What’s In Your Fridge is where the Straight asks interesting Vancouverites about their life-changing concerts, favourite albums, and, most importantly, what’s sitting beside the Heinz ketchup in their custom-made Big Chill Retropolitan 20.6-cubic-foot refrigerators.

On the grill

Imogen Moon

Who are you

I’m a 22-year-old singer raised in Galiano/Vancouver. I started writing music after leaving professional dance at 16, released my first EP at 18, and now, I’m releasing my newest project. When They Start Rebelling is a re-imagining of my grandfather’s cult-classic record from ’71 titled Songs for The New Industrial State. My reworked album is produced by Ian Hendrickson-Smith and features members of the Dap-Kings and The Roots. 

First Concert

My first concert would have been the Wiggles, but my first jazz concert would have been Molly Johnson, who was introduced to me by my mother. I still admire her work deeply. 

Life-changing concert

I was amazed that Smino’s concert left me as inspired as I was. There are some artists that bend the rules of music perfectly, and Smino is one of them. His live performance was, by far, the most life-changing for me. 

Top three records

Frank Ocean Channel Orange  I could listen to this album forever. Every listen through, I find new meaning. He is an incredible writer and will never get old to me. 

DAISY Have a Snack  I found this album in 2018, and knew instantly that DAISY was my new inspiration. She, and the band, blend genres that I adore. DAISY uses a pure and truly soulful voice, and experiments with genre-bending R&B. 

Saint Motel Voyeur  This album has stuck with me since it first came out. I started digging into it more at the age of 14, and every song is incredibly full. Their songs always feel like complete and finished puzzles. 

Favourite video

Lady Gaga “Paparazzi”  This video was released just in time for young Imogen to be completely amazed. The dedication to her story line is one that is rare. It was a movie to me, and still is. 

Harry Styles “Music for a Sushi Restaurant”  I don’t listen to a lot of Harry Styles, although I appreciate his work deeply, but this music video is absolutely perfect in my eyes. It implies a lot that’s not immediately clear to the viewer, and I love finding hidden meaning.

What’s in your fridge

Max and Moritz spicy sauce from Galiano Island. This is always a staple in my fridge, and everyone from here has one at all times. People leaving for school or working off island always bring bottles and bottles with them. Once you’ve had it, you can’t live without it. It’s a mildly spicy and sweet Indonesian soy sauce. Lucy, the owner of Max and Moritz, sells her sauce exclusively on Galiano and sometimes Salt Spring Island, so make the trip!

Lao Gan Ma chili crisp. This is the best salty add to every meal, in my opinion. This is the base of every dumpling sauce I make. I also started using it on pierogis along with fried cherry tomatoes and it’s a game-changer. I put it on practically everything. 

Vegan sour cream.  I always keep a vegan sour cream in my fridge. If you say you don’t like sour cream, you’re wrong. It’s an ingredient, not a condiment! I put a little in my spicy ramen, in my pasta sauces, in daals and curry, and the easy sweet snack my grandma always gave me: strawberries dipped in sour cream and sugar. 

Check out Imogen Moon’s When They Start Rebelling here.