John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” wasn’t released as a single during his lifetime, it became an international hit in a version by Roxy Music issued in early 1981; this version reached #1 in the UK and Australia, and was a top 10 hit in several European countries. Lennon’s own version was subsequently issued as a single, and charted in the US and UK.
Jackie K Releases Creepy Folk Ballad “Nurse Jane” Based On True Story
North Battleford, SK’s Jackie K has released her latest single, “Nurse Jane,” a creepy alt-folk ballad inspired by a tuberculosis sanatorium in Saskatchewan and a troubled nurse who worked there.
“On the shores of Echo Lake as the Great War was done / She dressed in white and went to work in the sanatorium / Nurse Jane doled out tablets and help to those in need / She cleaned and fed, they coughed and bled / The valley of TB,” she sings.
“Saskatchewan opened three TB sanatoriums at the beginning of the twentieth century and one of them was located in the Qu’Appelle Valley at Fort San,” Jackie recounts. “It was a completely independent space, except for coal delivery, and an early model for what we now know as Medicare.” Built in 1917, it functioned as a TB clinic till 1971.
“The building was taken over by the Saskatchewan government and was used in the summer months for the Saskatchewan School of the Arts, which is how I came to know it. I spent three summers there. I had a blast playing both concert band and jazz music. However, it definitely had a haunted vibe. It was known as one of the most haunted places in Canada.”
Jackie K was engaging in her usual free-write morning exercise, writing a lyric about the banana popsicles she’d eaten while attending the School of the Arts, when she decided to do some more research into the sanatorium. “I read about Nurse Jane and her time in the building when it first opened. I can’t speak to the accuracy of the story, but it intrigued me nonetheless,” she says.
She recorded “Nurse Jane” at home, playing everything herself, including the trumpet. “I dragged my fingernails across a set of bongos to get the scratchy sounds in the last verse. It reminded me of the noises we used to hear while we tried to fall asleep,” she says.
The song was co-produced by Sean Davis Newton, with whom she worked on her 2021 EP, Look for The Little Things, which contained “Night at The Opry,” a No. 4 single on the Top 100 Country Countdown Top 100. Newton added a variety of ghostly effects to enhance Jackie’s retelling of a tragic tale.
Jackie K is happy to name gifted songwriters like Brandy Clark, Elvis Costello, Ron Sexsmith, and Nancy Griffith as influences on her work, and she notes that her love of jazz, by artists such as Diana Krall and Nina Simone, continues to percolate through her songwriting, her recordings, and her performances. When she isn’t writing or performing, Jackie conducts the bands and teaches guitar to high school students at North Battleford Comprehensive High School. Jackie is a member of SaskMusic, SOCAN, BMI, SAC, AFM#553 and the Americana Music Association.
Danish Musician he is tall. Really Isn’t, But “it’s always been you” In His Large Heart
Despite the stage name of Danish musician he is tall., Troels Thorkild Sørensen isn’t all that tall. But when his guitar is alongside him and he occupies stages across the country, he grows. Originally from Mårslet, near Aarhus, he is tall. towers while maestroing his melodies for a live audience.
This year spells the debut EP for he is tall. Titled, “it’s always been you” he is tall. is announcing to the world the arrival of this likable Scandinavian lad. The project’s lead single, “new york.” is out now.
Singing over a slow guitar tune, he is tall. tells the tale of spending the day with a mystery character in New York at some point in the past. He wishes his previous companion well in whatever they’re up to now and contemplates if life will ever bring their paths together again.
The tone of the track conveys a mix of emotions – an appreciation for what has become a wonderful memory, a longing for a time that has come and gone, and a curiosity for the questions we don’t always get the answers for.
This is a common theme throughout the EP.
“The songs are circling around people I have met throughout my life and how every single destiny is unique,” he is tall. said. “What our struggles are, when we are on the bumpy ride from adolescence to adulthood. The road is undulating and it’s possible to crash anytime, due to whatever might come at you: inner and outer expectations, unrequited love, addiction, mental illness, loneliness, toxic masculinity – boiling in one big cauldron.”
he is tall. takes the listener on a journey through the course of the project, and he said that the creation of it opened his eyes to some of life’s greatest truths, too.
