Page 1434 – That Eric Alper

The Roots & Live Nation Urban Announce 2023 “Roots Picnic” Weekend

Music

Eric Alper

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Feb 21, 2023

The Roots & Live Nation Urban Announce 2023 “Roots Picnic” Weekend

GRAMMY Award-winning multiplatinum hip-hop luminaries The Roots and Live Nation Urban reveal the details for the 2023 installment of “Roots Picnic.” Renowned for its complete musical and cultural immersion, the two-day festival will be back at The Mann in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday and Sunday, June 3-4, 2023. This year, a special stand-up comedy performance from Dave Chappelle and The Roots at Wells Fargo Center on Friday, June 2 will kick off the weekend. A fan club presale launches tomorrow, February 21 at 12PM ET, and general on-sale follows on Wednesday, February 22 at 10AM ET. Weekend tickets and VIP packages will be available HERE.

This year marks a very special first as multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning legend Diddy will headline the festival with The Roots delivering a set highlighted by decades of his definitive hits. Additionally, Ms. Lauryn Hill will co-headline and perform the entirety of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – a rare event– to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the seminal album’s release. Award-winning American comedian, screenwriter, television and film producer, and actor Dave Chappelle will make his “Roots Picnic” debut performing with The Roots on what promises to be a seismic, first-ever comedy set of this magnitude. The impressive line-up also hosts a massive celebration of Philadelphia talent including a headline set from Lil Uzi Vert, the return of Eve during Black Thought’s Live Mixtape set, DJ Drama, Kindred the Family Soul, a State Property Reunion, and more. Check out the full confirmed lineup below.

Offering an inimitable experience, “Roots Picnic” also invites crowds to enjoy the fan-favorite Podcast Stage which will be headlined by live podcasts from Charlamagne Tha God and Off The Record with DJ Akademiks in addition to Don’t Call Me White Girl, Lip Service with Angela Yee, People’s Party with Talib Kweli, and of course, Questlove Supreme. The concourse also boasts various activations and engagements, ranging from film to social justice.

“Roots Picnic” has continued to be one of the summer’s most highly anticipated festivals and a celebration of Philadelphia’s robust music scene. Over the years, it’s been named one of UPROXX’s “Best Festivals For Hip-Hop Fans Of Any Generation” and lauded as “a major staple within the Black community.” Billboard included the Roots Picnic in their Top 50 Music Festivals round-up, and perhaps BET put it best, “the two-day event proves why hip hop is such a regenerative force of nature.”

Since launching in 2007, The Roots Picnic has stood at the crossroads of music and culture, entertaining, engaging, and enlightening millions of fans along the way. Its dynamic lineups have included everyone from The Weeknd, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Phantogram, Usher, Nas, A$AP Rocky, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Future to Vampire Weekend, The War on Drugs, Gary Clark, Jr., Solange, Diplo, Gnarls Barkley, and more. “Roots Picnic” isn’t just a cornerstone of the group’s career, but a cornerstone of the culture. 

FULL LINEUP:
Diddy w/ The Roots 
Ms. Lauryn Hill 
Lil Uzi Vert 
Dave Chappelle w/ The Roots
Soulquarians Set featuring Roy Ayers & The Isley Bros
Black Thought Live Mixtape featuring Busta Rhymes & Eve 
Ari Lennox
Lucky Daye
City Girls
Maverick City
Syd
Glorilla
DJ Drama
Uncle Waffles
Saucy Santana
DVSN
Kindred The Family Soul
Spinall
State Property Reunion (Freeway, Beanie Siegel, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino & Sparks) 
Little Brother
Yussef Dayes Experience
Adam Blackstone w/ Coco Jones & Mary Mary
Baller Alert Presents Go Go: Backyard Band vs Rare Essence
Symba
Fridayy
Mike Phillips
Rocky
Dappa
Akin Inaj & Inutech

PODCAST STAGE: 
Charlamagne Tha God
Off The Record with DJ Akademiks
Don’t Call Me White Girl
Lip Service with Angela Yee
Questlove Supreme
People’s Party with Talib Kweli
Pour Minds
Trap Nerds
The Office XIV
Love + Grit

