Directed by Sarah McColgan [Mariah Carey, Hailee Steinfeld, Kelly Clarkson], Meghan Trainor‘s “Holidays” video sees Meghan ringing in the season with a party full of glitz and glamor. Joining the festivities is Earth, Wind & Fire who bring the visual to life and make it the best Holiday Celebration. Get in the spirit with “Holidays” out now!
Photo Credit: Greyson Christian Plate
Singer-songwriter Satsang announces his signing with SideOneDummy Records and releases his powerful rendition of the Randy Travis classic, “Forever And Ever, Amen.” As you can hear in the song, Satsang brings a unique blend of soulful Americana and Folk Rock to the label with whom he will release a new album in 2021.
Satsang lead singer and songwriter Drew McManus delivers lyrics that are rooted in the human experience. Growth, change, defeat, and triumph are all present, with hard work at the forefront.
It all started in 2015, during a month-long backpacking trip in the Himalaya Mountains that McManus realized that as part of his recovery from addiction, he must share his life journey in poetry and song to help other lost souls. Songs of surrender, vulnerability and perseverance pour out of him, forming the foundation of Satsang’s 2016 debut The Story of You highlighted by “I Am“, a fan-favorite hymn of self-love that has surpassed 5 million streams on Spotify.
Satsang’s follow up, 2017’s Pyramid(s), quickly hit #1 on the Billboard reggae charts and #2 on the iTunes charts, while In Between Another Blink, a six-song EP released later that year, also cracked the iTunes Top 20 chart. Much of the music on both was written as Satsang toured non-stop in 2016, sometimes before sparse audiences. The songs became a testament to the struggle of sticking to a purpose and believing in the result.
In 2021, Satsang will begin another chapter in his career with the release of a new album of even more influential songs than ever before.
Photo Credit: Denis Lipman
“What You Don’t Know” is the ghost of an old relationship, and that lyric is as true as the sky is blue. Available now on all platforms: https://ffm.to/whatyoudontknow.ois
Breaking down the line a little more, when I found music and songwriting it was a breathless feeling; I was completely immersed in the idea of writing stories and sharing them through song, it was as though I found a new God.
This lifestyle I began to pursue was not conducive to the relationship I was in at the time, which unhinged a string of problems. The lyrics are contradicting throughout the whole piece. “What You Don’t Know” is that I’ll do anything to stay in this relationship, although I recognize it’s bad for me.
This is one of my favourite songs I’ve written to this day, highlighting the mistakes I’ve made in changing myself and my life, to fit somebody else’s vision of who I should be.
I hope it’s meaningful for you, too.
Dawson Gamble
For myself, it’s easier to pour out emotions of sadness and heartache, but to write and produce something so far away from that really feels like a true evolution as a writer and musician. Although every song I release comes from a personal place, “Move Your Feet” really feels like the true essence of myself.
We are so accustomed to trying to get to places or achieve goals as fast as we possibly can. With this song, I wanted to represent the excitement and beauty that can come from slowing down, taking everything in, and being curious about the world around us.
Thanks for taking the time to listen,
LEECE
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Miranda
Ginesse — the artist project of Los Angeles-based actress Cait Fairbanks — is sharing the video for “LA Isn’t Somewhere To Die” from her newly released EP, ‘Somewhere To Die.’ Enfts Terribles exclusively premiered the video today, describing it as “a wonderful avant-garde wonderland.”
A hazy, melancholic indie-pop number, “LA Isn’t Somewhere To Die” is one of the five new songs featured on Ginesse’s new EP, ‘Somewhere To Die.’ Written in the aftermath of a particularly challenging breakup, the single is a thank you to the friends who stick around, even through the hard times. “LA can be a lonely place,” she says, “but this is a love song to the dope friends in my life who keep me from blowing my brains out, honestly.” Directed by Natalie Fält (Tegan and Sara, WENS, Lila Gold) and styled by Jordan Douglas at JXJ Studio, the “LA Isn’t Somewhere To Die” video is a haunting, vintage wonderland that feels like the perfect extension of the nostalgic world introduced throughout the EP.
Performing under the name Cait Fairbanks, Ginesse has already made quite a splash in the acting realm with her two-time Emmy-nominated role on The Young and the Restless and her performance as Veronica in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway show, Heathers: The Musical. In 2018 she launched her musical project, Ginesse, to enthusiastic praise from the likes of PAPER, NYLON, and Billboard.
