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KELE FLEMING Sings “Vanishing Of Bees” In New Remix By Atlas To Earth Set Me Free Remix

Eric Alper
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KELE FLEMING Sings “Vanishing Of Bees” In New Remix By Atlas To Earth Set Me Free Remix

Singer/songwriter and advocate for nature and the world at large, Victoria, BC’s Kele Fleming has released a new version of “Vanishing Of Bees”; now available as the “Set Me Free Remix” by Atlas To Earth.

An indie darling, Fleming writes folk/roots/rock-based music, laced with intelligent, conscious, and thought-provoking lyrics. A proud member of the LGBTQ2A community, as well as being a woman in her 50’s, Fleming’s presence in today’s music industry is an important one, as it progresses toward a more diverse and inclusive landscape.

“This is the third release of ‘Vanishing Of Bees’ and the second remix by Atlas To Earth,” Fleming explains. “When I first wrote the song, I was deep into my grief about the climate catastrophe. I wanted to capture my love of the world around me through the eyes of the child in the song while allowing my grief and fear and anger to bubble up to the surface.”

Fleming has seen the threat of climate disaster firsthand. “In the summer of 2021, there was what’s called a ‘heat dome’ that locked in temperatures of close to 40 degrees Celsius for about a week’s time. It was terrifying,” Fleming shares. “Around that time, I think I experienced peak grief and started to shut down a bit and feel hopeless about the state of the world.”

“Vanishing Of Bees” was originally released on World Bee Day in May of 2019 as a fundraiser for the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway Project. Fleming says she called upon the memories of her childhood self – her wonder and love for the natural world – to create the track. “The images collected in the song convey a child’s wonder and sense of freedom and joy,” she says. “This is contrasted with the adult voice in the song … a voice that expresses grief for what has been lost … youth and the natural world threatened.”

Since the pandemic, Fleming has taken to collaborating with DJ’s and, as a result, her music career has taken an unexpected change in direction.

The original folk/roots version of “Vanishing Of Bees” featured Fleming’s signature jangly guitars, as well as a bee-like droning and buzzing of the banjitar. Now, the track has been re-released once more as an EDM remix by Canadian composer, sound designer and alternative artist, Atlas To Earth. “Vanishing Of Bees” newly exhales with ethereal expression on this classic call to action. “In trying to make it stand out from the first remix, I focused on a different part of the lyrics, ‘Set me free’,” Atlas offers, continuing: “I think it takes on a different perspective, maybe about the grander issue behind the bee problem, seeking freedom from social/climate issues. The pre-chorus is almost like a march for freedom, and the chorus opens up like a passionate dance for freedom. Though it doesn’t concretely incorporate the topic of bees, I think it’s a cool display of how a song can become an entirely new piece and offer a new perspective.”

Pollinate your playlist with the social commentary, and heartfelt plea that accompanies it: “Vanishing Of Bees – Set Me Free Remix” by Kele Fleming featuring Atlas to Earth.

Ryan Shane Owen Returns With Seinfeld-Inspired Power Popper “War – What Is It Good For”

Eric Alper
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Ryan Shane Owen Returns With Seinfeld-Inspired Power Popper “War – What Is It Good For”

After releasing a trilogy of melodic, irresistibly catchy dance music albums (and a few singles) over the past few years, Ryan Shane Owen has begun to shift his music in a new direction. Looking to incorporate more elements of comedy, which has always been a big artistic influence in his work, Ryan has been looking to various comedic sources for inspiration.

One evening while brainstorming, with the news on broadcasting the horrors of war in the background, a phrase came to mind that Ryan remembered from one of his favourite ‘Seinfeld’ episodes. In the episode, Jerry jokingly tells Elaine that the original title for Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” was “War, What Is It Good For?” To Elaine’s chagrin, she believes him, and embarrassingly relates the ‘story’ to her book-publishing industry boss. Jerry’s joke references a line from the 1969 song “War” by Edwin Starr.

Ryan entertained the idea that the line would make a great song title, and as his concept developed, he came up with a melody and lyrics to what he imagined as a sort of “stadium-rock” style anthem. He decided to release it as a single. Although the idea came from the Seinfeld episode, “War- What Is It Good For” is a completely original new song by Ryan Shane Owen, with no resemblance/similarity to “War” by Edwin Starr, other than the title.

