Robb Nash is declaring war on mental illness.

Named an ‘Extraordinary Canadian,’ the award-winning Canadian rocker and Governor General of Canada Meritorious Service Medal recipient’s story is one for the ages. But one peek up the sleeve at the hundreds of names tattooed on his arm — plus his newly released single, “This Is War” — reveals so much more.

“The names are from over 900 suicide notes I’ve received from kids,” Nash explains. “Some of them have my lyrics as tattoos, too; it’s a mutual relationship of ‘go forth and conquer.’”

Alongside The Robb Nash Project’s new song, “This Is War,” and the forthcoming album of the same name, the skin-inked gesture is part of Nash’s long-held commitment to combat mental illness — a high-stakes conflict he personally endured.

Watch and experience the moving “This Is War” on YouTube here:

Toronto band Isabel & The Uncommons are releasing a new single “DISTANCE,” written and sung by bandleader Isabel Fryszberg, who also provided the artwork for the accompanying video. The song, a languid tango about yearning for connection in a time of separation, was produced by Mitch Giěrio and features guitarist Steve Briggs, Rebecca Hennessy on trumpet, Gary Craig on drums and percussion, and Rebecca Campbell on background.

Check out “Distance” here:

Horns up for the six-piece Mad Symphony, raucously rumbling from the coast of British Columbia, armed with their eponymous debut EP and earth-shaking lead anthem, “Do It All Over Again”. Check it out on YouTube here:

Orchestrated from a variety of professional rock artists from all walks of life and career, Mad Symphony plucks together Kevin Wright (lead vox, percussion), Dave Groves (lead guitar, background vox), Ted Tosoff (rhythm guitar, background vox), Mike Russell (keys, background vox), Amrit Prasad (bass), and Wes Hallam (drums). Together, this band of rock and roll brothers have created a modern soundscape born out of the metric set by the classic rockers who influenced them all to become musicians.

HOROJO Trio (pronunciation: HO-RO-JO, as in HO - Think Santa Claus; RO - "Row Your Boat"; and JO - "Joe") - already an award-winning soul-rocking rhythm and blues group before releasing any music, are now ready to Set The Record with the release of their debut album — available April 1st, 2022 via Stony Plain Records.

The 11-track release also includes the new single & video, “Hard As I Can”.

With each member individually accomplished musicians, HOROJO Trio are drummer Jamie Holmes, singer/keyboardist Jeff Rogers, and guitarist JW Jones who has as a solo artist reached Top 10 on the Billboard Blues Charts, received multiple JUNO and Maple Blues Award nominations.

Australian producer DJ Views emerges from the lab harnessing the technical wizardry of rappers Speech and Dell-P as they deliver ‘90s inspired hip-hop track, “Global Moves.

With the undeniable rap chemistry heard in sonic detail, DJ Views channels the hip-hop classics on the 1s and 2s. The beat is an ode to the iconic boom-bap style with heavy acoustic drums and hazy piano synths brimming with musical embellishments.

“Global Moves” is the latest example of DJ Views’ sophisticated and stylized approach to his craft. The artistic method of respecting the legends while having a firm grasp of what’s hot makes “Global Moves” a song with a timeless quality.

Check out “Global Moves” on YouTube here:

The journey from childhood to adulthood is rife with external influences that shape us and leave lasting impressions; the adults in every child’s life leave indelible imprints as kids grow up. Exploring this shared human experience, inventive country rock band Hot Mondy turns the spotlight on self-worth with their soul searching, yet jubilant new single, “Tell Me I’m Good”.

Check out “Tell Me I’m Good” on YouTube here:

“‘Tell Me I’m Good’ is a self-examination of how our upbringing impacts how we see ourselves as adults,” explains the band. “The idea that how we see ourselves reflects the messaging we receive from parents, teachers, coaches as adolescents, for better or worse.”

If you told me I’m good
Maybe I would
Find a way to feel ease in my own skin

Kelowna singer/songwriter Bree Whitworth bears her soul and beautifully articulates true romance with her emotionally charged new single, “Real Thing”.
Check it out on YouTube here:

No stranger to the music scene, and deeply inspired by strong, 90s alternative bands, Montreal-based pop-rocker Jano Alek channels passionate symbolism with emotional overtones in his newest single, “Mountain Man”. Check it out on YouTube here:

Infused with unique Armenian-Syrian riffs and melodies, Jano Alek creates a solid foundation for the megalith that is “Mountain Man.” Funneling lyrics through the heartfelt struggle of Alek’s journey, Jano Alek crafts positive yet simplistic lines that soar through this electrifying pop-rock psalm.

