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EXCELSIOR Coming From STEVEN PAGE, First Album In More Than 4 Years Out September 30

Eric Alper
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EXCELSIOR Coming From STEVEN PAGE, First Album In More Than 4 Years Out September 30

On September 30, Steven Page will release Excelsior digitally; it’s his first solo album since 2018. The album on Page’s Fresh Baked Goods imprint will be available on CD November 11 with a 2-LP vinyl version out early in 2023.

The album’s 11 tracks were composed and produced entirely by Page, who co-founded the band Barenaked Ladies, before departing on a solo career in 2009. The lion’s share of material on Excelsior was “workshopped” for audiences on his wildly popular virtual concert series Live From Home that Page has been conducting via Zoom since April of 2020 from his home near Syracuse, NY. Thousands of fans throughout the world have been tuning in on Saturdays (5 PM Eastern, 2PM Pacific,10PM/UK, 7AM Sunday – Australia-Eastern), which are limited to 1000 ticketed audience members per show, with an estimated to-date paid viewer total of 85,000+. The more than 90 episodes of Live From Home are available through Patreon.  The Excelsior track titled “Zoom” is, in fact, the album’s first single and out this week.

While Page played most of the instruments heard on Excelsior, other musicians participating include Craig Northey (guitar, vocals) and Kevin Fox (cello, vocals), members of the Steven Page Trio, his touring ensemble who are well known to Live From Home viewers for their ability to accompany Page from remote locations. Also heard on Excelsior are Doug Elliott of the Odds (bass), as well as Joe Pisapia (pedal steel), who had been a member of Guster and has both backed and produced k.d. lang. Steven’s brother Matthew Page guests on drums.

Once the Canada-US border re-opened, Page was able to complete Excelsior at his Fresh Baked Woods (FBW) studio in Blackstock, Ontario with some of the basic tracks recorded in the Upstate New York basement from which Live From Home originates most Saturdays. FBW is the same facility where several Barenaked Ladies albums, including Barenaked For The Holidays were recorded. Seven of the 11 tracks comprise a thematically linked song cycle that Page characterizes as “a suite of songs tied into what we’ve been involved with over the last ten years.” These will occupy sides A and B of the 2 LP version of Excelsior when it is released next year along with the unrelated additional four songs (“gifts with purchase,” Steven jokes) to be found on side C of the second LP. Side D will be silent and occupied by an etched graphic. “So you have two buckets of songs, so to speak. One speaks to an ‘outer life’ — bigger picture stuff. The others are largely about our very online existence and isolation we’ve all experience. It’s about all of us who spend too much time online.”

The songs on sides A and B are, in some way, an overview of humanity’s plight as reflected in the struggles of the individual. Says Page, “I don’t want to make it totally prescriptive as in ‘this is how you should hear it,’ but you might want it to apply it to your own lives if you feel so moved.”

“Feel” takes place at a funeral and deals with loss and grieving, a church choir plays inside the mourner’s head while “What Will I Do Now” is about learning to live with loss. “Human Doll” imagines a world where the ideal partner can be acquired by mail order and shipped to one’s door, the outcome of which is equally lonely and troubled as our current reality. “How Much Is Enough” that had been set to debut but was postponed due to COVID19 as part of Here’s What It Takes, the musical Page wrote for the 2020 Stratford Festival in Ontario.

“Look To the Stars” is a musical contemplation of what might be “bigger than us” and beyond our ability to understand. Page describes “Infinitely Light Years” along these lines: “In my mind we’re floating through space . . . it’s a duet with myself but imaged as between two separate people, a kind of quantum entanglement. It asks if it’s possible that we’re tied to somebody else who we don’t even know.” That’s followed by “Safe” in which one member of a couple explains the benefit of boundaries; Page suggests it’s “a plea for time and letting people set their own space.” In more than one way it calls back “Feel,” the opener.

The free-standing songs on side C include “Xylorimba,” conjured up for a special episode of Live From Home that called for Steven to perform 26 songs, each starting with a different letter of the alphabet.  For Live From Home A to Z, Steven had 25 letters covered with existing repertoire, so he commissioned himself to write a song titled with a word starting with ‘X.’ He chose an arcane musical instrument that he calls a “the oddball child of a xylophone and a marimba” popular 90+ years ago and not often spoken of or played in more recent times. The song addresses that oversight, both in a titular and musical sense.

