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5 Surprising Facts About M.I.A.’s Kala’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About M.I.A.’s Kala’

M.I.A.’s 2007 album, Kala, is a landmark release in global pop, famous for blending funk carioca, African folk, and South Asian rhythms into an aggressive, sample-heavy sound. Named after M.I.A.’s mother, the record is a powerful exploration of Third World themes like poverty and immigration, which resonated widely. Kala was the best-performing album on the US Billboard Electronic Albums chart of 2007 and was certified Gold for selling 500,000 copies in the US, cementing its widespread influence.

Here are five little-known facts about the making and background of this influential album:

The Success of “Paper Planes” Paralleled Accusations of Terrorism Support. The immense commercial success of the Grammy-nominated single “Paper Planes” (which peaked at Number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100) occurred at the same time M.I.A. was condemning war crimes in Sri Lanka. This led to controversy and accusations that she supported terrorism due to her ethnic background.

M.I.A. Was Denied a Long-Term US Work Visa. Initially planning to work extensively with American producer Timbaland, M.I.A. was unable to secure a long-term work visa to enter the US due to alleged family connections with guerrillas in Sri Lanka. This forced her to record the album in numerous countries around the globe, fundamentally shaping the album’s sound.

The Album Was Recorded Using Just a MacBook and Microphone. Because M.I.A. was recording in unconventional locations outside of traditional studios, she and producer Switch relied heavily on the digital audio workstation Logic Pro. They recorded many vocals and background sounds using just a microphone and a MacBook Pro, lending the album its raw, spontaneous feel.

The Track “Hussel” Samples South Indian Fishermen Chanting. The song “Hussel” was musically imagined by M.I.A. as the sound of refugees being smuggled in boats. The track’s intro uses audio recorded from Keralan fishermen chanting as they pull their boats into the water, giving the song an authentic, echo-y sound.

“Jimmy” is a Cover of a Bollywood Film Song. The track “Jimmy” is a tribute to M.I.A.’s mother and is her version of “Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja” from the 1982 Bollywood film Disco Dancer. She had danced to the original track as a child, and she confessed she “had to be drunk enough to be that disco” to fully realize the track.

5 Surprising Facts About Jay-Z’s ‘The Black Album’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Jay-Z’s ‘The Black Album’

Jay-Z’s 2003 release, The Black Album, was widely publicized as his final album before retiring, a theme that gave the project a legendary air of finality. It was a massive commercial success, debuting at Number One on the Billboard 200, selling 463,000 copies in its first week, and was later certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA in 2023. Known for its all-star production lineup—featuring a different elite producer for every track—the album generated enduring hits like “99 Problems” and cemented Jay-Z’s legacy as an all-time great.

Here are five little-known facts about the making and background of this influential album:

  1. The Album Was Designed to Be Reworked by Producers. Roc-A-Fella Records broke with tradition by releasing The Black Album on vinyl with no beats underneath Jay-Z’s vocals. This move was intentional, spurring producers and DJs to “remix the hell out of it,” leading to fan creations like The Brown Album.
  2. The “99 Problems” Traffic Stop Verse is Based on a Real Event. The acclaimed second verse of “99 Problems,” which describes a tense traffic stop, was based on an actual experience Jay-Z had in the 1990s in New Jersey while carrying illegal drugs. He refused the police search, and they were forced to let him go when the drug-sniffing dogs failed to arrive.
  3. “99 Problems” Is Used as a Tool to Teach Constitutional Law. The second verse of “99 Problems” has been widely studied by law experts. A Southwestern Law School Professor wrote an article analyzing the verse line-by-line from a legal perspective, using it as a tool to teach law students about search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment.
  4. The Critical Mashup The Grey Album Caused Digital Civil Disobedience. The controversial The Grey Album by Danger Mouse, which combined Jay-Z’s vocals with The Beatles’ “White Album” instrumentals, led to EMI attempting to halt its distribution. In protest, music activists coordinated “Grey Tuesday,” resulting in over 100,000 copies being downloaded for free in a single day.
  5. “Encore” Features a Beatles Sample and Won a Grammy. Kanye West’s production on “Encore” samples the trumpet introduction to John Holt’s cover of “I Will” by The Beatles, resulting in a Lennon–McCartney songwriting credit. It gained further fame and won a Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Grammy after being mashed up with Linkin Park’s “Numb.”

