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Great Big Sea Co-Founder Séan McCann Hits the Power of Love Right on the Bluenose with “10,000 Miles Away”

Our global pandemic storm isn’t over quite yet but, the end of 2021 certainly feels more like we’re all coming together again rather than drifting further apart, doesn’t it? Right on time, Canadian Celtic folk rocker Séan McCann brings us a rollicking new song that celebrates the power of love’s connection even from “10,000 Miles Away”.

The second single landing from the Newfoundland born-and-bred troubadour’s critically acclaimed and isolation inspired folk opus, SHANTYMAN, “10,000 Miles Away” could very well be the happiest song ever written and recorded about long distance love. It’s irresistible to tap or clap along with the hand jive rhythm and join McCann on the rousing “Sing blow ye winds high-o” chorus.

Resistance is truly futile. However, within this shanty’s fun and frolic lies an age-old tale of love-triumphs-over-all that parallels stories of rising above hard times at any time, including today.

“This song may be set back in the age of sail and silent movies”, says McCann, “but its romantic tale of love conquering isolation strongly resonates with everyone living through these pandemic days.”

Speaking of sailing, McCann gives a proud nod to the maritime tradition by featuring archival footage of the world famous, 100-year-old Nova Scotian racing schooner Bluenose in the video for “10,000 Miles Away”, now available to watch on YouTube. After all, when you’re singing a song about needing a boat to cross the ocean to get to your love, it should definitely be one of the best boats this country has ever known.

“I wanted to remind Canadians what it felt like to win again, and the mighty Bluenose is one of the biggest winners in our country’s history.”

When she wasn’t fishing for cod on the treacherous Grand Banks off Newfoundland, the Bluenose, under captain Angus Walters, was busy dominating international sailing races in the 1920s and ‘30s, eventually earning her spot on the Canadian dime. For McCann, this iconic Canadian sailing ship and its achievements are symbolic of our own strength and resilience.

“It’s a joyful reminder of how strong we really are in the face of adversity and a celebration of how far we have all come”

Séan McCann has certainly come a long way as a musician, songwriter, entertainer, husband and father over the years as well. He’s perhaps best known as a founding member of world-renowned and beloved folk rock band Great Big Sea — a group he co-founded and performed with until his exit in 2013.

Along with his auspicious tenure with Great Big Sea, McCann has released five successful solo albums, touching on a coast-to-coast worth of subjects and Canadian cultural moments like the infamous Fort McMurray, Alberta, wildfires (2016) in which he partnered with the Canadian Red Cross.

In conjunction with his philanthropy work, McCann also went on to organize a songwriters benefit in 2017 in support of veterans suffering with PTSD and addiction, enlisting his fellow musician friends, Joel Plaskett, Sarah Harmer and Jeremy Fisher. McCann’s good deeds would not go unnoticed — the musician earned the Order of Canada for his advocacy in 2020.

Coming to terms with the hauntings of his past, which ultimately resulted in a spiraling battle with alcohol addiction, coming clean and owning his truth has been paramount to who he’s become as a husband, a father, a musician, and a human. Armed with the strength and support of his wife, Andrea Aragon, McCann co-penned his first book One Good Reason (April, 2020). “It’s the story of how love saved their marriage, and music saved his life. It is the story of a man freed from the weight of a lie; a man who is changing his narrative and never forgetting… that he is not alone.”

Now that Canadian stages are open again, McCann and Aragon have been on the road very recently in support of both the book and the new album with appearances and performances in Halifax, Charlottetown, Fredericton and Strathmere, Ontario, with more dates to come in 2022.

Those in-person opportunities to connect and share some harmony, health and joy are just one big sign that music and community are two keys to helping us all get through.

“We may not be completely out of the woods yet, but it’s beginning to feel like we have finally turned the tide and that VICTORY is getting closer now,” says McCann.

“10,000 Miles Away” is now available via YouTube, and the new album Shantyman is available exclusively via seanmccannsings.com.

Charismatic Rocker Laszlo Jones Circles Existential Concepts on New Single & Video, “Save My Soul”

Circling existentially arresting concepts, rock artist Laszlo Jones asks ‘is there a God, or is it a lie?’ in this, his new single and video, “Save My Soul” — available now.

