Sub-sessions mission

“The initial inspiration for Sub-Sessions came from BSMT 254 as a venue. It’s intimate, sounds great, and is reasonably easy to fill; three key ingredients for a strong show. I was excited by the idea of launching a new concert series that focused on pairing artists who weren’t necessarily from the same music scenes or friend circles.
It was also important to me that each show had its own distinct flavour and didn’t settle into a single genre. For example, one night might lean toward new wave–style acts, the next month could feature an electronic lineup, followed by something more punk or metal”


Danny Alexander, Sub-Sessions founder and organizer

As Blast Toronto, this is an ongoing project that deserves much more attention. The artists that are presented in these sessions are cutting edge artists that are working on new and exciting sounds that make this underground scene so worthwhile. I decided to choose an artist that is performing on the next bill. It is our way of introducing artists that should be looked at more carefully and openly. They are the creators of forging a different path that will eventually seep into a more consumable palette. For me personally, I love seeing the raw footage of how they are breaking new ground in our city.

Shel Khan

Blast- Let’s start at the beginning. What got you into music?

Shel Khan- When I was about 8years old I recently moved with my family to Scarborough. I met my friend who lived across the street and her older brother made me a tape of Big Shiny Tunes 4 with the Matthew Good song, “Hello Timebomb”. That was my first experience with 90’s alternative rock.

Blast side note- It was a very romantic gesture if a young boy made a mixed tape and gave it to a girl. For you very young readers this was how we expressed our emotions to one another back in the day.

My parents always had music on and would listen to bands like Pink Floyd, The Mamas and Papas, Ramones.

I got into industrial music when my cousin showed me Nine Inch Nails- The Downward Spiral. The opening blew my mind. I didn’t know music could sound so aggressive.

I got an opportunity to discover more music when I went to my cousin showed me her music studio. She was an amateur musician but being in that woodshed with all different kinds of instruments was like going to Wonderland. I saw sitars, bongos, and she even had a loom where she would work on her yarn from the wool, she actually sheered from her sheep. This was the first time I realized real people could write music too. When I went back home, she gave me a small guitar and that is what I used to write my first song.

Blast- Since then, how did you develop your sound? Where did you start and where are you going?

Shel Khan- I have been into heavy alternative rock. I do tend to skew a bit more soulful with my vocal style. Lately, I have been experimenting with more of an Industrial and electronic sound. I got some good advice from a couple of producers that I met, who encourage me to experiment a little bit more and to take publishing my music more seriously.

I eventually found a mentor named Dorraa. She has some experience working with other electronic artists. I noticed she was accepting people who would want to learn from her. This was perfect for me because I love having structure of accountability.

Working with producers, it becomes a collaboration of ideas. In the two years of trying out new ideas, I realized it would be best to have more control over my ideas and the final project. I now have a 3 song EP coming out in May.

Blast-How would you describe the sound on this EP?

Shel Khan- I have been coining it as Post-Industrial, Alt Rock with Soul. (Insert my laughter here), I don’t know how else to describe it.

Blast- What is the new EP called?

Shel Khan- It is called Garden. It is 3 songs and it is self-produced. I am both excited and nervous.

Do you tend to lean towards the darker themes of life or do you try to balance it out with lighter themes?

Shel Khan- I tend to lean into the darker themes but I am trying to write songs that have lighter themes.

Blast- I know you will be part of the Sun-Sessions series that will take place this Wed March 18^th at 8pm, downstairs at BSMT254. How did you get invited to that?

Shel Khan- I am peripherally friends with Danny the organizer. He is a musician himself and I met him at a special jam session at TO Lounge called Zodiak. What make this jam session really special is that they don’t want you bringing cover songs to the event. This is a full on improv night of high end musicians who need to have razor sharp listening skills to create something original in the moment.

My little plug

I have been to two of these Sub-Sessions and look forward to continue to go there and watch the raw talent that is creating their own noise. This is a chance for you to see what is really happening in our city and to be a part of the movement. Some of these artists will break through and go on to bigger and better things, This is you chance to see the birth of some of these bands. I know I love watching eac and every band. They all have something really interesting to listen to.

As far as Shel Khan’s Ep is concerned, I got an advance copy and would like to give you a quick review of what I heard.

The Garden EP

On my very first listen, this is an Ep that is based with a variety of electronic executions that looks at the human faction. The title track, The Garden feels like an unsettled spirit slowly dancing through a lush cemetery. The Feelings of longing is haunted and the garden could be a metaphor for a sense of fertility in life, but will you let it grow or die.

“Bruise”, has urgency with a sense of fear attached to it. The constant emotion of walking on eggshells becomes exhausting and eventually will wear you down and possibly out of existence.

“If there’s nothing” starts with the sounds of an obsessed voice from another realm. As you get deeper into this mysterious place you are confronted with the anxious truth of life and it is painful.

When you pick up these songs, let me know what your interpretation is on these songs.