aKido is the moniker of Kim Gaboury, a Montreal based electronic musician and composer who, in the past five years has released three albums on his label Nordique Records. Dubbed « local underground high flier » and « the best kept secret in our latitudes » by some in the Montreal press, aKido has been celebrated for creating a sound that marries elements of experimental rock and indie electronica into a catchy arrangement. Alongside the release of his instrumental hit “Dancing in Chains”, a notorious remix of “Beggin” for the ADIDAS Originals campaign has only served to cement aKido’s renown.

While Gaboury’s tracks encompass a wide range of electronic and rock styles, he avoids classifications. Textura.org said “aKido’s music raves without lapsing into out-of-control mayhem, and its elegance is bolstered by the inclusion of Joyce Vallus’s silky vocals. Also distinguishing the music is the fact that Gaboury composes songs, not tracks, so that electronic pop pieces like “Cause Celebre”, for example, impress as studiously arranged and sequenced wholes. Songs repeatedly take surprising twists and turns. Symphonic electronic pop, shoegaze guitar riffing, traces of drum’n’bass and acid all lurk in there.” Montreal Nightlife Magazine adds “As much swirling, moody gothic pop new-wave as electronic experimentation, aKido seems hooked on classics and moves through the past in a most contemporary way.”

Ever since the release of his first album Playtime in 2004, Gaboury found support and praise from a variety of outlets. Playtime was in the year’s top 15 for college radio airplay accross Canada (Earshot). The unusual track “Les Humains” ft. Pierre Falardeau and it’s groundbreaking digital animation video won multiple awards around the world and over the years has become a local underground classic. Quebec radio DJ and renowned music guide Claude Rajotte has continuously been playing aKido’s music on his Radio-Canada show. After the release of his second album Blink in 2007, the track “Dancing in Chains” became the highest charting instrumental track ever in CBC Radio 3’s Top 30, peaking at #3. The track was even considered by Nintendo as the soundtrack for it’s worldwide Wii campaign.

aKido always performs live as a three-piece; Kim on guitar and laptop, his wife Joyce on synth and vocals and his brother Martin on drums. Their innovative, emotive on-stage performances is best described by 33mag.com: “…the whole concert was mesmerizing. The music was melodic, rhythmic, electronic, upbeat, piercing, rocking and bittersweet, all at once…” The music tells a story but you are your own interpreter. There is almost no words, and the existing words are merely suggestions. Joyce Vallus’ exquisite voice enters and pushes the dream sequence a little further and reminds you that life was still pretty…”