“The Tears of a Clown” was written by Hank Cosby, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder and originally recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla Records label subsidiary of Motown, first appearing on the 1967 album Make It Happen. It was re-released in the United Kingdom as a single in July 1970, and it became a #1 hit on the UK Singles Chart in September that year. Subsequently, Motown released “The Tears of a Clown” as a single in the United States as well, where it quickly became a #1 hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Singles charts.
Guitarist and Singer/Songwriter Ash Ravens Serenades the Soul with Warm & Bittersweet “Home”
Ottawa-based Bangladeshi guitarist and singer/songwriter Ash Ravens serenades the soul with a tale of finding warmth and familiarity in new places with his bittersweet new single “Home.”
Enriched by a soothing groove and satisfying nylon string guitar melodies, “Home” is a love song about the unparalleled comfort of feeling at home. For some people, feelings of warmth and belonging aren’t solely associated with a place and, as Ash puts it, “the feeling of ‘Home’ for some people might be a person with whom they feel their truest self.”
Ash Ravens breathes new life into universal messages of honesty and openness with a rhythmic maturity that compliments the personal subject matter.
‘In a room full of friends
I’d still be alone
No matter where I am
You’ll always be my Home’
Rich sonics and a heartwarming fable transport the listener internally to a reflective place where it’s okay to listen to yourself. “Home” is a story that prioritizes self-care over everything and is based on a true story.
Ash Ravens wrote the core of “Home” while studying at the prestigious Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena, California; he had made a seismic shift in his life, leaving behind his partner (now wife) and hometown to pursue music stardom, and “Home” is directly inspired by Ash’s journey around the world and back into the arms of the person who supported him most.
“Home” was mostly recorded under the guidance of renowned producer/engineer Chris Birkett (Buffy Sainte-Marie, Quincy Jones) in the cities of Ottawa and Toronto, Canada. Birkett’s vocal stylings also make an appearance on “Home” lending a textured feel to the music throughout. Rounding off the release of “Home” is the rustic music video shot by Canadian-Bangladeshi filmmaker Fahd Kabir in Ottawa.
Ash Ravens has been creating music in multiple languages, all around the world for the better part of a decade. His musical adventures have taken him from his native Bangladesh to rocking out Hollywood’s Sunset Strip. He went on to complete two music degrees at Melbourne Polytechnic while playing some of Australia’s biggest music festivals before moving to Ottawa in 2021. “Home” is Ash’s second English release after the electrifying single “Beautiful Lies”, alongside a robust music repertoire comprised of an eight-track instrumental album and a series of mesmerizing singles guaranteed to please music lovers everywhere.
Theatrical Art-Rockers The Black Gasolines Unleash Dynamite New Single in “Furthermore”
Straight from Belgium, the next exciting chapter in theatrical rock art is here thanks to The Black Gasolines and their new single “Furthermore.”
Out to rewrite rock and roll history, the song lands on the heels of their debut full-length, It Took A Lifetime — a 53-minute-long rock opera about a guy called Krist Milkeyway who looks back at his life in the form of a talk show while being in a coma.
After readying themselves from line-up changes, and musical direction, the completed package saw The Black Gasolines creatively charged and prepared to lay down tracks at the top of the pandemic in 2020. A stint in France was the artistic boost that fueled the group to write several completed bangers that would make the final cut of the album, and showcase their shared vision. “We became inspired by the drama of the bombastic classical compositions like the ‘Dies Irae’ by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi,” they reveal. “And with the more modern theatrical rock sound of Electric Light Orchestra, Supertramp and Klaatu, we went to the countryside of the city Poitiers in the south of France, so the songs could be worked out in another environment.”
After seven productive writing days, The Black Gasolines arrived back in Belgium with several demos. The Black Gasolines are not afraid to be bold, daring, exciting, dramatic on the cut, lending a passion behind lush instrumentation, and finely crafted melodies and, while they say there is still mystery surrounding the selection of their unique moniker, there is a calculated, creative strategy surrounding the 2021 LP, and its single “Furthermore.”
