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Jason Mraz Releases We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. We Deluxe Edition

Eric Alper
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Jason Mraz Releases We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. We Deluxe Edition

Multi-GRAMMY Award winner and Songwriters Hall of Fame Honoree Jason Mrazreleases We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. We Deluxe Edition., a newly remastered version of his GRAMMY-winning, RIAA-certified 4x Platinum album with 14 bonus tracks never-before-pressed on vinyl – including previously unheard demos, an unreleased song, and other rarities – in honor of the album’s 15th anniversary. We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. We Deluxe Edition., offered as a 3-LP set, 2-CD set, and digitally, is available now.

To celebrate the release of We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. We Deluxe Edition., a very special 15th Anniversary Performance will premiere on Jason Mraz’s YouTube Channel at 5pm PT / 8pm ET tonight, September 22nd. Filmed in Mraz’s home studio on The Mranch, the set features five new renditions of songs from the record, including “I’m Yours” and “Lucky” with special guest Colbie Caillat, all backed by his 10-piece Superband that includes the Grooveline Horns, drummer Michael “Leroy” Bram, guitarist Dr. Molly Miller, and members of Raining Jane, his longtime collaborators and co-writers of “A Beautiful Mess.” It was there in that home studio where Jason Mraz first demoed songs for We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., and – more than a decade and a half later – recorded parts of his latest album, Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, both of which were produced by Martin Terefe. The We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. 15th Anniversary Performance is the first in a series of new content directed by Jeff Coffman, revisiting and exploring the iconic album.

We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. We Deluxe Edition. includes acoustic versions of the GRAMMY Award-winning song “Make It Mine” alongside fan favorites like “Butterfly,” “Only Human,” and “The Dynamo of Volition,” as well as unreleased demos of “Lucky” (revealing Jason’s first draft of his GRAMMY Award-winning, RIAA-certified 4x Platinum duet with Colbie Caillat), “Details In The Fabric,” and “I’m Yours.” Fans can hear the breakthrough hit in its infancy: the now RIAA-certified 13x Platinum song set a record for the number of weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since been streamed more than 3.5 billion times, making it the #1-streamed song released by a solo artist in the 2000-2009 decade.

The limited-edition physical packages include a booklet with rare photos, images of Mraz’s notes while writing lyrics, a track-by-track commentary by Mraz himself, and extensive liner notes by music journalist Annie Zaleski.

Mraz’s most recent alum, Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, is a sister album of sorts to We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. For Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, Mraz reunited with produce Martin Terefe as well as Raining Jane, Grooveline Horns, and string arranger David Davidson, all collaborators on the 2008 album. Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, which features the song “I Feel Like Dancing,” is a return to pop for Mraz, who just finished up a nationwide tour in support of the album.
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Jason Mraz is a two-time Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter and Songwriters Hall of Fame Honoree, most famously known by his hits, “I’m Yours” and “I Won’t Give Up.” His music has earned him Platinum ad Multi-Platinum certifications in more than 20 countries, and he has performed on all seven continents. His non-profit, the Jason Mraz Foundation, supports programs focused on inclusive arts education and the advancement of equality. Established in 2015, Mraz Family Farms is committed to peace in the world through organic regenerative agriculture, fair trade, and kind words. In June, Mraz released his eighth studio album, Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride.

We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. We Deluxe Edition.
1. Make It Mine
2. I’m Yours
3. Lucky (with Colbie Caillat)
4. Butterfly
5. Live High
6. Love for a Child
7. Details in the Fabric (featuring James Morrison)
8. Coyotes
9. Only Human
10. The Dynamo of Volition
11. If It Kills Me
12. A Beautiful Mess
13. Make It Mine (From the Casa Nova Sessions)
14. I’m Yours (Demo)
15. Lucky (Jason’s First Draft)*
16. Butterfly (From the Casa Nova Sessions)
17. Live High (From an Avocado Salad Session)
18. Love for a Child (From the Casa Nova Sessions)
19. Details in the Fabric (Demo)*
20. Coyotes (From A Girl In New York Sessions)
21. Only Human (From the Casa Nova Sessions)
22. The Dynamo of Volition (From an All Night Session)
23. If It Kills Me (From the Casa Nova Sessions)
24. A Beautiful Mess (From a Raining Jane Session)
25. Kickin’ With You
26. Happy Endings*
*Previously Unreleased

COWBOY JUNKIES Announce Rescheduled Ontario Tour

Eric Alper
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COWBOY JUNKIES Announce Rescheduled Ontario Tour

Cowboy Junkies dates originally scheduled for October 3 in Toronto, October 4 in Kingston, and October 5 in Peterborough have been rescheduled.

