Holy moly, it's been a little while since our last bank vault session when Not A Band paid us a visit.

We're so, soooo pleased to put that right with the release of our first track from the CITIZENRY sessions! These were filmed in our disused bank vault way back in March, supporting CITIZENRY's debut self-titled album which arrived earlier this year digitally and via limited edition cassette that have all but since sold out.

The solo project of Mike Wallace, the enigmatic drummer for the likes of Preoccupations, Odonis Odonis, Women, Bloodslide and more, we start by sharing 'Instrumental' where Wallace uses sensory percussion via drum triggers to perform an improvised solo. 

This music has never been heard before... we're privileged to bring it to you! Watch in full now via our YouTube channel.

As a small team working on Safe Sounds in our spare time, we're so hyped by Mike and the quality of this music. Filming with a full drum kit in the bank vault is always awesome; the concrete walls bounce that sound around so hard, ear protection is a must when you're inside there filming.

Have you listened to CITIZENRY's debut album yet? Well you won't find the whole thing on Spotify or streaming because, as we're all finding out more and more, those evil war mongering twerps don't deserve your money. The good news is, the album is available to listen (and buy if you want to show your gratitude directly to Wallace) via the CITIZENRY bandcamp.

Watch this space because we've got new CITIZENRY live bangers coming once a week now for the month!! We warned ya.

Thanks again for your never ending support.

World News (AKA World News 808909) are holding a premiere party today, Tues 12th August, at Houndstooth in Toronto for the new single – HYPE!

The music video was filmed on the Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa at tempratures lower than -30° and stars professional figure skater Ava Smale.

It's a vision from award-winning writer and director Brennan Martin who worked closely with World News to bring the video to life. Brennan has worked with the group previously, including the incredible Descenending music video.

Toronto electronic music duo World News (AKA World News 808909) combine influences of house, techno, ambient and alternative music. HYPE is the first music released from their upcoming debut album – ON STEROIDS.

ON STEROIDS [SS130] marks the 30th release from Safe Sounds and we're delighted to inform you that this will be a multi-format release including a limited edition run of Pink Lichen coloured vinyl, which are now available for preorder. The record will be released digitally September 25th 2025... but the records will ship sooner.

World News 808909 are back with an electrifying new single, Lot Lizard. It’ll make the hairs stand up vibrant purple on the back of your neck.

Let's get straight to it because this music video has to be one of the most insane, mesmerising and nauseating that we’ve ever seen!

Lot Lizard is a concept by World News and Shawn Chiki, the video for which was created in Virtual Reality (VR). Shawn Chiki, a pioneer in his craft, is a technology wizard who has made beautiful music videos in the past for the likes of Zoon and Michael Peter Olsen.

In the video, World News travel to Lacey Lucy’s – the last stop in town, which is a truck stop, motel and bar. It’s in the middle of nowhere, and at a crossroads to everywhere. It’s a great place to rest, fill up the tank and smash a beer or two.

If you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll see a bunch of easter eggs… anyone for a game of darts? What’s going on with the number 7? Do we drive on the left or the right?

Speaking of the release, Bill of World News said –

“I met Shawn Chiki when I was looking for a ride home from Electric Eclectics, a great little music festival in Ontario. After that I started following Shawn on Instagram, and he was always creating these fantastical models and flying around the environments; it was all just so fluid and beautiful, and I just really felt a pull to his art.”

“The plan early was to fly to Arizona, rent a high-end vehicle (maybe a sports car) and go all out and film it in the desert… but we realised pretty quick that was going to be tricky, and also, how on earth would we film the hot tub scenes?!”

“So yeah, when I shared the song with Shawn, told him the concept and he didn’t flee immediately, I knew we were onto something! Sometimes things just fall into place – the CGI and VR experience is perfect, and Shawn doubled down on our initial concept to make it epic.”

Qu of World News interjects –

“This is the most intense music video we’ve made, both in terms of the time it took to create the worlds, and then again to film using the storyboard as a guide.”

“We ended up with hours and hours of screen recorded footage, which Bill had to painstakingly review and organise, and the video edit alone ended up being like 40 hours.”

“We had so many eyeballs on this thing that we had to grow new ones just to keep it together. I’m not sure what I’m even seeing anymore.”

A special thank you to Ryan Bembridge for his VR support world building.

Catch World News 808909 playing tonight for the mighty, Sled Island Festival opening bonanza. It’s being held at Commonwealth, downstairs in the Underground. Other bands performing include CHXMERAS, Daniel Son + Tea Fannie & The Collective.

Then, they’ll be heading to Edmonton in similar fashion to the music video, because they’re playing The Aviary on Wednesday for a show with the mighty Doom Gong, in what is a sort of Purple City Fest pre-party.

That’s right, the boys are in the air as we type, flying to the West Coast, but don’t get too upset because they’ll be back in Toronto at The Baby G on June 29th to support experimental music underground group, Wolf Eyes.

Don’t worry, World News 808909 is just getting started. ✌️🌎🗞️

Mike Wallace's solo endeavour CITIZENRY continues to roll out... 

The new single "Ashes for the Masses" features guest vocals by Kali Horse's Idious Carrie, processed by Bill Cutbill. The debut EP from CITIZENRY is mixed and mastered by Constantine Tzenos (Odonis Odonis)!

Grab a copy of the tape on the CITIZENRY bandcamp!

CITIZENRY has been unleashed upon this earth today with the blistering new single and music video for Took To Take.

The solo project of Mike Wallace, known as the enigmatic drummer for the likes of Preoccupations, Women, Bloodslide and more, CITIZENRY is here to push your senses and get your juices flowing.

Speaking of the single, Wallace said –

"Took To Take is about physically and mentally breaking down, overwhelmed with the grind and just wanting to quit your job and smoke weed with your friends while the stinky city sinks."

The single is mixed and mastered by Constantine Tzenos of Odonis Odonis. The beautiful swirling psychedelic video comes from Cam Saville.

Took To Take features Desiree Das Gupta (Idious Carrie) as guest vocalist.

Watch this space, more music and CITIZENRY announcements will be hitting the fan very soon.