Separated at birth, Monica Julie and Jennifer Bryan, front-women vocalist/guitarists of Toronto-based punk pop band Hayley Stark were reunited in their early 20s in a seedy rehearsal space in downtown Toronto. Both were auditioning to be full-time members (Monica on drums, Jen on lead guitar) of all-girl metal band Spankdriven. Little did the girls know that their fates were sealed at that point – they were destined to play music together for many years to come – and luckily none of their bands would have so ridiculous a name as Spankdriven ever again. 

Eventually Monica (a former metal drummer turned songstress) and Jen (a jazz-trained guitarist with a love of the rock) would create Hayley Stark, an amalgamation of all of their musical and emotional loves and desires.  Hayley Stark began as an acoustic duo, but it wouldn’t be long before fans and friends were daring the girls to pull in some of their pop/rock roots and bring the balls back to the music. With a hint of 90s alternative rock, pop/punk energy, and diva-esque vocals, Hayley Stark songs tackle the everyday complexities of life…and the fun bits too. Especially the fun bits.

The band now features a full-time rhythm section, adding even more guts to the mix. Mon & Jen are completed by  Karli Forget, a hard-hitting drummer who has lent her mad skills to electro-pop groups Crooked Valentine and Purrr, and other Toronto bands.

Hayley Stark has performed as part of Canadian Music Week, the North by Northeast Festival, the Sudbury New Music Festival and others. You can catch them jumping around on stage throughout Ontario just after the recent release of their first full-band rockiest badassest ep yet, “You Made My Night.”


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