Tickets for the October shows are valid for the November shows. Ticket holders are advised to contact their point of purchase for any further questions.

COWBOY JUNKIES Announce Rescheduled Ontario Tour
November 20, 2023 – Kingston, ON: Grand Theatre
November 21 2023 – Peterborough, ON: Showplace Performance Centre
November 22, 2023 – Toronto, ON: Danforth Music Hall

Econoline Crush Unveils Powerful “Locked In Your Stone” and Announces Tour Dates

Eric Alper
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Econoline Crush Unveils Powerful “Locked In Your Stone” and Announces Tour Dates

Grief is a complicated and emotional process. People handle it in different ways. For Econoline Crush frontman Trevor Hurst, music is his therapy.

In March 2022, the Canadian rock band’s guitarist David “Ziggy” Sigmund died. Hurst learned of his close friend’s passing over the phone 15 minutes before he was to leave to listen to the final mixes of Econoline Crush’s upcoming album, “When The Devil Drives,” which Sigmund had a hand in.

The news broke Hurst. In the months leading up to his death, Sigmund had withdrawn himself from those close to him to avoid physical and emotional pain associated with his struggles, Hurst explained. The musician said he and Sigmund were as close as brothers, and the loss consumed him with a range of emotions.

“Ziggy’s death caused me to reevaluate my own personal struggles,” Hurst said. “I was angry that he was gone. I felt abandoned and lost with no relief in sight.”

He turned to the coping tool he had learned that treats him best: music. From that pain, “Locked in Your Stone” was molded.

“It served as an outlet, a way to express my sadness and my frustration,” Hurst explained. “Recording it after his death allowed me to unload some of my emotional baggage and move forward. The music for ‘Locked in Your Stone’ felt like it was meant as the outlet for my grief.”

In “Locked in Your Stone,” Hurst opens his soul out over smooth, moody synths that simultaneously convey sadness, desperation, and confusion. The instrumentals came from fragments of songs left unfinished, pieced together by Hurst and Ian Alexander Smith, the former frontman for Miniatures who produced “When The Devil Drives,” Econoline Crush’s first full-length album in more than a decade. The lyrics just flowed, Hurst said, the complex cocktail of emotions pouring onto the page.

“‘You won’t open the door. Hold on,’ signified my frustration, my desperation, my inability to reach him,” Hurst explained. “‘The thought of your insanity complicit with this tragedy’ reflects my perceived guilt that even with all my training as a psychiatric nurse, I was unable to reach him. ‘So over life and all the hype. You took your toys and quit’ represents my frustration and anger at him for falling victim to addiction and self-loathing.”

The track is part of the band’s resurgence approximately three decades after it originally formed in Vancouver in 1992. Econoline Crush signed with EMI Music Canada in 1994 and debuted that year with the EP, “Purge.” It released a full-length in 1996 called “Affliction,” then experienced its major breakthrough in 1997 with the platinum-selling “The Devil You Know.” Four years later in 2001, the band put out its final studio album for EMI, “Brand New History.” Their newest album represents their comeback and is also paired with a documentary film, “Flatlander,” about a rocker from Brandon, Manitoba’s second career as a psychiatric nurse, which will come out in 2024.

More than 30 years after Econoline Crush’s start, Hurst is its last original member. Many have come through the band in its almost three decades of operation, but few left the impact of Sigmund, who first joined in 1996, stayed until the initial breakup in 2002, then returned in 2010 until his death in 2022. Music is what brought Hurst and Sigmund together in the first place, and music is what Hurst intends to continue their relationship even as half of their duo walks elsewhere than earth.

“Music is what connected Ziggy and I in life, and music is what continues to keep us connected after his death,” he said. “‘Locked in Your Stone’ is the song that captures my grief and frustration, but in doing so, helps me release my pain and begin to heal.”