The song “Zoom” is paradoxical for Page to have created, as he is something of a skeptic.  “There’s a point of view that we’re supposed to believe that technology somehow makes our lives worse. During the pandemic Zoom did what it was supposed to do so you gotta hand it to them.” “The Golden Age of Doubling Down,” is focused on “our desire to be cruel to each other,” but is musically quite upbeat.

There’s also the self-deflating “Something About Me,” which Page characterizes as “a personal song about my own tendency to make everybody else’s problems about me. People’s sense of empathy is defined by their own ego. I like to point fingers at myself, not at other people.”

The album’s title, taken from the state motto of New York that relates to a Canadian living there and unable to go back to his native land for more than a year and half to see his parents or kids. Page, who was born in Scarborough, Ontario and inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in explains, “I was kind of stuck here (Manlius, NY) and, in essence, became a true New Yorker. The state’s vaccine passports are called Excelsior Passes and we reflect the slogan’s ‘onward and upward’ meaning in the album’s artwork.”

Beyond Live From Home and the new album, Page was commissioned to write “Canada Loves You Back” on the occasion of Ryan Reynolds being given the nation’s 2021 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award. In a Tweet seen by almost 4 million, Reynolds referred to Page as “a friend and a legend” and thanked him “for wasting this amazing song on me.”

This fall, the Steven Page Trio open select North American dates for The Who. “We’re not using drums on the Who dates; we can’t compete with them so the best thing you can do in that situation is to do the thing you do well.”  He points out that “The Who was the first band — that wasn’t the Beatles — that I fell in love with.” The Steven Page Trio is additionally doing Midwest tour dates and expects to be on the West Coast in January in support of Excelsior. 

Steven Page – Excelsior track list 

Side A
1)    Feel
2)    What’ll I Do Now
3)    Human Doll
4)    How Much Is Enough
Side B
1)    Look To The Stars
2)    Infinitely Light Years
3)    Safe
Side C
1)    The Golden Age Of Doubling Down
2)    Xylorimba
3)    Zoom
4)    Something About Me
Side D – intentionally blank with etched graphic
 
Excelsior Streaming and Purchase Links can be found here:
https://linktr.ee/stevenpage
 
STEVEN PAGE TOUR DATES
 
Steven Page Trio UK Tour
Thu Sep 8:   Luton – Bear Club
Fri Sep 9: Birmingham – Castle and Falcon
Sat Sep 10:  London – Omeara
Mon Sep 12: Brighton – Komedia
Tue Sep 13: Cardiff – Clwb Ifor Bach
Wed Sep 14: Leeds – Brundenell
Fri Sep 16: Manchester – Band on the Wall
Sat Sep 17:  Glasgow – King Tuts
Sun Sep 18: Glasgow – King Tuts
 
Steven Page Trio BC Dates
Wed Sep 28: Nanaimo BC – Port Theatre
Thu Sep 29:  Campbell River BC – Tidemark Theatre
Fri Sep 30: Maple Ridge, BC – Act Theatre

The Who Hits Back support dates (Except Nashville)                                      
Sun Oct 2:   Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Tue Oct 4:   Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Fri Oct 7:      Elmont, NY – UBS Arena
Sun Oct 9:   Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
Mon Oct 10: Nashville, TN – City Winery
Wed Oct 11: Chicago, IL – United Cente

Steven Page Trio US tour, Part 1                                                                                 
Fri Nov 11:  Minneapolis, MN – Dakota
Sun Nov 13:  Madison, WI – The Bur Oak
Mon Nov 14: Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
Wed Nov 16: St Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
Thu Nov 17:  Kansas City, MO – Madrid Theatre
Fri Nov 18:  Council Bluffs, IA – Arts Center at Iowa Western
Sun Nov 20: Dallas, TX – Granada Theatre

Steven Page Trio US Tour, Part 2
January 2023: West Coast dates to be announced

Steven Page Trio Cross-Canada Tour
Starting in Spring 2023:  Canadian dates to be announced

Calgary Country Star KIM THOMPSON Says ‘HEY COWBOY’ With New Single

Eric Alper
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Calgary Country Star KIM THOMPSON Says ‘HEY COWBOY’ With New Single

From Calgary, the country capital of Canada, indie cowgirl Kim Thompson is charging forward with her latest single – “Hey Cowboy”!

Her seventh single is a country anthem, sashaying like a request from the saloon jukebox. The song is uptempo and authentic, complete with Thompson’s swinging vocals wrapped like a lasso around the melody.

