Page 1438 – That Eric Alper

Folk/Country And Web3 Leader TATIANA MOROZ Set To Release ‘Love Songs For Idiots’ March 23

Music

Eric Alper

-

Mar 13, 2023

Folk/Country And Web3 Leader TATIANA MOROZ Set To Release ‘Love Songs For Idiots’ March 23

American folk singer-songwriter Tatiana Moroz announces new album Love Songs For Idiots set to release on March 23, 2023. The album focuses on all the emotions someone may feel when playing the game of love. Whether it be heartache, forgiving or happiness, Moroz explores it all in this forthcoming album.

Filled with life lessons, detailed storytelling and captivating melodies, Love Songs For Idiots was recorded within the course of just three days. It was produced by GRAMMY® Award-winning mixer and producer, Will Hensley (Coldplay, Regina Spektor, Dream Theater, Mat Kearney). While Moroz is on vocals and guitar, Jeremy McDonald plays bass, Todd Caldwell is on keys and Jordan Rose plays the drums.

Moroz’ first single off Love Songs For Idiots, “Keep Your Chin Up,” was released on August 12, 2022. As she sings, “When you wait for something/ And it never seems to come along/ It’s a little bit hard to keep your chin up,” the song is about how easy it can be to get discouraged during heartbreak. But as the chorus and the beat pick up she sings, “Then you realize it could be worse/ You should turn off the waterworks/ Cause it’s gonna be OK either way/ It’s gonna be OK either way,” and the song highlights the strength someone can find within themselves during a painful time.

Her second single, “Through The Night,” which was released on September 16, 2022, is a slower melody with silky vocals. It has blues elements as the song tells the story of overcoming hard times. “Stop running, there’s nowhere left to go/ The dark times won’t kill you,” she sings.

Now, days before the release of Love Songs For Idiots, Moroz is releasing her third single, “Whatcha Gonna Do,” on February 10, 2023. Through this upbeat track, her folk and country flares shine. Powerful guitar riffs drive the song and compliment Moroz’ vocals as she sings, “What is the limit, and are we still in it?/ Can we go and change the tide?/ Tell me what to do when they come for you.” The message of the good always winning over the bad bursting.

Moroz has given a great preview of what to expect from her upcoming album. She truly captures the many different aspects of love. Songs like “Love Myself,” will touch upon self-empowerment and moving on, while songs such as “Tiny Little Walls,” will tell the story of overcoming fear and trying.

Love Songs For Idiots has something for everyone. Its storytelling is relatable and captivating as it goes through the many ups and downs as well as stages of love. You can listen to the 12-track album on March 23, 2023.

Drake Announces “It’s All A Blur” Tour With 21 Savage

Music

Eric Alper

-

Mar 13, 2023

0

Drake Announces “It’s All A Blur” Tour With 21 Savage

Today, four time Grammy-award winning and multi-platinum selling artist Drake announced his long awaited return to the stage with the 2023 ‘It’s All A Blur’ Tour. Produced by Live Nation, Drake and 21 Savage will be going on a 29-date arena run with stops including Chicago, Boston, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and more before wrapping up in Glendale, AZ at Desert Diamond Arena on Tuesday, September 5.

‘It’s All A Blur’ marks Drake’s return to touring since headlining Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour in 2018. The title, a celebration of the last decade, sums up Drake’s sentiment of the unprecedented run as he gets ready to hit the road. In the last five years, Drake has released four albums, including his most recent studio album Her Loss in collaboration with 21 Savage, which reached number one on the Billboard’s 200 chart and had all 16 songs debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 list.

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with presales (details below) beginning Wednesday, March 15. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, March 17 starting at 12pm local time on drakerelated.com. On sale start times vary by market, check your local listings for more information.

