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Cree Musician PaulStar’s Debut Album “Bring It All Together” Fuses Indigenous Roots with Rock and Pop Influences

Eric Alper
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Cree Musician PaulStar’s Debut Album “Bring It All Together” Fuses Indigenous Roots with Rock and Pop Influences

PaulStar, a.k.a. Paul Napash, the multi-talented Cree musician, artist, and producer hailing from Chisasibi, Quebec, is set to make a significant impact on the music industry with the release of his first full-length album, “Bring It All Together” – available now.

With a blend of influences from his Indigenous roots and his love of alternative rock, pop, and hip-hop, the versatile artist’s newly released record is a testament to his musical evolution. When creating “Bring It All Together”, PaulStar underwent an introspective journey, propelled by his passion to elevate the voices of Indigenous people while taking inspiration from his favourite bands.

Every track on the album showcases a different facet of PaulStar’s identity and creative vision, drawing from his own experiences and the hardships encountered by Indigenous communities.

“I always wanted to be a rock star and I loved the 80s music growing up in Chisasibi,” shares PaulStar. “I learned quickly through private instruction and self-teaching, even though I didn’t attend music school. My goal is to leave my mark in the music industry and ‘Bring It All Together’ encouraged me to demonstrate my guitar skills and vocal range.”

The energetic musical journey of “Bring It All Together” takes listeners on a journey through a wide range of themes, from love to self-discovery. Highlights of the album’s versatility include the raw, intimate performance of “Rain” and the genre-spanning prowess of “Home With You” and “Perfect Love.”

PaulStar explains, “The bulk of my songs were crafted and recorded in my former apartment, where I drew inspiration from popular tracks and exceptional talent found on streaming platforms.” He continues, “I recorded ‘Timeless’ at my residence in Smiths Falls. The sound of the acoustic guitar inspired me to write about leaving a legacy in the song.”

PaulStar, who founded Meikin Records and is a graduate of Algonquin College’s Music Industry Arts program, is well-known in the music industry. The acclaim he has received for his work as a producer and session player has been reinforced by his collaborations with artists like Claire Sully, Arrow, Shonna, CJAY GRiZ, Slice, Money-1, Melody McArthur, Violent Ground, K.A.S.P. Aspects.

“Music has always been my passion,” reflects PaulStar. “With ‘Bring It All Together,’ I hope to inspire others to embrace their heritage, follow their dreams, and never give up on what they believe in.”

Ross & Rocky Lynch Present ‘The Driver Era: Live On Tour’

Eric Alper
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Ross & Rocky Lynch Present ‘The Driver Era: Live On Tour’

Today, brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch of The Driver Era have announced – The Driver Era: Live On Tour – hitting 17 cities across North America. Produced by Live Nation, the run of shows kicks off on Tuesday, April 2 at Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks, PA and makes stops in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Quebec before wrapping up in Toronto, ON at HISTORY on May 8.

THE DRIVER ERA: Live On Tour follows the duo’s impressive 2023 touring year – after concluding a worldwide headlining tour in 2022, they sold out The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and New York City’s Pier 17, as well performed sets at internationally renowned festivals such as Mad Cool Festival in Spain, Pinkpop in the Netherlands, Rock Werchter in Belgium, Lollapalooza Paris, NOSAlive in Portugal and Osheaga Festival in Montreal. Stateside, they played festivals including Wonderbus Festival in Columbus, OH and Oceans Calling in Ocean City, MD.

On February 22nd, The Driver Era released their first single of 2024, “Get Off My Phone.” The track marks what is set to be a major year for the band,  seeing the duo stepping into personal lyricism and enhancing their alternative sound. “Get Off My Phone” follows on the heels of “Rumors,” which has earned over 5 million streams since its release. Most recently, the duo released their first live album, live at the greek, immortalizing their June 11, 2023 sold-out performance at the legendary Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

The band, which consists of brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch, aren’t new to the industry by any means. Since their debut single ‘Preacher Man’ in 2018, they have amassed over 450M streams and garnered over 31M combined followers across social media. With their signature sound and larger-than-life live show, THE DRIVER ERA has been praised by the likes of Rolling Stone, PAPER, MTV, and many others. Their studio albums are only one half of what makes THE DRIVER ERA special. From their beginnings as members of the band R5, the duo are veterans when it comes to touring. Known for creating a live show that doubles as a party, the band has sold out shows across the globe — reaching everywhere from Asia to the U.S. to Europe and South America (and everywhere else in between). In addition to being a dynamic and talented musician, Ross is also an acclaimed actor, starring in Netflix’s ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the biopic ‘My Friend Dahmer’ and more. He was most recently featured in the viral music video for Troye Sivan’s, “One Of Your Girls.”

