ZINNIA‘s debut album Sensations in Two Dot focuses on moments of doubt – creative, societal, and personal – exploring what it means to hold compassion through the multifaceted, grey areas of life. Whether in the isolated town of Two Dot, Montana (population 143) or the buzzing streets of Toronto (population 2.6 million), these nine songs probe the complex, unsettling similarities found in the human experience: the hauntings of unrelenting dreams, tensions and tender triumphs in relationships, systems of abuse threaded through communities, and the search for compassion and visibility in everyday interactions.
R&B songwriter Danny Zee, releases visually striking music video for his latest single “Blue Butterfly”. Conveying the longing for a lost relationship, “Blue Butterfly” introduces Danny Zee a vulnerable lyricist and hypnotic composer. With inspiration stemming from artists such as Daniel Caesar, Frank Ocean, and John Mayer, Danny follows the flow of Neo-Soul music, with a slow tempo beat and dreamy vocals that overlay the instrumental. The single is the title track off his upcoming debut album, Blue Butterfly, set for release in January 2020.
Directed by Ash Gupta of 838 Media Group, the music video conceptualizes the meaning of “Blue Butterfly” through intimate movement, which was choreographed by Aathira Rajeev (Just Dance, The Mandy Carmichael Show). Danny Zee co-starred alongside actress Inja Zalta (Escape the Night, Rustlands, and upcoming film Follow Me) and between the two, they bring life to the tragic story of heartbreak.
The single is the first off Danny Zee’s upcoming album of the same name. Comprised of 8 original tracks, written over a 6-month period, the entirety of the album was written, composed, and produced by Danny in complete isolation and lockdown. The journey of the record was to document his progression from the dark to the light. Each track documents a moment on this path that has led Danny Zee to reach his full artistic expressions, such as heartbreak, abandonment, solitude, and acceptance.
Today, Danny Zee is looking to move forward as an artist and pursue music that feels more authentic to him. With his new single “Blue Butterfly”, Danny introduces himself to the US audiences as a vulnerable songwriter and new R&B artist. Be sure to check out the single from Danny Zee’s debut album, Blue Butterfly, out on January 2020.
(Photo Credit: @Salty_Paper)
“Women are often told to hide their sexuality and confidence. I’m learning to allow myself to let go and be the grown woman that I am. This new song is a landmark in my life, as I accept that it’s not wrong to feel sexy, and be flirty. Heaven&Safety was inspired by pure, raw, unconditional love. When I sat down to write, everything flowed out of me so naturally – I let myself live in the space and time that my producer, Jacob Spitzer, was creating within the music. We, as women, do not need to hide ourselves anymore. We are free to exist however we please. I am a woman, so I will only speak to my own experience. But, as a takeaway, I want EVERYONE – women, men, gender non-conforming, anyone living within or outside of the binary – to feel deserving of love in all of its forms. To feel accepted, and comfortable, finding their own “Heaven&Safety.”—♥ Angelique ♥
Italian singer-songwriter, Edo Ferragamo, releases his new live in studio version of his latest single “Justice,” the third release from his upcoming album, The Edo Ferragamo Project – out February 2020.
With “Justice” Edo Ferragamo explores the emotions behind a long-distance relationship through this sexy, stirring and atmospheric track. “Justice’s” paired-down composition, electronic influences, and slower tempo makes this release stand apart from his previous two singles, “Common People” and “That’s the Way”.
Reflecting on the creation of “Justice”, Edo Ferragamo says, “This song has been 3 years in the making. It was born in a very challenging personal moment when a lot was changing in my life. But the melody, vibe and lyrics have evolved into a track that is even more meaningful for me today and something that I hope all of my fans can relate to.”
Edo Ferragamo introduces the behind-the-scenes creation of electrifying track with “Justice”, including the collaboration between him and rapper Cayenne NoLuck. Check it out now and stay tuned for new music releases coming soon.
Photo Credit : Josh Dolgin
JS Williams has played an important role in music both in Montreal and internationally with his remarkable work as a composer, guitarist and musician. His unique talent has led him to work with acclaimed artists such as Elisapie, Alejandra Ribera, Socalled, Yannick Rieu, Térez Montcalm and others. In 2019 Williams will release his first album From A Plane, (which was recorded with the help of Rob Heaney (Patrick Watson, Barr Brothers) and is already being compared to Bon Iver, Dan Auerbach and Grizzly Bear. His recent nomination for best original song “Help is on the way” at the Academy Screen Awards is the latest in a series of original works written for films such as Sashinka by Kristina Wagenbauer (Seatlle IFF, Whistler IFF, Soleure) and Girlfriends by Marie Davignon (TIFF, FNC).
Arriving as a true worldwide phenomenon, Regard’s “Ride It” emerges as the #1 dance record in the country this week, capturing #1 on the Dance Radio Chart. Additionally, it ascends to #3 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs Chart and goes Top 15 on the Spotify Global Chart. Get it HERE via Epic Records.
Reinterpreting the Jay Sean original of the same name, the song’s distillation of deep house, nocturnal funk, and sexy pop resonates on the dance floor and beyond. Within just six months, “Ride It” amassed over 225 million total streams and counting. Meanwhile, the Kosovo-based DJ, producer, and artist stands out with 17 million-plus monthly listeners and counting. Plus, it remains in the Top 15 of the Global Spotify chart with in excess of 2.4 million daily streams. It also vaulted to #3 on the Shazam Global Chart.
Around the world, the song continues to make waves. “Ride It” soared to #2 on the UK Singles Chart and #4 on the UK Airplay Chart. Moreover, it holds strong at #6 on the UK Spotify chart, #7 on Apple Music, #15 on iTunes, and #4 on Shazam. Recognized as a hit everywhere, it has garnered gold and platinum certifications in multiple territories as it claims real estate at the top of the respective singles charts. These include Ireland #1 (2X PLATINUM), Belgium #2 (GOLD), Switzerland #2, Australia #3 (PLATINUM), Denmark #6 (GOLD), Germany #8, Finland #7 (GOLD), New Zealand #12 (GOLD), Netherlands #13 (GOLD), France #13, Norway #23 (GOLD) & Canada #37 (GOLD).
Not to mention, the track attracted high-profile remixes from the likes of Jonas Blue – which has amassed over 1.5 million streams – and Franky Wah. Meanwhile, the high-octane music video cracked 9.4 million YouTube views.
Raynes is a transatlantic trio made up of two Americans and a Brit. Now based in Los Angeles, Mat Charley and Joe Berger, both born and raised in North Dakota, met UK native Mark Race through Instagram after an extensive search for the final piece of this project. The geographically unlikely three combine their unique and complementary strengths to form an artistically authentic band, integrating elements of modern pop with classically Americana instrumentation. Their ability to blend pianos and synths, pounding drums and sophisticated vocals, and string arrangements with acoustic guitars and mandolins results in an impactful, one-of-a-kind style.
Raynes’ debut single ‘Lemon Drop’ showcases their distinct amalgamation of influences. Produced by Mighty Mike (Lana Del Rey, The Neighbourhood, Dua Lipa) and mastered by Joe LaPorta (David Bowie, Vampire Weekend, Shawn Mendes), the track features catchy melodies, violin riffs, and stacked vocal harmonies. Thematically ‘Lemon Drop’ details the sweet and sour of chasing fame in Los Angeles. While their follow up release ‘Second Thought’ gained attraction from the likes of Billboard and narrates the hesitation many of us feel in our life choices.
Sonically, the music is inspired by a myriad of different influences. Their sound has been compared to the arena-filling choruses of Coldplay, the Americana instrumentation of Mumford and Sons, and the harmonic complexity of the Beach Boys. Raynes call this inimitable fusion “expensive folk”––folk instrumentation which incorporates very obvious elements of pop production, ultimately creating a slicker and shinier sound than straight-down-the-middle folk. “Even with all of the more exotic or unusual components, it’s really just pop music at its core,” reveals the band.
There are recurring lyrical motifs running through the music of Raynes––heads and hearts, blood and bones, sugar and salt, sun and rain, and wine and water, among many others. There are also a number of musical ideas and elements that repeat in many of their songs, such as atmospheric synth tones, violin and mandolin counterpoints, and world-inspired percussion. But there’s not really one thematic throughline other than “the human condition” and all that comes with it––longing, confusion, cowardice and despair, but also joy, hope, growth, and of course love. Some songs are inspired by Bible stories, Greek myths, or historical events, and some are more personal, direct, and intimate.
With a catalog of songs, ready to unveil one by one, Raynes continues to grace audiences with their robust folky foot-stompers, introspective ballads, and pure pop sugar.
Christopher Smith’s singing voice is petal-soft, but the sentiments he’s evoking with a sigh undoubtedly take root in your psyche. On Love Writes Itself, the second full-length from his atmospheric Dralms project the Europe-by-way-of-Vancouver singer-songwriter abstracts evergreen topics of loss and longing— of sex and despair— through a chlorophyll-scented lens.
