THE CLIKS CELEBRATE 20 YEARS SINCE DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE!
The Cliks, self-titled debut album, released July 7th, 2004
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The Cliks - A History -
The Cliks were founded in Toronto, Canada in 2004 by founding member, front man, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Lucas Silveira.
In 2004 they released an independent self titled album which brought them much local attention as a three piece rock outfit consisting of original members Heidi Chan on drums, Ezri Kaysen on bass and Silveira on lead vocals and guitar. When the band originated, Silveira was still living as a woman.
Their first two major label releases, Snakehouse (2006 – Warner Music Canada/Tommy Boy) and Dirty King (2009- Warner Music Canada/Tommy Boy) were staples in getting the band recognized internationally alongside Silveira’s coming out as a transgender man which created much visibility for transgender people, making him the first out transgender man in history to have ever been signed to a major label recording contract.
Although Lucas was known for being the transgender member of The Cliks, in reality, he was not. Ezri Kaysen, The Cliks' original bassist who late changed her name to Nicole Ezri Kaysen, was in fact the first transgender member of the band. It is with great sadness that we lost her as she passed away in 2018 but Lucas remains forever grateful not only for having known her and being a friend but also due to the fact that she was a defining person in Lucas's own journey into coming into his true self.
The Cliks last album titled Black Tie Elevator was released in 2013 (Universal Music/Bandwidth) after Silveira's physical transition which also led to the masculinization of Silveira's voice. The music on this album was a complete departure in The Cliks' musical direction, not only due to the emotional transformation brought on as a result of Silveira's physical transition, but also due to the nature of working with producer Hill Kourkoutis whose production style was very hands on and collaborative in nature. The result was a fascinating imprint on the band's ongoing transformation that is paralleled by Silveira's own.
The band members most well known on the band's rise to success were bassist Jen Benton, drummer Morgan Doctor and second guitarist, Nina Martinez.
The Cliks have toured substantially alongside iconic acts such as Cyndi Lauper (True Colors Tour), The Cult, The New York Dolls, Tegan And Sara, Debbie Harry, Margaret Cho, The B-52's, and the Dresden Dolls as well as having appeared on National TV shows such as Late Night With Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel Live and MTV’s TRL. They were also nominated in 2008 for a GLAAD music award and were the recipients of the 2008 MTV Logo Award for "Artist On The Brink".
The Cliks, although known in mainstream music industry circles, maintained a devoted audience and focus within the LGBTQ community where until very recently they continued to perform yearly to audiences at Pride Festivals.
Silveira's ongoing issues with hearing loss and tinnitus have made his focus on performing acoustic only as a means of harm reduction to avoid further hearing loss. Due to this and the combination of his artistic evolution, he finally decided that the band he had birthed and given voice to was no longer something he felt he could naturally invest in and the end of the band came quite organically, without announcement.
The last electric band was a rotating roster of performers with Silveira as its core member. Members included in the final roster of The Cliks were Lucas Silveira on vocals and guitar, Griffin on lead guitar, Jungle Tshongo on bass and Ryan Ferrando on drums.
Currently, Silveira's performances acoustic act in which he plays both acoustic guitar and piano and performs everything from originals, including revamped Cliks songs, and covers of some of his most loved songs.
Other musicians who have performed with The Cliks in the past include drummers Brian Viglione (Dresden Dolls), Jesse Labovitz (No Warning, Ride The Tiger), Patrick Von Ghostwolf (Die Mannequin), bassists Tobi Parks (various), Hill Kourkoutis (Hill and The Sky Heroes), Ryan Gavel (No Warning, Ride The Tiger), Alex St. Kitts (various) and guitarist Kirt Godwin (Ride The Tiger, Sate).
Lucas Silveira continues to write and perform music but with a very different relationship to the music industry. He is currently preparing to record a solo album with producer Jason LaPrade.
Most recently, Silveira has been working on writing a memoir, a children's book focused on trans identities, freelance journalistic pieces, and is the new co-host of a new documentary series produced by Vice Productions called Shine True onair in the US on the Fuse TV Network and in Canada on the OUT TV Network.
Although The Cliks are no longer active, they left a deep imprint in the history of queer music as pioneers and trail blazers. Not only for the transgender community but also for the lesbian community from which the band was originally lifted from.
The foundation that it left Lucas with continues to breathe life into the work he now creates and puts into the universe.
In 2004 they released an independent self titled album which brought them much local attention as a three piece rock outfit consisting of original members Heidi Chan on drums, Ezri Kaysen on bass and Silveira on lead vocals and guitar. When the band originated, Silveira was still living as a woman.
Their first two major label releases, Snakehouse (2006 – Warner Music Canada/Tommy Boy) and Dirty King (2009- Warner Music Canada/Tommy Boy) were staples in getting the band recognized internationally alongside Silveira’s coming out as a transgender man which created much visibility for transgender people, making him the first out transgender man in history to have ever been signed to a major label recording contract.
Although Lucas was known for being the transgender member of The Cliks, in reality, he was not. Ezri Kaysen, The Cliks' original bassist who late changed her name to Nicole Ezri Kaysen, was in fact the first transgender member of the band. It is with great sadness that we lost her as she passed away in 2018 but Lucas remains forever grateful not only for having known her and being a friend but also due to the fact that she was a defining person in Lucas's own journey into coming into his true self.
