Take Oath & Bear Witness: “Jury” is in Session for Canadian Artist Astrid Tanton’s Striking New Single

Fri Aug 27, 2021

It’s a witchy world of rumours, stories, gossip, and telephone games. And for Canadian indie sensation Astrid Tanton, it’s about clearing everything at once on this, her new single and video, “Jury” — available now.

Fresh from her breakthrough debut EP, From My Eyes, “Jury” comes from a place of learning and hurt, the Toronto-based artist explains. Her message is ageless — there is their version, your version, and... Somewhere in the middle is the truth.

And Tanton isn’t afraid to expose it.

“There’s a reason people always say there’s two sides to a story,” she says. “People will twist and tell a story to benefit themselves.

“‘Jury’ explores that relationship of being placed as the ‘villain’ or the ‘bad guy’ in a story.

“The concept behind the ‘Jury’ video follows myself and ‘the jury,’” Tanton continues, offering a behind-the-scenes take of her visual counterpart of the track. “The jury represents not only people who are being told a one-sided story, but the intrusive thoughts that can follow you when you are constantly being painted as the bad guy.

Check out “Jury” on YouTube here:

Alt-Psych Rocker Rise Carmine Wants to “Be The Only One” in New Single

Fri Aug 27, 2021

Heavy percussion and a groove-saturated bass line set psych-rocker Rise Carmine’s latest single up as the sexy, 70s-esque low-fi electric gem it’s destined to be; “Be The Only One”.

The latest to land ahead of the Toronto-based artist’s forthcoming debut, No Coup For Anyone, the release’s GRAMMY-winning powerhouse producer Dave Schiffman’s (Weezer, PUP, Vampire Weekend) craftsmanship is on full display: a tightly woven intro, a crushing hook, and a sizzling fade, magnificently mingled with frontman Liam Colbert’s smart lyrics, and incendiary vox.

“Be The Only One” is a staring competition; look away and you might miss what’s to come next from the full EP.

Check out “Be The Only One” on YouTube here:

Matt Morson Releases “Tailgate Patio,” A Simple-Pleasures Summer Jam All About the Dancing

Fri Aug 27, 2021

Sometimes the best things about summer are the most simple: the smell of dew in the grass, a charge in the night air, and infinite stars in a clear sky. And Nobeton, ON’s singer-songwriter Matt Morson captures these modest joys, and more, with his new single “Tailgate Patio”.

Get up and dance to “Tailgate Patio” on YouTube here:

or

Give a listen on Spotify here:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2OaHfH398zUmNDn7gJjSAf?si=077aa934c0544422&nd=1

Kevin Towill Reflects After The Party Is Over & “The Contemporary American Dream”

Fri Aug 27, 2021

Canadian rocker Kevin Towill may have planted his roots in the punk community, but it's his expressive, electric guitar-laden new EP, After The Party Is Over that showcases the depths of his ability to bend genres and colour outside the lines.

Check out After The Party Is Over on YouTube here:

 

Kicking off with lead track, "The Contemporary American Dream", the Calgary-based artist's move to write a solo album followed Towill's decision to re-prioritize his '9-5' life, shifting focus from working solely at a gig he picked up when his former punk outfit, The Reckless Heroes, disbanded in 2017 and gravitating back to music. 

“Music was far too important and self-identifying to abandon completely,” he explains; knowing that music was a lifeline to the air he breathes, Towill set out to lay the tracks of his breakthrough solo project.

Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster of Rejection & Loneliness, Artist Ezra Jordan Releases “dollarama”

Fri Aug 27, 2021

Diving even deeper into his realest, rawest, and most realized artistic self yet, Canadian contemporary pop, R&B and soul artist Ezra Jordan releases his new single, “dollarama”.

“This song was written during one of my lowest points during the pandemic,” Ezra shares. “I was suffering from a pretty significant depressive episode, my plans to move to LA had been derailed, and I had lost my job and moved back with my parents.

“I took stock of my life, my relationships, my friends, and my own self-image, and tried to figure out where this empty feeling was coming from.

“Out of that, I wrote ‘dollarama.’”

Check out “dollarama” on YouTube here:

Troubadour James Gordon Releases “We’ll Bring You Home” with a New Release from his 40th Album

Fri Aug 20, 2021

While Canadians were largely at loose ends self-isolating during the lengthy series of pandemic-related lockdowns, prolific folk singer/songwriter James Gordon hunkered down and got busy creating his 40th album, When I Stayed Home.

That’s right; Four. Zero.

And the timely 13-track full-length release also features Gordon’s powerful musical response to the national residential school tragedies with the song, “We’ll Bring You Home.”

Listen and watch the poignant single “We’ll Bring You Home” on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/5D4cAXqSjZg

The arrival of COVID-19 — and the fear, uncertainty, and disruption it brought with it — initially affected Gordon, like many of us, negatively. Since the Guelph, Ontario based artist has toured all over the globe relentlessly since his twenties, being stuck at home was depressing… At least, for a while.

Pop/Rock Duo View19 Celebrate the Freedom of Summer with Upbeat New Single, “Big Night Out”

Fri Aug 20, 2021

Two months after the release of their debut studio album, Daydreaming, Connecticut-based pop/rock duo View19 are celebrating the summer with a brand-new single, “Big Night Out” .

Give a listen to “Big Night Out” here on YouTube:

Just as its name implies, “Big Night Out” is an upbeat track about going out on the town and having fun. Whether that’s dancing to music, hitting a patio, or being out with your family, friends, or dearly-loved ones, View19 just wants their fans to celebrate the (hopefully) soon-to-be forgotten COVID-19 pandemic.

To help relay that message, the listener is met with a consistently groovy pop bassline which calls back to the mid-1970s disco era. Along the way, you’re met with a multitude of different keyboard and synth sounds which perfectly complement the soothing backup vocals of View19 songwriters and co-founders, Sean Lorden and Lorenzo Biscotto.

Award-Nominated Canadian Tour de Force velours Lifts the Curtain on “Whatever That Means”

Fri Aug 20, 2021

Multi-award nominated Canadian tour de force velours has lifted the curtain on her newest single, “Whatever That Means”.

Check out “Whatever That Means” on YouTube here:

A follow-up to her breakthrough debut EP, Identity, the bilingual Canadian songstress with velvety vox strikes the chord between progressive rock and alternative pop — all the while, her lyricism sparked with emotion, laced with authenticity and emphatically raw in its delivery.

For velours, the effort to seek refuge through empathy captivates and fascinates audiences alike. She doesn’t shy away from sharing – from lining the walls of her lyrics with the truth. In fact, she fashions her artistry from laying it all to bear – for better or worse; and the resolve that comes from being truly vulnerable.

Iqaluit-Based Inuit Hip-Hop Musician Shauna Seeteenak Releases Inspiring Single “See the Light”

Fri Aug 20, 2021

With a speakeasy style that lulls listeners into an entranced state, Inuk hip-hop artist Shauna Seeteenak releases her powerful and spine-chilling new single, “See The Light”.

The song serves as a preview to her forthcoming debut album, Therapy Sessions. The release sees Seeteenak focus her music on telling her truths, and shining light on the struggles that Inuit people face in Canada — a humble cause, and often a very dark and sobering reality.

Shrouded in uplifting pop-piano chords and dance-worthy bass lines, these “truths,” as Seeteenak calls them, include “mental health, sobriety, breaking stereotypes, overcoming barriers, surviving the north, and trying to heal.”

Featuring lines like ‘you can change your life if you pick up where you left it,’ and ‘life would be easy, life would be perfect, but then, believe me, it wouldn’t be worth it,’ Seeteenak has audiences right where she wants them: inspired and emboldened, ready to be uplifted into greatness.

EDM Rock Group Rogue Proxy Releases New Classic Single “She Turned Around”

Fri Aug 20, 2021

In keeping their promise to deliver a new flavour of rock, Canadian band Rogue Proxy continues to be an infectious conduit for music with this, their latest single, “She Turned Around”.

“She Turned Around” is a song about “about simple things done just right.” Turns out, however, combining classic rock elements with a sophisticated, ever-changing AI engine turned out to be... Not so simple? “She Turned Around was inspired by literally having a girl turn around to say goodbye,” the band shares, noting that one of the co-fronts’ two-year-old daughter had done so as the pair of friends-turned-band leads were wrapping up a video call working through new ideas.

Check out “She Turned Around” On YouTube here:

A Raw Romp Thru the Backroads of Texas - Sue Foley’s New Album, Pinky’s Blues Takes the Wheel

Fri Aug 20, 2021

Stony Plain Records announces an October 22 release date for Pinky’s Blues, the new album from award-winning blues guitarist/singer Sue Foley. Featuring several Sue Foley originals, as well as songs from some of her favorite blues and roots artists, Pinky’s Blues was recorded at Fire Station Studios in San Marcos, Texas. Joining Sue Foley (guitar, vocals) for the recording sessions were Jon Penner (bass), Chris “Whipper” Layton (drums) and Mike Flanigin (Hammond B3 organ), who also produced the album.

