Velvet-Voiced Alt-Pop Artist velours Sheds Painful Past in New Single, “Your Sweater”

Fri Mar 26, 2021

Multi-award nominated Canadian alt-pop, electro-synth and velvet-voiced artist velours pulls at some of life’s painful yarn in this, her new single “Your Sweater”.

“For me, the concept of the ‘sweater’ represents the physical objects we tend to cling onto after a relationship has ended, and the other person has ‘checked out’ long before you have,” the Saskatoon-based singer/songwriter explains. “This idea of ‘what do you do when everything except them has been left behind’ really stood out to me; all of a sudden, these insignificant objects hold so much weight.”

Check out “Your Sweater” here on YouTube:

The new single is the latest to land from breakthrough artist’s debut EP, Identity — which was produced by multi-Platinum JUNO Award-winning record producer Ryan Stewart (Carly Rae Jepsen, Bif Naked, CARYS).

Singer/Songwriter Shannon Dooks Eschews All “Doubts” in New Single

Fri Mar 26, 2021

Ahead of the release of her new album, Do It Again, Shannon Dooks, lends her supple voice to its earnest and heartfelt lead single, “Doubts”. When a once-thriving connection turns dubious, acknowledging the signs can be a tough experience — and “Doubts” says it all. Everything from the innocent piano intro to the mellow rhythm sections that follow, the arrangements send the notion of a fond farewell wrapped in a melodic package.

The message within is signed, sealed and delivered by Shannon Dooks’s harmonious and smooth vocal style. Check out “Doubts” here:

Toronto's R&B Neo-Soul Artist Zenesoul Searches for “That Love” in New Single

Fri Mar 26, 2021

“It just needs to be true,” Canadian R&B Neo-soul and Afro-beat artist Zenesoul says, as she looks for “That Love” in her newest single.

Check out “That Love” on YouTube here:

“When I first heard the beat from my producer, Larumadeit, I instantly thought of that nostalgic type of love people had in the past,” Zenesoul — Angie Akhinagba — shares of the song teeming with the lush, enveloping sound that’s all her own. “Think: 90s Black love culture found in movies, family TV shows, and R&B music of the time.

“And this is how I usually write… Not with pen and paper, but with hearing the music, getting a theme or a vibe in mind, and then singing melodies and lyrics to expand it into a song.”

Enchanted by the Stars Above Chanteuse Aieysha Haws Captivates with New Single, “Zodiac Signs”

Fri Mar 26, 2021

Enchanted by the stars above, Canadian pop-R&B chanteuse Aieysha Haws captivates with this, her sophomore single, “Zodiac Signs”.

“My inner child comes out and is making friends in this song — the kid in you never dies,” Haws shares. “I wanted to lead with playfulness, and spark a quirky conversation that was framed to everyone’s favourite topic: the Self.

Check out “Zodiac Signs” on YouTube here:

“I’m inspired by astrology and, while there are people who do and do not believe in it, it was important to me to create a sense of belonging for everyone in this song,” she continues. “I want listeners to be happy and feel good about themselves… It’s that sense of confidence and curiosity that connects the dots, and fun is in the detailed frequency of my questions and queries.”

Douglas Von Irvin’s Carnival Lift the Veil on “Punk Rock Heart” with New Release

Fri Mar 26, 2021

Step right up: Toronto/Los Angeles’ Douglas Von Irvin’s Carnival are set to put their “Punk Rock Heart” on display with this, their new single and video.

The latest to land ahead of the garage-pop pioneers’ forthcoming album, Meet the Monster, this May, “the song was born a couple of years ago while working on a song’s chorus about my mean-eyed cat,” lead singer Douglas Von Irvin divulges. “Later, while on vacation in Las Vegas, my mother surprised me by throwing me into a songwriting class hosted by Gene Simmons.

“So, I came home and fooled around with the song — still writing about my cat’s feral, bouncy heart.”

Check out “Punk Rock Heart” on YouTube here:

Cameron & Crawford Releases Edgy Flamenco-Inspired New Single, “Dark Road”

Fri Mar 26, 2021

Canadian jazz-folk singer/songwriting duo Cameron & Crawford whisk listeners down a “Dark Road” with their new single.

