BTW This Week- KIIA, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, John Borra, Gianni Bodo, Terry Guy, Junkowl, Bruce Cockburn, Jadyn Lamb

Fri May 22 2020
KIIA

It’s a beautiful sunny day in Toronto. What better time to drop by your local food band and show it some love. Spotlighting: St Ninian's Anglican Church Food Bank 930 Bellamy Rd N Toronto ON, Canada M1H 1G9. Hours Tue 5 pm-8 pm, Wed 9 am-11:45 am

Please call St Ninian's Anglican Church Food Bank at 416-438-3750 before visiting in person.

Pop Artist Ashley Lyn Gets Candid & Direct About Love & Career in “I Want It 2”

Fri May 22 2020
Ashley Lyn

Canadian artist Ashley Lyn gets direct — in more ways than one — for her newest single and video, “I Want It 2”.

The Toronto-based Jamaican-Chinese pop powerhouse is all-business, remiss to hold back in song (this one lands as a sultry, attitude-packed track and visual about curving dudes on her quest for true love), and her career (the track’s backstory serves as a manifesto of sorts — read on).

“I wrote ‘I Want It 2’ in a Starbucks with an old classmate of mine from back in University who is now a producer,” she starts. “The lyrical concept was to make a modern-day version of Cassie’s ‘Long Way 2 Go’ mixed with a few of my other influences like Fifth Harmony, Jasmine Villegas, Pia Mia, Tinashe, and Mabel.

Watch and listen to ‘I Want It 2’ here:

The IQ And EQ In The Music

Fri May 22 2020
Peter Åstedt

Just to have a high IQ is not always a good thing. I was just watching a game show on TV and the contestant  was in MENSA (a club for people with high IQ) and had a high IQ. Lost on the first question on how many legs a spider has. IQ shows how good you are on logical things. It doesn’t  really say if you are smart or successful.

Also, this contestant, you really felt that she was not someone you really wanted to have a conversation with. What she was lacking was quite a lot is EQ. Your EQ is the level of your ability to understand other people, what motivates them, and how to work cooperatively with them.  So, having one of these is good but you can perform badly on other things. Like you are super smart but friendly like a venomous snake. Or you get along with all people but not really see when people take advantage of you.

BTW - Catbite, Omnigone, Liona Boyd, Matt Weidinger, Call Me Malcolm, Martha & Rufus Wainwright, Unison Benevolent Fund, Busty & The Bass

Fri May 15 2020
Catbite

This week’s spotlight: Bluffs Food Bank  33 East Road, Toronto.

Thursdays 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., by appointment, the Bluffs Food Bank is open to give groceries to those who need help.  Sandwiches, hot soup, coffee & tea are available. Drop off grocery or boutique donations on “Welcome Wednesdays” 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Please help Scarborough’s most enduring food bank.

The Bogus Record Labels Are As Necessary As A Fish Needing A Bicycle

Fri May 15 2020
Peter Åstedt

I just came out of a meeting for record labels. Yes, record labels have organization meetings just like all other business organizations. I have been a member for the past 25 years, so it was fun meeting people that actually do the same things like yourself and really indulge in record label nerd talks. Before the meeting, I met up with another label that used to be active in this local organization but now is in the bigger worldwide organization.

She just said “I don’t care any longer about the local chapter. It’s really too low a quality of members to be even taken seriously as working in the music business. In reality, they are worse than the artist themselves at their job. It is mainly a junkyard of people that are employed by organizations to give out music in a really bad way. My belief is that the artist would do it much better themselves then being pampered by these bogus so-called record labels."

Julian Taylor and The Ridge

Fri May 15, 2020

It seems that Julian Taylor keeps evolving as an artist, covering different genres but he doesn’t really see it that way.

“I’m a singer/songwriter first and foremost and I’m comfortable in many genres.” 

Julian Taylor Online Tour Poster

 

 

So although to some Julian’s new CD ‘The Ridge’ may sound like a departure of his usual sound to some of us to Julian it’s just how he wants to express himself at this time. And it all makes sense. Labeling can be confusing and limiting. I remember talking to folk legend Eric Andersen about his folksinger legacy and he said he didn’t consider himself a folksinger he was a singer and a songwriter, no need to label it. 

Julian Taylor falls into that category.

‘First Lady of the Guitar’ Liona Boyd is “Sending Love In The Time Of Corona”

Mon May 11 2020
Sending Love In The Time Of Corona

Multi-award winning and Gold and Platinum-selling Canadian, ‘First Lady of the Guitar’ Liona Boyd is “Sending Love In The Time Of Corona” by way of a new single available now.

Watch and Listen here to “Sending Love In The Time Of Corona”

Proceeds from the song’s release will be directed to the Unison Benevolent Fund to help support musicians and industry professionals with counseling and emergency economic relief.

“While bicycling early one morning near my winter house in Palm Beach, Florida, I was anxiously thinking about my friends, family and fans scattered around the world and how we are all having to cope with rapidly changing times due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Boyd shares of the song and its heartfelt inspiration. “I began to hum the melody and lyrics to a little song, which would become ‘Sending Love In The Time Of Corona.’

BTW This Week-Jesse Cook, Satori, Commonwealth Choir, Shred Kelly, Felixity, The Temporary Residents, DeeDee Butters

Fri May 08 2020
Jesse Cook Photo Credit Jaime Espinoza

This week spotlighting Oasis Dufferin Community Centre Food Bank

1219 Dufferin Street Office Hours::Monday - Thursday 9:30am - 3:30pm  Food Bank: Wednesdays 9:30 am to 12:30 pm - Lineup on Dufferin Street  Take-out dinner: Tuesdays starting at 5:30
https://oasisdufferin.org/

Bryant Didier, Brent Haynes & Evolutionary Music Co-operative support Oasis Dufferin CommunityCentre Food Bank

Always 'Cook-ing up' something, is our multi-award winning and internationally acclaimed guitarist, composer and producer Jesse Cook called on his tens of thousands of fans to collaborate on his newest song. The result was an overflowing inbox of contributions from around the globe and a new song, “One World, OneVoice , just out.

“I asked if we could sing a song, together, from all over the world,” Cook shares. “Initially, I wasn’t sure if anyone would take me up on my offer, so I was completely unprepared for the flood of videos that overwhelmed my inbox.”

Say No to Play for Free

Fri May 08 2020
Peter Åstedt

You always get artists complaining that people think they should play for free on parties, pubs and other things. Usually, with the saying, it’s good for promotional for you. I have seen artists ranting long things around how stupid people are, and that they are worth being paid, etc.

At the same time, I get this all the time. Okay, I’m ranting about it right now. And the reason for that is because I had several people talking to me about this problem that are professional people in the business. Right now since there is a lockdown and releasing music seems to be the only way to get something done it just comes in double than usual.

Just as annoying as people asking for an artist to play for free. As a professional, it’s equally annoying with an artist that thinks I should do them favors for free. I just got this message:
I’m releasing a new single next week. Though if you know some good outlets that I should send it to?

Jesse Cook Called on Fans to Collaborate in New Single, “One World, One Voice”

Fri May 08 2020
Jesse Cook One World One Voice

Two weeks ago, Canadian multi-award winning and Internationally acclaimed guitarist, composer and producer Jesse Cook called on his tens of thousands of fans to collaborate on his newest song. The result was an overflowing inbox of contributions from around the globe and a new song, “One World, One Voice”.

“I asked if we could sing a song, together, from all over the world,” Cook shares. “Initially, I wasn’t sure if anyone would take me up on my offer, so I was completely unprepared for the flood of videos that overwhelmed my inbox.”