To support the release of her new disc, Foley will embark on an extensive tour schedule that includes both an official showcase at the upcoming September Americana Music Conference in Nashville, as well as a set at the Kessler Day Party Showcase during the conference.

Foley also shot videos for three songs from the new album that were directed by Tim Hardiman, who directed the latest Black Keys video.

Omega Mighty Debuts New Dance With Her Newest Single, “Whine Masta”

Fri Aug 20, 2021

Contagious and hard-hitting as a dancehall track, new single “Whine Masta” is inspired by talented and boundary-defying Toronto-based dancehall and R&B artist Omega Mighty’s Jamaican / Bajan heritage.

And with plenty of electronic strings, deep punching bass, and an infectious melody, “Whine Masta” is sure to get audiences on their feet and feeling good. The deliciously fantastic new single was conceptualized after Omega Mighty found herself drawn to creating a song that would promote confidence and sensuality. With that idea fresh in her mind, Omega Mighty recalls she “really wanted to push the boundaries with the beauty looks.

Check out “Whine Masta” on YouTube here:

“As a beauty professional,” she continues, “I always want to incorporate clean beauty elements with non-traditional elements…”

Toronto Dancehall Artist Fokus Serves Up “Sweet Tooth” in New Single Release

Fri Aug 20, 2021

Set to savour the fruits of summer, Canadian hip hop/reggae/calypso artist Fokus is serving up his brand-new single, “Sweet Tooth”.

“As a Dancehall, Reggae and R&B artist looking to make music that will encourage my listeners to dance, I purposely made the concept of ‘Sweet Tooth’ very simple,” Fokus explains. “Basically, I portray my thoughts and observations of that woman who stands out in the crowd when going to the club, a party/jam, or what West Indians call a ‘fete’.

“In my lyrics, I explain how the woman who stands out in my eyes is one who is very subtle,” he continues. “One who is not trying too hard with her hair and makeup, but one who embraces her natural beauty, and does not care about what others think about her. She is there to enjoy herself, not to be judged or disrespected. This is the type of female I tend to crave for, in all romantic and intimate ways… Hence, my ‘Sweet Tooth’.”

Check out “Sweet Tooth” on YouTube:

Synth-Punk Dream-Rockers Morning Trips Declare “We Have No Time (For Now)” in New Single

Fri Aug 13, 2021

Proving again that Florida-based Morning Trips will not be confined to a genre, the boundless energy of the Florida four-piece flows through their latest release, “We Have No Time (For Now)”.

“We Have No Time (For Now)” shape shifts the group’s defined songwriting ability, and carves an electro-pop vibe capable of inviting you to the dance floor. The track follows their previous effort, “Assault” — a pulsating exploration into dark, heavy industrial metal with a subsequent music video slapped with an 18+ warning label.

Check out “We Have No Time (For Now)” on YouTube here:

“We have a lot of exciting concepts and visuals planned for what will be our first formal EPs,” the band explains. “We are a guitar band at heart, but in our minds, we’re redefining what it means to make guitar-driven music in 2021 when the modern world is so hyper and phonetical.

Pop-RnB Singer/Songwriter Jennifer Lauren Releases Soaring New Single, “Kingdom Come”

Fri Aug 13, 2021

If that moment in any action flick where the hero or heroine struts away in slow motion, wind in their hair, as something ignites and then explodes at their backs, needed a perfect soundtrack, Canadian singer-songwriter Jennifer Lauren’s new single “Kingdom Come”.

Dark and synth-y, with industrial, dissonant beats, the vocals soar, taking the listener on a cathartic journey over hills and valleys of loud-quiet-loud. It’s a song of courage and power — one meant to rouse the royalty we all have within.

Check out “Kingdom Come” on YouTube here:

When Jennifer originally came across the instrumental track from Russian music producer, Sighost, last Christmas Eve, it was titled “Throne,” and she and her co-writer, Miranda Boutros, instantly knew it was something they could work with. “We loved the mood and power of it, and felt inspired by its title,” Jennifer shares.

