Joy Crookes—who is already garnering Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill comparisons from her own songs—began her musical journey years before her magpie-like introduction to brass. The daughter of a Bengali mother and an Irish father, she grew up listening to an eclectic mix of genres. Every week, while driving her to Irish dancing lessons, they would listen to a different album. Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ one week ‘Soon Forward’ by Gregory Isaac the next. As a curious, passionate, and music-obsessed 12-year-old, Joy decided to start writing her own song and honing her modern soul sound. Her first song “Seaside” was penned after falling head over heels for a boy by the beach. Seven years later, her songs might have grown more sophisticated, but the approach remains the same: whether she’s dealing with heartbreak or trying to come to terms with the latest Trump headline, Joy is committed to translating her most honest and vulnerable feelings to music. While her candid song-writing and fearless attitude have won her dedicated grassroots following, it was a baby-faced Joy singing a cover of Hit the Road Jack, which caught the attention of 600,000 viewers, and her first management company.
Photo Credit: Dan Cockram
The 90s are back — and kicking off the first wave of the grunge revival are BC indie rockers Leather Apron Revival with their new single ’Stagehand’ out today on all digital streaming platforms.
The raw and gritty rock track is the first single from their new full-length album Light & Shadow, which is set for release early next year.
“The riff and the first verse for this song has been around for 20 years, just one of those unfinished ideas that’s been on the back burner and every once in a while it got picked up again,” says bassist Grady Pasiechnyk. “It started as a country idea and Lennan resurrected it during the writing process and finished the verses, then came to the band for us to ‘put it through the LAR machine’. We nailed down the chorus as a band and our producer Leeroy pulled a ton of grit and emotion out of us when we recorded it.”
Formed in 2017, Leather Apron Revival is a grunge-fueled power trio hailing from British Columbia’s Kootenay region. The band’s vintage sounds are warm and rich with visceral grooves and bluesy riffs, combining thoughtful songwriting and powerful melodies to create a timeless yet modern rock soundscape with a dash of old-school Canadiana.
Leather Apron Revival released their self-titled debut EP in 2019 and will follow-up with their first full-length album Light & Shadow, produced by Leeroy Stagger and mastered by John Greenham, in early 2022.
Leather Apron Revival’s new single ‘Stagehand’ is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more info, please visit leatherapronrevival.com
Photo Credit: Jack Madeley
Vancouver indie rock quintet The Long War find strength in the struggle with their new single ‘Bad Love’ out today on all digital streaming platforms.
‘Bad Love’ is the 5th single from The Long War’s sophomore album Under A Heavy Sky set for release on October 22nd. Melodic and sparse, ‘Bad Love’ takes the listener on a melancholic ride that leads to joyful hope by the end of the track.
“‘Bad Love’ is a song about holding on for too long and finding the strength to let go,” says vocalist Jarrett Lee. “It’s about the fighting, the fixing and the fear. Going back in time in your mind and being accountable, revisiting the perception of what was and what is. It’s turning failure into growth and accepting the inevitable pain that comes with love.”
The Long War is a war of attrition. It is a shared philosophy between five people all on the same path, believing that through hard work and honesty, beautifully authentic music can be made. Formed in Vancouver in 2016, The Long War was built from a foundation of storytelling while being supported by beautiful musical and vocal arrangements. With lasting hooks and strong melodies, the band’s sophomore release Under A Heavy Sky is cathartic, deeply personal and speaks to those who have loved and lost.
‘Bad Love’ is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more info, please visit thelongwarband.com.
We all know that music can make you happier. Emerging pop artist Liam Max seeks to evoke happiness with his debut single “Muffin,” out October 1, 2021. Written at the height of last year’s global lockdown due to the pandemic, the Maryland born songwriter crafted this melodic pop track with the hopes of providing joy and light in the time of universal darkness. The first single off of his debut album, No Excuses, scheduled to be released in winter 2022, “Muffin” will be available on all musical platforms Friday, October 1st. The song’s accompanying music video is set to be released in early October.