“It started out so innocent…” co-front Trish Cameron winks. “‘Dark Road’ began as just a little Latin/flamenco-influenced number in A minor, then quickly moved into a tale of personal corruption and loss of integrity.”

Check out “Dark Road” on YouTube here:

“Somehow, while arranging the song, we imagined mariachi horns,” co-front Wendy Crawford adds. “From that seed, everyone on the team jumped in to craft the song’s direction.”

Recording engineer and producer Simon Jasieniuk’s rich flamenco guitar and percussion stylings perfectly complement Wendy’s dynamic rhythm guitar and vocal harmonies. Tied together with Trish’s lush lead vocals and Wayne Gustafson’s upright bass, “Dark Road’s” propulsive drive navigates the audience through quite the ride.

Southern Rockers BigMotorGasoline are Pedal to the Metal on The Way Things Used To Be

Fri Mar 26, 2021

At 200,000+ streams across platforms, chart-topping Canadian rockers BigMotorGasoline are pushing pedal to the metal when it comes to this, their latest album The Way Things Used To Be, and new video for single “Whiskey Down”.

Check out the new video on YouTube for “Whiskey Down” here:

Their sophomore offering, The Way Things Used To Be is working man’s, A+ grade, southern rock with a bluesy swagger at its finest. And the video for “Whiskey Down”? Reminiscent of life pre-COVID.

“Making this album was a great experience from start to finish,” lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist John Freitas says of the 10-track release, “and ‘Whiskey Down’ is my favourite song from it.

Emily Taylor Hudson Discovers Love Is a Dirty Word with New EP & Single That Inspired it All

Fri Mar 19, 2021

Rock/pop singer/songwriter Emily Taylor Hudson picked up all the pieces with this, her latest single — “Hearts We Wanna Break” — available now.

This stand out cut off the LA-based artist’s debut EP, Love Is a Dirty Word, yearns with a grinding sorrow cast amongst velvet vocals and driving rock n’ roll.

“‘Hearts We Wanna Break’ was written about a friendship I thought would last a lifetime, and the brutal feeling of betrayal ripping apart the good between me and someone I loved,” she shares. “This song represents the moment I realized that love is a dirty word.”

Check out “Hearts We Wanna Break” here on YouTube:

Her talents were fostered from an early age, growing up in a creative family with her parents, Cindy Williams (Laverne & Shirley) and Bill Hudson (The Hudson Brothers), and her brother, musician, Zak Hudson.

Craig Cardiff Releases Eponymous Single To Long-Awaited Album “All This Time Running”

Fri Mar 19, 2021

Waterloo-raised, Ottawa-based indie folk legend-in-the-making, Craig Cardiff, sets out on his latest musical journey with his warm and gripping new single “All This This Time Running” ahead of his new album of the same name -- available now!

Check out the single “All This This Time Running” on YouTube here:

The three-minute-six-second single is an indirect ode to Cardiff’s long withstanding journey exploring the frontiers of, not only the Canadian, but international folk music realms, while coming back to his roots as a musician. The message is also indicative of our personal journeys we embark upon; always coming back as a stronger, humbler, and wiser version ourselves.

To quote Cardiff himself: “All of the movement and all the activity is only to arrive where we've been for a long time -- Home.”

Alt-Pop Duo k. sofia Invite Audiences to Get “Intimate” with Cheeky New Single

Fri Mar 19, 2021

Brooklyn-based alt-pop duo K. Sofia are standing in the wake of Valentine’s Day with their cheeky new single (and comedic, innuendo-laden video to match) — “Intimate”.

Check out the YouTube of “Intimate” here:

Throughout the video, K. Sofia can be seen dancing together — with various outfit changes — throughout their apartment. A consistent backlight vignette with a pink glow sets the scene, accompanying sporadic messages such as “You’re sweet,” “Be mine,” “Only you,” and “I’m yours.” The funny and lighthearted creation started out as another one of their “DIY music videos,” according to the group — something they’ve been doing since breaking out onto the music scene last year, to help pass time during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Hip Hop / R&B Artist WithLoveXavier Returns With “For What”

Fri Mar 19, 2021

At 4 Million+ Streams Across Platforms Hip hop/R&B artist WithLoveXavier asks “For What” in this, his new single.

