The Boys is a rock, pop group made up of 4 girls from Stoney Creek, Ontario. Drawing on a mix of musical inspirations, the band is known for layered vocal harmonies and a lively energy on stage. Having begun recording in late 2011, the band is currently working on their latest tracks while gaining new fans with a line up of local performances.



The Boys first began playing together on McMaster’s CFMU 93.3FM, and only recently hit the live stage. The band joined the Supernova stage this Summer for the Road to ExFest, triumphantly winning 2nd place, and Summer Meltdown at Toronto’s El Mocambo. On the back of these gigs, the band went on to open for Die Mannequin at Merritt Park and hit the Sound Academy stage for HYSTERIA this fall. With such wild success on the Supernova stage, it’s no wonder The Boys have seen their fan base grow beyond their local scene.

The Boys are still on a roll as they prepare for a string of upcoming gigs, including The Mansion in Barrie on Feb. 12th and the Road to CMW at Boston Manor on Feb. 17th, 2012. We were lucky to grab the members of the band for an interview, considering how many shows they have lined up!

Introducing The Boys:

Samantha Rutherford - lead singer

Sarah Coons - guitar and back-up vocals

Alanna Gunn - bass guitar

Justine Cowie - drums and back-up vocals


So Boys... what got you to where you stand as a band today?

The Boys had their first rehearsal in June of 2011. Samantha was searching for a group of girls who liked the same kind of Rock/Classic Rock music and who wanted to start a band, and it was really just good timing and luck that brought us together. Samantha met Justine at a party through a mutual friend, she met Sarah through another friend, and she met Alanna in an orchestra in which they both used to perform.

And the band name...?

The name "The Boys" was initially a joke; we were brainstorming name ideas on chart paper and using online generators (which were terribly useless), and someone suggested "The Boys". We decided to use it for a trial period in case we found something better, but it really stuck with us. Where we stand today is a group of friends who love to play music together. The one important thing we like to emphasize, though, is that we are not a "girl" band; we are a band that is comprised of girls.

How would you describe your music?

We're definitely a Pop-Rock band, but with a strong emphasis on three-part harmony. We like to think our music spans all ages; there is something for everyone in our music.

What is the most rewarding thing about being in a band?

Firstly, finding three other people who share the same musical visions and tastes as you is pretty darn rewarding. Secondly, being able to create your own original music with these people and then share it with an audience is also quite satisfying. It's really beyond comparison, having the opportunity to spend time with and write music with people you love.



What is your most memorable moment (so far) together as a band?

We've had a few memorable moments thus far, but one that stands out as a milestone is when we won our first Battle of the Bands in Dunnville, Ontario in August of 2011; we really felt a sense of "Hey, they like our music!", and nothing makes you feel better than that.

What is the biggest challenge facing ‘new’ artists, in your opinion?

Gaining exposure, promoting yourself and building a strong following. It's difficult to get people to notice you if you cannot find avenues in which to play your music, but Supernova, along with some other companies/promoters, have helped us with this. Once you start performing your music at various venues, different people start to come to each show and over time you build up a following that cannot happen without the help of promotion.

How did your band find Supernova.com?

Samantha's last band was part of Supernova.com. We would tell other bands that it's a great way to find shows in renowned places in which you never thought you'd play, such as El Mocambo in Toronto, it's a great way to get to play with famous bands with whom you never thought you would, and it's also really cool that you get to hear and perform with other local bands, many of which you have not heard.



What advice would you give to fellow 'indie' artists?

1) Make music for you and your band/group, not for anyone else.
2) Have as much fun as you possibly can :)

What's more important: original music or original performance?

The two go hand-in-hand - original music is important for the performer because it means something to them personally and, really, it's just really fun to play, but an original performance is important because it is what separates you from all of the other artists and helps you to establish a name for yourself.

Well said. Is there anything else that new listeners should know?

We are what we are, there are no falsities. The Boys are four girls who love to play their instruments and make music that makes them happy. We write about what we know and we have fun while doing so. We're silly, we put on a good show, and we'd love for you to come see us play some time.

Love Always,
THE BOYS
(Samantha, Sarah, Alanna and Justine)


-- -- -- -- --

You can catch The Boys LIVE on any one of their upcoming gigs, including another round of HYSTERIA Finals in Barrie on Feb. 12th and again at the Boston Manor on April 21st, 2012 for the Rock the W.A.V.E. Fundraiser.

If you can't make it to the party, or just want to get to know this new band a little better, check out their Supernova profile and leave them a comment. The demo should be ready soon, and every bit of fan encouragement helps!