“Do we have a soul? Can it be saved? Is there any redemption?” the multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer continues.

“It’s a pretty self-explanatory track,” Jones says of the track. “Many people live according to the rules given to us by our religion; many have their whole lives dedicated to it, love for it, hate for it, kill for it, die for it…”

“Save My Soul” is the latest to land from Jones’ hallucinatory, explorative, and deeply personal new album, Beyond The Door, and follows previous single, “Out Of My Head” — a song that roams the darker side of romance with harrowing tale of a love so potent, it becomes dangerous.

Surrounding those sees tracks like “In The Morning,” “From Above,” and “Kill Myself” arrive on the five-track offering. “This is a song about the general lack of well-being and depression — leading to self-hate and self-destruction, which then can lead to games with death — that is endured by many people,” Jones shares of the latter, whereas the former, “In The Morning,” describes the contrast between the atrocities of a night of modern warfare, and the calm and gentleness of a morning with a rising sun and light breeze.

The most personal song on the release, “From Above,” was penned as a message to Jones’ two daughters as a legacy-meets-letter piece in the event of his untimely passing.

A composer in his own right, Jones’ meticulous attention to musical detail shapes the new EP with the collaborative effort of his friend, multi-instrumentalist and producer Michael Buyens (The Gathering, Life Of Agony). From there, Jones assembled an all-star cast of accomplished musicians in Paris, France, to record the five tracks that would comprise the release.

Argentinian arranger Marcos Barilari guides the eclectic sounds of the new EP to life through the expert musicianship of drummer Ralph Sammins (ABBA, Quincy Jones), Pianist Michael Arrom (Steve Vai), and Canadian producer/songwriter Kane Churko (5 Finger Death Punch, Ozzy Osbourne) who mixed at renowned Las Vegas recording studio The Hideout.

Laszlo Jones’ artistic fearlessness originates from his native Beirut, Lebanon, where the expatriation of his parents led him on a path that prioritizes personal discovery and adventure. This freedom of expression encouraged Jones to pursue varied opportunities to play in bands across multiple genres in practically every country he’s called home. Jones’ avant-garde approach to his craft allows the listener to experience a uniquely international influence unbound by the conventions of rock music.

“Save My Soul” and Beyond The Door are available now.

Jesse Cook Releases 11th New Studio Album, Libre And Announces 2022 Canadian Tour

Jesse Cook — the multi-Platinum/Gold award-winning and internationally acclaimed producer, composer, and guitarist — has released his 11th studio album, Libre, out via Cook’s own Coach House label imprint, distributed by Outside Music/Redeye. The 10-track album combines his iconic Spanish guitar flair with Algerian multi-instrumentalist Fethi Nadjem, modern trap rhythms and 808 beats.

Libre arrives alongside the album’s stand-out track, “Number 5,” and its accompanying music video.

“I wrote and recorded Libre during the pandemic when, like most people, I was longing for freedom,” Cook shares of the new project. “My music was my escape from the four walls that surrounded me, and the storm that was swirling outside.”

The inspiration for Libre came from a long summer-day drive with his 14-year old, Cook reveals. “My daughter entertained me with her favorite playlists, much of which were trap and 808-inspired. I loved them too, and a question was planted in my mind: ‘what would my music sound like mixed with those sounds?’”

Cook also recently announced the first leg of his 2022 “Tempest II” tour. The tour was originally set to take place in 2020 in celebration of the 25th anniversary of his acclaimed debut album, Tempest. Launching in Spokane, WA on January 19, and spanning 43-dates, the trek will take Cook and his band across both Canada and the U.S. View the complete tour itinerary on Jesse Cook’s website to find more information and to purchase tickets.

It’s been more than 25 years since the internationally-lauded virtuoso first stepped onto the scene with his now-iconic release, Tempest. In the time since, he’s come to hold ten Gold and Platinum studio albums with a combined sales of two+ million copies, five concert DVDs and live discs, five PBS specials, and multiple awards — a JUNO win, 11 nominations, three Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, a Gemini, and an Acoustic Guitar Magazine Player’s Choice Silver Award.

The digital convergence of the past several years has also resulted in Cook’s music streaming in rather impressive numbers across a series of platforms; by September 2021, his Spotify stats had surpassed 55+ million, and plays on Pandora soared beyond the 300+ million milestone. YouTube’s universal visual appeal has also grown steadily for Cook’s connection with audiences, with his channel accumulating upwards of 25+ million views since 2010.

