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Eddie Kramer calls him a ‘songwriting genius!” Toronto’s TAYLOR ABRAHAMSE’s “I Won’t Put Up With It” Single Available Now

“I Won’t Put Up With It” is the newest single from folk pop singer-songwriter, Taylor Abrahamse. This infectious single is widely available on streaming services, with a dance-in-your-seat music video now on YouTube.

“I’m fascinated with pushing the boundaries for what’s possible in a catchy pop song” says Abrahamse. “‘I Won’t Put Up With It’ was bedtracked in Nashville with top session musicians… A Michael Jackson-inspired slice of 80s funk with a modern protest message, it twists and turns through key changes and a complex arrangement.”

“I Won’t Put Up With It” was mixed and produced by Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin), with additional production by Taylor Abrahamse and Fred Mollin. Kramer discovered Abrahamse playing an impromptu song at the Canadian Music Week conference, and insisted on working with him on a full album.

“Taylor Abrahamse is truly one of Canada’s most original and outstanding artists I have worked with in some time,” Kramer shares. “His sense of melody, lyrics, and song structure — along with amazing skill as a performer — will soon be revealed to the general public.”

Now available now on major streaming services, Abrahamse’s self-titled debut is a blissfully infectious collection of carefully crafted originals.

Santa Cruz, CA’s Father/Daughter Alt-Country Duo WILD & BLUE String Up Some “Holiday Lights” in New Single — Available Now!

Father/Daughter duo that is Steve and April Bennett string up some “Holiday Lights” this season with their newly released Christmas song.

As Wild & Blue, the Bennett’s take the time-honoured tradition of family harmony into inspirational and new territory; theirs is a musical partnership deeply rooted in country music’s tradition, yet firmly contemporary in its emotionally charged lyrical offerings and genre-blending approach.

There’s a debut full-length on the horizon; Restless is set for release in early 2021. In the meantime, “Holiday Lights” radiates with exuberant joy thanks to April’s timeless take-notice vox and the song’s decidedly uplifting vibe.

“The song and arrangement were inspired by the great Sam Cooke, who is one of our heroes, and also the spirit of the many vintage holiday classics,” the pair share. “It’s also inspired by the years that Wild & Blue have played 42 one-hour shows a season on a vintage and actually-moving train — the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train for Roaring Camp Railroads and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.”

“I wrote this song while stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic,” Steve recalls, who also arranged and produced the single. “And we recorded the song in the Fall of 2019 while we were tracking our album.”

“My dad originally sang the lead on it but caught a bad cold, so I took over,” April recalls.

“And I was happy to pass the baton,” Steve shares of April’s take on the track. “We recorded the piano part on location with Max Bennett-Parker, and used a $100,000 Steinway Concert Grand in the music department of the Monterey Peninsula Community College where one of our engineers, Richard Bryant, is a Recording Arts Professor.”

With Steve known for penning insightful, personal lyrics and April singing them with an arresting urgency that signals “classic-in-the-making,” the California-based father and daughter duo dubbed themselves Wild & Blue in honour of John Scott Sherrill’s long-lauded song of the same name.

They’ve been singing together for live audiences since April was a toddler, and their collaborative efforts prove well-pursued on the forthcoming release.

“I think we’re rooted in vintage soul and R&B as much as we’re rooted in country,” Steve offers. “That feeling, like the vibe of Elvis’ 60s Memphis recordings, or Dobie Gray’s country records, is something we really love and work really hard to convey.”

“We’re both musical history buffs,” April adds. “I’ve always been in love with music that was created before I was born; the music I listened to as a kid were artists like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Roger Miller… It spoke to me.

“We’re both very emotional people, and I personally can’t sing anything I don’t feel.”

Ready for the sentiment to be shared, audiences can now feel it too with “Holiday Lights.”

Winnipeg’s Folk-Pop Jazzers THE KEEN & THE KIND Unveil Sonic Portrait in “Joseph”

Canadian folk-pop jazz artists The Keen & The Kind have mindfully mined family archives, unearthing the makings of a compelling new single, “Joseph” — available now.

