Hailing from Vancouver, husband and wife duo Dear Rouge began their ascent in 2012 after winning the coveted Peak Performance Prize from that city’s modern rock station. They quickly got to work writing and recording their debut album Black to Gold with producer Ryan Worsley. The Peak Prize allowed them to create an album on their own terms without any outside influence. Upon completion, they put a team together, signing with the UTA Agency, Pandyamonium Management and Universal Music Canada.

The release contained four Top 10 singles, with the title track being awarded the SOCAN Songwriting Prize in 2015. The band hit the road soon after the release, first as a support act for bands like The Arkells and Phantogram, followed by a co-headline tour with Saskatchewan’s Rah Rah. They were also a favourite at renowned festivals such as Osheaga, WayHome, Squamish, Riverfest Elora and Field Trip. At the 2016 Juno Awards, the band performed on the national broadcast and was awarded the 2016 Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year.

Once Dear Rouge met Starmaker eligibility, marketing money was accessed to further promote the group throughout the country during their tour with Rah Rah, which was also funded via the domestic touring program. The tour had sell out performances in Toronto, Halifax and Vancouver, establishing the group as one of Canada’s best up-and-coming live acts. After the Canadian dates, Dear Rouge also received RSF international touring support to travel to Europe and support Rah Rah. This tour exposed them to a brand new audience, leading to an increase in streaming totals as well as social media subscriptions.

By helping offset the cost of touring, the Radio Starmaker Fund was crucial in allowing Dear Rouge to put on consistently high caliber performances at the level expected of a major label artist. With marketing support, the band was able to have a strong presence in each market, leading to increased ticket sales for the whole tour. They are currently writing their much anticipated follow-up to Black to Gold, slated for release in 2017.

Michael Gorman
Manager
Pandyamonium Management