Jelly Roll Announces North American Backroad Baptism Tour

Music

Eric Alper

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Feb 21, 2023

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Jelly Roll Announces North American Backroad Baptism Tour

After dominating Billboard’s Emerging Artist Chart for a record-breaking 25 consecutive weeks – ultimately breaking the record of most weeks spent at No. 1 – with his single, “Son Of A Sinner,” multi-genre hitmaker Jelly Roll today announced his Backroad Baptism Tour. Produced by Live Nation, the 44-city arena tour kicks off on Friday, July 28th at Bank Plus Amphitheater in Southaven making stops across the U.S. in Milwaukee, Kansas City, Cincinnati and more before wrapping up in Tampa at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater on Saturday, October 14th. Tour openers include Ashley McBryde, Caitlynne Curtis, Chase Rice, Elle King, Merkules, Struggle Jennings, Three 6 Mafia, Yelawolf and Josh Adam Meyers. As previously announced, Jelly Roll will also open on several dates as direct support for Eric Church.

The Backroad Baptism Tour comes after a momentous year for Jelly Roll. The chart-topping, multi-genre phenomenon scored his first No. 1 on Country radio with his debut Country single “Son Of A Sinner” and earned a two-week Rock No. 1, “cemented his rising mainstream stardom” (Tennessean). More recently, he released “she” as well as his current radio hit, “NEED A FAVOR” — both from his highly anticipated forthcoming album. Having independently amassed more than 4 Billion career streams to date, Jelly Roll made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2022 and continues to sell-out venues across the United States-recently playing to more than 16,000 fans at his sold-out show hometown venue at Bridgestone Arena. His 2020 single “Save Me” — a confessional, vulnerable expression of self-doubt set the stage for his new season of life and took him to new heights- has earned more than 155 million views on YouTube and Platinum certification from the RIAA- and continues to resonate with fans and tap into Jelly’s uniquely-connective ability to bring fans “therapeutic music.”

Outright genre-bending singer/songwriter/rapper Jelly Roll has quietly been building a remarkable career, under the radar and on his own terms. Since his days selling his mix tapes out of his car, he has constantly been independently releasing new music (more than 24 albums), touring relentlessly, consistently topping various iTunes charts, engaging a rabid fanbase and creating videos that have amassed nearly 2 billion views on YouTube. He pairs deeply personal lyrics with music that blends Old-school Rap, Classic Rock, Country and Soul to create music that is therapeutic, raw and tackles the heaviness in life.

His 2020 single “Save Me” — a confessional, vulnerable expression of self-doubt set the stage for his new season of life and took him to new heights, with more than 155 million views on YouTube and Platinum certification from the RIAA. Born and raised in Nashville’s Antioch neighborhood, the former addict and drug dealer released his album Ballads of the Broken in 2021, ahead of his sold-out hometown show at the famous Ryman Auditorium, which sold out in under an hour. The introspective 10-track album shows Jelly Roll’s growth as an artist and man, drawing from his personal experiences to tell the story of a man who has been through the ringer and isn’t afraid to share his raw truth, featuring his multi-week No. 1 Rock hit “Dead Man Walking” and his No. 1 Country debut single “Son of a Sinner.” Now after a history-making “breakthrough year” (American Songwriter), having just sold-out Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and released the riveting anthem “NEED A FAVOR” along with the soul-stirring ballad “she” from his highly anticipated forthcoming album, the reigning No. 1 of Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart for more than 25 weeks and counting is well on his way to mainstream, multi-genre stardom.

