Montreal-based saxophonist, keyboardist, and bandleader Vincent Stephen-Ong is the driving force behind the family of projects under the Urban Science umbrella- the LeCypherX band that creates virtuosic freestyle hip-hop sets on the fly, the Urban Science Brass Band, a party band at the intersection of horns and hip-hop, and the LabX series of workshops, discussions, and experiments, geared towards both self-trained and formally-educated musicians and artists. LeCypherX hosts the #LeCypher weekly live band hip-hop & soul party jam session that became (pre-pandemic) central to Montreal’s musical and artistic scene.
Prior to Urban Science, he was a freelance musician performing and touring with such acts as Nomadic Massive, Kalmunity, Certified Organic Quartet, Paul Cargnello, Vox Sambou, and many others.
Outside of music, Vincent drew public and media attention to the problems music venues face with noise complaints and fines with #SaveThePlateau, started the “Thunder Tone Broadcast” movie and TV YouTube review channel, and, in a previous lifetime, worked as a software developer, with an artificial intelligence patent to his name.
Name:
Vincent Stephen-Ong
Genre:
Virtuosic freestyle Hip-Hop with a live band, and brass band music
Founded:
2014 (Urban Science)
# of Albums:
2 (as a leader)
Latest Album:
Urban Science Brass Band – Live and Raw Vol. 1
Latest Single:
Urban Science Brass Band – Get On It [ Live Freestyle ]
Latest Video:
Favourite musician growing up:
Greg Osby
Favourite musician now:
Kendrick Lamar
Guilty pleasure song:
Tyla – Water
Live show ritual:
None, because every show should be approached fresh
Favourite local musician:
Kid Koala
EP or LP?
LP, if it’s fully conceptualised. Otherwise, Single!
Early bird or night owl?
Night owl
Road or studio?
Road. Too many artists these days blow up before knowing how to rock a live show.
Where can we follow you?
@LeCypherX | @UrbSciBB | @LabXUrbSci | @UrbSci | @vstephenong
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Rapid Fire Local Questions:
What is your favourite local restaurant?
Choosing just one is so disrespectful to all the phenomenal restaurants in the city. Here’s a bunch that I rather enjoy: Kui, Ying Ji Chang Fen, Imperial, the prepared food at T&T is fire, Boom J’s, Nouilles de Langzhou, Andréamise, Europea, Cosmos, Comon, Cuisine de Manille. I’m probably leaving out 10 others who are going to curse my name when this comes out.
What is your favourite street in your city and why?
When I think of a favourite street, I don’t think of Montreal :/. I think of Frenchmen in New Orleans. Sadly with Montreal’s rapid gentrification, there seems to be less and less interesting streets.
What is your favourite park in your city and why?
I’m not a big park person, however you can never go wrong with Parc Lafontaine. So long as you are as far away as possible from tam-tams, any park is fine.
What is your favourite music venue in your city?
O Patro Vys, where we perform every Thursday! But barring bias, I rather like Escogriffe, Turbo Haus, Grumpy’s, M2 when we play there during jazzfest.
What is your favourite music store in your city?
Long & McQuade, I am so happy they are finally in QC. Their rental department is particularly outstanding.