The Alberta native is a trifecta of talent; a singer, songwriter with further credits in commercial and film including Heartland, and the Oscar-winning Brokeback Mountain. In addition to her work on screen, Thompson is routinely found on the stage in Calgary, and spun on Sirius country stations. Accolades include a CCMA, Country Music Alberta, YCC Awards and ACMA nominations, a SOCAN Travel Grant and Thompson continues to represent Alberta with ISSA. Thompson is also the vocal prowess behind the anthem while riding at Canadian Pro Rodeo and JHL Games.

Now saddled up with her latest single, “Hey Cowboy” is another win for Thompson and her commitment to pure country music. It’s a yarn-spinning, boot-stomping, railway rushing ditty that evokes nostalgia and compels you to want to sing along.

“‘Hey Cowboy’ is a song about the movies and production, written when I was working on set for the TV series, ‘Heartland’ with the horses and cowboy wranglers, riding and roping,” says Thompson, adding: “It speaks about simple cowboy spirit behind the scenes. I always liked to talk to the cowboys and hear the stories about movie work. The fantasy of movies we have painted with the cowboys and cowgirls as heros and cool folk. The importance is to recognize the dream of living the cowfolk life in the movies and so many characters.”

Thompson’s music is complete with visual components – videos that bring to life the story she’s telling. In “Hey Cowboy”, the viewer is up close and personal with true-blue cowboys, wrangling calves, roping, and riding.

A co-write by Thompson and Chard Morrison, “Hey Cowboy” was produced by Chris Birkett in Ontario, Canada. It follows Thompson’s previous releases “Heartache Heartbreak”, “This Christmas”, “Thinkin’ Bout” and “Game Of Love”. “The songs are energetic love empowerment for all ages,” Thompson describes.

So, dust off the boots. Tip your hat. Find a worn pair of Levis and head out to the ranch with “Hey Cowboy”. Kim Thompson promises to wrangle your attention and your heart.

Try Not Speed While Listening To Niagara Falls’ Hölt On Blast As “Eyes On 55” Is Advice Worth Taking

Eric Alper
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Try Not Speed While Listening To Niagara Falls’ Hölt On Blast As “Eyes On 55” Is Advice Worth Taking

Wailing guitars and thunderous drums are conjured to form a good ol’ fashioned tune about a run-down place and its seedy clientele from St. Catharines, Ontario-based rock band Hölt with their visceral new single “Eyes On 55.”

Hölt’s blistering new single is the first release from their upcoming album “Turn Me Ön,” an ensemble of epic tracks with a distinct aesthetic that merges multiple schools of rock to create something entirely new.

“Eyes On 55” is based on an old dive of a gentleman’s club that is no longer open but had a certain charm. Founder of Hölt and primary singer/songwriter Kenny Holt wanted to produce a specific kind of track while paying homage to one of the legendary rock acts of all time. “I just figured that if Mötley Crüe could have a song about good clubs, we could have a song about a bad one.”

The music’s kinetic energy moves in tandem with edgy lyrics, which paint a portrait of a shabby gentleman’s club and all the associated debaucheries that lay within.

“Dancing undercover
She’s the devil in disguise
Lipstick and leather
I’ve got Eyes on 55.”

Like many other bands afflicted by the pandemic, the new album “Turn Me Ön” was a labour of love for band leader Kenny Holt who dug deep to put together a collection of music with meaning that was heavier than the average rock band. “it wasn’t hard to write songs about the isolation and loneliness I’ve faced at times, the hypocrisy of governments, failed relationships, missing my family back home in England and so on and so forth.”

The recording process was relatively streamlined as Holt sat at the helm of his sonic vision with startling efficiency and not sacrificing quality. “The songs came together reasonably easy for the most part. I pulled out my Rolodex of riffs and put some lyrics to them one line at a time.”

Bringing Hölt to life on stage to ensure the longevity and vibrancy of rock n roll is a talented group of local musicians out of the St. Cathe Catharines rines area. Accompanying Holt’s guitar and vocal work is percussionist Michael Lamb, Dylon Murray on bass, and Ryan Etherington ripping on guitar. Hölt has been bringing audiences throughout Canada to their feet for over 15 years with no signs of stopping any time soon.

