At the beginning of the summer, we’re usually treated to a string of song releases that look to define someone’s pool party, vacation, or road trip. Lindsay’s Timber Masterson’s latest single “Easy Peasy 1,2,3” enters the race with its easygoing lush sensibilities looking to insert itself into many summer memories this year.

“This was the very first song I created that was inspired by a relationship I began last summer,” says Masterson. “I wrote it on a summer night on the side porch of my mom’s house during the week when my girl was away on vacation.”

Watch “Easy Peasy 1,23” on YouTube here:

Masterson, known for his soulful vocals and brilliant songwriting, has teamed up with a talented group of musicians for the new release. The track features Timber Masterson on keyboards, Barry Haggarty on lead guitar, Marc Novoselec on bass, and Gary Craig on drums.

From Canada’s prairies comes Pieces, the latest album and single by the synthesized duo Synthetik Blonde and is available now.

Not unlike the relationship of creative masterminds, Stefani Michele Kleppe and Bradley Evanochko, Pieces is a white hot, back-arching, hypnotic movement of melody and beats. The album is an electrifying soundtrack to the nights you can’t remember, but won’t soon forget. A fusion of synth pop and guitar-driven rock, Synthetik Blonde hat tip to the 70s and 80s and rim the glass with modern flare. Pieces, and its title track, dare you to move, compel you to sway, and whisk you away into the tantalizing madness of symphonic bliss.

The match of Synthetik Blonde is one made of rock and roll fantasies. Stefani was brought up in a musical family and a multi-instrumentalist, model and teacher, while Bradley was lead guitarist in several past bands, in addition to being a long-time instructor with Long and McQuade. “On a fateful night,” recalls Stefani, “I pulled into a venue and watched Brad on stage. My body lurched in all the deepest places. I had found my muse, my partner and my best friend!” The duo was born.

Sometimes, it feels like romantic love isn't worth anything, especially when you're not getting what you want out of the relationship. When this happens, you're torn between wanting to stay with that person and wanting to leave. Toronto, Ontario rock artist Nice Vice captures this ambivalence in his new single, "Dust". Watch it on YouTube here:

The track opens with a bluesy electric guitar riff that immediately captures your attention. Then, Nice Vice's somber and earnest vocals come in as he sings about walking on eggshells in a relationship and not wanting it to implode.

By the time the chorus kicks in, the vocals are passionate, and the guitar riffs are, too. They match the intensity of the lyrics as the singer discusses wanting to leave but being resigned to stay for the sake of their lover.

The new single from Len Mizzoni is “Fly High My Butterfly.” Len's previous albums, Waves of Indigo (2018), Better Days (2019), Forever (2020), a self-titled album in 2021, and I Know Who I Am in 2022 have received extensive radio play and critical acclaim

Check out :Fly Me High Butterfly on YouTube here:

Len is a singer/songwriter, producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist from King City, Ontario. He was also a member of the Juno Award winning Canadian band Frozen Ghost.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/5qbHq8cvtqoZQ3KhzV2YWA

His music is currently being streamed in over 150 countries, and has inspired thousands of TikTok videos, with millions of views around the world. As a versatile songwriter and vocalist, his diverse musical style resonates with many.

 The veteran singer/songwriter and virtuoso guitarist mixes together funky grooves, bluesy backbeats, and jazzy guitar licks with a classic pop sound for a unique R & B stew. The mainstay of the Hamilton music scene has strung together five great original songs that will keep the fingers snapping and the dance floor hopping.

Front and centre is Pacey’s authoritative, smoky voice, a bluesy howl that only comes from years of experience on the road and in the studio. On this set he leads a crack band of seasoned players, including bassist Howard Ayee (Moe Koffman, Eddie Schwartz, Rough Trade), drummer Michael Sloski (Ben E. King, Long John Baldry, Bruce Cockburn) and Rob Gusevs (The Arrows) on keyboards.

The title track opens things off, a “little story about what love can do”, as Pacey sings. This song sets the tempo for the rest of the collection, with blasts of trombone from Jay Burr giving the track a bit of a New Orleans feel. “Road Song” winds down with Burr bringing the song home for the final 40 seconds as the band plays on behind him.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Julian Taylor releases a new single, "Seeds (Acoustic) ft. Carsen Gray," today, June 23, 2023! At the same time, he is also releasing an acoustic collection that includes the new single and the previously released singles, "Opening The Sky (Acoustic)" and "It's Not Enough (Sunset Version)."