DRAKE: ‘IT’S ALL A BLUR’ 2023 TOUR DATES:
Fri Jun 16 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
Mon Jun 19 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Wed Jun 21 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Sat Jun 24 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Wed Jun 28 – Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Arena
Sat Jul 01 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Sun Jul 02 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Wed Jul 05 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Thu Jul 06 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sat Jul 08 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Tue Jul 11 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Wed Jul 12 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Fri Jul 14 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Mon Jul 17 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Tue Jul 18 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Tue Jul 25 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Wed Jul 26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Fri Jul 28 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
Mon Jul 31 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Sat Aug 12 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
Sun Aug 13 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
Fri Aug 18 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Mon Aug 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Tue Aug 22 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Fri Aug 25 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Mon Aug 28 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Fri Sep 01 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
Tue Sep 05 – Glendale, AZ – Desert Diamond Arena

Don’t Miss Out On Niagara Falls-Based James Blonde’s New Single “FOMO” And Their 2023 Tour Dates

Music

Eric Alper

-

Mar 12, 2023

0

Don’t Miss Out On Niagara Falls-Based James Blonde’s New Single “FOMO” And Their 2023 Tour Dates

You’ll never know what’s out there unless you go and see for yourself. One thing is for certain…you do not want to miss out on James Blonde’s newly released single “FOMO” and the first batch of tour dates announced for 2023, including stops in Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, New York City, Cleveland, Nashville, and a hometown concert in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

This track starts off with a high energy guitar riff which immediately gives off wild and frantic vibes. The band captures their emotional state of frustration of what’s going on in their minds and releases it with the purpose of getting you to feel their same energy.

“FOMO was an important song for us to make.” James Blonde explains, “It fully encapsulates this popular feeling among the band members where we miss out on a lot of life from having such a different schedule to others, and sometimes feeling too drained to muster the energy to go out and do things that could otherwise be fun.”

The high-octane band from Niagara Falls express their feelings through their electric chorus:

Fear of missing out.
You don’t want to doubt.
That when you go.
You’ll be better off.
You got the fear of missing out.
Don’t know what about.
How could you know.
That you’d be better off on your own.

“FOMO” was a collaborative effort among the talented threesome as they share their confessions about the anxieties and fears of missing out and always being left with the question, what if?

“We wrote this song with a big and busy chorus with high-energy guitar riffs trying to match the energy of the song with the expectations we build in our minds of ‘what could be’ that we might miss out on.” James Blonde goes on to explain further by saying, “In contrast, we wrote a more somber and slightly chaotic crescendoing verse to match the building anxiety that comes along with the Fear of Missing Out.”

This message clearly gets across when the alt-rock trio sing their 2nd verse, “Your best friends’ invitation has waged a battle on your soul. You have to pick your poison. There might be stories you missed out. Sometime down the road wished you were there.”

James Blonde arrived on the music scene in their hometown of Niagara Falls on New Year’s Eve 2017, opening for Sam Roberts and Serena Ryder. Following their full length self-titled release in 2017, the lead single “Heartbreak” was picked up by major Spotify playlists and Starbucks, who added the song to its in-store radio across the globe.

James Blonde 2023 Tour Dates:
March 12 – Cleveland – Mercury Music Lounge
March 14 – Nashville – The 5 Spot
March 23 – London – Palasad Social Bowl
March 30 – Ottawa – Live on Elgin
April 13 -St Catharines – Warehouse – Album Release Show

Montreal-Based Singer Opya Soulfully Yearns For “Good Love”

Music

Eric Alper

-

Mar 12, 2023

1

Montreal-Based Singer Opya Soulfully Yearns For “Good Love”

Finding true love can be hard. You can date one person after the other to search for it, and you can get discouraged with each unsuccessful match. Montreal-based, Armenian-born singer Opya croons her romantic desires in her new single, “Good Love”. The song was written by Opya, Hasmik Grigoryan, and smooth singer NAATE NK.

