Hubbry Logo
Do Make Say ThinkDo Make Say ThinkMain
Open search
Do Make Say Think
Community hub
Do Make Say Think
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Do Make Say Think
Do Make Say Think
Do Make Say Think
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Do Make Say Think is a Canadian instrumental band formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1995. Their music combines jazz-style drumming, distorted guitars and wind instruments, and prominent bass guitar.

Key Information

Biography

[edit]

The band formed in 1995 as a recording project for a Canadian youth dramatic production. They rehearsed for the production in an empty elementary school room. The four simple verbs 'Do', 'Make', 'Say' and 'Think' were painted on walls of the room, and the band adopted them as their name. In 1996, the band progressed as they practiced in the rehearsal room in the basement of the University of Toronto radio station CIUT.

The song "Chinatown" from 2002's & Yet & Yet is featured in the films Syriana, The Corporation, and A Simple Curve.

The band's fifth full-length album, entitled You, You're a History in Rust, was released on Constellation Records in February 2007. The band toured North America and Europe to promote the release of the album, and released a tour EP, The Whole Story of Glory, to promote the Japanese leg of their tour.

In June 2009 at Luminato, Toronto's annual festival of arts and creativity, the band provided part of the live soundtrack for the outdoor screening (at Yonge-Dundas Square (now Sankofa Square) of the 1919 silent German horror film Tales Of The Uncanny (Unheimliche Geschichten), alongside Canadian violinist Owen Pallett and electronica music artist Robert Lippok from Berlin, Germany.

Constellation Records released Do Make Say Think's sixth album, titled Other Truths, in October 2009. Their seventh album, titled Stubborn Persistent Illusions, was released on May 19, 2017. The album won the 2018 Juno Awards for Best Instrumental Album, and Best Artwork.[1]

Members

[edit]
Do Make Say Think performing live at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in October 2007.

Current members

[edit]

Previous members

[edit]

Side projects

[edit]
  • Justin Small is also involved in a side project called Lullabye Arkestra as a drummer with his partner and bassist Katia Taylor. They have been produced by Benchetrit who, along with Spearin, records and tours with the Toronto group Broken Social Scene.
  • Spearin, Mitchell, and Benchetrit recorded an album together in 1997 under the moniker Microgroove, which put out a limited number of presses of their synthesizer and acoustic drum and bass beat working of jazz forms.
  • Benchetrit and Mitchell were also involved in a side project called Sphyr, who released one album, A Poem for M, in 2003. This album is on Fire Records.
  • Benchetrit's current solo project is called Years and released a self-titled album under that moniker in 2009.
  • Spearin released The Happiness Project in 2009, a collection of interviews with his neighbors set to music. The album was long-listed for the Polaris Prize.
  • Benchetrit and Small scored the soundtrack to the 2018 film Braven.[2]

Discography

[edit]

LPs

[edit]

EPs

[edit]
  • Besides (1999)
  • The Whole Story of Glory (2008) (Japan-only)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Do Make Say Think

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Do Make Say Think is a Canadian band formed in in 1995, known for pioneering hybrids that blend , , punk, progressive elements, and in self-produced recordings. The band's core lineup consists of Ohad Benchetrit (guitar, bass, woodwinds), David Mitchell (keyboards, guitar), James Payment (drums), Justin Small (guitar, drums), and Charles Spearin (bass, trumpet, percussion), who began collaborating on psychedelic-influenced improvisations. Since self-releasing their debut album Do Make Say Think in 1997 (reissued by Constellation Records in 1998), the group has issued seven studio albums through the Montreal-based label, including critically acclaimed works like Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord Is Dead (2000), Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn (2003), One Morning Lasted All Day (2004), You, You're a History in Rust (2007), Other Truths (2009), and Stubborn Persistent Illusions (2017). All recordings are produced at the band's studio, th' Schvitz, emphasizing dynamic guitar-driven compositions, intricate rhythms, and expansive builds without vocals. Over two decades, Do Make Say Think has toured extensively across , , and , contributing to the scene alongside labelmates like while members pursue side projects such as and Valley of the Giants. In 2025, the band remained active, performing shows in , , and .

