Contrived is a 5 piece rock band with principal members from Juno Award winners Wintersleep and Juno/Polaris nominees Holy Fuck. Their latest project has led them into a sound direction incorporating their hard rock roots and expanding on their pop sensibilities. Contived recorded their third full-length album blank, blank, blank at Sonic Temple Studios in Halifax. Lending a hand at the mix is Dave Newfeld (Broken Social Scene, Super Furry Animals).

Originally formed in Halifax, Contived quickly built a loyal following based on the talents evident on their self-produced debut Pursuit of Plots (2002) and their sold out live performances. The ultra-limited Starshine EP (200 pressings) sold out as quickly as they could be produced before a second Dead Air Verbatim was recorded with Andy Magoffin (Two Minute Miracles) in 2005. The band then embarked on an Exclaim! sponsored Cross-Canada tour with Dependent Music label mates Wintersleep, Holy Fuck and Jill Barber before concentrating on their other musical commitments.

Download: Hi-Res Press Photo

blank, blank, blank album artwork features paintings from James Mejia's Untitled series of acrylic on canvas. The album is assembled by hand and printed on uncoated 18pt 100% Recycled C1S paperboard.



blank, blank, blank Press

Contrived's Keepsake was i-tunes "Single of the Week" for the week of November 25th 2008. The single reached #19 on iTunes "Best of 2008: Alternative Songs (Canadian)", while blank, blank, blank made iTunes "Best of 2008: Alternative Albums" and the "Best of 2008: Albums You Haven't Heard" (iTunes)

"Complete musical freedom is a rare thing, and Contrived certainly takes full advantage of their unique position to deliver a record that stacks up nicely against the songs you already know and love." (Herohill.com)

"Contrived are a musical force to be reckoned with. With their third album, 'Blank, Blank, Blank', they deliver a full-force knockout that is as sprawling and majestic as it is melodic and addictive." (IndiePassion.com)

"The beautiful vocals and lyrical sentiment of singer Mike MacNeil flow over the poppy-jangle sound of sparkling guitar work and punchy danceable bass lines. From open to close, the album is worth every minute." (canadaindie.com)

"blank, blank, blank is just a really strong album - The whole thing has a nice, epic feel to it, and it makes it one of those albums I really should have paid attention to when it was first released" (iheartmusic.com)

"Contrived find a middle ground between Holy Fuck's instrumental chaos and the pop sensibility Wintersleep displayed on Welcome to the Night Sky. Muscular, overdriven hooks sit next to chiming verses while high pitched vocals float overhead... blank, blank, blank becomes more satisfying with each listen." (Exclaim! Magazine)