“All day, I’ve been thinking about you
All night, I’ve been awake but don’t want to
You’re the one and only that can
Make me feel this way you’re my man”

NAATE NK’s is also notable for deftly switching between English and French as he raps, showcasing charm by playing the role of the guy that could give Opya the “good love” she yearns for. Buoying both Opya and NAATE NK is a sensual R&B and Afrobeat rhythm that is romantic as well as arousing.

Of the song’s inspiration, Opya states, “The lyrics of the song were inspired by my past relationship. I had been in the relationship for a year and a half. Needless to say, the relationship ended. Many would say that our relationship seemed perfect. However, there was that lack of spark and love.”

Opya’s tender, vulnerable vocals and lyrics combine with a smoky rhythm and NAATE NK’s flirtatious braggadocio to make a standout love song. It expresses the desire for love that is true and passionate.

“No matter what hardships the individuals in the relationship are going through, if they have true love, they will be able to look past them.”

Born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia as Hasmik Grigoryan, Opya got her start as a singer by performing on Broadway from ages 4 to 6, led by Naira Gyurjinyan. From there, Opya’s love of singing and performing grew even as she moved to Montreal, Canada.

At the age of sixteen, Opya started to write her own music when the pandemic hit in 2020. She took on the moniker of Opya after seeing a “Word of The Day” social media post, which featured the word’”opia,’ meaning “the ambiguous intensity of looking. someone in the eye, which can feel simultaneously invasive and vulnerable.”

Soon after, Opya collaborated with a close friend, beat maker Robert Tuta to write and release the song, “3 Shots.”

In 2021, Opya released her EP Cloud Nine, which allowed her to establish her sound as an R&B and soul singer.

Kitchener’s Fog Blues & Brass Band Banish The Sadness On “Why Get Up” Single

Music

Eric Alper

-

Mar 12, 2023

0

Kitchener’s Fog Blues & Brass Band Banish The Sadness On “Why Get Up” Single

Recording artists Fog Blues & Brass Band capture the wild energy of a Saturday night at a packed blues bar into their latest single, “Why Get Up.” And it’s no accident, because the blues banger came to life in front of an audience before it ever saw the inside of a recording studio.

Hailing from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, the seven-piece Fog Blues & Brass Band is fresh off the heels of their successful debut album, Into the Fog. The album gained them nods for their unique spin on the traditional rock and blues sound, encompassing commanding vocals, harmonies, guitars, keys and horns. Each single off the 2018 album has garnered radio play in Canada and abroad, and the band is also known for their powerhouse live performances at venues and festivals.

Contrary to its title, the new single, “Why Get Up,” is a testament to the band’s ability to get their audiences up on their feet. The traditional blues lyrics bemoan tough times – “Why get up? Rent’s due but I can’t pay/ Life keeps kickin’ me down/ Like I’m one foot in the grave.” But the driving music tells a different story – dance now, worry tomorrow.

“Why Get Up” is a true ensemble effort that seamlessly showcases each of the seasoned band members’ musical chops. Vocalist Hilliard “Hills” Walter leads Al Hosack on bass, Domenic DiNino on drums, Bobby Becker on keys, Dan Jancar on saxophones, Joe Dublanski on alto saxophone, and Tim Palsar on guitar. Each is just as strong performing solo as they are as part of a jam, amplifying the group’s satisfying, cohesive sound.

Not only is performing “Why Get Up” a team endeavor, but so too was the songwriting process. When one band member came to rehearsal with a rough demo of the song, the other six were quick to add their own stamp on the tune. When the band performed it live, the reaction was so huge that they decided to head to the recording studio. They enlisted Emmy winner Don Breithaupt to arrange the four-piece horn parts, and producer engineer John “Beetle” Bailey, a Juno and Grammy winner, perfected the sound. (Bailey also worked with the band on “Into the Fog” and their 2022 holiday single, “Here Comes Santa Claus,” a swingy take on the Christmas classic.)