“Furthermore” bounds of the speakers, with rich use of saxophone, production elements, and harmonies; a modern take on the electrifying soundscape of the 70s and 80s. A twisting kaleidoscope of Gowan to Men At Work, Zep to Floyd, Queen to the Beatles, The Black Gasolines chases the listener into a labyrinth of big sounds and delectable lyrics. You’re singing along as much as you’re completely lost in the journey of the song.
Prior to the pandemic, The Black Gasolines have continually pushed to have their art heard live as much as possible playing up to 45 shows per year. With their innate desire to bring their music to their fans, the group has made stops across Europe, including taking the stages in Ghent, Antwerp, Amsterdam, and London. Their single “Long Way Suicide” dropped in 2019; its successor “Kangaroo Days” made its debut in 2020.
Now with It Took A Lifetime loaded and charged, the group is forging forward with their riveting stage show and an arsenal of epic tracks to go with it. The Black Gasolines also take their songs to live performances on YouTube, where listeners can hear the group before heading into the festival grounds, the concert clubs, and venues – getting a front-row seat to their exceptional charisma and uncanny ability to perform the tracks exactly as you hear them on the album.
The road to creating a sonically cohesive line-up has brought The Black Gasolines to the here and now. While sometimes it may have seemed to take a lifetime, it doesn’t take away that they’ve arrived.
And “Furthermore,” you’ll adore the album and its tremendous singles.
Country-Pop Artist ALEXIS TAYLOR Is Far From Comfort In “Long Way From Home” Single
Big dreams often come with bumps in the road, and award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Alexis Taylor shows us such with her confessional new country ballad “Long Way From Home.”
“Long Way From Home” is a slow, smooth traditional country jam with an infectious melody, twangy guitar, and warm, enveloping harmonies. Despite its story of dejection and loneliness, the Ontario-born, Nashville-based artist’s voice soars above the feelings, while the lyrics, poetic and evocative, paint a vivid picture of a young woman alone on a dusty road.
The song reveals the vulnerable side of pursuing stardom; when Taylor started writing “Long Way From Home,” she hadn’t finished writing a song in months and was having a day where she felt like giving up on her music career. “I felt so defeated,” she says. “I felt like it was time to pack my bags, go home, find a regular 9-5 job, and quit chasing these crazy dreams of mine.
“I wanted to really capture everything I was feeling in the lyrics and melody of the song,” she continues. “So I sat in my living room and just started writing, and poured my heart out onto paper, and the song seemed to write itself.”
The song was recorded in Nashville, where Taylor has been living ever since she decided to leave her small hometown in Ontario to pursue her dreams. And those dreams have clearly already materialized in a big way — the song was produced by John Willis, who has worked with Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Willie Nelson, and many other musical greats.
“At the end of the day, I know music is what I was born to do, and even though I go through days of uncertainty, I was able to create this song as a reminder of how far I have come and to not lose faith,” Taylor shares.
Since first stepping onto the scene in 2016, Alexis Taylor has racked up over 350,000+ streams across all platforms, played Canadian Music Week, CMA Fest in Nashville, Tennessee, and opened for the likes of Marshall Tucker Band, Love and Theft, Meghan Patrick, Doug Seegers across his Scandinavian tour, and more.
She’s won ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ at the 2018 Tennessee Music Awards and was nominated for ‘Modern Country Vocalist of the Year’ at the 2020 Josie Music Awards.
Lizzo Announces New Single “About Damn Time” Due April 14th
3x-GRAMMY Award winning, Platinum-selling superstar Lizzo made an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden on Monday night to tease eagerly-awaited new music; her upcoming single “About Damn Time” is due April 14th at 6pm ET.
Lizzo has also announced she’ll be pulling double duty on Saturday Night Live, slated as both the show’s host and musical guest on April 16th. Her Amazon Prime show Watch Out For The Big Grrrls is due this Friday, March 25th. The diversity-focused reality TV show highlights Lizzo’s emotional search for her next backup dancer.