5 Surprising Facts About Paramore’s ‘Riot!’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Paramore’s ‘Riot!’

Released in 2007, Paramore’s second studio album, Riot!, was the definitive breakthrough moment that launched the band into the mainstream. With anthems like “Misery Business” and “Crushcrushcrush,” the album became a pop-punk touchstone, blending raw energy with undeniable catchiness. Certified triple-platinum in the US and platinum across the UK and Australia, its influence still resonates across alt-rock and emo pop today.

A Fan Won a Contest to Sing Back-Up Vocals on ‘Born for This.’ During the production phase, Paramore held an online contest called “The Last Song You’ll Ever Sing,” inviting fans to submit videos on YouTube for a chance to sing back-up. The winner, Mary Bonney of McLean, Virginia, was featured on the track “Born for This.”

The Single “That’s What You Get” Was Co-Written by a Touring Member. “That’s What You Get,” one of the album’s successful singles, is notable for being the only song on Riot! co-written by guitarist Taylor York, who was only the band’s touring guitarist at the time. York would later become an official member of Paramore.

The Music Video for “Crushcrushcrush” Was Cut Short by a Sandstorm. The official video for the album’s third single shows the band performing in a barren desert. However, bassist Jeremy Davis later revealed that they were unable to fully finish the shoot due to a large sandstorm that swept in, forcing the director to repeat some shots in the final cut.

An Expelled Member Was Reinstated Before Recording. Before work on Riot! began, bassist Jeremy Davis was expelled due to a “lack of work ethic.” Following his departure, the Farro brothers convinced Hayley Williams to bring in Taylor York, but Williams insisted on Davis’s reinstatement, which the remaining members eventually agreed to.

“Hallelujah” Is One of the Band’s Oldest Songs. Hayley Williams recounted that “Hallelujah” is one of the band’s oldest songs, but they felt it fit better on Riot! than on their debut album. She described the song as “a claim of victory for both ourselves and our fans.”

The National Ballet of Canada Welcomes Scottie Barnes, Max Kerman, and More as ‘Cannon Dolls’ for 30th Anniversary of ‘The Nutcracker’

Eric Alper
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The National Ballet of Canada Welcomes Scottie Barnes, Max Kerman, and More as ‘Cannon Dolls’ for 30th Anniversary of ‘The Nutcracker’

Hope Muir, Joan and Jerry Lozinski Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, shared today this season’s lineup of Cannon Dolls for James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker. Toronto Raptors Scottie Barnes and Jamal Shead will make their debut as Cannon Dolls on December 19. 

The holiday favourite celebrates its 30th anniversary this season and to mark this milestone, Rex Harrington, the original Peter/The Nutcracker who created the role 30 years ago, will appear as a Cannon Doll on opening night, December 5. 

This season, the Cannon Doll lineup features CBC Q host Tom Power and Arkells frontman Max Kerman, Olympic Ice Dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, Wynton McManis and Damonte Coxie of the Toronto Argos, Chris Boushy and Challen Rogers from the Toronto Rock, Toronto AFC’s Victoria Pickett and Sarah Rollins, Canadian Women’s Rugby players Brittany Kassil and Taylor McKnight, Toronto Star reporters Joshua Chong and Victoria Gibson, Sirius XM Radio Hosts Allison Dore and Victor Bibby aka DJ Frank Vinatra, TSN Football Analyst Davis Sanchez and host Kate Beirness and longest running Cannon Doll, Global TV’s Susan Hay, in her 23rd year, who will be appearing with anchor Antony Robart. 

In addition to the luminaries listed above, the National Ballet invites colleagues in the Toronto arts and dance community and our community partners to join the company onstage as Cannon Dolls. This season we are thrilled to welcome members of DanceWorks, Hart Dance, dance immersion, Surrey Place, York South Family Network and West Neighbourhood house.

Celebrity walk-on roles are a long-standing tradition with Nutcrackers all over the world. In the National Ballet’s production, the cameo roles are Cannon Dolls, colourfully costumed Petrouchka dolls who shoot a cannon into the audience in Act I. To date, the National Ballet has invited 1,378 Canadian luminaries and personalities to appear onstage in the coveted roles.