What emerged from the studio was a traditional blues song that banishes the blues. Even as the metaphoric storm clouds gather, “Why Get Up” tells them to take a hike: “You wanna leave me baby/Take them clouds and walk away.” What’s left to do but dance? Wherever the listener might be, “Why Get Up” brings the party to them.

Regina, SK’s PEOPLE OF THE SUN Release “Kayâs (A Long Time Ago)” From Latest Self-Titled Album

Music

Eric Alper

-

Mar 12, 2023

0

Regina, SK’s PEOPLE OF THE SUN Release “Kayâs (A Long Time Ago)” From Latest Self-Titled Album

Regina, Saskatchewan-based collective, People of the Sun, is a unifying force bringing together people of different cultural backgrounds, ages, genders, and faiths to create impactful hip-hop and funk music and to be an example of inclusion and reconciliation in and for our community.

Part of the Sharp 5 Records family, their self-titled debut album showcases their absorbing and sonically layered music. People of the Sun’s songs were recorded “live off the floor” to showcase that not every beat and note needs to be perfect — striving for something human during inhuman times. The collective wrote the final product as every member was given free rein to draw from their inspirations on the theme.

“We have eight people in our crew, all talented in their own way, each with their own story,” says guitarist/producer Erik Mehlsen. “There’s not a second to be bored on the whole album; you get a buffet of personalities to fill your plate every time.”

Comprised of members from Little Black Bear First Nation MC Info Red, Pakistani-born MC and producer Origin of Spin, Nigerian-born singer/songwriters Nini Jegz, Regina-born Lexy Desjarlais, and keyboardist Ethan Reoch, drummer Cyprian Henry and bass player Rob Lane, People of the Sun are a testament to the power of collaboration and the success that can come from a shared artistic vision.

The midst of ongoing social unrest and adversity was the backdrop of the People of the Sun LP. Each track captures the collaborative brilliance of eight individuals looking to speak meaningful, mindful music that can be of benefit to their listeners. “Our Power” is a response to the conversation around abortion legislation in the United States, while “Domino” talks about the perils of gang violence in Regina’s inner city. The newest single, “kayas (A Long Time Ago),” speaks to the power of music being a tool for mental health, and in contrast, the album opener, “Applause,” is a funk party banger. The album boldly states that hip-hop does not need to be limited to drum machines and synthesizers.

In the first years of the band’s existence, People of the Sun recorded two EPs, performed at the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, received national press from Exclaim!, was featured on the Earshot Hip-Hop Charts and has received regular rotation on CBC’s Strombo Show. In December 2022, the band received R&B Artist of the Year at the Saskatchewan Music Awards. In addition, the band is part of the Sharp 5 Records family, a label that seeks to create live-off-the-floor records with video to capture real musicians making music together, where they live and work.

Written collaboratively, People of the Sun demonstrate the power of collective effort and show how a single common goal can bring joy and success even with different life paths. It strikes a rare balance between “we” and “me,” highlighting the importance of individual contributions to a collective effort. Their goal? To make a record to show diversity isn’t just for billboards, but that hip hop is real, made by real people.

This ambition was tested repeatedly throughout the 10-month process of making their new LP which spanned which saw two of their three recording sessions canceled due to COVID, the eight-member collective managed to persevere and see their record come to completion.

“Making this record, this way, with this crew, was a steep mountain to climb,” said Mehlsen. “So many hurdles and challenges. But to hear this record, front to back, knowing how and why it was made…makes it all worth it”

North Battleford, SK’s Jackie K Releases Throwback Doo-Wop Single “When You Almost Didn’t Love Me”

Music

Eric Alper

-

Mar 12, 2023

0

North Battleford, SK’s Jackie K Releases Throwback Doo-Wop Single “When You Almost Didn’t Love Me”

You and your lover are sure to be swinging all year round with North Battleford, SK’s Jackie K’s new doo-wop single “When You Almost Didn’t Love Me,” out now.

