# Contrived > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Contrived > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Contrived.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrived > Source revision: 1349445359 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{short description|Canadian rock band}} {{See Wiktionary}} {{distinguish|text=the Australian band [Contrive](/source/Contrive)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Contrived | image = | caption = | alias = | origin = [Halifax](/source/Halifax_Regional_Municipality), [Nova Scotia](/source/Nova_Scotia), Canada | genre = [Rock](/source/Rock_music), [alternative](/source/alternative_rock) | years_active = 2000–2010, 2019–present | label = [Dependent](/source/Dependent_Music)
[Hand Drawn Dracula](/source/Hand_Drawn_Dracula) | website = {{Instagram|contrivedband}} | current_members = Loel Campbell
Mike MacNeill
Tim D'Eon
Jon Samuel
Ryan MacDonald | past_members = Mike Bigelow }} '''Contrived''' is a Canadian [indie rock](/source/indie_rock) band.[https://www.thecoast.ca/TheScene/archives/2008/11/07/contrived-draws-a-blank-blank-blank "Contrived draws a blank, blank, blank"]. ''[The Coast](/source/The_Coast_(newspaper))'', November 7, 2008. Based in [Nova Scotia](/source/Nova_Scotia), the band consists of Loel Campbell, Mike MacNeill, Tim D'Eon and Jon Samuel.Kate Harper, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090311233608/http://www.chartattack.com/news/61852/contrived-prep-third-album "Contrived Prep Third Album"]}}. ''[Chart Attack](/source/Chart_Attack)'', October 22, 2008. Four of the five members are also in the band [Wintersleep](/source/Wintersleep), and two were in [Holy Fuck](/source/Holy_Fuck). The band released two full-length albums and one EP on [Dependent Music](/source/Dependent_Music) before signing to [Hand Drawn Dracula](/source/Hand_Drawn_Dracula),Mike Doherty, "Able labels; Who would start a music imprint at a time like this? Only the passionate". ''[National Post](/source/National_Post)'', January 31, 2009. which released their third album in 2008. ==History== Contrived was formed in June 2000 by McNeil, Campbell and Bigelow while they were high school students in [Stellarton](/source/Stellarton%2C_Nova_Scotia).Jennifer Vardy, "Stellarton rockers launch new disc". ''New Glasgow Evening News'', June 11, 2005. Although Wintersleep achieved national fame first, Contrived in fact existed earlier and Wintersleep was originally a side project in collaboration with Paul Murphy of the band Kary.Kevin Maimann, "Fans warming up to Wintersleep; Side project catches on for Nova Scotia friends". ''[Edmonton Sun](/source/Edmonton_Sun)'', February 15, 2008. Campbell has stated in interviews that the band's name was a sarcastic riposte to the popularity of mainstream [boy band](/source/boy_band) pop at the time.[https://www.blogto.com/music/2009/02/call_response_contrived/ "Call & Response: Contrived"]. ''BlogTO'', February 5, 2009. They began performing in the Halifax area, and in 2002 released an album, ''Pursuit of Plots'', on the [Dependent Music](/source/Dependent_Music) label.Neil Haverty, [http://exclaim.ca/music/article/contrived-pursuit_of_plots "Contrived: Pursuit of Plots"]. ''[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)'' December 1, 2002. Contrived appeared in video for a television pilot in 2003, and became known locally for their highly energetic live shows; they released an EP in 2004. Their next album, ''Dead Air Verbatim'', was recorded partly in [London](/source/London%2C_Ontario), [Ontario](/source/Ontario), and produced by [Andy Magoffin](/source/Andy_Magoffin).Sandy MacDonald, "Contrived's 'hexed' CD finally set for release". ''[Halifax Daily News](/source/Halifax_Daily_News)'', June 9, 2005. It included a second guitarist, Jon Samuel, and was named as one of 2004's most anticipated releases by ''[!earshot](/source/!earshot)''.[http://www.earshot-online.com/features/2004/December/yr_pics_7.cfm "The Best, The Worst and the Rest"]. ''!earshot'', December 2004. The album was supported by their first major national tour, on a bill that included both Contrived and Wintersleep as well as singer-songwriter [Jill Barber](/source/Jill_Barber).Mike Devlin, "Dream streak for Wintersleep". ''[Victoria Times-Colonist](/source/Victoria_Times-Colonist)'', March 30, 2006. In 2008, the group released their third album, ''Blank, Blank, Blank''.Ian Gormley, [http://exclaim.ca/music/article/contrived-blank_blank_blank "Contrived: Blank, Blank, Blank"]. ''[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)'', January 26, 2009. The album pursued a less heavy rock sound than the band's previous work,Alison Lang, [https://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/contriveds-comfort/Content?oid=1557655 "Contrived’s comfort"]. ''[The Coast](/source/The_Coast_(newspaper))'', March 11, 2010.Lorraine Carpenter, [https://archive.today/20110606065731/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2008/120408/disc.html "Contrived blank, blank, blank (Hand Drawn Dracula)"]. ''[Montreal Mirror](/source/Montreal_Mirror)'', December 4, 2008. and was produced by David Newfeld of [Broken Social Scene](/source/Broken_Social_Scene). By 2010, Wintersleep had been established as major national rock stars by the success of their breakthrough single "Weighty Ghost",Mike Devlin, "Wintersleep won't hibernate in search of catchy chorus". ''[Calgary Herald](/source/Calgary_Herald)'', November 16, 2010. and Contrived were performing only occasionally. Contrived reunited in Stellarton in January 2018 to perform at a party celebrating the life of Campbell's late father. Over the following two years, Murphy and D'Eon moved back to Halifax, and Campbell also spent more time in the city, allowing for more collaborations as both Wintersleep and Contrived. Contrived began work on their fourth album in December 2021.{{cite news|last=Cooke|first=Stephen|date=December 18, 2019|title=Nothing Contrived about band's revival: Rock Reunion|work=[Chronicle-Herald](/source/Chronicle-Herald)|location=Halifax, Nova Scotia|page=A1|id={{ProQuest|2328353433}}}} The album, ''Addicted to Sadness'', was released in September 2024, with the singles "Gemini" and "Half of It" preceding it.{{Cite web |title=Contrived Are 'Addicted to Sadness' on First New Album in 15 Years, Share "Half of It" |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/contrived-are-addicted-to-sadness-on-first-new-album-in-15-years-share-half-of-it |website=[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)|date=July 23, 2024|author=Megan Lapierre |language=en}} ==Members== *Mike Bigelow – bass *Loel Campbell – drums *Mike MacNeil – vocals, guitar *Tim D'Eon – keyboards, guitars *Jon Samuel – vocals, guitar ==Discography== *''Pursuit of Plots'' (2002) *''Starshine'' (2004, EP) *''Dead Air Verbatim'' (2005) *''Blank, Blank, Blank'' (2008) *''Addicted to Sadness'' (2024) ==See also== {{Portal|Music|Canada}} *[Music of Canada](/source/Music_of_Canada) *[Canadian rock](/source/Canadian_rock) *[List of bands from Canada](/source/List_of_bands_from_Canada) *[List of Canadian musicians](/source/List_of_Canadian_musicians) *[:Category:Canadian musical groups](/source/%3ACategory%3ACanadian_musical_groups) ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Wintersleep}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Contrived}} Category:Musical groups established in 2000 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2010 Category:Canadian indie rock groups Category:Musical groups from Halifax, Nova Scotia --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Contrived](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrived) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrived?action=history)). 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