At 16 years old, Liam Max has already begun to pave his own lane in the ever-changing music industry. A songwriter and guitarist, Max’s love of music and sound developed at a very early age. Inspired by some of pop music’s modern day superstars, including Bruno Mars, Adam Levine and Jason Mraz, Max is gearing up to follow in the footsteps of his idols.
Check out the new single by Liam Max, “Muffin,” out Friday, October 1st. Also look out for Liam Max’s new “Muffin” music video, coming this October.
Multifaceted artist Slushii returned to Monstercat today, celebrating the one-year anniversary of his hit single, “All I Need,” with a high-octane VIP edit. Following its September 25, 2020 release, the original track became Monstercat’s fastest-growing song in history, peaking at #33 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Chart during its 14-week chart run. The record now sits at an impressive 30+ Million global streams and 14 Million YouTube views to date.
“All I Need” first debuted during Slushii’s dynamic Fortnite Party Royale concert last year, arriving as the third virtual performance in Epic’s live music series that has since included the likes of Kaskade, Ariana Grande, and Diplo. The concert was a catalyst for Rocket League’s Llama-Rama crossover event, catapulting “All I Need” into the game. Still an undisputed fan-favourite one year later, the original single will return to Rocket League as the lobby track from September 24-26.
Slushii shares, “I play a lot of Fortnite so debuting “All I Need” in the game was pretty insane. Since there were no shows at the time, it was surreal to hear my music anywhere outside of the studio. I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy this VIP!“
Video games have been an integral part of Slushii’s DNA as a producer, crafting immersive in-game experiences around his buoyant bass productions. His music has reached audiences in award-winning titles like Beat Saber, Rocket League, and SMITE, with the latter culminating in his own custom God skin as part of Monstercat’s beloved Battle Pass. Looking ahead, Slushii will introduce fans to his VIP spin on “All I Need,” as he takes the stage at Pulse Block Party in St. Louis, Fright Night in New Orleans, and The Mark in San Marcos.
LA-by-way-of-Toronto artist 12AM redefines his sound and enters a new era on After Midnight. The EP arrives with the video for new single “Voices” featuring Motown rapper The Hxliday, out now via Sony Music Entertainment Canada.
In the “Voices” video, directed by Logan Meis (Polo G, The Kid Laroi, Trippie Redd, Tyla Yaweh), the viewer is invited into the minds of 12AM and The Hxliday, both fighting against the darkest parts of their psyche and inner turmoil. With their thoughts tearing them apart, symbols of the past make their way in the form of angels, demons, and physical scars. They seem numb to the pain and reach a point where they might just be enjoying it. Each scene gets more and more violent as the story comes to a final climax.
On his major label debut, the rising act’s pain and passion shine through as he forges a connection with his listeners worldwide. Introducing a bold sound, the lyrics equally shed light on his challenging upbringing and showcase his hard-won elevated lifestyle. Tapping Jutes, Pyrex (Whippa), and The Hxliday for the new project, 12AM continues to add to his impressive list of collaborators which includes 24kGoldn, Iann Dior, Jez Dior, Trevor Daniel, among others. Now sitting on top of over 26 million total streams, he appears on Spotify’s coveted New Music Friday and tear drop playlists, as well as Post Malone’s ‘posty’s playlist’ on the platform.
12AM states, “This music is what I’ve created throughout my time moving to LA from Canada. It’s a new sound and a new lane.All the hardships I’ve gone through over the last few years, I’m surprised I even got to this point because it was a really long road to get to here. It was something that seemed impossible to put together and have it be released, but it’s coming out now and I’m really proud of it.”
As one of Nottingham’s finest, Snowy has been proudly flying the flag for some time. Connecting with renowned producers Jack Dat and Frost, we get a taste of the dynamic, electric sound that the ‘Nottingham saviour’ is known for releasing.
