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Neon Bloom Singer Jen Simpson Steps Out As Kit Vale For Solo Project

Eric Alper
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Neon Bloom Singer Jen Simpson Steps Out As Kit Vale For Solo Project

Kit Vale is the solo project of Toronto-based singer/songwriter Jen Simpson, whom you may know as the stunning voice of Canadian rockers Neon Bloom. Inspired by a diverse mix of musical tastes ranging from post-punk to hip-hop, Simpson uses Kit Vale as a project that combines elements of these influences and every genre in between. They have culminated in a melodic synthesis of sound filtered through her distinct gothic, garage-glam style.

“Pet” is Simpson’s second single under the Kit Vale moniker and was produced by the legendary Rob Sanzo. The track was co-written with bassist Robert Lechner, Simpson’s bandmate from her former group, along with Tony Sjoman and Walter Gardner, the Brooklyn-based The Never Evers. While The Never Evers thought they would never ever release the eight songs they recorded together, the powerful performance on “Pet” could no longer be contained.

“I always wanted to hear an unabashed celebration of femininity expressed in a loud, raw, and intense way,” said Simpson. “‘Pet’ is a swaggering expression of sexuality from a woman’s perspective. It flips the typical masculine rock n’ roll lyricism I grew up listening to by focusing on the woman in a way that subverts the stereotype of women as passive, chaste, or removed from their sexuality.”

The video for the Riot Grrrl-influenced “Pet” was directed by long-time friend and collaborator Ingrid J. Monday (aka Miz Monday). The video is a fun, tongue-in-cheek nod to 90s grunge aesthetic and was inspired by the famous photography scene in ‘Blow Up,’ the 1966 film by Michelangelo Antonioni.

“She’s amazing at capturing images that reflect your vision while also incorporating her signature, fashion-conscious style,” said Simpson. “As two women who used to model, we had a lot of fun flipping the gender dynamics in this video, with myself playing the lecherous photographer, while Alex Ryfka played the part of a somewhat preyed-upon male model.”

Simpson plans to release more music as Kit Vale, with another single, music video, and album on the way in 2023. Fans of bands and musicians like Pixies, Peaches, Joy Division, and Bikini Kill will be chomping at the bit to hear more of what Kit Vale has up her sleeve.

Atlas To Earth Continues Based Kele Fleming Collaboration With “Reprieve” Remix

Eric Alper
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Atlas To Earth Continues Based Kele Fleming Collaboration With “Reprieve” Remix

Victoria, BC-based Kele Fleming is a profoundly gifted singer-songwriter with a mesmerizing voice. Fleming gracefully weaves the vulnerability of traditional folk with the raw power of rock and roll, reminiscent of the works of powerhouses like Neko Case, Lucina Williams, and Kate Bush. Yet, her sound is entirely her own. As a songwriter, Fleming is notably sincere, heartfelt, and bold, exposing the inner workings of her soul through her music.

Kele continues her series of collaborations with electronic artists, as she is once again remixed by talented Atlas to Earth, this time on her song “Reprieve,” originally found on her 2020 album The Song I Will Write for My Whole Life.

“For this remix, I wanted to capture the emotion of the original yet bring it into a new light,” said Brent Janzen aka Atlas to Earth. “The lyrics are poetic and deep, while the concept of a reprieve offers a sense of total relief. To capture this, I kept the remix on the intense side, while the grander parts instill a feeling of dancing and freedom within a darker context.”

Atlas to Earth’s remix is a tremendous departure from the indie folk of the original. The pulsating synth surrounds Fleming’s voice, creating a hypnotic, techno-influenced track. When Fleming sings, “In the dark, dark night / Look real hard / And you’ll find a light,” it hits you so much harder, becoming a track on the level of electronic groups like Röyksopp and Justice.

You may recognize Kele Fleming as a member of Hazel Motes, whose music emulated a ferocious haunting quality and helped shape Vancouver’s early 90s indie scene. Her solo work is inspired by navigating life as a queer woman, casting off the shackles of our modern world, and, as a self-proclaimed environmentalist, giving a voice to the pain mother nature feels from what humanity has done to her.

Her voice is a thunderstorm of emotion, and with electronic beats backing it, the track is overflowing with complexity. Kele’s work explores deeply personal themes, and Altas To Earth executes it flawlessly, making “Reprieve” a flawless club banger.