Check out the Julian Taylor acoustic collection open.spotify.com/album/24zktXDk9y1k6PWiEm3Djy

Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Emma Frank has released her new album Interiors via Justin Time and Nettwerk Music Group. The nine-song effort sees Frank make a departure from her previous, more jazz-adjacent albums with a lean into her pop sensibilities with nods to 70s singer-songwriters like Judee Sill. Originally written during pandemic lockdowns, Interiors draws listeners in with intimate arrangements and warm vocals.

Acclaimed Canadian Guitarist/Singer/ComposerDon Ross has released his highly anticipated single, “Three Views of a Secret,” the second track off his newly released album Water. The single features an awe-inspiring display of Ross's virtuosic solo guitar skills, beautifully complemented by the inimitable bass work of Michael Manring and the rich orchestration by Atlantic String Machine.

Watch “Three Views of a Secret” on YouTube here:

 Three Views of a Secret is a breathtaking rendition of Jaco Pastorius' classic composition originally featured on his Word of Mouth album released in 1981. For years, Ross had promised himself that he would arrange a solo guitar version of the song, and he has now delivered a powerful and moving performance.

During one of his first experiences in a ceremonial sweat-lodge in 2014, Indigenous jazz trumpeter Chuck Copenace heard a simple Ojibway melody that got stuck in his head. He did some research and learned of its original creator, Neil Hall from Sagkeeng, and received encouragement from an elder to use it in his current single “Creator” from his forthcoming album Oshki Manitou. Watch the video on YouTube here:

Originally called “The Creator Helper Song,” it’s a piece of music meant to heal and encourage letting go. “I really loved how simple the melody is, but how it flows. All that you need is right there – it’s just one melody with one drum,” Copenace muses in a video about the making of the song.

We’ve witnessed and heard testimonies from countless musicians who were forced to struggle—financially and artistically—through the lockdowns of the pandemic. For some who have survived, there’s been the silver lining of a shift in perspective. Many artists dug deep in isolation and discovered the solution to long-elusive mysteries. Some let go of the tried-and-true and instead explored new means of expression.

The exceptional alto and soprano saxophonist from Canada releases the compelling Day Moon with her impressive quartet on Justin Time Records. The music is at turns, melancholic and ebullient, sober and playful. It’s a date where she creates an improvisational community of close friends in quartet and duo settings. “I got hit hard by the pandemic because I felt alone and was not doing what I’m supposed to do,” Jensen says. “So, I focused on my saxophones, teaching myself to present my sound, my solo voice. It’s almost like becoming the vocalist.”

Buenrostro comes from the very south of Mexico City, in the borough of Milpa Alta. 

 They grew up listening to the elder Nahuatl speakers—with their deeply rooted traditions and customs—while also being exposed to the modern culture of a cosmopolitan city. These are the sounds that inspired them to experiment and create a fusion of their ancestor’s traditional Mexican rhythms with global melodies. Their music is a combination of sones calentanos from Bajío, jarochos or huastecos; jarabes, pirekuas, cardenche songs and cumbias; sambas, rock, and jazz.

The members of BuenRostro played and danced those rhythms even before the inception of the group on October 8th, 2010. With time and experience their sound matured, resulting in their current “infusion” of different musical genres and styles. Although they’re sometimes difficult to label, BuenRostro manages to find a deep connection with anyone who listens or watches them perform, no matter their age.

Victoria, British Columbia-based artist Aaron Wylder melds his West-Coast charm and sense of musical exploration to create an ode to the one with his coming-of-age song “Woman.” Check it out on YouTube here:

The blazing new single from Wylder’s upcoming EP The King Of My Own Heart is about the internal gears that shift to make a man want to find something deeper in his relationships. “I try to write what I hear in my head and what I feel in my chest,” says Wylder. “It’s a damn cool thing to write a song that not only you love but speaks to others as well.”

The pop of a champagne bottle opening never fails to light up a room and bring smiles, whether it’s in the midst of a big celebration or an intimate affair. There’s something warmly nostalgic about that flute full of delicious bubbly, especially when it’s pink. One delightful sip can transport you to a simpler, yet elegant time of exhilarating love, easy laughter and letting go. Multi-honoured singer-songwriter Heather Hill is serving up the joyful effervescence of pink champagne in her irresistible new release, “Rosey”

Check it out on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/6CBqCBVCJubwc1eYfpuhFW

The Blue Mountains, Ontario-based artist is pouring on intoxicating romance with this retro confection that blows a kiss back to the post-Swing Jazz era with a wink and a nudge to Les Paul and Mary Ford, all dressed in modern musical sensibilities. The lead single from her upcoming fourth album Twilight Mist, “Rosey” was co-written with Hill’s frequent collaborator, award winning Ontario singer-songwriter, Matt Gerber.

