1. History

2. Discography
    The Sharkweek EP (2013) as JPNSGRLS  Circulation (2014) as JPNSGRLS  Divorce (2016) as JPNSGRLS  Hotel Mira EP (2018) 

3. Musical and other influences

4. Tour history

5. References

6. External links

Hotel Mira (formerly known as JPNSGRLS) – is an alternative rock band formed in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2010. The band consists of Charlie Kerr, vocalist/lyricist; Colton Lauro on lead guitar; and Mike Noble on bass.

History

The band members are all originally from the Greater Vancouver area. Kerr and co-founding lead guitarist Oliver Mann formed a core project in 2007 while still in secondary school, with Christopher McClelland joining in 2009 and Graham Serl rounding out the lineup for JPNSGRLS in 2010.^[1] Live shows were integral to the band from its beginning, performing in battles of the bands, and packing out any venue that would allow teenage performers and their audiences.

Prior to 2010, JPNSGRLS was originally known as The Beauties, but due to a name conflict with an existing band, changed its name to Japanese Girls. This name was chosen as a tribute to another band they admired - an all-female Japanese indie band called Mass of the Fermenting Dregs.^[2] However, upon realizing it caused difficulty when searching for the band online, they stylized it to JPNSGRLS.

The band is a fixture on the Vancouver independent music scene, and is known for its hyperkinetic live shows. While Kerr is the sole lyricist, JPNSGRLS took a democratic approach with all members contributing to the building of the songs overall.

JPNSGRLS was nominated for the Sirius XM Canada Independent Music Award for 'Emerging Artist of the Year (English)' in April 2015.^[3]

In January 2016, after the recording of the band's second full-length album Divorce was completed, Oliver Mann announced via Facebook that he was leaving the band for other pursuits. 'As some of you already know, 2016 will be a big change for me, in the fact that I have recently decided to leave JPNSGRLS. It was a tough decision to make, but something I had been thinking about for a long time,' he said. 'Being a part of JPNSGRLS was amazing, and I am sad to leave it. I got to see so much of the world and am very proud of what we had accomplished over the last 8 years. '^[4] After the band mounted a search and auditioned several musicians, Colton Lauro, also from the Greater Vancouver area and having worked with several area acts as well as being a session musician, became the band's new lead guitarist in the spring of 2016.

In April 2018, Charlie Kerr announced via several social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the new band website, that the band was retiring the name of JPNSGRLS, and renaming the band as Hotel Mira. He also announced a new iteration of the band line-up, as Serl and McClelland had left the band in January 2017 for personal reasons. Lauro would stay on as lead guitarist and Mike Noble was added as a new bass player. Along with these changes, the announcement also included a new single, 3AM Lullaby - the first as Hotel Mira.^[5][6]

Discography

The Sharkweek EP (2013) as JPNSGRLS

JPNSGRLS made their debut with The Sharkweek EP in June 2013, distributed by Light Organ Records. The EP was produced and engineered by Justin Brown, and co-produced by the band and Mike Paton.^[8]

Reviewers noted the band's unique combination of syncopation, cohesion, modernity and experimentation with lyrical content, musicianship and influences.^[9] The first single and video released from The Sharkweek EP was "Vancouver Grizzly", and the video for the follow-up single "Monarch Butterfly" debuted on Diffuser.fm in January 2014.^[10] JPNSGRLS also played in BIME Festival in Bilbao Spain in November 2013, in support of the EP.^[11]

Standalone single "Red and Green" was included on Light Organ's Christmas album Sleighed, also in November 2013, with the video released at Christmas 2014.

Circulation (2014) as JPNSGRLS

For their full-length debut, having now been fully signed by Light Organ Records, the band went into Vancouver's Greenhouse Studios with producer Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat, Mounties), and engineer Greg Calbi (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Tame Impala, St. Vincent). Circulation was recorded in seven days without a click track. The album was released in North America on July 15, 2014.

Singles released from the album in North America were "Mushrooms", "Smalls", "Tiger", "Circulation" and "Southern Comforting", with official full videos released for "Mushrooms", "Smalls" and "Circulation".

