Formed on Vancouver Island, within the unceded, traditional territory of the Kómoks First Nation, Ultraviolet is a groovy and experimental music project that comprises guitarist Oscar Robles Diaz (from Mexico City), bassist/vocalist Brittany Christina Bowman (from the Comox Valley), and drummer Beau Stocker (from Toronto). These three come from different backgrounds, both geographically and musically speaking, and their combined touring curriculum boasts performance experience in Latin America, Asia, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada. A far-reaching river of influences and the members’ collective interests in spontaneous composition combine to present a palette of ever-evolving musical ideas unique to each performance. The result is a genre-defying sound that has been described as “refreshingly creative” and “equal parts mysterious, groovy and spacey.” With a spaceship’s worth of effects, the trio employs acoustic drums (often played with driftwood sticks, locally-sourced from Vancouver Island beaches), electric and semi-acoustic bass guitars, electric guitars and the highly innovative U10 Touch Guitar, designed for ‘touch-style’ playing. On occasion, haunting vocals, singing bowl, clay sculpting needles, Ebow (electronic/energy bow), and more are added to garnish the multiple layers of rhythms and soundscapes. Ultraviolet has performed at such notable BC festivals as the Filberg Festival, Sunshine Coast Music Festival, Woodstove Festival, and 39 Days of July, and in concert series presented by the Georgia Straight Jazz Society and Comox Valley Arts. In 2022, teaming up with Brother Sea Productions, Ultraviolet recorded two original works - ‘Aphrodite’ and ‘Ophidia’ live at the Abbey Studio in Cumberland. Later that same year, they released ‘The Alchemist,’ performed live at the Sid Williams Theatre. Both Touch Guitar features, ‘Aphrodite’ and ‘The Alchemist’ grabbed the attention of the Germany-based company, Touch Guitars – who, in turn, have the two videos placed on their official Youtube channel showcasing the instrument. In December 2023, Ultraviolet released their debut album - Ripples & Waves. With the exception of a single vocal dub, the album was recorded fully live-off-the-floor – three musicians, one room. Since its release, the Ripples & Waves album has been steadily gaining widespread recognition: The album’s sweet and sticky single ‘Nectar’ was immediately celebrated by Mexico’s Ah World Music in their Editor’s Choice December 2023. Then, in January 2024, All About Jazz featured ‘The Alchemist’ as their Song-of-the-Day. In February 2024, presented by UK-based Bob Osborne, ‘Treetop Canopy’ aired as the opening track on World of Jazz (episode 662). Meanwhile that same month, the Ripples & Waves album was #2 on Guelph, Ontario’s CFRU 93.3 Top 30 Chart, and #1 on Windsor, Ontario’s CJAM 99.1 FM - International chart.
We respectfully acknowledge that the Filberg Festival takes place on the unceded traditional territory of the K'omoks First Nation, Gila 'kasla...Hay ch q'a'.