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: SNOWY – SEZZIN
Sezzin is a high-energy, instant grime classic. As Snowy gracefully glides over the bass banging instrumental, his unique Midlands flavour and powerful lyrics show up in full effect to illustrate exactly why he’s maintained his position as one of the most interesting and groundbreaking in the game. Drawing on the key principles of grime, he has created a head banging anthem that displays both his witty lyrics and aggressive vocal adlibs and delivery. The beat is curated perfectly to be the ultimate backing for Snowy’s style, with hard-hitting percussion, 808s and an eerie melody, we are blessed with the pinnacle of their collaborative efforts. ‘Sezzin’ comes off the back of his last release ‘RECKEH’ which was a powerful 2 step anthem, and the continuous run of music from the maestro himself, is steadily preparing us for the launch of his forthcoming 6-track EP ‘SIRIUS’.
With accompanying visuals directed and edited by Luke Radford and Lock Up, the video is the perfect visual embodiment of what the song represents as we immediately get a sense of the raw and gritty side of Nottingham. Opening with a local MC, who delivers a fiery accapella freestyle that ends in him screaming at the camera, the tone is set for the rest of the video. We are taken on a journey, narrated by Snowy who gives us his heavy, heartfelt bars, whilst quick camera cuts, old VHS style shots and a plethora of footage from the heart of Nottingham provide the backdrop.
AB6IX have released their sophomore album MO’ COMPLETE. This comeback marks the last chapter in a 2-episode series that started off with their EP, MO’ COMPLETE: HAVE A DREAM. However, this is the first full album the band has dropped since the release of 6IXENSE in 2019. “It’s been a while since we’ve put out a full album, so we made sure to show the best of us. Hope you are ready for it!”- PARK WOOJIN The 10-track album represents the development and improvement of AB6IX since their debut in May 2019. The focus single of this MO’ COMPLETE is “CHERRY”, a pop track that describes the blossoming feelings of falling in love with someone. DAEHWI, who recently produced the final track for PRODUCE 101 JAPAN, participated in writing and producing the track, alongside WOOJIN who wrote the rap lines. Known for being a “self-producing” group, all the members of AB6IX participated in the producing and writing processes for each of the tracks for the album, just as they have with their previous releases.
Photo credit // Eleven Project
Italian born, London based singer/songwriter Alice Pisano is known for her uniquely warm vocals and natural ability for writing emotive pop songs. Her passion for music flourished from a very young age, where she spent much of her time as a teenager singing in various bands and studying classical piano, guitar and singing. With the desire to create authentic music that listeners can deeply connect to, Alice’s emotional and heartfelt music touches on her own personal experiences and relationships.
Her latest heart-tugging single “September” captures the post-sunshine blues, as Alice explains, “I wanted to try and capture that bittersweet feeling that I often get towards the end of summer…and at the same time, the end of love, when you’re trying hard to forget about someone but everyone and everything reminds you of them”. The bittersweet end-of-summer anthem is produced by John Foyle (Years & Years, Maisie Peters) and driven by rich piano motifs and intimate vocals.
Sometimes less is more, and for Alice, no more than a piano and her stunning voice is enough to engross an entire room full of people. With strong chords, the dynamics ripple a reflection of emotion in the lyricism, paired with the skeletal landscape and haunting backing melodies which pour out like an angelic aura. Alice displays the power of simplicity, showing true skill as both a musician and writer.
Alice has garnered numerous Spotify editorial support, including 14 New Music Friday’s across the globe and critical acclaim from publications such as Clash and Wonderland Magazine. Amassing millions of streams for her infectious and relatable anthems, Alice’s music can be heard on radio stations wide and far, including BBC Radio London, National Dutch Radio and Amazing Radio in the UK and US. Her songs have entered the iTunes Pop Charts and the uptempo “Open Up” landed the soundtrack for the summer trailer of the British hit TV show, Hollyoaks. The acclaimed songwriter has had the pleasure of collaborating with the likes of Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Ian Barter (Dermott Kennedy, Izzy Bizu), John Foyle (Maisie Peters, Years & Years) and Troy Miller (Emeli Sandé, Jamie Cullum). Quickly becoming an artist on the rise, there is no slowing down Alice Pisano.
photo credit: Bernardo Noguiera
Bi-coastal Emmy / MTV Award winning actor and musician Jeremy Shada reveals his debut album Vintage, as well as the official video for new single “Pretty Little Lies” out now.
