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 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.

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.

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:

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

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).

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:

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 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.

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:

You’ll never know what’s out there unless you go and see for yourself. One thing is for certain...you do not want to miss out on James Blonde’s newly released single “FOMO” and the first batch of tour dates announced for 2023, including stops in Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, New York City, Cleveland, Nashville, and a hometown concert in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Check it out on YouTube here:

This track starts off with a high energy guitar riff which immediately gives off wild and frantic vibes. The band captures their emotional state of frustration of what’s going on in their minds and releases it with the purpose of getting you to feel their same energy.

Hooks and harmonies. Jangly guitars, groovy rhythms, and influences including the Beatles and Badfinger. No drama, no gimmicks. Just good people and good tunes. For Toronto’s Mr! Mouray, it’s all about making music with catchy melodies and a classic rock-and-roll spirit and doing it on their own terms.

Bandleader Simon Bedford-James formed the group upon deciding that after 30+ years on the music scene it was time to re-evaluate his role as a songwriter/performer, leave what had become an unsatisfactory situation, and step into the spotlight as a frontman of a new project. He put together a crew of trusted veteran musicians to help arrange and interpret his original songs, and together they’ve become a power-pop force to be reckoned with.

Joining singer/guitarist Bedford-James (formerly of Swedish Fish, Moving Targetz, The Last Band and more) are his ex-Moving Targetz bandmate Jaimie Vernon on bass, Nelson Pereira (The Last Band) on guitar, and fellow Swedish Fish alumnus Craig Adams on drums.

American folk singer-songwriter Tatiana Moroz announces new album Love Songs For Idiots set to release on March 23, 2023. The album focuses on all the emotions someone may feel when playing the game of love. Whether it be heartache, forgiving or happiness, Moroz explores it all in this forthcoming album. “Keep The Faith”

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/2wOxHfCkmcTno5GSlfW89S?si=24a3bb5d3d324445&nd=1

Along with her passion for music, Moroz has been a driving force and vocal advocate in the blockchain & Web3 community since 2012, speaking at conferences around the world. In 2014, she created the world’s first artist coin, TATIANACOIN, which funded her 3rd album “Keep The Faith.”

Listen to “Keep The Faith” on YouTube here:

Hailing from New York and now based in Charlotte, North Carolina as well as Honolulu, Hawaii, Feez Da Popstar is showing off his romantic side in his new single "All I Need Is." It was alongside K-Pop singer Seeon Kang, whose vocals feature on the track. The single comes from Feez Da Popstar's new album Life of A Popstar, which releases this summer.

Watch “All I Need Is” on YouTube here:

When you realize what type of love that you want and need for yourself, it is only natural to want to show that love to the world. "All I Need Is' accomplishes this in two ways: One is through Feez Da Popstar's casual and sincere rap delivery. The other is with Seeon Kang's soothing vocals, which add to the courtship going on in the lyrics.

Saskatchewan-based collective, People of the Sun, is a unifying force bringing together people of different cultural backgrounds, ages, genders, and faiths to create impactful hip-hop and funk music and to be an example of inclusion and reconciliation in and for our community.

Part of the Sharp 5 Records family, their self-titled debut album showcases their absorbing and sonically layered music. People of the Sun’s songs were recorded “live off the floor” to showcase that not every beat and note needs to be perfect — striving for something human during inhuman times. The collective wrote the final product as every member was given free rein to draw from their inspirations on the theme.

“We have eight people in our crew, all talented in their own way, each with their own story,” says guitarist/producer Erik Mehlsen. “There's not a second to be bored on the whole album; you get a buffet of personalities to fill your plate every time.”

Recording artists Fog Blues & Brass Band capture the wild energy of a Saturday night at a packed blues bar into their latest single, “Why Get Up.” And it’s no accident, because the blues banger came to life in front of an audience before it ever saw the inside of a recording studio.

Watch and listen on YouTube here:

Hailing from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, the seven-piece Fog Blues & Brass Band is fresh off the heels of their successful debut album, Into the Fog. The album gained them nods for their unique spin on the traditional rock and blues sound, encompassing commanding vocals, harmonies, guitars, keys and horns. Each single off the 2018 album has garnered radio play in Canada and abroad, and the band is also known for their powerhouse live performances at venues and festivals.

One of the most prolific and authentic voices in independent music, Sarantos has delivered his latest single, “Somethin’ to Believe In” – available now! The emotional rock ballad, accompanied by a compelling music video, walks a tightrope between hope and hopelessness. But the space in between isn’t empty – it’s where Sarantos finds himself, and he hopes the listener will as well.

Check out "Somethin' to Believe In" on YouTube here:

San Francisco singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Said Sara (aka David Benson) has released a stark, minimalist acoustic ballad “Same.” Check it out on YouTube here:

 Recorded at The Guest Room and Yosemite Studios in Benson’s hometown of San Francisco, and mastered by Jesse Nichols at The Atomic Garden West in nearby Oakland, “Same” is a richly dark and cathartic song about the torment of wanting and missing, and how we torture ourselves even further to crush those feelings.

Over a bed of acoustic guitar, banjo, and piano, Benson effortlessly carries “Same” with his raw, pointed vocals, which recall Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Cat Stevens.Skinned alive

It can be both exciting and intimidating for a new band to enter a music scene, and UK-based The Goodstock Project addresses, with deep candor, all the conflicting emotions of that very situation on their driving, stadium-inspired new single “Be The One.” Check it out on YouTube here:

“Be The One” starts out pounding and soaring, and singer June Holland’s vibrato glides above and between the instrumentation like a colorful, gently fluttering bird. “Gotta get me/ Some of that wrinkle cream/ Help smooth out my smile lines,” she sings, referring to the forced smiles of an uncomfortable, or fake, situation.

“The lyrics and inspiration behind this tune are about assessing the way a music scene is developing, and having a true belief that you are worthy of being part of it,” the band divulges. “Or better still, standing apart from it and achieving success independently.”

Music has always been a form of artistic expression. It can also be used as a tool to bring focus to events that can impact us and the world we live in. Rusty Creek’s newly released single – “Bombs Away” which is available now, does exactly that.

Check out “Bombs Away” on YouTube here:

You can hear the smooth country blues vocals of lead singer Alex Deeth narrating a story of what it’s like for the innocent people who have been affected by the evils of war. “This song was originally written back in the 1980s”, Deeth explains. “I was writing about the bombing of Britain during WWII. But eventually, the Vietnam War, The Iraq War, Afghanistan War and then Syria and now the disgusting Russian War against the Ukraine. So, the song unfortunately becomes a song for the ages. The song is an anti-war song.”