JELLY ROLL BACKROAD BAPTISM TOUR DATES:
Fri Jul 28 — Southaven, MS — BankPlus Amphitheater*
Sat Jul 29 — Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheater*
Sun Jul 30 — Orange Beach, AL — The Wharf Amphitheater*
Tue Aug 01 — Huntsville, AL — Orion Amphitheater*
Thu Aug 03 — Darien Center, NY — Darien Lake Amphitheater+
Fri Aug 04 — Mansfield, MA — Xfinity Center!
Sat Aug 05 — Bangor, ME — Maine Savings Amphitheater!
Tue Aug 08 — Gilford, NH — Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion!
Wed Aug 09 — Bridgeport, CT — Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater*
Fri Aug 11 — Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live>
Sat Aug 12 — Virginia Beach, VA — Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach>
Tue Aug 15 — Burgettstown, PA — The Pavilion at Star Lake< Thu Aug 17 — Clarkston, MI — Pine Knob Music Theater< Fri Aug 18 — Milwaukee, WI — American Family Insurance Amphitheater< Sat Aug 19 — St. Louis, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre>
Tue Aug 22 — Evansville, IN — Ford Center*
Thu Aug 24 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP*
Fri Aug 25 — Omaha, NE — CHI Health Center>
Sat Aug 26 — Kansas City, MO — T-Mobile Center>
Tue Aug 29 — Lubbock, TX — United Supermarket Arena#
Wed Aug 30 — Albuquerque, NM — Isleta Amphitheater#
Fri Sep 01 — Las Vegas, NV — MGM Grand Garden Arena#
Sat Sep 02 — Salt Lake City, UT — USANA Amphitheatre#
Sun Sep 03 — Greenwood Village, CO — Fiddler’s Green<~ Tue Sep 05 —Rapid City, SD — Summit Arena at The Monument* Wed Sep 06 — Bozeman, MT — Brick Breeden Fieldhouse* Tue Sep 12 — Bend, OR — Hayden Homes Amphitheater * Thu Sep 14 — Concord, CA — Concord Pavilion$ Fri Sep 15 — Bakersfield, CA — Mechanics Bank Arena$ Tue Sept 19 — Oklahoma City, OK — Paycom Center>
Thu Sep 21 — Austin, TX — Germania Insurance Amphitheater>
Fri Sep 22 — Houston, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion^$
Sat Sep 23 — Dallas, TX — Dos Equis Pavilion$
Tue Sep 26 — Tupelo, MS — Cadence Bank Arena*
Thu Sep 28 — Cincinnati, OH — Riverbend Music Center!
Fri Sep 29 — Indianapolis, IN — Ruoff Music Center!
Sat Sep 30 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH — Blossom Music Center&
Tue Oct 03 — Charleston, WV — Charleston Coliseum*
Thu Oct 05 — Wilmington, NC — Live Oak Bank Pavilion*
Fri Oct 06 — Greensboro, NC — Greensboro Coliseum< Tue Oct 10 — Lexington, KY — Rupp Arena< Thu Oct 12 Greenville, SC — Bon Secours Wellness Arena# Fri Oct 13 — Jacksonville, FL — VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena# Sat Oct 14 — Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre# ^On Sale April 14 ~Not a Live Nation Date *With Support from Struggle Jennings, Caitlynne Curtis, & Josh Adam Meyers +With Support from Merkules, Struggle Jennings, & Josh Adam Meyers !With Support from Elle King, Struggle Jennings, & Josh Adam Meyers >With Support from Ashley McBryde, Struggle Jennings, & Josh Adam Meyers

Singapore-Based Matilde G Scorns Heartbreak In New Single “Hypocrite”

Music

Eric Alper

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Feb 20, 2023

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Singapore-Based Matilde G Scorns Heartbreak In New Single “Hypocrite”

Heartbreak can be a painful experience, especially when a break up leaves young women feeling like they’re the one that is broken.

Italian-born, Singaporean based singer Matilde G sheds some new light on heartbreak in her latest single and music video “Hypocrite” produced by Karl-Oskar Gummesson from The Kennel AB and co-written with Josefin Glenmark and Isak Alvedahl.

With hip-hop influenced pop beats sprinkled with a pinch of piano, Matilde G renounces the notion that she is nothing without her former lover. He ended up being no good for her and she knows she deserves better, so why wallow in self-pity?

“But you’re holding me back
No you’re no good for me
And your making hard for me to pull out of your gravity
you broke me but I still come back for round three now”

Matilde G’s goal is to help other young women not reduce themselves to being victims when they break up from an unfaithful lover.