History

Formation and Early Recordings

Do Make Say Think formed in , , in the mid-1990s as a studio recording project initiated for a sound engineering course by one of its founding members. The group began as casual jamming sessions among friends, including guitarist Ohad Benchetrit, bassist Charles Spearin, and drummer Jason McKenzie, evolving into a more structured ensemble with the addition of guitarist Justin Small and drummer James Payment. Their rehearsals took place in an empty classroom at a school for the , where the walls featured the painted verbs "do," "make," "say," and "think"—simple imperatives that the band adopted as their name to reflect a of action and in their creative process. This origin tied into a broader initiative, providing the space and impetus for their initial sonic experiments blending and layered . The band's debut album, Do Make Say Think, was self-recorded and self-released on in 1997, capturing their raw, exploratory sound through lo-fi techniques. Recording sessions spanned September 1996 to July 1997, primarily at CIUT Radio in for mixing, with select tracks like "Le'espalace," "Disco and Haze," and "The Fare to Get There" captured on 8-track at the school for the arts to emphasize live-room acoustics and spontaneous energy. Highlights include the sprawling 10-minute opener "1978," which evokes with reverb-drenched guitars and syncopated rhythms, and the concise "Onions," a brief interlude showcasing horn accents and saturated synth tones. Constellation Records reissued the in 1998, broadening its reach within circles and solidifying the band's instrumental approach. Following the debut, Do Make Say Think released their second album, Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord Is Dead, on Constellation Records in March 2000, marking a step toward greater cohesion and recognition. Recorded primarily in August 1999 at the grandparents' barn of drummer Jason McKenzie near , by Benchetrit and Spearin, the sessions emphasized natural ambiance with additional overdubs at CIUT Radio in December 1998 for tracks like "A Tender History in Rust" and the closing suite. Standout pieces such as the eight-minute "Minmin," with its swelling breakbeats and punk-inflected guitars, and the title track's atmospheric build, highlighted their maturing hybrid of psych, jazz, and electronica elements. This release garnered initial critical acclaim, positioning the band as a key voice in the genre. In the late , after focusing on studio work, the band began performing live, starting with infrequent local gigs in supported by airplay. These early shows evolved into grassroots touring across , including mini-stretches through and beyond, where they refined their improvisational style before growing audiences and built a dedicated following through word-of-mouth in the underground scene.

Mid-Career Developments

Following the of their early releases, Do Make Say Think entered a phase of heightened creativity and exposure from 2001 to 2009, marked by the release of four critically acclaimed albums on Constellation Records and rigorous international touring. This period represented the band's peak productivity, as they refined their instrumental approach with increasingly layered arrangements and thematic depth, drawing subtle nods to their core style of blending jazz-inflected rhythms and atmospheric guitars. The band's third album, & Yet & Yet, was released in March 2002 and showcased a more polished production, recorded and mixed by core members Ohad Benchetrit and Charles Spearin at Justin Small's apartment on Queen Street and Manta DSP in , utilizing tube gear alongside digital editing to achieve a thick, detailed sonic texture. Tracks like "" exemplified the album's evocative themes of urban introspection and melodic interplay, with guitars and horns weaving through analog synths and phased percussion to create a warm, soulful pulse that evoked nocturnal cityscapes. The record garnered significant critical buzz for its fluid evolution from their debut's dub influences, earning praise as their strongest and most satisfying work to date for its ebullient, unpredictable energy. In 2003, Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn further expanded the band's palette, incorporating orchestral horn sections performed by Brian Cram and Mr. Jay Baird amid multi-instrumental swells. Recorded across three sessions in winter and spring 2003—primarily at rural sites like the Rockwood 2 Farmhouse in Rockwood, (January), and the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, (March), with additional work at th'Schvitz in —the album captured an intimate "campfire vibe" through its organic, site-specific acoustics. This approach yielded a varied, immersive hailed as the band's best effort yet, blending rustic warmth with dynamic crescendos that highlighted their maturation. Throughout the mid-2000s, Do Make Say Think undertook extensive tours across and , solidifying their reputation through numerous performances in venues from Toronto's to London's Hanbury Ballroom. Key highlights included festival appearances such as Dour Festival and Rock Herk in (2002), Tanned Tin Festival in (2003), Guelph Jazz Festival in (2004), and Bluesfest in (2006), where their live improvisations amplified the communal, exploratory essence of their recordings. These outings not only broadened their audience but also informed subsequent albums with a heightened sense of spontaneity. The 2007 release You, You're a History in Rust marked a subtle shift toward experimental folk elements, anchored by acoustic fingerpicked guitars and non-linear structures that integrated , , and punk undertones into organic, multi-textural pieces. Self-produced and recorded in remote locations like the Mitchell family cottage in Parry Sound and the Howard family barn in Delta, before final mixing at th'Schvitz, the featured detailed horn and percussion layers, culminating in vocal experiments on tracks like "A With Living." Its artwork, a evocative laid out by Ananuku Kolar in a full-color jacket with accompanying poster, complemented the record's rustic, narrative-driven aesthetic. Critics lauded its warm, immersive folk-infused forms as a brilliant extension of the band's sonic identity. Capping this era, Other Truths arrived in October 2009 as a mature culmination of their sound, comprising four extended tracks—three exceeding ten minutes—that traced multi-movement arcs rich in harmony, , and . Recorded at Giant Studios and th'Schvitz in , with mixing by Benchetrit, Small, and Spearin, the album's organic warmth captured the band's live energy, echoing their improvisational stage presence through guest vocals from The Akron Family and Lullaby Arkestra. This tied directly to performances like their June 2009 contribution to 's Luminato Festival, where they provided a live —alongside Final Fantasy and Robert Lippok—for the outdoor screening of the 1919 German Tales of the Uncanny at Yonge-Dundas Square, blending real-time composition with cinematic tension.

