Black & Grey
OriginMembertou, Canada
GenresPop-rock, pop, alternative
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, recording artist
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass, drums
Years active2012–present
MembersBrandon Johnson, Mike Mellen, Tyler Mellen, Daniel Paul
Past membersPeter LaPorte, Cameron Hollohan, Blake Christmas
Website[1]

Black & Grey is a Canadian pop rock/alternative band from Membertou, Nova Scotia in Cape Breton County.[1]

The band has released one self-titled EP in 2013, and four singles: "Goodbye Misery", "What Makes You Who You Are", "Pretty Little Nightmare" and "Alone".

History

Black & Grey was formed in 2012 by Brandon Johnson of Potlotek, Nova Scotia and Michael Mellen, of Membertou, Nova Scotia. Their current line up consists of Brandon Johnson on vocals and rhythm guitar, Daniel Paul on the drums, Michael Mellen on leads, and Tyler Mellen on bass. Front-man Brandon Johnson has collaborated with artists such as Gordie Sampson, Steven MacDougall, and Dave Sampson. He also performed in Mi'kmaq Nation Halifax, and appeared on The Candy Show[2] on APTN. His lyrics are not always black & white, often dealing with the grey area between the lines, hence the name Black & Grey.

Their debut song "Goodbye Misery" was released November 5, 2012 as a single on iTunes. The song, which speaks out against bullying[3] was dedicated to Amanda Todd, with proceeds donated to the Leave Out Violence foundation.[4][5] "Goodbye Misery" was heard throughout the Maritimes and on local radio stations.

Black & Grey's second single "What Makes You Who You Are" was first performed at the Idle No More UNITY Rally and Concert on January 17, 2013 in Truro, Nova Scotia, and the studio version was released online for download on February 11, 2013.

On March 14, 2013, the band released the music video for "Goodbye Misery"[6] which was filmed at Sydney Academy High School by Matthew Ingraham, founder of Renegade Entertainment. Like the song, the video was also inspired by the Amanda Todd story, and starred students of Sydney Academy. Shaylin MacDonald played the role of Amanda Todd in the music video.

Black & Grey opened for Susan Aglukark who headlined the 25th anniversary of Eskasoni Powwow on July 2, 2016.[7] They have performed at the opening of East Coast Music Week,[8] the East Coast Music Week Aboriginal Stage,[9] the Autism Society of Cape Breton's fundraiser Autism Rocks,[10] the 2016 Mi'kmaq History Month Cultural Showcase,[11] The Giant 101.9 Monster Ball (2012), the ECMA's First Nations Showcase (2013), the Sydney Tar Ponds Stronger Than Steel celebration (2013), APTN's Aboriginal Day Live 2014,[12] the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Home Opener (2014), the Mi'kmaq Summer Games Headliner 2014, and the Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative's 2015 Talent Showcase.

In 2015, their EP Black & Grey was nominated as Aboriginal Recording of the Year by the East Coast Music Association,[13] and they have performed at East Coast Music Week.[14][15][16] In 2015, they were nominated by Music Nova Scotia as Aboriginal Artist of the year.

In September 2015, Black & Grey returned to the studio to record their latest single, "Pretty Little Nightmare", which was released October 1, 2015. The song started off 2016 as the #1 track for January 1–15 for the East Coast Countdown. It was also #8 on the Aboriginal Music Countdown. It won Best Radio Single at the 2017 Indigenous Music Awards.[17]

In January 2022, CBRM ConnectArts announced on its Facebook page that Black & Grey had released the single “Alone”.[18]

Discography

Extended plays

Title Album details
Black & Grey (EP)
  • Released: November 30, 2013
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD

Awards

2017

References

  1. 1 2 "Security Check Required". Facebook. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  2. ↑ "This Wednesday on Season 3...Feb 2013". thecandyshow.com. The Candy Show. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  3. ↑ "Na'teliaq : United Against Bullying : Inaugural Nitap Day Celebrated in MK Schools" (PDF). Kinu.ca. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  4. ↑ "19 ECMA Artists...Black & Grey, 2016". Destination Membertou, Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  5. ↑ "Goodbye Misery | Black & Grey". Blackgrey.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  6. ↑ "Black&Grey - Goodbye Misery (official music video)". YouTube.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  7. ↑ "Daily News Roundup: June 29, 2016". Kukukwes.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  8. ↑ Elizabeth Patterson (2016-04-13). "East Coast Music Week opens in Membertou with powwow". Cape Breton Post. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  9. ↑ "ECMW 2016: Aboriginal Stage – Membertou Trade & Convention Centre – Membertou â€"". Whatsgoinon.ca. 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  10. ↑ "Autism Rocks – Nov. 23rd 2019". mayflowermall.com. Mayflower Mall. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "Mi'kmaq History Month, 2016 Events". mikmaqhistorymonth.ca. Mi’kmaq History Month. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Black & Grey | The Solstice Concerts". Solsticeconcerts.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  13. ↑ "ECMA Award Nominations 2015". ecma.com. East Coast Music Association. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  14. ↑ "ECMA 2016 Awards Nominees and More News Announced!". ecma.com. East Coast Music Week. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  15. ↑ "Black and Grey - East Coast Music Association". Ecma.com. 2015-10-01. Archived from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  16. ↑ "ECMW 2016: Aboriginal Stage – Membertou Trade & Convention Centre – Membertou â€"". Whatsgoinon.ca. 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
  17. ↑ "Past Winners". indigenousmusicawards.com. Indigenous Music Awards. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  18. ↑ "CBRM ConnectArts, Jan 6, 2022". facebook.com. Facebook. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  19. ↑ "Black & Grey". Indigenous Music Awards. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
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