“The EP has also been therapeutic for me to write and record, and it has (almost) helped me accept that it’s impossible to circumvent all the complications of adulthood,” he explained.
he is tall. made an impressive first impression on the Danish underground music scene. In 2019, he released the songs, “little brother.” and “dad.” They both grew to reach beyond Danish borders, featuring on the American Spotify playlist, “Discover: Indie Rising” and getting airplay on American and Dutch radio stations.
“I think your style is really original and it’s difficult for me to see how others should imitate you – which is a rare praise to give – so thank you so much for your music!” Sebastian Saxton, host of the Danish radio channel P6 Beat, said about he is tall. “I really appreciate it! I really think your vocal is strong.”
Danish indie label Møs Møs signed he is tall. shortly after the release of “dad.” and he has since worked on loads of new music, culminating in his debut EP in 2022. He has played as the support act for artists such as Tyler Childers, The Divine Comedy, and Leoniden, and he has been linked with American musician Jeff Buckley, too. Though his musical set up is a humble one, he is tall. has found inspiration from country and hip hop, and he merges this into his own honest sound.
This is the beginning of a long ride that he is tall. hopes you’ll take with him as he uses his music to learn more about himself and the world and shares his findings with us through song.
“new york.” is available now.
Teenage Pop Sensation ANNA GOLDSMITH Wants You To Not Be A ‘Follower’ In New Single
Creating your own path and being proud of yourself is the message behind Toronto’s Anna Goldsmith’s latest single, “Follower.”
Living by her own words with her writing, performances and personal life, Anna Goldsmith is a 15-year-old multi-instrumentalist and musical force, focusing on her talents and her desire to create music and share messages of kindness, hope and confidence.
Goldsmith’s “Follower” explores new situations….and choices. “I was in my room thinking of song ideas and I remembered when I was a little kid, sometimes when I was in a situation that was new to me, I had voices in my head telling me what to do. Sometimes it was the right thing and other times, the wrong thing. I learned how to deal with the voices and to make my own path, write my own story, all through my music.”
And “Follower” isn’t only catching the attention of Goldsmith’s fans across her social media channels. She has the backing of some big names in the industry who are eagerly waiting to work with her on her music and promoting the young dynamo’s career.
For music to flow with her lyrics, Goldsmith connected with BluePurple Records through Instagram. “They reached out to me directly, and I had so much fun recording and working on “Follower” with them. The team at the label create the music, and I write the lyrics and record the vocals and we collaborate from there. It’s been an amazing way to meet people and collaborate.”
Anna loves nothing more than singing on stage and entertaining a crowd and while she’s at it, she wants to help people too. “My goal is to relate to people and show them it is amazing to be themselves and make sure everyone knows they are not alone.”
When she isn’t writing songs and entertaining, Anna is a great example for others as a volunteer with youth-centred groups, providing needed support to at-risk-youth.
The rising star has gained a growing legion of fans as part of 16 stage musicals and appears in the indie short, Sara Snow and the Seven Dancers which she wrote and recorded her past single “Shine” for. It was a song that shared a message of hope, solidarity, support, and unwavering camaraderie, a message for all ages, remarkable considering she was just 13 when she wrote it.
This year, Goldsmith has seen her YouTube stock rising, her social media followers exploding, and her music career skyrocketing, including multiple song and video releases over the past year, including performing at Friday Harbour, Revival Bar, the Block Co., the El Mocambo, and the Chelsea Music Hall in New York City.
As her talents continue to develop and grow, naturally with this momentum, there is so much more to come from Anna Goldsmith, and there’s no stopping her now. She says, “I am currently working on 2 more songs with BluePurple Records, and hopefully eventually a whole album. I love a rock vibe, heavy guitar, and have so many song ideas!”
Best to become a “Follower” of hers now, then.