“Number 5” and Libre are available now.

Track Listing for Libre
“Number 5”
“Hey!”
“Boom”
“Libre”
“Onward Till Dawn”
“Solace”
“Jaleo”
“Updraft”
“Oran”
“One World One Voice”

Jesse Cook Canadian Tour
February 22 – Winspear Centre, Edmonton, AB
February 23 – PAC, Vernon, BC
February 24 – Kelowna Community Theatre, Kelowna, BC
February 26 – The Centre, Vancouver, BC
February 27 – The Port Theatre, Nanaimo, BC
March 1 – Key City Theatre, Cranbrook, BC
March 2 – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, AB
March 3 – Knox United Church, Saskatoon, SK
March 4 – Knox United Church, Saskatoon, SK
March 5 – Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg, MB
May 11 – Centennial Hall, London, ON
May 12 – Centre in the Square, London, ON
May 13 – Meridian Hall, Toronto, ON
May 14 – The Empire Theatre, Belleville, ON
May 15 – National Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON
June 8 – Salle Louis-Frechette at the Grand Theatre de Quebec, Quebec City, QC
July 9 – Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal, QC

Canadian Country Crooner Laurie LeBlanc Releases Official Music Video For “All In”

Risking it all for love over a game of chance has never sounded like it feels so good until East Coast Acadian country artist Laurie LeBlanc sings about it in his new single, “All In” — available now.

The fourth release from LeBlanc’s 2021 ECMA and Music NB Country Recording of the Year-nominated album, When It’s Right, It’s Right, “All In” goes all out for a rollicking good time over a high stake poker tournament for two.

With its steam train, chugging beat, and playful interchange of tasty guitar, pedal steel, fiddle and piano riffs, “All In” sounds like full-on Saturday night fun, and it’s no accident that it does. “The idea of the song came while playing a game of poker one Saturday Night,” recalls LeBlanc. “The story is about a guy and a girl at the final poker table. The hot babe is making a pretty cute poker face at her opponent, and he thinks they have something special going on.”

“All In” is the one song that LeBlanc co-wrote for his latest album with his wife and manager, Jeannette. So, who won the real poker game that inspired their collaboration? While we may not know that outcome, LeBlanc does place bets for us on how the cards will play out in the song with this semi-spoiler. “He’s getting more and more interested in the girl thus losing focus on the game.”

“All In” also signifies success in a new focus for LeBlanc. “I’ve written numerous French songs, and most of them are based on fun ideas that I hope make people smile,” he says. “So, I wanted to try to do that in English.”

The song has already made people smile, and dance, in Europe; through music agent Romuald Kosmidrowiez, 10 videos from European Country Dance Associations have been produced featuring choreography created specifically to “All In;” the dance was also presented at the European Championships, and finished 5th among 31.

LeBlanc didn’t have to look far from home to stack the deck for creating his first, all-original English album, When It’s Right, It’s Right, released in June 2020. The Bouctouche, New Brunswick-based artist partnered up with multi-Canadian Country Music Award winning producer and guitarist Jason Barry to record at his CCMA honoured Barrytone Studios also located in New Brunswick. The album features some of the crème de la crème of Nashville writers (Grammy winner Don Schlitz, Mike Reid, and Dallas Davidson, as well as Ireland’s Don Mescall) and the musical contributions of members of Dean Brody’s touring band.

This first, all-original foray into the English country music market is supported by a decade of well-earned success in francophone country music. Since 2011, LeBlanc has been honoured by the Canadian Francophone Country Awards, Music NB Awards, Josie Music Awards and more over 15 times including wins for CFCA Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year in 2018. Plus, with almost 4 million streams of his music and counting, LeBlanc has racked up a flourishing following across the digital realm in both official languages.

With all those francophone music accolades under his belt, it was a leap of faith for LeBlanc to record his new all-English project. “I needed to step out of my comfort zone, and it turned out to be a truly gratifying experience,” he notes. “I’ll always love singing in French and cherish the support I get from my francophone audience but hearing one of my songs on the radio alongside the Canadian and American country artists I admire gives me so much joy.”