Lizzo has become a household name with well over 6 billion global streams and a Platinum selling debut album to date. Lizzo released her Nice Life Recording Company/Atlantic Records debut album CUZ I LOVE YOU on April 19th, 2019, debuting at #6 on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 albums chart and spending 24 consecutive weeks in the chart’s Top 10. “Truth Hurts” also became the longest running #1 by a solo female rap artist in history after spending seven weeks atop the charts. With anthemic smash hits like the 7x Platinum “Truth Hurts,” the 4x Platinum “Good As Hell,” the 2x Platinum “Juice,” and the Platinum “Tempo (Feat. Missy Elliott)” already under her belt, Lizzo released yet another smash with the now Gold certified “Rumors.”
Since the release of the meteoric CUZ I LOVE YOU, Lizzo has been named both TIME Magazine and Entertainment Weekly’s “2019 Entertainer of the Year” as well as gracing the covers of Rolling Stone, PEOPLE, Variety, Billboard’s GRAMMY Preview Issue, British Vogue, Elle’s Women In Music Issue, and many others. Additionally, Lizzo kicked off 2020 with a showstopping opening performance at the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards and took home three big wins, in addition to being the most-nominated artist of the year. 2020 also saw her win the awards for “Best Female R&B/Pop Artist” at the 2020 BET Awards and both “Entertainer of the Year” and “Outstanding Video” at the 2020 NAACP Awards. Her list of high-profile TV performances also include the 2019 American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, BET Awards and Saturday Night Live, in addition to in depth profiles on CBS This Morning’s GRAMMY® primetime special and CBS Sunday Morning.
The Tragically Hip Partners with Canadian Tire to Help Keep Girls in Sport
Canadian Tire is teaming up with iconic band The Tragically Hip to raise awareness for the need to empower girls across the country to be leaders in sport. According to Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities’2022 State of Sport report by Ipsos, 45% of Canadian parents say their child is currently not involved in playing any sports and when it comes to girls specifically, a report by Canadian Women & Sport and E-Alliance states, 1 in 4 are not committed to returning to sport1. Gender inequity in grassroots sport has always been an issue but has been exacerbated by COVID-19. CTC and The Tragically Hip are partnering to raise awareness of this issue to help get girls back in the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVyZyElFLUE
The Tragically Hip and CTC are proud to support Jumpstart’s Girls in Sport initiative, which aims to create an environment where girls thrive and choose to continue to participate in sport. To do this, the band is donating a catalogue of exclusive signed memorabilia, which will be available to Canadians through an online contest and auction beginning in April. In addition, The Tragically Hip and CTC are donating $50,000 each to support the cause. To learn more and to get notified when the event launches, visit ct100xthehip.ca. Jumpstart is committed to empowering girls to stay engaged in sport for life through programming and advocacy, so girls can grow into strong leaders in their communities. Jumpstart supports programs designed specifically for girls and young women in every province and territory, with just under half (48%) of all the kids helped each year being female. Since launching the Keeping Girls in Sport online resource in 2018, Jumpstart has trained over 5,800 coaches and youth activity leaders on the principles of gender equity in sport, creating safe and respectful environments for female athletes.
The Tragically Hip have a legacy of giving back to Canadian communities and advocating for women in hockey. They began sponsoring girls’ minor hockey in Kingston, Ontario in the mid-1990s, cheering on the Kingston Kodiaks and then Ice Wolves. They formed a friendship with Jayna Hefford, hockey player and one of the most decorated Canadian Olympians of all time, that endures to this day.
“Jumpstart is grateful to The Tragically Hip and CTC for their generosity, and for helping to bring awareness to the significant barriers to sport that remain for Canadian youth,” said Scott Fraser, President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. “Programs like the Girls in Sport initiative are critical in building our legacy of getting kids, especially girls, involved in sport. The opportunity to play is about much more than getting active – sport teaches important life skills like courage, confidence and teamwork.”
“We were proud watching the recent Summer and Winter Olympics and see the women punch way above their weight. It inspired us to want to get involved and give more women an opportunity to participate in sports. Partnering with Canadian Tire to support Jumpstart’s Girls in Sport program seemed like the perfect fit for us,” said The Tragically Hip.
