27 · Friday, March 5, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Aspektz wants to win in next round By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF It's time to vote. After beating out other Oakville bands, a local hip-hop artist and his band are in the running of the final round in Metroland's Best of the West online voting contest. Chad Morgan, 24, who goes by Aspektz, but has other aliases including Mr. Thoro and Ontario Banderas, is facing bands from Burlington and Milton. He and his two friends, Andrew Andriyashev, 24, otherwise known as Triple A, and Matt Davis, 23, won the Oakville portion of the contest last month. For the contest they entered a music video for their song, In the T-dot, which is also a track on their downloadable mix tape, available on the Aspektz website. "It feels good to win," Morgan said. "It's just another block in the wall that we're building towards success. It feels good to be appreciated for the creative thinking that's got us here." Fan voting took place on the Oakville Beaver's website throughout February and ended on Feb. 22. Aspektz beat out the bands Illuminate the Sky, The Issue and Geek. "It's the first (album) that we've made a real push with," he said of the band's effort. "We've got a music videos that's on Much Music and MTV. Our song has been playing on Flow (93.5) for a little while. It's definitely our first commer- PHOTO COURTESY OF ASPEKTZ Chad Morgan aka Aspektz cially viable release with everything from the packaging to the deluxe edition with the DVD." Morgan, who lives in Oakville, attended the University of Guelph for marketing. He met his fellow musicians about five years ago and they formed a group about a year later. He's the band's lead vocalist and songwriter, as well as business manager. He works to book shows, get music grants, publish and market the band. Andriyashev, who has lived in Europe, California, and Edmonton and now works at a studio in Oakville, plays the keyboards for the band. He is trained to play piano and writes the compositions for the band along with Davis. Davis is the band's producer and deejay. He also does back up vocals during live shows. Of the band's name, Morgan said, "It's actually a name I've had since I was younger. It's just the brand that we're running with. There's really 40 different aliases, but it all falls under the Aspektz umbrella." Aspektz also has a new single coming out called Fresh. The release of the single will include an upcoming tour in college campuses in Ontario. Another mix-tape, which is already developed, will be released in the near future. Of trying to establish themselves, Morgan said, "Everything is going to be difficult. It's a tough industry. Every industry is tough, but the harder you work at it the easier it is. But it's obviously something that we all have a passion for so it becomes easier, it's enjoyable." He also adds he likes having the freedom of being an independent artist. "As an independent artist, you can get signed by a major label and they give you a bunch of money that you have to recoup," he said. "And they don't understand the new framework for using Web 2.0 and all that to get in touch with your fans. As an independent artist I don't think there's a better place to be right now." Morgan and his band are now in the final round of the voting contest that places them against the Burlington regional finalist We Are Bravest and Milton's Sunrise East. The winner will earn the right to perform at Burlington's Sound of Music Festival, June 17-20. "I wish the other bands the best of luck, but Aspektz is going to take this one," Morgan said. Online voting for the final round of Metroland's Best of the West contest began Monday, March 1 and ends on Friday, March 12. To vote for your favourite band, click on the Metroland's Best of the West logo midway down the right side of the website on or after March 1. The easy-to-use, online voting form includes a brief bio of each band and a link to each finalist's music video posted on YouTube. Results from final voting will be reported later in March. For more information, visit www.aspektz.com. Special March Break activities. Visit rbg.ca for details River stingrays are more dangerous than piranha. FACT OR MYTH? Learn the truth about the seven perils of the Amazon River. Check out cool interactive exhibits and games and see amazing live-animal displays -- cane toads, tegu lizards, river stingrays, plus the legendary piranha. Visit rbg.ca for full schedule of weekday and weekend events. "I had to drag the kids out! Awesome!" "Best exhibit to date!" "Great show, interesting for adults and kids alike" "My kids loved reaching into the tank of muck. Hands-on stuff is good" February 6 to April 11 Camilla and Peter Dalglish Atrium RBG Centre, 680 Plains Road West, Hamilton/Burlington 905-527-1158 DAILY ADMISSION -- Adult: $12.50; Senior/Student: $9.50; Child (age 3 to 12): $7.25; Family: $32.25; Child age 2 and under and RBG members: FREE e great Two exhibits for on es admission to price: includ nana No End to the Ba AMAZON VOYAGE: VICIOUS FISHES AND OTHER RICHES, part of our programming for International Year of Biodiversity, was produced by the Miami Science Museum and made possible with support from the National Science Foundation. Artwork by Ray Troll. MEDIA SPONSORS: SPONSORS: W e s t m e d i a Metroland g r o u p