Check out “For What”  on YouTube here:

The latest to land from his freshly pressed LP, This Is Fine, “For What For What (feat. 9D4 JU)” is one chapter in the eight-track arc that spans the release start to finish. “It’s a rollercoaster,” WithLoveXavier — né Matthew Xavier Hunter — says of the album. “It’s an eight part rollercoaster that tells the story of a man who is trying to give love a second chance, but is in conflict with himself — and the world.”

Samways releases “Untrodden Ways” as an Acoustic Taster of Forthcoming Debut

Fri Mar 19, 2021

Toronto-based folk quartet Samways acknowledge the work of a late, great Canadian poet in this, their new single, “Untrodden Ways” – check out the YouTube here:

Untrodden Ways by Samways:

Landing ahead of their forthcoming debut album, the song is backed by a steady bass groove and the sounds of lead songwriter, guitarist and composer Nathan Hiltz’s acoustic, and driven by the beautiful and smile-inducing vocal harmonies of co-lead singers Shannon Butcher, Melissa Lauren, and Jessica Lalonde. On the creation of the “Untrodden Ways,” Nathan said: “I tried to channel Joni (Mitchell)’s rambunctious and expressive strumming,” adding that it highlights a “polyrhythmic feeling … which might fit in with Paul Brady — somewhere between a jig and a 1960s songwriter.”

It’s Not “Too Late”... Vomiting Bunnies Forges Forward Despite the World Being on Hold

Fri Mar 19, 2021

Argentinian darkened synth pop duo Vomiting Bunnies breaks the shackles of uncertainty with their cathartic new single “Too Late”.

While the world lies in a state of uncertainty, to say the least, “Too Late” is a marriage between their dark synth pop sound and the emotions surrounding society’s temporal state to deliver something all too relatable and hauntingly atmospheric.

Check out “Too Late” on YouTube here:

Providing insight into their most recent single, members Vale (Valeria Curcio) and Jörg (Jorge Singh) say “‘Too Late’ is about those moments in life when it turns difficult to deal with ourselves; when we feel stuck, frustrated, or tormented by our own thoughts, and we find ourselves caught in a loop from which it feels impossible to escape.

Brazilian Hard Rockers Pentral Arrive with Pummelling & Prescient New Single, “Silent Trees”

Fri Mar 19, 2021

Brazilian hard rockers Pentral have unleashed the video for the pummeling and prescient new single “Silent Trees”.

Check out the video on YouTube here:

The song — which features a radio edit and a seven-minute extended cut — lands ahead of their forthcoming debut album, What Lies Ahead of Us, set for release this May.

Pentral translates to ‘spirit’ in Latin and, according to the band, was chosen to help signal the premise of the message contained within their sound: the overall need to transcend the “material world” through the power of music — without losing connection with reality and human frailties.

With over 440,000+ streams across platforms and rising, the breakthrough three-piece act consists of bassist Joe Ferry, and brothers — drummer Vagner Lima and lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Victor Lima.

Vancouver/Toronto's AVRY Gets Mellow for New Swoon-Worthy Single “Back to You”

Fri Mar 19, 2021

At 200,000+ Spotify spins across his three breakthrough singles, Canadian pop singer Avry gets mellow for this, his debut music video for ”Back to You”.

Check out the YouTube video of ”Back to You” here:

The ambient, three-minute pop track not only follows the release of the Vancouver-born, Toronto-based artist’s previously released singles “Close to Me” (2020) and “Running Dance” (2020).

The song begins with the ringing of a phone and an automated voice message for a “not-in-service” number, and it’s not long after that “Back to You” really kicks off into the mellow and relaxing hit unsuspecting listeners and fans are already praising and recognizing it to be.

