Talk about Promises Kept… Downhome Canadian country maven Lisa Richard is back with some “News You Can Use” – check it out on YouTube

The East Coast crooner shares a deeply personal, uplifting, and uptempo track that shines a light on homegrown values, staying optimistic, and finding the good in the everyday.

The magic behind Lisa Richard’s heartfelt songwriting is the authenticity that oozes from every note; her vocal prowess delivers on the melody, unearthing what matters most to each of us. Matched with her ability to write a track that is equal parts catchy as it is sincere, “News You Can Use” is another capturing of the moments that matter the most. Richard is spellbinding, and captivating; coercing you to swim in nostalgia, and you appreciate the world at present.

Fresh off her 2022 Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for ‘Young Performer of the Year,’ Canadian pop singer Hannah Thomas sets the stage for a summer of songs in Stratford, Ontario with the return of her third annual Dock Music Concert Series — starting this week! Shows run every Sunday at 7:00pm now through July 24th in front of the new Tom Patterson Theatre along the Avon River.

Watch “‘Just Sing’ Dock Mural — Featuring Hannah Thomas & Claire Scott” by Kris Von Kleist via YouTube Here:

Hannah’s smooth and powerful vocals leave audiences captivated, and this season her stunning performances will be complemented by guest performers, themed shows, and duets with her father, Dale Thomas — who was featured on her recently released seasonal album, Christmas Don’t Be Late.

Canadian R&B pop artist Chad Price draws on the battles with inner demons to manifest his introspective journey of self-healing into an uplifting tale of resilience in a new single, “Broken Open” – check it out on YouTube here:

Recorded with producer Matthew Johnston, “Broken Open” is anthemic with its gospel-tinged choral background vocals, brutally honest and intimate with its heart-breaking and confessional lyrics, and — ultimately — optimistic, unifying, and healing with its message of acknowledgment and collective vulnerability.

Josh Ritchie, the insightful, curious, inquisitive, and mega-talented rock star from rural Ontario, has released his soulful title track, “Love at the End of the World” LIVE from Old Bank Studios – check it out on YouTube here:

“I’m really excited to have a live version of this song out in the world,” Ritchie says of the soul-wrenching think-piece rife with heart-stopping wonderment, stripped down and beautifully performed. “The magic of it really is in the live performance of it. The band and I, we just get lost in the build and the drama of it. I can’t wait to share it with people.”

The sophomore release from Ritchie couldn’t have been better timed; the world is searching for an artist who lays it bare on the lyric sheet, and Ritchie’s no-nonsense approach to communicating the realness of today’s societal climate is a welcomed breath of fresh air.

Yeah, sure, you’ve heard of EDM, but what about Cinematic Breakbeat and – more importantly – The Nylon Admirals? Growing ever more popular due to their dramatic style of electronic music, The Nylon Admirals are ready to release their new album, Handbags – check out “In A World” on YouTube here:

Consisting of four previously released singles and five completely new tracks, Handbags is the spirit of the Nylon Admirals – infusing emotion into their productions and creating an enveloping experience for their listeners. Alongside its lead single, “In A World,” Handbags is an exciting experience filled with highs and lows seldom explored in the world of digital production. 

On the fringe of the Mega Centarri cluster, in their own galaxy not so far away, war has all but consumed the blue planet Zederth and, after 1,000 years of peace and harmony, virtual diva Priz Em and her lover, musician/scientist Prin Jori Merkanteel, are forced to go to battle — not only with an unseen enemy but also with each other. So goes the tale for Canadian pop-rock virtual concept artist Priz Em and their new single, “First Kiss” – check it out on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/5brLdK4BHuDdWMIMzjCXjj?si=5304ae7451df4d24&nd=1

It’s a fantastical story of grace, love, perseverance, and grace under pressure; no matter the fiction, the reality of relationships faced with grim circumstances is tied to the human experience and, for Priz Em and Merkanteel (aka Stray Horn), their journey is faced with even further dire consequences as they attempt to hold onto one another while trying to save the world they know and love.

While analogies and metaphors can be pretty and poetic and all, sometimes you just have to tell it like it is. And there’s no mistaking that Nova Scotian singer-songwriter Jeff Hope is giving a bad relationship the hook, both literally and musically, with his new single, “Goodbye Baby” – check it out on YouTube here:

The “Goodbye, baby, goodbye” in the chorus is anthemic and instantly relatable as Hope’s expressive tenor kicks into the chorus after a spate of done-me-wrong epithets. We’ve all been there and this super catchy song’s four-on-the-floor rhythm is bound to have everyone involuntarily nodding in agreement.