Overall, reviews of Circulation were positive, and called particular attention to the record's energy and how it would translate live, and vice versa - noting the uplift of the rhythm section and the contrasting darker lyrical content.^[12] Reviewers also noted that JPNSGRLS' combination of 90s alt-rock and post-punk revival created a complex modern rock sound that made it a 2014 musical peak.^[13][14] AbsolutePunk's review indicated it was 'easily one of the best rock albums of 2014'.^[15]

In dissenting reviews, Alan Ranta of The Georgia Straight stated that Circulation was 'a little inconsistent and under-developed' as a whole, but concluded that 'hooks abound...so the future holds promise',^[16] while Ride the Tempo also made mention of 'uneven' results - expressing frustration that they believed that JPNSGRLS clearly had the capacity to be 'exceptional', while also admitting that the songs were 'solid and enjoyable'.^[17]

Hit single "Smalls" went straight in at #1 on CBC Radio 3 Top 30 Canadian Indie Songs and held that place for 4 weeks in April/May 2014,^[18] and went to #5 on the CBC Radio 3 Playlist overall the week of May 30, 2014.^[19] It reached #24 on Mediabase's Alt Chart (Canadian Commercial Radio), and staying at between #26 and #28 for a further 8 weeks. The iconic video for "Smalls", directed by Nathan Boey, and partly inspired by the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the stop-motion films of Tim Burton, was put into heavy rotation on Canada's MuchMusic in July 2014.

Follow up single "Tiger" hit #1 on CBC Radio 3 Top 30 Playlist Chart for the week of August 6, 2014,^[20] spending 8 weeks on the chart in total and even rising again to #2 the week of September 2, 2014. On the CBC Radio 3 Top 30 Indie Canadian Songs Chart, it went straight in at #7,^[21] and remained on the chart for 8 weeks.

In the UK, BBC Radio 6 Music debuted "Smalls" in March 2015 with New Music presenter Lauren Laverne referring to the single as 'feisty' and remarking on the 'huge guitars'. The British press compared JPNSGRLS to their own independent music scene, with NME Radar name-checking Arctic Monkeys for comparative musicianship but making clear vocalist distinctions.^[24] Q Magazine debuted first single "Mushrooms" as one of '5 Songs To Hear This Week', for the week of March 9, 2015, instead referencing The Strokes for comparison.^[25]

Divorce (2016) as JPNSGRLS

JPNSGRLS' sophomore full album Divorce was released on July 22, 2016, with staggered releases set for the United States and the UK shortly thereafter. Once again, Steve Bays produced some tracks, along with Tom Dobrzanski (The Zolas, Said the Whale) and David Schiffman - a well-known American producer/engineer who has worked on many iconic albums by Rage Against the Machine, The Mars Volta, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Biffy Clyro and Red Hot Chili Peppers - producing several other songs. Mastering was once more done by Greg Calbi. Recording took place in Vancouver's Monarch Studios and in Los Angeles.^[28]

Preview reviews for the album were positive and strong, with one reviewer pointing out the maturity and progression of the album from the time of Circulation. "Kerr moves away from predictable ‘indie-rock’ clichés, with Divorce being essentially a collection of unorthodox love songs; about letting go rather than holding on, about love as a two-way street, about what could have been, and about how we approach love in the modern world," said music website Circuit Sweet. "The driving dominance of the Serl-McClelland rhythm section pumping out masterful and edgy layers, combined with the well-placed cross-section of electric guitar tones is a strand running throughout." It went on, "(The album) is of a more mature, melodic alternative-rock sound without losing any of JPNSGRLS infectious energy."^[29]

British music website FMS (FashionMusicStyle) went further in its take on Kerr's abilities as a lyricist, stating, "The tales of isolated youth, love and lust that filled their first album, Circulation, make a welcome return, set apart from the pack by the quality of songwriting from lead singer Charlie Kerr... His songwriting captures elements of the witty social insight of Alex Turner, the sing-a-long choruses of the Gallagher's and the honest emotion of Jesse Lacey and weaves it all together, as Kerr swings from vitriolic roar to crisp falsetto, singing with such passion that the listener cannot help but be pulled into his world...Whilst JPNSGRLS continue to experiment with their sound and influences, Divorce is a testament to the band's craftsmanship and talent as they create one of the best indie rock albums of the year so far."^[30]

Post-release reviews of Divorce were also largely positive. "Stupid fun meets adult themes and wins in the end", said Muso's Guide, who also gave the album "a thumbs up", called the track A Comprehensive List Of Things I Love "charmingly summer tinged" and stated the "band’s strength in depth is amply plumbed on subsequent track Circus as they slow things down just the right side of cornball".^[31]