Chris Birkett Releases Holiday Song “Hear The Angels Sing”

Eric Alper
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Chris Birkett Releases Holiday Song “Hear The Angels Sing”

In the 1990s Chris Birkett was working around the clock as the UK’s go-to-producer/engineer working on legendary projects, such as Sinead O’Connor’s album I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got, that featured the massive hit single, Nothing Compares 2 U. With artists and labels taking most of his time Birkett had little to spare for his two young children.

Feeling he was missing key moments in their life, the Toronto-based renaissance artist reflects on the importance of work-life balance with his heartwarming new single “Hear The Angels Sing.” Birkett wrote the opening lyrics late one night as his career was taking shape.

Why does it take all of my time,
To go out there and be someone?
There’s nothing left at the end of the line
Nothing left for the ones that you love.

“It’s a question and sentiment people are feeling today” says Birkett. “The music and lyrics of Hear the Angels Sing are an example of angelic gifts, especially during the holiday season.”

Birkett’s musical expertise is on full display with his signature cadence on the latest studio recording. When talking about the sweet sound of music, Birkett explains that his songs “come through me, not from me.”

In the three decades that have passed since the original lyric came to him, Birkett has amassed countless musical accolades. This includes but is not limited to the release of his first solo album “Men from the Sky,” relocation to the South of France with his wife and children and opening a studio.

When talking about “Hear The Angels Sing,” Birkett says “This song was one of the many I have heard listening to the sounds around me. Music is a gift and is everywhere. You just have to listen.”

Drawing on lyrical ideas he manifested long ago, Birkett returned to the original verse that changed his life’s course forever. He finished the song with words of enlightenment and reflection, coming from more than 30 years of spiritual study and songwriting.

Chris finished the lyrics and music to Hear the Angels Sing in 2021 and began a search for a choir to sing the chorus. On Easter Sunday in 2022, he attended one of the only churches holding in-person services. Chris approached the music director, Lianne Tan. She was open to the idea and began rehearsing with the sensational choir to record the song with Chris earlier this year.

This Christmas release and video is the resulting collaboration, featuring the West Plains United Church Choir from Burlington, Ontario.

Birkett is a multi-talented, award-winning producer, singer/songwriter, composer, and sound engineer. His music collaborations with A-list international artists like Sinead O’Connor, Alison Moyet, Dexys Midnight Runners, Talking Heads, The Pogues, Bob Geldof, Quincy Jones, Mel Brooks and Steve Earle. Birkett’s projects have sold over 100 million records and earned four JUNOs, a Grammy, a Polaris Music Prize and three international AMPEX Golden Reel Awards for excellence in the music business.

Birkett’s career began as a guitarist, playing in London clubs before touring with Memphis artists Rufus Thomas, Ann Peebles and King Floyd. At 23, Chris was performing with the pop group Love Affair, whose song “Everlasting Love” ruled the UK charts.

Birkett is currently creating new recordings for a range of talented Canadian and European musicians and mentoring and producing Inuit artists through the Hitzmaker’s label.

Songstress Tonia Cianciulli Looks Back On Her Grandparents’ Loss Of A Child In “Churchyard Roses”

Eric Alper
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Songstress Tonia Cianciulli Looks Back On Her Grandparents’ Loss Of A Child In “Churchyard Roses”

Acclaimed Canadian songstress Tonia Cianciulli is going where few artists dare to go, speaking to the impossible agony of losing a child on her heartfelt new single “Churchyard Roses.”

“Churchyard Roses” is inspired by Tonia’s own personal family tragedy– In 1935, her grandparents Chesley and Elsie Dyke lost their four-year-old son Edward when he drowned in their Newfoundland ocean backyard. Tonia collaborated with poet Vaughn Harbin on the lyrics for the piece, attempting to express together what could have possibly been in the hearts and minds of Ches and Elsie upon the loss of their precious son. The results are all at once haunting and humble, fresh and folkloric, and make an admirable contribution to Newfoundland’s legendary musical canon.

Coincidentally, while Tonia was writing and recording “Churchyard Roses,” her father Fred Dyke was writing a biography about his parents and their Newfoundland story. In Skipper Ches, As Tough As It Gets (fresh off the press from Flanker Press Ltd!), Fred captures the joys and struggles of what it was like to live in the rugged Newfoundland outport of Pool’s Island in the early 1900s, the Great Depression and into the 1950s and 1960s. Like father like daughter, the book mirrors much of Tonia’s music, leaning into heartfelt musings, bittersweet memories, and of course, their great love of The Rock.

