Bonjay Explained

Bonjay
Origin:	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre:	R&B
Years Active:	2007–present
Label:	Mysteries of Trade
Associated Acts:	Queer Songbook Orchestra
Website:	http://bonjaymusic.com
Current Members:	Alanna Stuart Ian Swain

Bonjay is a Canadian R&B musical group from Toronto, Ontario,^[1] consisting of vocalist Alanna Stuart and instrumentalist Ian Swain.^{[2] [3]}

History

Stuart, who also performs with the Queer Songbook Orchestra and was formerly a host on CBC Radio 3, met Swain in Ottawa, where he was working as a disk jockey.^[4] The pair released their debut EP Broughtupsy in 2010,^[5] and toured in support of the release, including at the Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, before taking an extended hiatus.

Stuart and Swain reunited in 2015 with the single "Ingenue".^[6] The full-length album Lush Life followed in 2018,^[7] and was a long-listed nominee for the 2018 Polaris Music Prize.^[8] The duo supported the album with a short tour in conjunction with Vivek Shraya's Too Attached project.^[9] That year they performed as part of the 2018 Hamilton Supercrawl.

Discography

Albums

• Lush Life (2018), Mysteries of Trade

EPs

• Gimmee Gimmee (2009), Independent
• Broughtupsy (2010), Mysteries of Trade

Singles

• "Maps" (2007), XL Recordings, Ghetto Arc
• "Stumble" / "Creepin" (2011), One Bird Records
• "Ingenue" (2015), Memeplex
• "Chelsea" (2018), Mysteries of Trade
• "Medicine For Melancholy" (2018), Mysteries of Trade

Notes and References

1. https://nowtoronto.com/music/features/toronto-musicians-to-watch-in-2018-r-and-b-pop-edition/ "Toronto musicians to watch in 2018: R&B and pop edition"
2. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/bonjay_brought_up_right "Bonjay brought up right"
3. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/bonjay_discuss_lush_life_delays_writing_as_outsiders_and_speaking_their_own_language "Bonjay Discuss 'Lush Life' Delays, Writing as Outsiders and Speaking Their Own Language"
4. https://www.thesil.ca/bonjays-supercrawl-tracks-inspired-by-the-sounds-of-steel-city "Bonjay’s Supercrawl tracks inspired by the sounds of Steel City "
5. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/bonjay-broughtupsy "Bonjay, Broughtupsy"
6. http://www.thefader.com/2017/09/11/bonjay-ingenue-premiere "Listen To Bonjay’s “Ingenue,” A Beautiful Anthem For Growing Up"
7. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/bonjay-lush_life "Bonjay Lush Life"
8. https://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/20072/2018-polaris-music-prize-long-list-arcade-fire "2018 Polaris Music Prize: Arcade Fire, Daniel Caesar, Gord Downie make this year's long list"
9. https://nowtoronto.com/music/features/bonjay-too-attached-diversity-tour/ "Bonjay and Too Attached on the limits of 'diversity'"