Econoline Crush Tour Dates:
Friday, October 27, 2023 Townhouse Sudbury
Saturday, October 28, 2023 London Music Hall London
Thursday, November 2, 2023 The Warehouse St. Catharines
Friday, November 3, 2023 Corktown Hamilton
Saturday, November 4, 2023 The Hub Kitchener
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 Imperial Theatre Sarnia
Thursday, November 9, 2023 Lee’s Palace Toronto
Friday, November 10, 2023 Biltmore Theatre Oshawa
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 Bar Le Ritz Montreal
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 Le Anti Quebec City
Friday, November 17, 2023 eVents Thunder Bay
Saturday, November 18, 2023 The Park Theatre Winnipeg

Folk/Pop Duo Winsome Kind Release Double A-Side Delight: ‘Keep on Lovin’ & ‘Trail Of Love’

Eric Alper
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Folk/Pop Duo Winsome Kind Release Double A-Side Delight: ‘Keep on Lovin’ & ‘Trail Of Love’

Scott Perrie and Leora Joy Perrie, the Canadian husband and wife duo of Winsome Kind, are set to draw listeners in once again with their latest singles, “Keep on Lovin’” and “Trail Of Love”, a double A-side from their highly anticipated third full-length album, Love in a Hurricane, out now.

“Keep on Lovin’” is a sweet and sultry composition that weaves together Leora’s golden voice with Scott’s exquisite guitar licks in a dance of emotive melodies. The song, a testament to their decade-long journey of love and musical collaboration, captures the undeniable chemistry between the pair. “Trail of Love” calls the clouds and signals the rain for the group’s upcoming, third album, Love in a Hurricane, preparing audiences for all the love that’s yet to come, and reminding everyone that the sun will shine again. The delightful and harmonic tracks, which were recorded on enchanting Salt Spring Island in their 32 foot camper and finished with help from Daryl Chonka (Old Growth Music), showcase the duo’s softer, more introspective side and invite us to connect with our hearts in these tumultuous times.

The accompanying music videos for both songs were directed and edited by Sydney Woodward, creator of the astonishing music video for “Harmonize” by Rising Appalachia, and beautifully capture the essence of the performance and songs, while creating an immersive visual experience for fans. Both music videos add an extra layer of enchantment shot amidst the awe-inspiring backdrop of Ruckle Park.

The two met over a decade ago while performing in a production of The Buddy Holly Story in Regina, Saskatchewan, and quickly fell in love. And so they did what two people in love with each other and music do: Leora and Scott started creating beautiful music together. In the years since, Winsome Kind has been busy in the studio, on the road, and with their kids, and making music every single step of the way. Love in a Hurricane was recorded almost entirely with a mobile on-the-go studio, which Leora and Scott used throughout Mexico and Canada to create their unique blend of folk, pop, and harmony, without ever missing a beat.

A driving, thumping folk beat and rhythm, carried by the promise of getting there when it’s the right time, and a harmony from an otherworldly prairie, nestled somewhere sweet between heaven’s dreams, make Winsome Kind the essential indie group of 2023.

2 Great Shows Are Coming To Toronto: Omar Kamal and Mavis Staples

Eric Alper
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2 Great Shows Are Coming To Toronto: Omar Kamal and Mavis Staples

Palestinian singer, composer, and producer Omar Kamal brings together a stunning repertoire of emotional hits for one enchanting evening of standards at Koerner Hall on October 20. The pure power of his voice can be felt in his eclectic catalogue and captivating performances, from Sinatra’s croon and to Joe William’s swing. He’ll be performing with a Toronto all-star big band featuring London based pianist Rob Barron, multiple Juno Award-winners Allison Au, Michael Occhipinti, Roberto Occhipinti, and more.

Omar Kamal has captivated audiences worldwide with his unique blend of jazz, classical, Arabic, and oriental music. His debut album Serenade, produced by Dave Pierce (Michael Bublé, The Frank Sinatra Estate) and Bob Rock (Metallica, Jon Bon Jovi, Aerosmith) in 2017, showcased his versatility and talent as a vocalist and musician. The title track of his second album Show Me the Light reached the UK top 10 chart positions and was followed by an international tour that featured sold out shows at Dubai Opera and Ronnie Scott’s in London.

This evening is dedicated to the memory of Tony Bennett. You can go here for tickets.

“One of America’s defining voices of freedom and peace” (NPR), Mavis Staples, the iconic soul/gospel/R&B pioneer returns to Koerner Hall on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 8pm for another stunning performance. She is a civil rights icon, a multiple Grammy Award winner, a chart-topping soul/gospel/R&B pioneer with her family group The Staple Singers, a member of both the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient, and a Kennedy Center honoree. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, and sang in Barack Obama’s White House. Staples has collaborated with everyone from Prince and Bob Dylan to Arcade Fire and Hozier, blown away countless festivalgoers from Newport Folk and Glastonbury to Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, performed with The Band at The Last Waltz, and graced the airwaves, from major talk shows to Austin City Limits.