“Churchyard Roses” features the guitar stylings of Jesse Fegelman, cello contributions from Erika Nielsen, and was recorded, mixed and mastered with Dima Graziaani. It follows Tonia’s previously released 2022 singles “My Voice Belongs To Him”, “Always Her Home” and “Hold His Heart.” The track will feature on her forthcoming album Love Me ‘Till I’m Me Again, a collection of her original musical meditations on her beloved Newfoundland roots.

Tonia has recently performed as a soloist with the Casa Loma Symphony, the Southern Ontario Lyric Opera Company, and visited Newfoundland in September 2022 for a range of concerts, book signings and as the keynote singer at the Century 21 National Convention held at the St. John’s Convention Centre. Tonia will be performing an East Coast Christmas concert with the Cambridge Symphony in December 2022 and is planning a new tour of her Nightingale Sings program for Newfoundland and beyond in 2023. She is honoured to have recently received Brilliant Minded Women’s prestigious award in the Arts & Entertainment category and will be a keynote performer at their 2022 gala.

Suzanne Cook Honors a Friend’s Life – And Perhaps Ours as Well – With “Same Old Tune”

Eric Alper
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Suzanne Cook Honors a Friend’s Life – And Perhaps Ours as Well – With “Same Old Tune”

Suzanne Cook’s new single “Same Old Tune” is a tribute to a late friend that celebrates hope and enduring love – reaffirming what matters most and a refusal to concede ground to life’s impermanence.

Suzanne’s down-to-earth yet confident performance delivers the song’s lyrical music and poetic structure in a heartfelt, genuine way that reflects the singer’s and composer’s shared admiration of Bob Dylan—and the art of the wandering troubadour:

And the words that he’d write
For the love that he’ll share with you
And he’ll dream of a life as he sings the song.

Cook’s folk-hewn voice hits the notes dead on, bringing the young man’s tale alive and taking us on his personal journey – hinted at, musically, by Charlie Giordano’s virtuoso organ, which evokes the church, the road, and the sea. As rendered by the singer, the message is clear: life is impermanent, but the power of love, words and dreams endures. The subject of the song may be long gone, but you’ll remember him all the same.

Cook crossed the miles via technology to record this track with an international cast of players directed by the capable producer Mark Plati whose credits include David Bowie among other well-known artists. Now she looks ahead to literal travel: “Our next objective is to play our material live in the USA and Canada. We can’t wait to share our music with new audiences.”

Roots Rockers RUSTY CREEK Salute The Tall Ships In Newfoundland For New Single ‘White Sails’

Eric Alper
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Roots Rockers RUSTY CREEK Salute The Tall Ships In Newfoundland For New Single ‘White Sails’

Vancouver Roots Band Rusty Creek’s latest single, ‘White Sails’ is a rousing salute to the tall ships that came to fish the waters off Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. The third single from the band’s 2022 album The Road of Life — lead singer and songwriter Alex Deeth’s “audio autobiography” — the song paints a vivid picture of the abundant landscape and waters that drew the first Europeans to Newfoundland.

Deeth reaches far back in history to write his lyrical “Chapter 1,” painting a vivid scene of early Western European fishermen who took safe harbor to fish for cod to bring back to the Old World each year. “‘White Sails’ is in reference to the tall ships that came in the Spring and left in the Fall to fish the amazing bounty in Trinity Bay,” explains the lead vocalist and guitarist, who grew up in Vancouver, B.C., and toured Canada extensively with a variety of successful bands including Wicked Orange and NQR before forming Rusty Creek.

While it chronicles times past, ‘White Sails’ is nonetheless a modern-day sea shanty. The band weaves a musical net consisting of resonator guitar, fiddle by guest musician Mike Sanyshyn, and hand percussion, as Deeth sings of “sailing through the mist,” and sun rising “o’er the waves /Like a morning kiss.”

‘White Sails’ is the latest single from Rusty Creek’s second album, The Road of Life, released in June 2022. With a wide variety of musical influences including bluegrass, country blues, western swing, rockabilly and Cajun, the band describes their latest work as “Roots Re-Mastered,” with songs ranging from barnburners to ballads.

Formed in 2016, Rusty Creek is a collection of lifelong musicians Alex Deeth, Peter Callaway, Lee Stephens, and Leonard Saidman who have all had a variety of success in the music industry since the 1960s. Their experience adds up to a polished performance and an entertaining and wide-ranging collection of original roots music.

2022 Humanitarian Award Recipient SUSAN AGLUKARK Releases “Tikitaummata” From ‘The Crossing’

Eric Alper
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2022 Humanitarian Award Recipient SUSAN AGLUKARK Releases “Tikitaummata” From ‘The Crossing’

The wonderous Susan Aglukark once again arrives with an ear-popping delight in the form of her latest single ‘Tikitaummata.’

