Chinese American pop artist Alex Su stacks the building blocks of love with this, his new single “Jega”.

Drawing some 2012 The Weeknd vibes, he New Jersey-based Su takes audiences on a honeyed journey through the shaky ups and downs of a scenario many have been through: Deep in love, lacking control, carefully investing and building in a relationship… All just to see our efforts, heart, and ego tumble to the ground.

Love can be a playful yet dangerous game and, as the title provides in a clear, almost rough-hewn metaphor, Jenga (the game) is an obsessive and artful combination in concentration, soft movement, careful motions, and general unease. Not to mention, it often ends in a shocking, free-fall of disappointment.

“I love the game of Jenga and, one night, I found similarities between the game and toxic relationships,” he shares. “You keep pulling and hurting each other until the whole thing crumbles down.”

On a quest for emotional peace and grappling with the question “could anything more have been done,” indie rocker Alan Zreczny and his Chicago-based band bluefront deliver this, their newest single and video “High Time”.

“I think the song is about me reaching for an emotional space I have rarely, if ever, achieved,” Zreczny reveals of the song and its inspiration. “Although it was written with a relationship in mind, for me, it could apply whenever there comes a time — sometimes far too long in the making — where a certain kind of peace is achieved.

Check out “High Time” on YouTube here:

Well, with the annual day of ‘unbridled love’ long out of the way, Canadian rockers Dali Van Gogh are soldiering on with a brand new video and release for their favourite “anti-love song”; “Past Crimes”.

The freshly pressed video depicts two lovers at the onset of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic; it serves as an allusion to the stress and turmoil of the last year, and the toll it’s taken on even the closest relationships. It was originally envisioned as a live action story but, after numerous delays due to related restrictions, the band converted the concept into an animated lyric video.

Highlighted with a Tchaikovsky-inspired keyboard line, the song churns through a near-despondent ‘lost love’ narrative and the haunting consequences of old mistakes. The groove-centric duet features bandmates John Scotto and Rachelle Moreau trading lead vox as they’re supported by the rest of the Halifax-based five-piece: drummer Johnny Moore, bassist Lance Hicks, and guitarist Isaac Kent.

Canadian rock singer/songwriter Ethan Flynn steps to a mirrored surface to examine the varying depths of human connection in relation to oneself in this, his new single “Reflection”.

A fitting preview into the Maple, Ontario-based artist’s forthcoming album, The Pumpkin Club, this contemplative and captivating new single steadily carries listeners through a robust stream of sound.

On “Reflection,” oscillating guitar effects create an affable ripple, which is then harnessed by the undulating distortion of Flynn’s flowy voice and accompanying harmonies. When bound with the single’s lyrical themes of transitory relationships — romantic or otherwise — the music feels rich in texture. It’s like a river in song-form due to how effectively these conjoined elements illustrate the transience of our connections with other people, as the current of life carries us from them and them from us.

Check out “Reflection” here on YouTube:

Toronto artist, songwriter and producer David Bray adds another powerful R&B / Neo-Soul track to his repertoire with the release of this, his newest single, “Nothing Left”.

Featuring the outstanding vocals of his long-time collaborative partner Lorraine Reid, “Nothing Left” is the second single from his forthcoming album, Land of Extremes.

A follow-up to his critically acclaimed, internationally heralded and widely played previous single — and premiere preview to the new album — 2020’s “Overdue,” “Nothing Left” wastes no time to spotlight Bray's compelling lyrical flair and ear for musical hooks once again. The song is a devastatingly sensitive take on divorce, and Reid delivers one of the finest R&B performances likely to be heard this year; she stunningly captures the heart and soul of Bray’s striking and poignant lyrics resulting in dramatic, noir imagery.

Watch and listen to “Nothing Left” here on YouTube:

Psychedelic rocker Ethan Larsh is set to take audiences on an audible odyssey with this, his latest conception “The Emperor”.

The title track from the Waynesboro, Pennsylvania-based artist’s forthcoming sophomore album, The Emperor, the single immediately pulls you in with its enthralling riffs and bass line before bringing you to your knees with the resounding force of the organ's emphatic tone.

Check out “The Emperor” on YouTube here :

The pounding drums march along with the melodies to effectively usher in the message of “The Emperor.” Instrumentally, you’re reminded of and drawn towards what made legends — such as Hawkwind, Iron Butterfly and Deep Purple… All titans of the psychedelic rock genre. As such, the song’s nuanced lyrical restraint serves as a potent allegory to the conceptual foundation of the song itself.

Take a chance, if you want to have a future in the music industry!

If you aint’ first, your last! – Ricky Bobby.

That sums it all. Right now, the music industry is going through big changes, bigger than ever before. Like when Napster came around, when we went from vinyl to CD, from buying to streaming music. It has always been the ones that take chances that are the winners.  