Pop Singer JORDANA OF EARTH Tells You Only What You “Need To Know” In New Single
Toronto-based Electro-pop R&B music sensation Jordana of Earth transports listeners with melancholy romance and light smoky vocals to tell a vulnerable tale of distance and its effect on love with the ethereal single “Need To Know.”
Fueled by her own lived experiences, this is Jordana of Earth’s 3rd single from her expertly crafted debut EP “10k,” a deeply personal voyage that sonically soothes the soul. “Each track off the EP hits different moments and feelings within a relationship running its course,” she explains.
“Need To Know” is the latest hit following the success of the EP’s first two singles, the percussive “So Bad” and the hip-hop-inspired “Hibiscus Flower” featuring Toronto artist Roshin.
Produced and recorded in collaboration with several top-tier Toronto artists, “10k” was conceived as a cohesive narrative. “When I was going through which songs to include on the project, the selection just built itself naturally because everything already made sense together,” says Jordana. “They were all part of the same story.”
While Jordana of Earth flexes her sound production skills on a couple of tracks, the musical pieces seamlessly fell into place with the assistance of Toronto producers Tim North (JRDN, Eldzhey), Urstruli (Roy Woods), Joff Wood (Derek Wise), and Jaiden Davis Jones (Ralph).
“Need To Know” is a seduction of the senses with a slower tempo and harmonic textures to get under the skin. “The song is a pleading ballad about wanting to stay close from a distance, with someone who is away for lengths of time.” Jordana of Earth gives a transcendent performance with richly layered vocals and a deliberate message.
“I don’t wanna fight this
I don’t wanna run away or doubt you
But I need to know that you’re right here
Feeling the love when you’re not here.”
“I love working with others on the music and production, but the vocal melodies and lyrics are usually finalized when I have some moments of the process to myself,” says Jordana about her songwriting process. “This allows me to really tap into what I’m trying to say and how my story flows with the music.”
When considering the visuals for “Need To Know,” Jordana of Earth linked up with Jamie Lynn Steele to produce the official music video. With an opening nod to Sofia Coppola’s classic picture, The Virgin Suicides, Jordana and Steele were united in their vision for the video.
“Jamie and I developed this image of a wayward girl living on the road, calling out for someone who never seems to come,” says Jordana. “We very organically channelled and curated a very distinct vibe, something that we were both tapping into. Nostalgic, feminine, imperfect, and a little self-destructive.”
Jordana of Earth is a singer/songwriter/producer from Toronto with a distinct voice that weaves R&B, Pop, and Trip-Hop influences to create something entirely new. A fearless, multi-disciplined artist inspired to start from a young age, Jordana found instant success with her debut single, “Leave the Light On” (produced by Jeff Crake, DVSN).
With the support of her city behind her and several features across multiple Spotify playlists and radio stations across Canada, there is no stopping the momentum of this modern renaissance artist.
Jordana of Earth’s latest single, “Need To Know,” from the breathtaking EP, “10k,” is available now.
My Next Read: “Play Me My Song – The Music of Genesis” by Philip Stichtenoth
By nearly any metric, Genesis is one of the most successful, influential, and enduring rock bands of all time. Naturally, the band’s fifty plus year career has also given rise to all kinds of related literature: some critical, some biographical, and some purely informational. That’s all well and good, but what if these didn’t have to be separate ideas? What if one book could somehow do it all?
Play Me My Song is a blurring of the traditional boundaries of musical literature, approaching the music and history of Genesis from a multitude of angles in order to become something that is at once both truly unique and deeply comprehensive. Whatever kind of book you want to read about Genesis, this one is it.
Comprised of extensive essays in varying styles about every single song and album in the entire Genesis catalogue, Play Me My Song blends song histories, musical analysis, critical reviews, autobiographical tales, the fun of countdowns, and a dash of pure silliness to create something extraordinary.
It is, in essence, a book that sounds like Genesis. And at 528 pages, the biggest book ever published on Genesis.
Canadian Singer & Songwriter Leith Ross Unveils New Single “Orlando”
Today, up-and-coming Winnipeg singer, songwriter, and artist Leith Ross (They/Them Pronouns) drops their new single “Orlando” alongside the official music video that they directed.