Released November 23rd, 2022, the Inuk singer songwriter is one of Canada’s most extraordinary artists today, effortlessly blending Inuktitut, Indigenous, and English languages in her lyrics and phrasing, Susan offers something special with the arrival of her latest single, delivering a masterpiece of blended sounds.

Born in Churchill, Manitoba, and raised in Arviat, Nunavut, Susan draws on her rich Inuit of Arctic Canada heritage to produce a unique mix of contemporary pop and melodic vocals that delights and draws her audience. Her career spans three decades, with her first album ‘Arctic Rose’ being released in 1992 after she appeared on CBC Radio.

In 1995 Susan released ‘This Child’, her definitive breakthrough second album with the first single from that album, ‘O Siem’ landing at number one on the Canadian adult contemporary and country charts that year, making her the first Inuk artist to have a Top 40 hit. Throughout her 30-year music career, Susan delivered a number of albums and singles in her signature visionary style, with each one nodding to her Inuk roots and ideals.

Now residing in Oakville, Ontario, Susan’s next venture was the release of her 10th studio album ‘The Crossing’. ‘The Crossing’ features 12 songs, 2 covers and 10 originals crafted in Susan’s style of Inuit folk, country, and pop music. Recorded with veteran producer and musician Chad Irschick — who also produced Aglukark’s triple-Platinum-selling release, ‘This Child’ – ‘The Crossing’ tells us the story of what her Inuit ancestors’ experience might have been, and why we should listen to it from the Inuit perspective.

“Writing this album through our contemporary Inuit lens has been a lesson in belonging,” says Aglukark. “As we correct the narrative, we are also finding puzzle pieces in our own healing journeys — and what a privilege it is to have this platform to share these lessons from.”

‘Tikitaummata’ is a jazz-infused pop piece, with a rhythmic drum and bass backline supported by a gentle acoustic guitar. Classic Hammond delivers some welcoming solo action as does clean electric which has that Santana-style vibes going on. Susan’s vocals in the Inuit language bounce along to the song’s beat and foundation.

Susan’s vocals and lyrics have a similar clarity throughout the album. Pure with emotional depth, Susan draws themes of inspiration, hope, and spirit from all over that give us a single that flows gently along like a babbling brook.

In 2022 Susan Aglukark’s other passion was also recognized with the 2022 Humanitarian Award Presented by Music Canada at the 51st annual JUNO Awards in May. This award was presented to Susan due to her dedication and hard work in improving the lives of children and youth in Northern Indigenous communities. This includes her organisation ‘The Arctic Rose Foundation’ which supports Northern Inuit, First Nations, and Metis youth through Indigenous-led arts-orientated after-school programs, alongside other creative and culture-led projects.

“It is an honor to receive this award, and a privilege to have had the opportunity to help create safe spaces for Northern Inuit and Indigenous youth to explore their own potential and forge connections through Indigenous-led programs,” Aglukark says.

“I am proud of the work our team at the Arctic Rose Foundation has achieved so far and look forward to expanding our footprint across the North to bring more culturally-grounded, adaptable programming to young people, and help engage, support, and inspire them in all aspects of their lives.”

Kendrick Lamar’s Isolated Vocals For “N95”

Eric Alper
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Kendrick Lamar’s Isolated Vocals For “N95”

Kendrick Lamar’s “N95” was the lead single from his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, and produced by Boi-1da, Sounwave, and Jahaan Sweet, while it was additionally produced by Lamar’s cousin, fellow American rapper and record producer Baby Keem.

Gorrilaz Revolutionize The Concept Of Music Video And Performances In New York And London

Eric Alper
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Gorrilaz Revolutionize The Concept Of Music Video And Performances In New York And London

Gorillaz will revolutionize the very concept of musical performance, as they transform the streets of New York and London into stages for two groundbreaking performances of their brand new track ‘Skinny Ape’. Taking place at 2:30 pm ET on December 17th in Times Square and 14:00 GMT on December 18th in Piccadilly Circus, these first-of-their-kind immersive experiences will allow fans to gather together to witness Gorillaz play in real life – actually larger than life – as Murdoc, 2D, Noodle and Russel literally tower over them, playing in the midst of two of the world’s most iconic skylines.