War, what is it good for, we can’t take it anymore
We don’t need to kill each other now
War, what is it good for, we can’t take it anymore
We’ve got to live together somehow

Witnessing the unbearable tragedy of war is something that unfortunately, has again deeply touched all of humanity. Especially in these recent years, when so many of us have suffered with grief, loss, and hardship, Ryan hopes to offer words of encouragement. “Although it often seems like a very dark and hopeless place these days, try not to give up on the world”, Ryan says. Intended not to refer to any specific war, but rather as an inspirational message of peace, hope, and unity, Ryan certainly means no disrespect to veterans or the military.

With a storied and colourful background in many aspects of music and the arts, Ryan has lived across Canada from Victoria to as far east as Montreal. He grew up learning classical piano, taught himself guitar, and moved on to electronic music production. Over the years, he’s worked with many fellow artists, more in the background rather than as the ‘frontman’ and has been involved in almost every aspect of music, as well as the visual and performing arts.

Although he had some vocal training and experience over the years, it was just over the past four years in which he really began to develop his voice as a singer. His variety of life experiences and various struggles has provided Ryan with a rich tapestry to draw on as he continues his life-long artistic journey.
With a soaring melody, Ryan’s latest single lends itself well to being covered and re-interpreted by other artists in different styles, something which Ryan would love, as he enjoys songwriting for other artists as well. A prolific composer and multi-disciplinary artist, Ryan now has approximately 50 original songs to his name. His love of learning cover songs is part of how he has of developed his songwriting abilities, now a 4 to 500 song strong repertoire.)

Before releasing his original music, Ryan spent a few years releasing a diverse variety of cover songs on YouTube and Instagram, which he still enjoys doing. Tune into his social media to check out his covers of anti-war classics which he is currently putting out to coincide with the theme of “War-What Is It Good For.”

Embark On A Transformative Journey with WRENÉ’s Ethereal Vocals and Synth-Laced Pop Melodies In “METAMORPHOSIS”

Eric Alper
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Embark On A Transformative Journey with WRENÉ’s Ethereal Vocals and Synth-Laced Pop Melodies In “METAMORPHOSIS”

Pop music; synth-laced, ethereal vocals. It’s a new soundscape. It’s an entirely new genre. It’s anti-pop, if you ask Wrené. Anti-pop, experimental electronic, avante-garde, dark ambient, electronica. It’s a metamorphosis of blended genres to create something undefined. This is Wrené; well-engaged in a mission to redefine how we interpret music while sending a message of light and hope.

And that’s precisely what she’s doing on her latest drop, “Metamorphosis.”

“With this single release, I want to offer a multifaceted perspective on the healing process and to reach those who are struggling with their mental health,” Wrené explains. “My criticism of commercial music and artists that attempt to be a part of this cause is that the work is rarely vulnerable or bold enough to honour and display the many turbulent emotions that so many people struggle with in silence.”

The single is the second precedent release to the Metamorphosis LP. The track is a “sonic exploration through the process of change and the perspective that comes with passing time,” Wrené offers. “There is a message in the song about renewal and growth,” she continues, adding: “but also acceptance of what is and what will always be. As a single, it represents the change of the season to spring and can represent new beginnings, expansion, and wholeness.”

As a trifecta of unparalleled talent, Wrené is an actor, a poet, and a vocalist; the latter of which she is fluent in a multitude of singing techniques. Her creative flair for pushing genre boundaries and consistently infusing surrealism into her bodies of work pushes her to continually break ground on storytelling through song and performance. Each track she pens presents a story. And each story is told with the addition of foley sounds, original sounds and subliminal messages.

“‘Metamorphosis’ is a complex arrangement of sampled orchestral instruments, synth textures, microrhythms, and manipulated vocals,” Wrené says. “The idea and challenge to produce this track was to create an atmosphere that breathes and has an organic quality, despite being entirely electronic.” Wrené is thoughtful in the representation of her sound and her message – each of her songs embodies a universal truth married with the conscious decision to “disregard lyrical and visual boundaries” which permits freedom of expression; celebrating strength in emotional vulnerability.