On “Orlando,” Leith paints a vivid picture of unrequited love. Vestiges of what could’ve been burn out under the glow of soft and sparse guitar. It all builds towards an admission, “I just think I was in love. I think I was in love.” The music video focuses on an idyllic bike ride underlined by unspoken emotion befitting of the song’s subdued intensity.
Leith says, “‘Orlando’ is about the slow and subtle realization that somebody doesn’t love you back in the way you wish they would. When a relationship feels like you are trying to hold on to a heavy object, but it’s slippery. It’s a sad, confusing feeling, but writing this song helped. I hope it can do the same for anyone else who can relate. It’s so hard to like people!! Sucks sometimes!!”
“Orlando” follows Leith’s previous viral release “We’ll Never Have Sex”—listen HERE and watch the video HERE. The song has amassed nearly 28 million Spotify streams, and the video has received over 1 million YouTube views. In support of their new music, Leith performed sold-out headline shows across North America earlier this fall, as well as supported Lord Huron in Canada and Andy Shauf and Helena Deland in Europe on various tours this year. Not to mention, they were the recipient of the inaugural John Prine Songwriter Fellowship at this year’s Newport Folk Festival.
Hailing from outside of Ottawa, Ontario, Leith Ross embraced music at a young age, channeling emotional confessions through softly strummed chords. Recorded live, they made their debut with the independent Motherwell EP in 2020. Beyond prominent editorial playlisting, it incited widespread critical applause across US and Canada. Leith maintained this momentum in 2021 with the I’d Have To Think About It, and the title track has notably amassed nearly 10 million Spotify streams to date. With a rising profile on TikTok and among tastemakers, Leith signed to Republic Records in 2022.
Leith Ross is a songwriter, singer, and artist born and raised in a small town outside of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They’ve been a sensitive and overly artistic person since birth, and when they started writing songs around the age of 12, it quickly became Leith’s favourite way to be sensitive and overly artistic. Still is. Since then, they’ve recorded and released two projects, and have a new one underway. Inspired by the likes of Lucinda Williams, Dolly Parton, Disney movie soundtracks, High School Musical, and their dad’s horrible parodies of all of the above, their songs attempt to explore themes of gut-wrenching and cheesy love, silliness, and extreme existentialism. Their favourite stuff. Leith’s recent single, “We’ll Never Have Sex,” is soaked in that ‘favourite stuff’ and ready to be listened to wherever you can find it.
Rising Pop Star Reneé Rapp Drops Emotional Debut EP ‘Everything To Everyone’
Today, singer, actress, and performer Reneé Rapp releases her emotionally raw debut EP Everything to Everyone via Interscope Records. The seven-song set is stacked with soaring ballads and polished pop anthems that highlight The Sex Lives of College Girls star’s vocal prowess and versatile talent.
The stripped-back title track and EP opener explores Rapp’s desire to show up for the important people in her life. Next up is the multi-hyphenate’s breakout single “In the Kitchen,” which reflects on a doomed relationship, and a brand new track titled “Colorado” that expresses her desire to leave Los Angeles behind. It’s the kind of unfiltered anthem that made her most recent release, “Don’t Tell My Mom,” so gut-wrenching. On the track, Rapp details her tumultuous, tight knit relationship with her mother. “Don’t tell my mom, I’m fallin’ apart,” she belts over minimal synths. “She hurts when I hurt, my scars are her scars.” The EP is rounded out by the songs “What Can I Do,” “Too Well,” and “Moon,” each of which showcases a slightly different shade of Rapp’s musical palate. It’s the kind of collection with a song for every mood or emotional state.
After probably 4 years of talking about putting out a project— my EP is here”, Rapp says of the new release. “I’m anxious and super fucking excited for you to hear. I hope you love it. and if you don’t love it, please don’t tell me. I’m super sensitive.”