Perhaps due to her strong thespian roots, she admits that she often approaches Ginesse as “a character to play.” But she also acknowledge that this is the perfect outlet to boil herself down in. She’s not wearing a wig or spandex but instead presents the most concentrated version of herself by telling genuine stories via metaphors that emote relatable, uncomfortable situations and feelings. “I want my music to make people feel like the whole world is wrapping around them,” says Ginesse. “If I give someone an emotional picture of a specific moment, that is truly special.“
The Rough Go, is the one-man eclectic, eccentric rock project of Jimmy Ruffian; born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario and living in Toronto. With heavy punk influences, but also glam, classic rock, folk, and electronic in the mix, The Rough Go creates songs of political rage, mental anguish, and overcoming the obstacles. Guitars are at the forefront of the sound, often a wall of acoustics and electrics layered together with keys and synths for support.
The Rough Go is about living in radical honesty, showing the world for all it’s beauty, flaws, depth, and nuance with a bold bluntness. Releasing the full EP, “The Bard Is In” in the coming months, expect to hear much more from the designated Social Justice Bard.
“514” is our ode to the beautiful city of Montreal. Our hometown’s energy is creative and electric. The people are kind and open – you can feel the joie de vivre in the air, especially in the summertime.
If your city inspires you, pushes you to open your heart and do better, then this song is for you.
Hear “514” via your preferred streaming platform now.
This is our first fully self-produced single, recorded in our own studio, with some help from the retro synth wizard himself, Paul Shrofel.
The beauty of a song about a city is that everyone has their own unique stories and experiences within that city. Montreal has no lack of open-mindedness, artsiness, or beautiful people, and this city is an ongoing narrative that threads through the story of our own lives.
We are a product of our environment, and “514” is a snapshot of our experience in Montreal.
We’re just grateful to have had this jungle of culture to grow up in.
Dear Montreal, we fall in love with you all over again, every single day.
Thank you for listening!
Just Costa
When you close your eyes and connect with the music, you get a certain indescribable feeling. That’s what I want you to experience as you listen to my debut single, “Chrome.”
This song is about the importance of music in our lives. I hear music in my head 24/7, whether it’s a song I’m obsessed with or a song idea that I want to produce. I am constantly making music in my head, no matter what I am doing. I always hear it, and it goes something like this…
Stream “Chrome” wherever you get your music:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/distantmatter/chrome-feat-lily
I picture lots of colours floating in space when listening to this track, and on the second drop it takes you into another dimension of the song. When you close your eyes and listen to it, you can really feel it and see this vivid imagery.
I hope that you are reminded of the power of music as you listen.
“Chrome” was written to transport you.
Thank you for your time,
Distant Matter
https://soundcloud.com/distantmattermusic/chrome-master-18
When veteran record producer/mixer/sound designer Lin Gardiner began hosting songwriting workshops with the idea of seeing what could come from getting strangers together to share musical inspiration and ideas, she had no idea that one of the sessions would be the jumping-off point to a new musical project, Bae Baracus.
“The whole premise of these songwriting weekends was to engage writers in a collaborative atmosphere and write material on the fly,” said Gardiner, a British expat who emigrated to Canada over 18 years ago. “I think it’s important to get people outside their comfort zones and have them try different things with different people, especially those you might not necessarily hang out with or run in the same musical circles.”
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a screeching halt in the early part of 2020, jazz bassist and multi-instrumentalist Clef Seeley, and vocalist Dolly De Guerre, attended one of Lin’s songwriting sessions. By the time the public resumed a semblance of normal life during the summer, Gardiner decided to resurrect the sessions albeit with fewer participants.
Both Clef and Dolly had separately expressed interest in joining one of the reduced capacity sessions, which could be considered the unofficial start point of Bae Baracus. Rather than ruminating on the differences between their musical interests and backgrounds, the trio set about finding common ground. It didn’t take long for them to strike gold.
“We entered into the project with no expectations, but at the outset, we really had no idea what we were going to come up with,” Gardiner says. “We discussed what we wanted to do and what sort of ideas we thought we’d like to pursue and came up with this kind of dystopian disco-punk sound. I had a bunch of little song seeds that I had gone through the day before that first time we were all together. And the first song struck a chord with all of us, and by the end of that day, we had written ‘Never Yours.’ That momentum snowballed into the next day when we wrote the other two songs – ‘Sunshine’ and ‘Bad Attitude’. To be honest, though, there never was any kind of expectation around what we were going to do. It was more about having fun in the moment.”
