This supercut contains an introduction for almost every guest star (exceptions noted below) on the entire run of “The Love Boat,” including the first 3 reunion specials – 901 in total!
Edmonton’s Country Artist Shawn Oates Releases New “Outta This Town” Single
Wanderlust consumes rising Canadian country star Shawn Oates as he releases his new single, “Outta This Town” — available now.
Straight from the stompin’ prairies, the Edmonton, Alberta-based artist borrows a chapter from the glory of the country greats with a ditty about trading common streets for newer heights — singing to his love about leaving it all behind for a different view.
“Life doesn’t always lead us in the correct direction, but it’s our ability to get back onto the right path that demonstrates our personal strength,” Oates says, sharing his personal journey of overcoming addiction to pursue his passion of music and get to where he is now — and beyond.
To that end, “Outta This Town” takes the listener on an open highway journey to the next chapter. Leaning on his authentically emotion-driven country roots, Oates delivers on a radio-cranked-to-eleven, campfire-by-the-dock track that works best set to repeat.
“It’s a feel-good song about getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life,” Oates shares of the track co-written with award-winning producer and hit songwriter Jeff Johnson and Rod Black. “With so much wrong with the world now, we wanted to write a song that takes people to a better place and puts a smile on their faces. It was recorded both by some of the top musicians in Canada and Nashville.”
Long familiar with the stage, Oates has already opened for Canadian country giant Jess Moskaluke, East coast rockers The Trews, and more as he collects fans nationwide. His infectious hooks, upbeat honky tonk, and classic country nods twangs eloquently against his powerhouse vocals and songwriting prowess.
Stepping into the limelight shared by Brett Kissell, Dean Brody, and Paul Brandt, Oates creates his own audience inside the Canadian country music community — a place he’s carved out through his own exciting and exhilarating talent.
Drop a quarter in the jukebox and set the dial to Shawn Oates radio. It’s good in the country.
Hip Hop Soul-R&B Artist MODLEE Reveals SOUL URGE in the Form of Newly Minted Album
Hip Hop soul-R&B artist MODLEE ushers audiences on a sound journey like none other with the release of her new album, SOUL URGE — available now via Disques 7ième Ciel.
Marking her arrival as the first female artist to sign with the label, the release is the fruit of a visionary, one-of-a-kind co-production alongside producer, DJ, and long-time collaborator, Vlooper.
A hymn to beauty, growth, and surrendering to your inner desires — the desires of the heart and soul — the LP shares stories tinged with inner healing and bearing a message to the other.
The album pulses on the foundations of its hip-hop and electro influences before soaring into the expansion of soul fusion styles; SOUL URGE immerses you in a parallel universe of Rhythm and Blues and lulls you with MODLEE’s velvety vocalizations and imagination.
With roots in Quebec and Jamaica, as well as frequent travel to the U.S., MODLEE has been greatly influenced by jazz, soul, R&B, gospel, and reggae. Dynamic in range, her signature style is suffused with personal tones and tends to touch on topics such as spirituality, community, feminine strength, and other values that are at the core of who she is.
Weaving together musical styles that have long been marginalized in Quebec throughout her singular journey, such as hip-hop and R&B, MODLEE continues to be a dynamic force contributing to the scene’s rich cultural diversity.
Having worked in the music industry since 2009, her wealth of experience has positioned the acclaimed singer as a source of positive inspiration that embodies what it means to be a positive role model, have a seat at the table, and express yourself in a distinctive, authentic voice.
Her release roster includes her breakthrough 2010 debut EP, ANALOG LOVE, her 2017 opus, Queendom Mix Tape, as well as the SUNWALK project from the Californian label Soulection, and a multitude of collaborations — including with rapper Eman on “Back to Me,” Alaclair Ensemble on “436,” rapper KNLO on “FANTAISIE,” and more.
“Volume 1” From Strongman Blues Remedy Feat Steve Strongman, Harrison Kennedy, Dawn Tyler Watson, Steve Marriner, Crystal Shawanda Released June 17
Readying itself as an antidote for the weariness worn on the sleeves of blues music lovers everywhere, a new collective project makes its way to the scene with the Strongman Blues Remedy, Volume 1 — available June 17 via Stony Plain Records.
Conceived by producer, songwriter and artist Steve Strongman, the “collective” features a veritable who’s who of the blues, including Dawn Tyler Watson, Crystal Shawanda, Steve Marriner, Jesse O’Brien, Alec Fraser, and Harrison Kennedy — who can be heard on the album’s newly released single, “I Like To Ride.”