Hiatus and Later Releases

Following the release of their sixth studio , Other Truths, in 2009, Do Make Say Think entered an unofficial hiatus, during which ceased producing new material and touring. This period, spanning 2010 to 2016, was marked by personal commitments and life events that interrupted the group's collaborative momentum, including members balancing family and individual creative pursuits. No major archival releases or reissues occurred in this time, allowing to step back from the public eye while maintaining their core lineup of Ohad Benchetrit, David Mitchell, James Payment, Justin Small, and Charles Spearin, all based in . The band reunited in 2014 to begin recording sessions for their comeback album, Stubborn Persistent Illusions, which was released on May 19, 2017, via Constellation Records—their first new music in eight years. The album features nine tracks characterized by the group's signature blend of and emotive builds, drawing on extended jam sessions and meticulous post-production to create a restorative sound. It received widespread acclaim and won two in 2018: Instrumental Album of the Year and Album Artwork of the Year (for the design by Marianne Collins, with contributions from Ian Ilavsky and Steve Farmer). Post-2017, Do Make Say Think resumed selective live performances, including a headline show at Toronto's during the Winter Festival in March 2023. The band has remained active on stage without announcing a new studio album as of November 2025, with performances including a tour in July 2025 (Tokyo on July 11 and 14, Sendai on July 13), a Toronto concert at The Concert Hall on August 23, 2025, and a set at Pop Montreal on September 28, 2025.

Musical Style and Influences

Core Characteristics

Do Make Say Think is classified as an band, incorporating elements of , folk, and to create a distinctive sound that prioritizes texture and mood over conventional songwriting. Their music largely eschews vocals, with occasional guest contributions on select tracks, relying instead on layered to convey emotional depth and through abstract, evocative narratives. This approach often evokes cinematic or themes, fostering an immersive atmosphere that suggests vast landscapes or introspective journeys without explicit lyrical guidance. The band's signature instrumentation centers on jazz-style drumming, which provides syncopated, propulsive rhythms that underpin the compositions, alongside distorted guitars that deliver swirling, psychedelic textures. Woodwind instruments such as and add melodic warmth and improvisational flair, while a prominent bass line anchors the foundation, creating a rich, organic interplay that blends rock energy with . These elements are favored over electronic effects, emphasizing live, acoustic-driven sounds that highlight the musicians' multi-instrumental versatility. In terms of recording and structure, Do Make Say Think employs a range from lo-fi aesthetics to more polished productions, always maintaining an organic feel through analog warmth and minimal processing. Their typical song structures feature extended builds that gradually layer instruments, incorporating improvisational sections for spontaneity before culminating in dynamic shifts—from quiet, passages to , orchestral swells—that heighten emotional tension and release. This method allows for fluid, non-linear progressions that prioritize atmospheric evolution over rigid verse-chorus forms.

Evolution and Inspirations

Formed in during the mid-1990s, Do Make Say Think drew early inspiration from the city's vibrant scene, which emphasized community-driven indie culture and that fostered underground . The band was particularly influenced by pioneers like , whose instrumental explorations in dub, , and shaped their initial sound, as well as , whose expansive, atmospheric compositions from the same Montreal-Toronto ecosystem echoed in their formative years. In their late-1990s recordings, such as the self-titled debut, the band's approach remained raw and garage-like, rooted in and loose melodic structures captured during college sound engineering sessions. By the early , they shifted toward more layered arrangements, incorporating jazz-inflected drumming and driving guitars, as evident in the epic, barn-recorded sound of Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord Is Dead (2000). Their album & Yet & Yet introduced occasional guest vocals, blending them with electronic elements and psychedelic textures. This evolution continued into the mid- with acoustic-driven textures, marking a departure from initial intensity toward subtler, collaborative builds in albums like Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn (2003). The 2007 album You, You're a History in Rust further incorporated folk elements through greater emphasis on acoustic guitars and continued the occasional use of vocals from band members and guests, reflecting the band's personal maturation amid collaborative lyric contributions from local artists. This trend deepened in Other Truths (2009), where and folk influences manifested in extended, assimilative compositions featuring periods of downtime and organic peaks, including guest vocals from Akron/Family and Lullabye Arkestra, along with banjo-like twang and flourishes for a more introspective tone. Following an eight-year hiatus, the release Stubborn Persistent Illusions signaled a return to their roots, blending braided guitars and dual drums with added maturity drawn from life changes and the reflective "bootcamp" recording process in Iceland's stark environment. The album's seamless, cinematic transitions and natural soundscape integrations, inspired by a Buddhist poem on taming a "wild mind," underscored evolved restraint and emotional depth. Throughout their career, broader inspirations from provided rhythmic complexity and spontaneity, while scores influenced sweeping, narrative arcs, and natural soundscapes—such as field-recorded crickets or environmental immersion—infused organic textures into their framework.

