Also Cool's Festival BleuBleu 2025 Top Picks

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Also Cool is headed to the East Coast! Returning for its 7th edition to Carleton-sur-Mer, Quebec, Festival BleuBleu is an annual weekend music festival and summer staple in Gaspésie, Quebec and the greater Maritime region. Held from June 20th-23rd, the festival acts as a hub and meeting place for music lovers, whether local or festival-goers, aiming to "introduce or rediscover the town's cultural and historical sites [and] foster exchanges" by programming music from the region and beyond in less conventional venues.  

This year’s lineup features a multitude of enticing genres and styles, with artists from across the province of Quebec (and elsewhere!) performing everything from Acadien country-pop to digital dance music.

Closing the Saturday night is Also Cool's beachside program, with performances by Ouri (DJ set), Honeydrip and Isla Den.

Explore Festival BleuBleu’s programming through Also Cool’s must-see acts from this year’s roster and listen to our accompanying festival playlist below!

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Gus Englehorn by Kealan Shilling

Alaska-raised, Hawaii-bound Gus Englehorn welcomed 2025 with the release of The Hornbook, a fantastical outsider-rock opus co-produced by Mark Lawson of The Unicorns, and mixed by Butthole Surfers founder Paul Leary. Much like his career trajectory (having spent most of his life training to be a professional snowboarder), Englehorn’s sound is endearingly strange. At times fuzzy and brooding, and others veering into freak-folk territory, Englehorn’s musical dexterity is delightfully unpredictable and entertaining. His uncompromised stage presence is always a hit, and we’re looking forward to hearing his latest setlist in the flesh! 

Gus Englehorn plays Sunday, June 22nd, 2025 at Horizon Park Beach.

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Honeydrip by Felix Bonnevie

Not only is Montreal’s Honeydrip an incredible dub-focused DJ and producer – she is also an innovator in the world of sound design; building her own systems over the past couple of years. Her most recent album Psychotropical, featuring collaborations with Ouri, Shanique Marie and King Shadrock, expands on her hypnotic sound that has captured dancefloors worldwide.

Read our interview with Honeydrip on her debut EP Anti-Ego here.

Honeydrip plays Saturday, June 21st, 2025 at Horizons Park Beach.

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Isla Den by Taylor Tomlin

Kindred spirits in the realm of rave-tinged hyperpop and exploratory multimedia, friends Ellie Manning and Mira Reale are Montreal electronic duo Isla Den. As classmates turned collaborators, Isla Den have constructed a musical illusion whereby “Manning's lyrics explore themes of infinity, distance, and dreams, veiled by auto-tune and carried by lyrical flights over sensual futuristic structures, fusing underground electronica, trance, and technicolor dream pop.” Having performed across North America and Europe, we’re eager to have our first run-in with the pair at BleuBleu.

Isla Den plays Saturday, June 21st, 2025 at Horizons Park Beach.

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Magi Merlin by Vladim Vilain

An Also Cool forever-favourite, Montreal alt-R&B darling Magi Merlin has exploded onto the international scene. A multi-faceted artist, Merlin recently made her acting debut in the movie Mile End Kicks from writer-director Chandler Levack (I Like Movies), alongside lead actress Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria). On top of that, she recently shared her long-awaited debut LP, A Weird Little Dog, which slows her sound down and bares her soul. 

Read our first-ever interview with Magi, that came out five years ago (!!!), here.

Magi Merlin plays Sunday, June 22nd, 2025 at the Beautiful Shipwreck Beach Manor Scene.

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Ouri by Feng

A longtime staple in Montreal’s music scene, Ouri exudes ethereal mastery as a multi-instrumentalist and DJ. Her ability to weave orchestral sound with electronic music is unparalleled, in both her last album Frame of a Fauna, and with her collaborative project with Helena Deland, Hildegard. No matter the sonic medium, Ouri delivers a gorgeous and captivating performance. 

