Sustaining Pique: Debaser’s Summer Success and the Road Ahead

Arriving at Pique, photo by Rebecca Judd

At Also Cool, we remain steadfast champions of Pique – Debaser’s quarterly music and arts festival, staged within the walls of Arts Court in downtown Ottawa. Since its inception, the festival has ballooned in both scale and stature, drawing thousands to experience rising talents and scene fixtures from across and beyond North America. Pique has transcended the realm of party to become a platform for artistic revolution and a lifeline for community-rooted creativity.

The summer 2025 edition of Pique welcomed 1,400 festivalgoers and offered a diversity of performances and exhibitions. Though outdoor programming moved indoors due to air quality concerns, the spirit of summer shimmered throughout the venue for all those who came to play. Standout moments included the Produced by Youth and Pass the Vibes open decks, alongside captivating performances by Silla, Orchidae, Bells Larsen, HiTech, and Also Cool co-founders Flleur and Lamb Fatale.

Aligned with the festival’s ethos of accessibility and inclusion, Debaser offers subsidized tickets to ensure a dynamic experience for all who wish to partake. Earlier this month, the organization shared that nearly one in three attendees accessed subsidized tickets for the summer 2025 edition. Of these, 42% were subsidized by attendees who opted to pay at the higher end of the suggested range, while Debaser covered the remaining 58%.

To uphold these values—and ensure fair compensation for the artists and cultural workers who bring the festival to life—Debaser has launched the Pique Sustainability Fund. It invites those in a position to give to extend the experience, nurturing a vibrant future for Ottawa’s arts and cultural landscape.

As fall looms (yes, already), Pique’s next edition is slated for September 27. While the lineup has yet to be announced, audiences can expect electrifying appearances from both local and international taste-makers. Tickets are now available, with a suggested price range of $45-$75, or at a subsidized rate by contacting Debaser directly.

In the meantime, scroll on for a glimpse at summer 2025 Pique’s highlights, including our co-founders’ delightfully chaotic interview with HiTech.

Silla, photo by Rebecca Judd

Orchidae, photo by Rebecca Judd

fanclubwallet, photo by Rebecca Judd

Bells Larsen, photo by Rebecca Judd

47Chops of HiTech’s birthday cake, photo by Rebecca Judd

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Pique

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Debaser

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Rebecca Judd is the features editor of Also Cool Mag. She is currently based in Ottawa.

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Pony Girl Cements Their Legacy at Club SAW

Pascal Huot of Pony Girl performing at Club SAW

The Ottawa music community holds its own close, so it should come as no surprise that Pony Girl’s album release party at Club SAW was a dazzling affair. Marking ten years since their debut record, Pony Girl has stepped into a complex new chapter with their latest album Laff It Off.

The night began with a charming set from Luella, the musical project of Kingston’s Liv Whitfield. Although her debut album Luna was released just one year ago, Whitfield carried a seasoned air of confidence throughout her performance. Whether she was behind the keys or crooning into a telephone, her dreamy indie-pop melodies wafted through the air, matched with playful lyrics on love (or a lack thereof). 

Leading up to Pony Girl’s set, attendees shuffled in the glow of a custom Laff It Off neon sign, feet surrounded by smiley-face balloons – an inviting scene, complementary to the album’s disposition. The room began to swell with anticipation.

Laff It Off sign for Pony Girl’s album release tour

Pony Girl emerged on-stage to a sea of applause, with band member Yolande Laroche sporting a Luna T-shirt. Within minutes, the audience was swept up in Laff It Off’s lucid narrative, swaying and screaming the words we all know to be true: “I don’t want to be working every day, I don’t want to be working every day.”

The art-pop group has garnered acclaim for their layered approach to experimentation, and even further acclaim for the way that translates so harmoniously into their live performances. The arresting vocoder yelps of Laroche and bandmate Pascal Huot, the mesmerizing proficiency of Mili Hong on the drums – it’s a thrilling experience to watch all the pieces of their puzzle fall into place.

But for a band that has seen so much recent success, including a record-high of five nominations at last year’s Capital Music Awards, Pony Girl has not compromised what it means to be vulnerable. Huot meandered through the crowd during “Wannabe,” illuminating his visage while mutedly pondering his—and our—roles as entertainment. “Age of Anxious,” the standout track from Pony Girl’s previous release Enny One Wil Love You, reverberated with conviction as its distressed musings on the grip of technology rang true.

As Pony Girl continues to find their place in these convoluted times, one thing is certain: Ottawa will be listening.

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Pony Girl

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Rebecca Judd is the features editor of Also Cool Mag.

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