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Rising Country Star + ECMA Performer LISA RICHARD Releases “Sunday Confession”

Eric Alper
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Rising Country Star + ECMA Performer LISA RICHARD Releases “Sunday Confession”

We all face different challenges and obstacles that life throws our way, and sometimes, it can be a lot. However difficult, we just need to get through the tough days, let them go, pick ourselves up and get right back to it the next day – that’s exactly what Lisa Richard is proclaiming to do on her latest single, “Sunday Confession.”

The New Mills, New Brunswick-born female country sensation is back and is as soulful as ever! She begins the song by singing, “There’s different kinds of walls – some high some low. And then there’s those – you build yourself. You can hide behind them or be brave enough to climb them. How will you know – if it’s heaven or if it’s hell.” Her powerful and distinctive contralto voice perfectly executes these lyrics, reminiscent of pop-superstar icon, Cher.

It’s so fitting that Sunday Confession came to life in Nashville, Tennessee, which is recognized worldwide as the capital of country music. “Sunday Confession concept was born in Nashville. The hook was a line that I woke up singing so I am not sure exactly how that happens, but that’s truly how it started,” Richard explains.

The talented country singer and songwriter gracefully dives into the chorus by showcasing her extensive range in her soulful, bluesy voice, which is on full display as she sings:

“Sometimes you are the king.
Sometimes you are the fool.
Sometimes you just can’t win.
Sometimes you just can’t lose.
Sometimes you’ve got no choice.
Sometimes it’s yours to choose.
Is it a Sunday confession.
Or a Monday morning blue.”

The listeners can hear and feel her reflect on the idea that life can be unpredictable and that we may sometimes find ourselves in different roles or situations, whether it be as a king or a fool, a winner, or a loser. “The song is really about letting go of stuff by the end of the week and getting it off your shoulders or you will start the next week with a Monday morning blue.” Richard continues by saying, “We all carry some baggage and some more than others, unfortunately. I am reminding myself to let things go before I get stuck.”

Fans can listen to Sunday Confession on her debut full-length album, Promises Kept, produced by CCMA Hall of Famer, Jason Barry & Danny Bourgeois. Lisa’s emotional and heartfelt Promises Kept album was nominated for the 2022 Country Recording of the Year at the Music Nova Scotia Music Awards.

Rising Pop Singer Filomena Croce Releases “Renaissance” Single

Eric Alper
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Rising Pop Singer Filomena Croce Releases “Renaissance” Single

Italian pop singer Filomena Croce’s new single “Renaissance” is out now on all streaming platforms.

Recorded in Toronto, Ontario with producer Roy Hamilton III (Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, NSYNC, Joe), “Renaissance” fittingly marks a new beginning for the singer/songwriter, who moved to Mexico in 2022 and on the way to setting down in Turkey this month.

“I had just come out of a difficult period and felt the need to express my will to give life another chance,” says Croce. “l felt positive, empowered, energetic, and both the lyrics and the rhythm of the song reflected this renewed mood.”

On “Renaissance”, Croce celebrates a renewed focus, another opportunity to take life by the horns and live it to the fullest.

“I want to live, I want to give this life another chance,” she sings. “I want to feel free like the wind.”

Croce draws on both her jazz and pop voice training on “Renaissance”, having earned a master’s degree in music from ArtEZ University of the Arts Conservatorium in Zwolle, The Netherlands. The song begins and ends with Croce scat-singing over acoustic guitar, bass and drums. Croce’s acrobatic vocal performance sets the pace and pushes the song into a powerful rhythm, expertly captured by Hamilton III.

Croce had started to write “Renaissance” in 2018 but put it aside when she felt unsure about its ending. Then, one day she felt inspired and decided the right moment had arrived to complete the song. She finished it in one day.

Filomena showed the song to Hamilton III and he was so enthusiastic that he invited her to Toronto to record it for his label, The Singer’s Company.

“Recording with Roy has been such a great experience,” she says. l usually feel a lot of pressure in the studio because l am a perfectionist. But I immediately felt comfortable there with him and l didn’t worry about it anymore. It was one of the best days ever!”

On the track, Filomena sings about feeling her power and will coming back to her, and she delivers the accompanying energy required to go along with that statement.

“The world is in my hands,” Croce sings. “I’m ash and fire, like a phoenix about to rise; sun and desire, a spirit that never dies.”

Interestingly, while in Toronto to record with Hamilton III, Croce discovered that Beyoncè had just released her latest album, also entitled “Renaissance”. She talked to the producer about whether or not to change the song’s title and she decided to keep it.

“There was no other way to express the true essence and meaning of my message.”

The world traveler has performed in Italy, Brazil, London, Paris, Mexico, Germany, Belgium and Amsterdam, where she supported DJs Armin van Buuren, Steve Aoki, Afrojack and Tiesto as part of the ADE Festival (Amsterdam Dance Event) for an audience of 17,000 people. The skilled singer is equally comfortable accompanied by orchestras, jazz combos and pop groups.

For the “Renaissance” video, Croce turned to a popular spot in Puerto Vallarta not far from her new Mexican home.

“I was looking for inspiration,” Croce says, “when I casually turned my head for a second and saw la calle de las sombrillas (the street of the umbrellas). I decided with no hesitation that we had to shoot it there”.

The bright pastels of the umbrellas hanging between the colorfully painted buildings drive home the positive, inspirational message of “Renaissance”.

A fitting backdrop for Croce’s song of renewal.

JAMES GRAY Releases “Sleepless” From New ‘Friends That Talk Like Old Friends’ Album

Eric Alper
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JAMES GRAY Releases “Sleepless” From New ‘Friends That Talk Like Old Friends’ Album

James Gray brings us heartfelt stories and tales for a new dawn with his single ‘Sleepless’ from his new album ‘New Friends That Talk Like Old Friends’ released late last year.

James is a traveling folk singer that spends half his years living in his cabin in Muskoka, Ontario, in peaceful nature, composing music and allowing himself to breathe. The other half of his life takes him worldwide, including tours of Canada, Europe, and Australia, with more countries and continents on his roster. His natural fingerstyle guitar work and haunting vocals bring visions and sounds of The Band, Townes Van Zandt, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy, with a healthy dose of folk, americana, and alt-country all being the foundations of his song-crafting style. There is a sad and honest sound that James brings us with his particular sound, and with this album, it’s easily recognized.

‘New Friends That Talk Like Old Friends’ came along in 2020 when the world stopped to consider its fate. It was through this quiet contemplation that he decided to get the world connected again with this third album. ‘New Friends That Talk Like Old Friends’ is a collection of fables about people, for the people. His experiences on his travels and the wonderful folk he met along the way was the primary influence for this collection.

The songwriting process for this album was to lay the first guitars and vocals down in his cabin. If you listen closely, the sound of a wood-burning stove and birdsong can be heard, adding the collective ambiance to the overall grounding songs that James brings us.

‘Sleepless’ is the first single from his third album, and it’s typical of the James Gray color and sound. It pops along like ‘The Weight’ with that bass groove and drum set we all recognize. With gentle acoustics and bell-like electrics as the opening act, the support acts enter with the talent of Alyson McNamara’s layered backing vocals. They offer an airy accompaniment of a ghost-like wind flowing through Ontario’s Boreal forest.

Lyrically, James brings us a melancholic story—a tale of loneliness and internal conflict that hits us with the chorus of sadness.

‘Have I ever told you why? Told you why
have I ever told you how? Told you how
did I ever scream out loud? out loud,
did I ever tell you why I can’t sleep at night?’

It could be autobiographic, or it could be a tale from someone he met on his travels. Wherever the inspiration comes from, the lyrics will resonate with all of us sometime in our life. And it’s this ability that James brings to us with his music—the ability to connect with us and his audience.

James brought in a score of talent from right across ON to thicken the layer of his songwriting talent. After he’d laid down the core vocals and guitars at his home studio, he brought the album to Matt Montour. James then scoured Ontario for a family of musicians to add their own piece to the album, which included Bruce Mackinnon (Piano, Wurlitzer, and Woodwinds), Matt Burns (Drums), Geoff Burns (Bass), Alyson McNamara (Backing Vocals), Dean Drouillard (Electric Guitar), Steve Wood (Pedal Steel), Marion Linton (Violin), Christy Flynn-Sollman & Sandy “Granny” Mclaren (Backing Vocals on “What I’d Do”), and Thomas McCallum (Tin Whistle). Both James and Matt produced and recorded the album hopping all over Ontario to record the musicians’ various parts.

The admiration for James’s music reaches far and wide. Suzie Ungerleider (Oh Susanna) nails James’s sound by saying, “James Gray sings songs of poignant honesty with just enough grit in his voice to make you feel he has lived through the hard times and is here to tell you about it. His songs create a subtle yet striking landscape in your mind.”

Luna Lee Performs A Gayageum Cover of Heart’s ‘Crazy on You’

Eric Alper
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Luna Lee Performs A Gayageum Cover of Heart’s ‘Crazy on You’

Luna Lee is a very talented musician who has gained international recognition for her unique covers of classic rock songs on the traditional Korean Gayageum. Her cover of Heart’s “Crazy on You” creates something amazing, and is right up there with the rest of her covers.

