Treaty 6

Stem Champ is based in amiskwaciwâskahikan, Treaty 6 territory and unceded Papaschase land (colonially known as Edmonton, Alberta in so-called Canada). amiskwaciwâskahikan is a traditional meeting ground where many Indigenous peoples and nations including Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, and Nakota Sioux, as well as Metis, Inuit, and nations not represented by the treaty continue to live.

About

"Swirling synth meets grunge punk guitar, sentimental lyricism, and a whole lotta love."

Stem Champ first came to life in 2018 in a university dorm room in south-central amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, AB Canada). The project started as Sare’s solo DIY recording project that came alive in between procrastinated engineering school assignments and a burning desire to make sense of the discomfort of growing up as someone who never really could fit in. These days Stem Champ brings bedroom pop to life in full stereo rock where swirling synth meets grunge punk guitar, sentimental lyricism, and a whole lotta love.

Stem Champ playfully captures the joys of a summer night spent biking around with pals, tender late night conversations, and falling in love with the person you’re becoming.

Flames lick the walls of Stem Champ’s latest EP, Kill the Imposter. The first words we hear crackle out of lead singer Sare’s mouth are “I dream of arson.” As the EP extinguishes, Sare is consumed by their thoughts and asserts, “I wanna set this all on fire.” These five lo-fi bedroom pop songs, which are fire, remind you to embrace change, not shy away from growth and leave behind the fake, unauthentic you. Throw that version of you into the garbage and set it alight. In Sare’s words, “I hope they make you wanna dance away your fears, and maybe, if you’re up for it, kill the imposter in you.” — Laura Stanley (The Dominionated Newsletter)

Music

In the Hotel Light

Stem Champ

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There’s something intense in the short bursts of summer in a winter city. Common sense shrinks somewhere between tired sun soaked bike rides and the illusion that the day has so much left to give outside the Black Dog at 1am with summer sky blue teasing you.

This one's for all y’all who feel weird at parties.

<3 STEM CHAMP LOVES YOU <3

Kill The Imposter

Stem Champ

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A loss of self came with long, dark winter months spent alone and disconnected. Your friendly neighbourhood STEM champ spent their summer feeling like an imposter, overwhelmed by the presence of all, and dreaming of a life that doesn’t exist anymore.

Kill the Imposter is a collection of songs about a champion of science, technology, engineering,

A loss of self came with long, dark winter months spent alone and disconnected. Your friendly neighbourhood STEM champ spent their summer feeling like an imposter, overwhelmed by the presence of all, and dreaming of a life that doesn’t exist anymore.

Kill the Imposter is a collection of songs about a champion of science, technology, engineering, and math re-meeting themself through the mirror of shared experiences, letting go of the past, and building themself up to kill the imposter in them.

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Making this collection of songs has been pure catharsis and I’ve found so much joy in the process of recording and bringing these songs to digital life. I hope they make you wanna dance away your fears, and maybe, if you're up for it, kill the imposter in you.