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My Bloody Valentine’s Shoegaze Icon Kevin Shields Unleashes Sonic Bliss with New Fender Signature Guitar Pedal

Eric Alper
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My Bloody Valentine’s Shoegaze Icon Kevin Shields Unleashes Sonic Bliss with New Fender Signature Guitar Pedal

This limited-edition pedal marks Fender’s first ever signature fuzz pedal, the Fender® Shields Blender. A truly historic collaboration between Fender and My Bloody Valentine’s front man and effect pedal genius, Kevin Shields, this special edition pedal is final assembled in the USA and comes accompanied with a limited print art box, a limited print hand signed collector’s booklet with an exclusive story and photos, and a plaque bearing Shields’ signature.

An innovator and pivotal influence on effect-laden guitar tones, Kevin Shields awakened iconic sonic walls of fuzz like the world had never heard as he defined the tone of alternative rock in the ‘80s and ‘90s. His tool of choice for fuzz laden chaos: an original Fender Blender effect pedal, prized for its dynamic response and gripping fuzz splatter. Now, through over four years of co-development Fender and Shields have resurrected this mythical 1970’s fuzz and injected a subversive feature set, creating the all-new Fender Shields Blender.

At its core, the Fender Shields Blender echoes the tone of Shields’ own vintage 1970s Fender Blender, thanks to carefully hand tracing the circuit from his personal fuzz box. Built around this vintage circuit are entirely new ways of controlling and blending the original fuzz voice, all crafted with performance in mind utilizing four easy-access footswitches. Two footswitchable channels of fuzz, each with dedicated level controls, offer the ability to blend the fuzz voice with your clean signal or to blend the fuzz voice with a beefy suboctave fuzz, while the sag footswitch introduces sputtering and ducking effects like never before heard, all controlled by the intensity of your playing dynamics.

You can get it here.

Stevie Nicks’ Career-Spanning Studio Albums Available In A New Boxed Set

Eric Alper
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Stevie Nicks’ Career-Spanning Studio Albums Available In A New Boxed Set

Stevie Nicks released her solo debut in 1981, a quadruple-platinum #1 smash that launched her immensely successful solo career. The beloved singer-songwriter has released eight acclaimed solo records, selling nearly 10 million albums in the U.S. and influencing generations worldwide. She’s also the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, first as a member of Fleetwood Mac and then as a solo artist in 2019.

Rhino combines all of Nicks’ solo studio albums in a new, career-spanning boxed set. It comes with eight albums: Bella Donna (1981), The Wild Heart (1983), Rock a Little (1985), The Other Side of the Mirror (1989), Street Angel (1994), Trouble in Shangri-La (2001), In Your Dreams (2011), and 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault (2014). The collection also features Rarities, a new compilation of hard-to-find tracks only available with the set. Several albums were newly remastered from the analog masters for this release, including Rock a Little, The Other Side of the Mirror, Street Angel, and Trouble in Shangri-La.

COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUMS & RARITIES will be available on July 28 as a 10-CD set and digitally. A newly remastered version of “ONE MORE BIG TIME ROCK AND ROLL STAR” from RARITIES is available today on all digital download and streaming services. Originally released as the B-side to “Talk To Me”, the lead single from Stevie’s 1985 album Rock A Little, “One More Big Time Rock & Roll Star” was also included as a part of The Enchanted Works of Stevie Nicks box set in 1998.

A 16-LP version, limited & numbered to 3,000 units globally, and pressed on crystal-clear vinyl, will be available the same day and you can pre-order here. Several albums in the collection are making their vinyl debut, including Street Angel, Trouble in Shangri-La, and In Your Dreams. All three – plus The Other Side of the Mirror and 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault – will be released as double LPs housed in gatefold sleeves. The new Rarities collection comes as a 3-LP set in a tri-fold sleeve.

COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUMS & RARITIES follows Nicks’ musical journey across four decades and features her Top 10 hits, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), “Leather And Lace” (with Don Henley), “Stand Back,” and “Talk To Me.” Other essential hits include “Edge Of Seventeen,” “If Anyone Falls,” “I Can’t Wait,” and “Rooms On Fire.”

The boxed set underscores Nicks’ longevity as a solo artist. Six of her eight studio albums were Top 10 hits in the U.S., including her solo debut, Bella Donna, which topped the Billboard 200 in 1981. That album was certified quadruple platinum and remains her best-selling solo effort. Her other albums enjoyed incredible commercial success as well. The Wild Heart is double platinum, Rock a Little and The Other Side of the Mirror are platinum, while Street Angel and Trouble in Shangri-La are certified gold.

Rarities collects 23 of Nicks’ best non-album tracks, including numerous contributions to film and television soundtracks like “Blue Lamp” from Heavy Metal and “Free Fallin’” from Party of Five. Several B-sides are featured in the set, including “One More Big Time Rock And Roll Star,” the flipside to her 1985 hit, “Talk To Me.” A trio of songs originally released on Nicks’ 1991 hits collection Timespace also appear, including “Love’s A Hard Game To Play.” Rarities closes with Nicks’ most recent release, her 2022 cover of Buffalo Springfield’s classic “For What It’s Worth.”

Nicks has concerts scheduled this summer and fall, including several stadium shows co-headlining with Billy Joel. Her next performance will be on June 16 in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field. See below for a complete list of upcoming tour dates.

COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUMS & RARITIES
Bella Donna
The Wild Heart
Rock a Little
The Other Side of the Mirror
Street Angel
Trouble in Shangri-La
In Your Dreams
24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault

RARITIES
3-LP Track Listing

Side One
1. “Blue Lamp”
2. “Sleeping Angel”
3. “Garbo”
4. “Violet And Blue”

Side Two
1. “One More Big Time Rock And Roll Star”
2. “Battle Of The Dragon”
3. “Real Tears”
4. “Sometimes It’s A Bitch”

Side Three
1. “Love’s A Hard Game To Play”
2. “Desert Angel”
3. “Mirror, Mirror”
4. “Inspiration”

Side Four
1. “Thousand Days”
2. “God’s Garden”
3. “Somebody Stand By Me”

Side Five
1. “Free Fallin’”
2. “Reconsider Me”
3. “If You Ever Did Believe”
4. “Crystal”

Side Six
1. “Touched By An Angel”
2. “Not Fade Away”
3. “My Heart”
4. “For What It’s Worth”

Stevie Nicks 2023-24 Tour Dates
June 16 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field *
June 20 Toronto, Ontario Scotiabank Arena
June 23 Chicago, IL United Center
June 27 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
Aug 5 Columbus, OH Ohio Stadium *
Aug 8 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum
Aug 12 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Aug 15 Austin, TX Moody Center
Aug 19 Kansas City, MO Arrowhead Stadium *
Sept 23 Foxborough, MA Gillette Stadium *
Sept 27 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena
Oct 1 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Oct 4 Buffalo, NY Keybank Center
Oct 7 Baltimore, MD M&T Bank Stadium *
Oct 28 Memphis, TN FedEx Forum
Nov 1 Savannah, GA Enmarket Arena
Nov 4 Allentown, PA PPL Center
Nov 7 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
Nov 10 Minneapolis, MN U.S. Bank Stadium *
Nov 29 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena
Dec 2 Inglewood, CA The Kia Forum
Dec 5 Palm Desert, CA Acrisure Arena
Dec 8 Phoenix, AZ Chase Field *
Dec 12 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center
Dec 15 San Francisco, CA Chase Center
Mar 9 Arlington, TX AT&T Stadium *
* co-headlining with Billy Joel

Sultans of String and Digging Roots “Take Off The Crown” In New Single

Eric Alper
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Sultans of String and Digging Roots “Take Off The Crown” In New Single

‘Take Off The Crown’ is a collaboration between Raven Kanatakta of 2x JUNO Award winning Digging Roots, and 3x JUNO nominated, 6x CFMA winning Sultans of String, with bed tracks recorded at Jukasa Studios, an Indigenous-owned world-class recording facility on the Six Nations reserve south of Hamilton, Ontario. It is the fourth single off the upcoming Sultans album entitled ‘Walking Through the Fire’ on September 22, 2023, a CD and concert of collaborations with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists across Turtle Island.

The lyrics are penned by Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache and Sho-Shona Kish, and the music created with Sultans of String.

Smudge burning in the morning
Makes a healing cloud
News blackout on the lost ones
100,000 souls singing loud

Says Raven: “The song was written primarily for the children that have been found. We have these stories in our communities about all the lost ones, that lost generation, that stolen generation. And for me, when they started finding more of the children, it brought all those stories that I grew up with to life again. I looked at what the source was. The source is colonialism, and colonialism is directly tied to the Crown.”

The country of Canada and the ethics of Canada and the laws of Canada are all intertwined. But the history of this country has been manipulated to create a romantic version of early settlers.

Raven continues: “The Crown is a direct picture of colonialism and genocide in Canada. So many people are suffering from oppression and the effects of oppression that directly comes from the Crown. That directly comes from Canada. That directly comes from the churches who were operating the residential schools. That comes from the RCMP that was created [to push Indigenous people onto reserves]. That comes from all of these systems and this thought-out plan and process to take over a people, to take over a land base.”

A theme that has come up throughout the creation of this project ‘Walking Through the Fire’ is the need for the full truth of Residential Schools and the Indigenous experience to be told, long before Reconciliation can possibly take place.

“People are now telling their stories where they were electrocuted as kids, with electric chairs in the basements of these residential schools or churches… being cattle prodded, being starved and being raped. There’s so much murder to all of this that it’s just unthinkable” says Raven, “And I think this is one of the reasons why we actually need to have a conversation because I, for myself, in the first generation that didn’t have to attend residential schools, nor my wife, Sho-Shona, we raised our own kids exactly how we wanted to. Nobody told us how to do that, and it’s a first, that’s crazy.

Sultans of String violinist Chris McKhool, who was recently awarded the Dr. Duke Redbird Lifetime Achievement Award, is working to amplify these truths through these collaborations in the spirit of the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action, and Final Report that asks that Indigenous and non-Indigenous people work together as an opportunity to show a path forward. “There is lot of history of our country that has been ignored, distorted, twisted to suit colonialist goals of destroying a people.” says McKhool

How many more little bodies will be found…
Bind hearts and minds, take action now

“I think we’re at a perfect time right now to bring out the truth” Raven continues, “Just by more and more little babies being found it kind of strikes a nerve in people to smarten up and to get to the point of, let’s find the truth here together. We have to move beyond ally-ship, and we have to move into relationships of being co-conspirators, get down into the dirt and start working together and start moving forward. Because if we just talk about surface content, nothing will ever get done. So that’s what ‘Take Off The Crown’ is – that we’re all equals here, and we all need to communicate as equals. the land here has always been our teacher and our guide in that way. And I think that we have to come back to some of those fundamental truths and practices that have been happening here since time immemorial.”

And about what it means to become a co-conspirator: “You have to get dirty in order to create, in order to heal, in order to make magic.” Says Raven, “And I think just as you and I were working on this song in the middle of a pandemic, we traded ideas, musical gifts, knowledge, conversation, and that turned into this song. We need music, we need dance, we need ceremony because it’s a medicine that binds the mind and the heart. We need that not just in Canada or Turtle Island, but all over the world right now.

“We actually need Canadians to step up and take that first move. It’s my job to live my life in the best way that I know how, and when it comes to this song ‘Take Off The Crown’, it was collaborating with you, Chris.”

JUNO Award Winner And Master Songwriter MARC JORDAN Releases New “Rio Grande” Video

Eric Alper
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JUNO Award Winner And Master Songwriter MARC JORDAN Releases New “Rio Grande” Video

The heartfelt emotional centerpiece of Marc Jordan’s new album Waiting for the Sun To Rise is “Rio Grande,” a sweeping anthem which artfully blends sociopolitical commentary about America’s loss of innocence with personal lovelorn yearning. Featuring trumpet great Randy Brecker, and piano by co-produce Lou Pomanti, the song was co-written with Steven MacKinnon from the Art of Time jazz ensemble.

Lyrically the song addresses the view from an experienced age, marvelling at how time passes quickly while many things stay the same: multiple tragedies of modern life with its gun violence, environmental disaster, and a sense of impending doom over the lack of clear solutions. But throughout there’s always hints of optimism and nostalgia to keep us sustained through challenging rainy days with glimpses of brighter daylight ahead. It has been called his Magnum Opus and a triumph of a recording from a world-class artist performing at the peak of his skills.

“Rio Grande” can be found on any streaming service and on the Waiting For The Sun To Rise album. Marc Jordan is a JUNO Award and Genie Award winner, and in 2019 was JUNO-nominated for his last album Both Sides. He is married to singer-songwriter Amy Sky, and in 2022, the duo recorded an JUNO-Award nominated album of duets entitled He Sang She Sang.

Alt-Rockers Oliver Forest Perfect the Art of Slowing Down In Introspective “No Rush”

Eric Alper
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Alt-Rockers Oliver Forest Perfect the Art of Slowing Down In Introspective “No Rush”

Slowing down is an art, and learning to savor the moment and live life on life’s terms is a lesson in maturity. Montreal-based alt-rockers Oliver Forest captures this philosophy in their new single “No Rush” along with its accompanying music video featuring the contemporary dance stylings of Maycie-Ann St-Louis.

An introspective guitar-and-piano relaxed jam with a sunny, soulful, and soaring quality, “No Rush” explores the urge to hurry up and grind whenever we really want something, and how that’s a detriment to true achievement.

When I was a boy, I was excited for the fantasies that came in a toy
Now I’m indicted for the fantasy of wanting much more
And I can’t stop myself from feeling like I’m in over my head

Through the song’s steady progression, we accompany the narrator on their journey, realizing that as long as they know they’re working hard, they shouldn’t be exhausting themselves trying to reach an arbitrary destination. “I’m thinking there’s/ No rush/ I know that I’m working hard so there should be/ No rush.”

The corresponding music video (directed by bassist Rob L’Houmeau) depicts a young woman, dancer Maycie-Ann St-Louis, baking an apple pie in a remote cabin. She watches the pie cook for a while until, frustrated, she goes outside into a vast snow-covered landscape to dance and enjoy just being. At the end of the video, she sits outside next to a roaring fire, finally enjoying her perfectly baked pie. The video is artfully shot and makes use of the gorgeous snow-scape against St-Louis’ all-white wardrobe.

For Oliver Forest, the song is personal. “We often find ourselves in a perpetual state of striving, always pushing to achieve more,” the band said. “But amidst these moments of self-doubt and uncertainty, something special can arise. The realization dawned on us that we were just trying to rush things along rather than let them take their course organically.”

“We hope that our music can serve as a reminder to take life one day at a time and appreciate the beauty in every moment,” they added.

Oliver Forest has taken the Montreal indie music scene by storm with their dynamic fusion of folk, pop, and rock. Their sound is a testament to the band’s artistry and creativity, blending powerful melodies and rich instrumentation into a truly unique listening experience.

As they gear up for an exciting 2023, Oliver Forest has already begun unveiling their latest EP, featuring six new songs that showcase their evolution as artists. The EP’s upcoming single, “No Rush,” is a perfect example of the band’s catchy melodies and refreshing honesty.

Cambridge, ON Folk Artist JAY LINDEN Releases “Ordinary Sunrise” From Upcoming Release

Eric Alper
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Cambridge, ON Folk Artist JAY LINDEN Releases “Ordinary Sunrise” From Upcoming Release

Cambridge, Ontario-based Folk sensation Jay Linden tells a tale about life’s promise and the potential perils lurking in the melancholic title track from his upcoming album, “Ordinary Sunrise.”

Inspired by Folk legends like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, through Bob Dylan and Willie P. Bennett, Jay’s style on “Ordinary Sunrise” is unabashedly acoustic and folk-rooted with lyrics that leave plenty of room for listeners to stamp their own meaning in between the lines – solidifying Jay’s philosophy that a song’s meaning is in the eye of the beholder.

The result is a record brimming with melodic depth, wit, and Linden’s signature warmth. “Ordinary Sunrise” sounds both timeless and timely, a reminder of the folk and roots records of days gone by that, as it unfolds, whether a song is two years old or twenty, is clearly rooted in the present.

It’s a document of Jay Linden’s inner dialogue and perceptions of the world around him. A testament to himself as a musician and songwriter and proof positive that well-considered, thoroughly lived-in songs can sound far fresher and taste sweeter than the flavour of the moment while filling your heart with truth.

“Ordinary Sunrise” reflects a purity of intent that’s thin on the ground these days – a product of Jay’s no-nonsense vocal delivery and masterful playing, the standout contributions of the players assembled on record, and the process itself.

When working on “Ordinary Sunrise,” Linden found inspiration while rummaging through old music. “I found a stack of audio cassettes with pieces of songs that had potential. So, I went through them, catalogued them, and spent a bunch of time padding around the living room (listening) and playing guitar. But I wasn’t thinking, how many songs do I need for an album? I was just making songs,” says Linden.

While the title track is sure to connect with those that appreciate substance in their music, the entirety of the upcoming album, “Ordinary Sunrise,” paints a scene so vividly, you’d swear it’s right in front of you. Songs like ‘Boat On A River’ make it obvious Linden’s not trying to be anything other than honestly and authentically himself. Something abundantly clear on the album opener, ‘10 Dollar Show,’ a sparse earworm that sets the album’s tone and ends up playing in your mind for hours after the first listen.

Plenty of songs on “Ordinary Sunrise” will allow the listener to go deeper should they so choose. From contemplative tracks like ‘Time Higher The Mountain’ to slice-of-life tunes such as ‘Dreamers On A Sailing Ship’ that capture everyday moments in such sharp relief they tend to make the listener see their own surroundings in greater clarity.

Produced, engineered, and mixed by Colin Linden, Jay’s brother, at Pinhead Recorders in Nashville. The process began with Jay recording over Thanksgiving weekend 2021 – the first time the brothers had seen each other in person since the pandemic shut down the US/Canada border. As Colin puts it, sessions played out “like a series of candid photos, not a posed portrait,” Colin explains. “Jay singing and playing guitar, banjo, and harmonica.”

Later, Colin added some bits himself and invited a crack group of Nashville session players to give “Ordinary Sunrise” an extra kick. Featured artists include multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke, bassist Johhny Dymond, drummers Gary Craig and Jerry Roe, Janice Powers on B3 and keys, and Fats Kaplin on Violin.

Jay Linden’s last album release, “Under The Radar,” came out in 2009, following his 2006 debut, “Satchel.” This is because Linden doesn’t rush or pressure himself into creating. “I’ve always had periods of time where I was playing a lot, and things were coming out of me. So, if I liked them and thought they were good enough to share, I made a record.”

Linden has worked in the music industry across a variety of other capacities. Some gigs include being a writer for the storied Canadian music trade publication RPM Magazine, a music publicist, and, for many years as an IT Architect. During the ‘80s and ‘90s, he took a lengthy break from songwriting and playing, only picking up the guitar again after quitting smoking, partly because it gave him something to do with his hands in 2001.

When he started playing again, he did so with enthusiasm, collecting and honing his chops on various instruments. From the relatively common (banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, and autoharps) to the more esoteric (the cümbüş, saz, cuatro, tres, bajo sexto, Spanish laúd, and even a tiple). He spent relatively little time playing guitar at that point, he explains but did find time to pick up Harmonica, which figures prominently on “Ordinary Sunrise.”

Jay Linden’s introspective new title track, “Ordinary Sunrise,” is available now.

Limited Edition 2LP Coloured Vinyl Pressing Of Lana Del Rey’s Third Studio Album ‘Ultraviolence’ Available Now

Eric Alper
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Limited Edition 2LP Coloured Vinyl Pressing Of Lana Del Rey’s Third Studio Album ‘Ultraviolence’ Available Now

Re-press of Lana’s the third studio album from 2014, Collaborating with Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) who co -produced the album with additional contributions from producers such as Paul Epworth, Greg Kurstin, Daniel Heath, and Rick Nowels. Receiving critical acclaim for the album’s lyricism, cohesiveness, production and Del Rey’s vocal performance. The album was frequently ranked by various publications as among the best albums of the year as well as the decade. Ultraviolence was a global success, debuting at number one in eleven countries, including the United States with first-week sales of 182,000 copies and has since been certified Platinum, becoming the best-selling debut week of Del Rey’s career and reached the top five in over twenty territories including #1 in the UK album charts, also certified Platinum. This version was originally an Urban Outfitters exclusive and features an alternate cover which depicts a close-up of Del Rey’s knee in torn jeans as she holds a loose strand of fabric from the torn denim, LP1 is pressed on Blue Translucent vinyl with LP2 on Violet Opaque, gatefold package also contains a double sided insert.

Tracklist:
Disc One
A-Side

Cruel World
Ultraviolence

B-Side
Shades Of Cool
Brooklyn Baby
West Coast

Disc Two
C-Side
Sad Girl
Pretty When You Cry
Money Power Glory

D-Side
Fucked My Way Up To The Top
Old Money
The Other Woman

Olivia Rodrigo’s Bold New Single “vampire” Set For Release On June 30

Eric Alper
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Olivia Rodrigo’s Bold New Single “vampire” Set For Release On June 30

Today, GRAMMY-winning, multi-Platinum recording artist Olivia Rodrigo announced the June 30th release of her new single “vampire” via Geffen Records/Universal Music Canada. The 20-year-old singer-songwriter penned the song with producer Daniel Nigro, who also collaborated with her on SOUR, Rodrigo’s debut studio album. Marking the first new music from the record-breaking young artist since the May 2021 release of SOUR, “vampire” is the sound of an artist firmly in control, imbued with a sense of maturity and a bold confidence. Pre-order the special limited edition physical versions of “vampire,” which also include Rodrigo’s first demo of the single, exclusive to the CD and 7” pressing, here.

Rodrigo continues to write with unflinching honesty, a quality that’s endeared her to listeners ever since she dropped her breakthrough single “drivers license” in January 2021. The track debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first song in history to hit 80 million streams in seven days on Spotify. Now certified 5x Platinum in the U.S., “drivers license” also resonated on a global level, topping the charts in numerous countries. The triple Platinum “deja vu” and 4x Platinum, Billboard Hot 100-topping “good 4 u” followed in the leadup to the release of her first full-album.

SOUR entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 and would go on to become the longest-running debut album in the chart’s top 10 of the 21st century—and the first to spend an entire year in the upper echelon. SOUR also entered the charts at No. 1 in the U.K., Canada, Ireland, Norway, Holland, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand. Upon release, SOUR scored the most U.S. audio streams for a female debut album ever and broke the record for the most-streamed album in a week by a female artist on Spotify.

Named the #1 Album of 2021 by Rolling Stone and hailed as one of the Best Albums of 2021 by The New York Times, among others, SOUR is now 4x Platinum in the U.S. and has sold over 17 million albums globally with over 40 billion streams worldwide. The album’s 11 tracks have all been certified by the RIAA—and have landed in the top 30 of Billboard’s Hot 100, making Rodrigo the first female artist to simultaneously chart 11 or more songs in the top 30.

Rodrigo received seven GRAMMY Award nominations—including nods in each of the Big Four categories—and took home awards for Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 64th GRAMMY Awards. She was named New Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards, Woman of the Year at Billboard’s 2022 Women in Music Awards and Songwriter of the Year at both the ASCAP Pop Music Awards and Variety Hitmakers. She has also received seven Billboard Awards, a Brit, a Juno and an NME Award while “Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film)” won Best Music Documentary honors at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards. In 2022, she kicked off her first-ever world tour—a sold-out run that took her to upwards of 40 cities across North America and Europe.

By focusing on intimate storytelling, crafting iconic choruses, and effortlessly building a passionate fandom, Rodrigo has ascended to the very pinnacle of pop. Her music has become an integral part of this era’s soundtrack. With “vampire,” she is poised to begin an exciting new chapter.

Three New Categories Added For The 2024 GRAMMYs: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album & Best Pop Dance Recording

Eric Alper
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Three New Categories Added For The 2024 GRAMMYs: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album & Best Pop Dance Recording

African music, alternative jazz and dance pop have been on the GRAMMYs ballot for decades. Now, they’re deservedly getting categories of their own.

The Recording Academy has added three new Categories: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording. These new categories will be introduced at the 2024 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 66th GRAMMY Awards:

Additionally, the existing Categories of Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical will be moved to the General Field; this significant change will allow all GRAMMY voters to vote in these important, non-genre-specific Categories.

These Category additions and amendments were voted on and passed at the Recording Academy’s most recent semiannual Board of Trustees meeting held in May 2023.

“The Recording Academy is proud to announce these latest Category changes to our Awards process. These changes reflect our commitment to actively listen and respond to the feedback from our music community, accurately represent a diverse range of relevant musical genres, and stay aligned with the ever-evolving musical landscape,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said.

“By introducing these three new categories, we are able to acknowledge and appreciate a broader array of artists – and relocating the Producer Of the Year and Songwriter Of The Year categories to the General Field ensures that all our voters can participate in recognizing excellence in these fields,” Mason continued. “We are excited to honor and celebrate the creators and recordings in these categories, while also exposing a wider range of music to fans worldwide.”

Here’s a breakdown of the three new GRAMMY Award Categories:

Best African Music Performance

A track and singles Category that recognizes recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent. Highlighting regional melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical traditions, the Category includes but is not limited to the Afrobeat, Afro-fusion, Afro Pop, Afrobeats, Alte, Amapiano, Bongo Flava, Genge, Kizomba, Chimurenga, High Life, Fuji, Kwassa, Ndombolo, Mapouka, Ghanaian Drill, Afro-House, South African Hip-Hop, and Ethio Jazz genres.

Best Pop Dance Recording

Recognizes tracks and singles that feature up-tempo, danceable music that follows a pop arrangement. Eligible Pop Dance recordings also feature strong rhythmic beats and significant electronic-based instruments with an emphasis on the vocal performance, melody and hooks. Dance remixes are eligible in the Best Remixed Recording Category only and may not be entered in Best Pop Dance Recording.

Best Alternative Jazz Album

This Category recognizes artistic excellence in Alternative Jazz albums by individuals, duos and groups/ensembles, with or without vocals. Alternative Jazz may be defined as a genre-blending, envelope-pushing hybrid that mixes jazz (improvisation, interaction, harmony, rhythm, arrangements, composition, and style) with other genres, including R&B, Hip-Hop, Classical, Contemporary Improvisation, Experimental, Pop, Rap, Electronic/Dance music, and/or Spoken Word. It may also include the contemporary production techniques/instrumentation associated with other genres.

The Recording Academy accepts proposals from members of the music community throughout the year. The Awards & Nominations Committee, composed of Academy Voting Members of diverse genres and backgrounds, meets annually to review proposals to update Awards categories, procedures and eligibility guidelines.

Via GRAMMYS

54-40 “LIVE AT EL MOCAMBO” Vinyl Release Party August 18th 2023 in Toronto

Eric Alper
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54-40 “LIVE AT EL MOCAMBO” Vinyl Release Party August 18th 2023 in Toronto

54•40 and El Mocambo Entertainment join forces to celebrate the release of a NEW LIVE RECORD, 5440 Live at El Mocambo. Recorded on September 18th, 2020 in Toronto’s legendary El Mocambo venue, the record features eight of the band’s smash hits from over the decades. Being the first time the band had performed together on a stage in over a year, the tracks exude a fiery, unbridled energy complimented by the venue’s acoustics. Though live shows hadn’t fully come back yet, the original recording at El Mocambo was broadcast live for a limited time, making it among the rarest of 54•40 performances.

For fans who may have missed this legendary show, not to fear! 54•40 will be back at El Mocambo on August 18th, 2023 for a LIVE RELEASE PARTY. The band looks forward to returning to the venue and seeing fans who couldn’t make it the first time. Attendees can preorder a Limited-Edition Vinyl Package commemorating the original show. The package includes an alternate-coloured vinyl, a CD with the bonus track, a 54•40 tote bag and exclusive meet and greet access with signing & photos with the band.

The live release party under the historical Neon Palms of the El Mocambo is promising to be an unforgettable evening for the true rock admirers. Made like no other venue in Toronto, El Mocambo was chosen by many legendary bands like U2, Bon Jovi, Blondie, and The Rolling Stones. And now it’s time for 54•40 and its fans to make some noise in the soundproof walls of the club.

Opening the show is special guest Mattie Leon.

Tickets are available here.

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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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