Coldplay + Slipknot Mashup = Coldknot: Viva la Psycho

Eric Alper
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Coldplay + Slipknot Mashup = Coldknot: Viva la Psycho

A mashup of Slipknot and Coldplay would certainly be an interesting combination, given the vastly different styles and genres of these two bands. Leave it to Bill McClintock to combine Viva la Vida and Psychosocial into a unique and memorable tune.

Paul McCartney Shows You How To Make The Maccarita Drink

Eric Alper
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Paul McCartney Shows You How To Make The Maccarita Drink

Did you know that Paul McCartney has a favourite cocktail, which he makes for friends and family on special occasions? Introducing… the Maccarita!

Paul takes you through the recipe with his daughter Mary, in a clip from her Discovery Plus show Mary McCartney Serves It Up.

Spotify has announced the three artists that have been selected as their RADAR Canada

Eric Alper
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Spotify has announced the three artists that have been selected as their RADAR Canada

Spring has officially sprung and what better way to embrace the new season than by discovering three new up-and-coming Canadian artists? Well, Spotify has announced the three artists that have been selected as their RADAR Canada artists for April, May and June.

Each month, one of the artists will grace the cover of Spotify’s RADAR Canada playlist and have their songs included on the list. The three artists Spotify has chosen for Spring are:

Zeina (April)

    • Forging her own path, Montreal’s Zeina has been able to create her own world by blending her inspiration for early 2000s R&B and her Lebanese heritage to become the next superstar to represent the Arab and MENA culture. Speaking 4 languages including French, Arabic, Spanish, and English, Zeina displays her multilingual skills in her forthcoming single “Nasty” which has amassed over 1.5M+ streams on Spotify in the first month it was released. She also recently opened for Sainté as direct support in Montreal in collaboration with Montreality
    • K. Forest (May)
    • Brampton-born artist, K. Forest, first broke onto the scene in 2016 with his 11-track album Eyes of Taiga. Since then, the singer/songwriter has released 3 more projects, including his highly acclaimed 10-track album Welcome to the Wildfire back in 2021. K. Forest originally wrote, recorded, and released the track “guidance” on his Soundcloud before Travis Scott approached him, expressing an interest in the song.
    • Nemahsis (June)
    • Hailing from the outskirts of Ontario, Canada Nemahsis began paving the way for her musical career in 2021 with the release of her debut single ‘what if i took it off for you?’ The release of her debut EP ‘eleven achers’ in March 2022 defines so much of what she does as an artist; she weaves an intricate tapestry that tells the story of life as a young Muslim woman. Nemah went on to perform sold-out shows across Europe over the summer and kicked off 2023 with the release of ‘i wanna be your right hand’. Fresh off the release, Nemah embarked on a debut run of North American shows, which included sold-out appearances in Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. Her LA show is a personal highlight, with renowned recording artist Stevie Wonder in attendance.

Spotify’s RADAR program is grounded in supporting emerging artists from across the globe and by joining this acclaimed emerging artists program, fans will have the opportunity to learn more about the breakout artists with their “Clips” series and through short videos and editorial support on the official Spotify playlist. RADAR Canada has been running for 2.5 years.

Alt.Rockers Highwind Storm Back With Aggressive “Weighing You Down”

Eric Alper
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Alt.Rockers Highwind Storm Back With Aggressive “Weighing You Down”

“Weighing You Down” is the lead single and the first track on Moose Jaw’s Highwind’s new six-song EP “Final Words,” a concept album of sorts that directly takes on the process and aftermath of death from the perspective of those left behind.

Read the song titles in order – “Weighing You Down”; “At What Cost”; “I’m Making Amends”, “I Feel Helpless”; “In Hospice”; “These are My Final Words”. In sequence, they tell a story and form a poem that contemplates the lives left to live once a life partner has passed.

Lyrically, it’s dark, but sonically it’s aggressive, with crunching guitars, driving beats by Troy Waggoner and bassist Eric Taylor, and vocals from Charlie Rysavy that adeptly express the pain, anguish and angst of the subject material. “Weighing You Down” sets the tone for the next four songs, while the final track slows things down to reflect on things never said.

The hard-driving tune starts out with soft strumming by singer/guitarist Rysavy, quickly joined by an accelerating Waggoner drum roll. The tension picks up and 14 seconds in, new lead guitarist Ehren Pfeifer unleashes a circular guitar riff that sets the tone for a frenzied aural emo-punk assault.