Dive deeper into Ouri’s world by reading our interview with the artist about Frame of a Fauna here, and with Hildegard about their debut album here.

Ouri plays Saturday, June 21st, 2025 at Horizons Park Beach.

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P’tit Belliveau by Sacha Cohen

East Coast treasure P’tit Belliveau is sure to deliver a rowdy performance. Known for his earworms “Income Tax” and “J'aimerais d’avoir un John Deere”, Belliveau reps his Baie-Saint-Marie, Nova Scotia, roots for sold-out audiences. Hot on the heels of releasing his third self-titled album, we’re excited to embrace his evolving sound — fusing nu-metal and pop-punk with his signature Acadien country-pop sensibility. Let’s go (en français)!  

P’tit Belliveau plays Friday, June 20th, 2025 at the SiriusXM Stage.

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Secondsight by Vladim Vilain

Montreal’s Secondsight will lead an outdoor yoga session combining mindful movements, breathing and meditation set to their music. Titled Mirrors in the Sky: Opening to Infinity, the 60-minute class seeks to explore “the profound connection between our inner selves and the cosmos around us.” Secondsight is the solo musical and spiritual pilgrimage project of multi-disciplinary artist, astrologist and meditation teacher Haji Maa. We’re looking forward to coming up for air by the Atlantic ocean amid the festival hustle and bustle!  

Secondsight’s workshop is Monday morning on June 23rd, 2025 at the Tracadigash Point Lighthouse.

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Xela Edna by Cherry Blue

Montreal avant-pop vocalist Xela Edna sparks curiosity with her bold, uninhibited approach to dance music. Scheduled to release her debut full-length album this year, Edna’s songwriting combines tenets of electro, techno and experimental French pop. Alongside her creative partner and longtime friend Eicus Echo, Edna’s music explores “emancipatory themes related to being a young woman in the 21st century.” 

Xela Edna plays Friday, June 20th, 2025 at the Beautiful Shipwreck Beach Manor Scene.

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Festival BleuBleu

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BAD Fest Merges Music and Fashion with Cruise Feat. Lunice, Honeydrip, Juju le Moko and More

Don't you love it when all your favourite creatives come together? Montreal-based luxury fashion brand Bad Wrld launched BAD Fest yesterday, combining their latest creations with incredible performances to create a hybrid experience. All of which took place on a boat that sailed off the Old Port and around the island of Montreal, captured by the Transmission team.

The BAD Fest lineup included Lunice, Honeydrip, King Shadrock, Shash'u, Rymz, Bootyspork (AKA Martyn Bootyspoon), Boogieman, Samito, Hua Li, Juju le Moko, Oren.wav, Mona on the Radio, Deidra, and DaPapa. The entire lineup was decked out in custom BAD Wrld clothing, with BAD Wrld tee, shorts, robes, and more available for purchase on the lower deck.

The pre-festival activities began with a flash BAD Match Day at Studio Amormio, where you could get decked out in BAD Wrld flash by NYC-based tattoo artist James Tyler Reed. The Sunday fashion and music cruise was equipped with a full-service bar by Martini Fiero, bottomless mimosas, and a delicious seafood raw bar set up by Bar Pamplemousse.

The performances were perfectly short and sweet, ranging from funky DJ sets to pure pop covers & mixes. Highlights of the day included Mona on the Radio's cover of A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton, Lunice's high-energy set, Hua Li's melodic tunes, and Honeydrip x King Shadrock's live performance of their 2021 EP ANTI-EGO.

If you couldn't make the festival, there is lots more Bad Wrld to come. Bad Wrld is a luxury fashion brand specializing in one-off, custom and limited edition robes and accessories for after swim, bath, spa, club or lounging. The robes range from more classic belted pieces to cute fits of towel shorts and jacket tops. The brand is designed by Danica Olders as ethically and slow as possible, utilizing recycled towels and 100% cotton terry cloth.