While the music game is shaping up to be a win-win for LeBlanc, one big question remains: Will our romantically distracted poker player get played and end up with a losing hand, or will he hit the jackpot and win the girl?

Listen to “All In” to find out.

JUNO-Nominated Canadian Reggae Legend JAY DOUGLAS Goes Big-Band with Soulful New “Merry Christmas”

Jay Douglas revisits the classic Christmas tradition of big-band, soulful, crooner-esque Christmas songs that have swept the globe since radio started broadcasting holiday music with his new single, “Merry Christmas” — available now.

Characteristic of Jay Douglas, “Merry Christmas” does a great job of painting a clear picture for the listener — all while feeling warm and inviting. The award-winning reggae legend’s unparalleled energy and charm culminates into the production that is “Merry Christmas” to create that perfect “back home for the holidays” feeling, with a dash of cinematic production traits.

While being a new addition to the database of merry music, Douglas roots his composition in compositions of the likes of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin. “Merry Christmas” features the smooth jazz rhythms accompanied by deep baritone sax and walking bass lines to lead the listener to the hyperbolic Christmas party. As “Merry Christmas” brings itself to an end, it sends the listener off with a proper bright, screaming swell of high-energy brass.

Jay Douglas is one of Toronto’s many hidden treasures, especially when it comes to the constant growth that is the Canadian music industry. Originally born in Jamaica, the first stage Douglas performed on was in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Uncovering a natural charisma when it comes to performing, Jay Douglas has been active in the entertainment industry for the past 45 years. Developing a passion for American Blues, West Indian Rhythms, and Jazz Standards, Douglas tackles a vast repertoire all while providing an unmatched energy on stage.

Douglas’ powerful performances are the reason that he was announced the winner of NOW Magazine’s Toronto’s Best R&B Ac” in 2006 and Toronto Reggae Awards’ Male Reggae Vocalist of the Year in 2007. These accolades drew the attention of Seattle based Light In The Attic, choosing Douglas as the Headliner of the From Jamaica to Toronto concert, which broke attendance and sales records. More recently, Douglas was nominated for Reggae Recording of the Year at the 2012 JUNO Awards and was the recipient of the G98.7 FM Entertainment Award at the Harry Jarome awards. His most recent nomination was for his collaboration with General Trees on “Jah Children,” receiving his second JUNO nomination during 2020.

Following the successful release of his most recent single, “Stone In Love With You,” a homage and cover of the classic Stylistics song, Jay Douglas shifted gears and got into the spirit of the holidays. Fusing his love for American Blues and Jazz Standards, and a long history of R&B training debuted “Merry Christmas” for his growing fanbase.

The Honeyrunners Release Their New Music Video For “Ghosts”

Canadian pop-rockers, The Honeyrunners, release the worldwide debut of their new music video for the single, “Ghosts”. The track is a mashup of New Orleans second line and Neo-Pop. The music is rooted in a bouncy rhythm, stitched together by Southern slide guitar, stride piano, and horn blasts teasing listenersʼ sanity in a quilt of production that only grows more chaotic as the track rolls on. It is an apt taste of the rollercoaster-of-a-record: Everything Is On Fire (Oct 22 – Gypsy Soul Records // Warner Music Canada // FUGA // Proper Music Group), The Honeyrunnersʼ first full-length album.

“We gathered friends from some of the hardest hit industries of the pandemic – nurses, musicians, small business owners, filmmakers – and asked them to scream point blank into a camera. It was the perfect allegory for Ghosts, a song built around anxiety. It was a catharsis for them, and I hope it will be for the viewer as well.”

“We write songs for the times we need them”, notes pianist and lead singer Dan Dwoskin, when asked about the insomnia-fueled lyrics of the track. “Ghosts is a song born out of stay-at-home anxiety, calling out the whispers in our head that keep us up at night.” Oh, you have those too? Itʼs common these days.

Dwoskin elaborates, “This album evolved from a self-conscious look at our own fears and challenges, to an encompassing question of ʻwhat really matters in our lives right now?ʼ Our hope is that this record will help people recover from this challenging moment in time, accepting the heartache and growth that has washed over us all collectively in the last two years.”