ROSS & ROCKY LYNCH PRESENT THE DRIVER ERA: LIVE ON TOUR DATES:
Tue Apr 02 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theatre
Sat Apr 06 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
Mon Apr 08 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Wed Apr 10 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
Thu Apr 11 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha
Tue Apr 16 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
Thu Apr 18 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
Fri Apr 19 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte
Sat Apr 20 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
Tue Apr 23 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
Thu Apr 25 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
Fri Apr 26 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
Tue Apr 30 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
Thu May 02 – Wallingford, CT – The Dome at Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Fri May 03 – Hampton, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Mon May 06 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
Wed May 08 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY

The National And The War On Drugs Announce The ‘Zen Diagram Tour’

Eric Alper
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The National And The War On Drugs Announce The ‘Zen Diagram Tour’

Today, GRAMMY-award winning rock bands The National and The War On Drugs announced their 2024 Zen Diagram Tour across North America, marking the first time the two bands have toured together. Produced by Live Nation, the 19-date fall run kicks off on Thursday, September 12 in Gilford, NH at Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, with stops in New York, Toronto, Chicago, Vancouver, Berkeley, and more before wrapping up with a performance at Mexico City’s Palacio De Los Deportes on Thursday, October 10. The tour also includes a show at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Special guest Lucius will be joining across all dates except Mexico City.

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with presales beginning Tuesday, February 27 at 10 AM local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, March 1 at 10 AM local time at livenation.com.

The tour will feature sets packed with great music from both bands, highlighting each group’s deep catalog. The Zen Diagram Tour follows The National’s solo global run across New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the UK this year. Additionally, The War On Drugs has several UK headline performances and Europe festival dates scheduled for this summer.

THE ZEN DIAGRAM TOUR 2024 DATES:
Thu Sep 12 — Gilford, NH — Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
Fri Sep 13 — New York, NY — Forest Hills Stadium
Sat Sep 14 — Mansfield, MA — Xfinity Center
Mon Sep 16 — Columbia, MD — Merriweather Post Pavilion
Tue Sep 17 — Philadelphia, PA — TD Pavilion at the Mann Center for Performing Arts
Thu Sep 19 — Laval, QC — Place Bell
Fri Sep 20 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
Sat Sep 21 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH — Blossom Music Center
Tue Sep 24 — Chicago, IL — United Center
Wed Sep 25 — Sterling Heights, MI — Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
Thu Sep 26 — Madison, WI — Breese Stevens Field
Sat Sept 28 — Englewood, CO — Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Sun Sep 29 — Salt Lake City, UT — Granary Live
Tue Oct 01 — Seattle, WA — Climate Pledge Arena
Wed Oct 02 — Vancouver, BC — Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
Thu Oct 03 — Portland, OR — Moda Center
Sun Oct 06 — Berkeley, CA — The Greek Theatre
Mon Oct 07 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Bowl
Thu Oct 10 — Mexico City, MX — Palacio De Los Deportes ^
^ Without Lucius

Maggie Rogers Announces ‘Don’t Forget Me’ Tour Launching May 23

Eric Alper
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Maggie Rogers Announces ‘Don’t Forget Me’ Tour Launching May 23

GRAMMY Award-nominated songwriter/producer/performer Maggie Rogers will kick off Part 1 of The Don’t Forget Me Tour on May 23 at Gallagher Square at Petco Park in San Diego, CA. Produced by Live Nation, the North American headline run will include stops at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX, The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, TX and more in addition to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, and Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD. The Japanese House, the critically acclaimed project of Amber Bain, will support from May 24 – June 22. See below for full itinerary. Rogers will also perform at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.

The tour is named for Rogers’ new album, Don’t Forget Me, which will be released on April 12 via Capitol Records. Pre-order Don’t Forget Me HERE.   Rogers recently shared the title track – an intimate reflection on the legacy we create through our relationships. Listen to “Don’t Forget Me” HERE. The accompanying video was filmed in Super 8 in Maine and unfolds with an organic energy akin to the album as it tracks the simple, reassuring rhythms of daily life. View HERE.