An ode to both the beauty and the perils of young love, the sunshine pop tune feels right out of the best nostalgic Canadian beach movie you’ve never seen. Upbeat, groovy, and almost Shakespearean in the plight of its star-crossed protagonists, the song speaks to hopeless romantics and Hallmark-holiday dismisses both– Jackie is quick to affirm that the course of true love never did run smooth.

“Not every relationship starts out peaches and cream,” she says. “‘When You Almost Didn’t Love Me’ is about finally making the decision to commit to a relationship. This one is personal. We’ve been married twenty years. Four kids.”

“When You Almost Didn’t Love Me” is the first single being released from Jackie’s upcoming album She’s A Story, dropping this March 8 on International Women’s Day. The album spotlights the spirit of women living through a variety of trials and triumphs, featuring songs about situations familiar yet not always celebrated, all performed with Jackie K’s trademark Canadiana sound.

“Women’s lives have changed so dramatically in the last hundred years, but expectations have not always kept up,” Jackie observes. “Women are still not considered equal to men in so many ways. Then if you add getting older, being a person of colour, or a single mother, it is even more difficult. As I age, I see more and more the inequities that exist, and how frustrating it is. I wanted to try and share some of the stories that I know. My own, family stories, people from my community, and some just for fun.”

The album features the illustrious stylings of Randy Woods on guitar, Kyle Krysa on drums, Jackie’s husband Tom on bass, and their son Connor Newton on the sax. Jackie’s on piano and trumpet along with her lead vocals.

When she isn’t writing or performing, Jackie teaches band and guitar to high school students at North Battleford Comprehensive High School in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art, and is a member of SaskMusic, SOCAN, AFM#553, BMI, SAC, and the Americana Music Association.

Chicago’s Prolific and Unabashedly Optimistic SARANTOS Releases “Somethin’ To Believe In”

Music

Eric Alper

-

Mar 12, 2023

0

Chicago’s Prolific and Unabashedly Optimistic SARANTOS Releases “Somethin’ To Believe In”

One of the most prolific and authentic voices in independent music, Sarantos has delivered his latest single, “Somethin’ to Believe In” – available now! The emotional rock ballad, accompanied by a compelling music video, walks a tightrope between hope and hopelessness. But the space in between isn’t empty – it’s where Sarantos finds himself, and he hopes the listener will as well.

The award-winning Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist takes and offers comfort through music, drawing on personal challenges like losing his father to lung cancer in 2010. The solo artist is not afraid to explore genres ranging from rock to pop to hip-hop channeling the human spirit. His music has garnered Grammy considerations, several top-ten and #1 placements on independent charts and worldwide radio play without the help of a record label. It’s hard to believe but Sarantos doesn’t use a professional studio to make any of his music! His musical output throughout his 9-year career is impressive, releasing 18 albums with 226 original tracks as well as 9 fiction/fantasy books while amassing a catalog of 4,000 original songs and a devoted social media following of more than 1 million.

On “Somethin’ to Believe In,” Sarantos’ powerful vocals are front and center, layered above a mournful piano that eventually gives way to triumphant rock guitar riffs. Providing an elegant visual accompaniment, the music video “has a haunting quality to it as it unveils a story that both parents and lovers can relate to,” Sarantos says.

“It comes across as emotionally authentic and heartfelt,” Sarantos says of the video. “The footage taken by itself is pretty simple yet when put together somehow seems to become much more complex. It will remind you of some of the saddest days of your life, days filled with disappointment and heartache, but the story also splashes the naivete of hopefulness throughout, giving you something to believe in.”

The video for the single opens with Sarantos and a woman who hides behind her sunglasses wandering an outdoor landscape separately, Sarantos seeming forlorn, and the woman apparently distressed. The song’s words of encouragement and support appear aimed at the woman, but her relationship with Sarantos is unclear – is she a friend? A lover? A family member?

