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The Frost Duo Lead Us To Seduction with ’70s/’80s-Influenced “To Be With You”

Eric Alper
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The Frost Duo Lead Us To Seduction with ’70s/’80s-Influenced “To Be With You”

Sometimes you just want to be taken on an unhurried, mellow journey of seduction, and Scranton, PA-based The Frost Duo deliver with their ‘70s/’80s-influenced smooth-jazz ballad “To Be With You” off their new LP Play Nice – available now.

Singer LeahBeth Evans’ voice slinks and shimmies through the backdrop of warm analog keyboards and velvety jazz guitar as she boldly inquires, “Can you tell me what you’re doing tonight/ Can you tell me what you’re doing next year/ Cuz I need to be with you.” And it’s hard not to melt, and succumb completely to the song’s charms, when she starts to sing about fearlessly taking a leap of faith – “Well, you know I’m not afraid to pursue/ A love greater than imagined and true.”

“To Be With You” is included on the duo’s five-song EP Play Nice, a sonic rollercoaster of emotion. From a lyrical aspect, Play Nice takes the listener not only through the consciousness of the composers LeahBeth Evans and Christian Gratz themselves, but it also introduces us to the friends and acquaintances who have filled Evans’ and Gratz’s ears with their own experiences of finding love and experiencing loss, anger, and even impending doom from the recent global crisis we’ve all experienced. From a sonic aspect, Play Nice is a celebration of the duo’s love of smooth jazz, traditional compositions, and even rock music. They will be embarking on a small tri-state tour in support of the EP, and dates are as follows:

October 29, 2022 The Hotel Hershey Hershey, PA
October 30, 2022 Ad Lib inside Hilton Harrisburg Harrisburg, PA
November 19, 2022 Crystal Springs Resort Hamburg, NJ
December 3, 2022 Lackawanna Winterfest Scranton, PA
December 31, 2022 Skytop Lodge Skytop, PA

The Frost Duo consists of multi-instrumentalist and composer Christian Gratz and lead vocalist/songwriter LeahBeth Evans. In 2015, LeahBeth and Christian met through mutual Facebook friends and began corresponding about their love of music. Soon, they began casually dating, and after about a month, Christian invited LeahBeth to sing a few songs at a gig he booked in Dunmore, PA, at an Italian restaurant called Russell’s. After the night was finished, the owner requested that the two perform twice a week for the rest of the summer, and they agreed. After that regular gig, the two lovers decided that the sky was the limit, and that they would continue to make beautiful music together.

Throughout the years, the duo has performed at some prestigious and renowned American venues, including Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Club Macanudo in New York City, and the Crystal Springs Resort. After years of traveling, The Frost Duo decided that they wanted to dive deeper into their love for smooth jazz, and so they began writing and recording. Since then, they have had recordings land on the iTunes jazz charts and the BDS/Neilson Smooth Jazz “Most Added” listings.

Their new single “To Be With You” is available now.

Robert Connely Farr Conjures Up the Spirits and Sounds of His Hometown Heroes with Shake It Album Featuring “Lefty”

Eric Alper
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Robert Connely Farr Conjures Up the Spirits and Sounds of His Hometown Heroes with Shake It Album Featuring “Lefty”

The traditions and soul-deep connections of the blues are handed down and passed along like precious artistic gifts. When you’re an artist who grew up in a place that spawned several musical legends of the genre, you can’t help but be born into that ongoing legacy. Bolton, Mississippi-born, Vancouver, BC-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Robert Connely Farr builds on the influences of his hometown blues heroes with his bold and blistering new album “Shake It” and the featured single, “Lefty” – available now.

A perfect encapsulation of the mix of bone-deep skills and sense of wild abandon that permeates all 9 tracks on “Shake It”, “Lefty” throws down a guttural guitar shuffle that aims its thump directly for the center of the chest. When Farr sings “C’mon Lefty take me to the limit” in his gravel road baritone, you know you’re in for a raucous ride through a night of defiant, devil-may-care rebellion.

Everybody tired of living
Ain’t nobody want to die
I’m a catfish swimming down the river
Live my life, let me get high

The full throttle blues rock of “Lefty” and the album’s title track “Shake It”, both written by Farr, contain all the grit and fire of a man that’s dodged more than a few bullets. The album’s 6 tracks written or co-written by Farr, and 3 carefully chosen covers by home state heroes Charley Patton, Tommy McLennan and Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, respond to Farr’s unexpected 2019 cancer diagnosis, emergency surgery and recovery shortly after celebrating prestigious Maple Blues Awards nominations for Songwriter and New Artist of the Year.