‘The Good, The Bad & The Ugly’ is the debut album release from one of Manchester’s longstanding members of rap royalty, RIO. A 10-track opus, the album is both a dedication and a therapy to the musical, personal and emotional journey that RIO has trodden over recent years.
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: RIO – THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
Hailing from Manchester’s renowned Moss Side, RIO circumnavigated the obstacles and oppression from his environment to break through as a musician on a national level, proving to be a regular across platforms including BBC Radio 1Xtra, Radio 1, Red Bull, Soccer AM and Capital Xtra with support from key British tastemakers such as DJ Target, Semtex, Tim Westwood, Mistajam, Ras Kwame, Mary Anne Hobbs and Annie Nightingale. Earning accolades such as ‘The Best Grime Mixtape’ at The Mixtape Awards, collaborating with the likes of Ghetts, Blizzard and C4, and clocking up hundreds of thousands of YouTube views on his own channel across music videos, freestyles and audio drops, the talented emcee has not only created a respected profile but a legacy for the Manchester rap scene.
Following a hiatus from music which gave RIO a much-needed stop gap to focus on his own personal growth, the return to music alongside a cultured, refined and considered album highlights the evolution and talent of the Manchester star. With impeccably chosen beats that capture the depth of topics and the mood of each record, the album is executively produced by JSD. Making the bold move to work with the same producer for the full album, it is clear the partnership is rooted in deep understanding and connection as the resulting material flips through genres, moods and styles with tangible results that perfectly reflecting different periods of RIO’s journey.
Having previously released the introspective ‘Ghost’, which is the album opener and divulges his reasons for taking a step back from music by reflecting on his journey and truthfully unpicking mistakes, frustrations and the strength he had to muster to rise again. A striking introduction to his artist rebirth, ‘Ghost’ sets the tone for follow up single ‘Awake’ and having laid his past to rest with his intro, ‘Awake’ brings the snap of vibrancy, hunger and determination that has always been central to the tenacious emcees craft, seen again on the newly unveiled ‘Season’s Change’ with both delivering a steady influence of grime to proceedings. The album titled track, featuring Misha B, goes on to bring contrasting depth and dynamics to the music, whilst ‘Medusa’ featuring Mr Benz carries the Caribbean flows and tones that are one of the key sonic elements of the album. As the second half of the album unfolds, RIO switches his style and takes a more soulful and heartfelt approach. A moment to gain perspective and look to the future for better outcomes, ‘2020 Vision’, ‘The Last Straw’ and ‘Guide Me’, featuring Aya Bleu, are in contrast to the energetic first half of the album, giving a more mellow setting for the thought-provoking lyrics and passionate attitude which RIO is expressing. Leaning towards Hip Hop and Soul elements, the differing influences are reflective of the growth and progression RIO has made with his musical abilities and the evolution of his sound.
With the Manchester music scene giving us a constant source of groundbreaking stars in UK Rap over recent years, RIO is a name that must be mentioned. Achieved by having over 10 years of experience and expertise, plus a strong catalogue of music, and accolades, ‘The Good, The Bad & The Ugly’ is an honest, lyrical account through experience, growth, pain and strength that touches the depths of emotion and delivers an uncompromised musical collection to keep listeners gripped to its message. Whether RIO is already on your music radar or he is a first-time discovery, ‘The Good, The Bad & The Ugly’ is a proud and strong statement and a testament to his skill as a UK Rap star
M.Byrd’s story starts somewhere between Amsterdam and Paris. Whilst playing bass on tour with Ilgen-Nur, M.Byrd would show the rest of the band his own demos and it was their reaction that gave him the final push to focus on his solo career. Fast-forward and the 25 year-old artist now has nearly half a million Spotify streams under his belt, with just one single release. M.Byrd has quickly forged his own path in the industry with his infectious indie neo-psych-folk sound.
His debut single “Mountain” features waving reverb, stoic, laid-back drums by André Albrecht and floating choirs by Doreen Albrecht, creating a space in which Byrd’s voice moves in wishful, yet familiar warmth. His music transports you to the cinematic world of Guadagigno’s Call Me By Your Name, bringing to mind the likes of Tom Petty, Sufjan Stevens or Kurt Vile, while his guitars explore Sonic Youth-esque dialogues of noise that eventually lead back to the reverberating melodies of The War on Drugs. The songwriter shares further meaning on the song revealing, “I visited the highest mountain of Denmark called Himmelsbjerget, which roughly translates to Sky Mountain or Mountain of Heaven. I thought it was quite a name for a mountain that is only 147m high, but when you climb on top of it, it feels so high, you can almost see the ocean. So ‘Mountain’ became this idea of a song that puts things into perspective – if even the seemingly smallest hill can be a mountain, what good things are actually surrounding me right now?”