The Winnipeg-based five-piece that is Violet Vopni, Clinton Giesbrecht, Kevin Cote, Alana Giesbrecht, and Stephen Chubaty released their critically acclaimed debut album, Unacknowledged, earlier this year under their former moniker, Nineteen, and were featured on CBC’s Up to Speed, the Indigenous Music Countdown, and Manitoba Music’s Song of the Week.

Now, the band increasingly known for their expansive range in easy-going upbeat pop to groovy smooth jazz to thought-provoking emotive folk is putting the finishing touches on a forthcoming deluxe LP, The Things We Don’t Know, set for release this June 2021.

This sophomore offering’s first preview, “Joseph,” attentively ushers audiences into the fractured legacy and aftermath of Vopni’s lineage, and the story of the song’s namesake, her great grandfather Joseph Huppe.

“Joseph was born in 1900, fought in WWI in 1916, and married my great grandmother, Jenny, in 1923,” Vopni says, setting the scene. “They had four children, Harold, Allan, Doris, and my grandmother Beatrice.

“Joseph was Métis but, being born 15 years after the Northwest Rebellion, he was forced to keep his identity a secret,” she explains. “I think he kept his secret to avoid being sent to a residential school; Métis people were known in those days as being in between because of their combined French and Indigenous lineage so Joseph’s story is one that’s common to Métis people born in the last 135 years.”

Vopni, who serves as The Keen & The Kind’s lead vocalist and songwriter, penned the sonic portrait to shed light on how moments in history can ultimately affect us as people hundreds of years later. “Joseph struggled through alcoholism, he struggled to find where he belonged and, ultimately, he left the family; we do not know what happened to him,” Vopni shares. “What we do know is that he left a woman to raise four children on her own in the 1920s and 30s, and those children subsequently went through traumas of their own — Allan died in WWII, Doris was murdered, and Beatrice became an alcoholic and was married to an abusive man.

“Beatrice passed that trauma to her only child, my mother Kim, who in turn passed that trauma down to me,” she reflects. “So we know a lot about the people Joseph left behind in the world — his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren — but we don’t know a lot about him. This song is about how his life affected the lives of so many others; it’s about who he left behind, and the wounds that cut so deep.”

“Joseph” is available now. The Things We Don’t Know is available June 2021.

Over 176 different songs surpassed 1 billion video views on TikTok

Music is TikTok’s universal language, each song representing a flourishing web of emotions, in-jokes, and dances. As the spaces where people normally enjoy music were impacted by the pandemic, TikTok helped fill the need for communal musical experience in the US. Powered by its community, TikTok became America’s go-to platform for music discovery, as well as a launching pad for smash hits by artists of all genres.

The growth of TikTok in 2020 produced some staggering numbers. Over 176 different songs surpassed 1 billion video views as TikTok sounds. Earlier this month, “The Playlist” was revealed as part of the Year On TikTok: Top 100 retrospective, highlighting the most significant songs on TikTok in 2020. Together, those songs racked up over 50 billion video views on over 125 million creations, and 5 of them reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Nearly 90 songs that trended on the platform in 2020 climbed onto the Top 100 charts in the U.S., with 15 of those reaching #1 on a Billboard chart. Just in the past year over 70 artists that have broken on the platform have received major label deals, including Claire Rosinkranz, Dixie D’Amelio, Powfu, Priscilla Block and Tai Verdes, and dozens more have charted on Rolling Stone’s Breakthrough 25. To help take stock of music’s massive year on TikTok, we’re unveiling our first-ever U.S. music report.

“We at TikTok share our community’s passion for music and we’re dedicated to providing a platform where artists and fans can interact and thrive. It has been inspiring to watch our community bring new talent to the forefront, help send songs up the charts, and use music to create an oasis of joy during a trying time. We will continue to work hard to make TikTok a platform that supports artists and encourages musical engagement and discovery.” – Ole Obermann, Global Head of Music at TikTok. 

Now, let’s explore the music that mattered on TikTok this year in the United States, tracking the community’s favorite genres, celebrating the app’s biggest stars, and shining a spotlight on emerging artists who used TikTok to jumpstart their careers. We’ll also take a look at classic songs that the community loved, marvel at some meme-worthy songs that became TikTok hits, and highlight some of our music initiatives that honored the diverse and bustling community of musicians and creators on the platform.

