Like many other independent bands, Ready The Prince, a trio indie/alternative rock band from the Toronto area is playing many shows for a few fans on a regular basis.
While local music is an appetizing concept for music fans, the number of streams on streaming platforms such as Spotify don’t always reflect the attendance at live events.
Ready The Prince, one of several bands to perform at the Oshawa Music Week Indie Rock Showcase earlier this month, finished its tour last year with audiences ranging from 70 people up to almost 2,100.
Ready The Prince has 962 people followers on Facebook and 977 people who ‘like’ them on the same platform.
The band has played shows with Crown Lands and Last Bullet, and also took part in the SOUNDS OF SUMMER – Local showdown event, hosted in Oshawa, in July of last year.
The band, has two EPs, one released in 2015 titled RTP EP and the second released in June of last year titled Note to Self.
However, guitarist Daniel Prada says local music is in a state of ‘wanted’ but ignored.
“People are Itching for it, they want it but people don’t go to shows enough,” he said.
Stephen De Ciantis, the band’s vocalist, says it’s tough to be an independent band. “It’s OK, it’s definitely not easy but we never really were offered anything before.”
The band has noticed an increase in audience at its shows after the release of the EP. “A little bit, there’s definitely growth. We’re definitely lucky to have people who have listened to it, not that many, but there’s been people,” said De Ciantis.
MBM student Brandon Warner, 20, wishes more people would pay attention to independent music. “I think a lot of people don’t realize all the great independent music just here in Oshawa,” he says.
Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram let the band interact with fans by replying or reposting fan support, posting artwork for their new singles, or helping promote events with ticket sales.
Promotional platforms such as Bandcamp allow artists to release music both old and new, and place a price on the music to open up download links that further fan support.
“People like to say rock is dead, punk is dead, or whatever is dead. All they have to do is look around here and they’ll find plenty. I think it’s important,” said Warner.