“In the wake of my cancer surgery, I fell hard into this Charley Patton book,” recalls Farr. “I’d never known much about Patton, ironic as I grew up walking the same streets he did as a young man. I felt a lot of similarities to aspects of his life – leaving home but always missing it, troubles with liquor, not fitting in, but always about the song… always about the song. ‘Screamin’ & Hollerin’ hit me like a ton of bricks – that song kicks the album off.”

After an inspiring trip back to Mississippi to Jimmy “Duck” Holmes’ Bentonia Blues Festival, Farr and his band had already begun recording what would become his epic, 16-track 2020 release “Country Supper” when his cancer diagnosis temporarily derailed everything. After recovering from surgery, Farr and his band dove back into finishing the project that would score sustained buzz from critics and fans alike, garner glowing reviews and receive numerous placements on ‘Best of 2020’ lists. “Country Supper” left the door wide open for this year’s leaner, meaner, but no less epic, follow up “Shake It”.

Recorded at Vancouver’s legendary Hipposonic Studios and co-produced by Farr and his two core band mates, drummer Jay Bundy Johnson and bassist Tom Hillifer, “Shake It” delivers a soundscape ranging from slow burn to full-on earthquake. Riding along with his long-time rhythm section “The Dirty Dirty”, Farr’s grit soaked voice and howling guitar paint images of swamps packed with catfish while spirits dance in the sky.

“We recorded in Vancouver in the same room AC/DC, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi all worked in,” notes Farr. “We kept the team small for this one and felt strongly about making this ourselves. For the better part of 15 years, they are the only guys I play with.”

He may make his home now on Canada’s Pacific Coast, but Robert Connely Farr’s brand of blues is deeply steeped in the muddy Mississippi Delta. It’s loose, swampy, hard-driving, rough around the edges, in-the-moment feeling is inspired by the legendary musicians from the same area Farr hails from himself. In particular, Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, who mentored Farr in a particular form of Delta Blues called the Bentonia Blues, named after a town just down the road from Farr’s hometown of Bolton.

“One of the most beautiful experiences in my life has been learning directly from Jimmy Duck Holmes,” recounts Farr. “He’s rarely in tune, he doesn’t write songs down, but he’s mesmerizing. I remember when I told him I had cancer – he said ‘you ain’t dead yet!’”

It’s Holmes’ authenticity and forward drive that gave Farr some of what he would need later on to overcome his health crisis and keep creating. “I remember another night, finishing a set at his juke joint – having not played Hard Time like he taught me. He got right up in my face, and said, digging his finger into my chest, ‘You don’t play it like me, you don’t play it like Skip James or Jack Owens! You gotta play it like YOU gonna play it. THAT is what the people gonna feel. THAT’S the blues!’”

And that is why nobody else will shake it like Robert Connely Farr is gonna shake it.

The new album “Shake It”, featuring the focus track “Lefty” is available now.

International Anime Music Festival Announces 2023 North American Tour

Eric Alper
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International Anime Music Festival Announces 2023 North American Tour

The inaugural International Anime Music Festival announces its debut tour, bringing virtual music superstars to 37 venues across North America starting Feb. 6, 2023. This marks the first time the popular VTubers (virtually generated animated YouTubers) and Vocaloids (virtual singers with computer generated voices) appear on stage together.

Starring Kizuna AI Original Singeroid “#kzn”, vocal duo HIMEHINA, vocal trio MaRiNaSu, the North American debut of fan favorite GUMI, and pop twins LiLYPSE, the show will be in LIVE, DJ-led multimedia concert rave. Featuring brand new songs and never-before-seen content, the tour brings these characters to life on state-of-the-art LED and high-definition digital projections. These characters are among the fan-favorites of the international anime-music movement. Originating in Japan, these superstar avatars have exploded globally over the past two years, drawing tens of millions of followers worldwide, generating over 62 million Google searches, and more than 1.2 billion views (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and others).

Artist Presale starts on Monday, October 31st at 10am local time. Tickets for all North America shows go on sale Friday, November 4th at 10am local time. Visit IAMF.LIVE to learn more, sign up for presale access and to purchase tickets.

The worldwide festival will continue its tour throughout 2023, in Europe, Southeast Asia and South America.