We hope you’re in the “Mood” to think outside of “The Box” and to go off the “Deep End,” as we take a detailed look at how music shaped the year on TikTok, and how TikTok shaped this year in music.

Real Quick: The Fastest Songs To A Billion

The 176 songs that reached 1 billion video views on TikTok all reached that stunning benchmark via different paths. Drake’s ultra-viral “Toosie Slide” generated a billion views in just three days, and superstar collab “WAP” by Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion did the same in just two weeks. Other songs, like Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” and Surf Mesa’s “ily (i love you baby)” had slow and steady climbs that sustained the better part of a year. 

The below list of the ten fastest songs to reach 1 billion video views reflects the community’s enthusiasm for new songs by stars like Drake and Billie Eilish, but some of the year’s most viral hits came from unexpected sources. The list includes rap hits from regional stars like Detroit’s Sada Baby and Houston’s BeatKing, and songs by artists like Popp Hunna and WhoHeem who were virtually unknown before their viral moment. Songs didn’t have to be new, or even recently released to cross the billion view threshold: “Say I Yi Yi” (2002) and “Where Is The Love?” (2003) demonstrated how the TikTok community can turn catalog cuts into viral hits. Check out the top ten below: 

  1. “Toosie Slide ” – Drake
  2. “WAP” (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) – Cardi B
  3. “Therefore I Am” – Billie Eilish
  4. “Lets Link” – WhoHeem
  5. “Say I Yi Yi” – Ying Yang Twins
  6. “Where Is The Love?” – The Black Eyed Peas
  7. “Whole Lotta Choppas” – Sada Baby
  8. “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)” – Popp Hunna
  9. “Mood Swings” – Pop Smoke
  10. “THICK” – DJ Chose & Beatking

Pick Your Sound: Top Genres

TikTok is home to a diverse community, with diverse tastes to match. Trending music on TikTok encompasses the entirety of the music spectrum, its most popular genres echoing the tastes of the public at large. 

Boosted by megastars like Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby, but also by up-and-comers like Kenndogg, Popp Hunna, and countless others, Hip-Hop led the way by a large margin. Coming in second was pop music, bolstered by big names like BTS, Justin Bieber, and Dua Lipa. 

Other genres that caught the community’s attention include R&B (stars like The Weeknd, Jhené Aiko, and risers like Vedo and Tai Verdes), Electronic (Dillon Francis, Alan Walker, and Diplo show the playful sides of their personalities on their TikTok pages), and the broad indie-alternative coalition (ranging from Wallows to MGMT to Molchat Doma). 

Among the biggest growing genres is Latin music, whose trending songs ranged from trap/reggaeton bangers like Ozuna’s “Caramelo” to traditionalist tracks like “Espejeando” by Los Tucanes De Tijuana. Meanwhile, internet-savvy Country stars like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Kelsea Ballerini and Breland helped the genre have another strong year on the platform.

NOTE: The graphic above lists the top 10 genres on the platform by number of video creations, represented by the percentage of video creations with sounds from each genre.

They’ve Got The Hits:  Top Artist Catalog

The TikTok community gravitates to songs that are confident, empowering, sonically unique, and danceable. It should be no surprise that TikTok’s most popular artists of 2020 are experts at creating these kinds of bops. Scoring a viral hit on the platform helps build familiarity for the artist–if an artist has one viral hit, there’s a very good chance that subsequent songs will have success as well. The ten most-viewed artist of the year each built up their resumes with multiple TikTok hits.

Megan Thee Stallion scored two of the year’s biggest hits with “Savage” and “WAP,” while nearly the entirety of Doja Cat’s Hot Pink album inspired a TikTok trend. The community honored the memory of Pop Smoke by making trending hits out of four songs from his debut album Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon, which spent the whole summer in the Billboard Top 5. Rap stars like Roddy Ricch, DaBaby, and Lil Uzi Vert delivered turn-up, Dua Lipa brought Future Nostalgia, and Don Toliver delivered smooth-voiced vibes. Meanwhile, Melanie Martinez established herself as a major pop star with the flirty single “Play Date,” and 20-year-old 24kGoldn broke big on the Billboard charts with “Mood” ft. iann dior.

