Perfect Hindsight: RUTH MOODY (The Wailin' Jennys) Makes Triumphant Return With “Seventeen” From Upcoming Album 'Wanderer' Out May 17 On Blue Muse Records/True North Records

Sat Mar 23, 2024

No matter how far you think you’ve come, it’s hard to resist thinking about what might have been. That’s the rationale behind “Seventeen,” the achingly wistful single from Canadian singer-songwriter Ruth Moody’s forthcoming album, Wanderer, out May 17 on Blue Muse Records/True North Records.

Check it out on YouTube:

In her gentle yet authoritative soprano, Moody looks back on a teenage crush that followed the sad but typical trajectory from something craved to something squandered:

If I could go back
I’d show you all the ways that you made me feel

If I could go back
I’d take you in my arms, try and set us free
If I could go back
I wouldn’t be here now trying to say “I’m sorry”
I was seventeen

Use Your Allusion: Funky Reference-Happy Rapper K.O. Strat Raises The Arcane On Debut Album ‘Glass Sandwich”

Sat Mar 23, 2024

Good hip-hop lives and dies on the cleverness of its wordplay. But when it comes to witty namechecks, rapper K.O. Strat is playing in a different league entirely. On his debut album, Glass Sandwich—and its spotlight track, “The Moleskine”- he’s dropping pop-cultural nods so deep they might have stumped even Dennis Miller in his prime.

A short but sweet peek into a restless creative mind, “The Moleskine” packs its 2-minute running time with references to The Legend of Sleepy HollowThe FlintstonesTekken, Metallica’s first album and the Space Shuttle Challenger. Even the title is an IP: It’s the brand name of the notebook in which Strat used to jot down his lyrical ideas and other bursts of inspiration.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/5PgaJfn7VbLbGlxek0Adfg

“My close friend had gotten me a grossly overpriced but undeniably nice Moleskine notebook as a gift. If he hadn’t, the song might be called ‘The Hilroy,’” he muses.

Folk Icon James Gordon Goes On A Hunt For Harmony In “Leonard’s Secret Chord” From New Album ‘Wrinkles and Scars’

Sat Mar 23, 2024

One of the more curious aspects of the artistic temperament is that the more you accomplish, the more you strive for. Case in point: Canadian folk legend James Gordon, who after a whopping 42 albums and successes in multiple other avenues of creative and civic life is still looking for “Leonard’s Secret Chord”—which is not only a metaphor for the elusiveness of the proverbial muse, but the title of his new single to boot. Check it out on YouTube here:

And yes, that title is indeed a Leonard Cohen reference. Gordon wrote his song after watching a documentary on the omnipresent “Hallelujah,” which Cohen recorded in 1984 and which later became a staple of films, TV and the repertoires of other artists.

Squalor My World: Punk Purists G.F.U. Toast Life Among The “Rats”

Sat Mar 23, 2024

It’s a proud tradition for punk bands to pay tribute to the absolute disaster area they live in. Fear did it with “I Love Livin’ in the City,” and Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom followed suit with “New York, New York.” To that list, add the York Region, Ontario, quartet G.F.U., who immortalize their life of filth on “Rats,” the latest track pulled from their 2023 four–song debut ep, Grand Slam. Check it out on YouTube here:

BELFOUNTAIN New VIDEO for Debut Single GIVE IT UP Out Now

Sat Mar 23, 2024

BELFOUNTAIN's debut single "Give It Up," - has a new video out now, to accompany it. The fresh, new indie-folk-rock project fronted by singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and JUNO Award-winning producer Chris Graham, has released the catchy-as-hell first single which is drawn from the upcoming album Some Hearts, an authentic, roots-inspired collection of songs. Some Hearts comes out June 21, 2024.

Watch it on YouTube here:

Arturo Rojas Strikes a Chord With "Te Diré" (Live) Release, a Journey of Emotion and Artistry

Sat Mar 23, 2024

In 2023, Arturo Rojas gifted our ears with great music with the release of the success "Te Diré" (Song of the Week on Toronto's Voces Latinas CHHA 1610 AM), and his last release, "Entre Mi Fuego y Sangre", a harmonious fusion of artistry and emotion. Watch and listen on YouTube here:

 Written by Rojas, his latest release is a personal artistic expression of positivity, after experiencing a near-death situation. "It made me wonder about life", the singer shares. "What comes after we die? Where are we going after death? Is there a place waiting for us after we pass away? But in the end, we need to learn to give…"

Despite drawing inspiration from a challenging life moment, Rojas skillfully channels his emotions into a captivating ballad, effortlessly blending Latin, pop, and jazz influences.