Glide Magazine gave the album 8 out of 10 stars, also calling out the single "Oh My God" for particular attention, stating that "the song showcases what JPNSGRLS does best, combining post-punk’s energy and riffing with the raw power and emotion of grunge". The site went on to say that "relentless in its intensity and deceptive in its intelligence, Divorce serves as an apt follow up to JPNSGRLS’ critically acclaimed debut." ^[34] In their review, the Louder Than War print version also gave Divorce 8 out of 10 stars, and stated that "the thundering indie rock of A Girl From A Different Dimension, cool guitar effects of Trojan Horse and infectious riff of Bully for You mark them out as witty, fun, and intense indie rock in the same league as The Strokes and The Libertines. Full of verve and energy, these are unorthodox love songs about letting go."

In mildly dissenting reviews, NME had the initial view that the album was "packing angst-ridden, power-chord-heavy rock played at breakneck speed" and that "Divorce is sprinkled with enough inventiveness to make it a success" with "gems to mine here", but ended by stating that "Divorce is by no means a bad record, but nor is it a particularly memorable or noteworthy one." ^[35] Stuart Derdyn of the Vancouver Sun said in his review of the album that "Charlie Kerr has the requisite swagger in his voice and enough range to go from a seductive and detached lower register to high-pitched howling on A Girl From A Different Dimension…While the group is mostly thrashing full-on, it displays a great sense of pop hooks on the super-catchy A Comprehensive List of Things I Love — complete with call-and-response girl-group-style choruses. It doesn’t all work. Holding Back and All Of Myself are plodding filler and the slower numbers generally leave little or no impression.^[36]

JPNSGRLS debuted Divorce{{'}}s first single "Bully for You" exclusively via the PopMatters website in April 2016, with wide release set for April 15. PopMatters called "Bully for You" "an empathetic expression of male sympathy over the every day misogyny that women must face."

Kerr's statement on the song was that it is "an observational protest song about the ceaseless, unfair treatment of women from the point of view of a cisgendered man."^[37] In an interview with Jon Williams of The Zone 91.3, a radio station out of Victoria, BC in Canada, Kerr expanded on this first by referencing the historical trope of rock music misogyny and not wanting to be on the wrong side of that, but also saying that he was "frustrated by stories from female friends, of oppression and unfair treatment", and that "maybe it's not our place as men to comment on it, but I haven't seen men say much."^[38]

Venerable German alternative music site Visions noted the socio-critical theme of the single and shifts from the band's previous work, along with the band's continuing ability to segue seamlessly between indie, pop and blues rock.^[39] Other music sites also commented on the explosive nature, both musically and lyrically, of "Bully for You", with one stating it was 'raucous rock at its best...filled with intense riffs, impassioned lyrics and exciting instrumentation.'^[40] The video for Bully for You was released simultaneously via the British music website Clash and the American music website Impose. Directed by Kevan Funk, it initially appears to be a violent fight in a boxing ring between two men, that then subtly and viscerally changes to an intimate dance. "We have created this piece from a place of hope empathy and compassion. The song "Bully For You" is essentially a protest song about the lack of gender equality in the world. And a big component of what society teaches boys, growing up, is to reject everything about themselves that is traditionally feminine, which ultimately leads to men seeing women as less than human," Kerr said.^[41][42]

Before wide release, Yangaroo had "Bully for You" as the Number One 'most active Indie' for the week of April 11, 2016 - meaning the 'most streamed and downloaded Singles during the given period on releases not directly promoted to radio by any of the 'major' record companies'. "Bully for You" debuted on the Billboard charts at Number 49 on the Canada Rock National Airplay Chart, for the week of May 28, 2016, remaining on the same chart for thirteen weeks running with highest chart position at Number 42.^[43][44]

On May 10, 2016, JPNSGRLS live-streamed a one-off video event via the Light Organ Records website. This served as a live-shot video for the second single "Oh My God", and also to announce the release date for the Divorce album. The Gondry-esque video showed Kerr, initially in a balaclava, being chased by a police officer through a purpose-built set in the Light Organ headquarters - half-destroying the set in the process - and ending up caught with the band while performing in studio. The video was later released in regular format via the New Noise Magazine website.^[45] The single "Oh My God" went on to hit Spotify Canada's Viral 50 at Number 10 for the week of June 2, 2016 - based on the number of people who shared the track divided by the number who listened to it - across Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and Spotify itself.^[46][47] In October 2016, the band debuted the video for the single "Trojan Horse" via the CLRVYNT website. In it, the band is playing in a Stranger Things-style basement to a couple of loved-up aliens. Directed by Thomas Affolter, the video captures the filmic obsessions of the band along with the theatre of the absurd suggested by some of the lyrics.^[48]