‘I’d rather be flat broke, stuck in the cold
Then waste my time growing old with you.’

Ouch!

In broader terms, Hope describes “Goodbye Baby” as a “timeless breakup song with a punchy up-tempo feel” and big, harmony vocals.

Before they released the Kraken on the ice, it was teen Nikhil Bagga — the virtuoso guitarist — who stirred the crowd into a rock frenzy with his electric rendition of “Star Spangled Banner.”

Watch the NHL performance here:

In fact, the Seattle Times said the day after: “From the get-go, the Kraken seemed to have a step on their opponents. A rousing electric guitar performance of the national anthem by youngster Nikhil Bagga, 12, had the crowd buzzing beforehand and the electricity seemed to carry over to the home team’s performance.”

Watch Hypnotized here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9QzXJc2xhc

And with that, Bagga — now 13 — with his insatiable talent and megawatt grin, has entered the chat.

Charlottetown rockers The Pearly Gates have burst wide open with love lost on their newest single, “There’s A Black Hole (Where Your Heart Should Be)” – check it out on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/3QyNdoEockKCHunlgK7ZkQ?si=7ecaff7ed3d749c7&nd=1

The East Coast-based four-piece comprised of Mark Palmer (vocals, guitar), Colin Buchanan (guitar, vocals), Roger Carter (drums), and Chris Francis (bass) sings the score on a familiar fable, uniquely delivered in their unmistakable sonic offering: a modern twist on 60s rock nostalgia. “There’s A Black Hole” juxtaposes an uptempo jangly dance party with melancholic lyrics.

“I liked the idea of writing a song about a bad relationship I had been in with a dark lyrical theme,” explains Palmer, adding “accompanied by a sunny happy chord progression and sing-along cheerful melody.”

The fight for survival when trying to overcome a serious illness is an intensely personal one, but it can be an almost equally intense fight on the part of caregivers and loved ones. Canadian Christian artist Ileen Laura paints a sonic watercolor of this mutual fight for life in her sad and hopeful new single, “Fight Left In Me” – check it out on YouTube here:

The fight for survival when trying to overcome a serious illness is an intensely personal one, but it can be an almost equally intense fight on the part of caregivers and loved ones. Canadian Christian artist Ileen Laura paints a sonic watercolor of this mutual fight for life in her sad and hopeful new single, “Fight Left In Me” — available now.

You’ll feel like the Goddess in question when you flow through the latest offering from the West Coast of Canada’s alternative rock five-piece, Flowshine! The epic seven-song strong album, You Goddess — available now alongside new single, “Give It A Go” — is a gorgeous love letter, whimsically written and carved in rock.

Landing a near-exact ten years since Flowshine debuted with their first album, Mountain Queen, You Goddess is their fourth offering. And though the group took a pause on concocting a full-length, their tenacity to consistently deliver on good music, great vibes, and powerful stage performance saw Flowshine spend their time on the road alongside heavy-hitters, Chilliwack, Five Alarm Funk, and The Wooden Sky. Their love of touring even saw them with two stops to the Yukon — a testament to their commitment to taking the music to the fans.

When Frida Maria was ready to encapsulate all the emotions running through her at once, she would soon discover that she had created some “Moments” in the form of a new single – watch and listen on YouTube here:

“The meaning of the letters are yin and yang because it's pretty dark writing — but in another way it’s happy and the song/beat/melody itself gives you a happy feeling,” Frida shares of the song with Charlie Atom. “It’s a play of emotions we face daily; everyone experiences ‘moments’ in their own unique way, so the writing is pretty universal when you think about it because it can apply differently to whoever is interpreting the song in their own precise ‘moments’.”

Lack of communication between two people can sometimes be construed as stonewalling and being shut out hurts — bad. Multi-award-nominated Canadian blues-rock artist Chris Antonik gives voice and guitar wail to that searing pain in his new single, “Waves of Stone” – check it out on YouTube here:

Arriving ahead of his forthcoming album, Morningstar, “Waves of Stone” features incendiary guitar interplay between Antonik and special guest three-time Blues Music Award nominee Jarekus Singleton, along with a pounding groove, soaring gospel backup vocals, and grand piano pumped through a roaring Leslie speaker.

The song tells the story of pain and loss, but also a new future forged through facing one’s grief. In the narrative, we hear about a partner named Rosie whose silence is deafening; when she finally speaks, it’s like an avalanche.

‘You built up such a sneak attack,’ Antonik sings.