“I feel honored and privileged to be working with the talented IP holders and character creators of the five acts appearing on our International Anime Music Festival,” says producer Bob Ringe. “The response from the Anime community and Anime creators worldwide has exceeded my expectations. See you all at the festival!”

“I am excited to work with this extraordinary visually exciting Art Form,” says producer Marty Tudor. “The energy that this group of Virtual Artists has is amazing and incites the best of our superb creative team. This show will be a blast!”

Banc of California is providing the financial support.

The International Anime Music Festival is produced by Anime Entertainment LLC – led by industry veterans and two of the co-founders of BASE Hologram Bob Ringe and Marty Tudor – with Creative Director Rob Roth (Tony Award winner for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast). The tour is represented by Wasserman Music (North America) and UTA (Internationally).

NORTH AMERICA 2023 TOUR SCHEDULE:
Mon, February 6, 2023 | Vancouver, BC | Orpheum Theatre
Wed, February 8, 2023 | Seattle, WA | Paramount Theatre
Thu, February 9, 2023 | Portland, OR | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Sat, February 11, 2023 | San Jose, CA | San Jose Civic Auditorium
Tue, February 14, 2023 | Los Angeles, CA | Microsoft Theatre
Thu, February 16, 2023 | Phoenix, AZ | Arizona Financial Theatre
Fri, February 17, 2023 | Las Vegas, NV | The Theater at Virgin Hotels
Sat, February 18, 2023 | Albuquerque, AZ | Revel Entertainment Center
Sun, February 19, 2023 | Denver, CO | Mission Ballroom
Tue, February 21, 2023 | Kansas City, MO | Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Thu, February 23, 2023 | Austin, TX | ACL Live at Moody Theater
Fri, February 24, 2023 | San Antonio, TX | Tech Port Arena
Sat, February 25, 2023 | Irving, TX | The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Sun, February 26, 2023 | Houston, TX | 713 Music Hall
Tue, February 28, 2023 | Oklahoma City, OK | The Criterion
Wed, March 1, 2023 | St. Louis, MO | The Factory At The District
Thu, March 2, 2023 | St. Paul, MN | Myth Live
Fri, March 3, 2023 | Milwaukee, WI | Riverside Theatre
Sat, March 4, 2023 | Chicago, IL | Riviera Theatre
Sun, March 5, 2023 | Detroit, MI | Masonic Temple Theatre
Tue, March 7, 2023 | Indianapolis, IN | Murat Theater at Old National Center
Wed, March 8, 2023 | Cleveland, OH | The Agora
Thu, March 9, 2023 | Cincinnati, OH | Bogart’s
Fri, March 11, 2023 | Montreal, QC | MTELUS
Sun, March 12, 2023 | Toronto, ON | HISTORY
Tue, March 14, 2023 | Pittsburgh, PA | Roxian Theatre
Wed, March 15, 2023 | New York, NY | Terminal 5
Thu, March 16, 2023 | Boston, MA | Roadrunner
Fri, March 17, 2023 | Mashantucket, CT | The Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino
Sat, March 18, 2023 | National Harbor, MD | MGM National Harbor
Sun, March 19, 2023 | Philadelphia, PA | Franklin Music Hall
Tue, March 21, 2023 | Charlotte, NC | Blumenthal Performing Arts Center – Belk Theatre
Wed, March 22, 2023 | Jacksonville, FL | Florida Theatre
Thu, March 23, 2023 | Durham, NC | DPAC
Fri, March 24, 2023 | Atlanta, GA | Fox Theatre
Sat, March 25, 2023 | Orlando, FL | Hard Rock Live
Sun, March 26, 2023 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Thu, March 30, 2023 | Monterrey, Mexico | Arena Monterrey
Fri, March 31, 2023 | Mexico City, Mexico | Arena CDMX

For more about the artists and tour, please visit IAMF.LIVE.

Jimmy Cliff Releases “The Harder They Come 50th Anniversary Edition” Out December 9, 2022

Eric Alper
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Jimmy Cliff Releases “The Harder They Come 50th Anniversary Edition” Out December 9, 2022

Celebrating five decades of his magnum opus, one of the most important reggae artists of all-time, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and GRAMMY Award-winning icon Jimmy Cliff will unveil The Harder They Come 50th Anniversary Edition Vinyl on December 9, 2022. This notably stands out as the record’s first commercial vinyl release. In addition to a 2LP gatefold wrapped jacket with lamented gloss coating, the package boasts the liner notes from the 40th Anniversary Edition in addition to brand new words courtesy of Jimmy personally and revered reggae historian Dana Smart.