The Cliks last album titled Black Tie Elevator was released in 2013 (Universal Music/Bandwidth) after Silveira's physical transition which also led to the masculinization of Silveira's voice. The music on this album was a complete departure in The Cliks' musical direction, not only due to the emotional transformation brought on as a result of Silveira's physical transition, but also due to the nature of working with producer Hill Kourkoutis whose production style was very hands on and collaborative in nature. The result was a fascinating imprint on the band's ongoing transformation that is paralleled by Silveira's own.
The band members most well known on the band's rise to success were bassist Jen Benton, drummer Morgan Doctor and second guitarist, Nina Martinez.
The Cliks have toured substantially alongside iconic acts such as Cyndi Lauper (True Colors Tour), The Cult, The New York Dolls, Tegan And Sara, Debbie Harry, Margaret Cho, The B-52's, and the Dresden Dolls as well as having appeared on National TV shows such as Late Night With Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel Live and MTV’s TRL. They were also nominated in 2008 for a GLAAD music award and were the recipients of the 2008 MTV Logo Award for "Artist On The Brink".
The Cliks, although known in mainstream music industry circles, maintained a devoted audience and focus within the LGBTQ community where until very recently they continued to perform yearly to audiences at Pride Festivals.
Silveira's ongoing issues with hearing loss and tinnitus have made his focus on performing acoustic only as a means of harm reduction to avoid further hearing loss. Due to this and the combination of his artistic evolution, he finally decided that the band he had birthed and given voice to was no longer something he felt he could naturally invest in and the end of the band came quite organically, without announcement.
The last electric band was a rotating roster of performers with Silveira as its core member. Members included in the final roster of The Cliks were Lucas Silveira on vocals and guitar, Griffin on lead guitar, Jungle Tshongo on bass and Ryan Ferrando on drums.
Currently, Silveira's performances acoustic act in which he plays both acoustic guitar and piano and performs everything from originals, including revamped Cliks songs, and covers of some of his most loved songs.
Other musicians who have performed with The Cliks in the past include drummers Brian Viglione (Dresden Dolls), Jesse Labovitz (No Warning, Ride The Tiger), Patrick Von Ghostwolf (Die Mannequin), bassists Tobi Parks (various), Hill Kourkoutis (Hill and The Sky Heroes), Ryan Gavel (No Warning, Ride The Tiger), Alex St. Kitts (various) and guitarist Kirt Godwin (Ride The Tiger, Sate).
Lucas Silveira continues to write and perform music but with a very different relationship to the music industry. He is currently preparing to record a solo album with producer Jason LaPrade.
Most recently, Silveira has been working on writing a memoir, a children's book focused on trans identities, freelance journalistic pieces, and is the new co-host of a new documentary series produced by Vice Productions called Shine True onair in the US on the Fuse TV Network and in Canada on the OUT TV Network.
Although The Cliks are no longer active, they left a deep imprint in the history of queer music as pioneers and trail blazers. Not only for the transgender community but also for the lesbian community from which the band was originally lifted from.
The foundation that it left Lucas with continues to breathe life into the work he now creates and puts into the universe.
The Cliks - Original Line up - 2004-2005
Lilia Silveira - Lead Vocals & Guitar
Ezri Kaysen - Bass
Heidi Chan - Drums
Ezri Kaysen - Bass
Heidi Chan - Drums
The Cliks - Second Line up - 2005-2006
Lucas Silveira - Lead Vocals & Guitar
Jordan B. Wright - Bass
Morgan Doctor - Drums
Jordan B. Wright - Bass
Morgan Doctor - Drums
The Cliks - Third Line Up - 2006-2008
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Lucas Silveira - Lead Vocals & Guitar
Nina Martinez - Guitar Jen Benton - Bass Morgan Doctor - Drums The Cliks - Fourth Line UpLucas Silveira - Lead Vocals & Guitar
Jen Benton - Bass Morgan Doctor - Drums The Cliks - Fifth Line UpLucas Silveira - Lead Vocals & Guitar
Tobi Parks - Bass Brian Viglione - Drums The Cliks - Rotating MembersThe last official members of The Cliks were Lucas Silveira, Tobi Parks, and Brian Viglione. They continued to perform with Lucas as lead vocalist and guitarist. The final album, *Black Tie Elevator*, was produced by Juno winner Hill Kourkoutis, who also played multiple instruments. There was no formal band lineup during its creation.
The last official performance of The Cliks was on August 22, 2016, in Ottawa, Ontario, with members Lucas Silveira, Griffin, Jungle Tshongo, and Ryan Ferrando. Lucas never formally announced the end of The Cliks but decided to stop releasing music under their name, concluding the band had reached its potential. Lucas, suffering from substantial hearing loss, tinnitus, and diplacusis, made the decision to no longer perform in loud bands to prevent permanent damage from exposure to loud sounds. He continues songwriting, recording, and performing solo with acoustic guitar and piano to this day. THE CLIKS OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEOS
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THE CLIKS DISCOGRAPHY
The Cliks - S/T
Indie - Released 2004 |
*The Cliks - Snakehouse
Warner Music Canada/Tommy Boy, Silver Label Released 2007 |
*The Cliks - Dirty King
Warner Music Canada/Tommy Boy, Silver Label Released 2009 |
The Cliks - Black Tie Elevator
The Cliks Productions Inc./ Bandwidth/ Universal Music Released 2013 |
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