Wrené paints the canvas of “Metamorphosis” with an abstract brush; colours that both mix and mingle. She dares to intertwine unconventionality in her approach to soundscape. “Most sounds, if not sampled, had been created from scratch, using software,” Wrené reveals. “Metamorphosis” is a haunting ballad, making full use of her sonic expression.

Wrené’s vocals shimmer on the track – from breath sounds, to layering, to stacked harmonies and chants, her voice invokes the listener. Culls them like a siren with a spell; coaxing the heart to yearn for more. “The inspiration was to have the voice become unearthly and to be expressed as an entity or higher being while delivering the message to ‘embrace change’,” Wrené says.

The only constant is change.

And Wrené offers that through “Metamorphosis”.

My Next Read: “Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard” By Def Leppard

Eric Alper
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My Next Read: “Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard” By Def Leppard

JOE ELLIOTT: We had balls and we were naive, in a good way. We just went out there, full throttle.

Offering fans the most personal and comprehensive record of Def Leppard’s history to date, Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard is narrated by the band in their own words, illustrated with photography and memorabilia from the Def Leppard archives.

RICK SAVAGE: Coming up during the punk era helped us because there were only a couple of bands playing our type of music. People probably took more notice of us because we stood out.

Despite an average age of only 18, Def Leppard burst onto the hard rock scene in 1980 like a group of seasoned veterans. Thinking big from the very start, the blueprint for their music was, as singer Joe Elliott states, ‘Queen meets AC/DC.’ Def Leppard’s story is one of stratospheric highs and crashing lows, of triumph over adversity. While becoming one of the world’s best-selling music artists with blockbuster albums Pyromania and Hysteria, the band overcame drummer Rick Allen’s accident and the death of bandmate Steve Clark. During their 45-year history, Def Leppard have continued to make new music – with 12 studio albums to their name, including their 2022 release Diamond Star Halos – finding success with every record and tour.

In a wide-ranging account from the band and archive text from past members, Definitely chronicles Def Leppard’s incredible story, from their humble beginnings rehearsing in a spoon factory in Sheffield, to recording ground-breaking multi-platinum albums and touring sell-out stadiums around the world.

JOE ELLIOTT: In the summer of 1988 we shifted 4 million copies of Hysteria in the US alone. At that moment we were the biggest band in the world.

With unlimited access to the Def Leppard vault, Definitely presents over four decades of the band’s history through handwritten correspondence, rare vinyl pressings, tour memorabilia, music video storyboards, draft album artwork, press cuttings, previously unpublished photographs and much more.

Part memoir, part scrapbook, Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard is the ultimate record of Def Leppard’s legendary career.

Reneé Rapp Announces Snow Hard Feelings Tour Kicking Off This Fall

Eric Alper
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Reneé Rapp Announces Snow Hard Feelings Tour Kicking Off This Fall

Today, Reneé Rapp announces she will embark on her second headlining tour this Fall in support of upcoming debut album, Snow Angel. With support from Alexander 23 (who produced much of the forthcoming album) and Towa Bird, the Snow Hard Feelings Tour is set to kick off on September 15th in Houston, Texas. This marks Rapp’s first time hitting the road since the intimate Everything To Everyone Tour, which sold out every venue within minutes last Winter.

The Snow Hard Feelings Tour will include stops at iconic venues across the country including The Greek Theater in Los Angeles and Terminal 5 in New York. Tickets will be available to the public on Friday, June 23rd, sign up for more information HERE. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets for Reneé’s UK, Canadian and select US shows before the general public beginning Tuesday, June 20 at 9am local time through Thursday, June 22 at 10pm local time.

A ticket pre-sale for fans will begin on Wednesday, June 21st at 9:00AM local time.

Reneé Rapp Snow Hard Feelings Tour:

DATE CITY VENUE
September 15, 2023 Houston, TX Bayou Music Center
September 17, 2023 Dallas, TX South Side Ballroom
September 18, 2023 Austin, TX Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
September 20, 2023 Denver, CO The Mission Ballroom
September 21, 2023 Salt Lake City, UT The Union Event Center
September 25, 2023 San Diego, CA SOMA
September 28, 2023 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre
September 30, 2023 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
October 2, 2023 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
October 5, 2023 Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre
October 6, 2023 Portland, WA Roseland Theater
October 7, 2023 Seattle, WA The Paramount Theatre
October 10, 2023 Minneapolis, MN The Fillmore
October 11, 2023 Chicago, IL Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
October 13, 2023 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
October 14, 2023 Detroit, MI The Fillmore Detroit
October 16, 2023 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
October 17, 2023 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy
October 18, 2023 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore Charlotte
October 21, 2023 Montreal, QC MTELUS
October 22, 2023 Toronto, ON HISTORY
October 24, 2023 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore
October 25, 2023 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
October 27, 2023 Washington, DC The Anthem
October 28, 2023 Boston, MA Roadrunner
October 30, 2023 New York, NY Terminal 5
November 2, 2023 Brooklyn, NY Avant Gardner – Great Hall

 

Today’s announcement arrives fresh on the heels of the “Snow Angel” track release, a first taste of what’s to come in Rapp’s new era of music. “Snow Angel”, which marks the first single from her upcoming debut album, captures Rapp’s poignant ability to spin painful memories into songs meant to soundtrack her journey toward inner strength — a thread that holds her impressive discography together. A delicately played piano immediately draws listeners in and lays the foundation for Rapp’s gripping vocals. “First to arrive, last to leave / What’s misery without company?” she sings in the opening verse, describing the difficulty in keeping up appearances when she’s hurting internally. “I’ll make it through the winter if it kills me / I can make it faster if I hurry / An angel in the snow until I’m worthy / But if it kills me, I tried.” Rapp’s vulnerable admissions are punctuated by swelling instrumentals as the song progresses. Finally, the track reaches an impressive crescendo mimicking the contrast of emotional highs and lows via musical composition. Listen to “Snow Angel” at all digital retailers HERE.

“Snow Angel” was produced with Alexander 23 (Olivia Rodrigo, Tate McRae), who also helmed much of Rapp’s forthcoming album. As the first single from the debut project, “Snow Angel” showcases Rapp’s growth as a songwriter as she continues to round out her already-multidimensional artistry. Alexander 23 and Rapp first developed their undeniable rapport during their collaboration on “Bruises,” a track similarly centered on the cost of putting on a brave face for everyone else’s benefit.

Reneé Rapp knew she was born to perform ever since she was a child. Even in her earliest memories, her love of music was always present. “I couldn’t sit still in the car unless there was music,” she says. “Otherwise, I would cry the entire time.” The North Carolina native began harnessing her natural creativity by writing and recording songs when she was just a teenager. Eventually, her career took off when she landed the coveted role of Regina George in the Tony-nominated Mean Girls musical on Broadway. Shortly after, she found widespread recognition and praise—from the likes of W, Harper’s Bazaar, and The Hollywood Reporter for her performance as Leighton on the HBO Max series The Sex Lives of College Girls written by Mindy Kaling. Rapp then turned her attention back to music, sharing her threadbare insecurities on debut single “Tattoos.” Since then, her songs have caught on like wildfire with listeners. The multi-hyphenate’s entire debut headline tour sold out in a matter of minutes, her inspiring single “Too Well” has impacted the Top 40, and her discography has amassed over 200 million streams and counting. Not only that, she will be reprising the role of Regina George in the forthcoming Paramount+ feature adaptation of the Broadway musical Mean Girls. Rapp’s 2022 debut EP Everything to Everyone, as well as its deluxe edition, firmly established her pop staying power, while her forthcoming debut LP, Snow Angel, is primed to fully showcase the hitmaker’s vulnerable approach to songwriting and stunning vocal range.

Dr. Dre To Receive Hip-Hop Icon Award At ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Celebration Of 50 Years Of Hip-Hop

Eric Alper
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Dr. Dre To Receive Hip-Hop Icon Award At ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Celebration Of 50 Years Of Hip-Hop

Today, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Rhythm & Soul department revealed plans to honor legendary multi-platinum selling producer and artist Dr. Dre with the inaugural ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award at the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 22. The ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award is presented to ASCAP members whose musical contributions have made an indelible impact on the art and culture of hip-hop.

“Dr. Dre’s groundbreaking early work laid a foundation for hip-hop as we know it today. As a champion for some of today’s biggest artists and a successful entrepreneur, he changed the culture around hip-hop,” said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams. “Dre continues to be a pivotal figure in the music industry and we are thrilled to recognize him with the inaugural ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award as we mark 50 years of hip-hop.”

Eight-time Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Dre began his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin’ Cru. Shortly after, he co-founded the revolutionary group N.W.A. The Compton, California native embarked on his solo career in 1992 when he released his solo debut album The Chronic, which has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA, reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance (“Let Me Ride”). Dre launched Aftermath Entertainment in 1996, where over the years he discovered hip-hop superstars such as 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, Anderson.Paa, and Eminem. Jimmy Iovine and Dre established Beats Electronics in 2008, and later launched Beats Music – Apple acquired both in 2014. Among many other accolades, Dre won a Grammy and an Emmy for the HBO docuseries The Defiant Ones, and the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent took home three Emmys. In 2013 the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation was funded and established. In 2022, they expanded their efforts to the Los Angeles Unified School District, opening the Iovine and Young Center (IYC) Integrated Design, Technology and Entrepreneurship (IDTE) Magnet, a new high school that will offer students grounding in the same cutting-edge curriculum.

Music at the June 22 event will be provided by Grammy Award winner DJ Kid Capri and attendees will include top names in the music and entertainment industry.

Arcana Kings Ignites Resilience And Strength With Powerful Anthem ‘Soldier On’

Eric Alper
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Arcana Kings Ignites Resilience And Strength With Powerful Anthem ‘Soldier On’

To keep fighting despite difficult odds can be hard for the everyday person, but even harder for those involved in the military. Enter the Regina, Saskatchewan- based rock band Arcana Kings as they sing for the troops in their new single, “Soldier On.”

The song’s opening is heralded with an impressive use of bagpipes by lead vocalist John McCuaig before the electric guitar kicks in. By the song’s first verse, the electric guitar takes over and adds a toughness that matches the gruffness of McCuaig’s vocals. Before the chorus kicks in, this verse and the next two discuss the hardships that the soldiers endure as they fight for freedom.

“We say goodbye to our brothers and our sisters
As we march in a far away land
The only way is to head into the fire
We fight for freedom when we make our stand”

Of course, the song’s impact is stronger once you learn that the song was based on the actual lived experiences of soldiers. The song was written in partnership with Canadian force members involved with the Soldier On program, a non-profit organization.

The band explains, “We reached out and got connected with Joe Kiraly at Soldier On. He really took to the idea and organized a creative writing program to help create lyrics for the project. Four forces members put pen to paper and spilled their stories of triumphs and challenges of everyday service life and intense combat duty. What emerged was a glimpse into the mind of the modern soldier, the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly.”

After the chorus, the song’s production kicks up a notch through vocalist Allan Morrison as his booming vocals give the next two verses a heavy metal edge to enhance the emotional impact. Morrison’s vocals then shadow McCuaig’s as he takes over a verse before the chorus comes in one last time.

Arcana Kings formed in 2015 and have been influenced by bands like The Foo Fighters and AC/DC. Their most recent single, “Here We Go”, became an anthem for Canadian and American sports teams including the CFL, NHL, NFL, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Their first album, Lions As Ravens, was released in 2019 to critical acclaim, with The MetaMag calling it “a masterclass in progressive arena rock.” In March 2023, the band celebrated a huge milestone – their 100th Las Vegas show. The Arcana Kings have been a favorite attraction in Las Vegas since their first run in 2016. “Soldier On” is their first single of 2023.

Shiny Glide Keeps the Momentum Going With “The Best Has Yet To Come”

Eric Alper
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Shiny Glide Keeps the Momentum Going With “The Best Has Yet To Come”

Italian-born, Dominican Republic-based emerging artist Shiny Glide continues to mesmerize audiences with his latest synth-rock single about having hope on the horizon for a better day, with the title track on his new album, “The Best Has Yet To Come.”

Dripping with ‘80’s synths and anthemic guitar solos, “The Best Is Yet To Come” is Shiny Glide’s latest release, maintaining his artistic momentum as THE internationally-minded musician to watch out for.

The inspiration for the song “The Best Is Yet To Come” came from Shiny Glide’s unwavering faith and optimism in the face of adversity. “What I learned is that once you fall in love with your dream and your art, faith and hope become a bigger and bigger inspiration in expanding your soul and evolving spiritually.”

The album, “The Best Is Yet To Come,” began to come together during the global pandemic when lockdowns were in full effect. “I started recording the album in the place where I grew up, Southern Italy, an ugly and boring town called San Giorgio Ionico, near Taranto, the town in which I was born.” As the lockdowns persisted and the world became still, Shiny Glide made the best of his situation and got to work. “I spent most of my time inside the house working on my music in my home studio. Also went out for some walks in some beautiful parks by the sea to enjoy nature, meditate and exercise,” says Shiny Glide

All tracks on “The Best Is Yet To Come” were recorded in southern Italy, except for “Untamed” and “Invisible Child,” which were recorded in the Dominican Republic, where Shiny Glide currently resides.

Shiny Glide is very clear on the philosophy behind “The Best Is Yet To Come” and what it means to his listeners. “No matter how hard and dark life may be, I always have faith and hope because I love to create music and share it. My faith goes far and high and is bigger than all enemies and obstacles and goes beyond our experience on this planet,” says Shiny Glide

This mindset behind “The Best Is Yet To Come” can be felt most in Shiny Glide’s melancholic lyrics that acknowledge how we must break ourselves down in order to be reborn and hopeful for the future.”

“I’ve seen it all, I’ve done it all,
I’ve been in jail, I’ve been at war,
I’ve got no ego, I’ve got no pride,
don’t need to die to be reborn in my own sky.”

Shiny Glide is the stage name of Italian American musician Antony Venneri. Venneri is a recording artist, poet, and songwriter with international playing experience and a restless, free spirit he’s had since an early age. He has been living, recording, and performing his music in places like Champaign Urbana in Illinois and New Orleans, where he formed a duo called Why Not. After which, he lived and performed in Los Angeles, Dublin, Rome and Philadelphia as a bohemian, stateless charismatic figure, and wandering minstrel.

Venneri always used to carry his guitar, his music CDs and poetry books anywhere he had a chance to share his art, especially in the streets of Rome and Dublin, where he performed with the stage name of “Seagull” in the best music clubs such as The Da Club and The Olympia Theater.

Shiny Glide is a self-taught guitar player and keyboard player with an ear, a natural talent, and a profound love for music composing and poetry. His genre influences include rock, classical music, Oriental music, jazz, and blues. Venneri continues to be a relentless artist while championing human rights with his work, “I dedicate this album to all the oppressed people like me in this world where it matters too much how rich you are and where you come from or if you have supportive families.”

Country Rock Singer Bree Taylor Hits 150K Streams With “Dauntless”

Eric Alper
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Country Rock Singer Bree Taylor Hits 150K Streams With “Dauntless”

Almost every person has a point in their lives when someone makes them feel like they can’t do something because of their gender, race, or another trait that is part of who they are. When this happens, sometimes the right song can rally the spirit and give you the courage to prove people wrong. This is the case with Mississauga, ON country-rock singer Bree Taylor and her bold new single “Dauntless”, co-written with multiple #1 Billboard Country Chart songwriter Styles Haury.

The song opens with some strong country-rock riffs from Taylor’s backing band that establish the song’s power. Then, Taylor’s steadfast vocals come in as she sings and tells people not to underestimate her. The empowering message hits particularly hard once the chorus comes in.

“Cause I’m courageous
A little dangerous
I’m the do what it takes to make it
Yeah I’m the fighter
Flame to the fire
The take it to the top and higher
Yeah I’m headstrong and bold
Won’t do what I’m told
I live on the edge of fearless
Yeah I’m dauntless”

The song continues to strike a courageous nerve for the rest of the song as Taylor sings about not fitting into other people’s perceptions of who she is. The song’s outro at the end really takes it home as she sings, “I am who I am, I don’t give a damn.”

In fact, Taylor has a particular and personal reason for standing up for herself in her newest single. For the first time, she is letting people know her experiences as a hearing impaired country singer. She states, “Dauntless is a song that reflects my journey as a woman who has faced societal pressures to conform to expectations and norms that don’t align with who I am.”

Accompanying the new single is a music video showing Taylor performing the song amid pyrotechnic fire, which suits the newfound inner fire that she displays and wants other people to have. She explains, “With this song, I want to inspire people, especially women, everywhere to be unapologetically and authentically themselves, to not accept anything less.”