“This song is about a guy who cheated on me. This is sadly a current topic for those who live teen-relationships. Am I the victim of a hypocritical guy? The cheater is a victim of himself and his lies. Better to kick back and go further with strength and awareness of your own value, which is never determined by others.” she says.

The music video for “Hypocrite” defies the bleakness associated with heartbreak through bright colors and Matilde G gleefully dancing, relaxing, and dismissing a former lover. Through this, she reclaims her inner peace and her own sense of self-worth.

“I wrote Hypocrite to send a strong message to those who have been cheated on: do not be ashamed because the true loser is the cheater!” she explained. “I went through painful experiences that marked me but also made me stronger and more determined not to allow anyone to manipulate me and hurt me.”

“Hypocrite” is Matilde G’s fourth single after “Digging For Diamonds”, “MilkN’Honey”, and “Doorbell”. In 2022, her singles were streamed by 5 million people on Spotify with 100,000 monthly listeners, demonstrating her status as a renowned international musical artist in Europe and Asia.

Since moving to Singapore with her family in 2019, she has gradually made a name for herself as a singer and model. Most notably, she has performed in Asian theaters such as the famous Nagoya Theatre in Japan and ‘Scape In Singapore. Recently, she wrote and recorded five new singles at “The Kennel” studios in Stockholm that are slated for release in 2023.

Wasaga Beach’s EMILY POWER Releases Hopeful Pop “If I Fall” Single

Music

Eric Alper

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Feb 20, 2023

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Wasaga Beach’s EMILY POWER Releases Hopeful Pop “If I Fall” Single

Falling in love is always a risky proposition. Alongside the exhilaration and pleasure of opening one’s heart to a new relationship can come worries about getting hurt, or maybe even heartbroken.

Wasaga Beach, ON singer/songwriter Emily Power explores these feelings in her emotional, wistful, and ultimately hopeful new pop single, “If I Fall,” out now.

“I wanna feel, I wanna feel these moments
I wanna taste I wanna touch them all
I wanna be wanna be swept off my feet
I wanna know that you will catch me if I fall”

Power has felt the pain of being let down by those to whom she was closest, right when she needed them most, as well as the desire to trust again. Pondering the fact that all meaningful relationships involve a leap of faith – a trust fall of sorts – Power was at home one day, sitting at the piano she grew up playing, when she felt “a sense of hope, and this song flowed through me,” she explains.

The lyrics of “If I Fall” share the perspective of someone who longs to be swept up in an idealized, boy-meets-girl romance, from sparks flying at a first encounter to a proposal of marriage. She dreams of these moments but wonders if they’ll ever happen for her, and if she could fully believe in them if they do.

“The whole time, she is questioning her experience. Is it real? Or just the way things are supposed to be according to society?” she says. “She wonders, if she puts her trust in the new normal, if he will catch her when she falls.”

Power has been involved in music for practically her whole life. From her childhood in Hamilton spent singing (including a stint in the world-renowned Hamilton Children’s Choir) and studying voice to an honours degree in music from the University of Western Ontario, to gigs as the lead vocalist in groups including a classic country trio, the alternative rock/indie band Five Pound Note, and Toronto party band Urban Jive, she seamlessly adapts to a wide range of genres and sounds.

Taking inspiration from Adele, Elton John, Eva Cassidy, Norah Jones, Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse and drawing on both her skills and passion, Power’s developed a powerful (no pun intended) voice all her own.

With “If I Fall,” in which the swooningly romantic music and performance support her lyrical message, Power offers listeners the open-hearted chance to join her as she takes the leap into the next phase of her musical career.

Video: John Lennon Talks About Going Snowmobiling At Ronnie Hawkins’ House

Music

Eric Alper

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Feb 19, 2023

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Video: John Lennon Talks About Going Snowmobiling At Ronnie Hawkins’ House

During the horrendous breakup of The Beatles in 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono decided to do a little peace-building in front of the world, landing in Canada for various bed-ins to promote their imitative, which also included a stop at a farmhouse owned by rocker Ronnie Hawkins in a remote area outside of Toronto in the future city of Mississauga.

