Toronto’s Alt-Rockers The Drifts Explore Tumultuous Love with “Breaking Every Bone”

Fri Mar 10, 2023

If you’ve ever really lived, then at some point you’ve had one of those wildly tumultuous relationships where you can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em. Toronto-based alt-rockers The Drifts capture such a bittersweet, intoxicating situation with their shimmery-and-shadowy new single “Breaking Every Bone” – check it out on YouTube here:

Featuring a dark, grungy bassline under glittering guitar, “Breaking Every Bone” explores the layers of an on-and-off relationship as singer Alyssa Holmes alternates between a near-whisper and a stadium wail. “It’s just so easy to crawl back to you/ I always stumble and fall back to you,” she confesses, and then the song builds and dissolves over the chorus:

British Singer-Songwriter Suzanne Cook Is Ready For Summer With Reggae-Tinged “Red Wine And Red Roses”

Fri Mar 10, 2023

The reggae vibe of Suzanne Cook’s new single, “Red Wine and Red Roses,” evokes sunshine, warm weather, and falling in love on the beach. It’s a fusion of Britpop and Reggae, the London sound shaking hands with the Caribbean.

Check out “Red Wine and Red Roses” on YouTube here:

Written by the British singer’s guitarist and regular collaborator Tim Devereaux, it’s the second single from Cook’s upcoming album, Waking Dream.

Cook says “Red Wine and Red Roses” was originally written to be a heavy rock song, but inspiration struck as the crack band she and Devereaux had assembled in a London studio began talking about their mutual love of Bob Marley.

Montreal Blues Rockers Midnight Miles Release “Coming On” Single

Fri Mar 10, 2023

You can feel it coming alright! You can literally feel that heavy drumbeat taking you on a journey, just before the electric sounds of the guitar relinquishes that angst in Midnight Miles’ newest single, “Coming On” – check it out on YouTube here:

The 5-piece vintage rock band from Montréal, Quebec lets it all out as they get set to introduce their Steal Away debut EP, dropping this Spring.

Swedish Alt-Pop Group The Magnettes release New single "Birthday"

Fri Mar 10, 2023

The latest release “Birthday” by Swedish alt-pop group The Magnettes at their finest and fiercest, merges their breezy melancholia with hard-hitting electronic drum beats, pulsating arpeggios, fiery guitar chords and howling synth pads in a do-or-die escapist anthem.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/4A4tYamkZHln1O4ZmEu9rw

Released and promoted by K51 Records and Warner Music Sweden, this track offers a taste of their upcoming sophomore album, kicking off a new year of live shows including stops at in UK, Canada, Czech Republic and Scandinavia.

The Magnettes hail from Pajala, Sweden, and have toured in 20 countries including performances at SXSW, Summerfest, Euro Pride, Golden Melody Awards, Canadian Music Week, Glasontonbury, Eurosonic, and The Great Escape.

Albuquerque Singer-Songwriter Kàsh Mojo Goes Big With Cover Of Sparklehorse’s “Cow”

Fri Mar 10, 2023

A musician’s influence can be incredibly apparent in their sound but Albuquerque, New Mexico singer-songwriter Kàsh Mojo takes it one step further with a live electric cover of Sparklehorse’s 1999 live at Leeds indie clanger “Cow.” Check it out on YouTube here:

From Mojo’s debut album Buried or Replaced, he adds to Sparklehorse’s alluring dark landscapes, created in the original version of “Cow,” with his baritone voice building on the song’s already haunting lyrics with an addition of harmonious electric guitars.

The song builds with the listener being introduced to Mojo’s post-rock universe as it reaches a slow crescendo of emotions and brooding visions. Backed by a group of musicians from Austin, Texas, Mojo breathes new life into an indie classic.

Gary, Indiana Rocker Scot Sier Dives Deep Into World Of Society Injustices In “Newspaper Man”

Fri Mar 10, 2023

The truth is out there - it just depends on where you look for it. If you are searching for the answers to some serious questions about the world we live in today, then look no further than the “Newspaper Man”, the newly released single by the talented rocker Scot Sier – check it out on YouTube here:

Sier sets the tone on his new track with a variety of fast-paced heavy guitar riffs that electrify your musical senses as he begins to tell the story of “Newspaper Man.”

“Newspaper Man on the corner.
I still don't know your name.
I see your face on the front page.
You look the same.”

Nigerian-Born, Edmonton-Based Singer Osasioo Oozes Comfort In New Single “Home”

Fri Mar 10, 2023

Sometimes, the grind of everyday life can be overwhelming. When that happens, almost everyone has a place, thing, or person they turn to for a sense of comfort and peace.

Nigerian-born, Edmonton based pop singer Osasioo conveys this yearning for comfort in his new single, "Home". Written alongside his friend and manager Femi Sobaki, "Home" expresses the weariness and stress of everyday working people and how they cope.

