Right now, when I do my send-outs, I get an auto-reply from people that say they are on vacation. Especially in Sweden where it seems like we are shutting down the whole country during July. Yes, having five weeks vacation in a row in the summer is a must if you live in Sweden. Not for me though, I work in the music industry.

Innovative and prolific composer Huguette Lavigne is throwing back and taking you along for a jazzed-up, improvisational ride to “Piano Retro”.

Check out “Piano Retro” on YouTube here:

The Ottawa-based pianist calls this new release from her latest album Five O’Clock Somewhere “old-school piano jazz… An easy going, smooth flowing, just plain cool jazzy piece and good for the soul.”

She then sets the throwback scene featuring an old-time jazz club player that she imagines performing the song. “Some guy sits down in a smoky room at a large black grand and plays around with jazzy swirls, runs and melodic twists,” Lavigne describes. “He doesn’t take it too seriously, and it all ends with his notes slipping down a long glissando and the bubbles on his brain disappear.”

Canada’s rockin’ Rabbi, author, musician, and founder of Kiddush Club Gary Zweig has just the soundtrack for getting families active this summer: the release of his new song, “Exercise”.

Check out “Exercise” on YouTube here:

Channelling everyone from the world’s greatest athletes to the beginner at-home fitness enthusiast, Zweig says he set out to create an exciting song to exercise alongside with.

“It’s fun, it’s funky, and it’s got a bit of rock and roll,” the Toronto-based multi-talented singer/songwriter enthuses. “I’m young at heart, so I wrote this song for kids of all ages — from 1 to 101 years old!”

Heard on Kiddush Club’s third album release, Toys, the nine-track LP joins Kiddush Club’s other releases — their eponymous LP, Kiddush Club, and The Wine Album.

This week we spotlight Thornhill Food Bank 1 Leaside Park Dr Unit 5B, Toronto, East York Office phone 647-428-9755
Email thorncliffefb@icnareliefcanada.ca

COVID19 -- Food Bank open by appointment only, call and leave message at any time but please do not call Mon or Thurs * counselling service by phone -- call for appointment or visit website to register

Howard has shared the shimmering single “Presence” Little Dragon Remix along with the b-side, “Tomorrow” from Toronto jazzateers BadBadNotGood Remix.

Canadian record producer Spencer Heaslip, AKA Taabu, continues to showcase his musical talent and range with this, the release of his heart-pounding ominous new pop single “Pigana (feat. Yviona)” — available now!

Landing just a month after the release of his upbeat, bubblegum-pop EDM single, “Ooey Gooey (feat. Omega Mighty),” ''Pigana” is the second cut from the Toronto-based artist’s forthcoming debut album, Bellows.

Translating to “fight” in Kiswahili — Yviona’s native tongue — the title “Pigana” was inspired by the subject matter of the two-and-a-half-minute rollercoaster. Yviona, who wrote the lyrics, explains it was inspired by “broken relationships caused by miscommunication.”

Check out “Pigana” on YouTube here:  https://youtu.be/iXOm9SVi0IA

“This is a tale of two lovers who struggle to make it work before contemplating pulling the plug,” she adds.

For a breakup song so dark, and filled with so much intensity, you wouldn’t expect it to kick off with a Kalimba; it does, however, and it works beautifully.

Do you really have something to offer? This question needs to be asked in so many different ways and forms. People today give out music, but is that really something to offer? I was doing a funny video for my friends and was amazed about how many free pictures and music was out there for my project. And most of them are really great. Made by people in their spare time who just want to share what they have filmed or composed. And for my project that was enough. I found what I needed and put it together.

Of course, this was a hobby thing. If I worked on Netflix and did a bigger TV-series these pictures or music might not be up in the top-notch material, they need to compete in their channels. Of course, they pay to get the best material as well. The problem is that most of the material that is offered is in the hobby quality that I used.

This week we spotlight Thornhill Food Bank 1 Leaside Park Dr Unit 5B, Toronto, East York Office phone 647-428-9755
Email thorncliffefb@icnareliefcanada.ca

In a statement, she explained: “The album is a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalizing the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors. In times of heartache, grief, deep love, or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers. I’ve learned to breathe out, and tune in. This is what came through.”