Members

Current Members

Do Make Say Think's current core lineup consists of five members who collaborate on composition, recording, and live performances. The band has evolved since its formation in , with founding members Ohad Benchetrit and Charles Spearin joined by others in the late and early . Ohad Benchetrit plays guitar, , , and , contributing woodwinds and multi-instrumental layers that define the band's intricate soundscapes; a founding member since . Charles Spearin handles , guitar, , , and percussion, providing rhythmic and melodic foundations while also participating in production; a founding member since . David Mitchell serves on and percussion, driving the dual-drummer setup that powers the band's dynamic builds; he joined circa 1998. Justin Small contributes guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, and percussion, adding textural depth in both studio recordings and live settings; he joined in 1999. James Payment plays drums and percussion, complementing Mitchell in the band's signature rhythmic approach; he joined in 2000. The band frequently incorporates additional collaborators for live tours and studio work to enhance their orchestral elements, such as Julie Penner on , who has contributed string arrangements since the early . These members emphasize and production, often working at Benchetrit's th’ studio in . As of 2025, the band remains active with performances scheduled in and .

Former Members

Jason MacKenzie served as a founding member of Do Make Say Think, playing drums, keyboards, and effects from the band's inception in 1995 until approximately 2000. He departed after the release of the second album, Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord Is Dead, to become a , a personal decision that allowed him to focus on family. Brian Cram contributed keyboards and trumpet to the band from 1995 through 2017, appearing on multiple recordings and live performances as a key collaborator. He continued occasional contributions until his death in 2022. Other long-term collaborators included Jay Baird on and horns for albums such as Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn (2003) and You, You're a History in Rust (2007), as well as live performances in the . Various guest musicians have provided temporary support but did not join the core roster. These early departures and shifting contributions led to lineup stabilization post-2000.

