".  We think it's awesome that he's been able to create beautiful music inspired by his own imagination and "fantasizing about the open seas".  Listening to his music, you can picture a lazy beach day under the sun, sipping pina coladas (no alcohol, of course).


Art Imperial released its second album, Cult of Love, here this month, which you can (and should) check out. We really like the song Good Times, but rest of the songs from the album are all great to listen to this summer while you're at the beach, or BBQing in the back yard.

 
A video featuring Hong Kong movie stars Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung dancing was dubbed with Art Imperial's single "Cult of Love" It is really cool.

   Make sure you check out Art Imperial. You can thank us later (;