Past Cannon Dolls have included former Toronto Raptors Kyle Lowry and Matt Thomas, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and former Leafs Winger Mitch Marner, Olympic Gold Medalist Figure Skater Tessa Virtue, Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer Summer McIntosh, Actors Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Graham Greene and Sarah Gadon, Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Comedian Rick Mercer, Authors Carley Fortune and Emma Donoghue, Musician Brendan Canning and more!

Over its 30-year history, The Nutcracker has captivated audiences of all ages, with over 1.3 million people attending 672 performances since its premiere in 1995. With Kudelka’s imaginative choreography, Tchaikovsky’s timeless score, breathtaking designs by Santo Loquasto and lighting by Jennifer Tipton, this beloved production continues to delight year after year.
 
Tickets are almost sold out with best availability on December 31. 

BRUCE MCCULLOCH Announces Cross-Canada Tour For Acclaimed One-Person Show ‘Dark Purple Slice’

Eric Alper
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BRUCE MCCULLOCH Announces Cross-Canada Tour For Acclaimed One-Person Show ‘Dark Purple Slice’

Bruce McCulloch, best known as a founding member of the legendary sketch troupe The Kids in the Hall, will take his acclaimed one-person show “Dark Purple Slice” on a cross-Canada tour beginning in February 2026 and continuing into April. The show is a brilliant blend of music, stand-up, and storytelling, offering audiences a poetic flyover of McCulloch’s life that is equal parts funny, relatable, and surprisingly poignant. With his trademark wit and offbeat sensibility, McCulloch invites audiences to laugh, reflect, and contemplate the absurdities of being human.

“Dark Purple Slice” explores McCulloch’s lifelong habit of looking at the world as an outsider, weaving together gallows humour, humanistic yearnings, and razor-sharp observations. McCulloch comments that the show is “about finding the beauty and joy in life, even in these troubling days. And how we use dark humour to get through life’s toughest times.” The tour showcases the singular ability of the celebrated writer, performer, and director—whose recent work includes the newest season of The Kids in the Hall on Amazon Prime Video—to find light in the dark. For ticket information, fans can visit his official website.

Tour Dates:

February 5, 2026, London, ON – The Aeolian Hall
February 7, 2026 – Guelph, ON – Royal City Mission
February 12, 2026 – Sarnia, ON – Imperial Theatre
February 19, 2026 – Peterborough, ON – Showplace Performance Centre
February 20, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – Algonquin Commons Theatre
February 22, 2026 – Oshawa, ON – Regent Theatre
February 27, 2026 – Hamilton, ON – The Westdale
February 28, 2026 – Paris, ON – Paris Presbyterian Church
March 6, 2026 – Toronto, ON – The Royal
March 8, 2026 – Montreal, QC – Beanfield Theatre
March 12, 2026 – Saskatoon, SK – Broadway Theatre
March 20, 2026 – Edmonton, AB – Myer Horowitz Theatre
March 22, 2026 – Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre
March 27, 2026 – Victoria, BC – Macpherson Playhouse
March 28, 2026 – Coquitlam, BC – Great Canadian Casino Vancouver
April 9, 2026 – Calgary, AB – Bella Concert Hall
April 11, 2026 – Kelowna, BC – Kelowna Community Theatre
April 24, 2026 – Moncton, NB – Capitol Theatre
April 25, 2026 – Halifax, NS – Casino Nova Scotia

BRIDGET HAYDEN Releases Standalone Single ‘Our Ship is Ready’ From ‘Cold Blows the Rain’ Sessions

Eric Alper
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BRIDGET HAYDEN Releases Standalone Single ‘Our Ship is Ready’ From ‘Cold Blows the Rain’ Sessions

Experimental musician Bridget Hayden, who released the critically acclaimed album Cold Blows the Rain this year, has unveiled a new single, “Our Ship is Ready,” taken from the same recording sessions. This classic folk song, which couldn’t physically fit on the vinyl album, is a deeply personal track that Hayden first heard her mother sing about a decade ago. She was so captivated that she made her mother sing it repeatedly until she learned it herself. The single is also being released alongside a limited edition lino print, made from an original block created by her father, Reg Hayden, in 1984.