Toronto's Pop-Soul Trap-R&B Artist OLENKA Plucks the Petals of Love in New Single, “Purple Rose”

Fri Mar 12, 2021

At 50,000+ streams across platforms and rising, breakthrough Toronto pop-soul and trap-R&B artist Olenka plucks at the petals of long-distance love in this, her new single, “Purple Rose”.

Give a listen and watch “Purple Rose” here on YouTube:

“I recorded this single a while back, and it easily became my baby,” the Toronto-based singer/songwriter confides. “It was written about a relationship I had in the past; sometimes you meet someone who just inspires a sound…”

For “Purple Rose,” that’s an experimental word-play vibe and a lush video to match; there’s also a behind-the-scenes documentary detailing its making set for release this (date/time frame/season?).

Artist/Producer Malika Tirolien Wants To 'Grow' 'Higher' with New Single & LP

Fri Mar 12, 2021

GRAMMY Award-nominated vocalist, songwriter and producer Malika Tirolien’s conscious lyrics and soaring vox are on dynamic display in this, her compelling new single “GROW”.

Check out the GROW video on YouTube:  

“This song serves as a reminder to enjoy the process wherever you may be in your life,” Tirolien shares. “It’s about doing the best you can with what you can control.”

The fourth single to land from the Montreal-based artist’s newly released sophomore album, HIGHER, the 11-track LP is the second instalment in her tetralogy marking the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. The series’ premiere offering, 2014’s Sur La Voie Ensoleillée, saw Tirolien’s powerful sonic poetry explore themes surrounding the Earth — it was about roots, and feeling grounded, she says, whereas HIGHER arrives as more spiritual and cosmic.

It’s Love in the Time of COVID for LGBTQIA Artist Joshua Sade James In New Single “I’ll Wait For You”

Fri Mar 12, 2021

It’s love in the time of quar for Canadian artist Joshua Sade James and his yearning new single, “I’ll Wait For You”.

“I originally wrote this song about four months into quarantine,” James recalls. “It took me less than two hours; all of those feelings were incredibly raw at the time, so I wasn’t surprised at how quickly it flowed.

Watch and listen to “I’ll Wait For You” on YouTube here:

“I’m in a long-distance relationship,” he explains, “and once the borders closed, it became virtually impossible for us to meet — the only way was with the power of FaceTime. In a way, ‘I’ll Wait For You’ was written almost as a ‘swan song’ to my relationship since we didn’t — and still don’t — know when we will be able to see each other again.”

Brandon Child Reflects on Lost Love in New Single, “Time”

Fri Mar 12, 2021

Four months after releasing his highly-anticipated sophomore single, Brandon Child — the Toronto-raised alt-rock/pop musician — is back with a surprise, brand-new single all about getting over an ex-lover. It’s called “Time” and it shows that even though he’s new to the scene, Brandon is a force to be reckoned with.

Check out the  video of “Time” here:

Right off the bat, Brandon reels in the listener with a buttery 45-second guitar solo — which is sonically reminiscent to something of Pink Floyd guitarist, David Gilmour. The magical, blues-inspired guitar melodies make their way back into the song sporadically and keep you enticed, while the up-and-comer’s poetic lyrics are delivered smoothly through a catchy, pop-inspired vocal track.

It’s “Now or Later” for Saint Paul, Minnesota's Hip Hop Artist ATR

Fri Mar 12, 2021

After racking up 36,000+ Spotify streams alone, ATR has dropped his newly minted video for “Now or Later”.

Check out “Now or Later” on YouTube here:

Produced by 9Gotti (GuerellaTunez), it adds to his 330,000+ total spins on the platform — including his latest LP, 2020’s Nobody Knows Me — and hails from his 2018 pressing, Microwave. The bass-heavy, digitally produced dance track is driven heavily by ATR’s signature rapping style and the iconic steel drum sample used in Soulja Boy’s 2007 breakthrough anthem “Crank That.” To ATR, the three-minute track “embodies what perseverance is.”

Though born in Oklahoma City and raised in Los Angeles, the ambitious musician now resides in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Despite living there — away from the bumping L.A.-music scene, ATR says he has exactly what it takes to thrive in the industry.