13-Year-Old Seattle/Toronto Guitar Phenom Nikhil Bagga To Perform US And Canadian Anthems at Kraken/Maple Leaf Game Feb 26

Music

Eric Alper

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Feb 19, 2023

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13-Year-Old Seattle/Toronto Guitar Phenom Nikhil Bagga To Perform US And Canadian Anthems at Kraken/Maple Leaf Game Feb 26

Coming off the success of his breakthrough debut, rising star and Toronto-born, Seattle-based teenage guitar phenom Nikhil Bagga is set to shine in front of countless on both sides of the Canadian and United States border with his rendition of both national anthems on February 26 when the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs play the Seattle Kraken in their Climate Pledge Arena.

“There’s nothing more than a sports fan like me than to perform the anthems in front of both teams, with all of North America watching. Being a dual citizen means I can’t root for either one, but I guarantee you I’ll be at my best that night on the guitar.” Audiences will witness unique renditions of The Star-Spangled Banner and O Canada as Nikhil Bagga continues to captivate with his passionate artistry.

“Sorry Not Sorry” is the latest musical effort from Nikhil Bagga, one of the best and brightest artists of tomorrow, pushing the boundaries of sonic expression at such a young age. The single is laced with reverb-drenched bluesy guitar work and a fearless command of the voice. Bagga’s visceral sound transports listeners with the assistance of a spell-binding guitar solo that makes the hairs on your arms stand.

Nikhil Bagga made the conscious decision to pick up the guitar at nine years old so that he could emulate his favorite artists. What started out as a curiosity quickly expanded into his first live performance busking cover songs on his 10th birthday in San Diego.

Bagga’s ambition and drive at a young age would pay off as he performed at the SMASH Seattle “Songs of Hope” Benefit, the Big Table Benefit supporting restaurant workers impacted by COVID, Russell Wilson’s Why Not You Foundation, and a Seattle Kraken game. With a gift for playing by ear and a passion for melodic exploration, he spent the early days of the pandemic sharing a song a day with his fans, covering artists spanning the pop and rock canon.

It wouldn’t be long before Bagga started writing original songs for his debut feature. Recorded at Seattle’s London Bridge Studios with producer Eric Lilavois (Ayron Jones, Saint Motel, Island Apollo), Bagga released his debut full-length recording, “Leap of Faith,” in the spring of 2022 to much fanfare. Armed with a harmonic sophistication and a voice that will age like fine wine, Nikhil Bagga is at the frontier of musical composition and serves as an inspiration for artists of all ages.

Ottawa Pianist Huguette Lavigne Releases “Jazzed Up Dreams”

Music

Eric Alper

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Feb 19, 2023

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Ottawa Pianist Huguette Lavigne Releases “Jazzed Up Dreams”

Close your eyes and let the soothing yet powerful jazzy piano notes take you away into a dreamlike state. That’s where Canadian music composer Huguette Lavigne works her magic on her fourth album and new single called “Jazzed Up Dreams.”

“Jazzed Up Dreams” takes us on a musical journey through a beautiful composition, as we hear her piano keys speaking to us, expanding our minds to infinite possibilities. This free-flowing ensemble is created with an open mind, which allows us to feel that energy in the same light.

Huguette does not fully write down her music, rather, she relies on her shorthand to summons her memory recall for future performances. The final piece is then impressively stored entirely in her head and fingers. Once her composition is recorded, she then moves onto the next score.

The Ottawa-based pianist describes her musical process, “Somehow and unexpectedly, a style, theme, mood, emotion, or vision is released from the deep recesses of memory,” she notes. It’s a place where the subjective is stored and it surprises me when it lets something loose. Then, I either capture it, or let it go. Perhaps, that’s where the music originates.”

Lavigne’s new album kicks off with five jazz pieces that include riffs and hypnotic melodies that are created from a truly inspirational and improvisational state of mind. When asked to define where her style on the jazz spectrum resides, the talented composer says she would classify it as “eclectic.”