Inspired by his journey through life, and the plight of surviving the exodus of his culture, the character that is intricately woven into “Mountain Man” reflects the singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s inspiration.

Watching a loved one self-destruct through addiction sucks, plain and simple. It’s a powerless, helpless feeling, and one that Vancouver-based pop artist Alexis Lynn captures in all its complexity in her searing new single “House On Fire” — watch and listen here:

“House On Fire” is a pop powerhouse, packed with infectious beats, cascading vocals, and gorgeous well-timed harmonies, while its lyrics deal with the cold, dank darkness of watching a loved one’s addiction progress.

You gon’ always do what you want to
No matter what anybody tells you
Chasing temporary fixes, you won’t call it quits
Just living to exist, yeah shit

And then, the metaphorical house starts burning as the narrator is forced to stand by helplessly — “I’ll just stand here 10 feet away/Watchin you, trapped in your house on fire.”

Landing alongside his raucous new release, Surrender, Canadian powerhouse rocker jsin unleashes his inner-dialogue meets high-voltage sound with new single, “You Can’t Stop Me” – check it out here:

Coming from a place of self-reflection, and accepting life at face-value after years of ponderance and questioning, the song reveals a journey jsin hopes will inspire his listeners to participate in as well.

“We all have insecurities,” he shares. “We all have struggles. We all question things. But we can't let those things drive what we do. The things that hold us back. This song speaks to the process of surrendering to what is, instead of trying to control things. Every song is me expressing that I have to let myself be, let myself exist — not just let my thought processes or my ego drive my actions.”

When it comes to feel good pop-music lighting up the Canadian music scene, there are few who hold a candle to the production value and energy that multi-talented artist Bryan Bravo brings to his new single, “Feel Lucky” and album, Be Mine.

Check out “Feel Lucky” on YouTube here:

“‘Be Mine’ captivates and embraces a euphoric state of mind,” the Toronto-based artist shares. “Infatuated with the idea of love, and how deep it will go… Finding oneself at a standstill, unable to lose themselves completely, evoking the thought ‘why you gotta be inside my mind?’”

Finding a personal stake in the lyrics and their coupling with the production led the songwriter to a sentimental place during the creative process.

Toronto rock duo The Manic Boys and Girls Club’s sonic distress call dressed up as a high-voltage dance banger receives thrilling new treatment from composer, producer, and musician Paul Andrews with the release of “Blacked Out (Paul Andrews Remix)”.

“’Blacked Out’ is a cry for help in disguise,” The Manic Boys and Girls Club admits. “We're lost, overmedicated, depressed and hiding behind bathroom selfies, late nights, and lip gloss.

Check out “Blacked Out” here:

Stony Plain Records announces a March 18 release date for They Called It Rhythm & Blues, the exciting new CD from two-time Grammy nominee and multiple Blues Music Award-winning guitarist Duke Robillard. The 18 tracks on the new album will be released also as a vinyl LP on August 5^th.

Joining the guitar maestro (who also produced) on They Called It Rhythm & Blues is an all-star cast of special guests, including John Hammond, Kim Wilson, Sue Foley, Sugar Ray Norcia, Michelle Willson, Chris Cote, Bruce Bears, Marty Ballou, Mark Teixeira, Doug James, Mike Flanigin, Mark Earley, Doug Woolverton and Matt McCabe. 

The Duke Robillard Band will celebrate the release of the new album with two special shows in March: The Narrows in Fall River, Mass. On March 25th and The Center for the Arts in Natick, Mass. on March 26th.

Leaning into the fact that life is crazy-busy for all couples with kids, Canadian singer/songwriter Francine Honey offers a solution for partners needing to rekindle and reconnect with the release of her whimsical new single and video, “Hunker Down” – watch it here:

Leading the way to finding passion again, this upbeat new single and video blend the very best of Americana, Country, and Roots with layers of guitar, fiddle, and smooth, honeyed, soaring vocals.

