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Parade is an experimental pop-rock trio based out of Toronto, Ontario and featuring Stefan Hegerat (drums, compositions), Chris Pruden (synthesizers) and Laura Swankey (voice, electronics). Drawing on their diverse backgrounds in jazz, classical, and electronic music, the trio pushes the boundaries of genre and form by blurring the lines between improvisation and composition to create unique and immersive sonic landscapes.
“Do You Know Where Your Friends Are Right Now?” was inspired by the social media fueled mental health crisis. It has been extremely distressing, for Stefan’s work as a music educator, to see how badly young people are struggling with anxiety and depression and he feels that there is a responsibility as an artist to advocate for solutions.
Their LP, Lullabies After Storms and Floods, was largely inspired by Stefan’s work as a grassroots organizer during the COVID-19 pandemic. The compositional content of the album provides both a critique of the institutions and systems which threaten our very existence, and utopian imaginings of a healing world. The hope behind Parade is that the music dwells on all we have to celebrate, while acknowledging all we have to mourn.
“I take a community based approach to music making and my focus with Parade is to exist in and create spaces that foster collaboration while working alongside other artists to drive positive social change,” explains Stefan. “I find it impossible to separate my music from my life as an activist and so a lot of Parade’s music directly confronts issues of climate and racial justice.”