The stunning visuals for “Mountain” feature Danish dancer and choreographer Nana Anine. In the vast landscape of the Atlantic beaches of Normandy, France, Anine sets a sign of feminine strength and sensitivity, interpreting “Mountain” as a meditation on personal growth and an empowering metaphor to trust your intuition. Under Marcel Izquierdo Torres’ direction, Anine’s choreography is embedded into atmospheric pictures that not only capture the beauty but also the solitude of the region.
M.Byrd’s timeless songs shine with a feeling of strength and self-understanding that can be rarely found at the beginning of a career – they transport the listener to the American west coast, emitting a sense of melancholic future and euphoric youth, urging them to trust their intuition and find your inner-self. The songwriter shares, “I spent many years soaking up personal and musical experiences and I’ve been learning a lot in different studios and touring situations. The music I make is thus inspired by being on the road, moving on and allowing growth to happen. I realized that the experiences on my path might also inspire other people and I hoped that will transcend in the songs we are releasing.”
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Hollywood’s most gifted singer and premier vocal coach Stevie Mackey delivers his debut album, The Most Wonderful Time, a project surely to become your new holiday favorite.
Produced by multi-platinum producer duo THE ELEVEN (Meghan Trainor, Celine Dion, Sean Kingston), ‘The Most Wonderful Time’ includes a number of original tunes alongside elevated recordings of classics like “Last Christmas”, “Let It Snow”, and “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”. This modern-day album also includes a fresh and eclectic mix of Stevie’s most renowned clients and dearest friends like Jennifer Lopez, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men, JoJo, Cory Henry, Sheléa, Take 6, and more.
Each track is the product of an organic collaboration, crafted with pure intentions to spread joy in the midst of these uncertain times. The lead single of the project, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” holds particularly special meaning to Mackey as it features his longtime friend Jennifer Lopez, who has never before released a holiday tune. “The only thing on my mind when I chose to record this single is, ‘What’s the happiest Christmas song in the world and who do I want to bring to this party with me?’” he explains.
This year’s lockdown created the opportunity for Mackey to finally work on the things he’s been wanting to do for a long time, mainly his debut album.
“This album is a combination of my favorite time of the year, my favorite people, and my favorite activity— singing. Making this album gave me an outlet during months of quarantine and unrest… it took me away from reality and back to my childhood memories.” – Stevie Mackey
Stevie Mackey is a singer and vocal coach from Los Angeles, California. Over the past decade Stevie has dedicated his time to inspire musical creativity in the lives of many aspiring and established artists such as Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Fergie, Lenny Kravitz, and Kelly Roland, to name a few. Stevie has worked with NBC’s The Voice for over 10 seasons. Stevie most recently traveled the world coaching Jennifer Lopez for her 2019 “It’s My Party Tour.”
Stevie is a graduate of Oakwood University, and believes that his family and his unique Seventh-Day Adventist Christian background shaped him into the musician he is today.
“I feel very lucky to be able to do what I love as my career. Helping singers reach the next level is my favorite thing to do.” – Stevie
When Nils Frahm kicked off his world tour at Funkhaus Berlin in January 2018 to bring his highly acclaimed studio album All Melody to the stage, an ambitious journey was just to begin: Over the next two years, Frahm played more than 180 sold-out performances, including the Sydney Opera House, LA’s Disney Hall, the Barbican in London, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, and several big festival stages around the globe. Yet the stunning setting of Funkhaus Berlin, renowned for its vintage grandeur and outstanding acoustics, and also home to Frahm’s magnificent studio where All Melody was recorded, had occupied a unique place in the artist’s heart.
In December 2018, Nils Frahm eventually returned to Funkhaus Berlin to host another set of four shows, tickets sold out within hours. Frahm’s friend and film director Benoit Toulemonde — a collaborator since 2011 — captured the concerts on film, only using handheld cameras, and employing techniques he had mastered for the famous concert series La Blogotèque, which featured some of the world’s most popular artists.
Tripping with Nils Frahm is an illustration of Nils’s lauded ability as a composer and passionate live artist as well as the enchanting atmosphere of his captivating, and already legendary Funkhaus shows: An extraordinary musical trip – rare and exclusive, close and intimate, bringing a unique concert experience to the screen.