Rogers debuted “Don’t Forget Me,” along with upcoming album tracks “The Kill,” and “So Sick Of Dreaming”during her sold-out Summer of ’23 North American headline tour, which included stops at legendary venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, Forest Hills Stadium in NYC and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Consequencehailed her as “an enchanting and charismatic performer, a firecracker” and noted, “Her songs have a special kind of ferocity and grandeur that is best felt amidst a crowd.”

Originally from Maryland, GRAMMY Award-nominated producer/songwriter/performer Maggie Rogers released her breakthrough EP Now That The Light Is Fading in 2017. Widely hailed as an artist to watch, Rogers released her critically acclaimed Capitol Records debut album Heard It In A Past Life in January 2019 and immediately found tremendous success: entering Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart at No. 1 and debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The album earned praise from the likes of NPR, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, TIME Magazine, Vogue, and many more. Heard It In A Past Life also landed Rogers a nomination for Best New Artist at the 62nd GRAMMY Awards and led to performances on major TV shows including “Saturday Night Live,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Austin City Limits,” “Today” and more. The album, which contains the Platinum hits “Light On” and “Alaska,” has amassed over one billion combined global streams and is certified Gold in the U.S. In 2022, Rogers released her follow up album, Surrender, to widespread acclaim and embarked on two sold-out headline tours across Europe and North America including her Summer of ’23 Tourwhich included stops at legendary venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, Forest Hills Stadium in NYC and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Rogers will release Don’t Forget Me, her third studio album, on April 12.

Maggie Rogers – “The Don’t Forget Me Tour” – Part 1 (Including Festival Appearances)
05-04 Charlotte, NC – Lovin’ Life Music Fest
05-23 San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park
05-24 Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre *
05-27 Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
05-31 Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory *
06-01 The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *
06-03 Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP *
06-05 Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park *
06-07 Cincinnati, OH – The Icon Festival Stage at Smale Park *
06-08 Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion *
06-09 Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre *
06-11 Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre *
06-14 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
06-16 Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion *
06-19 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park *
06-20 Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium *
06-22 Miami, FL – FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park *
08-15 Munich, Germany – Olympiastadion #
08-17 Munich, Germany – Olympiastadion #
08-18 Munich, Germany – Olympiastadion #
08-21 Vienna, Austria – Ernst-Happel-Stadium #
08-22 Vienna, Austria – Ernst-Happel-Stadium #
08-24 Vienna, Austria – Ernst-Happel-Stadium #
08-25 Vienna, Austria – Ernst-Happel-Stadium #
08-29 Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park #
08-30 Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park #
09-01 Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park #
09-02 Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park #
* with The Japanese House
# with Coldplay

Vampire Weekend Introduce New ‘Vampire Campfire’ Podcast

Eric Alper
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Vampire Weekend Introduce New ‘Vampire Campfire’ Podcast

As anticipation continues to grow for their long-awaited 5th studio album, Only God Was Above Us, Vampire Weekend have released the debut episode of their new podcast, Vampire Campfire. Hosted by Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio and Chris Tomson, and captured on a trio of Ikegami ITC-730AP cameras, the podcast will be released semi-regularly for the foreseeable future. Fans who tune in will be invited behind the scenes into a longstanding and formerly private Vampire Weekend ritual: the frequent campfire chats where Baio, CT and Koenig convene to discuss and brainstorm all things VW—and so much more. Observant listeners will spot the occasional Easter egg, while all will be treated to advance insights into the upcoming Only God Was Above Us album and tour — and will be invited to witness as the band members reminisce about the past and discuss important matters in the present, ranging from tour openers, set lists and the potential of a future album called The 40-Year-Old Email, to such controversial topics as the dominant type of taco shell and The Real World vs Road Rules. Future episodes will see the band delve deeper into the new album and will feature some very special guests. Listen to Vampire Campfire wherever you listen to podcasts, or watch it here.

