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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ottawa Pianist Huguette Lavigne Releases “Jazzed Up Dreams”

Eric Alper
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Ottawa Pianist Huguette Lavigne Releases “Jazzed Up Dreams”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Canada’s All-Star MAPLE BLUES BAND Releases “Hey Nola“ From ‘Let’s Go’ Album On Cordova Bay Records Out Now

Eric Alper
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Canada’s All-Star MAPLE BLUES BAND Releases “Hey Nola“ From ‘Let’s Go’ Album On Cordova Bay Records Out Now

For nearly a quarter century, the Maple Blues Band has been the cornerstone of the Toronto Blues Society’s annual Maple Blues Awards (MBA), honoring the creme de la creme in Canadian blues music. With its full-length record, “Hey Nola,” the Maple Blues Band will step into the spotlight, showcasing the lively instrumental compositions the all-star ensemble has created over the course of its decades together, out now from Cordova Bay Records.

Bassist, band leader and musical director Gary Kendall – perhaps best known for his association with Downchild Blues Band – started the project back in 1998, after a meeting of the Toronto Blues Society. “I boldly told all present that the music that accompanied the award presentations should be better. The comeback was, ‘Let’s see what you can do.’ It must be working because the band has been the centerpiece of the Maple Blues Awards ever since,” Kendall recalls.

Kendall dreamed of putting together a big band that could tackle a wide variety of styles, including Delta blues, Southside Chicago blues, New Orleans funk, uptown blues, zydeco, blues rock, and most of all Canadian blues, and recruited some of the finest folks on the Canadian blues scene to join him in making that dream come true.

Providing the theme and background music for the event, as well as accompanying the special guests performing at the awards ceremony, the group is made up of many MBA winners and nominees. The band’s current lineup includes Pat Carey on tenor saxophone, Teddy Leonard on guitar, Al Lerman on harmonica and acoustic guitar, Jim Casson drums and percussion, Howard Moore on trumpet, Lance Anderson on Hammond B3, piano and accordion, Alison Young on baritone, tenor and soprano saxophones, Meirion Kelly on trombone, and Roshane Wright on percussion.

Kendall calls Let’s Go a true group effort, featuring contributions from band members both past and present, with songwriting credits drawn from over the group’s 24-year history.

“The songwriting helped The Maple Blues Band create a personal and unique sound. It’s what I refer to as ‘big band blues,’” he notes. “The men and women I chose to surround myself with in The Maple Blues Band are part of the enormous southern Ontario pool of blues talent. Each one of them is a star.”

With the release of Let’s Go, The Maple Blues Band plans to take that irresistible big-band blues sound and star-quality roster to the next level, representing both its venerable past and an exciting new chapter in its ongoing commitment to the very best in music

Edmonton’s Cultural Diversity Award-Winning Shumaila Hemani, Ph.D., Releases Debut Album “Mannat (a prayer, a wish)”

Eric Alper
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Edmonton’s Cultural Diversity Award-Winning Shumaila Hemani, Ph.D., Releases Debut Album “Mannat (a prayer, a wish)”

Crossing gender boundaries while singing Pakistani songs of Muslim heritage which are typically performed by men, Shumaila Hemani’s debut album, Mannat (a prayer, a wish), is an awakening about climate emergency and the need for action. “It’s an appeal to the world to come together to support 33 million climate refugees as a result of heavy flooding in Pakistan that drowned a third of the country in August 2022,” she says.

Based on Sufi poetry from South Asia and sound recordings of heavy rainfall, floods, and other environmental sounds recorded in Pakistan, “Mannat is an immersive experience of deep listening to soundscapes of climate change, the havoc it is bringing on cultures and tradition, and prayers rooted in Hindustani art music and singing from the Sufi shrines of Pakistan,” she says.

It features, “Perils of Heavy Rainfall,” an acousmatic composition which won the Second Prize, Listening During COVID contest (2020) and was recently published in the Goose, the Journal of Environment, Arts, Culture in Canada.

With Hemani’s mesmerizing voice and harmonium, a South Asian reed instrument, Mehdi Rezania on santur, an Iranian zither, Ojas Joshi on tabla, South Asian percussion, alongside sound design based on field-recordings and original composition, Hemani’s performance features compelling storytelling in English with awe-inspiring music in Sindhi intended to spread the message of love, peace, and inter-connectedness within South Asian Sufi poetry to global audiences.

“Mannat is a fulfillment of a calling that interlocked my heart. Sufi poetry empowered me to speak up for equity and justice without fear. This album is the
culmination of over a decade of research and performance learning to bring Sufi sounds to Canadians and the world,” says Hemani. “Sufi poetry brings a message of heart-centring love, inter-connectedness, and deep healing from wounds and traumas and represents the power of love to create a more just world.”

Hemani is an interdisciplinary artist and academic residing in Alberta, Canada. She holds a Ph.D. in Music and M.A. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Alberta and served as a Music Faculty for Semester at Sea (Spring 2020; academic partner: Colorado State University) and the Faculty of Extension (University of Alberta). Her artistic practice involves sculpting with sounds of the environment and Islamic mystic poetry from South Asia for social empowerment and change. Hemani has joined Mount Royal University’s Trico Changemakers’ Studio in 2022 to create community-engaged sound art focusing on climate change in Alberta.

Toronto’s Electric Trio REDPATH TRAFFIC Releases New Single “HEY MONA!”

Eric Alper
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Toronto’s Electric Trio REDPATH TRAFFIC Releases New Single “HEY MONA!”

With a mix of blues and rock with a dash of punk, Toronto’s Redpath Traffic tells unique, introspective stories of love, loss, redemption, and change. This electric trio blends sonic moods and sweeping movements into their distinctive original music, creating a sound that’s uniquely theirs. Redpath Traffic features Rick Todd on guitars and vocals; Mark Fernley on bass; and Kerem Balci on drums.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=N-KcmTLI6Fc

Hope is a common thread throughout Redpath Traffic’s music. In “Hey Mona!” the storyteller yearns for the company of love lost. Mona represents all that seems distant, indifferent, unattainable, and beyond our control to keep for ourselves. It speaks to one’s proclamation that – perhaps selfishly – “What you need out there isn’t possibly as important as what I need from you here.”

Played as a pop-punk stomp with infectious hooks throughout, “Hey Mona!” was written and produced to reignite hope, even in our most profound moments of despair. Musically, it crosses The Beatles with The Clash by way of Stray Cats – a sonic blend of happy sounds bridging a river that rages with tension.

The song was written by band member Rick Todd and produced by multiple award-winning music legend Chris Birkett. An alternate version with an extended opening will be available on the band’s upcoming album, Under the Crimson Sun.

Redpath Traffic’s new single “Hey Mona!” is available now and their debut LP Under the Crimson Sun comes out in April of 2023.

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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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