The PEAK Performance Project is a seven-year, 5.29 million dollar contest open to all musicians in British Columbia. The project was created by Vancouver’s very own 100.5 The PEAK and Music BC to develop BC based emerging artists. Every year, twenty finalists from BC will receive an intensive, one week training program in the music business, live performance, songwriting, marketing and promotion. From these, the top three will be crowned as the PEAK Performers of the year and will share $275,000 in cash for career development!

Over the coming weeks we’ll be introducing you to all of this year’s participating artists with quick interviews about the project, the other artists, and a little bit of Vancouver! Vote now for your favourite top 19 at www.peakperformanceproject.com.

Next up is Sweetheart from Vancouver. They’ll be playing The Cellar on October 22nd, and the only way to get into the showcase is by listening to 100.5 The Peak FM to win tickets! Limited tickets will also be released at the door.

Who’s your favorite artist(s) in the Peak Performance Project and why?
Our favourite artist(s) other then obviously Sweetheart is: TV Heart Attack but it’s so hard to pick because we love all of these amazing artists equally. TVHA are rad dudes that make wicked rad dude music, and we can’t wait to go on a tour with them in December

What was the most valuable thing you took away from Boot Camp?
The most valuable thing we took away was #1 a sense of community and respect for music in British Columbia and #2 was relationships. The talent level was shocking. I knew how brilliant each group/artist is to make it to the top 20, but to see it in fruition was unbelievable. The intermingling of creative expression was a delight to see! We were inspired to take these friendships to another level and fan the flames of community with a residency every Tuesday in October at the Media Club with many Peak Performance Bands. It has become our mission to grow the support for local live music.

What is one thing you wish you brought to Boot Camp, but didn’t?
Adult beverages. Are we in trouble for saying that? I hope not!
Also, Marty forgot cash and an extra pair of pants. Sam forgot his white hoodie. He complained about it non-stop.

What’s your favorite venue to play at in BC?
For so many reasons we have to choose the Media Club. The staff at this venue does SO much to support local artists. We love it and consider ourselves the unofficial house band!

Where is your favorite hangout in Vancouver?
Again, the Media Club, and The Charlatan on Commercial Dr. But an honorable mention goes to Section 3 in Yaletown. Some of the boys from TV Heart Attack are always there to make us laugh!

If you win the grand prize, what are you going to put the money towards?
We are challenging ourselves – if we win, we have decided as a band to give a portion of the grand prize to all of the groups who did not make it to the top 3. All of the other stuff will be arranged such as a new album and a Canadian and American Tour and marketing but our challenge to ourselves and all the Peak Performance artists is:

- support each other.
- go on the road with the similar & like minded artists.
- play shows locally with each other.
- promote each other’s successes. go to each other’s shows!
- do everything in your power to help each other out because in this “new world” of music, the only way you will have success is not with the help of some corporate suit, but instead with the help of your friends
- start locally and the rest of the world will follow. There are too many examples of this to cite: Montreal (in the last few years), Seattle (in the 90′s), Liverpoool (in the early 60′s)… Vancouver is certainly next!

www.myspace.com/iheartsweetheart
www.twitter.com/sweetheartband

www.thepeak.fm / www.peakperformanceproject.com / www.musicbc.org / www.cellarvan.com