The songs that make up Cold Blows the Rain and this new single are wrapped in mist and drizzle, elements that shape the music as much as the instruments, creating a sound that is “as real but ambiguous as the ghosts that linger in the shadows.” Hayden explains that the music captures the atmosphere of the dark valley floor in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, where she lives, adding, “The weather speaks the most eloquently about human loss.” Fans who witnessed Bridget Hayden & The Apparitions’ startling performances at festivals like Green Man, End Of The Road, and Supersonic can now enjoy an accompanying live video for “Our Ship Is Ready.”

BABY CONDOR Release Melancholic Single ‘Silver Stereo’ From Self-Titled Debut EP

Eric Alper
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BABY CONDOR Release Melancholic Single ‘Silver Stereo’ From Self-Titled Debut EP

Dutch brother duo Baby Condor has released “Silver Stereo,” the third single from their forthcoming self-titled debut EP, which is set to arrive on January 23rd through Coast to Coast records. The track is a melancholic song about a golden era when music felt more like human art than a corporate product, influenced by pop, country, folk, and indie, and defined by a vintage production style, live horns, and an anthem-like chorus. The song’s title is a direct reference to the silver Luxman L-4 amplifier their father owned, which introduced the brothers to the songwriting of the Beatles and Beach Boys, inspiring their mission to create timeless, soul-infused music for the modern listener.

The brothers, Nolle and Beinte Groen, created “Silver Stereo” entirely in their self-built Mermaid Studio, writing, arranging, and producing the track themselves, even utilizing hand-soldered recording gear and analogue effects to achieve their signature sound. The track features Menno Nijen Es on Wurlitzer and Hammond, and a legendary hornpack featuring Isaac McCluskey, Nick Feenstra, and Joël Botma, cementing Baby Condor’s cinematic sound, which offers an escape down endless highways and sunlit coastlines.

LACI KAYE BOOTH Unveils Heartbreaking New Single ‘I’m In Love With A Man’

Eric Alper
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LACI KAYE BOOTH Unveils Heartbreaking New Single ‘I’m In Love With A Man’

Geffen Records artist Laci Kaye Booth has released her new single, “I’m In Love With A Man,” a gorgeous love song that delivers a stunning emotional twist. The track sees Booth painting a picture of an ideal man—attentive, faithful, and loving—before revealing the crushing truth in the chorus: “I’m in love with a man / You’ll never be.” Booth co-wrote the psychologically thrilling song with Tofer Brown and Lauren Hungate, and it was produced by Ben West, who also helmed her acclaimed debut album, The Loneliest Girl In The World. Booth shared that after playing the song live the week she wrote it, she immediately knew from the audience’s reaction that it was a song people needed to hear as much as she needed to write it, calling it “a love story with a twisted ending.”

The single is accompanied by a vintage-vibe visualizer directed by Natalie Sakstrup, who previously directed Booth’s visuals for “Luck Of The Draw” and “George F****** Strait.” “I’m In Love With A Man” demonstrates Booth’s ability to blend deep emotion with sophisticated storytelling, positioning her as a leading voice in modern country music.

TRISHA YEARWOOD Announces Expanded Digital Edition ‘The Mirror (Deluxe)’ And Intimate Acoustic Tour

Eric Alper
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0
TRISHA YEARWOOD Announces Expanded Digital Edition ‘The Mirror (Deluxe)’ And Intimate Acoustic Tour

TRISHA YEARWOOD Announces Expanded Digital Edition ‘The Mirror (Deluxe)’ And Intimate Acoustic Tour

Trisha Yearwood, The Mirror (Deluxe), Virgin Music Group, Gwendolyn Records, Christmastime, Christmastime: 12 Days of Christmas Symphony Tour, The Mirror Tour: An Intimate Acoustic Evening of Stories and Songs, Leslie Satcher, Bridgette Tatum,

Country music icon Trisha Yearwood is set to release The Mirror (Deluxe) on January 23rd via Virgin Music Group and Gwendolyn Records, an expanded digital edition of her acclaimed recent album, The Mirror. This deluxe version will feature five bonus tracks, including “You’re Gonna Love It Here,” “Different Kind of Hard,” “Undone,” and “Country Music HerStory,” along with the fan-favorite “Put It In A Song.” Yearwood, who is currently celebrating the season with her new album Christmastime and the Christmastime: 12 Days of Christmas Symphony Tour, explained that the new tracks were too important to leave behind and felt like a natural extension of the original album’s deeply personal narrative.