This week we spotlight Parkdale Community Food Bank, 1499 Queen St. W. 416-532-2375.

Parkdale Community Food Bank continues to service clients during this challenging time for our community. We are following Public Health Ontario guidelines and taking additional precautions to keep our employees, volunteers and clients safe.

Open Wednesday: 11a.m.–3p.m.
Thursday: 11a.m.–3p.m.
Friday: 10:30a.m.–1:30p.m.
Saturday: 10:30a.m.–1:30p.m.

You always hear about people saying that they got screwed by the music industry. Yes, the music industry is a very competitive environment so don’t think it’s a nine to five place. And yes, there is always some shady stuff, but not really more shady than in any other business. What is actually more common is that people are screwing themselves because of their own lack of knowledge.

The biggest problem in the music industry is that it’s too easy to just start a business and claim that you are part of the industry. No education, no credentials, nothing. Even with an education, you still need an extended amount of networks and a genuine interest in how things are developing to be considered valid in the industry. The problem is that many just think this is a bit more competitive nine to five work, when in actuality it is a lifestyle.

So who screws who in the industry?

Highlighting this week The Sharing Place, 624 Annette Street. This non-profit compassion organization provides warm meals on a weekly basis as well as a food and clothing bank for all people regardless of faith, income, or culture. Donations of non-perishable food items or funds are always needed. Phone (416) 762-3322

Open 10 a.m. Thursdays till the food runs out.

Sheeran has confirmed his official return with the announcement of his brand-new single “Bad Habits,” out everywhere June 25, 2021.

Sheeran hinted at his return to music last week in a now viral clip alongside actress and close friend Courtney Cox. In addition to this, Sheeran has also unveiled the single’s accompanying artwork that reveals him as a vampire character, which he has been teasing on his social channels recently, including in overnight posts featuring a string of London landmark projections, including the Tate Modern.

Commenting on his comeback, Ed Sheeran says: “I’ve been working away in the studio over recent months and I can’t wait for you to hear ‘Bad Habits.’ I always aim to push myself and my music in new directions and hopefully you’ll hear that on the new single. Feels great to be back!”

Check out Bad Habits on YouTube here:

Before in the industry, there were filters for everything. Like when an artist recorded in a studio there was a producer that made decisions. Then the producer took it to the record label and they made decisions. The record label took it to the distributor, and they had their opinions. Not optimal for sure, many of the complaints back in the days were a long time between when the artist had recorded a song until it actually was out on the market. Another complaint was that much of the artist's work was changed by different opinions, right or wrong.

All that has changed. Today an artist can record in the day and get it out to the audience the same minute the song is finished. That is why the demo is no longer exists. Demo was the song roughly recorded for different people in the chain to give comments, so they didn’t have to get back and do it again. Today with all digital it’s so easy to change you consider everything release ready, the demo is gone.

Spotlighting Wigwamen Waabnong Food Bank 20 Sewells Rd, Scarborough North Phone 647-607-5943
Service contact Faye Moffett, Coordinator, fayemoffett@rogers.com
Food bank open Thu 2 pm-4:30 pm; serving outside.

Support your local food bank. The need is real.

So, you got booked to a Showcase Festival or are planning to attend one. Congratulations if you got booked and great if you plan to visit one, good choice. In this part of Showcase Festivals for Dummies, I will go guide you through the dos and dont’s of how to make the most out of a Showcase Festival.

Firstly, don’t overdo it. Many artists get really excited that they will get a show at a Showcase Festival and suddenly they are planning a show of a lifetime. Yes, its can be an opportunity of a lifetime but the people that are going to see you want to see what they get. So, if you book a small choir of singers for the background vocals and an extra person on the saxophone, yes, it will sound great and be amazing on stage, but for the professionals, we will think “okay, the promo picture showed four people in the band do we really need the other extra eight? That will be a massive cost in transportation. Try to make a great show that you can re-create every time. So even if it’s tempting for this time using some fireworks, if it’s not in the show every time just skip the extravaganza, be excellent at everything else.