NO EXIST SUPPORT GROUP started in October 2019 when I (Così e Così) returned to Montreal and began hosting weekly gatherings in my new apartment in an effort to combat instability and alienation with structure and community (having been here since October it already rivals the longest I've resided in one place/city since 2013).

After a few invitations it quickly established itself as a re-occurring group of five individuals, although never formalized to this limitation (four of five were present and appear on this first recording). In addition to sharing a meal, plentiful discussions, and escaping winter isolation, we try to take the time to share and support each other in our current art practices; whether that be listening to each others demos, offering feedback, tech advice, or formulating plans.

"Step 1" the album came from the decision that we all bring an instrument of choice one evening, plug in, and just jam together. It was more an after-thought to run the live mix and record it it to one channel, but it was a surprisingly good mix and recording. There was almost 3 hours recorded, so I decided to cut it down and edit it into distinguishable song-pieces. It was the first time any of us had played music with each other (except once when Shota and I performed together at National Drone Day). Also, other than myself, the others were all new friends since we started meeting less than 2 months prior.

So, to me No Exist Support Group "Step 1" is a couple of things, first it's a 7 song album that magnifies the magic of improvisation, where you can hear ideas developing in-the-moment, yet also combines the framework of an album with stand-alone songs. It is also a tangible product of our efforts to connect, and I feel it's the first step, although always in process, in the action of how we understand 'community' and its different forms.

-Vincent Ferrari