Toronto’s indie rock juggernaut MONOWHALES are back with their epic new single
“CTRL^^^”.
Since bursting on to the scene with 2017’s ‘Control Freak’ EP, the group — vocalist Sally
Shaar, guitarist Zach Zanardo and drummer Jordan Circosta — have been defying the odds:
self-releasing a stream of earworm-inducing bangers that have lit up Canada’s Alternative
rock charts. Now distributed by Warner Music Canada and internationally through LAB
Records, the group have unveiled a fresh, industrial-infused pop-rock sound on “CTRL^^^,”
the lead single from the highly anticipated, Dave Schiffman (Adele, Pup) produced new
album, Tunnel Vision.
In equal parts dark and charismatic, “CTRL^^^” is a declaration of independence the
stomping drum beat that drives the track makes for an effortlessly cool sound – ready to
make you walk down the street with an unconstrained confidence. With Shaar’s raw
lyricism likening the discomfort she feels opening up to people, to a physically painful
experience singing, “Tearing’ out the sutures while we start to relate”, Shaar says of the
song, “It felt very honest and liberating to finally admit ‘I like to be in control’ and not be
ashamed about it at all”. Shaar exclaims, “I feel like I have arrived at a place in my life
where I can see what control can look like, the good, the bad and the hideous. With that
clearness I’m learning to yield that power myself.”
Fixing a date for its release of 25th February, the experimental post-rock quintet are preceding it with the full-force fury of leading single: “Seventh Wave”.WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “SEVENTH WAVE” NOW HEREBringing to light one of the album’s standout moments, the single is a call-to-arms that shakes with a vitriolic post-hardcore fist raised-high.Inspired by one of history’s most notorious escape artists, Papillon; “Seventh Wave” floats through references to the ‘butterfly’ himself, while reserving none of the bee-like sting Seven Seals fans have come to relish.As the band explain of the track:“”Seventh Wave” is inspired by one of literature’s most glorious prison escapes. Floating on a sack of coconuts Henri Charrière’s Papillon relies on the seventh wave to take him away from the prison colony of Devil’s Island (Île du Diable) in French Guiana.”“Seventh Wave” follows the previously-released one-off single “Bikini”, with the new single arriving as the band prepare to break the seal on their upcoming album: ‘Owl Cage’; a record ‘lost’ in the void for over 16 years. Released on 25 Feb 2022 via the Cosmic Glue label (who have coaxed Seven Seals out of hibernation all these years later), the upcoming record promises to be an exploration of prison via posthumously found sounds and a lesson in the importance of finishing what you started.
LA-by-way-of-Toronto artist on the rise 12AM (aka Matthew Dubois) bursts into 2022 with a bang, linking up with Tyla Yaweh and Pressa for new heat “Showgirls” out now via Sony Music Entertainment Canada.
The single follows the success of “come over,” the lead track from 12AM’s latest After Midnight EP that has amassed over 5 million streams. While After Midnight served as a redefinition of 12AM’s sound, “Showgirls” takes 12AM back to his Toronto roots incorporating melodic R&B that is distinct to the 6. Additionally, with 12AM boasting over 26 million streams on Spotify alone, plus Tyla and Pressa’s combined 5.5 million monthly listeners on the platform, “Showgirls” is set to become an instant hit and reach an array of hip-hop, pop, and R&B lovers.
12AM states, “Tyla and I were working on his album in his crib for like 2 weeks straight. I was basically living there and I played him music I was working on. When he heard the hook on Showgirls, he instantly hopped on it. There were a ton of people over and everyone was going crazy over it. Then a year later, I was in the studio with Pressa. Same story, he heard the song and instantly hopped on it too, so we knew we had one when everybody had the same reaction like ‘“this is a hit’” On his upcoming music, 12AM adds, “I wanted to treat my upcoming album like a full body of work, no fillers, just the best music possible. I’m spending time creating an experience and a world through the next record.”
After making his Monstercat debut last year, breakout colour-bass producer Papa Khan returned to the label today with his angsty new single, “Never Cared.” His forward-thinking sound design and distinctive production techniques have established him as one of the leading tastemakers in the next generation of Indonesian electronic artists. The pop-punk-inspired lyrics and aggressive synth stabs are a bitter goodbye to his previous experience with toxic relationships. “Never Cared” is yet another perfect showcase of Papa Khan’s boundless range and bright future.
Papa Khan shares, “For those who have been betrayed and hurt, this one is for you.”
After bursting onto the scene in 2018, Papa Khan has risen through the ranks, becoming a stand-out artist in the bass community. His unique melodic take on the dubstep and riddim genres has earned him support from industry greats such as Skrillex, Marshmello, and Illenium to name a few. This year, Papa Khan will make his North America debut as he joins Marauda on tour, appearing across 21 stops. With more music arriving on Monstercat soon and upcoming performances at Echostage in DC, The Observatory in OC, and Webster Hall in NY, Papa Khan is on track to have his biggest year yet.
“Linda’s Tripp” is the new single from Vermont’s: DRUG COUPLE.
STREAM ON ALL SERVICES HERE || LISTEN ON SOUNDCLOUD HERE
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Rising Venezuelan, Miami-raised multidisciplinary artist LexMo unveils the self-directed video for new single ‘GHST’ – Watch the video for ‘GHST’ here. Stream ‘GHST’ Here. |
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The self-directed black and white video sees LexMo on DP and editing duties as well as dancing through the intoxicating scenes with different dancers, in her own words “perfectly encapsulating the toxic dark romance that is littered through the song”. Depicting someone stuck between two people, and who ends up losing everything after trying to make what seemed like an impossible choice, “the push and pull that came in waves ultimately left me feeling trapped and alone and questioning everything I thought I once knew about my sexuality. I’m simply not as straight as I thought I was and that was pretty scary for me to discover. In the end I lost both people and lost myself as well. I’d never felt so trapped, confused and alone trying to figure out what I wanted. The black and white, the strobe effects, the back and forth between each person represents the confusion and instability I was feeling at the time,” LexMo enthuses. |
In 1988, Angel Forrest began a musical career which would span over three decades – and counting. Her first album, Secondhand Blues, featured several classics. The energic vocalist’s work immediately gained attention from critics and new fans. Her tribute show to the legendary Janis Joplin brought Angel into the public eye. The live performance was immortalized on her Angel Sings Janis Live album.
Her first original album, Here For You, then sold over 30,000 copies and was followed by the other LPs, including Wonderland her Christmas album, the award-winning album Come Alive, as well as Mother Tongue Blues, which won her the Lys Blues Album of the Year in Québec, was nominated for the Recording of the Year at the 2014 Maple Blues Awards where she also won Songwriter of the year. That same year, Angel recorded Live Love, her live acoustic album. In 2016, she released Angel’s 11, an original concept album with 11 of the best guitar players in the country. The album was such a success Angel went on to win Producer /Recording of the Year , Songwriter as well as Female Vocalist of the Year.
neillfrazer@hotmail.com