In 1972, the film The Harder They Come arrived and eventually emerged as a cult classic with Cliff in the starring role. The accompanying The Harder They Come Soundtrack brought an international spotlight to reggae music. The album initially climbed to #141 on the Billboard 200, and its legacy would only grow as time passed. 2021 saw the Library of Congress choose it for preservation in the National Recording Registry, deeming it “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.” The record essentially put reggae on the map. Rolling The Stone touted The Harder They Come Soundtrack on its coveted “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” In tandem, Jamaica recently celebrated its 60th Anniversary of Independence from the UK on August 6, 2022.

If you haven’t experienced The Harder They Come, now is your chance…

Cliff continues to impact culture. He recently revealed his first new album in over a decade, Refugees [UMe]. The critically acclaimed full-length includes guest appearances from Wyclef Jean, Dwight Richards, and his daughter Lilty Cliff. Forbes notably hailed it as “vintage Cliff” and promised, “Cliff once again delivers his passion, wisdom, empathy and thoughtfulness on his stunning new collection, Refugees,” and FLAUNT applauded its “13 tracks of his inimitable grasp on the reggae sound and his optimistic, yet cut-no-corners truth he has been lauded for over the past six decades.” He also sat down with The Guardian and The Independent for in-depth interviews.

As lively as ever, Cliff celebrated his 78th birthday on July 30.

In 2012, Cliff gifted the world with his most recent LP Rebirth. It garnered a GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Reggae Album” and closed out the year on Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Albums of 2012.” He stands out as “the only living reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit—the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences.” Of course, his catalog spans seminal songs “Many Rivers To Cross,” “You Can Get It If You Really Want”, “The Harder They Come,” and “Hakuna Matata.” He contributed covers of Cat Stevens’ “Wild World” and Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now” to the classic comedy Cool Runnings.

THE HARDER THEY COME TRACKLISTING
A-Side
1. Jimmy Cliff – You Can Get It If You Really Want
2. Scotty – Draw Your Brakes
3. The Melodions – Rivers Of Babylon
4. Jimmy Cliff – Many Rivers To Cross
5. The Maytals – Sweet And Dandy
6. Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come
B-Side
1. The Slickers – Johnny Too Bad
2. Desmond Decker – Shanty Town
3. The Maytals – Pressure Drop
4. Jimmy Cliff – Sitting In Limbo
5. Jimmy Cliff – You Can Get It If You Really Want
6. Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come
7. Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come (Fillm Version)

Audio Up And SiriusXM Release New Scripted Podcast ‘Dia De Los Muertos (In Hell)’

Eric Alper
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Audio Up And SiriusXM Release New Scripted Podcast ‘Dia De Los Muertos (In Hell)’

On the heels of their #1 scripted musical podcast, The Ballad of Uncle Drank,  Audio Up releases today the next installment of their webby-nominated ‘In Hell’ podcast series, which to date has spanned across Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Prom season.  Titled Dia De Los Muertos (In Hell), the four episode fictional podcast (created by Audio Up founder and CEO Jared Gutstadt) releases its first two episodes just in time for Day of The Dead holiday, today, on October 25th across SiriusXM audio entertainment platforms — including the SXM App, Pandora, and Stitcher — and other major podcast platforms in the U.S. Marking Audio Up’s first Spanish-language project, the podcast is starring the iconic Danny Trejo, chart-topping rapper Snow Tha Product, Jared Gutstadt, and newcomer Balam.

Ushering in new Halloween traditions with their campfire ready horror musicals dating back to their COVID era experiment with Machine Gun Kelly, 24kGoldn, and iann dior’s Halloween In Hell (which spawned a chart topping podcast and music streams in the millions), Audio Up’s Spanish language sequel will mostly follow the same formula but for a brand new language and audience. Dia De Los Muertos (In Hell) picks up where that epic adventure leaves off with the Devil and Gazul looking to steal souls, this time finding themselves out of their comfort zone at the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico during their version of spooky season.  In this series, a band from Cancun called Mensajeros del Mictlán is invited to an unknown music festival during Dia de Los Muertos, only to find that the festival has been organized by Satan himself. Dia De Los Muertos follows Satan (played by Trejo) in his attempt to recruit more souls into Hell. We follow the Latin band Los Mensajeros del Mictlán who have received an invitation to perform at the All Souls Music Festival in Mexico.  But what our heroes don’t know is that this music festival are part of Satan’s evil plan to round up more souls into the Nether World. Eventually, the band shows Satan – through a musical adventure – that it is necessary to expand his mind and horizons beyond his activities in the Underworld. Each episode unlocks new music within the series and across DSP’s.

Packed with music from original Latin artists such as Snow Tha Product alongside the debut effort of up and coming artist Balam, Dia De Los Muertos (In Hell) promises to be one wild comedic adventure and journey through the depths of the underworld and beyond.

Audio Up CEO Jared Gutstadt says, “These are the sort of campfire stories that I was told as a kid at overnight camp meant to scare, entertain and in success become a new form of folklore. The music coming from these projects is absolutely phenomenal, and working with some of the top Mexican and Mexican-American talent across acting and music has really brought this whole thing together. Danny Trejo is an absolute legend of action films, and Snow Tha Product is someone who we admire greatly for her ability to become a chart topping artist with a brand new independent lens. This feels a lot like the early days of nineties indie cinema. We’re trying to create IP of the future with these concepts and we’re excited to unlock more Spanish language content along the way.”

“I’ve played a lot of bad dudes over the years, but this is the first time I didn’t have to stab anybody,” said iconic actor Danny Trejo who is set to play Satan in the series.  “Sign me up again, homes, this podcast thing is cool.”

“Day of the dead is a magical time of year… letting a new audience into this fantastical world through our podcast and immersive world is really exciting and new,” stated Snow Tha Product.  “This is a funny, cool and awesome story. The songs are fire and Audio Up is breaking some new ground.  Getting to work with the legendary Danny Trejo is the icing on the cake.  I’m proud to be part of this podcast”

Dia De Los Muertos (In Hell) releases its first two episodes today on October 25th, with episode three releasing on November 1st, and the finale episode releasing on November 8th.   The podcast will be available across SiriusXM audio entertainment platforms — including the SXM App, Pandora, and Stitcher — and other major podcast platforms in the U.S. Listen to the first single from the podcast titled “Flotando” from Snow Tha Product HERE. The song and official Dia De Los Muertos (In Hell) soundtrack will drop across all DSP’s Oct 28th.

Rush! Sarah McLachlan! Gord Downie and More! The Awesome Music Project Launches Online Music Auction Mental Wellness Programs

Eric Alper
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The Awesome Music Project, a Canadian charity dedicated to raising awareness and supporting research into music’s transformative impact on mental wellness and mental health, launched its first-ever Awesome Online Music Auction and ends tomorrow! Bid here.

“What better way to mark World Mental Health Day than with an auction to raise much-needed funds to help bring music-focused mental wellness programs to communities across Canada,” said AMP Executive Director Cori Ferguson. “We are blessed to have received an incredible line-up of donations from partners across the country, and I think we’ve got something that will appeal to casual and hardcore music fans alike.”

Featured auction items include:

  • A 15-minute Zoom conversation with Chris Hadfield, Colonel Astronaut (ret’d) and contributor to best-selling book The Awesome Music Project Canada: Songs of Hope and Happiness. (Courtesy of Chris Hadfield);
  • A trip for two to the 2023 Calgary Folk Festival (courtesy of WestJet, Marriott, The Calgary Folk Festival, and Travel Alberta);
  • A visit to the set of the hit Canadian TV show Murdoch Mysteries with the show’s composer Rob Carli (courtesy of Rob Carli and Murdoch Mysteries);
  • An original Gord Downie print from renowned Canadian rock photographer Richard Beland (courtesy of Richard Beland);
  • Tickets to see Sarah McLachlan at Casino Rama, plus a Sarah McLachlan merchandise package (courtesy of the Sarah McLachlan Foundation);
  • A Rush poster signed by all three members (courtesy of Rush and SRO Management).

Additional items include tickets to see Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction in Toronto, an Awesome Music Hour corporate team building experience, three 10-album vinyl sets (rock, hip hop and R&B), a signed poster and new album from Steven Page, an Alanis Morrisette “Jagged Little Pill” promotional package, and 10 Awesome Music Project gift bags containing an AMP t-shirt, socks, and a signed copy of best-selling book The Awesome Music Project Canada: Songs of Hope and Happiness.

Funds raised through the Awesome Online Music Auction will support the expansion of two music and mental wellness programs: The Awesome Music Hour and the AMP4Life Book Club. Both programs use music to open up conversations about mental wellness and mental health.

“We’ve seen so much good come from both of these programs,” said AMP co-founder Terry Stuart. “Whether it’s been with youth or seniors, the impact that music, and stories about music, has had on our program participants has truly been remarkable. It has sparked conversations that have led to better social integration, elevated mood, and a new appreciation for the role music plays in mental wellness and mental health.”

 

AMP co-founder Rob Carli added, “With the incredible line-up of items we have for the Awesome Online Music Auction we’re hoping to raise enough money to expand The Awesome Music Hour and the AMP4Life Book Club to several new sites in early 2023. If you see something you like, bid early and bid often knowing that your money will go to support a great cause.”

Photo Gallery: Live at Niagara Falls’ OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino

Eric Alper
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Photo Gallery: Live at Niagara Falls’ OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino

All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or Twitter

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Jessica Rhaye & The Ramshackle Parade Offer Comfort from the Cold on Beaming “Sunshine Baby”

Eric Alper
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Jessica Rhaye & The Ramshackle Parade Offer Comfort from the Cold on Beaming “Sunshine Baby”

A beam of sunlight on a cold, bleak February afternoon was the inspiration for Jessica Rhaye & The Ramshackle Parade’s glorious, cascading new single “Sunshine Baby” – available now – from their forthcoming album of the same name.

Like putting your hands around a cup of tea, “Sunshine Baby” is full of comforting warmth, as Rhaye’s voice shimmies, soars, and meanders beautifully around the accompanying guitars, upright bass, drums, and piano. The song takes us through a loved one’s pain – “I can feel a storm is coming/ I can hear the rain falling down/ I can see your eyes are crying/ wishing that your day would turn around” – as the narrator searches her heart for a way to help turn it around. And then, like a stream of light shining through a winter window:

I could be your sunshine baby
I could put the blue back in your sky
we can set the night on fire
you be the spark and we’ll shed some light

You would never know it through the listen, but the piano playing Rhaye contributes was something that actually took her out of her own comfort zone. All her previous songwriting had been done on an acoustic guitar, but she had recently bought a book called How To Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy, and so she was in an experimental headspace.

“Coincidently, at the same time I thought about writing this song, my husband and I purchased a piano/keyboard for our children so they could continue their piano lessons virtually during the height of the pandemic lockdown,” Rhaye recalls. “I would sit with them as their piano teacher so patiently took them through their lessons, and I picked up a thing or two about piano chords. So, I thought, ‘Well, I’ll give it a try.’”

Despite the fact this was the first time Rhaye had ever played piano on a recording, it worked out beautifully when it came to “Sunshine Baby.”

“Once we got settled in the studio, this song came together effortlessly. The drums brought a real folk/jazz vibe while the boys and I fell in comfortably like we had been playing it for years,” she said. “It was our goal to have me play along with the band on the piano as a scratch recording, but in the end, we kept the original piano track, as trying to re-record the piano after the fact didn’t have the original spark and feel.”

Sunshine Baby, scheduled for release in early 2023, will be Rhaye’s second album with her backing band the Ramshackle Parade. Their critically acclaimed 2019 album Just like a Woman – Songs of Bob Dylan is an engaging body of rollicking folk-rock interpretations of some of Dylan’s classics, and it has garnered millions of views on YouTube, and showcased the band on a headlining tour in some of the premier venues throughout Canada before the pandemic put a hold on touring.

Jessica Rhaye is an East Coast Canadian fixture; her dynamic 22-year career has garnered critical acclaim, awards from Music New Brunswick, and nominations from Canadian Folk Music Award and East Coast Music Award. Her band, The Ramshackle Parade, includes Bill Preeper on electric and acoustic guitars, Sandy MacKay on bass, Chris Braydon on electric baritone guitar, and Clinton Charlton on drums and percussion.

Their single “Sunshine Baby,” is available now.

Julie Neff’s Powerful Vocals And Harrowing Angelic Production Creates “A Lot Left To Learn”

Eric Alper
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Julie Neff’s Powerful Vocals And Harrowing Angelic Production Creates “A Lot Left To Learn”

Delicately weaving between difficult emotions and deft vocalizations, Julie Neff delivers an astoundingly emotional performance as she reflects on lost love and perseverance in her newest single, “A Lot Left To Learn” – the final single and video from her Over It EP.