The Rockin’ Krolik Confesses the Joys and Pangs of Middle Age on Raw, Relatable EP Shedding Skin

Fri Mar 15, 2024

Nearly three years in the making, Shedding Skin, the new six-song EP by Ajax, ON-based The Rockin’ Krolik (a.k.a. J.F. Perotin) is a raw examination of past relationships, personal growth, loss of loved ones, and addiction. It’s the kind of album you make when you’ve turned 52, as Perotin did this year, and you have some of the hard-earned wisdom and maturity to formulate something deeply meaningful – and relatable.

“I wrote songs letting go of filters, self-judgment, Imposter Syndrome, and all that BS,” Perotin says of Shedding Skin, which he began writing back in 2022.

With its mellow rockin’ groove, “W.Y.K.Y.K.” (“When You Know, You Know”) pays tribute to emotional intelligence and listening to one’s gut to get the right answers. “In short, it’s being tuned in to the energy of the universe and what you perceive when interacting with people – it’s all magnetism,” Perotin muses. “Ebbs and flows, tension and release.” And then the song brings in the strings for an epic, purifying ending.

Shook Boys Hot Wax! Immortalized on 10″ Sleazy Records’ Vinyl

Fri Mar 15, 2024

With Shook Boys fresh from their first performance in Europe at the 30th Rockin Race Jamboree in Spain, Sleazy Records has answered the band’s fans call by releasing a limited 10″ vinyl record of their self-titled debut album in March 2024.

Originally dropped on streaming platforms in November 2023, the album’s transition to vinyl is a nod to the band’s 1950s aesthetics. With seven songs packed into a lively 15-minute experience, the album certainly calls for a 10″ record—a timeless soundtrack of rebellious youth.

Shook BoysThe self-titled album, “Shook Boys,” is a reflection of the boys’ lifestyle—a soundtrack to juvenile delinquency and reckless living. Inspired by the no-holds-barred ethos of the 1950s rock’n’roll era, the band stays true to the roots of rockabilly while fearlessly pushing its boundaries with sounds of garage, doo-wop, and rhythm & blues.

Pachangón's Resonance: From Kitchen Parties to Chart-Topping Beats With Tropical Punk, Cumbia, Ska, and Calypso

Fri Mar 15, 2024

Thank goodness the neighbours spent the summer out of town! When the after-hours crowd that had just left one of Montreal DJ/producer “MTL Pachangón” club nights moved the party to his combined kitchen and living room, the walls shook with joyous singalongs, the celebration until sunrise by the sounds of beatmaking, rapping and various noises made with household utensils.

Now, almost seven years later, comes proof it was all worth it. Oonga & Chellz - Dame Espacio feat. Ultra K, the debut single from Oonga’s MTL Sauce Piquante project, reconstitutes those late-night bursts of creativity into a spicy mix of tropical punk, cumbia, ska, calypso, dancefloor grooves and just about anything else that can be caught and thrown in a pot.

Toronto’s Rock-Revivalists Original Pairs Warn Us About The Dangers Of Aging Out On “Not Grow Old”

Fri Mar 15, 2024

When you hear a band has penned a concept album about the natural flow of a grand love affair, your instinctive reaction might be “Aww, how sweet.” Now meet Original Pairs. The Toronto rock-revival outfit have chosen to herald the arrival of their new collection, Long Play (OPLP), by releasing “Not Grow Old,” a relationship inventory with a—shall we say—quirkier bent. Check it out on YouTube here:

Lyrically, the song finds a smitten narrator rattling off a series of things his woman could do that he promises wouldn’t scuttle their union—from staying out all night to putting him on hold to talking with her mouth full. But the loping, dark-rockabilly menace of the music hints that there’s going to be a crucial exception:

Don’t say you ain’t been told
You better not grow old

You better not grow old

Powerhouses Lou Pomanti and Robyn Black Unleash Infectious Vibes with Soulful Collaboration “Shake About It”

Fri Mar 15, 2024

Get ready to shake it like never before with Lou Pomanti and Robyn Black as they release their newest soulful single, "Shake About It." This dynamic collaboration between Lou, one of Canada’s most accomplished producers, composers, musicians, and musical directors, and Robyn, Canada’s vocal treasure, is not just music – it's a mood-lifting invitation to throw caution to the wind and let go of all your worries. Check it out on YouTube here:

Polar Expression: “Survivorman” Les Stroud Teases Vinyl Re-Release With A Love Letter To His “Arctic Mistress”

Fri Mar 15, 2024

Welcome to the tundra. Environmentalist/adventurer Les Stroud is once again singing the praises of his “Arctic Mistress,” a track from the forthcoming remastered and expanded vinyl edition of his 2019 album, Mother Earth. Check it out on YouTube here:

 An artifact of one of Stroud’s innumerable forays into the ancient wilderness, the seven-minute track begins with a lengthy throat-sung prelude influenced by the Inuit musicians of Canada’s Pond Inlet. That segues into a mesmerizing prog-pop number that exhorts us to “breathe the arctic air.” It’s a sentiment near and dear to the heart of Stroud, who has built up a sterling international reputation as an advocate for the natural world through his decades as a survival expert, filmmaker, composer, singer-songwriter and all-around champion of the wonders around us.

Which Way To The Flip Side? Double Single Shows Two Faces Of Janet Panic

Fri Mar 15, 2024

One of the hardest decisions a recording artist has to make is which single to pull to accurately represent their new album. For Indigenous, Sechelt, BC-based folk-popper Janet Panic, the ultimate answer was “Why choose?” That’s why she’s heralding her latest record, A Mighty Rip Through the Page of My Life, with a double-A-sided release that showcases two distinct aspects of her highly compelling musical personality.

On one side, we have “Goodbyes”—which, given the title of the album, might seem to portend a seriously bitter kiss-off. But this is actually an exquisite breakup song that’s exactly the sort of loving benediction you’d hope to receive from a partner when things finally reached their end.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/6jPUObW3Z4gIrBrX4TP27N

May all the troubles that you spoke of/ Be blessings in disguise,” Panic coos, with the utmost sincerity. “And the obstacles you face/ They shrink as you rise/ And I wish you goodbyesGoodbyes

Lunachicks’ Gina Volpe Finds “Delete The World” Is Her Key

Fri Mar 15, 2024

It’s never too late to disassociate. So says New York City postpunk philosopher Gina Volpe on “Delete the World,” the latest track to drop from her debut solo album of the same name. Check it out on YouTube here:

 A hymn to the life-saving power of escapism, the song finds Volpe with daydreaming on her mind. A detuned, eighth-note chunky guitar riff ticks away like the steady march of time while the singer impatiently imagines missing out on a world that “could vaporize before our eyes.” Then everything explodes in an old-school rave-up that declares a path to victory over humdrum reality:

Pretty "Please": Detroit's Billy The Kid And Her New Band Show They Ain't Too Proud To Beg

Fri Mar 15, 2024

There’s needy, and then there’s just honest. And you can always count on the recording artist known as Billy the Kid to be honest. On her new single, “Fall in Love with Me, Please”—her second as part of the trio Billy the Kid & Your Funeral—the straight-shooting Billy Pettinger places a bid for affection that’s as plainspoken as it is heartbreaking. Check it out on YouTube here:

Making her own unique contribution to the “where is my man?” school of lonely hearts club songcraft, the Vancouver-born, Detroit-based Billy establishes that she, too, has been around the world and can’t find her baby—“the world” in this context extending from the neighborhood bar to the faces of past partners she now worries might have included the proverbial one that got away. It’s on the chorus, though, that the depths of her desperation truly become known:

Melbourne/Dubai Rapper Bently Boy Stays Clothes-Minded With Three New Takes On "Alexander McQueen"