“All I can do is tell you to fight it/and help you get the ship righted/I hope you know I’m never leavin’/I’ll always give you somethin’/Somethin’ to believe in,” Sarantos sings.
The video ends on an uplifting note, with Sarantos and the woman finally encountering each other. She puts down her phone and engages with Sarantos and the public art around them, transcending her inner conflict through human connection. The musical transition from minor to major chords drives home the transition with all the satisfaction of an ‘80s power ballad.
“This rock song is a hug, like a parent or friend reaching down to pick you up out of a hopeless pit, and giving you something to believe in – yourself,” Sarantos says, describing the single.

But just as the woman surfaces from her inner world, so too do the lyrics rise above the scene playing out in the video with the narrator’s subtle shift from “I” to “we.”
“And all we can do is tell you to fight it/and help you get the ship righted/I hope you know we’re never leavin’/We’ll always give you somethin’/Somethin’ to believe in/Somethin’ to believe in.”

The listener is thrown off-balance, wondering who the singer is and who is the subject. Maybe the song is aimed at the version of Sarantos that exists in the flux of the moment, speaking from the point of view of the Sarantos that’s already gotten to wherever it is he’s going. Or perhaps it’s the listener Sarantos is crooning to – the person grappling with their own sense of uncertainty as he humbly offers a helping hand. Whoever the subject, they’ll need to do their own homework to shift their perspective. “Somethin’ to Believe In” offers a guiding beacon of light for all those who feel lost in darkness.

Power Poppers Full Throttle Release “All I Want” And Announce Ontario Shows

Music

Eric Alper

-

Mar 12, 2023

0

Power Poppers Full Throttle Release “All I Want” And Announce Ontario Shows

Full Throttle, the power-pop punk band from London, Ontario is bringing that teenage-angst filled with thunderous energy on their new single “All I Want.”

“All I Want” rocks with hard-hitting, three-chord guitar and a heavy bass line. Their high-energy vibe immediately transports you back to the familiar sounds of pop-rock giants, Green Day, Blink 182, and Goo Goo Dolls, who are huge influences on the talented high-school band. This has garnered them a relatively large Gen-X following, while also predominantly appealing to the teenage crowd as well.

The lyrics throughout the track emulate the consistent themes of pop/punk/rock that discuss adolescent lust, romantic relationships, and heartbreak. This can be heard throughout, and especially in the catchy chorus:

“I wrote a song for her on the weekend.
I don’t understand at all.
I don’t care at all cause all I want is you.
I don’t care at all cause all I want is…..”

The band’s fourth single, “All I Want” was recorded in a single day and fully developed in just one week. The teenage trio needed to come up with a new release on short notice after agreeing to perform an exclusive title on a new digital marketing platform based out of Seattle, called Sing Market Inc. The boys agreed to release the new track by November 30, 2022 – however, at that time it was already October and time was ticking.

Full Throttle had recorded their first three songs at “The Sugar Shack”, a recording studio in their hometown of London, Ontario. However, the studio was fully booked, and the band needed somewhere else to lay down their new track. That’s when they reached out to Siegfried Meier at Beach Road Studios, who had previously worked with southern California punk rock legends, “Face to Face,” so the boys knew they were in good hands. On the two-hour car ride to the studio in Huron County the idea for “All I Want” was born, and the rest is history.

The 2022 Forest City London Music Youth Award winners – Max McGill (lead vocals / guitar), Evan Levite (vocals / bass) and Kaelin Chase (drums) are currently writing, recording, playing live shows and have recently signed an Artist Development Deal with Lemmon Entertainment , based out of Vancouver which will see them return to the studio to complete a 6-song EP, set for release this Fall.

Full Throttle Ontario Tour Dates
April 21 – The Palasad Social Bowl, London
June 25 – Victoria Park, London – International Food Festival
July 1 – Riverside Park, Cambridge – Canada Day Festival
July 15 – Downtown Music Festival, Goderich