Meanwhile, the recently announced Only God Was Above Us tour is almost entirely sold out, with over 250,000 tickets sold in the first few days. Sold out venues adding seats to accommodate overwhelming demand include New York’s Madison Square Garden and Boston’s TD Garden, while Colorado’s Red Rocks (with an added Dillon Ampitheater which also sold out immediately) and TD’s Pavilion at the Mann Center in Philadelphia both sold out in pre-sales alone. Only a handful of tickets remain for the remainder of the tour which kicks off on April 8th in Austin, TX for a very special eclipse show, which also sold out instantly. See below for a full routing.

Only God Was Above Us will be released on April 5th via Columbia Records. The 10-track magnum opus tops lists of most anticipated albums this year by Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Paste, Uproxx and others. Next week Vampire Weekend will release one more track from the album.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND Only God Was Above Us Tour 2024

Mon Apr 08 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater (Solar Eclipse)
Sat April 27 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival*
Fri May 10 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Block Party*
Thu May 30 – Barcelona, Espana – Primavera Sound*
Thu Jun 06 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Fri Jun 07 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Sun Jun 09 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Mon Jun 10 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Wed Jun 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Sat Jun 15 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre at U.C. Berkeley
Sun Jun 16 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre at U.C. Berkeley (Matinee Show)
Tue Jun 18 – Burnaby, BC – Deer Lake Park
Wed Jun 19 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Thu Jun 20 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Sat Jun 22 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater
Sun Jun 23 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater (Matinee Show)
Fri Jul 19 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Sat Jul 20 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater
Mon Jul 22 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
Tue Jul 23 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Theater
Thu Jul 25 – Maryland Heights, MO – Saint Louis Music Park
Fri Jul 26 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Sat Jul 27 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Tue Jul 30 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Wed Jul 31 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Thu Aug 01 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion
Sat Aug 03 – St. Charles, IA – Hinterland*
Thu Sep 19 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Fri Sep 20 – Cincinnati, OH – The ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park
Sat Sep 21 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
Mon Sep 23 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Tue Sep 24 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Wed Sep 25 – Laval, QC – Place Bell
Fri Sep 27 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sat Sep 28 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at The Mann
Mon Sep 30 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
Tue Oct 01 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
Wed Oct 02 – Charlottesville, VA – Ting Pavilion
Sat Oct 05 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sun Oct 06 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (Matinee Show)
Tue Oct 08 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion
Wed Oct 09 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
Fri Oct 11 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
Sat Oct 12 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Sun Oct 13 – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit
Tue Oct 15 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Thu Oct 17 – Austin, TX – Moody Center

*Festival date

My Next Read: “Hip-Hop Is History” by Questlove and Ben Greenman

Eric Alper
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My Next Read: “Hip-Hop Is History” by Questlove and Ben Greenman

This is a book only Questlove could have written: a perceptive and personal reflection on the first half-century of hip-hop.

When hip-hop first emerged in the 1970s, it wasn’t expected to become the cultural force it is today. But for a young Black kid growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia, it was everything. He stayed up late to hear the newest songs on the radio. He saved his money to buy vinyl as soon as it landed. He even started to try to make his own songs. That kid was Questlove, and decades later, he is a six-time Grammy Award–winning musician, an Academy Award–winning filmmaker, a New York Times bestselling author, a producer, an entrepreneur, a cofounder of one of hip-hop’s defining acts (the Roots), and the genre’s unofficial in-house historian.

In this landmark book, Hip-Hop Is History, Questlove skillfully traces the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop, highlighting both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits―and weaves it all together with the stories no one else knows. It is at once an intimate, sharply observed story of a cultural revolution and a sweeping, grand theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time. And Questlove, of course, approaches it with not only the encyclopedic fluency and passion of an obsessive fan but also the expertise and originality of an innovative participant.

Hip-hop is history, and also his history.

Big Bird & Snuffy Sing “That’s Why We Love Nature” With Brandi Carlile

Eric Alper
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Big Bird & Snuffy Sing “That’s Why We Love Nature” With Brandi Carlile

Join Big Bird, Snuffy, and their friend Brandi Carlile on a whimsical adventure through nature in this delightful song from Sesame Street.

Mesa, AZ Musician Defies Odds: Gene Moran Shares the Heartfelt Story Behind “Dead Man’s Guitar”

Eric Alper
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Mesa, AZ Musician Defies Odds: Gene Moran Shares the Heartfelt Story Behind “Dead Man’s Guitar”

Mesa, AZ-based Gene Moran, the “musician who shouldn’t be a musician,” is establishing himself as the modern rebel Americana singer/songwriter with his newest song, “Dead Man’s Guitar.”