Check out the ten most viewed artists by catalog on TikTok in 2020: 

  1. Megan Thee Stallion
  2. Doja Cat
  3. Pop Smoke
  4. DaBaby
  5. Roddy Ricch
  6. Melanie Martinez
  7. Don Toliver
  8. Dua Lipa
  9. 24kGoldn
  10. Lil Uzi Vert

Montreal’s Pop-Country “Discovery of the Year” THE RECORD BREAKERS Cozy Up With “Winter” Single

At over 300,000+ streams across platforms and following their recent debut at #1 on Amazon Music’s playlist, Canadian pop-country band The Record Breakers offer a ‘warm sweater on a cold day’ in song form with “Winter” — their new single.

“This is one of my favourites that I’ve written,” member Bella Galasso shares of the song that recently debuted on Spotify’s official ‘Christmas in Canada’ playlist. “I was 18 years old when I wrote it, and had just begun a new relationship. I think this song captured my feelings then and still does now, three years later. This song has always meant a lot to me, and contains lyrics that continue to comfort me today.

“I hope this song brings more warmth and light to an otherwise dark, cold season.”

“This song is captivating, like the first fresh snowfall of the winter season,” the rest of the band — Hayden Nolan, Michael Vallinakis, Devan Meisner, and Julian Galasso — agree. “It actually makes us look forward to winter.

“We tried to capture the soul of a 90s country ballad while mixing in a modern edge: huge harmonies, chimes, and baritone guitars all wrapped in luscious pedal steel take you back to a time of mullets and cassette tapes…”

The direction checks out for the band that first formed in 2014 for a one-off Beatles-related celebration before exploring and developing their identity. The result soars beyond sonic norms as a kickin’ bilingual five-piece with a knack for solid musical arrangements, memorable hooks, and larger than life harmonies.

“We had a special encounter with Blue Rodeo,” The Record Breakers recall. “That inspired us to bring country into our pop sound.

“So, we’re a country band, we just sing about cars instead of trucks, you could say!”

2016 saw the release of their self-titled debut EP, with a follow-up sophomore offering, Bigger Plans, landing in 2018. Notably thereafter, they opened for Bon Jovi that summer at the Montreal Bell Centre in 2018, something they bill as an “opportunity of a lifetime,” crowned “Discovery of the Year” at Festival New Country Brome in 2019, and handpicked for CBC Searchlight’s Top 50 Producer Picks in 2020.

This year, they created a song and collaborative video “Quarantine With You,” dubbed a “viral success” by Global News Montreal. Their most recent single “In My Car / Dans mon char” was the band’s first bilingual release, and debuted at #1 on Amazon Music’s “Country du moment” playlist.

Conestogo, Ontario’s Folk/Roots CARLA MULLER Releases “Christmas Eve” and “Christmas At Home” Double Single

It’s almost that time, and Conestogo, Ontario’s CARLA MULLER spreads evergreen cheer with the release of a double A-side single, “Christmas Eve” and “Christmas At Home,” both out now, ushering in the warmth of a much anticipated 2020 holiday season – and beyond.

Supporting what we all need right now, Carla fuses Americana/Roots vibes into the songs, and donating 50% of the proceeds to Food Banks Canada. She says, ” If I go back far enough, I can remember past Christmases from my own younger days. I just have to close my eyes and I can picture my Mom in the kitchen, singing softly to herself, our old dog Cassidy barking his head off as the doorbell rings and scrabbling to greet friends. Boxing Day would bring carols, sung in a way that only family can, our voices blending as they rose and fell in harmony.

“It’s family, however you define it. I imagine next year, we’ll take the time to slow down and really enjoy the music, light and laughter of Christmas. When we can all be together again and hold one another close. How wonderful that will be!”

In a year of social distancing, Carla with a little help from her friends, completed live virtual recording to create modern contemporary holiday hits. Music has the power to transport us to another time and place. Carla loves to harness that power with a broad audience of fellow music lovers and passionate musicians alike. Ever since a young age, Carla has found great joy and satisfaction by being involved in the creative music process.

