The Hidden Cameras are a Canadian pop/rock band from Toronto, founded in 2001 by singer, songwriter and guitarist Joel Gibb, who is the core member and main creative driving force. From the outset, the project has been characterized by a singular blend of orchestral pop, folk and chamber music sounds, which Gibb himself describes as "gay church folk music", a formula that emphasizes both the spiritual inspiration, the choral dimension and the willingness to openly integrate queer themes into their songs. Their debut album, Ecce Homo (2001), drew attention for its intimate character and provocative lyrics, while The Smell of Our Own (2003) and Mississauga Goddam (2004) brought the project international recognition, blending lush orchestrations and lyrics that deal with sexuality, love and religion with a subversive, poetic approach. The group, which has performed with a variety of line-ups including up to a dozen musicians and backing singers, is renowned for its theatrical, festive concerts where music is combined with visual performance. Over the years, The Hidden Cameras have released several landmark albums, including Awoo (2006), Origin:Orphan (2009), Age (2014) and Home on Native Land (2016), the latter further affirming the band's connection with folk and country sounds. In 2025, Bronto broke away from its predecessor and continued along the path initiated by Age, venturing into house and synthpop.