“It was about time to document my concerts in picture and sound, trying to freeze a moment of this period where my team and I were nomads, using any method of travel to play yet another show the next day. Maybe tonight is the night where everything works out perfectly and things fall into place? Normally things go wrong with concerts, but by combining our favorite moments of four performances, we were able to achieve what I was trying to do in these two years of touring: getting it right!
When you hear the applause on the end of the film you should know that I was smiling happily, being a tad proud and feeling blessed to share these moments with you.
Much love, Nils”
With more music in the works NADA ROBOT brings their vibrant sound to the masses.
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Ben Wolf returns with the intimate yet powerful single. Out on November 20, 2020, Try Again, Tomorrow will be available on all streaming platforms.
Freshly emerging on the music scene just last month, the Belgian artist turns gloom into light in this new track produced by James Lowland and inspired, as always, by his personal life. “I had had a fight with my then-girlfriend the night before and decided I’d make tomorrow a better day. When I woke up the next morning, in a good mood, I was instantly dragged into another fight between my father and sister”, the 21-year-old explains. Instead of letting his emotions control him, he decided to put them on the paper to see how he could learn and move from the situation. Plangent at first glance with its shadowy cloud of melancholic guitars, Try Again, Tomorrow takes a different turn midway through it, inviting a thunder of hope to light up any dark sky. Taking you through his moods with a quiet
strength, the ballad slowly grows and morphs into a reminder that it’s okay to let yourself feel and that it will get better, one day at a time. Try Again, Tomorrow is Ben Wolf’s sophomore release and follows Ultraviolet, which
received heartwarming editorial support from Spotify and Apple Music. Firmly anchored in the present but always with an eye lurking on the future, he is constantly creating. So rest assured that this is certainly not the last time you’ll hear from him with more music to be unveiled over the next few months…
Waiting For Smith is singer/songwriter Harry Lloyd. Formerly a ski instructor in the French Alps, Lloyd broke his back in two places during avalanche training. Wondering whether he’d survive in the helicopter on the way to the hospital, he had an epiphany that if he was ok that he should dedicate his life to music. After spending a year in bed recuperating and learning to play guitar, he formed Waiting For Smith, named after endlessly waiting for their original drummer Smith, who always failed to show up.
Fascinated by change, Lloyd’s music is inspired by the ability we all have to evolve ourselves for the better. He shares, “I’m also a hopeless romantic, so a lot of my songs focus on the different angles on love.” The musician confides how music is like a free form of therapy and hopes that he can bring a similar liberating feeling of comfort and emotion, to make listeners smile and sometimes cry.
Waiting For Smith has seen success garnering close to half a million streams on Spotify and almost 15,000 Shazams – as well as landing radio play on over 180 stations around the world, including by Huw Stephens on Radio 1, Dermot O’Leary and Jo Whiley on Radio 2, Tom Robinson on 6 Music, Maz Tappuni on Radio X, Flux FM in Germany, Radio One in India, Radio Doble Nueve in Lima, Peru and KROQ and KISS FM in the USA. He’s received over 2000 syncs internationally. From the US to Finland and Indonesia, WFS tracks have provided the sonics for the Japanese Grand Prix and a big series in Spain Vis A Vis, to the stand-out soap in Germany and one of the biggest TV commercials in Spain in 2019, the Christmas ad for El Corte Ingles. With features in British GQ, Rolling Stone India, MTV Germany, Clash Magazine, Earmilk and Holland’s JFK Magazine, Waiting For Smith’s mission is to engulf the world with unforgettable melodies spreading a much-needed message of positivity.
“Waiting For Smith taps into that witty, eccentric English spirit.” – Clash Magazine
“Waiting For Smith is the British singer-songwriter you were waiting for.” – GQ Magazine
“What a lovely, fresh, open song. It’s like a walk in the sun. And the video’s great too.” – Brian Eno (on “Long Life”)
“Really talented guy.” – Huw Stephens, BBC Radio 1
http://www.waitingforsmith.co.uk/
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The Trusted are Southend-on-Sea natives Dave Batchelor, Dale Holt-Mead, Fin Cunningham and Tom Cunningham. Initially starting out in secondary school, the band bonded over their mutual appreciation of a strong melody and atmospheric, edgy pop. Sharing an enthusiasm for 21st century Brit-rock led by the likes of Catfish and the Bottlemen and The 1975, as well as classic late ‘70s new-wave icons such as The Clash and Elvis Costello, The Trusted thrive off their unique fusion of post-punk energy and storytelling.