It’s a dark, meaningful song, painting a bleak image of a loved one at the bedside of a partner in failing health.

“You hold my hand so tight as if this could be the last time
Overheard you pacing around last night
Could you just go home? And come back….
Cause it feels like I’m weighing you down?
Cause it feels like you’re waiting me out.”

“Final Words” is the first release from the Prairie-based band since 2016’s masterful full-length album “Cellar Door.” That record was recorded by the original three-piece band live off the floor at Regina’s Blue Door Studios. “Cellar Door” went on to be chosen as one of Sask Music’s Best Albums of 2016.

A four-year hiatus followed, but the band finally regrouped in 2020 to write songs. Along the way they picked up their fourth member, lead guitarist and sound designer Pfeifer.

All of Pfeifer’s stinging lead guitar parts were recorded in his bedroom in Toronto. The other members of Highwind sent him the tracks last year and he recorded on top of them. Pfeifer had never played with the band before, and they didn’t know what they were getting until he was finished. Despite that fact one would never guess that’s the case, as he fits the band like a proverbial glove.

The video for the single, out now on YouTube, was completed in a similar way. Each of the members of Highwind filmed their parts individually and it was all cut together afterwards. Two more videos from the EP are expected to be completed soon.

Chase intentionally recorded his vocals last on “In Hospice” and “These Are My Final Words” to ensure his voice sounded more and more degraded over the course of the album. “These Are My Final Words” was recorded in one take late in the day, which is why he sounds exhausted, just as one would watching their partner taking a final breath.

The six tracks on “Final Words” leave the listener wanting more. And Highwind has more from the EP’s sessions, that they hope to release soon as their next release. With this collection, and with Pfeifer on board, they certainly live up to the 2014 words of Vancouver-based magazine Permanent Rain Press, which stated” that they “might be the best thing by far to come out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan…the band is capable of being more than just your average punk band.”

Singer-Songwriter Doug MacNaughton Takes Us On A Reassuring Walk Through Grief In “So Lost Without You”

Eric Alper
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Singer-Songwriter Doug MacNaughton Takes Us On A Reassuring Walk Through Grief In “So Lost Without You”

Loss can be wrenching, no matter who is no longer in our lives, and Brandon, MB-based singer-songwriter Doug MacNaughton provides reassurance and a salve in his new single “So Lost Without You” from his forthcoming album Old Enough To Know Better.

The song starts out shimmery, and then morphs into an introspective ’70s-tinged folk-pop ballad. The sadness is overlaid with a marching, sunny optimism as MacNaughton lays out his grief:

You were here for the best days of my life
Now you’re gone, I don’t know what to say
I lift my eyes, I just see darkness all around
The world was brighter in the days we stood
Together

He searches his heart for a way to keep going and finds a well of internal optimism. “Fear shouts – but love whispers and is heard,” he sings. “Fear doubts – but love whispers and I’m reassured.”

The corresponding music video shows MacNaughton wandering around a town alone, with flashbacks of him with walking around the very same town, but with a dog at his side. His feeling of lost searching is palpable as he meanders the streets in a daze. Finally, he ends up walking into a branch of the Humane Society, where he finds a new companion, a fluffy little pup to walk alongside again.

The song was simultaneously inspired by MacNaughton’s loss of his siblings when he was a young man, as well as the sadness that can come from losing a beloved pet.

“My brother was killed in a motorbike crash when I was 18, and my oldest sister died of cancer when I was 29,” MacNaughton says. “I wrote this song when I was 55 as a way of dealing with that loss. People are not always comfortable talking about that kind of tragedy, but not talking about it makes it more difficult. This is for Bill and Elspeth…”

Different types of loss are impossible to compare, but anyone who has experienced one loss can understand a little bit of someone else’s. “It’s also a song for anyone who has had their dog or cat pass away,” MacNaughton says. “It’s hard, but there will always be a piece of them in your heart.”

Doug MacNaughton grew up in Brandon, Manitoba, playing in the school band and singing in choirs, but what really sparked his interest in music was listening to Mike Oldfield’s 1973 album Tubular Bells – he loved that the same person played all the instruments. MacNaughton attended Brandon University, where he had to make the choice between being a tuba major or a voice major, and so he chose voice.

That led to an eclectic stage/concert career, which included singing a Frank Zappa tribute concert with a Montréal-based electronic music ensemble; a stint with Les Misérables; a summer at the Stratford Festival, some musicals, a couple of Shakespeare roles, an actor/musician production of Man of La Mancha; and some orchestra work and a few operas.
But the whole time, he still had his love of rock, jazz, prog, and other musical styles. He wrote his first songs in 2017 and started hanging around the Toronto indie-music and singer/songwriter scenes. Five years later, he recorded eight of his own songs, resulting in his album Old Enough To Know Better, slated for release this summer.