Discography

Studio Albums

Do Make Say Think's debut self-titled was initially self-released in 1997 before being reissued by Constellation Records on March 8, 1999. The record was captured live to two-track at CIUT Radio in during July 1997 by the band members themselves, capturing their early raw energy in a single-room setting. It features eight tracks spanning diverse influences, with a total runtime of 72:44.
No.TitleDuration
1197810:29
2Le'espalace7:53
3If I Only…7:23
4Highway 4208:55
5Dr. Hooch7:48
69:08
7Onions1:31
8The Fare to Get There19:32
The album's marked the band's first official partnership with Constellation, though specific initial sales figures are not publicly documented. Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord Is Dead, the band's second studio album, was released on March 13, 2000, in and March 27, 2000, elsewhere via Constellation Records. Recorded in August 1999 at a barn near , the sessions were engineered by band members Ohad Benchetrit and Charles Spearin, emphasizing a shift to more structured compositions amid rural isolation. The album contains seven tracks totaling 48:17, exploring interconnected sonic narratives.
No.TitleDuration
1When Day Chokes the Night6:38
2Minmin8:23
3The Landlord Is Dead5:39
4The Apartment Song3:52
5All of This Is True7:46
6Bruce E Kinesis2:38
7Goodbye Enemy Airship13:22
No chart performance or sales data is available for this release. & Yet & Yet arrived on March 18, 2002, in and March 25, 2002, internationally through Constellation Records. The album was self-produced by the band at their studio, th'Schvitz, refining their instrumental palette with layered horns and percussion for a more polished sound. It includes eight tracks over approximately 49 minutes, blending expanses with melodic motifs.
No.TitleDuration
1Classic Noodlanding5:28
2End of Music6:53
3White Light Of6:56
45:34
5Reitschule4:35
6107 Reasons Why5:01
7Vesuvio 9:39
8Le'Espalace (Reprise)4:51
The release did not chart significantly, and sales details remain unreported. Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn, released October 6, 2003, on Constellation Records, showcases the band's evolving chamber-like arrangements. Key tracks were recorded at the rural Rockwood 2 Farmhouse in Rockwood, , in January 2003, with the remainder at th'Schvitz in , all handled by the band to integrate natural acoustics into the mix. The nine-track album runs 44:39, divided thematically across its titular hymns.
No.TitleDuration
19:37
2War on Want1:55
3Auberge le Mouton Noir7:04
4The Other Moon3:36
5Song of the Heart II (Winter Hymn)4:43
6Village (Country Hymn)2:15
7 1:28:10
819/202:01
9Her Eyes on the Horizon (Secret Hymn)5:18
It achieved no notable chart positions or documented sales. You, You're a History in Rust was issued February 12, 2007, in and February 26, 2007, worldwide by Constellation Records. Self-recorded and mixed during winter 2006 at th'Schvitz in by the band, the sessions incorporated field recordings and guest contributions for textural depth. The nine-track effort totals 48:29, with artwork featuring a gatefold jacket, , and insert designed to evoke rustic decay through by Jennifer Strunge.
No.TitleDuration
1Bound & Destined6:10
2A With Living5:25
3The Universe!5:38
4A Tender History in Rust8:40
5Earth, Come In3:48
6Into the Waves4:58
7Goodbye Enemy Airship4:23
8108/092:15
9Song of the Heart7:12
No chart or sales metrics are recorded for the album. Other Truths, the sixth studio album, came out October 19, 2009, in and October 20, 2009, elsewhere via Constellation Records. It was tracked at Giant Studio and th'Schvitz in in 2009 by Ohad Benchetrit, Justin Small, and Charles Spearin, favoring extended improvisational forms over segmented songs. The release comprises four lengthy tracks totaling 43:44, with promotional focus on the suite-like structure rather than individual singles.
No.TitleDuration
1Do10:40
2Make12:10
3Say12:44
4Think8:08
The saw no reported chart success or sales figures. Stubborn Persistent Illusions marked the band's return after an eight-year hiatus, released May 19, 2017, on Constellation Records. Self-produced at th'Schvitz in , the sessions built on reunion tours, incorporating horns and electronics for dynamic shifts. It features eight tracks over 56:10 and earned the 2018 Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year, the band's first such accolade.
No.TitleDuration
1War on Torpor5:23
2Horripilation10:27
3A Murder of Thoughts5:52
4Bound4:49
5And Boundless7:13
6Her Eyes on the Horizon8:20
7As Far as Your Eyes Can Widen6:06
8Just Stay7:43

Extended Plays and Singles

Do Make Say Think's early , Besides, was released in December 1999 exclusively on vinyl through Resonant . This limited-edition 12-inch EP, pressed at RPM, featured four tracks that showcased the band's emerging style with ambient and electronic elements: "I Love You (La La La)," "Bobby Zincone," "," and "A Week in the Dark." A promotional version of Besides also circulated in 1999, though it remained a niche release tied to the band's initial scene activities. In 2008, the band issued The Whole Story of Glory, a Japan-exclusive EP on the Independent Label Council imprint to support their tour there. This compact disc release contained three tracks, including a studio version of "The Landlord Is Dead" from their 2000 album, a live rendition of "Reitschule," and the extended piece "Fredericia," emphasizing their evolving cinematic sound with durations of 5:42, 8:22, and 9:39 respectively. Limited to the Japanese market, it highlighted regional variations in their discography without broader international distribution. Promotional singles emerged later in the band's career, particularly around their 2017 album Stubborn Persistent Illusions. "Her Eyes on the Horizon" was released as a standalone single that year, capturing the album's introspective brass and guitar interplay. Similarly, "Bound" and "And Boundless" served as promotional digital singles in 2017, with the latter pair often paired for their seamless, boundless progression in live settings, though issued separately to build anticipation for the full release. These singles, distributed via digital platforms, marked a shift toward targeted promotion without physical formats.

