Artist Glimpse: Mississauga's One in the Chamber

Independent rock in Ontario takes pure, unadulterated grit, and for over a decade, hard rock outfit One in the Chamber—featuring Mike Biase, Cecil Eugene, Christian Dotto, and Gerrod Harris—has relentlessly embodied that spirit across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Known for their electrifying stage energy and tight-knit songwriting chemistry, the band has steadily carved out a powerful legacy in the local music community. Following celebrated releases like their acoustic-driven EP The Cabin Sessions, the band has just unearthed their long-lost, highly anticipated music video for "Crooked Girl" off their 2022 EP, Reload. We caught up with the band to reflect on their regional roots, discover the incredible story of how that lost visual track came together, and examine the realities of navigating modern independent rock.

Rob Aguiar: How has your York University foundation and the Greater Toronto and Mississauga indie scene shaped your sound and longevity?

Gerrod Harris: We’ve been at it for over a decade now and we’ve found such a great community of bands through the Toronto and Mississauga scenes. It’s been amazing to grow alongside musicians you’ve come up with and see them do exciting things. Both Toronto and Mississauga have such vibrant artistic communities. We’ve been fortunate to be a part of both of them and have made some incredible friends and memories along the way.

Christian Dotto: We’ve learned a great deal about longevity throughout these 11 years and we’ve seen a lot of bands come and go. Sure, everything is fun and exciting when a band starts out, but when the going inevitably gets tough, it’s imperative to respect each other’s differences and communicate. One In The Chamber has become a well-oiled machine because of how we’ve overcome challenges and it’s a big reason why we’re still at it.

RA: You mentioned that you shot the video for "Crooked Girl" back in 2021 and spent five years thinking it was completely lost—how did that footage finally resurface, and what was it like unearthing a piece of the band's history you thought was gone for good?

GH: One of our directors, Kathleen Fobert, called me up earlier this year. She was going through some drives and said she found enough footage for a video. It was a total surprise, we thought this video was forever lost. It was a crazy long but unforgettable shoot and was my first time writing for a video. I think this new cut still speaks to the original intention. We are thrilled to have released this music video - we had already assumed that this was lost forever, so that fact that we’re here is equally surprising as it is special.

CD: When Gerrod told us the news about Kathleen recovering the video footage, we were thrilled. “Crooked Girl” was shot while the pandemic and lockdowns were still in full swing, so our intention was to feature some of our favourite Toronto venues as well as portray a theme that was unique to the song itself. It was an unforgettable day and we’re proud of how the final product turned out.

RA: As an independent, self-managed rock band operating today, what are the absolute toughest hurdles you face when navigating unpredictable streaming algorithms, rising touring costs, and modern venue pressures?

GH: I think the hurdles we face aren’t special. We’re all trying to produce music that we think is meaningful while contending with it all. I think all artists are feeling the same pressures.

RA: Seamlessly blending styles isn't easy, so how do you balance high-octane hard rock swagger with stripped-back, acoustic vulnerability like you did so well on The Cabin Sessions?

Mike Biase: I listen to a lot of different music and genres, so I think that naturally influences what I write. Most of the bands I love have songs that explore a lot of different feelings and sounds, and I’ve always liked that. I don’t really think about it as balancing two different styles—I/we just write whatever kind of song feels right at the time.

CD: I think it’s safe to say that the music we create authentically reflects us as individuals and that means we express ourselves multidimensionally. Our Cabin Sessions record was such a refreshing departure from the music we had previously released and that allowed us to express ourselves in a different, more vulnerable, way.

GH: I think we’re each coming from so many different places musically that a jump like this just made sense. It felt very organic to make this record while also challenging ourselves to write and record in an entirely different context.

RA: How do you protect your creative spark while handling the heavy administrative load of running an independent band?

GH: The music comes first. Always. The business side follows. When I’m making plans, I think it’s very important that the decisions we make support the music and our artistic vision. I think this keeps things pure and authentic.

RA: Between keeping the momentum going and working on new material, what’s the mindset in the band right now as you look toward the future?

CD: As a band, we’re always striving to be better and to keep creating, and we’re proud to be a part of the Canadian music community.

GH: We’ve got a few things coming down the pipeline. All we can say for now is stay tuned.

That wraps up our deep-dive chat with the relentless crew in One in the Chamber. Be sure to head over to YouTube to check out the long-lost music video for "Crooked Girl" streaming right now, dive into The Cabin Sessions for a brilliant dose of acoustic vulnerability, and keep up with all their upcoming shows and behind-the-scenes updates online at @oneinthechamberband as they continue pushing forward in Ontario's rock scene.