You can go here for tickets.

My Next Read: “George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle” By Philip Norman

Eric Alper
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My Next Read: “George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle” By Philip Norman

From the premiere Beatles biographer—author of the New York Times bestseller John Lennon: The Life and the million-copy selling Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation—a rare and revealing portrait of George Harrison, the most misunderstood and mysterious Beatle, based on decades-long research and unparalleled access to inside sources.

Despite being hailed as one of the best guitarists of his era, George Harrison, particularly in his early decades, battled feelings of inferiority. He was often the butt of jokes from his bandmates owing to his lower-class background and, typically, was allowed to contribute only one or two songs per Beatles album out of the dozens he wrote.

Now, acclaimed Beatles biographer Philip Norman examines Harrison through the lens of his numerous self-contradictions. Compared to songwriting luminaries John Lennon and Paul McCartney he was considered a minor talent, yet he composed such masterpieces as “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Here Comes the Sun,” and his solo debut album “All Things Must Pass” achieved enormous success, appearing on many lists of the 100 best rock albums ever. Modern music critics place him in the pantheon of sixties guitar gods alongside Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, and Jimmy Page.

Harrison railed against the material world yet wrote the first pop song complaining about income tax. He spent years lovingly restoring his Friar Park estate as a spiritual journey, but quickly mortgaged the property to help rescue a film project that would be widely banned as sacrilegious, Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Harrison could be fiercely jealous, but not only did he stay friends with Eric Clapton when Clapton fell in love with Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd, the two men grew even closer after Clapton walked away with her.

Unprecedented in scope and filled with numerous color photos, this rich biography captures George Harrison at his most multi-faceted: devoted friend, loyal son, master guitar player, brilliant songwriter, cocaine addict, serial philanderer, global philanthropist, student of Indian mysticism, self-deprecating comedian, and, ultimately, iconic artist and man beloved by millions.

Philip Norman grew up on Ryde Pier, Isle of Wight. His bizarre childhood as the son of an unsuccessful seaside showman inspired his memoir Babycham Night. Norman went on to win the Young Writer of the Year Award contest organized by The Sunday Times Magazine (London), where he became a star interviewer, profiling celebrities ranging from Stevie Wonder to Libyan President Moammar Gaddafi. Norman’s early career as a rock critic led to his first biography, Shout!, which received critical acclaim and sold more than a million copies. He is the author of numerous highly praised works, including John Lennon: The Life; Paul McCartney: The Life; Slowhand: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton; Rave On: The Biography of Buddy Holly; Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix; and a memoir of his Sunday Times years, We Danced on Our Desks.

Glen Hansard Announces New Album ‘All That Was East Is West Of Me Now’ Out October 20

Eric Alper
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Glen Hansard Announces New Album ‘All That Was East Is West Of Me Now’ Out October 20

Glen Hansard is set to release his fifth solo record ‘All That Was East Is West Of Me Now’ on October 20. It will mark the singer-songwriter’s first record in over four years and follows a period that found Hansard moving between collaborative work with Eddie Vedder and Cat Power to live performances with The Frames and Markéta Irglová/The Swell Season. The effect of which helped give direction to ‘All That Was East Is West Of Me Now’, a record that is by all turns noisy and meditative, sprawling and hypnotic, Hansard’s most rock record since Burn the Maps-era The Frames.

The record opens with a call to arms in the powerful and stately “The Feast Of St. John.” Evoking echoes of “On the Beach” Neil Young and ‘Magnolia’-era Songs:Ohia, the song features Warren Ellis (The Dirty Three/The Bad Seeds) on violin and feels like raucous bit of apotropaic magic from the westernmost edge of Ireland. Listen + watch the song’s dark, direct-to-camera performance video below.

‘All That Was East Is West Of Me Now’ came together through a series of five word-of-mouth gigs Hansard arranged at his small local pub over the course of November 2022. “A song only becomes what it is through witness,” says Hansard and in the presence of an audience, “the song finds a different way.” By the end of the residency, the record had taken shape and recording commenced with long time co-conspirator David Odlum at his home studio on the outskirts of Dublin.