On the week of August 9, 2016, Divorce debuted at #36 on Exclaim! Magazine{{'}}s !Earshot National Top 50 (Canadian College and Community Radio) charts - jumping 22 slots the following week to #14, and a further 8 slots the week after that to #6.^[49][50][51]

The album stayed on that chart for a total of 14 weeks, re-entering the Top 20 several times, and also hitting the monthly !Earshot Top 200 Charts at #16 for August 2016, #14 for September 2016, and #33 for October 2016.^{[52][53][54][55]} Divorce also charted on the North American College and Community (NACC) Chart, debuting at #21 the week of August 16, 2016, hitting its highest spot the following week at #10, and staying on that chart for a total of 10 weeks.^[56][57]

Hotel Mira EP (2018)

The eponymous EP, released in August 2018, was the first with the new three-piece line-up of Kerr, Lauro and Noble, with session musicians used for percussion and keys, both in the studio and for touring. Speaking to BeatRoute magazine, Kerr characterised the new sound as being more 'streamlined', and that the continued involvement of Dave Schiffman as producer meant that 'he pushed me really hard to find better melodies, and do things that were more melodic, and find hooks in everything.' ^[58]

The first single, 3AM Lullaby, was characterized by Mike Usinger of The Georgia Straight as ‘a bass-and-drum bombed blast of impassioned indie new wave that contains one of the greatest summations of current life in Vancouver you’ll hear this year'.^[59]Alan Cross of A Journal of Musical Things noted that the song was exemplary of ‘trebly alt rock borrowing heavy influences from mid-00s garage indie, the lyrical content explores a far darker existentialism than the instrumentals necessarily reflect.’ ^[60] On their exclusive release of the video, directed and produced by cmyk, Substream Magazine said the single ‘created an elevated sound that can be described as a polished garage rock band’.^[61]

In exclusively releasing the second single, Baby, Clash Magazine said the song 'offers spiky indie rock thrills, reminiscent of The Walkmen or Arctic Monkeys, but still with an attachment to the underground.'^[62] The video for Baby was released via the band's Facebook page in June 2018. The third single 'Ginger Ale' was released in July 2018 to multiple music blogs with a live video shot at the Biltmore Hotel released in August, and the final single Stockholm was released as video-only single in September 2018, also shot at the Biltmore, and also on the band's Facebook page.^[63]

Musical and other influences

Hotel Mira's wide-ranging musical influences include Nirvana, Frank Ocean, Queens of the Stone Age, Tame Impala, Led Zeppelin, Franz Ferdinand, Rage Against the Machine, Phoenix, White Stripes, Death From Above 1979, Foo Fighters, Pixies, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, St. Vincent, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tokyo Police Club, Black Sabbath, Dirty Projectors, Local Native, and Gorillaz.^[69]

The band is also highly influenced by film. This is reflected in several lyrics, and in the band's videos. They have also long been a supporter of the LGBT community and women's rights, as evidenced by the singles "Brandon", "Mushrooms", and "Bully for You", along with several gigs they have played over the years supporting women's causes.

Tour history

In 2014, as JPNSGRLS, the band toured extensively in Canada, the United States, and Asia.

Beginning as tour support for their labelmates Mounties across Western Canada, the band then played several individual gigs, festivals and showcases, including JUNOFEST in Winnipeg, MB; Music Matters Live in Singapore; NXNE in Toronto, ON; Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, BC; Canadian Indie Week in Toronto, ON; and the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City.

In March 2015, JPNSGRLS made their debut at SXSW in Austin, Texas.^[70][71]

In April and May 2015, the group embarked on their first full-length tour of the UK and Europe, with individual dates in England, Germany, France and the Netherlands, along with several festivals - including the Hit the Deck Festival in Bristol/Nottingham, The Great Escape Festival in Brighton, and the Liverpool Sound City Festival.^[72][73][74]

Both the European and British press made note of the band's live shows on this tour. The German press remarked on JPNSGRLS' particular mix of influences and how they played out live, calling their sound 'a bit grungy, a little blues, a pinch of post-punk, the full program alt-rock - and implemented on a very unique, modern way'.^[75]