NYC Singer Songwriter Jill Fiore Pays Tribute To The City That Never Sleeps With “On Being Good”

Eric Alper
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NYC Singer Songwriter Jill Fiore Pays Tribute To The City That Never Sleeps With “On Being Good”

A musical tale of unreciprocated love emerges from the city that never sleeps with the vulnerable new single “On Being Good” from New York City-based singer/songwriter Jill Fiore — available now.

The emotional new single follows up Fiore’s debut 2021 EP “Ten Feet Tall,” a quint collection of rock tunes she decided to record after over 20 years as a performing artist. Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Jill Fiore connects with audiences through her hard-edged vocals and stellar production value.

Fiore facilitates a reflective tone on “On Being Good,” with cinematic guitar work and lyrics that relate to anyone who has felt unheard and unwanted in a relationship yet still gave their best.

“I tried to tell him where I was coming from
Right when he told me where he’d been
I listened closely to his every word
I couldn’t get one of mine in.”

Born in Carteret, New Jersey, Jill Fiore has been a relentless artist with an aptitude for audience connection through her powerhouse vocals and infectious instrumentation. Her music captures all of life’s idiosyncrasies as she grounds her art in shared lived experiences that are distinctly personal and worth sharing.

Fiore became known to many during the pandemic due to her original conception of THE FIORE ESCAPE, a concert series for the public organized and performed for free on her beautifully transformed fire escape/pseudo-venue. Fiore’s performances have been featured across numerous national television outlets and on the renowned “Humans Of New York,” which continues to draw international audiences to her music.

In a city like New York, where you can get anything and much more, The Aquarian’s Kate Schafer said that Jill Fiore represents that “so much more.”

“On Being Good” was brought to life in the heart of the big apple, with recording duties overseen by Joey Wunsch (SUPR8) at Flux Studios. On Being Good was produced by Jill herself for her first time, along with guitarist Derek Cruz. Ten Feet Tall was produced by New York singer songwriter Jesse Malin, while award-winning Craig Weinberg mixed the single at the Sound Association in midtown Manhattan while mastering was handled by Fred Kevorkian (The White Stripes, Maroon 5) of Kevorkian Mastering.

Folk-Rock Songstress Erika Lamon Captures the Storminess of a Guilt-Laden Love on “Yellow Sundress”

Eric Alper
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Folk-Rock Songstress Erika Lamon Captures the Storminess of a Guilt-Laden Love on “Yellow Sundress”

A yellow sundress conjures imagery of sunny days and lack of complication, but Kingston, ON-based folk-rock songstress Erika Lamon takes that idea and turns it on its head in her stormy piano-driven single “Yellow Sundress” – available now – from her forthcoming album Hues.

“Yellow Sundress” begins and ends with the ticking of a clock, creating a feeling of suspense and time running out, and it maintains that metronome beat under thunderous piano and introspective vocals. The song deals with a cut-off relationship where there’s a shortage of honesty, as well as some internal conflict on the part of the narrator:

It wasn’t you, it was bad timing,
my cowardice looking
for a way out.
It wasn’t just a fling,
but I flung it in your face
on the way out

The moodiness of the piano and Lamon’s willingness to delve into complexity is reminiscent of some of the best of Tori Amos, though the inclusion of a piano track on Hues arrived as somewhat of a surprise to Lamon.

“I grew up playing the piano but I stopped practicing when I left for university,” she says. “If there’s one thing I know about playing an instrument, it’s that it’s not like riding a bicycle. Getting back into it is long and discouraging. You’ve lost the ease with which you used to play, and touching the keys can conjure a sense of loss. But sometimes, in this beginner-state, ideas flow naturally.”

And then “Yellow Sundress” began to emerge. “I sat down at the piano, and started fiddling with the keys. A main piano line appeared,” she recalls. “I had some half-finished lyrics hanging around nearby, written a couple of days prior, so I reached out for them.”

The clock element is a very deliberate part of the song. “All I could see was a guilt-laden love story unraveling as time ran out in the background, the ever-ticking clock,” Lamon says. “The clock and keys intertwining in the beginning still give me shivers. I get that ‘the movie’s about to start’ feeling.”

Folk-rock songstress Erika Lamon has been charming crowds with a sound steeped in reverie ever since her music-scene debut in 2013. In 2017, she released her self-titled debut EP to a packed house in her hometown of Kingston, ON, and spent the next two years performing and touring from Toronto to Charlottetown. In 2020, Erika released her much-anticipated single, “Omen,” which received CBC radio airplay. Hues is her first full-length record, set for release on September 9th with support from the Kingston Arts Council, FACTOR, the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.

