Home Blog Page 1568

Singers For Hope Raise Awareness For Mental Health with “This is My Song – For You”

Eric Alper
-
0
Singers For Hope Raise Awareness For Mental Health with “This is My Song – For You”

The power of song can change hearts and inspire minds, and the power of community is a force to be reckoned with. Combine them and you’ll have a formidable tool to uplift, unify and empower — a feat 12 esteemed Canadian artists called Singers For Hope have accomplished with their new single and video, “This is My Song – For You.”

After two years of COVID-19 and moving just beyond the loneliness of lockdown, Canada’s population has become very fatigued, frustrated, and anxious on the whole; a recent study by the Angus Reid Institute reports 1 in 3 Canadians polled say they are struggling with their mental health.

Perhaps at no other time in our modern history have we needed the healing power of music more than right now so, when musicians Mike Goettler and Eric Baragar, two members of longtime Belleville, Ontario- area quintet Bentwood Rockers, came up with the idea for The Singers of Hope project in early 2021, they had little idea of how timely the resulting song and video would be. The two of them gathered other members from their band of local heroes, as well as other area artists with decades of performing and recording experience to contribute their time and talents.

“This quickly morphed into a community music project featuring some of the best talents in the Quinte/Peterborough area,” Goettler and Baragar share.

The Singers For Hope and their solo, group, and studio affiliations are:

Andy Forgie (Photograph, All You Need is Love)
Dan Thompson (Bentwood Rocker, Noah)
Tara Leavey (aka Phyllis Leavey recording artist)
Robyn Scott (country recording artist)
Dave Conley (worldwide solo piano/vocal, Sands of Time)
Mike Goettler (Bentwood Rocker, Sands of Time)
Tim Campbell (Tim Campbell Trio, Bentwood Rocker, Sands of Time)
Steve Smith (Bentwood Rocker, Sands of Time, All You Need is Love)
Ken Harnden (solo and group recording artist, Pinnacle Music Studios)
Mark Rashotte (Photograph, All You Need is Love)
Barry Haggarty (Bentwood Rocker, solo artist, Haggarty Sound Studios)
Eric Baragar (Bentwood Rocker, Sands of Time, BigBMusic Studio)

“This is My Song – For You” was created over a 10-month period in 2021 and recorded remotely due to pandemic safety restrictions. The tracking and arrangement took place in Eric Baragar’s BigBMusic Studio. Later, vocals and guitar parts were recorded in several remote locations including Tim Campbell’s Keynote Studios, Barry Haggarty’s Haggarty Sound Studios, and Mark Rashotte’s Empire Theatre Stage in Belleville, Ontario.

“This is My Song – For You” promotes the Enrichment Centre for Mental Health, a non-profit agency that strives to enhance the mental wellness and quality of life of people in Belleville’s diverse community, as a way to enhance community awareness. It’s a caring message from an artistic community dedicated to supporting and healing from our past two years of strife and isolation.

Americana/Soul Rocker Peter Serrado Gets Honest and Self-Reflective in “If It All Came Down To This”

Eric Alper
-
0
Americana/Soul Rocker Peter Serrado Gets Honest and Self-Reflective in “If It All Came Down To This”

The longer we go through life, the more there’s a need for healthy self-reflection, especially when it comes to solving matters of the heart. Canadian Americana and soul-rock crooner Peter Serrado offers up such in his soaring, introspective, and soul-searching new single, “If It All Came Down To This.”

With understated guitar and piano punctuated with easygoing beats, the Etobicoke-based artist sings in his signature sweet raspy tone about a lost love that he hopes will be found again. He closes his eyes and sees the person, and the trajectory of the relationship, across the landscape of his mind:

I see fields, I see skies
Oh there’s a truth in your eyes
I remember those nights
With you, with you, I see fields, I see skies

As he explores his feelings, he becomes resolute in his willingness to show up and do the hard work necessary — “I’ll roll up my sleeves/for whatever you need.” There’s the sense that he wouldn’t necessarily have done this before, but now with age and maturity he’s come into a new, more humbled perspective — “It’s easy to miss/hard when you’re older.”

Warm, enveloping vocal harmonies bring the song to the bridge, where he asks his former lover for a second of her time, promising that at this point “I’m all out of fight.” The corresponding lyric video shows Serrado sitting at a bar, sipping a drink, the way a man who’s contemplating a difficult, heartfelt phone call might.