To celebrate the expanded release, Yearwood will embark on The Mirror Tour: An Intimate Acoustic Evening of Stories and Songs, joined by fellow singer-songwriters Leslie Satcher and Bridgette Tatum. The tour, which kicks off in March 2026, promises a rare, up-close experience where Yearwood will bring the new and original songs of The Mirror to life in a stripped-down, acoustic setting, alongside the iconic hits that have defined her legendary career. Yearwood noted, “The Mirror Tour is really about bringing these songs to life in the way they were written, with just a guitar and a story… I can’t wait for folks to hear The Mirror in this setting.”

The tour dates span the country throughout March and April 2026. This intimate format aligns perfectly with Yearwood’s vision for the music, stating that the whole writing process opened a new “portal” for her, making these co-written songs too vital to discard. Tickets for The Mirror Tour went on sale on Friday, December 12th.

TRISHA YEARWOOD 2026 THE MIRROR TOUR DATES:

  • Mar 4 — Santa Rosa, CA @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
  • Mar 5 — Palm Desert, CA @ McCallum Theatre
  • Mar 6 — Chandler, AZ @ Chandler Center for the Arts
  • Mar 8 — Beaver Creek, CO @ Vilar Performing Arts Center
  • Mar 9 — Aspen, CO @ Wheeler Opera House
  • Mar 12 — Salina, KS @ The Stiefel Theatre
  • Mar 13 — Des Moines, IA @ Hoyt Sherman Place
  • Mar 14 — Green Bay, WI @ Meyer Theater
  • Mar 19 — Bloomington, IL @ Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
  • Mar 20 — Shipshewana, IN @ Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
  • Mar 21 — Paducah, KY @ Carson Center for the Arts
  • Apr 9 — Albany, NY @ The Egg
  • Apr 10 — Ithaca, NY @ State Theater
  • Apr 11 — Shippensburg, PA @ H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center
  • Apr 12 — Wilkes-Barre, PA @ The F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts

FENDER Introduces Limited-Edition ‘Arm The Homeless’ Guitar, Recreating Tom Morello’s Iconic Instrument

Eric Alper
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FENDER Introduces Limited-Edition ‘Arm The Homeless’ Guitar, Recreating Tom Morello’s Iconic Instrument

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has officially introduced Tom Morello’s “Arm The Homeless” guitar, a limited-edition instrument that faithfully recreates one of the most distinctive and influential guitars in rock history. This launch is a deeply personal project for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer, offering fans the chance to experience the guitar that powered anthems from Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and Prophets of Rage. The collector’s edition mirrors the original’s unconventional design, including its active electronics, Gotoh Double-Locking Tremolo, custom Hockey Stick headstock, and the provocative “Arm The Homeless” lettering with hand-drawn hippopotamus artwork on a striking blue ice metallic finish.

The original “Arm The Homeless” guitar, a heavily customized build assembled from mismatched parts, became an extension of Morello’s voice and vision, channeling everything from delicate jazz passages to blistering rock riffs. Morello stated, “The ‘Arm the Homeless’ guitar has been my comrade for life in the sonic sphere. It allowed me to find myself as an artist. Over 22 albums and in countless collaborations ‘Arm the Homeless’ has been an indispensable ally.” Fender worked closely with Morello to reproduce every nuance of the original, including the untrimmed strings on the headstock, creating an instrument that balances modern craftsmanship with the expressive range that defined Morello’s groundbreaking sound for decades.

A key feature of the instrument is its active electronics, which deliver the dynamic tonal range essential to Morello’s playing. The faithful recreation of this legendary guitar is a powerful symbol of artistic rebellion and a celebration of Morello’s unwavering commitment to musical innovation and social change. As part of this special project, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the guitar will benefit Midnight Mission and Covenant House, two local Los Angeles organizations hand-picked by Morello for their dedication to providing shelter and dignity to people experiencing homelessness.

Max Gutnik, Fender’s Chief Product Officer, remarked that the mission was to “honor his vision and build an instrument with the same edge and attitude as the original,” emphasizing the commitment to capturing the raw spirit and personality of the iconic guitar. The Tom Morello “Arm The Homeless” Guitar ($1,699.99 USD) is part of Fender’s Artist Signature Series.

You can watch Tom Morello’s “Arm The Homeless” Guitar in action, and high-resolution images are available HERE. For technical specs, additional information, and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com. .

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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