13-Year-Old Seattle Guitar Phenom Nikhil Bagga Releases ‘Sorry Not Sorry’

Eric Alper
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13-Year-Old Seattle Guitar Phenom Nikhil Bagga Releases ‘Sorry Not Sorry’

Coming off the success of his breakthrough debut, rising star, and teenage guitar phenom Nikhil Bagga shines with the performance of a lifetime and a grungy new single about unapologetically walking away from toxic relationships with the emotional track “Sorry Not Sorry.”

Charisma and charm effortlessly ooze from the 13-year-old music sensation as he enraptures audiences with his electric new single just in time for a career-defining performance in front of countless viewers at the Seattle Mariners vs Yankees baseball game tonight. “There is nothing more American than baseball in the summer, and to be able to play the National Anthem is a dream come true.” Audiences will witness a unique rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner 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.

The energy of “Sorry Not Sorry” as a ballad for the broken-hearted is transmitted through washed-out guitars that sound of another era and Bagga’s deeply mature vocal delivery channeling the despair that seems way beyond his years.

“I’m stuck in purple haze
I’m done with all these games
I need you to see what I became
You left me in the ashes but here I remain.”

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.

My Next Read: “Under My Skin: Drama, Trauma & Rock ‘n’ Roll” By Elise Krentzel

Eric Alper
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My Next Read: “Under My Skin: Drama, Trauma & Rock ‘n’ Roll” By Elise Krentzel

Elise Krentzel’s fast paced memoir “Under My Skin: Drama, Trauma & Rock ‘n’ Roll” earned #1 on Amazon in new releases in all these categories: Biographies of Rock Bands, Music Business, Rock, Composers & Musicians, LGBT Travel and Jewish Life. Elise shares how she took charge of the tumultuous 1970s by making a name for herself while still a teenager as a rock journalist. As a kid, she was encouraged by her parents to sing, play music, and write, but she wasn’t allowed to be “herself.” Alienated, she hid her heart and learned to become a stranger in her own skin as the torment of early childhood taught her to mistrust everyone, especially herself.

As an adolescent traveling in Europe, she came to realize there was more to life than sex, money, and fame. With newly instilled vigor and drive, Elise set out to break her toxic cycles, determined to become someone people would notice.

At 19 years old—the youngest journalist on the KISS Japan Tour—she negotiated a plum job with one of the biggest players in the Japanese music industry, desperately trying to fill the gaping hole left by feeling unheard and unloved by those she depended on most: her family.

Spanning three continents and twenty years, Under My Skin tells the story of a street-smart, vulnerable Jewish girl from the Bronx and how she changed her life, forever.

Celebrated Canadian Jazz Pianist Michael Kaeshammer Announces “The Warehouse Sessions” And Tour

Eric Alper
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Celebrated Canadian Jazz Pianist Michael Kaeshammer Announces “The Warehouse Sessions” And Tour

Music is a great and powerful connector. There’s nothing quite like hearing the palpable and electric connection between musicians in an inspired performance or feeling an intrinsic connection to a song that causes your emotions to take flight. Making that connection happen on his new recording is acclaimed Canadian pianist and singer Michael Kaeshammer with live-off-the-floor performances on his joyful and inspired new album, The Warehouse Sessions set for world-wide release on October 7, 2022.

A delectable concoction of funky soul, gospel revival and rollicking boogie-woogie, The Warehouse Sessions showcases the fine-tuned prowess of a trio that has spent countless hours together on stage and off, honing their musical connection. Not wanting that connection to dissipate, Kaeshammer, bassist David Piltch and drummer Johnny Vidacovich gathered at Bryan Adams’ famed Warehouse Studio in Vancouver to capture their unique symbioses together in more permanent form.

A lost-in-the-moment capture of the multi-JUNO and WCMA winner and his hot trio, the punchy lead-off single “You’ve Got It In Your Soulness” is a lovingly reverent but progressive take on the Les McCann jazz-soul song that first appeared on McCann’s and trumpet player Eddie Harris’ 1969 Grammy nominated live album Swiss Movement.

“The concept was simple,” reflects Kaeshammer. “Let’s call a tune and then, let’s record it. These are all first takes, loose and energetic.”