The EP follows the singles “Don’t Tell My Mom,” “In the Kitchen,” and “Tattoos,” which have amassed more than 22 million combined streams. Throughout her career, Rapp has displayed a knack for captivating audiences with vibrant performances and unbridled energy. Outside of music, she stars in the hit HBO Max series The Sex Lives of College Girls, which has its season 2 premiere next week. It’s a role that calls for brilliant comedic timing and dramatic prowess, both of which the newcomer has in spades. With Everything to Everyone, Rapp underlines the breadth and depth of her talent, veering from soaring ballads to uptempo pop anthems without missing a beat.
Reneé Rapp knew was born to perform ever since she was a child. Even in her earliest memories, her love of music was always present. “I couldn’t sit still in the car unless there was music,” she says. “Otherwise, I would cry the entire time.” The North Carolina native began harnessing her natural creativity by writing and recording songs when she was just a teenager. Eventually, her career took off when she landed the coveted role of Regina George in the Tony-nominated Mean Girls musical on Broadway. Shortly after, she found widespread recognition and praise—from the likes of W, Harper’s Bazaar, and The Hollywood Report for her performance as “Leighton” on the HBO Max series “The Sex Lives of College Girls” written by Mindy Kaling. Now, more empowered than ever, Rapp turns her attention back to music, where sharing threadbare insecurities on “Tattoos” is just the beginning. “I was called ‘crazy’ a lot growing up because I didn’t know what was going on with me,” she says. “As I got older and started going to therapy, I reclaimed the word in a way that feels good to me.” In this song and in the rest of her music to come Rapp leans into a uniquely bold showcase of vulnerability to connect with her ever-growing fandom. Eager to continue to share her emotions with the world, Reneé has much more music on the way under her recent signing to Interscope Records.
The 2022 John Lewis Christmas Ad Is Just As Heartwarming As You Hoped It Would Be
It’s the things we do that mean the most. 🛹
Roots & Blues Band MUD BAY Has Best Laid Plans With New Single “Feel”
Mud Bay is rocking on with their new song “Feel,” out now as the lead single from their sixth album Best Laid Plans.
Addressing the preoccupied individual who “can’t think, can’t touch, can’t feel,” “Feel” is a call to embrace the anti-cerebral, sensual playground of live rock and roll. “FEEL! FEEL! FEEL!” Mark Branscombe – along with the stellar vocals of Aidan Farrell, daughter of drummer Murphy Farrell – implores the listener in the song’s rollicking conclusion. It is both a plea and a rallying cry, encompassing all of Mud Bay’s hard-earned wisdom in one spirited single.
Mud Bay has been electrifying audiences with its high-intensity brand of original Roots & Blues music and truckload of character since 1978. They’ve accumulated some well-deserved monikers in their time, including “The Band That Won’t Go Away,” “Saturday Night Entertainment, Any Day of the Week,” and “One of Canadian Music’s Best Kept Secrets.” All well fitting, as in their over four decades playing together Mud Bay has forged a genre-agnostic identity, letting their musical intuition guide them, embracing new sounds and styles along the way. Best Laid Plans showcases the versatility of the band’s songwriting and their wide-ranging influences—Blues, Country, Cajun, Rock, Soul, and more.
Harmonica maestro Mud Bay Slim, or the ‘King of the Mud Bay Delta Blues’ delivers the goods as always with “My Disposition,” “When The Blues Come To Town,” and “Last Slim Dime.” Guitarist Randall T. Carpenter also showcases his blues roots with “Best Laid Plans” and “Hard Times,” but also ventures into outspoken social commentary with “Greed” and “Talk Is Cheap,” and makes a heartfelt plea for understanding in troubled times with “Love and Forgiveness.” But there’s much more than blues here– Drummer Murphy Farrell brings uptown R&B into the mix with “Rock In My Shoe” and “Feel,” and detours into gloriously unrestrained rock with “Pound Rocks.” Finally, Guitarist Mark Branscombe kicks in some horn-driven soul with “Soul In The City,” a taste of twang with “Down To The Bottom,” and some epic rock with “Struggle.” Nailing down the groove on all these tracks is bassist Dennis Ingvaldson, an integral part of the Mud Bay sound.
Unconventional. Uncompromising. That’s Mud Bay. Always another trick up their sleeves.