“Dead Man’s Guitar” tells the true story of the first guitar Moran ever owned, which he received when his uncle Andy Arias passed away. Moran describes his uncle as the “best guitarist in Yuma AZ,” and credits his lifelong love of the instrument to the time they spent working on guitar together. Today, Moran finds his sound somewhere between the Hank Williams school of lonesome, the more experimental landscape of alt-rock, grunge and fuzz, with a sprinkle of unmistakably Arizonan desert rock. Though he’s now a seasoned live music professional, many may find it hard to believe that Moran once struggled with stage fright!

“Starting from when I was 15, I’ve always wanted to be in bands like my friends in high school,” he explains. “But I had a hang up about being disabled and playing on stage and thought I would look stupid.”

Moran was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological disability that affects fine and gross motor skills. Though his condition initially made learning an instrument look tremendously difficult, Moran’s desire to create his own music pushed him to find his own unique approach.

“I shouldn’t even be able to play the guitar,” he admits. “Because of the dexterity required to play the guitar I had to figure out a different way– By laying the guitar flat on my lap I was able to use my thumb to press down on certain strings and mute other strings to create chords. However, my dexterity limits my ability to play cover songs due to the complexity of how a traditional guitarist plays guitar. I figured being able to create chords is all you need to create songs. This forced me to start songwriting.”

Moran kept his songs to himself for nearly thirty years before having the courage to show a few of them to his friend Joe Peña, a respected songwriter from Tucson, Arizona.

“He said I was stupid for thinking I would look stupid playing on stage in my wheelchair,” Moran fondly recalls. “He also said it would be a shame if I didn’t share my songs and perform live. So, I took his advice, and I played an open mic night. My songs were really well received, and I never looked back.”

“Dead Man’s Guitar” belongs on every predictive song of the summer playlist, as it is sure to resonate in the hearts of those among us who understand the power of a worthy singalong– All of the tastemakers and community leaders who take great songs and turn them into classics. Be sure to give it a listen before it arrives at a campfire, block party, or other celebration of summer fun near you.

Golden Years: Dublin’s Alt. Rocker Conor Furlong’s New Comp Takes Stock Of All Our Yesterdays

Eric Alper
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Golden Years: Dublin’s Alt. Rocker Conor Furlong’s New Comp Takes Stock Of All Our Yesterdays

There’s no rule that says you can’t issue a career retrospective after only four years—especially when it isn’t just your own past you’re looking back on. With his new compilation, 2019-2023, Dublin singer-songwriter Conor Furlong recaps his achievements not only as an artist in his own right, but as a curator of our shared musical memories.

The 22-song collection is a crash course in Furlong’s expert command of styles ranging from grunge-infused rock to spaced-out ambient pop. And its release is being heralded by a double-A-sided single that brings together two of the best examples of his ability to pay homage while honing a sound that’s uniquely his own. On one side is “Teenage Fantasies,” the first single from his 2021 album, Recurring Dream; on the other is “Alien,” the spotlight track to 2019’s Rapid Eye Movement. Both songs share a grand flair for heart-rending emotion, with Furlong’s reverberating voice floating soft syllables above arrangements dripping with lush yet unforced majesty.

“Teenage Fantasies” is meant to evoke the spirit of 1991-1995, which Furlong calls “the last golden period of popular music.” Never let it end/ Put in it my veins, the song’s nostalgic refrain implores. Let me slip away/ In my fantasy. The accompanying video puts that yearning into fuller context, incorporating actual footage of American teenagers of the era hanging out and being themselves.

“I wanted to make something that felt uplifting but also long for a time that seems lost to the modern era of phones and the internet,” Furlong says. “If I did my job right, the video should make you simultaneously elated and wistful.”

“Alien” takes the wistfulness to an even greater level, pleading I can’t take it/ Say you love me do to summarize five minutes of achingly plaintive popcraft. Its own video matches that melancholy tone perfectly, with slow tracking shots taking us down empty streets covered by a light layer of snow.

