Artiom “Arty” Carelov on crafting music and community
The Moldovan-born indie musician is forging his own path and making space for other Montreal artists to do the same
On a quiet November afternoon, Artiom Carelov, better known as “Arty,” came out from his studio, cradling a blue Epiphone Casino guitar.
It was his way of introducing me to the instrument that had become the backbone of the raw and melancholic atmosphere of his band, Azulov.
“Montreal has incredible bands that may not all be widely known, yet the city’s distinctive sound defines it,” Arty said as he guided me to his studio, listing big names like Arcade Fire and Men I Trust. “I believe it is a source of pride for Montreal musicians to embrace that unique path.”
Montreal’s indie music scene is brimming with musicians, many of whom write their own songs and perform on local stages. Among them is Arty, a 29-year-old singer-songwriter and Azulov’s guitarist. Arty, more than just a composer and performer, also hosts open mic nights for musicians at the Bar de Courcelle in Saint-Henri every Sunday.
His studio, tucked away in the basement of his apartment, exudes the charm of an old building warehouse. In one corner, his main guitar, the blue Epiphone Casino, rests next to his computer. Across from it stands a small vocal recording booth, equipped with a Rode condenser microphone and two Fender amplifiers linked to a pedal board. Adorning the space is a vintage Yamaha electric organ from the 1960s and an old Hammond organ from an unknown manufacturing year.
“My father played the guitar and often sang, providing me with an inspiring example from a young age,” Arty said.
After immigrating to Montreal from Moldova with his parents in 2006, Arty dreamed of joining a band. However, it wasn’t until the pandemic that he made the leap into the music scene, leaving behind a career in engineering.
At the beginning of 2022, Arty began performing at an outdoor open mic in Saint-Henri. Committing fully to his craft, he took singing lessons and later formed a band with “Thalia” Rosaura Chaput, his vocal trainer. He named the band Azulov, with ‘azul’ meaning “blue” in Spanish.
“Initially, I wrote songs in classic rock, alternative rock and blues,” Arty said, taking a sip of coffee. “However, I transitioned to more melancholic ambient indie sounds, reggae and other styles. My influences range from the electric and heavy sound of bands like Fat Dog to the classics of Dusty Springfield.”
In 2023, at a time when Arty’s songwriting style was experiencing a significant transformation, Azulov also faced an important transition. It was at this time that the previous bassist, Khaled Belabbas, and the lead singer, Thalia, both left the band.
“Eventually, Thalia became increasingly busy with school, so we were almost disbanded,” Arty said.
Despite these challenges, he stayed in the band with drummer Brydone Charlton. Since then, Arty has created melodies and chord progressions, while Charlton has contributed to drum beats.
“Sometimes, I begin with a riff or a chord progression,” Arty said. “Other times, I start by writing the lyrics.”

The two primarily worked together, occasionally inviting other musicians, including keyboardist Jono Townsend.
With this new approach, Arty infused Azulov’s distinctive sense of melancholy and dreamy hues into his music. As a result, he produced five singles: “Sitting on a Bench,” “Swimming Through Milk,” “Sleep Talk,” “Sun” and “Cocoon,” all released in 2023.
“‘Sitting on a Bench’ started as a joke song for my former roommate. For ‘Sun,’ I sat down and created the lyrics and melody in just 15 minutes,” Arty said. “I penned ‘Cocoon’ while camping with friends, where we spent nights in hammocks. We were trapped in our small cocoons for two days due to rain.”
Since guitarist Frisco Lee joined the band in 2024, Arty and his bandmates decided to further refine their style, adding more dynamics to their guitar sound with constantly changing rhythm.
In their new single, “Parade,” Lee played most of the instruments, except for the drums and vocals. While Lee took the lead on instrumentation, Arty still played a pivotal role in coming up with ideas for the initial melody. Compared to their previous tracks, “Parade” features a rawer sound, with the guitar and drums adding a more intense edge while still maintaining their signature dreamy, ambient atmosphere.
Arty began writing “Parade” as a personal response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which affected him on both a personal and cultural level.
“As a Moldovan, I grew up alongside Russian and Ukrainian friends, and a lot of my family members still live there,” Arty said. “However, the war sharply divided the Russians, Ukrainians and Moldovans. It is like a knife cut.”
“Parade,” according to Lee, has a ‘70s arena rock vibe.
“We practiced with a full band several times, and it truly came together in recording. We trimmed the transitions and completely changed the intro, which initially sounded like sloppy Chuck Berry,” Lee said.
Similarly to how they composed “Parade,” Arty said that most of Azulov’s tracks were arranged in their rehearsal space or his studio, usually through jam sessions.
“We improvise and generate different ideas during our jams,” Arty explained. “Later, we review the recordings, which sometimes inspire the creation of new songs.”
After speaking about the songwriting process, Arty hinted at a new song he has been working on.
“Initially, my work revolved around channelling negative emotions. I focus on expressing positivity and uplifting emotions nowadays,” he said with a smile, picking up a pack of cigarettes on the table.
For Arty, one of the motivating factors for hosting open mic nights at Bar de Courcelle is the opportunity it gives people to channel their creative energy. Open mics were also where he first started playing music in the city.
“What if a band shows up to perform and they nail it?” he said. “What if I give them that opportunity?”
Unlike most open mics in Montreal, which typically feature only acoustic guitars or rely on backing tracks without live instruments, the setup at Bar de Courcelle allows for the presence of drums, keyboards, guitars and bass amplifiers. Arty believes that a wider range of equipment should be available at open mics to accommodate different instruments, helping to attract a diverse mix of musicians to open mics.
Joining Arty at the bar, I was able to witness just that—a sense of community and inspiration that encouraged local musicians to form new connections. That night, various artists performed songs spanning multiple genres, each accompanied by various instruments. Small tables were scattered on both sides of the stage while the audience gathered in the centre, dancing to the rhythm.
“Even when I arrive here in a bad mood, I always leave feeling happy and invigorated,” Arty said, holding up a list of musicians scheduled to perform at the open mic.
Johan Miranda Franck, an indie musician who arrived from the UK a few weeks ago, said that Arty’s open mic provides a supportive space for new musicians as well.
“This open mic is by far my favourite because people tend to be quite cold in London and Brighton,” Franck said.
The crowd continued to grow and reached its peak at about 10 p.m.
“I enjoy seeing people come together at my open mic; they consistently return week after week, even if they started as strangers,” Arty said. “Over time, they show up as a trio or a quartet, much like a band.”
This article originally appeared in Volume 45, Issue 8, published January 28, 2025.