The tale of ego versus love is one as old as time itself. For some of us, we lose that battle and nowhere is that concept captured more perfectly than in pop-R&B artist Stanley’s new single, “Twisted” – check it out on YouTube here:

As Stanley’s newest release, “Twisted” arrives fresh from the Winnipeg-based artist’s latest album, Resurrection; the LP aims to be a retelling of loss throughout the pandemic, with “Twisted” a pivotal chapter in that story.

Fantastically produced, “Twisted” is reminiscent of Weeknd’s summer releases, bringing forth images of summer flings ending too soon, and the high energy behind this mix paired with Stanley’s R&B style vocals really sells this track. It’s this façade of feel-good loving that acts as the cherry on top.

Leah Harris has been shining since childhood, and the summation of her career to this point glows on her latest chart-topping offering, “Shine” – check it out on YouTube here:

The Canadian-born singer/songwriter is a globetrotter with music in her soul. An encouraging childhood would incite her passion for music, having learned piano from her mother at age four and the fundamentals of songwriting from her father at age nine. Harris’ formative years in the Detroit music community would see her take to the influence of Blues and Motown, and soon the budding starlet had begun gigging professionally.

Award-nominated Canadian alt-rock outfit Soul Filter unveil their new song exploring the unforgiving nature of big cities, all from the perspective of a small-town girl, with this, their fiery new single, “The City Knows” – check it out on YouTube here:

Produced by John Angus MacDonald of The Trews and dripping with ‘90s nostalgia, “The City Knows” is a page torn from a diarist’s letter to the era of cassette walkmans and no smartphones. Lending itself to be more of a dark fairy tale, the song reflects the artists that have heavily inspired Soul Filter — in this track’s case, think the introspective, confessional vibe or Fleetwood Mac coupled with the ethereal, high-energy flair of Florence & The Machine.

The world has just been through two years of overwhelming uncertainty and isolation with many lives lost, connections broken, and dreams put on hold. Owen Sound singer-songwriter Morgan x Barrie took the world’s suffering, buckled down in depths of the pandemic and made it into something resonant, open hearted, and beautiful for us all with his new album, Lines, and the single “Germany” – check it out on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/4Y7U7RsVivtRrM4DWqjpRM?si=439e4e3495b7471b&nd=1

That said, Lines, Barrie’s third full album, isn’t a lament over our recent past… Instead, it’s a raw and honest look at the challenges all generations collectively face in the 21st century; a deeply thoughtful exploration of human hot topics like love, waste, and loss approached in equally passionate terms.

“I wanted to write an album I would want to listen to,” says Barrie, matter of factly.

Sometimes – no, always – when we neglect crucial parts of ourselves, they inevitably come rushing out at some point. Those neglected traits and emotions are what Canadian singer-songwriter Janel Rae covers in her piano-studded, sweeping soundscape of a single “Sometimes” – check it out on YouTube here:

Mournful, introspective, and ultimately cathartic, “Sometimes” begins with the sound of broken glass being swept up off the floor. The sound of glass will become crucial throughout the song’s cascading narrative. ‘I spilled a jar of jam on the carpet/ And I can’t remove the stain/ Now when I look down, it reminds me of the fight we had that day,’ Rae sings.

Who hasn't met someone so devastatingly alluring that you feel punched right in the gut… With that, in a pure, unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll ode to bad girls everywhere, “Sucker Punch” is the new single from Canadian rockers Heather.

“Sucker Punch” has that sexy-dirty bar rock sound with driving, pummeling beats, wailing guitars, and a sultry loud-quiet element where everything stops completely so that lead singer Evan Martin can whisper throatily: ‘I thought that I was dreamin’ 'til my skin was pinched.’ Check out “Sucker Punch” on YouTube here: heatherband.ca/

The song takes the listener on that fateful walk through the doors of the nightclub or bar where you first see her after you’ve been sleeping all day, and “is about the overwhelming and complete infatuation with someone you’ve just met who most likely has no interest in you,” bassist Cameron Menzies shares of the track.

American multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Elliott Novak channels his Salt Lake City, Utah upbringing into his signature pop/country sound with the release of a heartwarming new single and EP, “Why Does Everyday Start With Goodbye”

Novak’s Inspiration for “Why Does Everyday Start With Goodbye” began innocently enough as a song about what we often find in a typical day, but quickly became much more. As Novak says, "I kept thinking about how everyone — including me — puts all their hopes into finding that special person to share their life with… Only to end up spending most of their time apart.”

As Novak began to reveal his debut single to colleagues and friends, the song’s message immediately resonated. “When I first started showing people the song on the piano, everyone was like, 'you're right… Why DOES every day start with goodbye?!’”