While the tracks were recorded quickly, they were drawn from years of Carla’s writings, a perfect symbolic of the past and present.

Stay entertained during the holidays with Alexa’s latest updates

Customers are turning to their Echo Show devices – now more than ever – for entertainment. And, they’re viewing more than twice as much video content on their Echo Show devices this time of year compared to last year from streaming services like Prime Video, Hulu, NBC and others. We’re excited to bring Netflix to Echo Show devices, giving customers even more at-home entertainment choices. Now, customers will have access to the full Netflix catalog – including Netflix Originals like “The Queen’s Gambit” and “The Crown” – using their voice.

Customers can easily search, browse, and stream movies or TV shows by just asking Alexa – so that they can spend more time enjoying content rather than searching for it. To get started just say “Alexa, show me comedy movies on Netflix” to find something to watch or “Alexa, watch ‘The Crown’ on Netflix.”

“Customers tell us that they love the convenience of Alexa and being able to use voice to browse and control the content they watch on Echo Show and Fire TV” said Heather Zorn, Director, Alexa Entertainment. “We are excited to add Netflix to our list of content providers on Echo Show and bring the convenience of Alexa to even more Netflix members.”

Simply say, “Alexa, open Netflix” and log into your account to get started.

In addition to adding more content to choose from, we want to make it easier than ever to search for your next show or movie. We recently introduced a new video home page to provide customized recommendations for what to watch next — simply say, “Alexa, open video home.” New video detail pages also offer more information on the selected series or movie at a glance.

The Connected Music Series to showcase Black, Indigenous and South Asian artists in culturally significant spaces across Canada

The Connected Music Series will showcase Black, Indigenous and South Asian music performers and content creators at culturally significant spaces across Canada. The new series, presented by TD Bank and curated by Canada’s Music incubator (CMI), features 20 emerging artists and will be streamed on the Connected Music Series YouTube channel from November 19 to December 20.

“At TD, we know that music has the power to inspire, connect and enlighten. Together with CMI, we are excited to help amplify and elevate diverse voices across Canada through this new, purpose-driven series,” says Michael Armstrong, Vice President, Brand and Corporate Sponsorship at TD.  “By sharing these amazing stories with our customers, colleagues and communities, it allows us to learn and grow together.”

“As an organization, CMI’s mandate is to provide professional development and curate live events for artists of all genres and cultures,” says Jesse Mitchell, Director Live Events, CMI. “The Connected Music Series is a platform that will introduce Canadians to a new generation of Indigenous, Black and South Asian artists, their stories, and their communities.”

Four 30-minute performances, primarily produced by Black, Indigenous and South Asian production teams, will be streamed each week over five weeks on the Connected Music Series YouTube channel. The line-up of artists includes Edmonton’s Celeigh Cardinal, Indigenous Artist of the Year at the JUNO Awards (2020). “It’s inspiring to see that TD and CMI are finding ways to employ diverse artists and content creators through the pandemic, while showcasing cultural spaces,” says Cardinal.

“As a developing film creator who is also a BIPOC, the Connected Music Series has given me the opportunity to showcase my work across Canada, not only to fans, but to other content creators,” says Jennifer Hum, a Toronto-based videographer.

“I’m hiring my own indigenous film and audio crew and holding the performance at Friday Knights, my hometown’s DIY merchandise store. It feels great being able to support them during this time, ” says Winnipeg’s Sebastian Gaskin.

Other performing artists include Spin Singh, Desiree Dawson, James Baley, Classic Roots, Jodie B, Sacha, Wolf Castle, Khanvict, Shawnee, Zakisha Brown, Shamik, KARÍMAH, Fateh, Leela Gilday, Logan Staats, Horsepowar, Cartel Madras, and Kirk Diamond.

The performance locations selected by each artist all hold personal and cultural significance including The Garden Strathcona in Vancouver; the Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre and the Art Gallery of Alberta, in Edmonton; Bullock’s Bistro in Yellowknife; Friday Knights in Winnipeg; Apollo Convention Centre, DC Music Studios, Native Earth’s Aki Studio, 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education in Toronto; Jukasa Studios in Ohsweken, and the Pabineau First Nation Band Hall in Bathurst.