Scott Cohen who started the distribution service The Orchard with Richard Gottehrer said in a panel we arranged, said when he had the idea of digital distribution, no one believed in him and was thrilled when Richard came along who was a big industry person, In reality, Scott had no clue if this would work. Later we had Richard on another panel and he remembered that he was insecure around digital distribution but he thought that Scott was young and probably knew what he was doing.

Canadian pop-punk skate-rockers Moore Ave Underground usher audiences into their dreamscapes with the release of this, their new single “6 Feet”.

The song’s inspiration stems from a subliminal vision band member Josh Gaudette had where his dad was dying, the band — which also includes Josh’s brothers Joseph and Jack, as well as Shawn MacDonald — shares.

Check out “6 Feet” on YouTube here:

“Essentially, he was giving me his last words, and pieces of advice to take with me into the future,” Josh continues. “But with my dad still being alive and well, it was even weirder for me being at his bedside as he was ailing within the dream. Even more disturbing was receiving the call that he was gone…

Ever feel stuck in the same place, wanting nothing more than to break free from inhibiting surroundings? Canadian alt-grunge trio Sunlust are here to pull even the most sedentary listeners out of such funks with this, their zesty new single “Action Figure”.

From front to back, “Action Figure” has more than enough oomph to shake even the most rigid of beings from their resolute poses with its frisky riffs and upbeat rhythm. As if that weren’t enough to get heads boppin’, the single kicks it up a few more notches during the bridge and chorus with its crunchy chords and guitarist-frontwoman, Stephanie Woulfe’s fun and raspy vocals.

Check out Action Figure on YouTube here:

Melded together with influences of grunge, garage, punk and alternative rock, the single itself is more radiant than the sum of its parts — and just as animated.

Canadian country singer-songwriter Tommy John Ehman is serving up his timeless new take on the Bruce Springsteen classic hit, “Hungry Heart”.

A multi-releasing and acclaimed singer/songwriter, this is Ehman’s (pronounced ēmn, with a hard ‘e’) first official cover offering, and lands a month after his not one, but two 2021 Saskatchewan Country Music Award nominations were announced: Male Artist of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.

“‘Hungry Heart’ has been one of my favourite Springsteen songs, right from its original release in 1980, even before I knew it was The Boss singing it,” Ehman shares. “It’s such a classic. It’s simple, yet complex… Happy, yet sad at the same time… Thoughtful, yet spontaneous.

Give a listen to “Hungry Heart” on YouTube here:

Canadian composer Rob McAllister’s ambient, neoclassical project Music Within is set to soothe thoughts and ease minds with his new, dream-like single, “Reverie”.

Like watching the sun set upon a quiet hilltop on a summer night, “Reverie” is a tranquil, relaxing, and beautifully mellow composition. Featuring the arrangement of soft, gradual piano keystrokes adjoined with the alleviating reverb of the synthesizer, “Reverie” rounds out with warming strums of an electric guitar.

Listen and enjoy “Reverie” here:

The resulting dreamy sound flows through ears with ease, settling in the crevices of minds, and instilling audiences with a sense of peace. “Within you, there’s a place of escape; a place to reflect, reminisce and wonder; a place that’s all your own,” he expresses. “I hope this music might offer an escape for those experiencing a difficult time right now.”

British alt-folk, alt-Americana ‘Indie for Grownups’ act Wonders of the Yukon are at it again with this, the release of their new single, “Rachel (And All The Goofs And The Stars)”

Check out “Rachel (And All The Goofs And The Stars)” on YouTube here:

Just when you think you’re on the right path and have this folk-noir duo all sussed out, they come right back at you with their unnerving and unsettling existential commentaries, returning you to that feeling of not quite knowing where you stand.

It’s like: You’re in a familiar place, looking at something or someone you know like the back of your hand.

But…

Your head is cocked to one side. Staring intently. A furrowed-brow with lips slightly parted. A quizzical, marginally pained expression on your face.

Because that seemingly familiar image is different in a way you can’t quite put your finger on.

Toronto-based indie folk singer-songwriter Deanna Faye poetically contrasts the light side of love and its inherent pressure with this, her new video for “Reassure”.

That latest to land from her breakthrough EP, Good To You, the song grapples with the concept of love — and how difficult it can be to grasp. While the word, in and of itself, denotes feelings of joy and happiness, the reality behind such an emotion is that of balance; with balance comes weight, and “Reassure” exemplifies the beauty in the struggle in such a reflective way.

Check out the YouTube of “Reassure” here:

Frank Patrick, the Edmonton-born/Toronto-based adult contemporary musician, has released a new video for his emotionally-charged single, “Mercy”.

