Metric (CA)

About

Metric started as a duo named Mainstream, when Emily Haines and James Shaw self released a five song EP with a downtempo, electronic feel back in 1998. The name Metric came from a sound Shaw had programmed into his keyboard, which tells you something about how deeply wired into synthesizers and texture this Toronto band has always been. Their lineup also includes bassist Joshua Winstead and drummer Joules Scott Key, and together they have built a sound that moves between indie rock, new wave and electronic pop without ever feeling lost in the middle. Their 2009 album Fantasies was a turning point, winning Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards and landing on the Polaris Music Prize shortlist. The follow up Synthetica in 2012 swept two more Junos, including Producer of the Year for Shaw. They kept that momentum going across a string of albums, including Art of Doubt, Formentera, and Formentera II, and in 2023 Rolling Stone placed them 41st on their list of the 50 Greatest Canadian Artists of All Time.