Recording Ghosts at bassist Guillermo Subausteʼs Pacha Sound (Toronto) was a blessing for the band, taking the time to hone the mix the way they wanted it. Self-produced by Guillermo Subauste and Dan Dwoskin, the band was joined by a slew of local talent, including Canadian Soul-singer, Samantha Martin, who popped by the studio lending beauty and smoke to the dynamic chaos of the song.

Written and produced by Dan Dwoskin and Guillermo Subauste (aka, The Honeyrunners), Ghosts is a response to a public outpouring of anxiety and depression. After a year and a half of challenges in a broken music industry, the two musicians are well-acquainted with these feelings (as are most artists, to some extent), yet they are also acquainted with self-reinvention (as are most artists). The process was cathartic – writing and recording a song for people who need to feel they are not alone in this heaviness, surrounded by a world full of apathy. “We anchored the track to a heartbeat stomp & clap, underscored by NOLA-esque shuffle drums.” It feels like home. Once the rhythm fell into place, the rest of the song came to life. It is no coincidence that the band toured to New Orleans in January 2020, showcasing at Folk Alliance International, with the entire industry coming to a standstill shortly after.

The Honeyrunners are a Northern take on Southern Americana – hot-blooded and rife with the poetry of heartache. Their energy is contagious on stage and on record; as are their stories. Their music suits fans of bands like The Lumineers, Bahamas, Alabama Shakes, Brandi Carlile, Elle King, Arkells, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Leon Bridges to name a few. They are a melting pot of folk, blues, soul, pop, rock, punk, alternative, and jazz – which makes sense, because they are a cultural melting pot of personality.

The four-piece Toronto group (toting eleven members for larger shows) is fronted by Ottawa-born songwriter Dan Dwoskin (keys, lead vocals) and Canadian-Peruvian engineer/producer, Guillermo Subauste (bass, vocals). Newer additions to the lineup include the ever-soulful Conor Gains (electric guitar, vocals) and Toronto-born drummer and filmmaker, Lewis Spring (drums, percussion, vocals).

The Honeyrunners have toured North America coast-to-coast, fueled by song placements on commercials for Coca-Cola and Bacardi. Singles from the bandʼs earlier releases, EP I (2013) and EP II (2014) garnered heavy play on Canadian and US college radio stations, paving the road for live appearances on national television, Canadian music festivals, breweries, club circuits, and
Nashville-style backyard BBQʼs (a band favourite). They have been lucky to share stages with many friends and mentors, including The Sadies, The Trews, The Beaches, Jim Cuddy, Philip Sayce, Nick Waterhouse, King Khan, U.S.S., Grapes of Wrath, Skye Wallace and many more.

Stratford, ON’s Hannah Thomas Says ‘Christmas Don’t Be Late’ with New Holiday Album

All ready to go and tied up with a bow, award-nominated Canadian artist Hannah Thomas celebrates the season with the release of her stunning holiday album, Christmas Don’t Be Late — available now.

Recently nominated for Young Performer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, the 18-year-old songstress from Stratford, Ontario harnesses the magic of Christmas by delivering 11 reimagined Christmas tracks that feature her gorgeous vocals and ethereal delivery.

Thomas began prepping the album alongside Dayna Manning and Lori Thomas in the early months of 2020. “I love Christmas music,” Thomas says, adding she’d been considering a Christmas album for more than a few years.

The title track of the album, “Christmas Don’t Be Late”, was one of the first songs the trio considered for the project. “I love the song and thought that I could do a really unique version of it,” Thomas explains, adding, “Ben Bolt-Martin was the arranger on this album and he did an outstanding job making all of the songs unique but this arrangement was one of my favourites. It boasts a slow melodic start, then breaks into an up-tempo, fast paced, catchy Christmas tune.”

The album works flawlessly as the soundtrack of the season with 11 exquisitely recorded takes on seasonal favourites, such as Meghan Trainor’s “I’ll Be Home,” Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” the release’s title track, “Christmas Don’t Be Late,” and more. The release concludes with a heartfelt and inspiring father/daughter duet of “The Prayer,” featuring Hannah’s dad, Dale Thomas.

“We recorded this album in the middle of Covid-19 when rental space and in person contact was limited,” Thomas describes of the studio process. “We were fortunate to find a space in a friend’s former chicken barn just outside of Stratford where we had the proper acoustics and availability to safely distance from one another. It was here that we recorded some of the instruments and really got a feel for what the album would sound like.