Following up their EP Love And Suicide, The Trusted announce their new single “Criminals.” Describing the track as “the most emotional song we’ve ever written”, the song is a combination of bittersweet emotions and feelings. In the process of creating the track the band found themselves stripping the song back to its bones, allowing space to experiment with new electronic textures and sounds.
Mixed by Grammy nominated Andy Bradfield (Elbow, David Gray, Rufus Wainwright), the building euphoric synth-strings are reminiscent of the powerful “Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap. The smooth, elongated, indie vocals compliment the nostalgic [The] Killers-esque guitar and drums. The song draws out juxtaposed feelings of emotional elevation and deep longing. The Trusted share that the song is about “loss, heartbreak, guilt and self-absorption” continuing, “It’s a sad and honest track, but at the same, it’s kind of beautifully uplifting.”
The band have garnered hundreds of thousands of plays on Spotify alone, along with support from major radio stations including BBC 6 Music, BBC London, BBC introducing, BTTV and Amazing Radio. The band have successfully brought their recognisable new wave-esque, alt-rock to the stage. With an increasing number of prestigious live shows under their belts, fans have not been left disappointed by their hypnotic and mind-blowing live sets. Prestigious gigs in London and across the UK have been followed with two successful tours of Northern Italy where the band now have a huge following. “Criminals” is currently available worldwide, off of Kerry On The Cake records.
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“Rock’n’roll is not the easy way, but it’s a freeing way, and it’s the way I want to live my life,” says Dylyn. Talking about her unique career path, the Toronto artist says, “There is truth in where you started, and then you veer off the road and come back to it and then really find it. That’s cultivating your sound the hard way.”
Born Gwendolyn Lewis, Dylyn was once a minor pop star with top 10 dance hits on U.S. Billboard charts. She has a show-stopper of a voice, killer good looks, and had tracks produced by the likes of Cirkut (The Weeknd, Britney Spears)—everything you’d need for pop success. But she wasn’t happy as a dubstep diva—and not just because no one could spell her stage name, Guinevere. She eventually ditched her on-stage dancers and hired a live drummer, so she was free to roam the stage and rock out as she pleased. When she wasn’t touring with former teen idols or playing 4 a.m. electro parties in Germany, she’d be at home listening to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Blondie and the like.
One day before a photo shoot, her manager said, ‘Why don’t you just wear a band shirt? That’s all you wear every day anyway.’ Taking his advice, she started wearing her influences on her sleeve quite literally, with Black Sabbath and Queens of the Stone Age shirts taking centre stage. She picked up her guitar again. Guinevere was gone. Dylyn was in. It felt like a new direction.
Except it wasn’t a new direction. It was her original direction, growing up in a Chinese-British Canadian family in a northern suburb of Toronto, listening to her father’s record collection from the ’70s. In school she acted, played hockey, and listened to a steady diet of rock music made at least a decade before she was born. When she was 17, she started a rock band, which recorded an EP with Mike Turner of Our Lady Peace. But her bandmates clearly weren’t lifers like she was: they weren’t thrilled about cramming into a van and dodging moose en route to Thunder Bay to play for four people. Unsurprisingly, the band broke up and Gwendolyn Lewis took an easier path as Guinevere. In 2018, however, she realized that the things you love are worth fighting for, and she resurfaced with a live band and a new sound. “Now I’m writing the stuff that makes the most sense to me, the most real, the most true,” she says.
Post-punk project Peeling have released their long-anticipated debut album, Worshipper. The record features the singles “Suck”, “Ego Death”, and “Dread” alongside seven unreleased cuts that similarly draw on the psych, punk and no wave influences that songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Anna Timoshenko describes as her “affinity for melodic noisy pop”.
At its heart, Worshipper is an album that has its sonic palette built on a foundation of unease. Timoshenko explains, “For a while I didn’t have a band or place to live and was going through a major upheaval in my life, so the key themes of this album are uncertainty, adaptability and self-reliance.” These themes find themselves woven throughout the lyrical content, but their impact is also felt in the menacing overdriven bass, the trembling, dissonant guitar lines and the industrial-tinged beats washed out in reverb.
“tightrope” was the last song I wrote for my forthcoming album.
I brought it to my producer, after already telling him the album was done (sorry Aaron).
I had the title “tightrope” in mind for the album title actually, but felt like something was missing. I pressed record on my phone and the lyrics for this song pretty much spilled out, inspired by a friend who was going through a lot, but could hide it very well. It’s a conversation with yourself about the real emotions you have versus what you choose to show everyone around you.
Click here to stream “tightrope” wherever you get your music.