Eddie Van Halen Receives National Guitar Museum’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Every year for more than a decade, The National GUITAR Museum has given their “Lifetime Achievement Award” to a living guitarist who has contributed to the legacy of the guitar. The guidelines are straightforward: the person must have been a performing or recording artist whose talents had an effect on guitar playing—and whose career inspired and influenced other guitar players.

This year, the year of the pandemic, has given them reason to make an exception to their annual presentation.

For 2020, they are recognizing Eddie Van Halen as the recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award. It is being awarded, for the first time, in memoriam.

Previous recipients:
2010: David Honeyboy Edwards. Pioneering blues guitarist.
2011: Roger McGuinn. Founder of The Byrds and early player of the electric 12-string.
2012: B.B. King. Perhaps the most famous blues player of all time.
2013: Vic Flick. Popular session guitarist (including for The Beatles), who played the original James Bond theme.
2014: Buddy Guy. Influential electric bluesman who influenced the course of rock.
2015: Tony Iommi. Founder of Black Sabbath, and the acknowledged architect of heavy metal.
2016: Glen Campbell. Session player and singer who appeared on thousands of popular songs.
2017: Bonnie Raitt. Pioneering blues rock and slide player.
2018: Jose Feliciano. Internationally renowned guitarist across many genres.
2019: Liona Boyd. The first female classical guitarist of note.

Sting’s New Album ‘Duets’ To Be Released March 19, 2021

Due to unforeseen pandemic-related manufacturing delays, the release date of Sting’s forthcoming album, Duets has been postponed to March 19, 2021. Also available in a vinyl LP edition, fans can still pre-order this special collection now – which includes liner notes by Sting. A limited edition with autographed cover art is available for pre-order as well at the official store within the pre-sale link below.

Featuring the brand new collaboration with Italian icon, Zucchero entitled “September,” which will be released digitally worldwide on November 27, Duets also includes “Desert Rose” with Rai music singer Cheb Mami, “It’s Probably Me” with Eric Clapton, 44/876 with Shaggy, among some of Sting’s other most beloved duets with artists such as Mary J. Blige, Herbie Hancock, Annie Lennox, Charles Aznavour, Mylène Farmer, Melody Gardot, Gashi and more. The full tracklisting can be found below.

Duets was Executive Produced and A&R’d by Guénaël “GG” Geay & Martin Kierszenbaum with all songs mastered by Gene Grimaldi at Oasis Mastering, Los Angeles, United States.

DUETS – Track Listing:

Standard CD

Little Something with Melody Gardot
It’s Probably Me with Eric Clapton
Stolen Car with Mylène Farmer
Desert Rose with Cheb Mami
Rise & Fall with Craig David
Whenever I Say Your Name with Mary J. Blige
Don’t Make Me Wait with Shaggy
Reste with GIMS
We’ll Be Together with Annie Lennox
L’amour C’est Comme Un Jour with Charles Aznavour
My Funny Valentine with Herbie Hancock
Fragile with Julio Iglesias
Mama with Gashi
September with Zucchero
Practical Arrangement with Jo Lawry
None Of Us Are Free with Sam Moore
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning with Chris Botti
VINYL LP 1

Side A

A1. Little Something with Melody Gardot
A2. It’s Probably Me with Eric Clapton
A3. Stolen Car with Mylène Farmer
A4. Desert Rose with Cheb Mami
Side B

B1. Rise & Fall with Craig David
B2. Whenever I Say Your Name with Mary J. Blige
B3. Don’t Make Me Wait with Shaggy
B4. Reste with GIMS

VINYL LP 2

Side A

A1. We’ll Be Together with Annie Lennox
A2. L’amour C’est Comme Un Jour with Charles Aznavour
A3. My Funny Valentine with Herbie Hancock
A4. Fragile with Julio Iglesias
Side B

B1. Mama with Gashi
B2. September with Zucchero
B3. Practical Arrangement with Jo Lawry
B4. None Of Us Are Free with Sam Moore
B5. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning with Chris Botti