A future single from 2019-2023 will be a re-release of Furlong’s fan anthem “We’re Listening to David Bowie.” He’s unabashed in his admiration for the Thin White Duke, along with other giants like The Beatles, Paul Simon and Phil Spector, and he isn’t afraid to hold his own work to their standard. Bernard Herrmann’s scores for classic Hitchcock films also fire his muse. But his influences aren’t solely musical: When he looks at the paintings of Monet, Miro, Dali, Hundertwasser and Van Gogh, he finds himself trying to come up with words and melodies to match the immortal images they left on the canvas.

And as he’s now found out, putting together a greatest-hits record is an art in and of itself. Instead of sequencing 2019-2023 chronologically, he’s had great fun ordering its tracks to be “somewhere between a studio double album and a concert set-list,” with spacier selections like The Stars brushing up against grunge-rockers like Can I Make You Realise? for maximum drama and variety.

“I initially designed this compilation as a showcase for my music, but now, having spent time with it, it has taken on a deeper meaning for me,” Furlong reflects. “There is something very emotional in bringing together what you think is some of your best work over a period of time and presenting it to the world.”

To that, what else can be said but: Four more years!

Lisa Richard Releases Loving Gordon Lightfoot Tribute With “If You Could Read My Mind” Cover

Eric Alper
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0
Lisa Richard Releases Loving Gordon Lightfoot Tribute With “If You Could Read My Mind” Cover

It isn’t always a wise move to cover an all-time classic. But if you want to know you’ve done it justice, there are certain signs you can watch for. Like looking out into the audience and seeing everybody on their feet.

That’s the reaction Canadian folk-country troubadour Lisa Richard received after she had performed a heartfelt rendition of Gordon Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind” to a crowd of 4,000 at the 2023 Stan Rogers Folk Festival.

“It was a moment I’ll never forget,” Richard says. “I was surrounded by not only a beautiful crowd but other incredible musicians with whom I shared the stage. I could see tears in the eyes of the audience members in the front rows, as well as my peers on stage.

“You could hear a pin drop during the song, but what followed was an eruption of cheers and standing ovations from the thousands of people in the crowd. I was truly so touched by the positive and emotional response that I decided to make it official.”

The result is her new single, a studio recording of the song that features her backing band of Warren Robert, Dana Westall and Scott Ferguson as key collaborators. Neither a slavish imitation nor a disrespectful disfigurement, the cover retains the acoustic guitar and strings of the 1970 original but adds tasteful drumming and a skipping, almost country-fied electric guitar. Ferguson produced the track, and Robert provided the suitably haunting orchestral arrangement. Yet the focus remains on Richard’s affecting warble as she digs deep into the deceptively pretty-sounding chronicle of disappointment and divorce Lightfoot once took to the top of the charts.

“I’m super excited to share my version of ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ with listeners, alongside a music video crafted by the brilliant Scott Ferguson,” Richard says. “Gordon Lightfoot is a Canadian treasure, and I hope this version will be one he would be proud of.”

This isn’t the first time Richard has gamely followed in the footsteps of an icon: A version of Dolly Parton’s immortal “Jolene” that she performed alongside Vince Gill and the Time Jumpers in Nashville has been seen by over 150,000 viewers online. And in her time in the spotlight, she’s variously been called “a soulful Anne Murray” and compared to the likes of Cher, Wynonna Judd and Tracy Chapman.

It helps that Richard is equally adept at country, pop, folk and rock. And the music world has duly taken notice of those abilities. Born in New Mills, New Brunswick, and now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Richard has performed for audiences across North America and Europe. Her album, Promises Kept, was nominated for the 2022 Country Recording of the Year award at the Music Nova Scotia Music Awards (where Richard had been nominated for Country Artist of the Year in 2018). Her previous single, “Uniforms,” was named the 2018 CIOE East Coast Music #1 song of the year, achieved rotation on Sirius XM CBC Country radio, and was also featured on WSM Grand Ole Opry radio.

Richard has won the CBC Searchlight Top 10 Regional Contest (Nova Scotia) and was a nominee for multiple Josie Music Awards and International Singer Songwriters Association Awards. She’s recently showcased at NewSkool Rules in the Netherlands, as well as playing the 2023 East Coast Music Awards, 2023 CCMA Music Awards and that fateful gig at the 2023 Stan Rogers Folk Festival.

Richard is about to head out on her Promises Kept tour, and of course “If You Could Read My Mind” will figure prominently in the set. You don’t need to be clairvoyant to know you shouldn’t miss it.

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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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