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

Trolly Dolly

Who are you

I’m Jen Yakamovich and my project is called Troll Dolly. I’m primarily a drummer, based out of Vancouver currently. I grew up on the East Coast though. I started making experimental folk music simply because I like making genre-fluid songs, and I enjoy collaging together my writing with rhythms and texture. I made an EP called Heaven’s Mini Mart, with Shilo Preshyon and Trevor Lang, and it’s out later this month on June 23.

First concert

Probably a Christmas recital when I was super-small. Love me a good Charlie Brown concert.

Life-changing concert

An improvised set by Jerry Granelli and the faculty of the Creative Music Workshop during a jazz festival, in Halifax where I grew up. It was at this small venue that no longer exists—1313 Hollis. I remember just being on my knees, weeping, completely taken over by the beauty of spontaneous live music.

Top three records

Clube Da Esquina Clube Da Esquina It’s a true masterpiece where the creds are to Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges. There is nothing else like these compositions—it is very important work. The first time I heard “O Trem Azul”, I was riding through the desert with my friend and long-time pen pal Oscar Esteban. He had rigged up his old Chevy with a stereo system that has good low-end, and we listened to that track. Listening to the harmonies and arrangements on this record is a truly visceral experience.

The Beatles Abbey Road I don’t care how much of a cliché this answer is—it’s a great record and we all know it. I had a lot of firsts with this one too. First disc I bought for myself, when I was like 13. Probably first time crying to music. First drum solo, where I played the medley with a girl’s rock camp band. First album I feel like I really had a deeply shared experience with someone I love.

Bill Callahan Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle I think this album— particularly the lead track, “Jim Cain”— is impeccable. I love Bill’s writing, his talk-singing storytelling, how present the drums are, the very deliberate arrangements, the beautiful production. Love love love it.

All-time favourite video

It’s a toss-up between George Harrison’s “When We Was Fab”—surprisingly good late-’80s George with a very special Ringo feature–and the very special “So This is Chester” video about Chester, Nova Scotia. (That one speaks for itself.)

What's in your fridge?

Kimchi. A giant jar of kimchi that my friend Kevin made me. Got some pears in there—it’s nicely fermented. Tangy stuff is my fave flave. I joke and say that Kevin has been my primary food, beverage, and healthcare provider this year. He is a giver of many delights. He also makes a mean coffee. (Shameless plug for his coffee shop—General Strike.)

A bag of perogies. Very delicious. Very Ukrainian. Very easy. These ones are potato and onion. My friend Caitlin taught me the trick of boiling them first if they’re frozen and then throwing them on the frying pan with oil. Who would have thought?! Maybe that one’s a no-brainer, but sometimes you just need your friends to point out the obvious.

A bottle of fish oil. I’m not a health nut but I’m trying to get that EPA and DHA. While I believe anxiety and depression are largely symptoms of trauma and social structures, I’ve equally been trying to accept that a lot of my physical symptoms are also a result of deficiencies. If I can have energy and regulate my body/nervous system, I can better show up for community. So I turn to the anchovies! In moderation.

You can listen to Trolly Dolly's Mini Mart here.