As far as describing the inspiration for her latest single and video for “Jazzed Up Dreams”, Huguette says, “As the music carries you toward a landscape of musical notes, your consciousness floats through a series of dream-like scenes. No need to attach any deep meaning; just like jazz, it flows freely”.

Huguette Lavigne was brought up in a milieu of three Canadian cultures – Franco Ontarian, Quebecois, and English Canadian. She studied composition at McGill University and piano at l’universite de Montreal.

Her music has been influenced by elements of Neo-Classicism, Neo-Romanticism, Minimalism, Jazz, Folk, and Classical music from India, allowing her to produce a unique musical fusion all her own.

Calgary Rockers THE WANDERING OFF Captures Attention With “Hey There”

Music

Eric Alper

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Feb 19, 2023

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Calgary Rockers THE WANDERING OFF Captures Attention With “Hey There”

Calgary, Alberta duo The Wandering Off are set to capture your attention with “Hey There,” the first single off their 12-track self-titled debut album.

It’s an upbeat blast of catchy, grungy, 90s inspired rock with crunchy guitars, melodic hooks and memorable vocal melodies that wears the subtle influence of bands like Garbage and Letters to Cleo on its sleeve. “Hey There” celebrates the beauty of imperfection, the art of not worrying about the mistakes you’ve made, because after all, as Emily Corner sings, you “Can’t please ‘em all, cuz when you jump you fall.”

Their sound is at once familiar and nostalgic as well as fresh and new. Like finding a brand-new sweater styled along classic lines, The Wandering Off combines comfort and excitement in one neat, chiming package, with catchy vocal melodies to boot.

Emily is joined in The Wandering Off by her husband of almost 10 years, Kyle Corner. Both veterans of the music industry, they got engaged in Las Vegas while they were working on the production side of things during Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair revival tour.

The 12 original songs on the album came together at the new home studio Emily and Kyle installed during the pandemic. While holding down full-time jobs, the couple built the tracks in chunks after work when their young children were asleep or with babysitters.

The bonus of this,” Kyle says, “is that we couldn’t get things too perfect. We hope we captured a lot of raw emotion on the record.”

Some of Emily’s lyrics take on the challenges she faced during the pandemic. Forced to fight COVID twice close together, she experienced chronic pain, cognitive issues and fatigue that forced her to stop working for a while.

“I had burnt myself out so bad,” says Emily. “And our dog Simon died. It was such a surge of emotion that needed somewhere to go. My writing exploded and it felt like the catalyst for most of the record.”

Kyle had his own mental health struggles, brought about by a series of concussions that forced the former member of a screamo band (don’t ask!) to put his guitar aside for a long time. With Emily’s help, he was able to once again pick up his axe and find his creativity.

“The first song on our record, Knick of Time is all about that,” he says. “I went through a particularly bad period with my mental health and Em was there through it all, fixing my brain.”

With Kyle back on guitar, the pair found their sound by stripping things back to the basics, while looking to favourites such as Gin Blossoms, Metric, Third Eye Blind and Weezer for inspiration.

When the songs were ready the pair enlisted the help of sound wizard and mixing engineer Warne Livesey (Matt Good, Midnight Oil, 54-40, Sinéad O’Connor, Holly McNarland). Livesey polished the record to completion, bringing in Blake Manning to lay down drums at Toronto’s Noble Street Studios.

But it’s not too polished. The entire album maintains the raw feel Emily and Kyle hit upon as they were sequestered in the studio. They chose to keep a lot of those demo vocals and, just as she sings about in “Hey There,” they kept a level of imperfection.

“Hey There” is available on all streaming platforms on January 27. Look for The Wandering Off, the album, on March 31.

Multi-Talented Performing Artist HARRIET CHUNG Releases “Today and Tomorrow” Single

Music

Eric Alper

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Feb 18, 2023

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Multi-Talented Performing Artist HARRIET CHUNG Releases “Today and Tomorrow” Single

You can hear the love through her music as the multi-talented performing artist Harriet Chung proclaims in her latest single, “Today and Tomorrow” – available now.