Jeremy Shada’s vocal presence throughout Vintage is powerful and raw, driving the entirety of it as the clear, impassioned focal point in which the production so seamlessly encompasses. The lyrics are immersive and purposeful in a way that pays homage to the iconic songsmiths behind Frank Sinatra and nods to the likes of Charlie Puth and Justin Timberlake. With the assist from producers Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount, it’s a collection of autobiographical vignettes fusing pop music’s greatest eras to redefine romance in the modern age. Across 12 tracks, Jeremy Shada explores the crooners of the ‘20s to the funk lines of the ‘70s to the catchy hard-hitting pop melodies of the ‘80s through present day. As the final offering lifted from the record, “Pretty Little Lies” gets us grooving in the best way as Shada cheekily pokes fun at Hollywood romances of the internet age and modern world.
On the album, he states, “‘Vintage’ is really something special not only because it’s my debut album but because of the overarching theme. We see a story pan out of a man searching for love. There are ups and downs, loves lost and gained and in the end, a love that lasts a lifetime. Each track brings out a unique sound and has its own specific story that plays a part in this overarching classic love story. Get ready for some catchy bops!”
My wife and I were in the process of moving into our new apartment when I was away on a songwriting trip for three weeks. While I was off trying to pursue this dream of mine, she was at home with the responsibility and burden of our everyday life. In the music industry there can be pressure to avoid commitments outside of music that can make you less flexible while pursuing a career as an artist.
I wrote “I Give My All“ with my friends from Toronto’s VALLEY about embracing the ‘mundane’ and celebrating the most important things in life.
Every other story tells you lovers will die, but you rewrite the classics with the last page in mind.
The view of relationships nowadays seems to be a little less committed and a little more fragile. This lyric is going against the grain, saying to each other “we got this.” “I Give My All“ realizes the feeling of deep longing to be back with my wife doing whatever “real life” throws at us. At the same time, it’s about proclaiming the strength of our relationship – no matter the times of struggle or distance.
Thank you for taking the time to listen,
TITUS BANK
Keyan’7e is already unique in his own right. The moniker of Chicago born keyan’te, his melodic flows and catchy bars encompass only part of his musical craft; he also produces, mixes and masters his own beats. It’s been a hell of a couple years for keyan’7e but this is just the beginning. Raised by his mother and father who influenced his musical taste at a young age, he would soak up the sounds of his mom’s love of neo-soul and R&B, such as Missy Elliott, or Tupac. keyan’te shares, “While in the car with my pops we mostly listened to OutKast, the Dungeon Family and Goodie Mob.” keyan’te found his passion for making and writing music at high school. “I would ride my bike to Walgreens and go get that 15 dollar karaoke mic and plug that joint into my computer and rap over my own beats,” he reminisces.
keyan’7e takes influence from the likes of Kanye West, Drake, Andre 3000, Ludacris and Travis Scott. In his latest track “ain’t finish the song yet,” the songwriter was inspired by his life experiences as he explains, “My music is inspired by everything around me: my friends, family, growing up, my observations of life.” The single is brimming with energy, from clean trumpet puffs, icy toned bells, a hip-hop glaze and a kaleidoscope of backing production filling the track in high frequencies and power. keyan7e’s tone is confident, laxed, laced in charm and full of character.
With a flush of Detroit vibe rap and dripping in an R&B fire “aint finish the song yet” is a fusion of life experiences, drawing on colorful freestyles. After setting off in a state of improvisation, the bars piled up and before the track was even done it was being fired into a single, hence the apt title, “ain’t finish the song yet.” keyan7e shares, “This release definitely has a hype vibe so you need to be in the car and turn that joint all the way up and enjoy.”
Continuing to collaborate with notable producers, songwriters and artists in the industry, the sky’s the limit for this talented young artist.
![Keyan7e - I aint finished the song yet [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SobM8o_8UGw/hqdefault.jpg)
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