Hansard further explains: “I told no one. We set up in the corner and played to the locals, some of whom were only half listening. A collection of farmers and workers, dart players, pool sharks. I played two hours of new songs each week, some songs finished, some half-baked. Through this process I realized what I had and what I had to work on further – which songs landed and which ones were only good in my imagination. It solidified my choices right away. It was as if the album appeared in that bar. And not before.”

The title, which Hansard says, stems from the “sudden realization that there’s more behind than ahead,” suggests a survey from a great height, taking in terrain travelled and yet also that which is still to be discovered. Though while the passage of time may be a central theme, these eight tracks focus more on the promise for the future than thoughts of regret or nostalgia.

Tracks:
01. The Feast Of St. John
02. Down On Our Knees
03. There’s No Mountain
04. Sure As The Rain
05. Between Us There Is Music
06. Ghost
07. Bearing Witness
08. Short Life
09. Reprise

Logan Brown: A Decade in Entertainment, Combines Comedy and Music For New Album ‘Black Man, White Privilege’

Eric Alper
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Logan Brown: A Decade in Entertainment, Combines Comedy and Music For New Album ‘Black Man, White Privilege’

Logan Brown has been carving his path in the entertainment industry for over a decade, sharing stages with some of Canada’s top comedians and establishing himself as a notable act. Now, the Kingston, ON-born, Ottawa, ON-based musician introduces a humorous blend of comedy and music into his acts.

Brown is exploring the musical comedy universe and will make space for it with his debut album, “Black Man, White Privilege.” The provocative name comes from Brown’s heritage history. “Despite being a split between Irish and Nigerian I look like an extra from the Sopranos or your least favorite uncle after a trip to Florida.”

Even the album cover follows this witty intelligent provocative set, featuring Logan as a young boy wearing a ballerina skirt, joyfully playing in a toy kitchen. It subtly hints at the evolving understanding of privilege that resonates within the artist’s work.

However talented in music and in comedy, for a while in separated creative spaces, Brown is very passionate about comedy alone, and for a long period of unstable mental health, turned to that as a force to keep going.

“Comedy saved my life not because I connected with a particular comic’s viewpoints or political ideologies, but because the involuntary compulsion to laugh is something I couldn’t avoid no matter how deep into depression I was.”

“Black Man, White Privilege” holds 12 tracks, with extremely funny and sarcastic, but provocative lyrics. “The album is an accurate representation of the type of humor I excel in,” he says.

His light-hearted humor touches on a wide range of topics in its melodies, from race to mental health, and even the quirkiest aspects of everyday life. Logan’s unpretentious wit, complemented by catchy melodies, offers an experience that’s equally enjoyable upon repeated listening.

Each tune in “Black Man, White Privilege” is like a whimsical escape from the mundane. Whether it’s a witty exploration of the profound love some have for their furry companions in “Just Kidding,” a wink-and-nod contemplation of aging and the pursuit of eternal passion (although he’s now divorced) in “Middle Aged Love,” and a lot more.

“The creation of each song begins with a simple query: “Is this humorous?” And it only ends when I catch myself chuckling solo in my car or strumming my guitar at home – my rather suave way of saying, “Absolutely,” affirms the musical comedian.

On “Secret Burger,” the 7th track of the album, Brown tells us a little tale of how whenever his wife asks him to go to the drive-thru, he gets himself a secret burger – a different packing, different everything, just a little extra fat added to the system, a little guilty pleasure no one will know.

‘What my wife don’t know could never hurt her
So I get myself a secret burger
Always on impulse never planned
Last minute purchase at the drive thru stand
Don’t need a wrapper just throw it in my face
And forget you ever saw me set foot in this lace’

Brown was raised on a diet of Weird Al, Tenacious D, Flight of the Conchords, The Lonely Island, Garfunkel & Oates, and more. Witnessing the landscape of musical comedy deteriorate into a mess of lackluster jokes, forced puns, pretentiousness, and subpar musicality, he embarked on a mission: his goal was to create not just a comedy album he could be proud of, but also one that he believed was absent from the musical comedy scene—a creation that would make anyone, even if not himself, laugh their heart out upon listening.

When Logan is not on stage, you can find him on the podcast “That’s Ruckus Baby” with his two best friends in Ruckus Productions.

Hamilton EDM Artist Paul Manchin Returns with Master Album, Eliciting Nostalgia with “First”

Eric Alper
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Hamilton EDM Artist Paul Manchin Returns with Master Album, Eliciting Nostalgia with “First”

Hamilton solo artist Paul Manchin, whose songs have charted on international radio, is ready to rock the airwaves again with the release of a new album inspired by a song that takes listeners on a nostalgic journey down memory lane.