There are a few songs on the album that are centred around one party with multiple character perspectives. It’s a motif I kind of hid through most of the songs. But “tightrope” is definitely about a person who wakes up the night after a party, maybe regretting some of the choices from the night before.
don’t wanna be here in the morning when the lights come on,
mistakes of the night before waking up to my alarm.
I never realized how depressing that line sounds, but I promise it’s about a hangover.
Thanks for your support!
Josh Tavares
Ethereal tones, scintillating riffs and shimmering melodies. The Crowleys merge mind-bending psychedelic rock with bubblegum melodies that will blow your mind and have you dancing along impulsively.
Born of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, The Crowleys consists of Cohen Wylie (guitar, vocals), Stuart Downie (drums, vocals), Giulianna Frontini (vocals) and brothers Justyn (synth, guitar) and Collin Horlick (bass, bass synth). The group was formed by Cohen, Stuart, Justyn and Collin while attending high school. The early years of the band were defined by kaleidoscopic instrumental tunes that had a distinct psych-rock sound. The band quickly became known for putting on stage-rattling live shows and began playing shows through the Greater Toronto Area with their impressive catalogue of original music.
When Justyn and Stuart moved for university, the group used the opportunity to play gigs in a new area and expand their audience. All along, they continued to evolve their songwriting abilities and developed a more psych-pop vibe offering up vocal melodies backed with celestial, guitar-heavy music that can be heard in tracks like L.A. Sunset and Pink Rainbows. Playing shows in Hamilton, Toronto and Peterborough meant long, late nights on the road between and after gigs. But the move ultimately paid off when the group met now lead vocalist, Giuliana Frontini. Her vocals add a welcomed sound to the Crowleys, giving them a more refined sound that reinforces the group’s vision.
With the band back in Hamilton, and looking ever towards the future, The Crowleys prepare to release some of their best work. With a focused vision and a huge love for what they do, The Crowleys shine with their groovy, genre-bending sound.
Houston rapper Yung Pooda cooks up a flavorful serving of “Chicken & Grits” on his official sophomore single and calls on New York’s finest Dreamdoll for an electric feature on the Cool/Dre [JAY-Z, Beyoncé, Nas] produced track via It’s A 10 Records. After sending social media in a frenzy early this week with teasing his latest release, “Chicken & Grits” arrives right in time for Thanksgiving as the rising star fixes another bona-fide hit that delivers a taste of the Dirty South globally. “Chicken & Grits” is now available on all DSP and streaming platforms. Watch the out-of-this-world, accompanying lyric video here.
“I just felt like this is one of those records that you play in the clubs and that you have fun with. This is one of those raw, turned up records that just get you moving. It was only right to release it. We need to have a little fun right now amid these trying times” Pooda says, referencing the new track.
photo by L.Marmentini)
Bellsavvy is a rising pop star meets fierce Latin diva. Based in London the artist knows how to combine her latin roots and European influences to create a unique sound unlike any other.
Starting her career with MTV Brazil singing on the show “Studio Acesso Girls MTV”, Bellsavvy won over the hearts of over 1.8 million live viewers who all voted for her performance. Following her time on MTV, she was catapulted into the limelight, landing roles in movies, musicals and numerous musical projects around Europe.
Her debut single “Queen of My Mind” released earlier this year, received notable airplay from the likes of BBC Introducing and RTL. With her solid artistic identity being all about self-empowerment, she was labelled “the new fierce diva of 2021” by media around the globe, garnering support from the likes of Hollywood Life, GAYTIMES, PopDust and many more. “Queen of My Mind” saw Bellsavvy speaking about her experiences in the modelling industry and how she was shamed for her body weight. These dark and negative thoughts resulted in a loss of self-confidence and self-love leading to a mental breakdown. The track shined a light on the artist overcoming these inner-battles, resulting in a self-empowering anthem.
Now, she is giving us the second chapter. With her latest single “In My Zone”, Bellsavvy is shining brighter than ever before inviting listeners to find their own light and join her “in her zone”, where united we can all feel the power of owning who we are. “In My Zone” is an upbeat, energizing and self-assured song about being comfortable in your own skin and knowing your self-worth. Bellsavvy explains, “In my zone is about the moment I knew I was the Queen of my mind and I wanted to celebrate the feeling of breaking away from that chapter in my life.”