Directed by artist and Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett and the Emmy nominated director Fx Goby, the ‘Skinny Ape’ performances are created by Nexus Studios and utilize Google’s ARCore Geospatial API, using AR to transforms public spaces with cultural experiences, bringing ‘Skinny Ape’ and the world of Gorillaz to life as never before.

Music’s most (in)famous virtual bass player Murdoc Niccals commented – “To all our followers, get ready for the biggest Times Square takeover since that other gorilla smashed the place up. Bigger in fact cos there’s four of us. Thanks to the techies at Google, we’ve created the music video event of the century, so don your pink robes and come see Gorillaz like you’ve never seen us before. The future is nigh!”

‘Skinny Ape’ is the fourth single from Gorillaz upcoming new album Cracker Island and is already a fan favorite having debuted live on the band’s hugely successful 2022 World Tour. Cracker Island, out February 24th 2023 on Warner Records, is the eighth studio album from Gorillaz, an energetic, upbeat, genre-expansive collection of 10 tracks featuring yet another stellar lineup of artist collaborators: Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny and Bootie Brown and Beck. Recorded in London and L.A. earlier this year, it is produced by eight-time Grammy Award-winning producer/ multi-instrumentalist/ songwriter extraordinaire Greg Kurstin, Gorillaz and Remi Kabaka Jr.

Created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz is singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle. The BRIT and Grammy-winning virtual band formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings and pure luck to blow up a pre-digital world with their colorful backstory and ground-breaking virtual ways. Based at Kong Studios in West London, Gorillaz settled into a life of musical innovation with an eye-wateringly exciting roster of collaborators, a list that includes musical legends, geniuses and future stars from Elton John to Little Simz, MF Doom to Jean-Michel Jarre, Grace Jones to slowthai, Kali Uchis to Sidiki Diabaté, plus so many more. With seven albums to their name, Gorillaz (2001), Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010), The Fall (2011), Humanz (2017), The Now Now (2018) and Song Machine: Season One – Strange Timez (2020), Gorillaz is a truly global phenomenon, achieving success in entirely new and unique ways, touring the world from San Diego to Syria, Montevideo to Manchester and winning numerous awards including the coveted Jim Henson Creativity Honor.

Dermot Kennedy Announces 2023 North American ‘Sonder’ Tour

Eric Alper
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Dermot Kennedy Announces 2023 North American ‘Sonder’ Tour

(October 24, 2022) – Today, Platinum-selling singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy officially announces his upcoming The Sonder Tour – a North American run taking place this Spring. Produced by Live Nation, the 28-date tour run will kick off in Vancouver making stops at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City and additional stops in Dallas, Nashville, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston before wrapping up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in mid-June.

Nominated for the “Best International Male” BRIT Award in 2020, Dermot has now amassed nearly 4 billion streams across platforms and has the best-selling debut album in Ireland of this millennium, making him a platinum-selling artist in over 12 countries. His unique ability to unify and heal through his music has been apparent since the inception of his organic and meteoric rise. His poetic, compelling music has resonated with music lovers across the globe, with notables including Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Shawn Mendes all calling themselves fans.

The tour comes in celebration of the acclaimed artist’s new album, Sonder, to be released November 4th on Island Records/Interscope. Pre-order ‘Sonder’ here. Sonder, which means “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own,” resonated deeply with Dermot and is an exciting new musical chapter for him. Highlights from the album include the beautiful piano ballad “Innocence and Sadness” recorded fully live in one take, the infectious “Kiss Me,” the lead single ‘Something to Someone’ which has topped over 20 million streams, and “Dreamer,” which he recently performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert watch it HERE. The Sonder 2023 Tour will bring some of Kennedy’s first live performances of songs from the new album to North American fans for the first time.

Check out the full tour routing below and stay tuned for more from Dermot Kennedy coming soon.

Upcoming Live Dates
Sat, May 06 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Tue, May 09 – Seattle, WA – WAMU Theater
Wed, May 10 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium
Fri, May 12 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
Mon, May 15 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Wed, May 17 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
Fri, May 19 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Sat, May 20 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Tue, May 23 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Wed, May 24 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
Fri, May 26 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Sat, May 27 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore
Tue, May 30 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Wed, May 31 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
Fri, Jun 02 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Sat, Jun 03 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
Tue, Jun 06 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
Wed, Jun 07 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Fri, Jun 09 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Sat, Jun 10 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Sun, Jun 11 – Montreal, QC – Place Bell
Tue, Jun 13 – Washington DC – The Anthem
Wed, Jun 14 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Fri, Jun 16 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Mon, Jun 19 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Tue, Jun 20 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

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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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