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Hometown Guide: Keys N Krates on Toronto

13 March 2015 | 3:50 pm | Hannah Galvin

Candian trio, Keys N Krates, show us around town before their Australian 'Down Under' tour commences!

Adam Tune, David Matisse and Flowinsky are the three guys who make up hip hop electronic outfit, KEYS N KRATES.

Rising from Toronto, the boys have been avidly productive during their career which has seen them push out a number of release per year. Now four EPs deep, their latest serving, Every Nite EP, has enhanced the Canadian trio's distinctive nature of mashing up a concoction of drums, keys, turntables and live sampling; equally and uniquely distributed amongst the six track flat lay.

Literally on their way to Australia as we speak, we caught up with the Keys N Krates dudes to check out their side of the world, as they take us on an insightful journey through the best parts of Toronto in Canada.

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"When we have time off the road, we generally keep pretty regular and regimented studio hours. 12-7 during the week. We often go later than 7 if we are working on an idea that’s really exciting to all of us, and we often come in earlier than noon, but 12-7 are the hours that we’ve set aside where we have to be together collaborating, making music together, or rehearsing new material for shows. Some might ask, what does the squad do after the studio when in their own city known to many as the “T Dot” or most recently “The 6”? Well here’s 5 things we like to do that are in crazy close proximity to our studio space."

GHANDI'S ROTI

GHANDI'S ROTI

"Tune and Flo love this place. Matisse, not so much, but screw him cause it’s amazing. We’ve never really had anything quite like it. It’s basically all these different, amazing east indian curries (done really well) wrapped in a thick, doughy, roti that’s unlike any roti we’ve ever tried. It might actually be closer to a thin crust pizza dough than a roti (it’s almost rubbery and slightly bitter in a good way). Strongly recommend going with someone else so you can go splitzies with them on two different rotis. Make one of them butter chicken though. The samosa is also the best samosa you will ever eat."

PAT'S HOMESTYLE

PAT'S HOMESTYLE JAMAICAN RESTAURANT

"Okay okay. This is by no means the best west indian spot in Toronto,, let alone even the best Jamaican spot. It’s about a 7 out of 10 food-wise to be honest. But it’s really really really faakin close to our studio, so the truth is we eat there a lot. We all crave west indian food when getting home from the road cause there really is nowhere we travel that compares to good old Tarantaaa.

Anyways if you're going to Pat’s get the soup cause it probably blows everything else on the menu out of the water. Jerk Chicken is consistently pretty decent. If you’re visiting Toronto there’s many better places (Ritz Carribean, Sunrise, Jerk Joint, Mona’s Roti, Ram’s Roti, Rasta Pasta), but we go to Pat’s cause the shit is close!

P.S. The really really big guy behind the counter who is extra rude is just kind of like that to everyone. Don’t take it personally."

trinity bellwoods

TRINITY BELLWOODS

"When we are home working in the summer (or spring or fall), this is an amazing place to retreat to after the studio and just sit on the grass and read poetry to each other. It’s a beautiful park with a running/bike path, tennis courts and massive open grass with beautiful tall trees and picnic tables. Yes, if you go here on the weekends, it sort of looks like Williamsburg has thrown up all over it, but it’s a good vibe and everyone is happy. People are playing soccer, drinking wobbly pops, sun tanning, and having fake sword fights, and any of these activities might involve some kinda weird costume."

the hoxton (keys n krates)

THE HOXTON

"The Hoxton has almost become a bit of an institution in Toronto, and plays host to all the cool international emerging indie and electronic type acts. We’ve played it more times than we can remember. It’s loud as shit, a sweaty sauce bucket, and a great intimate vibe. We can also walk to the Hoxton from our studio which is key."

416snackBar

416 SNACKBAR

"We all like to get saucy and have a drink from time to time. This place is the perfect spot to do it as their beer and cocktails are on point, and the atmosphere is super chill and fun. Tuesday nights they have this band called “IN REVERSE” and they are faakin awesome. They basically sound like D’angelo’s “Voodoo” album even when they aren’t playing songs off D’Angelo’s “Voodoo” album. They could probably do a Bob Dylan cover and it would still sound like it belongs on D’angelo’s Voodoo album, and there’s only 4 of them crammed into the corner of this bar. Oh also, the small plates here are amazing, especially the doubles. The staff are also very cool despite being very busy at all times, which is great cause who wants to tip a rude wanker?"

Keys N Krates released their fourth EP, Every Nite last September through Dim Mak Records. Literally just kicking off their Down Under Australian tour, find out when they'll be in your city below.

KEYS N KRATES DOWN UNDER TOUR

Friday, 13th March

Villa, Perth

Saturday, 14th March

The Studio, Auckland

Thursday, 19th March

Oxford Art Factory, Sydney

Friday, 20th March

Oh Hello!, Brisbane

Sunday, 22nd March

Rocket Bar, Adelaide

Words by Hannah Galvin.

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