We Are Ardent

We Are Ardent make alternative music in the broadest sense of the word, mixing lead-footed 90’s grunge rock with the polyrhythms of South Africa. Their classic line-up of guitar, bass and drums is offset by the inclusion of kalimba and is spiced with dynamic shifts between female and male lead singers. The band’s genesis began a decade ago in Southern Ontario where brothers Josh (guitar) and Justin (drums) began copping riffs from Nirvana and local hard-core acts, refining their musical symbiosis. It wasn’t until years later, after Josh began dating alluring introvert Kat, when the band came into its own. Josh had begun to encourage Kat to explore her obvious musical talents, and oddly enough, her completely left-field aesthetic seemed to integrate with the band in a familiar and exciting way. The band played its first live show in August 2013 and their first EP, “Ardent”, was completed later that month. The EP was released in February 2014 to their growing following and found a home on Canadian alternative radio, later breaking through to East Coast college radio. Press noted the band members’ undeniable chemistry, comparing them to Garbage and Angelfish, and they were nominated for the 2014 Niagara Music Awards in the categories of Best New Group, Best Rock Group and Best Original Song. The band’s newest EP, Bright Shadows from Dark Lights (out this November), was recorded in the Kensington Market neighborhood of Toronto with producer Mike Langford at Pawnshop Studios. This go-round, with the addition of band member Matt Dalton (bass), found We Are Ardent’s urgent and industrial sound tempered by emotive songs dealing with more personal issues. “We have all suffered at points” admits Kat, noting that the band members all bonded over being bullied early in life and its detrimental effects on their mental health. “We realized how music gave us a sense of community in those times of need and we hope to do the same… advocating for equality and respect for individuals.” Niagara/Hamilton alt rock band. Debut EP available for download and streaming (iTunes, Google Play, Spotify) http://www.WeAreArdent.com