The Cliks

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Cliks

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Img_capt = Lucas Silveira of The Cliks at the
June 2008 Pittsburgh Pridefest.
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Name = The Cliks
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin = Toronto
Instrument = Guitar/Bass/Vocals/Drums
Voice_type =
Genre = Rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 2004–present
Label = Tommy Boy (US)
Warner (Canada)
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.thecliks.com/
Current_members = Lucas Silveira (vocals/guitars)
Nina Martinez (guitar)
Jen Benton (bass)
Morgan Doctor (drums)
Past_members = Jordan B. Wright
Ezri Kaysen
Heidi Chan
Notable_instruments =

The Cliks are a Canadian rock band, consisting of Lucas Silveira (vocalist/guitarist), Jen Benton (bass), Morgan Doctor (drums), and Nina Martinez (guitar). Their major label debut album, "Snakehouse" was released on April 24, 2007 by Warner Music in Canada and Tommy Boy Records in the United States.

History

A different Cliks lineup, consisting of Silveira, bassist Ezri Kaysen and drummer Heidi Chan, released an eponymous debut album in 2004. In Toronto's "NOW", reviewer Sarah Liss described the band's music as "what might happen if Chrissie Hynde and the Murmurs' Leisha Hailey fell in love, got Bowie to help out with insemination and gave birth to an indie rock love child." [ [http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2004-06-24/music_feature4.php "No-Shtick Cliks: Garage Popsters Avoid Gay Clichés"] , "NOW", June 24, 2004.]

However, the original lineup broke up in 2005. This precipitated a difficult period for lead singer and guitarist Lucas Silveira:

"I was in a six-and-a-half year relationship that came to a really, really messy end. After the breakup, both of my band members quit. It was hard to take, because I was falling back on the music to take me to a place where I could keep myself going. My father had a stroke. My grandmother died. A friend of mine got rediagnosed with cancer after being cancer-free for four months. It was just one thing after another. I also started coming to terms with a lot of identity issues, being transgendered and all this stuff. I had a huge breakdown and decided I was either going to get through it or I wasn't."

The first album predated Silveira's gender transition. Silveira later worked with Morgan Doctor and Jordan B. Wright to record "Snakehouse". Wright left the band shortly after the album was completed, but was replaced by Benton and Martinez.

The entire band are out members of the LGBT community. Silveira is a transman, Benton and Martinez are lesbians, and Doctor identifies as queer. ["The Advocate" magazine, April 24, 2007 issue]

The Cliks have been compared to the musical-likes of David Bowie and the White Stripes with the release of their first album, "Snakehouse". Native to Toronto, they are the first transgender band to be signed with a major record label, with lead singer Silveira working his experiences with identity as a transman into his music. The “emotional and guitar-driven” album features the single "Oh Yeah" and a cover of Justin Timberlake’s "Cry Me a River". The element of transexuality further expands the academic scope in the field of LGBT musicology. “‘The question was, and is, as Neil Barlett says of the trial of 1895 in his moving book about Oscar Wilde, “who speaks, and when, and for whom and why’”. Any material that is created by The Cliks’ or any band is not just an expression of their musical inclination; it is an expression of an identity. It is not the say that one defines the other, it is to say that bands whose member or members identify with a particular group like the GLBTQ which has experienced marginalization have an opportunity to express their identity through the medium of music.

Cultural impact

The Cliks being the first transgender band signed by a major record label, Tommy Boy Entertainment, Rosie Lopez, head of A&R of Tommy Boy says that “It’s the music, not Silveira’s gender that will draw in the most dedicated listeners”. The band’s lead singer, Silviera is bringing the presence of trans people into the mainstream media. Silveira understands the link the media has made with his transgender identity and the band’s music stating that he knows he is a pioneer and eventually the novelty of his gender will wear off. He is placed both in the roles of an up and coming musician and a spokesperson for transgender people in mainstream culture. The band faces the challenge of being labeled a “queer band” and having their audience being limited to only those members who fit that label. It is a difficult challenge to take on in an industry that is dominated by labeling types of music and artists. However, his identity plays a part into their image in the media, and perhaps his unique vocal styling. In his transition from female to male he has said that he sacrificed the use of male hormones to maintain his signing voice creating a distinct vocal sound and range. Currently, The Cliks’ major exposure has been with media outlets related to the GLBQT community including MTV gay-oriented LOGO Network, The L Word soundtrack, and touring in 2008 with Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Tour.

True Colors

During the summer of 2007 The Cliks were a part of the multi-artist True Colors Tour [ [http://www.truecolorstour.com/ True Colors Tour] ] , which traveled through 15 cities in the United States and Canada. The tour, sponsored by the Logo channel, began on June 8, 2007. Hosted by comedian Margaret Cho and headlined by Cyndi Lauper, the tour also included Debbie Harry, The Gossip, Rufus Wainwright, The Dresden Dolls, The MisShapes, Erasure and other special guests. Profits from the tour benefited the Human Rights Campaign.

The Cliks appeared again as part of True Colors Tour 2008.

Discography

Albums

* "The Cliks" (2004)
* "Snakehouse" (2007)

Singles

* "Oh Yeah" (2007)
* "Eyes In the Back of My Head" (2007)
* "Complicated" (2007)

References

Rayner, Ben. “A band that Cliks”. The Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/216713.

“Transgender leader of Cliks makes statement, MSNBC.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19680829/.

“Transgender singer makes statement.” The Advocate. http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid47253.asp.

External links

* [http://www.thecliks.com/ The Cliks official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thecliks The Cliks MySpace]
* [http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/216713 "A band that Cliks"] , "Toronto Star", May 24, 2007