Fri Mar 15, 2024

Everybody should have more than one outfit, no matter how swank it might be. That’s why Melbourne, Australia-born; Dubai-based rapper Bently Boy is dropping three brand-new mixes of his sartorially oriented single “Alexander McQueen” featuring NLE Choppa and Elise Estrada — each version perfectly suited to its own particular occasion. Check it out on YouTube here: youtube.com/@BENTLYBOYOFFICIAL

There’s an amped-up club mix for when you wanna get on the floor. A funk mix to make your ride bump and rattle. And a sinister, sinuous trap mix that whispers “Time to creep.” As produced by Adam H. (DJ Khaled, Ne-Yo, Ray J), the three reimaginings on Alexander McQueen: The Versions couldn’t be more different from one another. But each one is just the right ensemble to throw on once you’ve decided what you’re in the mood for. No matter where you’re headed, the cut, so to speak, is always gonna be perfect.

What all three mixes have in common is a lyrical thrust that exalts the sharp-dressed man as a paragon of triumph over adversity:

Unifier In The Belly: Idealistic Folkers Stone Poets Seek To Bridge “The Great Divide”

Thu Feb 29, 2024

Factions on the left, factions on the right … sometimes it seems as if the only thing we as a people can agree on anymore is to disagree. Loudly. 

British-Colombian folk/pop/roots act Stone Poets see the problem, and they refuse to be cowed by it. Lifting their voices in harmony to preach the virtues of… well, harmony, the trio of Cherelle Jardine, Scott Jackson and Marc Gladstone makes a soft-spoken yet impassioned plea for lowering the cultural temperature on “The Great Divide,” the first single from their new album, HUM∀N.

Check it out on YouTube here:

Singer-Songwriter Todd Green Channels Loss Into Melodic Reflection With Debut Single "Five Years Later"

Thu Feb 29, 2024

Music serves as the timeless conduit that unites us all. For Todd Green, executive director of Tomorrow’s Voices Foundation and dedicated music enthusiast, his love for music transcends mere admiration.

With an extensive collection of records and countless concert experiences under his belt, Todd now embarks on a new venture as a singer-songwriter, adding another dimension to his musical journey.

At the core of Todd Green's musical journey is Tomorrow’s Voices Foundation, a charitable children’s choir he established in 2017. With a passion for nurturing young talent, Todd founded the organization to provide aspiring singers across Canada with a platform to showcase their voices. Today, the foundation operates in six cities and three provinces, impacting the lives of over 200 children.

The Celtic Tenors Announce Expanded Edition Of An Irish Songbook And World Tour

Thu Feb 29, 2024

The Celtic Tenors have been acting as musical ambassadors for a quarter-century now, applying their immense vocal talents (and uniquely Irish charm and personality) to material that ranges from classical arias and acapellas to traditional Celtic harmonies and popular contemporary songs. They’ve sold over a million records worldwide, winning over legions of fans with their unmatched ability to harmonize both musically and personally.

That they mesh so well as a unit stems in part from the firm pedigree each member brings to the table. Tenor Matthew Gilsenan was classically trained by some of the great Irish and Scottish teachers and later sang in Ireland’s National Chamber Choir. James Nelson is an honors graduate in music from University College Dublin, with a résumé that includes over 60 oratorios and more than 50 operas and operettas performed on stages across the globe. Daryl Simpson has degrees in music from multiple institutions in Ireland and Scotland, as well as an extensive history of appearances with prestigious opera companies and orchestras in the U.K. and Switzerland.

Cree Musician PaulStar's Debut Album "Bring It All Together" Fuses Indigenous Roots with Rock and Pop Influences

Thu Feb 29, 2024

PaulStar, a.k.a. Paul Napash, the multi-talented Cree musician, artist, and producer hailing from Chisasibi, Quebec, is set to make a significant impact on the music industry with the release of his first full-length album, "Bring It All Together" – check it out on YouTube here:

 With a blend of influences from his Indigenous roots and his love of alternative rock, pop, and hip-hop, the versatile artist's newly released record is a testament to his musical evolution. When creating “Bring It All Together”, PaulStar underwent an introspective journey, propelled by his passion to elevate the voices of Indigenous people while taking inspiration from his favourite bands.

Every track on the album showcases a different facet of PaulStar's identity and creative vision, drawing from his own experiences and the hardships encountered by Indigenous communities.