Critical Reception and Legacy

Reviews and Accolades

Do Make Say Think's early releases earned praise for their immersive, atmospheric soundscapes, blending with ambient and dub elements. rated Goodbye Enemy Airship the Landlord Is Dead (2000) at 7.9 out of 10, commending its warm keyboards, effects-laden clouds, and sense of dramatic isolation that envelops the listener. The follow-up & Yet & Yet (2002) received an 8.1 from , highlighted for its fluid textures, leisurely pace, and ambient qualities that color moods like a room-filling drone or skittering dub guitars. Similarly, Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn (2003) scored 8.1 on , noted for its icy blasts, processed rain sounds, and balance of winter chill with celebratory warmth, creating a hushed, unhurried immersion. The band's mid-career albums solidified their reputation as innovators in . You, You're a History in Rust (2007) was hailed as a peak achievement, earning a aggregate of 77 from 14 reviews for its seamless blend of rustic recordings, haunting woodwinds, and emphatic anthems like "The Universe!"; awarded it 7.8, praising the confident honing of their idiom without abrasive tangents. Other Truths (2009) continued this acclaim with a score of 71 based on 10 critics, lauded for tighter songwriting, sharper textures, and widescreen landscapes that elevate beyond mere soundtracks; emphasized its complex interplay and subtle shifts. Critical recognition extended to formal honors and list placements. Stubborn Persistent Illusions (2017) won the 2018 Juno Award for Instrumental of the Year, as well as Recording Package of the Year for its artistic by Charles Spearin and Nyles Spencer. rated the 7.8, appreciating its boundary-pushing that rewards repetition while avoiding genre tropes. The band's work has appeared in end-of-year lists, including Scene Point Blank's 2007 favorites for You, You're a History in Rust and Dusted Magazine's year-end selections. Overall, reviewers have consistently praised Do Make Say Think for their innovative fusion of jazz-inflected drumming, distorted guitars, and winds in , marking them as a consistently inventive force.

Cultural Impact

Do Make Say Think played a pivotal role in shaping Toronto's community during the late 1990s and early 2000s, emerging as hometown pioneers alongside interconnected acts like , with whom they shared members such as Charles Spearin and Ohad Benchetrit. Their affiliation with Montreal's Constellation Records further bridged Toronto's scene to the broader Canadian ecosystem, fostering a network of experimental instrumental bands that emphasized atmospheric, genre-blending compositions. This collaborative environment helped solidify Toronto as a hub for innovative , influencing local venues and festivals that prioritized non-vocal, improvisational music. The band's fusion of with and rock elements has inspired subsequent instrumental ensembles, particularly those exploring jazz-rock hybrids, by demonstrating how dual drummers, prominent bass lines, and improvised structures could create narrative depth without vocals. Their approach encouraged later acts in the Canadian and international scenes to adopt similar organic, emotive soundscapes, contributing to the evolution of instrumental music beyond traditional boundaries. Do Make Say Think's music has extended its reach through notable media appearances, including a 2000 session for 1's program, which showcased tracks such as "Reitschule" and "Goodbye Enemy Airship" and amplified their visibility in the UK indie circuit. Additionally, the track "" from their 2002 album & Yet & Yet was featured on the soundtrack of the 2005 film , directed by , introducing their sound to a wider cinematic audience alongside composer Alexandre Desplat's score. In Canadian music, their 2018 Juno Award win for Instrumental Album of the Year with Stubborn Persistent Illusions highlighted their contributions to elevating instrumental genres within national recognition frameworks. Following the release of Stubborn Persistent Illusions in , Do Make Say Think experienced renewed fan engagement through streaming platforms, amassing over 30 million total streams and maintaining around 33,000 monthly listeners on as of mid-2025. This digital resurgence supported live show revivals, including a full-band performance in in 2023—their first in six years—a return to in 2025, and a performance at POP Montreal in September 2025, reinvigorating their dedicated audience amid dispersed band members across .

Other Contributions

Side Projects

Charles Spearin, a founding member of Do Make Say Think, released his solo album The Happiness Project in 2009, featuring recordings of interviews with neighbors in Toronto's discussing the meaning of happiness, which Spearin transformed into choral arrangements using instruments like , , and to echo the melodic contours of their speech. The project originated from Spearin's experiments with vocal samples during tours and highlights the musicality in everyday conversation, earning praise for its emotional depth and innovative approach to field recordings. Spearin continued his solo work with My City of Starlings in 2021, an album of transcribed and orchestrated songs performed by a 13-piece ensemble, exploring urban wildlife sounds in a style. In 2024, he issued Music for 32 Phones Played Simultaneously, a conceptual piece using recordings of neighborhood animals arranged into ensemble tracks. Ohad Benchetrit, another core member, contributed to the early side project Microgroove in 1997 alongside Spearin and David Mitchell, releasing a self-titled album of experimental instrumentals that predated much of Do Make Say Think's output. Benchetrit later launched his solo project Years, debuting with a self-titled album in 2009 on Arts & Crafts, comprising brief, sparse pieces and electronic elements compiled from unfinished sketches, described as a personal "diary" of instrumental vignettes. He also participated in Sphyr, a short-lived collaboration with Mitchell that yielded the 2003 album A Poem for M on Fire Records, blending with ambient textures. Julie Penner, who played violin on several Do Make Say Think recordings including Other Truths (2009), contributed to the Toronto-based band Lullabye Arkestra as a violinist on their album Ampgrave, a noisy, distortion-heavy soul project led by Justin Small and Katia Taylor. Justin Small co-founded Lullabye Arkestra, serving as and incorporating fellow Do Make Say Think members like Benchetrit on for Ampgrave, which fused chaotic improvisation with soulful grooves recorded at Benchetrit's Th’Shvitz studio. Do Make Say Think maintains close ties to the expansive collective , with Spearin and Benchetrit regularly contributing guitar, bass, trumpet, and saxophone to its recordings and tours since the late 1990s, influencing shared experimental and communal ethos.