Scott Perrie and Leora Joy Perrie, the Canadian talented folk/ pop husband-and-wife Winsome Kind duo, have released their new Latin-tinged single “Hola Hola” from their highly anticipated third full-length album, Love in a Hurricane.

Check it out on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/4PIkpDzTBRoCpJEvyvlU8b

Sherri Harding, the soulful, bluesy rock star from Ottawa, Ontario, is thrilled to announce the release of her new single, “Lady Of The House” from her highly anticipated debut album, "A Million Pieces.”

Watch and listen to “Lady of the House” on YouTube here:

 A Million Pieces showcases Sherri's extraordinary range of musical styles, featuring memorable and attention-grabbing rock tracks and soulful ballads, and the heartfelt song "Lady of the House" recently hit the airwaves and streaming platforms, beautifully captures Sherri's deep emotional connection to her family and pays tribute to her strong female role models.

Toronto-born, Valencia, Spain-based lo-fi, electronic artist, postmoderndisco’s new track, “Anthesis,” follows a metaphor for life through the lens of a beautiful blooming flower. Watch it on YouTube here:

 “The song is a musical soundscape written during a period of writer’s block and struggle with perfectionism,” postmoderndisco said.

She began writing “Anthesis” in 2015, shortly after her debut EP Chasing Memories, came out. However, as the growth process goes, she ran into some hiccups and roadblocks with the composition of the transformative time. 

A personal note from Jane Bunnett and Larry Cramer: "We are extremely pleased to present the first video from our new CD "Playing With Fire" – Check it out on YouTube here:

The piece we chose is TOMORROW as it has an uplifting narrative. 

It features our violinist 20-year-old Daniela Olano, the newest member of Maqueque as the Actor.

The second star of the video is me, playing the apparition. The mask l am wearing is from the Embera people, the indigenous people in Panama on the Chagres River. This came about when we were playing at the invitation to Danilo Perez’s Panama Jazz Fest.

For those who have to work hard to manage their mental health, there will be days when your brain just doesn't want to deal with anything. Some people refer to this as a "bad brain day" but it can be hard to explain what is happening when other people haven't experienced it. With their new single, "Relapse", Aylmer Ontario punk rock band Moore Ave manages to turn a bad brain day into good music. Check it out on YouTube here:

Opening the song are some nice riffs from lead guitarist Joe Gaudette as well as a voice snippet from the animated series Bojack Horseman that says, "I want to feel good about myself, the way you do. And I don't know how. I don't know if I can." Given that Bojack Horseman is a show that has resonated with people due to its portrayal of depression, this snippet and the guitar riffs are a creative way to catch the listener's ear.

Len Bowen, Canadian hip-hop virtuoso, prepares for the upcoming album release with the single “Toast Up” featuring Tough Dumplin. Bowen specializes in delivering hard-hitting honest, unfiltered, raw lyrics in his discography, and “Toast Up” is no different. The glimpse into his upcoming LP speaks about facing fear instead of giving in to failure. Bowen admits through tight lyrics that he couldn’t let others’ judgment prevent him from achieving his life’s calling. Check it out on YouTube here:

“I couldn't walk away, couldn't let it be
This one for everything they said he'd never be
To the pressure never caved in
What didn't break 'em, made 'em
Look what y'all created”

“Can’t Find Her”, Haley K Turner’s new single feels more sinister than the organically crafted folk-pop songs on her debut album in from the dark, heard on CBC and radio across Canada.

Recorded at Monarch Studios with Juno nominated producer Tom Dobrzanski (Said the Whale, The Zolas), the foreboding alternative folk song exudes a cold undertone. Uplifted by a clever arrangement of pop strings, “Can’t Find Her” blends rhythmic guitar (Adrian Glynn) and drums (Flavio Cirillo) with blunt lyrics that expose the way our mundane differences distract us from experiencing joy in long term relationships. Or rather, the repercussions of infidelity.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/6ppaxFAMdnCMa8oWJ9oiDH?si=ab76f3b018ee4528&nd=1

Having grown up in Kelowna, the now Vancouver-based Singer Songwriter infuses the visual aftermath of mass wildfires while posing a compelling question about our carefully crafted lives; what happens when we abandon them on a whim?