Smith wrote and recorded Love Writes Itself across a three-year stretch. The record’s earliest tracks germinated while out on the road supporting Dralms’ acclaimed 2015 debut album, Shook, while others took shape during a cabin retreat on British Columbia’s Gulf Islands. Though keeping in line with the elegant, chilled-out vibe of Dralms’ early work, Love Writes Itself pivots from the more digitalistic impressions of Shook towards a decidedly organic grove of symphony strings, blushing woodwinds, piano, and guitar.
The elastic nature of Dralms’ line-up, its membership ebbing and flowing around core songwriter Smith, has brought many new collaborators to Love Writes Itself. Smith co-produced the nine song collection with composer/sound designer Mirko Vogel (Sekiden, Cut Copy). The pair first met in London when the latter did sound for Dralms at St. Pancras Old Church and reconnected a few years later when Vogel moved to Vancouver. Together, they developed Smith’s spare acoustic demos into a romantic, maximalist rush that references the melancholy baroque-pop of Misery is a Butterfly-period Blonde Redhead and the sensual swirl of early ‘70s Serge Gainsbourg.
Smith is also joined on the album by the sweet, if saddened bowing of Juno/Polaris Prize-winning violinist Jesse Zubot (Tanya Tagaq, Destroyer, Stars), while a lean pop-and-pluck bass groove is supplied by Cut Copy bassist Ben Browning, and Juno-winning drummer Kenton Loewen (Peregrine Falls, Dan Mangan) offers refined, lite-funk backbeats to many of its tracks.
On top of splitting synth and guitar duties with Vogel, an untold richness emanates through Smith’s vocals throughout Love Writes Itself. The artist admits that the sessions at Vogel’s studio— as well as a pair of songs recorded with Shook producer Jonathan Raham at Afterlife Studio—are some of his most candid performances yet. Shook’s electronics-spiked aesthetic often left his tender tenor cocooned in a Novocaine cloud of reverb and delay. Here, Smith’s vocals are especially up-close-and-personal, lips pressed closely against a microphone guard as he navigates the naivety of new love (“Plants Behind Glass”), confronts ego (“Precious Flower”), and comes to terms with loss (“Monet in Black and White”).
Slyly hinted it via introductory instrumental piece “Flower Theme”, Love Writes Itself connects its lyrical content through Smith’s poetic allusions to plant life, ranging from the near-religious imagery of the “cathedral arches of arbutus trees” found on B.C’s Gulf Islands, to noting the bleak existence of a vase of flowers trapped behind a window pane.
“There is a lot of flowery, lush dialogue, but there are oppressive visuals as well,” Smith explains of knotting together the beautiful with the brutal. “As a visual, flowers can be used in so many different ways—something fragile; something withering away; something that’s been snipped and kept on display, or something growing freely.”
Dralms’ latest grapples with various levels of love and loss, and the life cycles we encounter both in nature and our personal lives. “I want that feeling back” he coos hopefully above synth-bass and symphony strings on “Blush”. After coming to terms with wilted expectations, another experience tends to push up from the soil.
Toronto-based duo TOM BOY was formed by singer Nate Daniels and guitarist Dante Berardi Jr. after the dramatic collapse of their former band, CAIRO. After facing the threat of music unheard, the two musicians collected their resources (and what was left of their pride) and began to feverishly work on new material in 2018. What emerged was, to say the least, an affront to the senses: catastrophically lush arrangements catch your attention immediately and hold it with lyrics that ruminate on the nature of addiction, desperation, and vitriol. Berardi’s guitar work meanders melancholic under Daniels powerful and sometimes tear-jerking vocals. Tom Boy utilizes pop-sensibilities and arrangement only to smash them against punk-rock lyricism that calls to action anybody they can wake.
Tom Boy may be new on the scene, but they have already caught the attention of Toronto’s Indie88 who premiered their infectious song “Wastecase” and 102.1 The Edge whose Alan Cross placed the track on “Songs You Must Hear This Week”. They’ve also hit a nerve on the international scene with one of their favourite publications growing up,
“ Alternative Press included us in their ‘10 Songs You Need To Hear’, which was crazy because not only do they have two million subscribers, but we’ve been reading the magazine since we were kids who didn’t have a clue we’d even be in a band”
Tom Boy’s music benefits from quick-witted word play and hooky-instrumentation but it may not have all come together without the help of producer, Crispin Day. Known for his work on July Talk, Shad, and Jeremie Albino, Day has experience working on projects that combine rock’n roll sonics with social commentary. It was important to him to nurture the more vulnerable moments in Daniels writing on songs like “One Night Stand” and “Nothing to Lose”:
“Some of the songs just wanted to have space to live. No need to dress them up fancy. Good songs can lean on themselves”
The hardest part for Tom Boy after their breakup with Cairo was that they ached for the stage. Two years without any shows can feel like an eternity for musicians who have clocked thousands of rehearsal and stage hours.