In celebration of its 100th birthday in 2022, Canadian Tire has further partnered with The Tragically Hip to create a unique composition of The Hip’s famous song Ahead by a Century. Performed by the youth choir Young Voices Toronto, the song is featured in Canadian Tire’s newest campaign which highlights some of the Company’s core values – community, inclusivity and sustainability.
Here comes the Telephone Rhythm Machine
ELECTRONICOS FANTASTICOS! connected the old rotary telephone, a drum repeater rhythm machine, and a KORG synthesizer.
Alt.Rockers BLACKOUT ORCHESTRA Release New Dream-Like Smooching-Inducing “Tongues”
Alt-indie rock duo Blackout Orchestra release their hazy, dream-like, and make-out-inducing new drop, “Tongues” ahead of their forthcoming sophomore LP, Beauty Sleep.
The song sizzles as it moves along in a gritty, sexy, Garbage-esque offering, refusing to back down, repeating crashing crescendos as the song lurches forward — never bending in its ability to draw you in and hold you in a trance. It’s a lovesick, alt-rock banger Ben VanBuskirk (vocals, music) and Morgan Thompson-Reid (vocals) dare you to try on. But the real thrill is knowing you’ll be back for seconds, and thirds, of this extraordinarily thirsty track.
“In an album largely about dreams, this would be the erotic one,” VanBuskirk says. “I think of it as the other side of the coin from ‘Nowhere Near The Looking Glass’ from the first album. Where that song was about getting into a relationship or situation that you knew was going to end badly but you choose to do it anyway, this song is about having the feeling and faith that a relationship could turn out to be something amazing despite all the signs pointing to it being a bad idea.”
“Tongues” features serious electric guitar licks, amped-up bass, and Cranberries/Pixies lush harmonies provided by Thompson-Reid. For VanBuskirk, the desire became to use the very lowest of his register and his Leonard-Cohen meets Tom-Waits effort is applauded on the track. The entirety of “Tongues” rolls through like a slow-burning cigarette, threatening to vanquish in a porcelain ashtray. Mesmerized by the smoke, you can’t help but get close to the fire. And when you’re in the thick of the flames, “Tongues” makes no effort to apologize for drawing you in so close. In fact, it’s compelled to invite you in again.
“This album is about those ‘in-between’ days,” VanBuskirk says of Beauty Sleep, “starting with the first tentative steps of ‘Go Slowly’ through to reaching that next big moment, new love, on ‘The First Time’.” Their sophomore effort is an eight-track strong LP due out August of this year. “In the general sound as well as the lyrics, I used the idea of that state between sleep and awake – when you first wake up and it’s a brand new day but you still have the lingering emotions of the dream you had the night before – the little bit of confusion about what’s solid and real while you shake off those last impressions of the dream or nightmare,” VanBuskirk adds.
“Tongues” also comes with a tantalizing music video, shot primarily in a black & white vignette. With VanBuskirk and Thompson-Reid trading shots on the screen, there are plenty of intimate moments shared between them both, leveling up on the overall sexiness of both the song, its double entendre, and what’ll mean for the masses: It’ll be the song that lends itself to plenty of playlists that not only sets the mood but seduces it.
“Let’s touch tongues,” they coo over the melody. “Yes,” you’ll reply, “let’s.”
Chicago Electropop Artist David Poole Debuts Other-Worldly (literally!) “Getaway Driver” Single
Known for creating planetary soundscapes in a faraway digital realm all his own, electropop artist David Poole flexes his talent for emotional feel-good composing with his newest single, “Getaway Driver.”
The brainchild of Thomas Thurlow and Kate Nikles, David Poole marked his debut in 2018; he resides in a digital dreamland known affectionately as Readymade Utopia – a destination that sounds almost too good to be true.
Poole is considered the flagship musician of this dreamland. Known throughout the digital and real world for his electronic dancefloor rhythms, immersive soundscapes, and intense storytelling, Poole’s work embodies his struggles and triumphs as an up-and-coming musician in Three Cloud City – the creative hub of Readymade Utopia.