The indie singer and songwriter from Toronto announced he will officially unveil the album, Master, out now.

It will consist of 40 tracks, some of which have already been released in the past digitally. But it was when the musician was visiting his family and reflecting on his life that he thought to include them into the new double compilation CD album.

Manchin was transported back to his childhood and expressed that by picking up a pen and sitting down at his piano. Together, with Black Jack, they produced ‘First’, a powerful single which Manchin unveils in the upcoming album.

The artist approaches every album as if it’s his last, but ironically this song is about first experiences, and how they’ve influenced Manchin’s life, helped pave the way for Master, a record of all sorts of memories, emotions and thoughts combined into one soul-stirring tracklist.

“When I bring an album to life it has to create some kind of meaning. Every project I write about is with the intention that it will be my last,” he says.

The single, where Manchin shows off his penchant for the piano, is also accompanied by an equally provocative music video, shot this summer, and shows the gestation of a child in a mother’s womb representing birth, the future and daily life.

The rest of the album promises to strike a chord with many listeners as it continues to explore life’s key themes such as relationships, identity, rebirth, loss, mortality, time, love and heartbreak.

“My greatest goal is to create energy and a soul that is prepared to be free. My music has always been about diversity, and I have a love for all people,” he says.

Manchin, whose musical journey started when he was five years old after his sister asked him to write a song for her French Teacher called ‘Ferme la bouche (Shut your mouth)’, has released many digital albums, with his latest in 2020; ‘Don’t Love You Anymore’.

Paul’s music has aired on Sirius XM, NBC’s House of Mystery Radio, ‘The Afternoon Drive Show Top Tracks’, and charted on radio stations around the world. His music was included on a number of compilation recordings, such as Promo Only, WeMix and Xtendamix. Manchin’s music has received airplay on Citytv, MTV, VH1, Bravo, Omni, Chin, Camoes and Backstage Pass. In addition, his music has been reviewed in Billboard, Cashbox, HOLR, Canadian Music Blog, Exclaim and Spill Magazine.

Producers on Master include David Bottrill, Moe Berg, Chris Briscoe, Brent Bodrug, Denzil Remedios, Black Jack and Paul Manchin. Remixers include Jack D. Elliot and Spyros Poulos.

Blues Virtuoso Brandon Isaak Unleashes Musical Magic: ‘One Step Closer’ Album Out Now

Eric Alper
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Blues Virtuoso Brandon Isaak Unleashes Musical Magic: ‘One Step Closer’ Album Out Now

With a lineup of songs that span the blues genre, Brandon Isaak is set to stun audiences once again with the release of his new album, One Step Closer, out now.

Throughout the album, Isaak explores classic iterations of the blues with the occasional modern twist. The record flirts with a vintage, New Orleans sound and incorporates an array of old-time instruments, from fiddle and banjo to washboard and lap steel. Through his collaborations with masterful veteran musicians like David Vest, Al Pease, Darryl Havers, and others, Isaak creates a rich, timeless culmination of sounds, styles, and themes with the power to transport the listener to the French Quarter and beyond.

“It was such an honour to work with these veteran master musicians and I could not be more happy with the final outcome of the recording,” Isaak said.

The first single from the album, “House Bound Blues,” will also release on September 22. The single highlights Isaak’s skillful songwriting and intentionally crafted lyrics:

Take it easy, we’ll see this through
Everybody talkin’ bout the dyin’ flu
Don’t you worry, we’ll be fine
Dim the lights, and open up the wine

The album’s themes and lyrics range from lost love and positive thinking to spirituals and “down and out” subject matter.

“I always try to write from the heart, no matter if I’m writing about hard times, funny situations or singing about the spirit,” said Isaak.

One Step Closer spotlights the best of Isaak: the Yukon-born artist is known for his preeminent songwriting skills and his mastery of multiple instruments, from guitar to banjo to harmonica and more. The new record pulls these elements together into an authentic, emotional journey bolstered by raw musical talent and an expert command of the blues.

One Step Closer tracklist:

1) All You Got To Do
2) Do What Ya Did Last Night
3) East Van Blues
4) House Bound Blues
5) I Wanna Know
6) Just What I’m Talkin’ About
7) One Step Closer
8) Walkin’ In The Sunshine
9) What’s This World Coming To
10) When You Call My Name

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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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