In this thought-inducing song — which echoes the struggles and sadness associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — the award-winning singer gifts listeners with an offering of telling lyrical images, buttery guitar melodies, and emotional phrases, complemented beautifully by the harmonized backups of singer Rebecca Campbell.

“Mercy” was written by Frank months after the beginning of the global health crisis. He describes it as a “prayer for these fragile times.”

Check out “Mercy” on YouTube here:

He enlisted local producer — and long-time collaborator — Rob Greenway (aka brilliantfish) to not only play drums and keyboards on the special track, but to produce it, and create the enticing and just-released music video for it, too.

It’s been a year since folk singer/songwriter Paul Kuzbik released his breakthrough debut, Still Love, and now... He’s back with a taste of his next one with the release of his single and video, “Diamonds”.

Soft, warm, and emotional, “Diamonds” is an acoustic track that serves as the last song and lead single from the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based musician’s forthcoming sophomore record, The Miracle of Being — coming this September 2021.

Check out “Diamonds” on YouTube here:

The nostalgic-feeling and introspective folk number was written solely by Kuzbik, and features Erik Sample on drums, Nevin Buehler on bass, and Steph Cameron on backup vocals. As the head honcho, Kuzbik not only lays down all vocal and guitar work on the release, but he produced it too.

Is the world getting to you? Are you longing for more connection? Do you relate more to social media vs social interface? If the answer was “yes,” grab your preferred device, cut through the chaos, and tune into Canadian singer/songwriter Kele Fleming’s new single, “Compassion Machine”

Spanning a runtime of four-minutes-ten-seconds, “Compassion Machine” is an exposing commentary on our technological dependency, and its role as a mechanism of coping with reality.

Check out “Compassion Machine” on YouTube here:

The allaying melody of the single's instrumentation is an entendre to Kele (pronounced “Kelly”) Fleming’s subversive lyrics; her vocals are both congenial and alluring while, at the same time, furthering the single’s cautionary parable in a cleverly ironic way.

These sentiments resonate with truth in the lyrics, “I bow to a new god, all shiny, bright, and oh so sleek.”

A few months following the release of his sophomore solo album, Canadian classic rocker Howard Lee Naylor has released his premiere music video, for this, his latest single: the romantic, upbeat and undeniably charming love ballad, “Sweet Jeanine”.

It’s clear as a cloudless summer day that “Sweet Jeanine” is a love song written about someone close and dear to Naylor’s heart. You can hear it in his voice; there’s this happy aura about his vocal phrasing and piano playing which, without fail, instills joy in the listener.

Check out “Sweet Jeanine”on YouTube here:

Philadelphia, PA singer/songwriter Tracy Colletto is “Diving In” with an atmospheric new dream-pop single.

The powerful, piano-led ballad spans three minutes and 35 seconds and includes a versatile range of sonic influences, which make it uniquely its own... From pop, to folk, to ambient, Colletto manages to keep the listener on their toes — and with ease.

With the aid of diverse influences, “Diving In” is driven by the calming aura of Colletto’s emotional vocal tracks and triumphant lyrics, which expand upon the renowned musician’s journey back onto the music scene in 2016 after a decade away from it; this single in particular arrives more than a year following the release of the Philadelphia-based artist’s most recent original, “Pretty Lights.”

Check out “Diving In” on YouTube here:

What is here today can be gone tomorrow: alt-rock quintet Saturniids beautifully capture the poetic pain of mortality with this, their new single, “Springtime”.

In it, the Boston-based rockers display their understanding of life’s fragility with unyielding conviction; the three-minute-thirty-two-second ode to loved ones now-lost comes beautifully packaged in an enrapturing blend of alternative rock and string sections, which tug gently on the listener’s emotions.

To quote the lyrics: “Springtime, I keep losing my friends and family, too. It’s so strange. Beauty mixed with such pain I can’t reconcile,” is an all-too-real depiction of feelings we inevitably face when the connection between two individuals — whether it be friendship, family or love is cut short.

Check out “Springtime” on YouTube here:

Canadian alt pop singer/songwriters Caardia embrace growth and overcome the past in this, their newest single, “Over You”.

The latest to land from the multi-talented powerhouse duo, sisters Celia and Annie Siriopoulos continue to draw on their personal stories and observations as inspiration for their distinct lyrical storytelling. There’s a telepathy shared within their natural chemistry; cascading harmonies bolstered by a sisterly bond result in a synchronicity of their songs as they explore themes of life, challenges, working through pain, and coming out on the other side.

The new song nestles well within this stream, and is a “representation of the vulnerability one can have when having feelings for someone,” Annie shares. “It brings up the fear of ‘new feelings’ and the unknown.”

“The song also acknowledges self-worth, and not relying on someone else for our own happiness and validation,” Celia adds. “By acknowledging our thoughts, we can come to terms with the feelings we have, and start to grow from them.”

Check out “Over You” on YouTube here: