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Ron Sexsmith Shares “What I Had In Mind” From Forthcoming Album The Vivian Line

Eric Alper
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Ron Sexsmith Shares “What I Had In Mind” From Forthcoming Album The Vivian Line

Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith has returned to share “What I Had in Mind,” the first single from his forthcoming album The Vivian Line. “What I Had In Mind,” boasts a trademark catchy Sexsmith melody and an upbeat feel boosted by female backing vocals and a positive tone to the lyrics: – “In the rear-view mirror, leaving all our tears behind, now that’s what I had in mind.” The Vivian Line will be released on February 17th, 2023.

The Vivian Line is the 17th album entry in Ron Sexsmith’s compelling discography, one matched by very few contemporary singer-songwriters. His catalogue has earned him immense peer respect and a loyal international following, and this new release captures Ron at the top of his creative game. The Vivian Line is named after a rural route near Ron’s house, and he views it as “representing a sort of portal between my old life in Toronto and my new life here.”

Almost entirely written during a short period of 2021 during COVID, The Vivian Line was recorded in Nashville with producer and multi-instrumentalist Brad Jones (Josh Rouse, Marshall Crenshaw, Matthew Sweet) at Jones’ studio Alex The Great. The result is a beautifully rich and evocative sounding album. The vast array of instrumentation plus female harmony and backing vocals are employed subtly and judiciously, and Sexsmith is at the top of his game with his vocal performance. The Vivian Line is guaranteed to delight the Sexsmith faithful out there and deserves to attract new fans to the fold.

Ron Sexsmith is one of Canada’s most accomplished singer-songwriters. He has collaborated with the likes of Daniel Lanois, Mitchell Froom, Ane Brun, Tchad Blake, and Bob Rock. His songwriting appears on albums from Rod Stewart, Michael Bublé, k.d. lang, Emmylou Harris and Feist. His inimitable work has drawn praise from the likes of Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and Chris Martin to name just a few. He has been awarded 3 Juno Awards, having been nominated 15 times including eight nods for Songwriter of the Year. F

Tour Dates
Sept 27, 2022 Montreal, QC Le Studio TD
Sept 29, 2022 St. John’s, NL St. John’s Arts & Culture Centre
Oct 2, 2022 Moncton, NB Capitol Theatre
Oct 5, 2022 Charlottetown, PE Confederation Centre
Oct 6, 2022 Halifax. NS Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
Oct 7, 2022 Annapolis Royal, NS King’s Theatre
Oct 8, 2022 Fredericton, NB The Fredericton Playhouse
Oct 15, 2022 Hamilton, ON Bridgeworks
Oct 21, 2022 McDonald’s Corners, ON The Festival of Small Halls
Oct 22, 2022 Spencerville, ON The Festival of Small Halls

Maren Morris Speaks Out And Launches New LGBTQ T-Shirt With GLAAD To Support LGBTQ Youth For #SpiritDay

Eric Alper
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Maren Morris Speaks Out And Launches New LGBTQ T-Shirt With GLAAD To Support LGBTQ Youth For #SpiritDay

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today released an new video interview with Grammy winning music superstar and LGBTQ ally Maren Morris in support of GLAAD’s annual #SpiritDay campaign on October 20, when millions will join GLAAD to show support for LGBTQ youth by wearing purple.

In the interview with GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos, Morris shares why supporting the LGBTQ community is so deeply personal to her, especially when it comes to trans youth. Morris recently defended trans youth on social media and raised more than $150,000 for GLAAD’s Transgender Media Program and Trans LifeLine by creating and selling a shirt inspired by her recent comments and media attention.  In the new interview she tells GLAAD, “You definitely have to let people know where you stand on really important subjects.”

Watch GLAAD’s interview with Maren Morris below:

https://youtu.be/BFpKIuyofL8 

In honor of #SpiritDay, Morris has launched a new shirt where 100% of the proceeds will go to GLAAD’s work to support LGBTQ youth and sends a powerful message.  The shirt reads “You Have A Seat at This Table.” Purchase Maren Morris’s Purple #SpiritDay Shirt HERE 

Morris is also partnering with digital fundraising platform Fandiem and with Bandsintown on a special sweepstakes supporting GLAAD to give her fans a chance to be her guest in Nashville for the final show of her “Humble Quest” tour, including a flyaway for the winner and a guest, 2 VIP tickets, an exclusive virtual meet-up with the singer, and more specially chosen experiences. Fans can Donate To Win at fandiem.com/marenmorris 

This year, #SpiritDay will be observed on Thursday, October 20. Participants are encouraged to wear purple or go purple online in a united stand against bullying and show of support for LGBTQ youth. Since the inaugural Spirit Day in 2010, GLAAD organizes hundreds of celebrities, media outlets, brands, landmarks, sports leagues, tech leaders, influencers, faith groups, school districts, organizations, colleges and universities in what has become the most visible anti-LGBTQ bullying campaign and united show of support for LGBTQ youth. Purple symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Previous participants include President Biden, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, Laverne Cox, Wanda Sykes, Reba McEntire, Sterling K. Brown, Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Barbra Streisand, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Jake Gyllenhaal, Andy Cohen, Billy Porter, Dan Reynolds, Christina Aguilera, all Major League Baseball teams, the Empire State Building, and hosts of Good Morning America, TODAY, and CBS This Morning, CNBC, The View, and many more. 

Spice Girls Mark 25th Anniversary Of Spiceworld With Expanded Editions

Eric Alper
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Spice Girls Mark 25th Anniversary Of Spiceworld With Expanded Editions

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of SPICEWORLD, the multi-million selling second album by the biggest girl band of all time – the Spice Girls release new and expanded versions of the album on multiple formats via UMC / Virgin Records – out 4th November.

Curated by the band themselves, SPICEWORLD 25 brings together the original chart topping album with some of their favourite bonus tracks and B-Sides, along with previously unreleased live recordings from the Virgin Records archive.

The band say, “The ‘Spiceworld’ era was such a fun time for us; we’d just had a number one album with Spice, we were travelling all over the world and meeting our amazing fans, we released our second album AND we had our very own movie! Who would’ve thought it? It’s crazy to think that 25 years have passed.”

The iconic Spiceworld album, released on the 3rd November 1997, spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Official Charts UK album chart and 48 weeks on the UK Top 40. It sold 192,000 copies in the UK Week 1, passing a million sales after just eight weeks, reaching No. 1 in eleven other territories, No. 2 in Canada, No. 3 in the US and No. 6 in Japan. Spiceworld has since sold more than 14 million copies worldwide, including more than 1.6 million in the UK (where industry trade body the BPI has certified it 5 x Platinum) and 4.2 million in the US (certified 4 x Platinum by the RIAA).

Across the formats, highlights include fan favourite “Step To Me”, originally the soundtrack to a 1997 soft drinks campaign where fans were required to collect twenty pink ring pull tabs from cans in return for a four track ‘not in the shops’ CD single. SPICEWORLD 25 digital and 2CD formats include the previously unheard original demo recording.

Fans who have long clamoured for a live album that captured the excitement generated by the Spice Girls’ hugely successful 1998 ninety-seven-date European and North America tour will delight at the four previously unreleased live recordings included on both the 2LP set and the 2 Cassette tape set, all captured at different venues.

Together with some timeless remixes, a search of the archives revealed a previously unreleased version of “Viva Forever – the John Themis Ambient Mix” is named after the much in demand Australian-born guitarist who later co-wrote Emma Bunton’s April 2001 solo No. 1 “What Took You So Long”.

The digital, CD and cassette formats are rounded off by a brand new “Spice Girls Party Mix”, which pulls together some of the bands biggest and most popular hits in a near-fifteen minute fiesta of brilliant Pop music.

HERE’S THE STORY FROM A-Z…After their iconic 1996 debut single “Wannabe” topped the charts in 37 countries, Spice Girls’ debut album Spice went on to sell more than 31 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album of all time by a female group. The girls have gone on to sell more than 90 million records around the globe, releasing three studio albums and 11 singles and winning a host of awards including a BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

Digital Deluxe Edition:

Spice Up Your Life
Stop
Too Much
Saturday Night Divas
Never Give Up On The Good Times
Move Over
Do It
Denying
Viva Forever
The Lady Is A Vamp
Step To Me (7” Mix)
Outer Space Girls
Walk Of Life
Step To Me (Demo Version)*
Too Much (Live In Toronto, July 1998)*
Stop (Live In Madrid, March 1998)*
Move Over (Live In Istanbul, October 1997)
Spice Up Your Life (Live In Arnhem, March 1998)*
Viva Forever (Live In Manchester, April 1998)*
Spice Up Your Life (Morales Radio Mix)
Stop (Morales Remix Edit)
Too Much (SoulShock & Karlin Remix)
Viva Forever (John Themis Ambient Mix)*
Step To Me (Extended Mix)
Spice Girls Party Mix*

2CD + Hardback Book:

CD1.

Spice Up Your Life
Stop
Too Much
Saturday Night Divas
Never Give Up On The Good Times
Move Over
Do It
Denying
Viva Forever
The Lady Is A Vamp

CD2.

Step To Me (7” Mix)
Outer Space Girls
Walk Of Life
Step To Me (Demo Version)*
Too Much (Live In Toronto, July 1998)*
Stop (Live In Madrid, March 1998)*
Move Over (Live In Istanbul, October 1997)
Spice Up Your Life (Live In Arnhem, March 1998)*
Viva Forever (Live In Manchester, April 1998)*
Spice Up Your Life (Morales Radio Mix)
Stop (Morales Remix Edit)
Too Much (SoulShock & Karlin Remix)
Viva Forever (John Themis Ambient Mix)*
Step To Me (Extended Mix)
Spice Girls Party Mix*

Picture Disc:

A.

Spice Up Your Life
Stop
Too Much
Saturday Night Divas
Never Give Up On The Good Times

B.

Move Over
Do It
Denying
Viva Forever
The Lady Is A Vamp

Clear Vinyl:

A.

Spice Up Your Life
Stop
Too Much
4, Saturday Night Divas

Never Give Up On The Good Times

B.

Move Over
Do It
Denying
Viva Forever
The Lady Is A Vamp

2LP Deluxe Edition:

A.

Spice Up Your Life
Stop
Too Much
4, Saturday Night Divas

Never Give Up On The Good Times

B.

Move Over
Do It
Denying
Viva Forever
The Lady Is A Vamp

C.

Too Much (Live In Toronto, July 1998)*
Stop (Live In Madrid, March 1998)*
Move Over (Live In Istanbul, October 1997)
Spice Up Your Life (Live In Arnhem, March 1998)*
Viva Forever (Live In Manchester, April 1998)*

D.

Spice Up Your Life (Morales Radio Mix)
Stop (Morales Remix Edit)
Too Much (Soulshock & Karlin Remix)
Viva Forever (John Themis Ambient Mix)*
Step To Me (Extended Mix)

Double Cassette:

A.

Spice Up Your Life
Stop
Too Much
Saturday Night Divas
Never Give Up On The Good Times

B.

Move Over
Do It
Denying
Viva Forever
The Lady Is A Vamp

C.

Too Much (Live In Toronto, July 1998)*
Stop (Live In Madrid, March 1998)*
Move Over (Live In Istanbul, October 1997)
Spice Up Your Life (Live In Arnhem, March 1998)*
Viva Forever (Live In Manchester, April 1998)*

D.

Spice Up Your Life (Morales Radio Mix)
Too Much (SoulShock & Karlin Remix)
Viva Forever (John Themis Ambient Mix)*
Step To Me (Extended Mix)
Spice Girls Party Mix*

Alma Records Signs #1 Jazz Chart Topper MICAH BARNES To Their Artist Roster

Eric Alper
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0
Alma Records Signs #1 Jazz Chart Topper MICAH BARNES To Their Artist Roster

Alma Records, the Canadian jazz label home to releases from Florian Hoefner Trio, Alfie Zappacosta, Eliana Cuevas, and Hilario Duran is excited to announce former Nylons singer Micah Barnes to their roster.

Launched 1992 by jazz performer Peter Cardinali, Alma Records discovers and develops new and original artists who choose not to be compromised by the demands of an obsessively commercial music industry.

This philosophy has been a success. Their company has a roster of exceptionally gifted musicians and artists who have recorded an enduring catalogue of albums. Their work is now available around the world via prudent licensing deals with kindred labels such as Universal, eOne, edel, JVC, Proper, Perleberg, Pony Canyon, Gallo, EMI, Scorpio, Sony, Warner, and more.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome multi-talented singer, songwriter, musician, Micah Barnes, to the Alma family, and I look forward to making some great records together,” says Peter.

As Micah gears up for more shows in 2022, it’s almost showtime on the national broadcast has also been named as Music Director for the upcoming Canada’s Got Talent season, set to air in 2023.

Born in Vienna and raised in Canada, Micah Barnes cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto in his teen years, before joining The Nylons in 1989. Recording and touring as a member of the internationally celebrated A Capella group placed Micah firmly within the global music scene. Through managing a busy schedule of concerts and television appearances, Micah’s rich and soulful baritone was introduced to music fans around the world.

Micah says, “It’s rare for an established indie artist to find a home with a label so perfectly designed to support their journey. That’s why I’m especially thrilled to be joining forces with Peter Cardinali and Alma Records. I know my next album will benefit from Peter’s extensive history as a producer, and we’re both looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and jumping into the music together! With the added support from Universal Music Canada, it feels like our audience is about to expand internationally, which adds an extra layer of excitement for all of us involved.”

In his days since the Nylons, Micah has launched an active solo career, which included touring the USA with his international club hit “Welcome To My Head” – which placed #1 on the Billboard charts. His solo career also marked his long-awaited return to the jazz genre of his early years, resulting in a series of critically acclaimed recordings, including New York Stories (eOne Music). Micah has also shared the stage with a host of internationally renowned artists, including Molly Johnson & Jackie Richardson.

Micah’s latest release, 2020’s “Vegas Breeze” entered the jazz charts at #1. The music (including singles “When in Rome” and “End of a Love Affair”) transports listeners back to the days of the legendary Vegas showrooms, featuring songs first recorded by jazz luminaries Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Peggy Lee.

At his home base in Toronto, Micah is a busy Vocal, Performance and Career Strategy Coach whose international clients include GRAMMY nominated J.P. Saxe and Emmy Award-winning Tatiana Maslany.

Halifax’s Lisa Richard’s New Single Has “News You Can Use” With Live Off The Floor Video

Eric Alper
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Halifax’s Lisa Richard’s New Single Has “News You Can Use” With Live Off The Floor Video

Talk about Promises Kept… Downhome Halifax country maven Lisa Richard is back with some “News You Can Use” — her new album and a new live off the floor video are available now.

The East Coast crooner shares a deeply personal, uplifting, and uptempo track that shines a light on homegrown values, staying optimistic, and finding the good in the everyday.

The magic behind Lisa Richard’s heartfelt songwriting is the authenticity that oozes from every note; her vocal prowess delivers on the melody, unearthing what matters most to each of us. Matched with her ability to write a track that is equal parts catchy as it is sincere, “News You Can Use” is another capturing of the moments that matter the most. Richard is spellbinding, and captivating; coercing you to swim in nostalgia, and you appreciate the world at present.

“News You Can Use” arrives alongside her new release, Promises Kept; produced by CCMA Hall of Famer Jason Barry (Dean Brody, Terri Clarke, Charlie Major, Michelle Wright, Tenille Arts, Jason Blaine), the debut full-length album follows Richard’s well-received EP, Tangled Up (2017), and marks a promising journey for the gifted musician.

Richard’s mark on the country music community stretches far past her native province. In 2017 she performed for the first time in Nashville alongside Vince Gill and The Time Jumpers, sharing the stage several times with them since her debut — including one special performance with Wendy Moten (2nd place finalist of The Voice, Season 2).

In addition to her impressive repertoire of musical guest cameos, Richard has also snagged the attention of domestic and international radio — including the Grand Ol’ Opry Radio WSM 650, where she was also featured as a guest. Nominated for Country Artist of the Year at the 2018 Nova Scotia Awards, Richard continues to make waves with her music, earning accolades and nominations for her songs — including “Tangled Up” and “Uniforms.”

With “News You Can Use”’s lyrics spellbinding from the start, Richard’s collection of songs from Promises Kept usher a new melodic chapter for Lisa Richards. A palpable tour de force, mashed with a little country reckoning, and a big, big voice calling all to step up and listen — there’s a new cowgirl in town, and that’s “News You Can Use.”

CBC Searchlight Winner CHAD PRICE Releases New Album INTROVERSION and Single “Love Song”

Eric Alper
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CBC Searchlight Winner CHAD PRICE Releases New Album INTROVERSION and Single “Love Song”

Emerging Canadian Pop R&B artist, and the 2022 Toyota Searchlight winner, Chad Price has released a brand new album titled “Introversion”, available everywhere and distributed via AWAL. “Introversion” marks Chad’s third full-length effort in his rapidly rising career, but in many ways, feels like his first:

“I’m incredibly proud of this album and proud of myself for reaching emotional and creative depths that I was too afraid to reach for in the past. This one feels like an actual representation of who I really am and all the things that swirl around in my head that I’m usually apprehensive to talk about as an introvert. For me, this is how I’ve always wanted to present myself to the world.”

Chad Price is a London, Ontario-born, Toronto-based artist who cleverly weaves classic folk/soul songwriting prowess within a contemporary Pop/R&B music shell. Often drawing comparisons to artists like Leon Bridges and John Mayer, Chad returned to the music scene in 2021/22 with a flurry of new music that has received radio support across the country and led to him being hand-picked as the coveted 2022 Toyota Searchlight winner. He’s amassed over 1M streams and video views in 2022 alone and has legitimized himself as an artist to watch in Canada. As he forges ahead into 2022, set to release his game-changing new album “Introversion”, Chad is poised and ready to join the ranks of today’s Pop/R&B elite.

“Introversion”, produced by Matthew Johnston, contains 15 tracks, including his recent hit singles “Somehow, Someway”, “Broken Open”, “Weight”, and several unreleased songs. Since his triumphant return to music in late 2021, Chad has amassed over 1M streams, won CBC Music’s prestigious Toyota Searchlight award as the best emerging musical talent in Canada, and is currently being played on radio from coast-to-coast in Canada as well as the US, Indonesia, and Singapore.

Barenaked Ladies Take Hometown Holidays On The Road

Eric Alper
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Barenaked Ladies Take Hometown Holidays On The Road

Today, multi-platinum band Barenaked Ladies announce they are taking Hometown Holidays with Barenaked Ladies on the road across Canada. The tour kicks off in Vancouver on December 1, 2022 and wraps up at Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall on December 22, 2022. BNL will perform holiday fan favourites from the Barenaked for the Holidays album, as well as a few other chestnuts and surprises. These special performances offer fans a rare opportunity to celebrate the season with Canada’s favourite foursome amongst family and friends, many coming together for the first time in three years. For tickets and more information, visit www.bnlhometownholidays.com

“We’re bringing Barenaked Holiday Cheer to YOUR Hometown!”, says BNL’s Ed Robertson. “It’s been a couple of long, cold, lonely winters, so let’s have some fun!”

Hometown Holidays took over Toronto’s CAA Theatre last December for a multiple-date residency. The seed was planted and many BNL fans across Canada hoped the band would bring the holiday cheer to their hometowns for the holidays. Featuring holiday sing-along classics and BNL’s incredible camaraderie and musicianship, Hometown Holidays is sure to be a memorable and festive event for fans of all ages.

In 2020, BNL produced a special holiday live stream featuring performances and sketch comedy with a nod to our collective favourite variety shows from holidays past. Watch BNL perform “Green Christmas” from that 2020 A Very Virtual Christmas special here.

Barenaked Ladies recently wrapped up the 6th edition of the popular “Last Summer on Earth” tour. The 36-date North American tour featured some of BNL’s friends and favourite bands Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, with Kim Mitchell joining the bill on Budweiser stage in the band’s hometown of Toronto. The encore culminated in a memorable ‘supergroup’ performance by BNL and members of all 3 supporting bands, performing the hit song “Handle With Care” from Traveling Wilburys.

Hometown Holidays with Barenaked Ladies:
12.01.22 – Vancouver, BC – The Centre for the Performing Arts
12.02.22 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Events Centre
12.05.22 – Edmonton, AB – Winspear Centre
12.06.22 – Red Deer, AB – Red Deer Memorial Centre
12.07.22 – Calgary, AB – Jubilee Auditorium
12.09.22 – Regina, SK – Casino Regina
12.12.22 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
12.13.22 – Thunder Bay, ON – Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
12.16.22 – North Bay, ON – Capitol Centre
12.17.22 – Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre
12.18.22 – Hamilton, ON – First Ontario Concert Hall
12.20.22 – Kitchener, ON – Centre in the Square
12.21.22 – Windsor, ON – Caesars Windsor*
12.22.22 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall

Toronto’s TIMBER MASTERSON Explores Heartbreak on “Every Time (Jenni’s Song)”

Eric Alper
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Toronto’s TIMBER MASTERSON Explores Heartbreak on “Every Time (Jenni’s Song)”

Tim “Timber” Masterson has been in and amongst Toronto, ON’s music scene for as long as he could remember. His earliest memories came from listening to his mother play the family’s 100-year-old Steinway piano, an instrument he now uses to compose his own songs. As a young adult, Masterson was a part of the city’s art party scene where he was inspired to make his own music. Heavens So Dark is Masterson’s first attempt at a full album. It’s the result of his artistic journey up to this point – playing piano at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, guitar at The Viper Room in Los Angeles, and organizing warehouse jams in Toronto and New York.

The album’s first single, “Every Time (Jenni’s Song)” is everything you could want from a folk pop song. An acoustic guitar passage emerges from steady percussion before piano and electric guitar enter and complement seamlessly. Then, Masterson’s gentle opening vocals – “Every time you take me far away / And every time I feel you come this way / Babe, I feel you each and every day” – tell a story of the ups and downs, uncertainties, and evolution of an intimate relationship. His lyrics are both heartfelt and personal, revealing a sense of longing that remains present throughout the album.

Masterson says, “These days I’m writing from a much different place; a place of joy and hope, huge for me and a big change which I’m thankful for. It’s great when the melodies pour out of you and connect, resonate from a pure place. It’s wonderful when one finds a new muse to be inspired by.”

And it’s not just the muse he’s looking for, but with other magical influences such as David Sylvian, Red House Painters, The Blue Nile, Aimee Mann, Shawn Colvin, and more recently Canadian Leif Vollebekk, he says, “I’ve always dug stuff that was a little left of center, have always appreciated those that take the road less travelled.”

Masterson, who did not grow up with formal music lessons, plays his piano and guitar by feeling, allowing his emotions to guide his compositions. “My first instrument is the piano, but I picked up the acoustic guitar during a play I was on tour within Newfoundland. I told myself I was going to teach myself to play, and I did. I think not having structured music lessons has helped me as an artist, I play what I feel, not often what is structured or has a predictable framework. I often experiment with different tunings on the guitar, much like Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake were infamous for.”

His work involves collaboration with producer Barry Haggarty, who Masterson says, “fills in the gaps, often quite beautifully,” to his demos. This charming quality persists through the six tracks, even when they explore different genres. The album crosses into sophisti-pop with “Say We’ll Go Away” and soft rock in “Story to be Told,” while “Waterfront Lullaby” is a dance track, incorporating synths, saxophone, and flute.

Previously, Masterson co-produced and hosted Toronto’s interactive literary series at The Drake Hotel, bringing innovative American and respected Canadian authors to read and discuss their latest work, as well as showcasing various local musicians.

JUNO Award Nominated WEDNESDAY Named Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award Recipient at Oshawa Music Awards

Eric Alper
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JUNO Award Nominated WEDNESDAY Named Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award Recipient at Oshawa Music Awards

Award-winning, JUNO-nominated, Oshawa-based group Wednesday is set to be named a Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award recipient at this year’s Oshawa Music Awards – The OMAs.

The 2022 Oshawa Music Awards will take place Thursday, September 29th, and are proudly presented by Durham Region Economic Development and Tourism, 360insights, Spark Centre, Trent University Durham GTA, and Durham College.

A chance meeting in Oshawa in July 1967 of Paul Andrew Smith and Randy Begg set the seed that became Wednesday. Randy and Paul spent the summer hanging out, playing impromptu concerts at local Oshawa parks and drop-in centres until meeting up with Mike O’Neil and John Dufek. The Cellophane Spoon was formed and managed by John Hall until 1971 when the task was taken over by Bill Diel, a former keyboardist with Ronnie Hawkins and Fats Domino. In 1970 the name was changed to Wednesday with the release of their first single ‘Hang On Girl’, recorded in Toronto and produced by John Driscoll and released on Ampex Records.

