Canada: The Source

Paul Maco, president of Apollo Studios music workshop in Montreal, reveals his favourite intergalactic band and what he likes to read while taking a bath.

What’s the most creative Canadian advertising idea you’ve seen in the last year?

Own the Podium 2010, which was created to prepare Canadian athletes to reach medal finishes in the 2010 Winter Olympics, hosted by Canada. The focus of the program was to provide additional resources to Canadian athletes, coaches and support personnel. Canada did succeed in breaking the record for most gold medals won in a Winter Olympics. This resulted in an increase in sponsorship, but, most importantly, OTP helped inspire Canadian pride and reinforced participation in sports by Canadians.

What creative person do you most admire from Canada?

Keanu Reeves.

What’s your favourite website?

Websites are so 1998, I prefer apps. I use them to tune guitars, drums, Wurlitzers, or to remember chords on the mandolin or ukelele. How can you remember how to do an F Sharp on a recorder without checking your app for recorder finger positions?

What’s the main problem currently facing the Canadian advertising industry?

The fact that we still call it the ADVERTISING industry and, of course, that not everyone is calling Apollo Studios for music. What product could you not live without? A little notebook, a pencil and extra-hold hair gel. Paul Maco, president of Apollo Studios music workshop in Montreal, reveals his favourite intergalactic band and what he likes to read while taking a bubble bath.

What product hasn’t been invented yet that would make your life/job better?

Talking computers so I don’t need to learn keystrokes.

What Canadian show/exhibition has most inspired you this year?

The Christmas window display at Ogilvy’s Department Store in Montreal always makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

What’s the best Canadian film you’ve seen this year?

Incendies.

Why should people visit Canada?

Because Montreal is in Canada.

What’s your favourite Canadian magazine?

Nothing beats a warm bubble bath and a copy of Reader’s Digest.

Who’s your favourite Canadian photographer?

Pretty much anyone with a Canon 5D.

If you had to recommend a book to friends, what would it be?

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – it’s a pure pleasure to read. I remember bursting into laughter by myself in the crowded subway car! In the novel there’s a band, Disaster Area, who are banned from playing because their instruments don’t respect the intergalactic laws and regulation on strategic weapons. I would love to be the keyboard player in that band! “Not only the loudest rock band in the galaxy, but in fact the loudest noise of any kind.”