Strange Froots is an alternative chill-soul & hip-hop duo from NBS Studio in Côtes-des-Neiges. Since 2014, Mags and Naïka Champaïgne have been performing in the Montréal scene while putting their youth influences, their Caribbean and African roots as well as their own twist on neo-soul and current hip-hop culture at the forefront of their craft.
Name:
Strange Froots
Genre:
Alternative chill-soul & Hip-hop
Founded:
2014
# of Albums:
2 EPs, 1 film soundtrack and 1 remix album
Latest Album:
Green Apple: The RMX (2019)
Latest Single:
“London Fog” (2024)
Latest Video:
Favourite musician growing up:
Mags: Spice Girls & Missy Elliot
Naïka: That is hard, I don’t know… I used to listen to The Click Five a lot
Favourite musician now:
Mags: LCD Soundsystem, Kid Cudi
Naïka: that is also super hard but top 5 right now?? Prince, Queen, The Dear Hunter, D’Angelo, Polyphia
Guilty pleasure song:
Mags: “Almost” by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Naïka: Shania Twain “You’re Still The One”
Live show ritual:
Mags: It usually includes a boba run after vocal warm-ups
Naïka: Taking a nap and shaking ass
Favourite local musician:
Mags: Shem G
Naïka: Malika Tirolien
EP or LP?
Mags: EP
Naïka: LP
Early bird or night owl?
Night owls
Road or studio?
Road
Any shows or albums coming up?
We’ll be performing at the Ctrl+Alt+Festival this summer, during the ElleLui Day Party on July 20th from 4-6 pm, and expect more live appearances this August as well as more new music.
Where can we follow you?
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Rapid Fire Local Questions:
What is your favourite local restaurant?
Mags: I try to go to a lot of different restaurants since I only really go to non-chains for special occasions, but I quite enjoy Kinton Ramen
Naïka: Sissi et Paul
What is your favourite street in your city and why?
Mags: Saint-Laurent because of all the memories I made performing and watching my friends do the same
Naïka: L.O. David & Everett as a child because of a lot of games with the neighbourhood kids and block parties, and Saint-Laurent as well for the same reasons as Mags
What is your favourite park in your city and why?
Mags: Parc Lafontaine because it’s so vast and it feels different in every area. I have distinct memories of hangs with different circles in different parts of that same park
Naïka: Parc Joseph-Francois-Perrault, did a lot of shit there in my youth, and Parc Van Horne (under the Van Horne bridge) because of the bike path and outdoor gym
What is your favourite music venue in your city?
Mags: La Sala Rossa, it’s like a second home to me
Naïka: To play at, Sala Rossa, and to go for concerts, M Telus
What is your favourite music store in your city?
Mags: Aux 33 Tours
Naïka: I don’t have a favourite one, I like to check them out wherever I am and see what’s out there