Film and Media Involvement

Do Make Say Think's instrumental compositions have been featured in several films, providing atmospheric backdrops that align with the band's style. Their track "" from the 2002 album & Yet & Yet appears in the 2005 , directed by , enhancing scenes of tension and intrigue. The same song was also used in the 2003 Canadian documentary The Corporation, underscoring explorations of corporate power, and in the 2005 drama A Simple Curve, contributing to its introspective tone. Additionally, the band's music is included in the soundtracks of the 2006 comedy and the 2010 drama . Band members Ohad Benchetrit and Justin Small, both core contributors to Do Make Say Think, composed the original score for the 2018 action thriller , starring , blending orchestral elements with the group's signature layered instrumentation to heighten the film's suspenseful wilderness setting. Their collaborative scoring work extends to other media, including the 2020 Shudder documentary series , where they provided thematic music exploring horror movie legends. The band has performed live scores for silent films, amplifying their cinematic presence. In June 2009, at Toronto's Luminato Festival, Do Make Say Think provided an improvised soundtrack for an outdoor screening of Richard Oswald's 1919 German silent horror anthology Unheimliche Geschichten (Tales of the Uncanny). The following year, in October 2010, they scored Erich von Stroheim's 1924 silent epic during a event at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, delivering a live performance that captured the film's themes of greed and downfall. Individual members have pursued media scoring independently, often drawing from the band's experimental ethos. Charles Spearin contributed to the music department for the 2006 drama Half Nelson, directed by Ryan Fleck, supporting its raw emotional narrative. He also featured in the soundtrack for the 2016 comedy Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, where his compositions added levity to scenes of journalistic chaos. Spearin's work with , including co-writing tracks for the 2010 film It's Kind of a Funny Story, further demonstrates his involvement in film scoring during the late .