Touching on the vulnerability of sharing yourself with someone, “A Lot Left To Learn” traverses the terrain of love not meant to be – how sweet a partner can be, yet they still may not be for you. Love comes in many shapes and sizes, and while some love is forever, it often is merely a stepping stone – a point of learning in a lifelong journey.

Julie Neff’s ability to create powerful melodies and driving rhythms through her vocalizations is uncanny at best. Her incandescent storytelling is fueled by heartbreak, creating a powerful connection between the breakthrough artist and her productions.

Neff talks about her heartache, saying “I wrote this track right after finding out that someone I really cared about couldn’t continue spending time with me for reasons out of both of our control. It was a moment of deep heartache – but without the anger or bitterness that can make those moments easier.”

Without distracting emotions and vices to occupy her mind, Neff put her sorrows to the ivory keys, letting her heart and hands do the talking as she sat passenger to her emotionally charged cognitive dissonance.

“The song came swiftly,” Neff recalls. “I wrote it on piano, which is not my typical go-to. Since then, I have found beauty and comfort in singing this track. It helped soothe that pain that I felt by creating a piece that I find heartbreakingly beautiful to sing.”

“A Lot Left To Learn” is a beautifully simple ballad. Slow movement and rich harmonization from cello and background singers give the production enough movement to stir up our emotions while keeping us entranced – harrowingly similar to the ups and downs of heartbreak. The song feels deeply eerie all while providing the listener with the comforting touch of angelic voices. It is our own personal emotional battle. It is raw – and it is real.

Julie Neff’s newest single teases the release of her latest EP, Over It released in January 2021. Featuring heartfelt productions promoting self-love and emotional availability, she hosts a spectrum of talented musicians and instrumentalists. “A Lot Left To Learn” features Neff’s close friend Tiz McNamara (background vocals) and Irish musician Dylan O’hEochaid (piano, cello, and background vocals).

Julie Neff is an indie-pop/alt-rock artist who wields her heartbreak into all-encompassing melodies and driving rhythms.

Primarily based in Toronto, Neff has performed her music in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentine all while developing a deeper connection with language and culture along the way. Neff’s vocals are emotionally potent that drive into the listener’s core, assisting in the difficult process of working through complex emotions.

Whether you need to have a good cry or belt out your frustrations, Neff’s music is here to provide a safe and comfortable space for expression. Neff’s latest EP, Over It, shines a light on the open heart needed for vulnerability while planting one’s feet firmly on the ground to create healthy boundaries.

“A Lot Left To Learn” is available now.

Acoustic Duo BASSET Paint A Landscape Of Change In New Single “At My Feet”

Eric Alper
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Acoustic Duo BASSET Paint A Landscape Of Change In New Single “At My Feet”

Acoustic songwriters Sam Clark and Yasmine Shelton, who make up the folk duo Basset, often look out the window of their Toronto basement apartment dreaming about going back to parts of the world they’ve fallen in love with. And it’s their appreciation for the natural world and its intersection with city life that can be heard in the freedom of their new single “At My Feet.”

The newest single from their album In The Clay is a meditative display that takes inspiration from Clark and Shelton’s travels around Northern Ontario, the Canadian and American prairies, and their lives in the bustling city of Toronto. Through their flawless harmonies and soft acoustic melodies, “At My Feet” explores the fears of a world holding on by a thread.

“We weren’t even planning to release it because it was so new, but that song felt like a release, an exhale of something we’ve been holding onto for years,” says Bassett of their latest single. “There was a freedom in that song that we had never been able to give to a performance before that moment.”

According to Basset, the freedom and rawness of “At My Feet” was a product of last-minute decision making when they had a few hours left of recording the album. The song was only a few weeks old and after previewing it to the production team, everyone knew it had to go on the album.

“We made a quick chart for the bass player and recorded it all live right off the floor with just guitar, bass, and vocals. It quickly became one of our favourite songs on the album.”

Songs that were captured for the album In The Clay, produced by Joshua Van Tassel, explore themes of change and the natural world that came to the forefront of their minds as Clark and Shelton transitioned from a life of academia into their passion of music. Basset’s true inventiveness comes from their vocal harmonies that create a unique partnership described as twin flames wrapped around each other in a warm fire.

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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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