Rocker Melted Fro is “Lost At Home” in Gritty, Jet-Fuelled New Single

Fri Aug 13, 2021

Canadian rock band Melted Fro is wasting no time filling ears with the unique sound of this, their jet-fueled new single, “Lost At Home”.

This filthy blues song takes on the tumultuous relationship we can have internally with ourselves; the idea is to introduce an objective perspective on being an introvert without sacrificing the energy in the music.

Check out “Lost At Home” on YouTube here:

Mission accomplished; the epitome of “gutter rock,” the track boasts the sonic equivalent of dirt and grime usually found on an old gem in your grandfather’s record collection.

Kenny Kirkwood Soulfully Envisions “A Oneness Without Sides” for the World

Fri Aug 13, 2021

Award-winning Toronto-based musician, educator, and “folktivist” Kenny Kirkwood is sharing his heart-truth and hopes for a future of healing in this, his new single featuring singer/activist Alana Bridgewater, “A Oneness Without Sides”.

A thought provoking soul-anthem for peace on Earth, “A Oneness Without Sides” is the third single released in advance of the JUNO Award-winner’s upcoming album project, DEBWEWIN: 13 Songs for 13 Moons.

Check out “A Oneness Without Sides” on YouTube here:

Debwewin is an Anishinaabemowin expression referring to one's heart-truth. With the album’s songs created with Indigenous people’s guidance for reconciliation, “A Oneness Without Sides” joins the forthcoming LP’s previous singles, “Let’s Turn the World Around” and “Spirit You.”

Art-Rock Country Rock Collective Hot Mondy Shines Through With 'Pale Ember'

Fri Aug 13, 2021

With an all-star production, video, and contributing roster, to boot, Canadian art-rock country collective Hot Mondy seize an all-new and outside-the-box creative license to write and record their first single, “Pale Ember,” and breakthrough debut self-titled EP.

Helping to hone Hot Mondy’s exploration of sound for the release was multi-JUNO winning producer Michael Philip Wojewoda (Barenaked Ladies, Rheostatics, Great Big Sea, The Jerry Cans); the band and Wojewoda came together at Toronto’s Revolution Recording in early 2020 to track songs, but that was all they could get done for a while…

The band had just returned to Halifax after initial tracking when the COVID-19 pandemic shut the whole country down for well over a year. “It was both fun and challenging figuring out how to finish the EP during Covid,” the band recalls, “but it informed many of our choices in a really interesting way.”

Singer/Songwriter Francine Honey Captures the Romance of Electricity with “Lightning”

Fri Aug 13, 2021

There’s palpable electricity in a kiss between two people meant to spend their lives together, and multi-award winning Americana Blues artist Francine Honey draws from her very own moment of romantic epiphany for her evocative new single, “Lightning”.

For Honey, that life-changing moment happened 10 years ago during a train trip through the Canadian Rockies with a friend who had been, at one time, more than that. “We started the trip as old friends with no expectations of anything other than to have a travel companion on this once-in-a-lifetime trip on the Royal Canadian Pacific Express 1800’s steam train,” she recalls. “As the train weaved its way through the mountains and into the spiral tunnels of Yoho National Park, it was clear the old flames were still alive.”

The two shared a pivotal, emotionally charged kiss, and the realization they should be together forever hit them like… Well, lightning.

“This song is about the exact moment of the kiss that changed it all,” the Leamington, ON-born, now Ottawa, ON-based Honey explains. “That magical moment when you ‘know’... 

Check out the electricity of “Lightning” on YouTube here:

Lo-Fi Indie Popster Carpet Of Horses Releases Sweet New Offering in “Honeybee”

Fri Aug 06, 2021

Canadian artist Tobin James Stewart and his rock project Carpet of Horses unveil a dreamy new synco-pop, low-fi indie offering with this, CoH’s recently released single, “Honeybee”.

Check out Carpet Of Horses “Honeybee” on YouTube here:

The song is the latest to land from Carpet of Horses’ new album, Ballroom — released July 2021. An entire dance floor of tantalizing soundscapes daring listeners to disappear inside their party for a memory or two, each song on the full-length challenges the next to be the ‘belle of the ball.’

Placing artistic freedom on an album chocked full of unique instrumentation, harmonies, unsuspecting hooks and melodies, CoH compressed its expansive sound into nine-tracks of cosmic space that leaves listeners reaching to dial-up the good vibes. It’s a new “old” album, and its recording setting is just as much a part of it as its sound...