However, it was the British music press that were the most moved by the band's performances and indeed the anticipation of same. In Brighton, the band 'had a line down the street to try and witness their much lauded performances',^[76] while the Nottingham press declared that JPNSGRLS 'were not only a pleasure to watch, but a pleasure to listen to, playing an incredibly tightly-woven set of songs, full of intensity and gusto.' ^[77] In Birmingham, Kerr drew particular attention as 'he gyrates and dances like Jagger, (and) wraps himself around the mic stand like Julian Casablancas'.^[78]

It was JPNSGRLS' final date on this tour, in Liverpool at the Sound City Festival, which cemented their international live reputation. Kerr, already known for his physical dynamism onstage, accidentally split his head open on metal risers holding Serl's drums in place. Undeterred, both he and the band continued the set to a double encore with Kerr bleeding profusely, stating, "How's this for a deal? I bled for you, you can dance for me." It was coincidentally the day before Kerr's birthday and he ended the set by saying, "In just two hours I'm going to turn 24, and I can't think of any better place to be than here with you and a head trauma." This left the local press commenting on the 'insane beauty' of the band.^[79]

Throughout the rest of 2015 into early 2016, JPNSGRLS continued to perform at festivals, individual gigs and showcases across Canada and the United States - once again taking in CMJ Music Marathon and the Taste of Edmonton, as well as new ones with Sofar, Breakout West, and the Pemberton Music Festival. One reviewer called the latter performance 'genuine, passionate and intimate'.^{[80][81][82][83]}

In April 2016, JPNSGRLS embarked on a two-month international tour. The first leg of the tour was a cross-Canada jaunt that finished at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. The second leg segued to the UK and Europe. These dates included opening for The Heavy, the festival Camden Rocks, and individual headline gigs. In Europe, the band travelled to Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands.^[84][85] Glasgow critics said the band 'sprung the place (to) life with their frenetic riff-rock'. Music site Gigs North East stated in their review of the Newcastle performance that 'JPNSGRLS have such a distinctive sound. What’s impressive is how all their genre stylings mesh together to create real quality.' While in Germany, JPNSGRLS were interviewed, and played several unplugged songs for German music television institution Rockpalast. Their live concert performance in Cologne was recorded, and broadcast by Rockpalast in July 2016.^{[86][87][88][89]}

In August 2016, JPNSGRLS announced the Divorce World Tour via Facebook and Twitter, with initial dates with Fizzy Blood^[90] declared for the UK and Europe in November 2016, and dates for Canada and the United States to follow.^[91][92][93] In the event, the band first toured across Canada, then the States, through Europe - including for the first time Italy and Denmark - and finishing in the UK. Leeds music site GigSoup stated that the band's gig there was a 'masterclass on how to play a rock and roll show', and that '(the band) were extraordinary, one of the best live performance(s) of this year.' In Glasgow, music site Musicscramble observed the strength of a band late in a two-month tour playing to a small crowd - observing that the band were 'still thriving and feeding off the energy provided by a pocket of fervent gig-goers', continuing that the music itself was 'both manic and serene all at once. You can feel the rocky undertone trying to break free from the pop shackles that seem to tame it.^[94][95] This tour was the last one with the 2016 band line-up of Kerr, Serl, McClelland, and Lauro.

In 2018, Hotel Mira debuted the new line up by their first gig at the Biltmore Hotel in April. This was quickly followed by several one-off gigs around Vancouver and Victoria. In May 2018, the band performed several gigs as part of Canadian Music Week (CMW), including but not limited to the then Adelaide Hall (now Radio).^[96] On seeing the gig at Adelaide Hall, Peter Montreuil, writing for Bob Segarini's blog, noted Kerr 'as a very animated frontman who has some powerful lyrics to work with', going on to muse: 'A picture paints a thousand words? He showed a documentary with less than 10 words and a gesture. I am so glad that I was there to witness that.'^[97]

In November 2018, the band toured Western Canada on Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker's Bonavista tour of Western Canada, along with The Elwins and Shotty Horroh.^[98]

References

External links

• [https://www.hotelmiramusic.com/ Hotel Mira] - official website
• [https://www.youtube.com/user/jpnsgrls JPNSGRLS] - YouTube
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ4r7HRJhYY The Beauties, Battle of the Bands] Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, BC Canada, February 5, 2009, Retrieved April 3, 2015
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3gKEuWDrJ0 David and Goliath video, The Beauties] August 22, 2009, Retrieved April 3, 2015

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