In 1972, the band recorded the Wayne Cochran song ‘Last Kiss’ at Toronto’s Manta Sound Studios, engineered by Lee DeCarlo (Lennon’s ‘Double Fantasy’, Aerosmith). The single was soon picked up by local radio stations. CFTR-AM played it immediately and indefinitely. Influential 1050 CHUM-AM jumped on the track and the song went to No.2, giving way to an avalanche of Canadian radio support. The song reached the number one position on Billboard’s Canadian chart and stayed there for six weeks earning them an ‘RPM Maple Leaf Award’ (the precursor of the JUNO), a Gold Record in 1973, and was nominated for several Junos.

A debut album was cut in 1974 at Manta Sound, Toronto and furnished Wednesday with a second hit, ‘Teen Angel’ (1974) reaching No.15 on Canadian charts. In 1976 Wednesday released their second album ‘Loving You Baby’ which topped at No.17. The album went on to produce four more charted hits which included ‘Doin’ The Best That I Can’.

Tickets are available at www.TheOMAs5.eventbrite.com

Toronto Pop Songstress Sam Casey Releases “New Company” Alex Exists Remix

Eric Alper
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Toronto Pop Songstress Sam Casey Releases “New Company” Alex Exists Remix

Drunk dialing your ex — or, worse, that person with whom you were just in a situationship — is never ever a good idea. And while Toronto pop songstress Sam Casey knows that, first she’s going to wrestle with it for a while (like we all do) in her soulful and starkly honest new single, “New Company” – already available, but now has a new remix, courtesy of Alex Exists.

Directed by Agata Waclawska, Sam Casey and Alex Exists have collaborated on a new music video for the song, a widescreen epic version of the song from Sam’s current EP, New Company.

Slow, smooth, sassy, soul ballad-y, and fresh from her forthcoming New Company EP, the song eventually comes to the foregone conclusion that the embattled narrator needs to find a new man. But just for tonight, she sits with her phone in her lap and fights with herself and an absent paramour –

Well, the clock strikes one
And I’m pissed drunk
I want to call, but I know I’ll fall
Back into your arms
Where I feel most calm
But you’ll mess it up like you’ve always done

As the predictable predicament plays out in her head, she eventually decides ‘So, I want some new company/ I want some new company/ Yeah, I want some new company.’ There’s ambiguity blurring at the edges, however, and so we’re not entirely sure – and the narrator might not be either – whether this is what she truly wants.

Because of just how realistically Casey captures this internal monologue, it’s not surprising that it’s based on one of her actual experiences. “‘New Company’ was written in my university dorm room,” she says. “I was involved with someone at the time, and we mainly saw each other after 1:00 in the morning. I was hoping for something more and, after a few months, I realized that he was never going to give me what I needed in a relationship.”

One of her diary entries became the inspiration for the lyrics, and an interesting beat she had found on the Internet served as the catalyst. “I voice-recorded myself singing the page from my diary over the beat and showed my best girlfriends that night,” Casey recalls. “That diary entry became the chorus of ‘New Company’ and prompted me to pull from my journals for almost every song I’ve written since then.”

“New Company” comes with a freshly minted official music video — an experience that felt surreal to create, the Toronto-based artist reveals. “This being my first music video for an original song, I was extremely excited to place a visual to my lyrics for new and old listeners,” she shares. “In the video, we feature the more melodramatic aspects of my character as she leaves a fight with her ‘wheel’ and drives home through the city only to see an angel-like figure — untamed and floating through the street — near the end of her trip.”

In all, going through the process of turning her feelings into both a song and video allowed her to move on from the crappy situationship — as well as the low self-esteem the one-sided fling had engendered.

“Since I wrote ‘New Company,’ I’ve been in three somewhat healthy relationships,” she reveals. “I can confidently say that, as soon as I started really loving myself and looking in the mirror like, ‘Oh girl, you are so funky and fresh today’ or ‘Damn, Sam, your personality is super unique and that’s a GOOD thing,’ I was truly able to demand what I deserved and not be afraid to lose someone if they couldn’t give that to me.”

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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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