Check it out on YouTube here:

With R&B influenced pop vocals that are reminiscent of Miguel's sultriness mixed with Owl City's down-to-earth whimsiness, Osasioo croons about the difficulty of getting by when everything seems to be going wrong.

John Preston Captures Endurance and Perseverance in New Single “Be Real”

Fri Mar 10, 2023

Sony/Concore Entertainment recording artist John Preston announces new single “Be Real” off his upcoming album God Magik, both out now.

Check out “Be Real” on YouTube here:

Since 2014, when John Preston emerged into the music scene, the full-time Firefighter and Marine Corps Combat Veteran has been using his platform to advocate against suicide and open up the conversation surrounding mental health. He is also the founder of 22 and You, a movement to save the lives of first responders and veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress. His music focuses on making positive impacts in the world, and “Be Real” is another single making a difference.

Singer-Songwriter Harry Hannah Tells The Story Of True Love On “Orion and Alya”

Fri Mar 10, 2023

True love can be a very powerful thing. It can make you feel complete, and provide you with purpose and strength. It’s something that you can’t let go of when you have it, and Harry Hannah certainly shows why on his latest single called, “Orion and Alya” – check it out on YouTube here:

 Even before the words come out of lead singer, Harry Hannah’s mouth, you can feel the love through the piano keys as it gently sways your mind into a sense of calm and then you hear the lyrics begin: “Darling I got a lot of feelings on my mind. Thinking you’re the one that I might never ever leave behind. And I think I can admit that even if you doubt that.”

Pop Songstress Anna Goldsmith Unleashes the Power of Positivity with High-Energy New Single “Miracle”

Fri Mar 10, 2023

Every human being is a miracle in their own right, and pop songstress Anna Goldsmith celebrates her own and others’ uniqueness in her high-energy, pop-punk and positivity-infused new single “Miracle” – check it out on YouTube here:

“Miracle” starts out with a driving beat and an infectious, Blondie-esque melody, and Anna talk-sings and then soars into the story of learning to discover her own way, and her own special gifts:

I am blinded
But it isn’t from the light
I don't understand myself
I’m gonna have to try
I can see it happening
My miracle’s inside 

Pianist Jean-Michel Pilc Releases Symphony, An Entirely Improvised Solo

Fri Mar 03, 2023

Paris-born. Montreal, QC-based Jean-Michel Pilc’s artistry comes from an expansive imagination and a fearless sensibility of musical exploration. He is self-taught as a piano player and composer. There is liberty that comes with that, an unobstructed view of the palette of music and harmony. On his latest release, Symphony, Pilc realizes that fearlessness and freedom completely. As he explains, the genesis of the recording came in November 2021:

“Right after recording Spanish saxophonist Xose Miguelez’s excellent album Contradictio, and inspired by the perfect conditions at OJM Studios in Portugal - beautiful Steinway piano, perfect acoustics and technical conditions - I decided it was time for a 'special' session as part of my solo project, so Xose and José Trincado, our sound engineer, were kind enough to let me sit at the piano for as long as I wanted, improvise freely, and be recorded. 

Jean-Michel Pilc at The Crescent (first clip)

Wrené Nova’s “Deflect, Dissolve” Explores the Pain of Heartache in Brooding Anti-Pop Ballad

Fri Mar 03, 2023

Wrené Nova’s latest “Deflect, Dissolve” is an anti-pop single weaving experimental electronica, ambient, and avant-garde elements through a haunting four-minute ballad that explores the pain of heartache and disconnection. The single also reinforces the concept of her forthcominalbum Metamorphosis which will be a sonic exploration through the process of change and the perspective that comes with passing time. Check out “Deflect, Dissolve” on YouTube here:

 “Deflect, Dissolve” may have been written during the recovery process of an emotionally wounding relationship but for the Toronto-based talent, Wrené hopes it “offers more than it being my own self-serving ‘breakup song,’” and that it can bring its own meaning to the listener.

Toronto Electro-Shoegazers Jo Ryder Release Single “Fictional Dreamer”

Fri Mar 03, 2023

Nostalgic cityscapes and urban grit inform “Fictional Dreamer,” the single from Toronto electro-shoegazers Jo Ryder. Check out on YouTube here:

 An audio-visual project that began when two friends were reminiscing about Toronto’s DIY music scene circa 2009, Jo Ryder is the duo of Lauralee Sheehan and Owen Norquay, two unique artists with interdisciplinary minds: Sheehan is an award-winning entrepreneur working in digital media who used to front the Lovely Killbots; Norquay is a music producer and photographer who plays bass in the Mooks and Simple Sailor. Together, they toy with analog and digital tools to create a mesmerizing soundscape that reflects on the isolation of modern life in a super-connected world. Fans of Beach House, Purity Ring and 1970s film soundtracks will find plenty to love here.

Calgary-Based Folk and Roots Artist Ray Lemelin Releases Dark/Out of Phase

Fri Mar 03, 2023

There are some things in music that all the technological advancements can’t recreate. And live recording an entire album is something from the past that Calgary roots artist Ray Lemelin embraced on his new release Dark/Out of Phase.