Bree Taylor started out singing in choirs from ages 6 to 12 before recording a cover of the Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready To Make Nice” when she was 16, which she now includes in her live sets and is a fan-favorite.

In 2016, she wrote and recorded her first single, “Broken Dreams”, which would be released on her 2018 debut pop EP Unbreakable. It would earn her a nomination for Best New Artist at the Mississauga Music Awards and win her the Mississauga Music’s Fan Choice Award in 2022.

Indigenous Roots Rockin’ Father and Daughter Lead THE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS Unite with Inspiring Anthem ‘Brothers and Sisters’

Eric Alper
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Indigenous Roots Rockin’ Father and Daughter Lead THE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS Unite with Inspiring Anthem ‘Brothers and Sisters’

The Spiritual Warriors drop “Brothers and Sisters”, the second single from their upcoming album Indigenize, both out now.

Fronted by father and daughter duo Leroy and Daisy Joe, The Spiritual Warriors weave together Indigenous chants with contemporary roots, rock and reggae to create a sound that reflects life in the coastal mountains of the Lil’wat Nation.

With lyrics that swing smoothly from English to U’cwalmicwts, the Lil’wat language, all set to a reggae beat, Spiritual Warriors create a unique and intriguing fusion of two culturally important musical styles. It’s uncanny how seamlessly well The Spiritual Warriors combine Indigenous drumming and chanting with the cadences familiar to fans of reggae. It’s a marriage that makes perfect sense.

On the brand new single “Brothers and Sisters”, the band takes on social issues endemic to Canada’s many Indigenous nations. Singers Leroy and Daisy lament the countless Indigenous brothers and sisters who end up homeless, addicted to drugs or alcohol, or working on the streets.

“This song is to let them know that they are still welcome home,” Leroy says, “that there is a fire waiting for them to keep them warm and that their grandmothers, grandfathers, and ancestors have not abandoned them.”

During live performances, the singer and guitarist says he often gets a lump in his throat while thinking of friends and family members who ended up on the streets, some never making it back home to Lil’wat Nation, near Pemberton, British Columbia.

“I pray and sing for those trying to make it back home,” he says. “The song was so hard to write. I kept weeping while writing it.”

Drummer Rich Doucet, bassist Mike Rowe, guitarist Cuyler Biller and keyboardist Quentin De Lorenzis set a perfect rock-steady reggae beat for Leroy and Daisy, who chant and deliver their pleas in both English and U’cwalmicwts. The second verse, sung in U’cwalmicwts, is especially poignant.

“Brothers and Sisters” follows the recent Spiritual Warriors single, “Oh Ama Sq’it”, written in Leroy’s St’at’imcets language, also native to the Lil’wat Nation. A joyful, upbeat track, almost calypso in feel, it encourages people to get up, have fun and dance. It’s a big hit during their live performances.

Both tracks appear on the full-length Indigenize, recorded at Abbotsford’s Studio Downe Under and produced and engineered by Leroy’s long-time collaborator, Andreas Schuld. Leroy says the record is Inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation initiative and the Murdered and Missing Ondigenous Women and Girls campaign.

Indigenize features eight tracks written by Leroy with the mission to give hope to his people and help non-Indigenous folks to better understand the issues that are still faced today by First Nations people. Composer Russell Wallace, longtime friend and original member of the band, co-wrote 2 tracks and arranged vocal harmonies on the album. Musicians on Indigenize include Norm Fisher, Rich Brown and Geeta Das as well as special guests rappers Geo the Voice (George Ignace, Secwepemculucw) and Ostweleve (Ronnie Dean Harris, Stō:lo/St’át’imc/Nlaka’pamux).

Internationally acclaimed, Spiritual Warriors’ 2019 album Ancestors received four Native American Music Awards (NAMA) nominations in 2019, winning for Best World Music Album. In the group’s previous incarnation as Kalan Wi, they won a 2013 NAMA for Best Historical/Linguistic Recording for their album Celebrate.

This truly unique band continues to produce important, meaningful, and culturally significant music, following Leroy Joe’s passion to preserve and promote his language and culture. Walk alongside The Spiritual Warriors as they take you on a cultural journey to the natural heartbeat of the Indigenous drum and the Lil’wat/St’at’imc people.

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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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