Photo Credit: ROYA DEL SOL
Maccie, [pron., Mae-cee], is an alt pop singer/songwriter and creator. Her music is best described as Primal, sexually charged and overflowing with feeling. Maccie is unapologetically raw, fierce and wild. Now extending her artistic focus to include circus arts, her future performances and visuals have promising potential. With over 500k streams, Maccie is ready to release her next single, “Dungeon”. This song is meant to be heard as though hearing a secret, and felt like criminals making love on the run. Keep your eyes and ears open for this multifaceted artist as she’s sure to spark your mind and spirit!
Danny Toeman is a vibrant and powerful performer who seamlessly blends the classic vibes of Funk and Soul’s golden age with his own inimitable London edge, delivering a modern and fresh ‘neo-vintage’ flavour. The North London singer who is known for his outstanding live performances that showcase his rugged vocals and altitude-defying falsetto, creates a sound oozing with character and emotion. Along with his seven-piece band The Love Explosion, Toeman stages an electrifying show filled to the brim with feel-good funky soul, designed to make you move.
In his latest release ‘Give It All Up (Mr Showtime)’, Toeman presents a dramatically beautiful, classic love song that perfectly captures his use of fusing vintage sounds with contemporary style. Sonically the single comes to life through colourful grooves and embellished melodies, with a ‘Torch Song’ style introduction and uplifting finish, the track lends itself to a feel-good love song. Toeman expresses how gratitude was the inspiration for the new track sharing, “This song came to me as I was travelling home from a random gig in the middle of nowhere, clunky guitar case and amplifier taking up space in the train carriage. I was thinking about the show and how despite how small it was, the audience had shown so much love for my set. I wondered what they would think if they saw me now and if they knew it was their reaction that keeps me going. So I decided to write something that would express my appreciation to them and all other audiences who’ve had a similar effect on me”.
Influenced by the power and swagger of James Brown, the pained romance of Marvin Gaye, and the uplifting joy of Curtis Mayfield, Toeman combines his love of classic soul with modern elements, bringing a new sound of soul, whilst forging his own path into unchartered territory. Thematically his music narrates finding the sweetness in the sour and getting through the rough times with dignity. “I try and keep my music positive and aspirational, in matters of life and love, matter how hard the present circumstances. This is the message I have always found at the heart of the music I love”, admits Toeman.
When he is not performing, writing and producing music, the musician hopes to flaunts his powerful charisma as a professional wrestler, having taken up training last year. Whether in the ring or on stage, he displays a charming eccentricity and incomparable flair that consistently captivates his audience.
To date, Toeman has performed to sold out audiences at prestigious venues such as Alexandra Palace and the o2 Arena, as well as supporting soul luminaries such as Kool & The Gang, Betty Wright, Michael Kiwanuka, and Charles Bradley. His music can also be heard in a global advertising campaign for Toyota, on Saturday Night Live and in Made in Chelsea, as well as receiving national radio airplay from the likes of BBC 6 Music’s Craig Charles.
Put quite simply, there is no other artist quite like Danny Toeman. With a full album release on the horizon and a range of live dates on the way, now is the ideal time to catch an awe inspiring live performance from a true rising star.
““Gladstone,” is an interpretation of a certain state that often captures me: one of extreme thoughts that consume me. The song’s lyrics follow looping, circular thoughts that eventually lead to an outburst. The refrain – Gladstone glass of wine, throw it out the window – is a reference to a conversation I had with a friend at the Gladstone in Toronto.
I was telling her how it was a particularly volatile time for me, that I’d been having these episodes where I wanted to do things like throw all my socks out of the window of the twentieth story of my boyfriend’s apartment just to watch them dance their way to the ground.
ModMaxx and I produced “Gladstone” together in his apartment, where we worked to communicate a fragmented mood that still has a structure to it, rooted in repetitive patterns”. —Blair Lee
neillfrazer@hotmail.com