You can keep up to date with everything Bad Wrld on their socials and website. Read our previous feature on Bad Wrld here.

Malaika Astorga is the Co-Founder & Creative Director of Also Cool. She is a Mexican-Canadian visual artist, writer, and social media strategist currently based in Montreal.

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PREMIERE: Honeydrip Shares Debut EP Anti-Ego

Honeydrip by Ariana Molly

Picture yourself rolling up to the secret rave; you can hear the bass pounding through the trees. As you get closer, you start to run into your friends and see the coolest-looking strangers you've never seen stomping their hearts out on the dancefloor. 

This is the energy that after-hours legend Honeydrip brings with her new EP Anti-Ego. Heavily influenced by the intersection of Black culture and electronic music, the EP is an extension of the dub and sound systems culture. It honours the exploration and boldness found in the genre and every genre that has come of it. Honeydrip expertly meshes dub, techno, dancehall, reggae, and drum and bass while re-contextualizing and pushing the story forward.

We caught up with Honeydrip about her experience in the afterhours scene, learning to DJ, and her EP, of course.

Malaika Astorga for Also Cool: How did you first get into DJing and electronic music? How did you make the transition from a party-goer to the person keeping the party going?

Honeydrip: I spent high school listening to hip hop and dancehall, which then transformed into alternative psychedelic rock. By university, I started my radio show in 2015, playing downtempo electronic and lofi artists like Lukid, invention_ , etc. 

I've always been interested in music that had uncommon melodies, sounds and was generally considered dark or melancholic. I think that naturally led me to enjoy electronic music. A lot of the music I listened to since I was young had aspects of electronic music; I just didn't know at the time. 

Also Cool: What has your experience been like in the Montreal nightlife scene? 

H: I got into DJing because I wanted to make my radio show the best possible, so seamless transitions seemed key. A boyfriend of mine at the time and a good friend of mine (Ativan Halen) were mentors.

AC: What kind of music did you first get into here, and how have you seen the after-hours and electronic music scene change over time?

H: I started DJing right around the time that I started going out. My DJ gigs helped me discover the music scene in Montreal. I also would go to parties with friends that I made through DJing. But before DJing, I was a cheerleader and went to pubs, aha. 

Having a radio show forced me to do research on Quebecois artists as well as Canadian artists. I had a quota of local content on my radio show, which helped me discover so many of the local artists who are my peers now. 

Since I was really into Lo-Fi and cool Downtempo beats, I was a really good opener when I first started. One of my favourite gigs when playing that genre was opening for MNDSGN, but as I continued going out, the sensation I felt on the dancefloor when dance music was playing was so exciting and inviting I naturally started getting into that music. 

My experience in the nightlife scene has been a journey of finding the spaces that I am the most comfortable in, where there is a nice mix of beautiful people, good music, and a bouncy crowd. Every DJ has a certain type of crowd that builds through personal connections, fanbase, musical tastes. I'm super happy with the crowd I've built, and I feel that it's representative of who I am.

Honeydrip by Ariana Molly

AC: Can you describe your favourite going out / after-hours memory? (Whether it be here or elsewhere)

H: One of my favourite going out memories was at Nowadays in NYC with Umfang and LSDXOXO on the lineup. When I go out, I'm more the type to dance than to socialize, and I love it when I'm in a crowd of people dancing as hard as I am. It was like that all night, with crazy hypnotic music. Nowadays is a large venue, but the crowd was insane. I usually prefer intimate crowds because it's easier for us all to be on the same page. 

AC: Your EP meshes genres, expanding and contrasting sounds to open up a new world of electronic music. Where have you drawn inspiration for the album, and how do you hope it that will push the story forward in electronic music?

H: I think with the history of my musical tastes, I have always been jumping from Black music (Hip hop, dancehall, reggaeton, reggae) to electronic music. At many times I was at a crossroads with what I wanted to play or what genre I wanted to be recognized by, and this EP is my deciding I can be both. 