“In My Zone” oozes Latin fire and energy. With sassy, fun vocals the song is infused with uplifting, catchy spanish influence and fire, dance-worthy production by the multi-platinum producer Sky Adams (Doja Cat, HRVY, Kylie Minogue, Sigala). The track is lively, light-hearted and carries a cheeky essence, but the vibes of the track speak of body confidence and finding your inner badass; her honesty shows people every little sentiment of who she is.
Bellsavvy hopes to use her inspiring story to help people in need. Something which is more important now, than ever before, the artist is using her positive, high energy and uplifting vibes, in her honest and authentic lyrics to tell her story and connect with listeners on a deeper level. Her music has been hugely supported by LGBTQ+ communities around the world – a community who can empathize with the discriminations that she has endured. With the goal to encourage others to feel strong, beautiful, and uplifted, no matter what anyone else tells you, Bellsavvy is on a mission and no one can get in her way.
https://twitter.com/bellsavvy?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/bellsavy/
Credit: Jenn Curtis
Pop singer-songwriter Gillian Heidi shares her new single, “Moonlight,” out today on all streaming platforms. Guided by Heidi’s unmistakable vocals, “Moonlight” is a pensive ballad imbued with soaring harmonies and sparse, meditative instrumentals. “The song is about the vulnerability of first falling in love and the beautiful fear that comes with it,” Heidi writes. “It’s one of my most vulnerable and truthful songs. It was the first real love song I’ve ever written and it means a lot to me.”
Though just sixteen years old, Boston-native Gillian Heidi demonstrates a musicality wise beyond her years. With powerful, reflective lyrics, rich vocal chops, and clever pop melodies, her songs are relatable but never predictable. She chronicles life’s ups and downs, ebbs and flows, and trials and tribulations with thoughtful clarity, poetic eloquence, and a stirring soulful voice.
As it does, music essentially chose Gillian. Rather than waking up crying in her crib, she typically arose from slumber by singing. Inspired by her older brother, she picked up piano at just four years old, penning her first composition only a year later. With dad keeping a guitar around the house, she grabbed it at the age of twelve and taught herself how to play. Under the influence of everyone from Taylor Swift to Ella Mai, the teen singer-songwriter dove into assembling what would become her 2019 debut EP, Unfiltered.
Gillian Heidi’s new song, “Moonlight,” rounds out a year of steady single releases from the promising pop singer-songwriter. Cementing her sound with each new release, Heidi’s authentic brand of melancholic pop has resonated with fans and tastemakers alike. Already receiving early press looks from the likes of Sweety High, Tigerbeat, and EARMILK, as well as over 500K streams, Heidi is a certainly an artist to watch going into the new year.
Miranda Joan is a New York City-based Canadian neo-soul singer/songwriter whose ethos is firmly rooted in the spirit of legends such as Carole King, Stevie Wonder, and Bill Withers while embracing contemporary artists like Amy Winehouse, Emily King, and Anderson Paak.
On her slow-burning, hypnotic single “Girlfriend,” Miranda Joan examines the notion of labels and relationships in the 21st century, and how she values herself above an assigned relationship status. The track brilliantly features a clip of the venerable Eartha Kitt declaring “STUPID! A man comes into my life and I have to compromise? Think about that one again!”
https://open.spotify.com/album/5uTO3Gl5Yf9CVG5nxYbRH5?si=FflqtMl4SKagE3aNVYO8hA
Born in Montreal and raised in Vancouver, Miranda Joan uses her multicultural upbringing from both French and English backgrounds to bring a diverse and fresh sound to her music. She studied Vocal Jazz Performance at McGill and Concordia University before heading south to finish her degree at City College of New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and opened up a world of opportunity for herself.
She has performed at the Guggenheim and The Town Hall and has been a headliner at well-known NYC venues such as Rockwood Music Hall, Rough Trade, and National Sawdust. In 2019 she performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival (for the second time) with the Orchestre National de Jazz, led by Sly5thAve in a tribute to Dr. Dre.
Miranda Joan has also shared the stage and has worked with high-profile artists such as Andy Grammar, Brandon Victor Dixon (Hamilton), Surf Mesa, Kelly O’Hara, Lorde, and Shawn Mendes.
She is also a co-founder of New York City’s first all-female led jam session, Femme Jam, which boasts an 11-piece all-female house band. Femme Jam is held monthly (in non-covid times) and serves as a space for musicians, especially women, to play, network, and gain exposure.
For the past seven years, Miranda has also been a songwriting mentor and teaching artist at SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young, where she works with kids who stutter, ages 8-18, through arts mentorship.
Her forthcoming EP “Windborne”, slated for release in Spring 2021.
neillfrazer@hotmail.com