“Today and Tomorrow” explores the deeper meaning of a bond created between a mother and her child. This beautiful melody is featured as the 2nd track on her newly released first solo album – “A World Away”, that dives into the meaning and importance of human connection.

Chung takes you on a dreamy, acoustic journey that explores the emotional give and take of a relationship between a mother and her child. You can hear her longing to recapture those memories between herself and her mother as she narrates the chorus:

“In the shining sunlight.
In the darkness of night.
I wish you were here.
Today and tomorrow.

In the darkness of night
In the shining sunlight
You’re always with me.
Today and tomorrow.”

The Toronto-based, award-winning pop artist’s new single “Today and Tomorrow” pays tribute to her mother by showcasing the challenges and sacrifice that not only her mother, but all mothers must make to ensure their child has everything they need from an emotional and loving perspective.

“Today and Tomorrow is about the purest love of all, the love between mother and child. The accomplished international singer continues to say, “It is about remembering the love, happiness, and sacrifice a mother gives and cherishing those fond memories for a lifetime.”

“Today and Tomorrow” can be heard on the Hong Kong native’s first solo album – “A World Away.” In fact, “A World Away (Remix)” which kicks off the album, won Best Original Song at the Hollywood Gold Awards and its music video has won 10 Best Music Video awards from film festivals around the world.

In addition to singing and song writing, Chung has appeared in many musical theatre productions, including: The Phantom of the Opera (Toronto), Cats (Germany), The King and I, Iron Road, and Golden Lotus, for which she received numerous awards and nominations for Best Actress on both stage and screen for her portrayal in the titular role.

Alexander Sharp Directs Sensual Grindhouse-Inspired Music Video for Josh Jones & Trevor Kidd’s “Salvation”

Music

Eric Alper

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Feb 18, 2023

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Alexander Sharp Directs Sensual Grindhouse-Inspired Music Video for Josh Jones & Trevor Kidd’s “Salvation”

Director Alexander Sharp serves up sexy, slithery vampire with a steely, black-and-white grindhouse aesthetic in the video for Josh Jones & Trevor Kidd’s “Salvation” – available now.

Laser-sharp closeups of a pick strumming a guitar string, a drumstick hitting a cymbal, and the beater hitting the bass drum highlight the slowed-down sensuality of the song’s intro, while overexposed film negatives flash over longer shots of the band performing. The result is a dark, gothic vibe that matches the stalking, crawling, gasping progression of “Salvation” – “Are you hungry for it?”

I feel the rush of the chemicals kicking in
I feel the touch of your talons on my skin
I feel you play me like a violin
I feel you take us where we’ve never been

The background suddenly switches to blood red overlaid with grainy lines and static, and Sharp gives us those gorgeous closeups again – of the instruments, of mouth on microphone, on long hair swinging with the pounding of the drums. Then, the background switches again to a cool blue over a soaring, exploratory interlude, while a woman in bondage lingerie slinks on the floor through the lens of an overturned lamp. “Salvation” pounds again, and Sharp switches back to black-and-white, and then to grainy blood-red again, before the video ends abruptly with a shot of the singer’s roaring mouth rimmed with vampire teeth.

“The video for ‘Salvation’ was designed to equally entertain and aggressively anesthetize: an outrageous, grindhouse, rock ‘n’ roll music video that would keep reinventing itself,” Sharp said. “I designed it so that it would mutate visually at every verse, chorus, and bridge at such a feverishly bizarre pace, while excreting a kind of perverted effervescence.”

Alexander Sharp was born in 1994 in Vancouver. When he was 15 years old, he directed his first dramatic short film Thank You, which was recognized by Vision Quest, a rehabilitation program for addicts that screens the film as part of the process of recovery. His first independent short film Ziggy’s Will screened at Festival de Cannes, Manchester International Film Festival, HollyShorts, Santa Monica International Film Festival, and Gig Harbor Film Festival in 2018.

Sharp’s debut feature-length film Wired Shut was released on Amazon Prime in 2021 across North America and the UK from 101 Films. He continues to write and direct films, music videos, and commercials.