AC: This has been a summer of music and dancing pretty much anywhere people can set up a generator. What do you hope the after-hours scene will be like post-pandemic? What are some values that you think are important for people to integrate into these events?

H: I really respect the people that take the time to organize these DIY events. It takes a lot of love to do what they are doing. The summer has made it easier for these parties to happen. Still, once winter settles in, I'm concerned with the lack of spaces we have, with many staple nightlife spots being lost throughout the pandemic.

AC: What would your advice be for people who want to get into DJing and making music, but don't know where to start?

H: To start DJing, Intersessions and Chippy Nonstop regularly offer classes physically or virtually to learn how to DJ. Also, follow the artists you like because they will be sharing courses or even offering some themselves sometimes. Join Facebook groups to get access to used equipment. Start digging!

For producing, it helps to have hardware, so you don't do everything on your computer. Getting a midi keyboard or drum pad makes the process more organic. Also exploring VSTs because I feel like most producers have their favourite VSTs that they use frequently. It helps develop their sound. Once again, keep an eye out for beginners courses or reach out to people you know that produce. Most people are always willing to help :)

AC: What's next for Honeydrip?

H: A remix EP may or may not be on its way. And this is just the beginning of my transition to a producer. So far, I am loving it and will continue to release music as consistently as I can.

Credits:

Animated & Produced by Emma Forgues

Composed by Honeydrip

Vocals by King Shadrock

Mixed by Francis Latreille

Mastered by Valentin Ignat

Honeydrip

Twitter I Instagram

Soundcloud I Bandcamp I Spotify I Apple Music

Malaika Astorga is the co-founder of Also Cool. She is a Mexican-Canadian visual artist, writer, and social media strategist currently based in Montreal.

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Canada's Party Capital Will Not Be Put To Rest: This Is "Pandemic Artifact"

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“Pandemic Artifact” cover by Andrew Nowacki

A group of fifteen Montreal artists are marking their city’s two month COVID-19 lockdown period with the release of “Pandemic Artifact.” The electronic compilation album is a vibrant embodiment of Montreal’s diverse musical atmosphere; featuring a sonic spectrum ranging from introspective ambient impressions to upbeat House grooves reminiscent of 90s warehouse raves.

The collective is made up of local DJ and producer Honeydrip‘s personal circle, including former classmates from Concordia’s electroacoustics program . For many of the artists involved, the launch of “Pandemic Artifact” is the first time they’re presenting their art to the general public. On the album and its creation, Honeydrip comments:

“I have always had this irrational fear of releasing music and that what I would release would never be good enough and live up to people’s and my own expectations. Quarantine put that all back into perspective. Being an artist and feeling useless in a medical pandemic, one of the few things I could do and am qualified to do is share my art.”

While the group knows that the end of COVID-19 is unforeseeable, they hope that like their uncertainty about the future, the album will become “a distant memory; an artifact of this pandemic.”

All “Pandemic Artifact” tracks, including a mix by Honeydrip herself, are being sold on a Pay-What-You-Can basis and are available for streaming and purchase here.

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Press release:

If there’s one thing Montréal, Canada’s party capital, doesn’t lack, it’s bonhomie. In the winter months, we tend to gather, huddle for warmth, and drink, dance and eat until we can no longer feel the cold. However, on March 14th, the gavel slammed and suddenly, the entire province’s hospitality and entertainment industry was stalled.

Not one to accept the status quo, local DJ and producer Honeydrip reached out to her peers to set up what would become Pandemic Artifact: a screenshot of the city’s producers’ minds in a dark time. From floor-filling belters to the more cerebral and experimental, the compilation ventures into some of the best electronic music the city has to offer.

Along with the compilation there is a mix by Honeydrip, creatively blending all the genres submitted to create an energetically flowing tracklist.

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