Lemelin’s new album is a laidback exploration of love and life lost through smooth trailing acoustic guitar backed by accordion, banjo, and mandolin. Dark/Out of Phase is a collection of songs that are as immersive as a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Check out “Really Isn't Just About Me” on YouTube here:

Canadian Punk Rockers MOORE AVE Won’t Settle For “Second Best” In New Single

Fri Mar 03, 2023

Moore Ave (formerly, Moore Ave Underground) is a band that takes the punk rock wave of the late 90-00s and turns it into a blend of melodically driven distortion that will have your eardrums yearning for mo(o)re. Community, empathy, and a sense of family are three pillars that Moore Ave has always stood for, and in a world where these qualities are fleeting… What's more punk rock than that?

Moore Ave hails from the small town of Aylmer, Ontario, and is composed of brothers Gaudette; Josh (rhythm/vocals), Joe (lead vocals), and Jack (bass), with the final piece to the puzzle being their “guilty by association” brother-in-punk, Shawn MacDonald (drums).

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/3OnJhdzOxtYb01wNPHzv01

Logan Richard is “Learning to Love” with the Release of his New EP

Fri Mar 03, 2023

East Coast Pop Artist Logan Richard has released his new EP “Learning To Love” feat. heartfelt Single “See Me Like This”, a well-crafted release that is true to the current pop market, all the while maintaining his unique way of blending simple piano riffs with great rhyming schemes in the lyrics.

Check it out on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GvrVpSxhtI

“Learning to Love” has the ‘real’ factor down, with heartfelt vocals and a clean production, reminiscent of the late 70’s artist and the delivery reminds me of when John Lennon went solo.

“In the Days to Come” captures the melancholy talent of this multi-faceted artist, who has one of the voices you just don’t forget (and want to hear more of).

Power Poppers Full Throttle Release “All I Want” And Announce Ontario Shows

Fri Mar 03, 2023

Full Throttle, the power-pop punk band from London, Ontario is bringing that teenage-angst filled with thunderous energy on their new single “All I Want.” Watch and listen on YouTube here:

 “All I Want” rocks with hard-hitting, three-chord guitar and a heavy bass line. Their high-energy vibe immediately transports you back to the familiar sounds of pop-rock giants, Green Day, Blink 182, and Goo Goo Dolls, who are huge influences on the talented high-school band. This has garnered them a relatively large Gen-X following, while also predominantly appealing to the teenage crowd as well.

The lyrics throughout the track emulate the consistent themes of pop/punk/rock that discuss adolescent lust, romantic relationships, and heartbreak. This can be heard throughout, and especially in the catchy chorus:

Get Ready for a Deep Dive into the Darkness with The Curse of K.K. Hammond

Thu Mar 02, 2023

Between two magazines and an online radio station, I receive copious amounts of emails with new music to listen to new, but this one really captured my attention. Swampy is the correct word, but it KK Hammond has a sound and a branding that is both refreshing and unique at the same time.

Dark, dirty, Swamp Blues- if you haven’t heard of The Curse Of K.K Hammond by now you’re in for a wild ride.

Manchester Orchestra Announce The Valley Of Vision New Album And Virtual Reality Film

Fri Feb 24, 2023

Manchester Orchestra invite you to join them in The Valley of Vision. Accompanied by an awe-inspiring film that immerses viewers in 180 degrees of virtual reality, the brand new album finds the band reinvigorated once again, delivering a serene salvo of songs that defy the heavy weight of adulthood, faith and self-redemption through sounds unlike anything they have made before. Following their previous 2021 LP, The Million Masks of God - an acclaimed collection that cried for help as it explored a man’s encounter with the angel of death - The Valley of Vision puts forth a collective, cathartic expression of gratitude that is brought to life in both the songwriting of frontman, Andy Hull, and the cinematic story directed by Isaac Deitz.

On the heels of sold-out screening events in Los Angeles tonight and New York City on March 1, The Valley of Vision will debut in a worldwide watch party on Manchester Orchestra's YouTube channel on March 9, before the album’s digital release on March 10.

Toronto-Based Folk Artist Ian Arden Takes On A Delicate Hope In “Nadia”

Fri Feb 24, 2023

It’s always interesting that in some languages similar words can have different meanings. And Toronto folk artist Ian Arden speaks to two meanings in his new song “Nadia.”

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/3LmTYJ1gV5tmrCOm00PpRm

In Russian, Nadia means “hope” and in Arabic Nadia means “delicate.” The character of Nadia in his new song, and accompanying music video, represents both of those words while describing someone who has been suffering for too long.

“The music video and the song depict a beautiful, innocent young maiden. As I am the ‘Toronto troubadour’ she represents the muse that has guided me throughout my life,” says Arden of the “Nadia” video. Check it out on YouTube here: