Page 1419 – That Eric Alper

Made to Move You: Panasonic’s New RZ-B310W and RZ-B110W True Wireless Earphones

Music

Eric Alper

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May 7, 2023

Made to Move You: Panasonic’s New RZ-B310W and RZ-B110W True Wireless Earphones

Panasonic is pleased to announce two new pairs of Digital Wireless Stereo Earphones that are perfect for people on the go. Each pair caters to a different listener priority: noise cancelling or longer battery life. For those who value Active Noise Cancelling, the new RZ-B310W are an inner-ear model with Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling capabilities. Meanwhile, the RZ-B110W offer an incredible 26 hours of playback time for those who want to listen to music longer without worrying about maintaining a charge. The earphones themselves can hold a six-hour charge and are provided with an extra 20 hours-worth of playback from a fully charged carrying case.

Both pairs of new earphones are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time thanks to Panasonic’s ‘Ergofit’ design. Both headphone pairs are outfitted with XBS tech to energize the listener’s tunes with powerful bass that is streamed wirelessly via Bluetooth® 5.3.

The RZ-B310W and RZ-B110W offer incredible value for the money at $99.99 and $59.99, respectively. They are available now in a black color on Amazon.com.

RZ-B310W with Active Noise Cancelling

Hybrid System – Ideal for the Commuter

Using both feedback and feedforward, with microphones inside as well as outside, Panasonic’s RZ-B310W earphones neutralize distracting ambient noise. They’re ideal for travel, removing the repetitive background noise from planes, trains, buses and other forms of public transport.

RZ-B110W for 26-Hour Party Performance

With Fully Charged Carry Case

When listeners are enjoying music, the last thing they want is to be caught short of power. Thanks to the RZ-B110W’s 6-hour battery life, supplemented with 20 hours of additional run-time from the carrying-case, these earphones will keep listeners tuned in to their music or dialled-in to calls for more than a full day. These new earphones are quickly and easily charged using the supplied USB-C cable.

Separately, the B310W users can enjoy a 16-hour battery life, even when using active noise cancelling. The earphones themselves provide five hours of non-stop playback and the carrying case can provide an extra 11 hours when fully charged.

‘Ergofit’ Design

Canal Style Earphones with Comfort in Mind

Thanks to the ‘Ergofit’ design, which has a canal type structure, B310W and B110W wireless earphones provide a comfortable and secure fit to keep them and the user’s tunes where they belong – in their ears.

XBS Extra Bass

Boost the Rhythm for Better Engagement

Thanks to Panasonic’s XBS tech and 10mm drivers, the new B310W and B110W earphones deliver clear sound with extra bass. The combination will energize the listener’s music and bring a spring to their step.

Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless

Cut the Cords for Freedom

Tangled wires are a thing of the past thanks to B310W and B110W’s Bluetooth® capabilities. Connect quickly and easily to mobile phones, and other smart devices, via Bluetooth® 5.3 tech for greater battery efficiency, a more stable connection, and crystal-clear clarity for music and calls.

IPX4 Water Resistance

For Real-World Use

Featuring IPX4 water resistance, both B310W and B110W are equally at home on an intense indoor workout in the gym or outside in the rain. Moisture won’t get in the way of enjoying music.

Voice Assistance

Compatible with Google Assistant and Siri

Both new pairs of Panasonic’s true-wireless earphones are Google Assistant and Siri compatible. A tap on the side of the chosen earphone, with the ‘wake words,’ will bring the relevant digital assistant to life.

Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum Opens Taylor Swift Pop-Up Exhibit Featuring Wardrobe Spanning The Eras Of Her Career

Music

Eric Alper

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May 7, 2023

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a pop-up exhibit today that displays a selection of iconic costumes worn by 12-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor Swift. Titled Through Taylor Swift’s Eras, the limited-run exhibit includes a total of 10 outfits that represent each of the artist’s 10 albums, from 2006’s Taylor Swift to 2022’s Midnights. The pop-up exhibit is part of the museum’s comprehensive gallery experience and is included with general admission. It runs through May 31.

Swift has consistently reinvented herself with each new album through changes in everything from her musical direction to the costuming that defines the eras of her career. On the United States leg of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour,” which began in mid-March and runs through August, Swift is playing 52 stadium concerts.

NOTE: Timed tickets are available for museum entry between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., with a limited number of museum admission tickets available each day. The museum’s self-guided experience takes approximately 90 minutes. The museum is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance ticket purchase is encouraged via the museum’s website. Six ticket limit per person. No reentry. Click here for more information on ticket availability and visitor experience.

Among the items on display from Swift’s wardrobe are:

The Vivetta faux fur jacket and rhinestone-accented Norma Kamali bikini Swift wore in the 2019 music video for “You Need to Calm Down.”
The Marina Toybina-designed circus ringmaster ensemble of a top hat, cane, rhinestone and sequin-embellished jacket, shorts and knee-high, laced LaDuca boots Swift wore to perform “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” at the 2012 “MTV Europe Music Awards,” November 11, 2012.
The Mandalay multicolored fringe dress, embellished with beads and sequins, and Everybody by B. Z. Moda tall boots Swift wore during the first act of her “Fearless Tour” in 2009-2010.

The museum also updated its display in the third-floor Taylor Swift Education Center with new artifacts representing Swift and her latest studio album, Midnights. These objects will be on view through early summer 2024 and are also accessible with general museum admission.

New items now on display in the Taylor Swift Education Center include:

The sequin-covered cape, Michael Schmidt Studios bustier and briefs, and Stuart Weitzman boots worn by Swift in the 2022 music video for “Bejeweled.”
The Taylor GSLJ “Living Jewels” acoustic guitar Swift used to perform “Last Kiss” during her “Speak Now World Tour” (2011-2012) and in the 2022 music video for “Anti-Hero.”
The New York University cap and gown Swift wore when she received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree and delivered the commencement address at the school’s 2022 graduation ceremony.

The Taylor Swift Education Center is located within the museum’s galleries. The two-story, 7,500-square-foot center opened in 2013 and was made possible through a generous donation from Swift to the museum’s capital campaign, which doubled the size of the nonprofit cultural organization. The education center includes classrooms, youth art installations, interactive galleries and learning labs with resources to facilitate distance learning and songwriting programs. In 2022, more than 134,000 people were served through more than 1,100 educational programs offered by the museum — many of which originated in the Taylor Swift Education Center.

Additionally, Swift’s contributions to country music are represented with artifacts in the museum’s core exhibition, Sing Me Back Home, and in its annual American Currents: State of the Music exhibit, located adjacent to the new pop-up exhibit.

Photo Gallery: Billy Idol at Niagara Falls’ OLG Stage

Music

Eric Alper

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May 6, 2023

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Photo Gallery: Billy Idol at Niagara Falls’ OLG Stage

All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or Twitter

50 Cent Announces Global “The Final Lap Tour 2023”

Music

Eric Alper

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May 5, 2023

0

50 Cent Announces Global “The Final Lap Tour 2023”

For approved artist images and hi-res tour art, please download HERE.

Today, EMMY® and GRAMMY® award-winning multi hyphenate, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, announced that he will embark on a global tour in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of his game-changing debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Produced by Live Nation and presented by Sire Spirits, The Final Lap Tour will make stops across North America and Europe including Toronto, Brooklyn, Atlanta, Houston, Amsterdam, Oslo, Paris, and many more. Additional markets to be announced soon.

The Final Lap Tour will feature the rap icon performing dozens of fan-favorite and chart-topping hits along with select tracks that have not been performed live in decades. Plus, the tour will feature support from special guest and longtime friend, Busta Rhymes, across all dates and Jeremih supporting on all North American dates with more special guests to be announced.

Kicking off with its North American leg, the first date will be on Friday, July 21st at Maverik Center in Salt Lake City, UT and the European leg will commence on Thursday, September 28th at Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Additional dates to be announced in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s Sire Spirits brands, Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi Champagne, will be available throughout the tour and at select Live Nation venues for other events.1 This relationship ties into Live Nation’s commitment to diversity and supporting fully Black-owned brands, of which Sire Spirits is one of the few.

Recognized as one of the most talented and prolific music artists of his time, 50 Cent rose to fame with his record-shattering debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Since then, he has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and has been awarded the most prestigious accolades. Jackson has leveraged his star power to achieve unparalleled success as an entrepreneur, actor, director, and executive producer. From Get Rich or Die Tryin’ being one of the fastest-selling albums in history to creating one of the most influential deals in hip-hop with the sale of Vitaminwater, Jackson continues to break records. Currently, he holds the record for the highest rated premiere of a series ever on Starz with “Power Book II: Ghost.”

THE FINAL LAP TOUR 2023 – NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:
Fri Jul 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center
Sun Jul 23 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Tue Jul 25 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – STL
Thu Jul 27 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Fri Jul 28 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Sat Jul 29 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Mon Jul 31 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Wed Aug 02 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Thu Aug 03 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Sat Aug 05 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Sun Aug 06 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
Tue Aug 08 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Wed Aug 09 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Fri Aug 11 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
Sat Aug 12 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Sun Aug 13 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
Tue Aug 15 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Wed Aug 16 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Thu Aug 17 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 19 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Aug 20 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 22 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
Thu Aug 24 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Fri Aug 25 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Sun Aug 27 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Tue Aug 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Wed Aug 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Thu Aug 31 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 02 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Mon Sep 04 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
Wed Sep 06 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Thu Sep 07 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Fri Sep 08 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Sun Sep 10 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
Mon Sep 11 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Wed Sep 13 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Fri Sep 15 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Sat Sep 16 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sun Sep 17 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

THE FINAL LAP TOUR 2023 – EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:
Thu Sep 28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
Fri Sep 29 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena
Sat Sep 30 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
Wed Oct 4 – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum*
Thu Oct 5 – Trondheim, Norway – Spektrum
Sat Oct 07 – Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
Mon Oct 09 – Riga, Latvia – Arena Riga*
Wed Oct 11 – Lodz Poland – Atlas Arena
Sat Oct 14 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena
Sun Oct 15 – Oberhausen, Germany – Rudolf-Weber-Arena
Fri Oct 20 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
Sat Oct 21 – Nice, France – Palais Nikaia
Sun Oct 22 – Milan, Italy – Mediolanum Forum
Tue Oct 24 – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle
Wed Oct 25 – Mannheim, Germany – SAP Arena
Thu Oct 26 – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National
Sat Oct 28 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
Tue Oct 31 – Strasbourg, France – Zenith
Thu Nov 02 – Nantes, France – Zenith
Fri Nov 03 – Paris, France – La Defense Arena
Mon Nov 06 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
Thu Nov 09 – Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro
Fri Nov 10 – Manchester, England – AO Arena
Sat Nov 11 – London, England – The O2
Sun Nov 12 – Birmingham, England – Resorts World Arena

Lauren Spencer Smith Announces Debut Studio Album ‘Mirror’

Music

Eric Alper

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May 5, 2023

0

Lauren Spencer Smith Announces Debut Studio Album ‘Mirror’

Today, multi-platinum singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith announces her debut full length album Mirror, to release July 14, which will feature 15 deeply moving, personal records tells a story filled with autobiographical ups and downs. The title Mirror is personal and deliberate. “I’ve been working on this album for years. It has been with me through so much in my life, the highs and the lows, and it means more to me than I can put into words. It tells a story of reflection, healing and growth.” says Spencer Smith. “I went through a hard breakup, and the album tells the story of that all, the journey of that and now being in a more happy relationship. The title comes from the one thing in my life that’s seen me in every emotion through that journey— my bedroom and bathroom mirror.”

Songs from the album have already amassed over 1 billion streams. Released in 2023, “Best Friend Breakup” presents a song that resonates with almost anyone yet fills a creative void, while most recent single “Fantasy” confronts toxic relationships through a collaboration with GAYLE and Em Beihold. Having grown up in a small town without a music community, Smith considers her collaborators the friends she always longed for. The chemistry from their group chats comes alive in the single and video.

By the age of 19, Lauren had already created two hits, “Fingers Crossed” and “Flowers.” The RIAA-certified platinum singles represent a rare voice in music. “I always tell people that the only reason I feel obligated to write is because I didn’t have this song when I was sad. I feel like writing about it can help somebody else.” Lauren Spencer Smith writes and sings from very personal places, but she does so in a way that is relatable to so many. While often sad, these songs include deep reflection, processing, and analysis. “I don’t enjoy writing songs when I’m not over the situation,” she offers. “I enjoy going to therapy and talking about it. Once I have both sides, and I can be unbiased about it, I can write the best song.” After achieving over 1 billion global streams through resonant singles, Lauren Spencer Smith is eager to share more of herself. Her upcoming debut album, Mirror, promises depth, range, and narrative.

My Next Read: “A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons” by Ben Folds

Music

Eric Alper

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May 5, 2023

1

My Next Read: “A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons” by Ben Folds

Ben Folds is a celebrated American singer-songwriter, beloved for songs such as “Brick,” “You Don’t Know Me,” “Rockin’ the Suburbs,” and “The Luckiest,” and is the former frontman of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. But Folds will be the first to tell you he’s an unconventional icon, more normcore than hardcore. Now, in his first book, Folds looks back at his life so far in a charming and wise chronicle of his artistic coming of age, infused with the wry observations of a natural storyteller.

In the title chapter, “A Dream About Lightning Bugs,” Folds recalls his earliest childhood dream—and realizes how much it influenced his understanding of what it means to be an artist. In “Measure Twice, Cut Once” he learns to resist the urge to skip steps during the creative process. In “Hall Pass” he recounts his 1970s North Carolina working-class childhood, and in “Cheap Lessons” he returns to the painful life lessons he learned the hard way—but that luckily didn’t kill him.

In his inimitable voice, both relatable and thought-provoking, Folds digs deep into the life experiences that shaped him, imparting hard-earned wisdom about both art and life. Collectively, these stories embody the message Folds has been singing about for years: Smile like you’ve got nothing to prove, because it hurts to grow up, and life flies by in seconds.

Pussy Riot & Boys Noize Team Up And Bring Alice Glass Along For “Chastity”

Music

Eric Alper

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May 5, 2023

1

Pussy Riot & Boys Noize Team Up And Bring Alice Glass Along For “Chastity”

Today, a brand new trifecta comes to you in the form of Russia’s Pussy Riot, Berlin’s Boys Noize and Canada’s Alice Glass who are offering up “Chastity” via Boysnoize Records. Nadya Tolokonnikova says: “This song will put the patriarchy in a tiny cage and throw the key out.”

With “Chastity,” Pussy Riot and Alice Glass wield Boys Noize’s racing techno-NRG as a weapon of mass domination. The femme-fatale vocalists take turns drenching the Berlin producer’s dark adrenaline with syrupy acid – and while it’s an undeniable peak-time rush, a closer listen to the lyrics reveal disturbing new details.

One can never know for sure if the ladies are just singing along or issuing commands. Did Boys Noize know his production was being used by Pussy Riot and Alice Glass to create the first sissy-hypno-core banger? But the question that “Chastity” has everyone really asking is, “Who has the key?”

“Chastity”’s official music video concept & still images are by LIL INTERNET, the edit & animation by TRLLM [K8 Howl & Jak Ritger]. Don’t miss!

Yorkville Sound & Traynor Amps Celebrate 60 Years

Music

Eric Alper

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May 5, 2023

0

Yorkville Sound & Traynor Amps Celebrate 60 Years

Canadian Pro Audio manufacturer, Yorkville Sound, and iconic amplifier brand, Traynor Amps, are celebrating 60 years in 2023. This milestone marks significant achievements in manufacturing, sound technology, and tells the unlikely story of how a mild-mannered jazz trumpeter and a rock & roll bass player ignited a major cultural shift in Canadian music.

Six decades ago, Long & McQuade founder, Jack Long & then staff repair person, Pete Traynor took a walk outside of the very first Long & McQuade location on Toronto’s Yonge Street, seeking inspiration for their new venture. With the Yorkville street sign in their line of sight, Yorkville Sound was born.

The first Yorkville Sound product was also a first for the globe. In the early sixties, lead vocalists showed up to gigs with a microphone and a hope that there was something to plug in to. At the request of a local band, Pete Traynor built two road-worthy column PA speakers to solve this problem once and for all. The resulting Yorkville YSC speakers comprised the first known portable column PA system, soon to be commonplace on stages around the world.

“The YSC PA columns kickstarted the whole portable PA industry in North America,” says Mike Holman, Yorkville’s historian and employee of the company since 1970. “It started a line of pro-audio firsts including the first portable stage lighting system, the first mobile concert sound operation, and the first wedged stage monitor, to name a few.”
As Long & McQuade pioneered music gear rentals, it was the natural hub for Toronto musicians to stock up in preparation for their legendary Yonge Street gigs. Noting that Bass gear was usually the first to be depleted, Pete Traynor examined the popular amps of the 60s’ and built his own line of Dynabass amplifiers. Later renamed Bass Master, the amp earned a global reputation as a workhorse for decades to come.

In partnership with Long & McQuade, Yorkville Sound and Traynor’s homegrown structure has given Canadian musicians unprecedented access to high-quality and affordable music gear. With this model in place, countless Canadian musicians were able to plug-in and turn-up.

“Yorkville & Traynor are common denominators among the Canadian music community,” says Steve Long, Yorkville Sound’s CEO. “Somewhere in every Canadian garage band’s history, is a Yorkville Sound product or Traynor amp.”

Yorkville Sound has grown from a few employees in the back of the original Long & McQuade store, to over 200 employees in the 150,000 square foot facility in Pickering, Ontario Canada, where all their North American products are manufactured. “We’ve been in Pickering for over 30 years,” says Long, “We’re proud of our team, which includes employees that have been with us since the very early days, and generations of families.”

Outside of Canada, Yorkville has a US office in Niagara Falls, New York and international distribution. “Our products resonate around the world, particularly in DJ communities, where heavy bass is paramount,” says Long.

Sixty years in, Yorkville Sound continues to innovate on a global level. Most recently, Yorkville unveiled the EXM Mobile series, the world’s best portable battery-powered PA systems, giving musicians the latitude to set up great-sounding gigs anywhere. “The Pete Traynor ethic of leading the charge in product designs and building gear from a musician’s point of view is a core part of who we are,” says Long.

Yorkville Sound will be celebrating its 60th Anniversary throughout 2023 with a limited-edition commemorative product, a series of company profile videos, and special events.

Yorkville Sound has been a manufacturer of PA systems and loudspeakers, Traynor instrument amplifiers, installed audio systems and accessories since its inception in 1963. The company now employs over 220 people in a 150,000 sq ft facility in Pickering Ontario, Canada (a suburb of Toronto). In addition to its manufacturing capability, Yorkville Sound is an importer and distributor of microphones, and accessories under the Apex brand (www.apexelectronics.com) as well as studio effects, signal processors, microphone preamps and accessories under the brand name Applied Research & Technology (ART) (www.artproaudio.com). Yorkville Sound distributed lines include Granite Percussion, Denver Guitars, Orion FX Lighting, HK Audio, Hughes & Kettner Amplifiers, Rouge Valley Bags for North America; Epiphone Guitars, Gibson Guitars, Gold Tone, Samson Audio & Wireless, Hartke, Mapex Drums, Dynaudio, Leho Ukuleles, LEWITT Mcirophones, Link Audio, Los Cabos Drumsticks, LR Baggs, Ernie Ball Strings, Rotosound Strings, , Snark Tuners, TrueTone Pedals, CruzTools, Kluson, DLX Series, Steinberger Guitars, The Rockslide, Zer0 Glide, KRK, as well as Gallien-Krueger Amplifiers for Canada

Rising Pop Star Anna Goldsmith Releases “Go” Single

Music

Eric Alper

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May 5, 2023

0

Rising Pop Star Anna Goldsmith Releases “Go” Single

Anna Goldsmith, the rising pop star from Innisfil, Ontario has collaborated with Dutch composer and producer Jan Jansen to release their third original single, “Go” – available now.