That approach has made The Warehouse Sessions a collection that is imbued with an immediacy and excitement that’s apparent from the first notes of “You’ve Got It In Your Soulness”, through the trio’s engaging takes on other classics like “Ain’t She Sweet”, “Down By The Riverside” and “Bourbon Street Parade”. All songs that “show a group having so much fun it’s infectious” says JAZZ.FM91’s Brad Barker, who wrote the album liner notes. “It’s simply three friends finding joy in making music for each other and we all get to crash the party.”

A mélange of styles masterfully conveyed is a hallmark of Kaeshammer’s versatility and inclusive approach to making music. Throughout decades as a professional performer first in Germany and then Canada after making Vancouver Island his family home, the double JUNO winner has interwoven elements of classical, jazz, blues, boogie-woogie, stride, and even pop into his signature brand of music.

“When I play, I don’t worry about if it’s jazz or pop or classical or whatever; I just play what I hear and let the music decide what it wants to be,” Kaeshammer explains. “Sure, there are different styles, different eras, different approaches, but when you really look at it, it’s all just music based on 12 notes.”

Sure, you can always distill music down to those 12 simple notes but, the wondrous art you can build them into is the magic. On The Warehouse Sessions and all the music he’s released since his 1996 debut album Blue Keys, Kaeshammer displays his keen handle on creating that art for all of us to enjoy.

He’s definitely got it in his soulness.

Canadian Tour Dates
November 9, 2022 deCoste Centre Pictou NS
November 10, 2022 St. Xavier University Antigonish NS
November 11, 2022 Le Moulin de la Baie Saulnierville NS
November 12, 2022 Acadia University Wolfville NS
November 13, 2022 Chester Playhouse Chester NS
November 16, 2022 Capitol Theatre Moncton NB
November 17, 2022 Playhouse Theatre Fredericton NB
November 18, 2022 Shenkman Art Centre Ottawa ON
November 19, 2022 Ctr for the Performing Arts Burlington ON
November 20, 2022 Charles W. Stockey Centre Parry Sound ON
November 22, 2022 Meaford Art Centre Meaford ON
November 23, 2022 Wolf Performance Hall London ON
November 24, 2022 Flato Markham Theatre Markham ON
November 25, 2022 Grand Theatre Kingston ON
November 26, 2022 West End Cultural Centre Winnipeg MB
November 27, 2022 The Bassment Saskatoon SK
November 28, 2022 Enmax Centre Lethbridge AB
November 30, 2022 Song Sparrow Hall Salmon Arm BC
December 1, 2022 Venables Theatre Oliver BC
December 2, 2022 Performing Arts Centre Vernon BC
December 3, 2022 Massey Centre New Westminster BC
December 4, 2022 Kay Meek Theatre Vancouver BC
December 5, 2022 Mary Winspear Centre Sidney BC
December 6, 2022 Mary Winspear Centre Sidney BC

Folk Singer Erika Kulnys Asks We All “Stand Together” in Support of Equality for Refugees, Migrants & Open Borders

Eric Alper
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Folk Singer Erika Kulnys Asks We All “Stand Together” in Support of Equality for Refugees, Migrants & Open Borders

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for everything,” the adage goes. And this Maritimer with a song in her heart, Erika Kulnys, is calling on us all to “Stand Together” with the release of her new single — available now.

Fiercely described as an “ingenious activist zeal combined with the poetic skepticism of Leonard Cohen”, Kulnys is no stranger to embracing the vulnerability of the human condition. As a singer songwriter, she consistently uses her voice, agility in songwriting, and world-class musicianship to shine a spotlight on what is lacking today.

Continuing to be fearless in her approach to tackling what’s broken, soothing audiences with her powerful voice that calls us to action, Kulnys entreats us to rise up and tackle change as a global movement in “Stand Together.”

Hoping to raise awareness about the embargo on Cuba with the song’s video, the visual component to the track provides a slideshow of Kulnys with her loved ones — people caring for people, standing up to adversity, and standing together.

“This is a song started in Cuba, finished in Germany, recorded in the USA, and produced in Canada,” Kulnys explains. “It is about ending the torture, internment and subjugation of refugees and migrants, and creating a culture that recognizes our common humanity over national borders.”

Ultimately, “Stand Together” asks us to remember we are all members of a global family. “Let peace rise!” she coos on the melody.
The song arrives as the second single — and title track — from her recently released album; the first, her lead song “My Choice,” became a battle cry for women’s reproductive rights.

