Music, unlike anything else in the world, brings people from every culture, every generation and every language together in harmony. And, as always, Toronto’s North by Northeast Music Festival (NXNE) embodied this melodious phenomenon from start to finish.

In it’s 19th year — on the cusp of a 20th anniversary — this seven day, seven night festival is one of Canada’s most anticipated summer music events with bands from around the world filing on and off the stages of premiere and intimate performance venues across the city.

This year’s mashup of emerging artists and headliners included incredible sets from over 1000 Canadian and international bands, preformed before an audience of approximately 330,000 people.

For music lovers, NXNE is a festival to find that new band to add to their most-played list (Quebec songstress Béatrice Martin aka Coeur de Pirate ticked off that box for us), to see the band they’ve already seen a dozen times (The National for many) and to watch that performance they never knew they wanted to see amongst a crowd of thousands at Yonge & Dundas Square (Ludacris for those who only know him from his “Get Back” track).

In tribute to the end of another impressive year, our favourite artists and bands from this year’s festival lineup share their festival highs.

Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Sounds Like: Late night mischief for post-punk rockers who didn’t buy their Joy Division tee at Urban Outfitters.
The Latest: Sex Static EP

Describe your band’s sound.

Damaged rock and roll. Punk junk sorta stuff. Motorik beats for the freak out fast feet.

Describe the type of person you think your music attracts.

Anyone but your mother, father, brother or sister.

If you could collaborate on a song with any musician dead or living, who would it be and why them?

Roy Orbison. Without a question because that beast is the greatest singer of all time in my opinion. I’d just provide a simple drone and let him do his magic. I’m just a wannabe Roy in a cheap punk band.

Favourite NXNE moment over the years?

Throwing a roof top party at NXNE two years ago in the middle of the afternoon, and seeing a wasted friend of mine perform oral to his bass player in front of 200 shocked people, while Vice was filming it. That was a good show.

From what you’ve seen this festival, who is the most underrated band playing at NXNE, and why do you think more people should be listening to them?

Cellphone from Toronto. They are total freaks. Boy band on drugs. People need to hear this because its super original. Late ’70s california style synth punk taken to the next level. I have no fucking clue what to call it. Interesting right?

Hometown: Johannesberg, South Africa
Sounds Like: The weekend soundtrack for electronic-pop smarties with a thing for Shark Week.
The Latest: September EP (Debut album, St. Lucia, due out later this year.)

Describe your band’s sound.

Our sound is located pretty close to the exact meeting point between happy and sad. In a simple sense, it’s a mixture between some guilty pleasures of old like Phil Collins or Lionel Richie, and things that are a bit more experimental like Radiohead, Talking Heads and a fair sprinkling of Fleetwood Mac.

Describe the type of person you think your music attracts.

I’d like to think its a fairly open-minded person who’s not afraid to listen to music that makes them happy, but also a little sad at the same time.

If you could collaborate on a song with any musician dead or living, who would it be and why?

In this moment the answer that comes to mind is Kate Bush because I think she’s fearless, and I think it would be amazing to work with someone who is fearless.

Share a favourite moment from this year’s festival.

We’ve only been here for a day, but the weather has been incredible, so it’s been awesome to be able to walk around Toronto for a day, when we’re used to being here in the cold. We also went to an awesome coffee shop called Fahrenheit.

From what you’ve seen this festival, who is the most underrated band playing at NXNE, and why do you think more people should be listening to them?

I know they’re one of the biggest bands playing at the festival, but I really think The National are underrated. I think a lot of people don’t get them, but I really love them.

Hometown: Toronto
Sounds Like: National pride, poetry and cultural epiphanies set to the beat of an Ibiza meets Toronto streets mash-up.
The Latest: In My Opinion

Describe your sound.

Daft Punk with a dash of Ron Isley mixed with Van Halen with a sprinkle of Willy Nelson and Snoop Dogg…but that’s how I’d describe it. If you’d describe it, you’d probably say melodic and soulful boom bap with a current edge mixed in with an underground Toronto feel.

Describe the type of person you think your music attracts.

All different types of people. All races, all walks of life, all castes and creeds.

If you could collaborate on a song with any musician dead or living, who would it be and why them?

Dead? Notorious B.I.G because he made being fat, dark and ugly as ever sexy for a hot minute. Living? Jay-Z. I don’t think I gotta explain that. It’s Hov… I think we’d make something positive for the culture.

Favourite NXNE moment?

This is my first year rocking as a listed performer, so I guess my favorite moment was performing. I know, right? Boring answer. Well shit, I threw water all over the crowd and they loved it. I guess that was a highlight.

From what you’ve seen this festival, who is the most underrated band playing at NXNE, and why do you think more people should be listening to them?

Deniro Farrar. That’s the homie. Met him at SXSW, and now he on my turf in Toronto for NXNE. Puts passion into his music and keeps it 100%. Ladies will love him because he doesn’t like wearing shirts, and dudes will fuck with him because he’s on some real hood trill shit.

Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Sounds Like: Chest-thumping, introspective rock with a dash of Tammy Wynette melancholy and Nietzschean emotional insight.
The Latest: Dear in the Headlights

Describe your band’s sound.

Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch.

Describe the type of person you think your music attracts.

Hopefully our music attracts open minded individuals who recycle, eat 10 servings of vegetables per day and respect the elderly. They can also have tattoos and swear a lot. They feel like deodorant is “en vogue”. They love vinyl. Prefer a 4-string bass. They love Jameson. They also love Portuguese food. You gotta respect the Portuguese.

If you could collaborate on a song with any musician dead or living, who would it be and why?

As a drummer, how about a jam with Jimi Hendrix, James Jamerson and John Lennon? No need to stray too far from the letter J.

Share a favourite moment from this year’s festival.

We’ve been fortunate to play The Horseshoe Tavern at NXNE. They have this bottomless beer pail for the bands and as the night progresses, the beers seem to go down a little too easy. Just as we take the stage, hours of drinking catches up with us, and the performance that usually follows is one of pure instinct.

From what you’ve seen this festival, who is the most underrated band playing at NXNE, and why do you think more people should be listening to them?

My pick for NXNE is Dearly Beloved. A band I love. They rock loud and hard. Fronted by a solid female. Don’t miss them.