“The addition of the odd cricket, which we had to remove from the room, added some humour to our days of recording!” she continues. “We finished recording the album in late Fall of 2020 at The Drive Shed Recording Studio, with John ‘Beetle’ Bailey, in New Hamburg, Ontario.”

Hannah Thomas shines track to track, with an unbelievable talent conveying the message in sweeping runs, powerful belts, and calming reservations in the moments that count the most. Her record provides equally the magic of Christmas, with the mesmerizing showcase of an up and coming starlet.

Before the age of 20, Thomas was already a decorated performer, having earned accolades and accomplishments in her hometown of Stratford, and across the country. Her talent has seen her open for Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea) at Aurora’s Magna Hoedown Showdown in 2019, and granted her opportunities with The Shot Canada, the Stratford Festival of Canada, Stratford Summer Music, working with renowned folk artist Dayna Manning (whom she’d later enlist to produce Christmas Don’t Be Late), and more. One of Thomas’ mega highlights was 2020 and 2021’s “Dock Music” — a Sunday summer concert series at her family’s dock along the Avon River in Stratford where the teen would perform for the community.

And this holiday season, Hannah Thomas has seen yet another dream come true: her incomparable, raw talent is now fully on display within an album of her favourite music.

Christmas Don’t Be Late will be all you want to press play on this year, and it’s available now.

Alexis Lynn Holds onto the Joy of Christmas Year-Round in “December Dreaming”

Capturing the magic of Christmas, and how sometimes in life, holding the holiday in your heart year-round can keep you going, Canadian pop artist Alexis Lynn explores that joyous, hope-inducing feeling through her new single “December Dreaming” — available now.

Ethereal and lullaby-like, “December Dreaming” features soft, honeyed vocals over the familiar, comforting sound of Christmas-choir handbells. Like many of the best Christmas songs, it’s beautiful specifically because of its simplicity, and the lyrics take the listener through all the other seasons – the green of Spring in May, the golden glow of summer days, kicking up autumn leaves – with the Christmas spirit burning like a tiny ember.

Because even on the brightest of summer days
No matter the season
I’ll be December dreaming away

In “December Dreaming,” Alexis Lynn wanted to spotlight how sometimes the anticipation of Christmas can be more magical than the day itself. “It begs the thought if the longing is better than the actuality of the holiday,” she says. “I hope when you listen, it brings you all those magical Christmas feelings we feel near the holidays.”

The song is part of a larger meditation on Christmas, and a follow-up to the singer’s previous Christmas song “Christmas Cards” — which is a bit more critical of the winter holiday that can be so fraught for many of us. “With ‘December Dreaming,’ I knew I wanted a soft, dreamy track that juxtaposed my last Christmas song, which points out the flaws of the holiday season and is a call-to-action type song,” Alexis Lynn shares. “I’m very much a person who wants to be aware of social and global issues and do what I can to help, but I also love Christmas and wanted a song to reflect that as well.”

A Top 100 2020 CBC Searchlight finalist, Alexis Lynn broke through in 2019 with her album debut Things Get Good. The First Nations artist from Surrey, British Columbia, has an ambitious year ahead of her: an impressive streak of recent singles has shown off her vocal chops and aesthetic range, running the gamut from the dance music-inflected “Ghosts” (a bare, anthemic contemplation of vulnerability and insecurity) to the club-friendly buoyancy of “Bubble” (a flirtatious trap-pop bop about emotional availability). She wrote and recorded prolifically during the pandemic, and is looking forward to going deeper than ever on her next project — a multifaceted exploration of mental health and its effects on our lives and relationships that promises to be her most personal work yet.

“December Dreaming” is available now.

WAVES THAT STRAY Exposes the Vulnerability of Self-Reflection with Single “Inside My Head”

Rocker Waves That Stray (aka Sean MacLean) shares the vulnerability of being locked in the creative process’ cage that is procrastination and self-doubt in a new single and video, “Inside My Head” — available now.

Fusing the best parts of electronica and rock ‘n’ roll, “Inside My Head” gives nod to the distinct sound of early-aughts Brooklyn groups like TV On The Radio, LCD Soundsystem, and The Dirty Projectors. The loops are ethereal, the beats hypnotic, and yet the guitar still rocks, while the lyrics haunt.

