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Mario Vaira doesn’t believe in making music that’s geared toward making money. As one-third of Vancouver’s creative collective known as DNA6, Vaira said he wouldn’t know how to, even if he did.
“You can’t guess the curve,” he said. “Nobody can really say what the next big sound will be, or which genre will be popular — so why not just be yourself?”
That attitude seems to be working, as the indie band has cultivated a devoted following of fans as well as critical acclaim for its innovative blend of smooth jazz, soul, funk and hip-hop. DNA6 has also been called the best live act in Canada. That’s because DNA6 owes its sound as much to samples and pre-recorded beats as it does to Vaira’s jazz guitar licks and other live instrumentation. Both Vaira and Alex Maher (sax, vocals) were trained by Bryan Stovell, acclaimed tutor of Diana Krall, and had been friends since high school.
“We played together in little jazz bands and performed at golf clubs,” Vaira said. “Later, through open-mike nights we met other players, including MC Dosia, our third main member. All three main members contribute lyrically to the group, with performances featuring layered samples of sax and guitar, loops, beatbox and live instruments, plus a smoking horn section.
“The sound we have live is just the sound we get from jamming together,” he said. “It’s an amalgamation of what we like to play.”
Vaira said using live instruments sets DNA6 apart from other urban groups.
“In the hip-hop world we’re one of a very few,” he said. “But we don’t want to just be compared to what’s in the hip-hop world. We want to be compared to everything that is out there.”
Vaira said that’s why DNA6 can’t really fit neatly into any one genre of music.
“By being ourselves and just playing what comes naturally, we’ve removed ourselves from having to compete in any genre,” he said. “We don’t play to a record company A&R rep, who may be in the audience to whisk us away to L.A.
“There are lots of TV shows that perpetuate that stereotype,” he said. “We don’t want to fit in a box defined by Kelly Clarkson (of American Idol).”
With a cooler-than-cool sound critics are hailing as the next evolution of hip-hop music, DNA6 don’t have to worry about fitting in a box or guessing the curve — they’re already way ahead of it.
DNA6 headlines “Shake Down” at the GLC on Friday (April 3), featuring Miami Device, DJ Hayze and percussionist Watto featuring Randy Ponzio. Tickets are $15 and available at the GLC. Doors open at 9 p.m.