Qobuz, the High-Quality Music Streaming and Download Platform, Launches Today in Canada

Eric Alper
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Qobuz, the High-Quality Music Streaming and Download Platform, Launches Today in Canada

Qobuz, the high-quality music streaming and download platform, is continuing its international expansion with its launch today in Canada. With Qobuz hitting the market, all Canadian music lovers who are looking for a unique music experience will now have access to a high-quality music service that’s a cut above the mainstream competition.

A continuation of Qobuz’ international expansion strategy

As of today’s launch, in Canada, Qobuz marks its expansion into its 26th country. After Northern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand in 2021, and Latin America in 2022, Qobuz’ arrival today in Canada responds to a growing need among Canadian music aficionados and audiophiles for high-quality music streaming and download offerings.

Qobuz, a unique approach to online music

Since its founding, Qobuz has developed a unique approach to online music. At the heart of the offer is top-notch sound quality. With its lossless catalog and lossless, downloadable files— i.e. CD quality and high resolution (Hi-Res)— Qobuz provides rich, incomparable listening quality that brings users as close as possible to the intention and emotion of the artists. As Canada’s music market has expanded over the years (more than 8% growth in 2022, making it the 8th biggest music market worldwide according to the Global Music Report 2022), Qobuz’ launch responds to the growing need among Canadian music lovers and audiophiles for high quality music streaming offers.

A service made for discovery and musical diversity

A true cultural medium, Qobuz provides a user experience designed for discovery and musical diversity. Through its Magazine, the platform offers artist interviews, in-depth articles and a section dedicated to Hi-Fi gear. Qobuz is recognized for the quality of its recommendations and album features. Each week, the editorial team selects an eclectic array of artists and albums, known or emerging, for listeners to (re)discover, and playlists are updated with carefully hand-picked tracks. All musical genres—rock, jazz, classical, pop, R&B, electronic, world, metal, etc.—are honored, and the catalog is curated with a human touch.

Qobuz is also a community based on a common passion. Qobuz Club offers audiophiles and music lovers from all over the world a unique place where they can share their musical discoveries and recommendations as well as advice on Hi-Fi equipment.

“Qobuz is the only platform in the world to offer unparalleled sound quality (high resolution music streaming and downloads), coupled with an exclusive cultural magazine with thousands of articles dedicated to music. Qobuz is aimed at a demanding and discerning audience looking for alternatives to the mainstream.” says Georges Fornay, Deputy CEO of Qobuz.

“The arrival of Qobuz in Canada has been eagerly awaited by audiophiles and dedicated music fans. It is very exciting for us to be able to offer our unique high-quality service across the entirety of North America.” – Dan Mackta, Managing Director, Qobuz North America & Northern Europe.

“Canada will have the great gift of quality listening when Qobuz opens!” declares Neil Young, veteran Canadian singer-songwriter and one of the audio world’s most influential individuals.

Qobuz Canada – Offerings and Price Plans

All offers are available in the following configurations:

  • SOLO for an individual subscription
  • DUO for a subscription of two people
  • FAMILY for up to 6 accounts for members of the same family on one subscription

QOBUZ STUDIO

The STUDIO offer gives users unlimited access to the entire Qobuz catalog in studio quality and to all editorial content.

  • STUDIO SOLO: $12.99 per month for an individual subscription. Or $10.83 per month, i.e. $129.99 in one yearly installment, for the annual subscription.
  • STUDIO DUO: $17.99 CAD per month, for two accounts on the same subscription. Or $14.99 per month, i.e. $17.88 in one yearly installment, for the annual subscription.
  • STUDIO FAMILY: $21.90 per month, up to 6 accounts for all family members with one subscription. Or $17.99 per month, i.e. $215.88 in one yearly installment, for the annual subscription.

QOBUZ SUBLIME

The Sublime offer gives access to the entire Qobuz catalog of albums in studio quality, all available for streaming and download, with exclusive discounts on Hi-Res purchases of up to 60%.

  • SUBLIME SOLO: $179.99 for an annual subscription in one yearly installment, i.e. $15 per month.
  • SUBLIME DUO: $269.89 for an annual subscription in one yearly installment, i.e. $22.49 per month.
  • SUBLIME FAMILY: $349.99 for an annual subscription (up to 6 accounts for family members), in one yearly installment, i.e. $29.17 per month.
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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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