Kulnys’ passion and commitment to social change flows across each melody of the Stand Together album. Criss-crossing the globe to weave together the music, the album leans into its international roots and features Spanish songs and international players.

The world is taking notice; Kulnys was awarded the Canadian Voice of Women’s National award alongside El Jones for her cultural contribution toward peace. Rise Up found itself in the Top 10 on both Canadian and US charts, and her accolades include a $25,000 Watson Fellowship to study social justice music in seven countries.

In the dim of the night, and on the eve of despair for global inequity and generations growing up in war and adversity, Erika Kulnys’ vocal prowess and extraordinary songwriting offer solace and inspiration in a world begging for help. Never one to shy away from expressing her world justice views while singing for a better tomorrow, Erika Kulnys releases this song supporting refugees and migrants in hopes that people will take action.

Coming from a family fleeing violence and persecution in World War II, Stand Together is Erika’s personal testament to her mother and grandmother. Her grandmother was a refugee to Colombia, and her Colombian mother an immigrant to the USA, and then Canada.

Stay tuned for Erika’s upcoming singles, Other Side of the World, Sirena en la Playa, Fantasma, and Streets of Montreal by subscribing to her YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/erikakulnys

What we can do is listen and learn. And then, rise up and “Stand Together.”

Cuban-Born, Toronto-Based UMBE B Delivers Cut-Throat Lyricism In Hard Hitting “Champions”

Eric Alper
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Cuban-Born, Toronto-Based UMBE B Delivers Cut-Throat Lyricism In Hard Hitting “Champions”

Delivered with an enticingly toxic swagger that lures even the most stringent, Umbe B’s newest single “Champions” is a cut-throat declaration of success and breakthroughs.

“Champions” is a hard-hitting Latin/trap banger that pays homage to Umbe B’s Cuban heritage and musical passions. Inspired by the city of Toronto and its iconic sports teams, Umbe B aims to put his name on the list of teams who have fought for a championship – and ultimately made it.

Umbe B reflects on the voracity of his newest single; “I’m setting the stage for my own victory: to become the next champion – the King of Latin Music in Canada.”

“Champions” describes the struggle of getting to the top through hardships – and the feeling of gratification when you achieve a particular goal. Umbe B’s sharp lyricism is laced with personal struggles, conveying his ambitions to be identified as the King of the North for urban Latin music in Toronto. Piercing cadence delivers a fiery flow that compliments Umbe B’s musical goals perfectly.

Ultimately, “Champions” is an underdog story preaching the significance of perseverance and resolve when it comes to pulling yourself out of a bad situation – regardless of the price. The song champions that hard work leads to success – and often requires sacrifice to become the best.

Umbe B is a Latin artist who was born in Alamar, Cuba. Faced with the hardships of growing up during an embargo, Umbe B found the value of family very early on. Despite growing up in areas with high levels of crime, Umbe B never strayed from the importance of family and friends, using that to bolster him as he worked his way into a better situation.

Despite migrating to Canada in October 2019, Umbe B’s music career has been going hard since 2013, when he founded an urban Cuban music group named Los Extraterrestres. Focusing on creating subgenres of urban music while innovating around the dance scene in Cuba, the group found great success across the island.

During this time, he would work as a backstage dancer for one of the most popular Cuban music groups, Gente De Zona. He would find the courage and affirmation to pursue his music career and fulfill his dreams after receiving the personal endorsement of Jacob Forever, a member of Gente De Zona.

In 2016, Los Extraterrestres were nominated for one of Cuba’s most renowned music shows, Los Lucas, where they were spotted and hired by a European show and promotion company to perform in 3 venues during the summer festival in Ibiza and Majorca.

From there, things slowed down a bit for Umbe B until 2018 when he began his solo career, focusing his music more on the trap and hip-hop genres, which sparked some controversy among a handful of top artists and directors in Cuba. After his band mates migrated to Europe and the rising controversy surrounding Umbe B’s productions, he decided to move to Canada.

Umbe B’s music can most accurately be summed up as a mix of Latin reggaeton, dembow, and dancehall sounds – all perfectly intertwined with trap elements made popular in Western music. Umbe B uses his passion for these genres as a springboard for his love for Cuba to tell stories based on personal experiences – both in Canada and Cuba.

Umbe B is set to release his first solo studio album this year.

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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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