References

  1. https://cstrecords.com/pages/do-make-say-think
  2. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/do-make-say-think/478884085
  3. https://www.discogs.com/artist/65634-Do-Make-Say-Think
  4. https://pitchfork.com/news/72145/do-make-say-think-announce-new-album-share-two-new-songs-listen/
  5. https://www.facebook.com/cstrecords/posts/do-make-say-think-japan-tour-2025dmst-return-to-japan-this-july-for-three-shows7/1456619138884762/
  6. https://www.furious.com/perfect/domakesaythink.html
  7. https://domakesaythink.bandcamp.com/album/do-make-say-think
  8. https://domakesaythink.com/st-do-make-say-think/
  9. https://domakesaythink.bandcamp.com/album/goodbye-enemy-airship-the-landlord-is-dead
  10. https://domakesaythink.com/
  11. https://domakesaythink.com/yet-yet/
  12. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2399-yet-yet/
  13. https://domakesaythink.bandcamp.com/album/winter-hymn-country-hymn-secret-hymn
  14. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2400-winter-hymn-country-hymn-secret-hymn/
  15. https://domakesaythink.com/tour-history/
  16. https://domakesaythink.bandcamp.com/album/you-youre-a-history-in-rust
  17. https://www.shugarecords.com/products/do-make-say-think-you-youre-a-history-in-rust-new-lp-record-2007-constellation-vinyl-post-rock-experimental
  18. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9935-you-youre-a-history-in-rust/
  19. https://cstrecords.com/products/do-make-say-think-other-truths
  20. https://www.blogto.com/arts/2009/06/luminato_2009_preview/
  21. https://freq.org.uk/reviews/truths/
  22. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/do_make_say_think-hope_in_major_keys
  23. https://www.musicradar.com/news/10-questions-for-do-make-say-thinks-justin-small
  24. https://cstrecords.com/products/do-make-say-think-stubborn-persistent-illusions
  25. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23220-stubborn-persistent-illusions/
  26. https://junoawards.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018-JUNO-Award-Winners-Gala-Night.pdf
  27. https://domakesaythink.com/juno-x-2/
  28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQuKCrCmQW8
  29. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/do-make-say-think/2025/the-concert-hall-toronto-on-canada-b475966.html
  30. https://www.instagram.com/p/DIhTbLEvqMF/?hl=en
  31. https://domakesaythink.com/bio/
  32. https://www.textura.org/archives/d/domakesaythink_stubbornpersistentillusions.htm
  33. https://www.theaudiodb.com/artist/119201-Do-Make-Say-Think
  34. https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1784
  35. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13595-other-truths/
  36. https://adhoc.fm/do-make-say-think-playlist/
  37. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-02-ca-indierock2-story.html
  38. https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/10-essential-albums-from-constellation-records-the-legendary-independent-record-label/
  39. https://soundpropositions.com/2023/06/11/do-make-say-think-the-other-truths/
  40. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/do_make_say_think_adapt
  41. https://www.discogs.com/release/17090031-Do-Make-Say-Think--Yet-Yet
  42. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14787/reviews/4138223
  43. https://domakesaythink.bandcamp.com/album/other-truths
  44. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/do_make_say_think_explain_the_relationships_to_time_environment_and_technology_that_inform_stubborn_persistent_illusions
  45. https://www.bandsintown.com/a/9717-do-make-say-think
  46. https://deadseapianorolls.gitlab.io/entries/do-make-say-think/
  47. https://domakesaythink.com/you-youre-a-history-in-rust/
  48. https://www.houstonpress.com/music/do-make-say-think-6543019/
  49. https://www.discogs.com/master/607719-Do-Make-Say-Think-Do-Make-Say-Think
  50. https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/brian-cram-obituary?id=39973589
  51. https://ca.billboard.com/fyi/obituaries-july-28-2022
  52. https://cstrecords.com/products/do-make-say-think-do-make-say-think
  53. https://domakesaythink.bandcamp.com/album/yet-yet
  54. https://vk.com/wall-204218900_33
  55. https://www.discogs.com/release/919297-Do-Make-Say-Think-You-Youre-A-History-In-Rust
  56. https://pitchfork.com/news/36250-new-release-do-make-say-think-other-truths/
  57. https://junoawards.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Winners-list.pdf
  58. https://www.discogs.com/release/424400-Do-Make-Say-Think-Besides
  59. https://resonantrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/besides
  60. https://www.discogs.com/master/200390-Do-Make-Say-Think-Besides
  61. https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=35172
  62. https://www.albumoftheyear.org/artist/659-do-make-say-think/
  63. https://open.spotify.com/artist/1WudHeuEN3d18SXVos95mc
  64. https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCLDToVvx8ox0Km1Vix33-Xw
  65. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2398-goodbye-enemy-airship-the-landlord-is-dead/
  66. https://www.metacritic.com/music/you-youre-a-history-in-rust/do-make-say-think
  67. https://www.metacritic.com/music/other-truths/do-make-say-think
  68. https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/news/junos-2018-the-complete-list-of-winners-1.4579405
  69. https://www.scenepointblank.com/features/music/scene-point-blanks-favorites-year-end-2007/
  70. http://www.dustedmagazine.com/features/676
  71. https://pitchfork.com/artists/1122-do-make-say-think/
  72. https://www.scaruffi.com/vol7/domakesa.html
  73. https://peel.fandom.com/wiki/Do_Make_Say_Think
  74. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365737/soundtrack/
  75. https://songstats.com/artist/oq12lauk/do-make-say-think
  76. https://www.facebook.com/cstrecords/posts/pleased-to-share-that-do-make-say-think-will-perform-at-pop-montreal-2025-markin/1492626555284020/
  77. https://www.instagram.com/p/DNoMyYvSd5n/
  78. https://charlesspearin.bandcamp.com/album/the-happiness-project
  79. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13089-the-happiness-project/
  80. https://tinnitist.com/2021/08/13/albums-of-the-week-charles-spearin-my-city-of-starlings/
  81. https://charlesspearin.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-32-phones-played-simultaneously
  82. https://acpublishing.ca/artists/years/
  83. https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/sphyr
  84. https://lullabyearkestra.bandcamp.com/album/ampgrave
  85. https://cstrecords.com/pages/lullabye-arkestra
  86. https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/broken-social-scene-are-somehow-still-friends-after-all-these-years/
  87. https://www.artrockstore.com/products/do-make-say-think-artrockstore
  88. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3186660/
  89. https://brokehorrorfan.com/post/633069864371863552/cursed-films-original-series-soundtrack-will-be
  90. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/do_make_say_think_shed_light_on_their_upcoming_tiff_live_score
  91. https://backin15minutes.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/show-review-do-make-say-think-greed-live-at-tiff-bell-lightbox-tuesday-october-5-2010/
  92. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0817331/
  93. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804497/soundtrack/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.