Watch as Participants from Every Corner of the Map Contribute to the Award-Winning Artist’s Newest Release:
https://youtu.be/8u2sZ-zti7s

Don Graham Releases New Single “You Can Count On Me”

Fri May 08, 2020

The state the world is in right now we could all use some hope and inspiration.

“Music can be very a effective way of speaking to people and letting some positivity and light shine in their lives,” says Canadian singer/songwriter Don Graham, “my hope is it will give the listeners some belief in our fellow man, we’re all in this together.”

Tune in and listen to “You Can Count On Me” here:
https://youtu.be/fAplU7_0Gj4

Bruce Cockburn Announces ‘True North - A 50th Anniversary Box Set’

Tue May 05 2020
Bruce Cockburn Announces ‘True North - A 50th Anniversary Box Set’

To be active and relevant in music for 50 years is a significant achievement for any individual recording artist. The same can be said for any independent record label. To achieve this milestone together as an artist and label team without interruption, has to be one of the most extraordinarily rare events in music.

To celebrate this milestone, Bruce Cockburn and True North Records have produced True North - A 50th Anniversary Box Set, a Limited Edition vinyl box set containing three of Bruce’s most significant recordings. The first album where it all started, the self-titled debut Bruce Cockburn along with two albums that have never before been released on vinyl; The Charity of Night and Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu. Each album has been re-mastered by Bruce’s long-time producer Colin Linden, and is pressed on coloured vinyl. The five-180 gram discs are contained in original artwork sleeves adapted from the original designs by the acclaimed graphic designer Michael Wrycraft, and housed in an individually numbered box signed personally by the artist. There will be only a limited initial pressing.

BTW-Sven Gali, Prescilla Una, Pantayo, Jesse Cook, Emily Rockarts, Don Graham, Kim Doolittle, The Emburys

Fri May 01 2020
Sven Gali

This week’s featured neighbourhood food bank is another Parkdale institution doing good work at the gritty street level. Please help if you can.

Yelp Food Bank
797 Dundas St W, Toronto · 416-203-3011 Opens Tues.10 AM

Back from the undead comes popular Toronto hairband Sven Gali. Leading the charge, the single “Now” off their soon come EP entitled “3” due out June 12. Known for their fusion of 80s screaming hard rock and 90s blazing metal, the new EP is their long-awaited follow up to 1995's "In Wire" and 1992's gold-selling and Juno Award nominated self-titled debut album released on BMG Music Canada that featured hits “Under The Influence” and “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”.

“3” features two previous released singles “Kill The Lies” (2018) and “You Won’t Break Me” (2019) both produced by David Bendeth (Paramore, Breaking Benjamin, Bring Me The Horizon) along with new tracks “Now” and “Hurt” produced by Jon Howard (Threat Signal).

To Release a Song You Need a Vision

Fri May 01 2020
Peter Åstedt

Releasing a song/album is really like making a movie but on a smaller scale.

In a movie production, the director’s job is to get the whole team to embrace his/her vision. Of course, they take advice from different experts like the lighting director that comes with suggestions and then the director makes that part of the vision. In the background, you have the producers that do the financial decisions. The vision cannot go over budget. Still, in the end, the director’s job is to make the vision clear.

In music, that job is the artist's job. Sometimes they know, like an actor, they can direct a movie. But not any actor can be a director. Same in music in many ways, artists might not be suitable to make these decisions. Still, in the part that you release DIY, you are forced to be the director that makes decisions.

BTW This Week-Noble Son, Crystal Shawanda, Jehnny Beth, Brittany Howard, Lily Frost, Emily Welles, Joel Plaskett

Fri Apr 24 2020
Noble Son

Right, this week spotlighting food banks in Parkdale in Toronto, another high poverty location with perennially under stocked food banks. Please give what you can and best way to do so, go out and buy groceries at a local store and take them to your neighbourhood food bank. If you do contribute, let me know which one and where and I’ll give you and the food bank a shout out. Thanks.