While typical “digital musicians” involve some sort of artificial intelligence, it seems that Thomas Thurlow and Kate Nikles do a lot of the heavy lifting for David Poole. It’s not super easy to find a lot of information on Thurlow and Nikles which adds to the enigma that surrounds Poole and amplifies the immersion in his fictional back story.
Or maybe it’s real.
David Poole’s music certainly is.
“Getaway Driver,” Poole’s most recent release, is an accidental heartbreak song shrouded in feel-good electronic production tropes. “I was in a relationship with someone I loved dearly; we had finally gotten back together after a year apart, and it was better than ever.”
What makes “Getaway Driver” an accidental heartbreak song is the story of its production. David Poole went into the production with high spirits and even higher hopes.
“I began to write what would become’ Getaway Driver’ as a love song. It was coming quickly; the chords and the melodies appeared in front of me without thinking. About 20 minutes into writing, I got a call. We couldn’t be together anymore, not because we weren’t in love but because situations change.”
Heartbreak is all too common — the story of being in the right place at the wrong time is something that cuts so much deeper; longing for a love that never really died, Poole found himself more committed to the upcoming production than he initially thought.
“As a way to deal with the sadness, I picked up the song again right after the call. Everything came to me almost instantly. I still have a demo on my computer of the song, fully structured, the lyrics almost the same. But that demo is way too intimate to ever share.”
Despite feeling dejected from the happenstance of being human (or at least we think, we’re not super sure), the overall ethos that Poole pools into his music represent a message of hope; “Just because it’s sad doesn’t mean it can’t be fun.” Poole’s buoyant production style coupled with his heartfelt storytelling reflects his mindset when composing music perfectly.
“Getaway Driver is the first single off my full-length debut album Start 2, which will be out mid-spring 2022 via Readymade Utopia. Start 2 is almost entirely about loss. I tried not to focus on the pain of the loss, but instead be grateful for getting to be so close to so many people that I never wanted them to leave my life.”
Victa Harnesses Sultry Late-Night Vibes in Seductive R&B-Pop “Keeping Score” Single
Canadian singer/songwriter Victa harnesses late-night vibes to drop a seductive R&B bop recounting the trials and tribulations of a complicated lover on his blazing-hot new single, “Keeping Score.”
A story about a couple with a raw, tumultuous connection plagued with mixed messages and trust issues, the song touches on themes of relationship imbalance and the feeling that both parties aren’t on the same page; as Victa puts it, “at that point, people start questioning if it’s worth the emotional cost.”
Victa’s objective on “Keeping Score” was to fuse a relatable message with infectious musical energy “maybe they’ll hear a bit of themselves in my lyrics.” The lyrical composition is a multi-layered affair with Victa’s melodic crescendos and sophisticated yet catchy hooks.
“And for your love, I can’t afford
She hate playing games but she play to keep scores
I got some dough, so Imma need some more
And there’s Cali in the air and there’s money on the floor”
The song is the latest jam from the Ottawa-based artist that seamlessly melds an up-tempo trap swing with textured synths to construct a song with mass appeal. Channeling the most significant artists in R&B and pop with a side of Jack Harlow, Victa’s ear for hits continues to develop; a balance of distinct soundscapes and pristine production values demonstrate that “Keeping Score” can stand alongside the most prominent recordings today.
Accompanying the release of “Keeping Score” is the music video release captured by prominent videographer Francis Klan ‘Chleepy,’ who lines up the visuals to the sonics in a cohesive way. Beautifully shot and edited, the music video further illustrates the lyrical dynamic between both characters. Rinila Haridas plays the sultry provocateur opposite Victa in a video brimming with style and seductive tone.
Victa, who goes by the real name Victor Gabriel-Hanson, is as dedicated to his music career as his education. After initially being criticized by his peers, a seismic shift from his haters came with the release of his first track “Switching Sides.” Victa has since honed his music as a vehicle to express vulnerabilities and “inspire people around me to do the same and follow their passions.”