I can’t hear it
The music doesn’t play anymore
I can see it
Washed up along the shore
It’s just a letter in a bottle
From the wreck it breaks your neck
And leaves you hanging
on the hard line

The listener gets the sense that the desire to break free from one’s own head is a fight for life itself, and the corresponding video depicts an alternating desperation and ennui. It begins with MacLean in stop-motion ‘trying on’ different identities — a businessman, a homeless person, a rapper, a construction worker — and then shifts to a scene where he’s having his face painted, his eyes closed. The artist gives him fake, painted eyes over his closed eyelids, and he walks the streets like this for a while, eyes still closed, deep inside his own head.

“My hope with the video and lyrics to ‘Inside My Head’ is to strike a chord with artists who are trying to come to terms with their ever-evolving creative process and insecurities,” MacLean says. The song is a collaboration between MacLean, songwriter Gabriel Maciel, guitarist Ezra Perlman, and Belgian producer Dorian Voos (aka Awaike).

Waves That Stray made its debut with a self-titled album in 2017. The music video for the single “Brick By Brick” went viral two days after its release, and the album was featured on Earshot’s Top 10 electronic chart. From there, the Toronto-based artist’s distinctively haunting vocals were featured on U.S. Girls’ track “Rosebud,” which was featured as one of Pitchfork’s best new tracks. Maclean recently shared a stage with U.S. Girls at the established Polaris Prize Awards.

“Inside My Head” is available now.

Kindie-Rocker Russell Sprout Delivers Family Songs with Much-Needed Positive Messaging

Delivering messages of kindness, caring, community and more, Canadian singer/songwriter Russell Sprout’s new single “We Rise Above” is one for the ages — young and young-at-heart alike.

Produced by GRAMMY Award-nominated and JUNO Award recipient Ken Whiteley (Raffi, Fred Penner), the song is freshly picked from Sprout’s new sophomore album; the youth-friendly release stitched with lessons of tolerance and kindness is called Together, and it’s available now.

Beginning as a plucking melody with simply beautiful lyrics, and speaking to rising above through the verses, the lovely new kindie ballad sees Sprout churning out a gentle chorus along with a children’s choir of “we rise above!” while asking elsewhere: “Are you kind? Are you fair? Do you help, do you care?”

Rounding out the instrumentation on the track, calming strings, violin and a crescendo-esque percussion builds as the message grows stronger. “Like a bird that flies above the sea, open your wings, be all you can be!” Sprout rolls out the anthem in fantastical fashion, giving promise to another day, month, year of positivity and smiling in the face in whatever obstacles may be presented in front of us. His appeal to keeping the lyrics in line with his audience of youngsters is an endearing representation of the artist.

Sprout (Russell Leon) is a long time teacher of music, a multi-instrumentalist, and accomplished performer in Toronto and has been for more than two decades. A faculty member of University of Toronto’s Jackman Institute of Child Study (OISE) and Humberside Montessori School, Sprout has involved himself in children’s music during the tenure of his career, including having received the “Best Children’s Song” award from Folk Music Ontario.

Sprout is as entertaining in his music as he is in his on-stage persona; an oversized cap, a bee adorning his blue suit jacket. In wide sunglasses and sneakers, he is silly and funny — and capable of getting onto the level of his audience through song and rapport.

“I knew the underlying theme of the record was going to be about kindness, mental and physical health, and events that would have a positive outcome,” Sprout recalls of creating Together. “Even if a cat was chasing a mouse, or there was a barn fire, or if you are in a bad mood, everything was going to work out.”

“We Rise Above” was chosen as the single because “the message is so important,” says Sprout on the notions of kindness, caring, educating, and community. “It was also the song that selected schools that I work with have already adopted as their own. Kids love to sing along, they especially like the actions that go along with it. The music video was shot in a local Toronto music studio and elementary school.”

The album is currently available to be sung along with, note by note, having been posted online at Sprout’s website with the option of reading the professionally notated sheet music. In addition to physical CDs, Sprout has also packaged a vinyl recording of Together featuring a 12-page fully illustrated sheet music booklet included.

“We Rise Above” and Together are available now!

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That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

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