Parkdale Community Food Bank 
1499 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1A3
Open Wednesday to Saturday 11-3:30 p.m.
Currently, hours are changeable. (416) 532-2375

Fort York Food Bank 
380 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1S6
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9a.m.–2p.m. Hours may differ Phone: (416) 203-3011

Into the music we go. When it comes to describing the indie-folk undertaking that is Canadian artist Noble Son — aka Adam Kirschner, singer/songwriter, actor, and VFV (very familiar voice) — his new single “Sad Dumb Lovesick Young Kid,” and album Life Isn’t Fun, I’d say it’s one that’s generating a lotta media, usually thick with hyperbole.

Don’t Shag The Producer!

Fri Apr 24 2020
Peter Åstedt

Or any of the band members either! Sure, people meet at the job but there is a reason that bigger firms have rules that it’s forbidden to have relationships between employees. Ok, the music industry doesn’t have that but you should see it that way anyways.

I had an artist that was produced by her boyfriend. They did not meet on the job. They had been a couple for a long time so it became kind of natural that they started doing some music together. He naturally produced her first EP and album. Things were going quite well and a record label came onboard. They were very enthusiastic but felt the music had to step up. “Why don’t hire a good producer?”

She got stuck between a rock and a hard place. Go home and tell her boyfriend that his producer career wouldn’t be moving forward with her career? Or that he wasn’t good enough? It just became mission impossible. Every time the subject came up at the record label meetings she avoided the topic. The record label just took it that as she was a diva and didn’t see their new super-producer as cool enough. After a couple of meetings, the record label was not so enthusiastic about their new signing any longer.

Take a Leap Of Faith - That’s How It Starts with Marshall Potts

Fri Apr 24, 2020

How do you start a journey to an unseen but magical desired location? You take a leap of faith, because “that’s how it starts”.

Canadian singer/songwriter Marshall Potts has a new fresh version of “That's How It Starts” and it’s a hit. The song offers an intimate invitation into the heart and soul of the man.

In Marshall Potts’ case the journey is as interesting and inspirational as the destination. The last year has seen Marshall reap the rewards of faith, determination, tenacity and hard work. Realizing this is a marathon not a sprint, he mapped out a plan and strategy that would see him dipping his toes into the ocean of festivals and reaching out to global audiences.

Spoons Release New Video for “Landing Lights” from New Day New World Album

Fri Apr 17, 2020

Canadian new wave icons the Spoons are serving a bright dose of inspiration and immense gratitude in this, their newest video for “Landing Lights”.

Watch/Listen on YouTube here:
Landing Lights by Spoons

“Landing Lights” is on the Top 20 Pick Hit Chart for May on www.cashboxradio.ca (available on App for free)

Members Gord Deppe and Sandy Horne’s sentiments stretch two ways, but first and foremost to medical professionals and their ongoing efforts in the face of COVID-19. “We wanted to create a video that reaches out to all of the healthcare workers during this scary time,” Deppe says. “We wanted to thank them, and let them know how grateful we — and the world is — for risking their lives every day for us.”

BTW - Stellar Ash, Whatzernam, Trrmà, Donovan Woods, Krosst Out, Taya Marquis, Girl Pow-R

Fri Apr 17 2020
Stellar Ash

Everybody holding strong in keeping yourself to yourself and keeping your distance? As I mentioned last week, Toronto food banks are at their ramen’s end trying to keep their clients fed and are mighty grateful for whatever little help we can give.

You can give all donations to the Central Daily Food Bank 191 New Toronto St. services, among others, Allan Gardens Food Bank at St.Luke’s United Church SE corner Sherbourne & Carlton. Thursday & Friday 1-3.30 PM.This location serves one of Toronto’s most vulnerable and neglected populations.

Alternative indie rock band, Stellar Ash, comprised of band members Dave, Dave, & Not Dave combines 90s alternative elements with a fresh take on Canadian power rock and the result is unique, yet familiar. A big sound for a small band, with a chemistry rarely found in bands so newly formed.