The twosome met through Instagram and have teamed up to release originals such as “Follower”, and “Miracle” and covers that include, “One Way or Another” by Blondie and “Father Christmas” by the Kinks. The dynamic duo has several more originals in the works and plans to release an entire album together.

The newly released Go was composed and recorded by Jansen while Anna wrote the lyrics and then recorded the vocals. The new energetic and powerful anthem reflects Anna’s outgoing and confident personality and her desire to empower her fans to truly love themselves as who they are.

“Go is about seeing through the fake people and being yourself; being strong and not giving in to the pressures all around us. There are so many negative influences all around us, especially on social media,” says Goldsmith. “We are living in a digital world and sometimes it’s hard to tell what is fake and what is real.”

Jan Jansen is a talented composer and producer from the Netherlands, with a growing international following. Together, the duo has created a unique sound that showcases Anna’s powerful vocals and Jan’s signature musical style.

Goldsmith, the multi-talented musician, and stage performer continues to highlight her message and purpose behind the newly released song, Go, saying, “I want my fans to see through all the fake and unreal, and be happy with themselves as they are. I don’t want them to feel badly about themselves because they don’t live up to the fake lives portrayed online.”

The outgoing and charismatic Canadian high school student is an up-and-coming performer who has been taking vocal lessons since the age of 9 with Margot Hamilton. Following the release of her debut single “Shine”, which is available on all streaming platforms, she began vocal and performance training with one of the most successful coaches in North America, Lorraine Lawson, in the summer of 2022. In addition to her musical endeavours, Anna is a volunteer with youth-centred groups, providing needed support to at-risk youth.

Prior to the release of her powerful new track, Go, Anna transitioned into the pop/rock genre and has performed at Friday Harbour in her hometown of Innisfil, Toronto’s Revival Bar and El Mocambo, and at the Chelsea Music Hall in New York City.

Singer-Songwriter Christopher Jackson Beats Writer’s Block in Sublime “Only You”

Music

Eric Alper

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May 5, 2023

0

Singer-Songwriter Christopher Jackson Beats Writer’s Block in Sublime “Only You”

When inspiration seems far away, sometimes all you really need to do is look no further than the one you love. Kingston, ON singer-songwriter Christopher Jackson chronicles that moment of divine realization in his new single “Only You,” available now.

“I was going through a period of ‘writer’s block,’” Jackson recalls, “And could not come up with any music or lyric ideas. I was feeling stuck and frustrated until my partner Nicole told me to snap out of this funk and just write whatever I’m thinking about. I chirped back ‘the only thing I’m gonna write about is you.’ That line sprouted the single.”

The result is three minutes of sunny, seventies inspired roots rock, ready-made for swaying under the stars or skipping down the street. Jackson showcases his talents as a multi-instrumentalist on the track, playing acoustic guitar, bass, drums and vocals. Kingston, ON’s guest musician Spencer Evans accompanies him on the piano and clarinet.

“The feel of the song was influenced by an old Pink Floyd tune ‘San Tropez.’” Jackson says. “The theme is about overthinking the process, and trying to find something to write about when it was in front of me the whole time. My beautiful woman.”

The single is the first off of Jackson’s debut album as a solo artist, coming off of a twenty-five-year career singing and playing in cover groups, session recordings, and venue house bands. Jackson has built a reputation as a well-rounded and engaging performer at his popular “Chris Jackson & Friends” Friday night show at BluMartini in Kingston.

“This album encapsulates events and experiences in my life over the last few years,” he says. “The sudden stillness of the pandemic in 2020 gave me an opportunity to dig deep to expose my authenticity and release things from the past. There are songs about love, pain, and loss; about successes, failures, ownership; and about growth and sobriety. There wasn’t a concept or genre I was chasing. These songs came out naturally, reflecting what I was going through at the time.”

Co-produced and engineered by Paul “Doc” Halladay, the album is sure to cement Jackson’s status as a solo artist. Music lovers and hopeless romantics alike, rejoice!