Focusing on the romantic side of a long-term couple hunkering down at home, Honey observes ‘Between the bills, kids and work, there’s not much time for me and you’ as she reminds us that, every once in a while, couples need to put the concept of ‘life’ back into the term ‘life together.’

Keeping one foot in front of the other is easier said than done for many of us, especially throughout the past two pandemic years. Finding a new song that moves us can certainly help, so here comes rising Americana artist Doug Schmude with a roots rock anthem that walks the uplifting talk in the catchiest way possible — “It Takes a Little Faith”.

Check out the “It Takes a Little Faith” on YouTube here:

Landing alongside his new EP, One Shy of a Six Pack, Schmude  — pronounced ‘moody’ — says “some songs follow the 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration rule and some pretty much fall straight from the ether and out of your guitar; ‘It Takes a Little Faith’ is the latter.”

These days, our hope reserves could all use a little extra top up and Schmude believes that intrinsic need in all of us is what helped fuel this song’s birth.

Parsing through the endless avalanche of head-spinning data and around-the-clock updates, Toronto-based electro post-punkers AUS!Funkt get you up and grooving to pandemic-overload with the release of their new dark, danceable single and video, “Information YEAH!”.

Landing alongside the release of their freshly minted EP, Post-Stagnation, “Information YEAH!” begins with distortion and a tinny beat. From there, the bassline comes in, followed by rhythmic guitar, and then pulsing percussion that evokes a heartbeat; it builds and builds, and then come the vocals — spare and spoken and monotone, evoking a feeling of detached isolation and the quiet, repressed desperation of the modern age.

Check out “Information YEAH!” on YouTube here:

Multi-disciplined Canadian Blues matriarch Dalannah is celebrating an extraordinary career while serenading a song of sorrow with the release of her silky-smooth new single, “Blues Keep Knockin’”.

“Blues Keep Knockin’” is the new original song capping off 15 incredible years with Quest Records on her new album, In My Own Words. The record is an anthology of Dalannah’s greatest hits on Quest, with the new song serving as a bonus track that rounds off an outstanding collection.

Check out the live performance of “Blues Keep Knockin’” on YouTube here:

Listeners will experience 75 minutes of emotionally resonant music in honour of Dalannah’s 75 years of life well-lived. Her latest song is a testament to the philosophy of love for life and the gift of melody.

For Canadian alt. pop-punk artist Victoria Alex, the unleashing of her debut new single “Screaming” lands very much as an anthem — both personally, and professionally.

Available now, the unapologetic and piercingly magnetic release comes out swinging, setting a new stage for the Toronto-based singer/songwriter and former Mini Pop Kid who also appeared as an inaugural contestant on the premiere season of CTV’s The Launch.

Check out “Screaming” on YouTube here:

With love being a fire capable of breathing life into even the coldest and most dismal of circumstances, Canadian-American roots-folk duo Dan Frechette and Laurel Thomsen channel its vitality in their new single, “Make Me Come Alive”.

Check it out on YouTube here:

Serving as preview to this January 2022’s forthcoming new album, After the Fire, “Make Me Come Alive” begins abruptly with a storm — a gorgeous, noisy crashing together of violin and guitar — before organizing into an easy, rockin’ groove. Pinawa, Manitoba-born Dan sings the lead, and we learn about this exciting woman who’s caught his fancy, while Monterey, California-born Laurel punctuates the song with shimmering vocal harmonies and deft, elegant violin.

I've got my hands on my destiny
She's the one who heats my every chill
I've got a feeling deep inside me
She's always bound to be my thrill

Marking the legendary guitarist’s 19th studio album in his 35+ year career in music, Joe Satriani is kicking off the new year with a brand-new single and newly announced release; “Sahara” is available now, and lands ahead of The Elephants of Mars -set to land April 8th, 2022.

With “Sahara”s video directed by ZZ Satriani, The Elephants of Mars album release also marks the debut of his new label partnership with earMUSIC — the international rock label of entertainment group Edel. Pre-orders are available now and include a special limited digi-pack cd release featuring seven double sided cards of original artwork by Satriani representing each song from the album. In addition, several colored vinyl options will be available as well to pre-order including an orange, pink (D2C only) and a Guitar Center Exclusive purple version.

Check out “Sahara” on YouTube here: