My Own Money
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My Own Money – Five Questions With

Toronto’s electrifying My Own Money share lead single “Dark As A Dungeon”

Since their inception in 2019, Toronto band My Own Money has been carving out a unique space in the Canadian music scene, blending electropop with dance rock in a way that captivates audiences and defies genre boundaries. Led by the magnetic vocalist Cali Platek, often compared to the iconic Blondie, My Own Money promises a fun and intoxicating experience — with Adam Platek (programmer and guitarist), Ryan Carter (saxophone), and Taylor Katz (drums) rounding out the ensemble.

The band has unveiled their lead single “Dark As A Dungeon,” ahead of their performance at this year’s NXNE in Toronto and the release of their new EP titled Disco Asbestos, out this summer.

With a nod to industry giants like Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, and New Order, and influenced by contemporary artists like Metric, Robyn, Charli XCX, and RÜFÜS DU SOL, “Dark As A Dungeon” is more than just a song; it’s a journey through the depths of the human emotional landscape. The track submerges listeners in a world of retro synth tones juxtaposed with vigorous dance beats that invite an exploration of a person’s innermost feelings, whilst providing a means to escape the everyday.

Vocalist Cali shares her inspiration behind the track:

“This song encapsulates the rawness of our emotions and the voyage to accepting them – both the shadow and the light. Sometimes the ones we cherish and look to for happiness, will instead cast on us the deepest of darkness. The more we give of our own love and energy, the less we receive in return. The song is an invitation to dance it all out.”

Crafted during a period of newfound creativity, this lead single bears the spiritual influence of songwriter Adam’s late sister-in-law, Ashlie, who continues to inspire his music from beyond.

“My songwriting always felt like it came from another realm, and in the stillness of my basement home studio, there’s this illuminating presence—Ashlie is my muse, my inner voice,” shares Adam Platek. “Even in solitude, her spirit reassures me that we are never truly alone.”

Recorded with Toronto producer Josh Korody (Tess Parks, Weaves, Fucked Up) “Dark As A Dungeon” promises to be a standout track in My Own Money’s repertoire, showcasing their evolution as a band and their commitment to pushing musical boundaries.

First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?

We are My Own Money, a dance-rock-electro-pop from Toronto. We formed in 2019 as a two-piece, and since then have added a drummer, a sax player, and a bassist to round out our sound, which is a little hard to describe. Our influences include retro giants like Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, and New Order, and also contemporary artists like Metric, Robyn, Charli XCX, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and 100 gecs to name a few. We consider ourselves a party band. We want people to have a good time, dance, and hear something they haven’t heard before. 

Tell us a bit about your most recent release.

We recorded “Dark As A Dungeon” in January with Toronto producer Josh Korody (Tess Parks, Weaves, Fucked Up). It’s a slow dance track with a dark undercurrent. The song encapsulates the rawness of our emotions and the voyage to accepting them – both the shadow and the light. Sometimes the ones we cherish and look to for happiness, will instead cast on us the deepest of darkness. The more we give of our own love and energy, the less we receive in return. The song is an invitation to dance it all out.

Do you have any upcoming shows you’d like to tell us about?

Yes! Our release show for “Dark As A Dungeon” is on Saturday, May 11th at The Dakota Tavern with Cold Weather Captains and The Swiggs. Our next show after that is on Saturday, June 15th at The Painted Lady as part of Toronto’s NXNE festival. 

If given the chance, which Canadian artist would you love to work with in the future?

We’d love to collab with fellow Toronto electronic musician Debby Friday or  DJ/producer BAMBII. Our city’s been on fire with amazing cutting-edge electronic musicians, and we are trying to keep that flame a-burning.

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