“’If It All Came Down To This’ was written during a moment and time where I was consumed by the realities and hardships of life,” Serrado shares. “No limits, no structure, the band came in and we played exactly what we were destined to play. It made sense.”

The song is from Serrado’s album of the same title, seat for release this summer. “The album is one big story, and simply talks about life, and its complexities, the hardships, the beauty of being a human being in such a crazy world,” Serrado reveals. “From friendship, love, heartbreak, loss, injustice, and hope, this album has a story that everyone can relate to.”

Born in Toronto, Peter Serrado gravitated to music at an early age, discovering a deep love of retro soul and funk, European crooners, Americana roots, and R&B. As a songsmith, his songs are powerful yet intimate, and reflect an artist wise beyond his years. Peter’s unique voice evokes the scope of artists such as Ray Lamontagne, Joe Cocker, and John Mayer. The pairing of a gravelly voice and a sage soul has led to Peter’s music touchingly reflecting both light and shade.

In 2018, Peter became the first unsigned artist to ever compete in Portugal’s Eurovision qualifier, Festival de Cançao. Voted second overall and advancing to the finals, Peter brought his lead single “Sunset & A City” to televisions around the world. In 2019, Peter was voted Best New Artist at the International Portuguese Music Awards in Boston.

Chicago’s Sarantos Assures That “Love ALWAYS Wins!” in New LGBTQIA+ Single

Eric Alper
-
0
Chicago’s Sarantos Assures That “Love ALWAYS Wins!” in New LGBTQIA+ Single

Award-winning singer and multi-instrumentalist Sarantos delivers the positive vibes and messages we all need with his effortlessly charming new single, “Love ALWAYS Wins!”

The inspirational song embeds an unapologetic call to action for justice and equal LGBTQIA+ rights within a lively tune radiating with energy. According to Sarantos, the song’s objective is simple: “to bring awareness to the struggle LGBTQIA+ individuals go through daily.”

Deceptively intricate bass lines and a laid-back percussive style set the stage for catchy lyrics and a distinct musical aesthetic that stands out from the rest of the pack.

“We all wanna live in Mayberry but we just don’t
Life’s black n’ white then color
We hold on together never let go
We beg the world to love us but we know
There’s no love without pain no love without rain
No one’s ever a saint and love, love is never the same”

Showing love to The Windy City in his exceptional music video, Sarantos visually communicates his message with beautiful cinematography and humanistic imagery that tells a story of hope. The music video showcases the colourful landscapes of the first officially recognized gay village in the United States, Boystown Chicago.

“Love ALWAYS Wins!” is the latest song in a vast repertoire of upbeat music from an artist who isn’t afraid to push boundaries. The bold and dynamic approach Sarantos has taken with his music has garnered GRAMMY considerations, several top-ten songs on the independent music charts, and frequent radio play on several stations around the world — all without the assistance of promotors or a record label.

Having got his start in music in the 4th grade, Sarantos is on a mission to bring his art to the masses with an unparalleled work ethic resulting in a vast collection of original music and literature; his undying love and obsession with music have manifested into 4,000 original songs over the span of his writing career.

The countless artistic accolades bestowed upon Sarantos have not affected his drive to uplift listeners while drawing attention to important social issues. Putting his money where his mouth is, Sarantos donates a portion of all proceeds to a number of charitable organizations with the hopes of inspiring other artists to do the same.

Sarantos channels the love of his father who passed in 2010 due to lung cancer, to remind listeners of the preciousness of life through song, and to make the world a better place for all.

Smokey Robinson’s Isolated Vocals For “Tears Of A Clown”

Eric Alper
-
0
Smokey Robinson’s Isolated Vocals For “Tears Of A Clown”

“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”

Eric Alper
-
0
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”

Eric Alper
-
0
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

Eric Alper
-
0
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

Eric Alper
-
0
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

Eric Alper
-
0
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

Eric Alper
-
0
Here comes the Telephone Rhythm Machine

ELECTRONICOS FANTASTICOS! connected the old rotary telephone, a drum repeater rhythm machine, and a KORG synthesizer.

1...1,5671,5681,569...3,042Page 1,568 of 3,042

Follow us on Instagram @thatericalper

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

Popular posts

Popular category

© Copyright - That Eric Alper