With seven albums as a solo artist — plus Canada’s JUNO Award, the Mel Brown Blues Award, International Blues Challenge’s Best Guitarist winner, four Maple Blues Awards, and more — deep into his career Strongman is an acclaimed bluesman known for liberally applying swampy swagger and sweetness to shuffles, blues ballads, and four-on-the-floor chuggers alike. The Strongman Blues Remedy, Volume 1 is the Hamilton, Ontario-based musician’s first time producing, a process he calls “a huge learning curve, but incredibly rewarding.”
By doing songwriting sessions with a stellar cast of multi-award-winning and -nominated Canadian blues artists, he developed an album that touches on a wide cross-section of experiences and viewpoints. The result is an expansive 10-track album with one overarching message within: the best remedy for the world we’re living in right now is to fill it with music that celebrates life and focuses on the joys of being on the other side.
North By Northeast Music Festival Puts Focus Into The Clubs June 14-19, 2022
The festival with a capital ’N’, as in Next to discover the best bands before they break through is back; North by Northeast (NXNE) is officially starting to unveil its 2022 plans right as the sun starts to warm our souls.
Taking place in the nation’s entertainment mecca that is Toronto, Canada’s quintessential annual cultural explosion featuring music and more is set to span June 14th – 19th and feature more than 300 of the world’s best artists of today — and tomorrow.
Case in point? NXNE had Grimes, Lumineers, Daniel Caesar, Run The Jewels, The Weather Station, Sarah Harmer, Metz, Sarah Harmer, the Arkells, Sam Roberts, Lizzo, Future Islands, Vince Staples, Billy Talent, Post Malone, Feist, and thousands more on stages as part of the festival… All before they became household names.
“We’re back and taking over more than 20 of Toronto’s top live music venues,” NXNE Founder and President Michael Hollett reveals. “We want to make it very easy for people to come back to live music and experience stage-hopping like festivals used to be.”
NXNE makes great music accessible and inclusive to all, no artists are asked to pay to apply to play, all performers are paid, and admission to Club Shows in 2022 is low cost or free.
Full festival general admission tickets on sale for $20 available now at their website.
Speaking of which, full festival five-day passes are $20 — an inflation-defying $9.99 less than they were in 1995 when NXNE launched. “That’s actually cheaper than when it first started,” Hollett notes. “Especially given the pummelling the live music scene has taken over the last two years, we committed to removing financial barriers to NXNE to best connect artists with audiences; even for artists, it’s free to submit and they get paid to play.
“We have had an incredible response to our submission process and can’t wait to present these great acts to the world,” Hollett continues. “It’s time to experience live music again – and listen to the future at NXNE.”
The festival is committed to gender equity and BIPOC representation boasting a diverse line up that reflects the festival’s core theme “Talent is Everywhere.”
NXNE is proud to work with their supporting partners of this year’s festival including Slaight Music, Indie88, Gladstone House, Steam Whistle, Bulova, Long & McQuade, Yamaha, Exclaim, Grassroots, along with showcase sponsors KW TheMuseum, The City of Brampton, Music Manitoba, and WKBO The Bridge – with funding made possible by FACTOR, Canada Summer Jobs.
NXNE will take place Tuesday, June 14th – Sunday, June 19th in Toronto.
Shining Bright Amidst All the 80s Vibes, London, UK’s Pop/Soul Artist Nathalie Miranda Wants to Know: “Is This Love”
The ’80s are it right now, and Nathalie Miranda knows. In a powerful throwback soul/pop combo, her newest single “Is This Love” drums up nostalgia fumes rife with neon vibes and fluorescent lights all the way.
“Is This Love” is a powerful mixture of 80’s synth-pop and love-at-first sight. Impassioned and lyrical storytelling is coupled with swells of synth-fueled serotonin spikes as Nathalie Miranda’s infectiously soulful timbre spirits listeners.
“Is This Love’ was actually the perfect follow-up to ‘Battle Scars,’ which had a 70s rock/pop sound,” Nathalie Miranda shares. “‘Is This Love’ was always meant to be a nod to 80s pop music — which is my favorite music decade — so I thought ‘why not follow up a 70s sound with an 80s sound?’”
Nathalie Miranda’s most recent release capitalizes on everything great about modern production as she reimagines the virtues behind 80s pop music. With plenty of headroom, “Is This Love” is as full as our favorite Donna Summers’ remasters, creating an anthemic feeling throughout the entire composition.
“My producer worked on a retro production but with modern elements and, when I heard it for the first time, I had the biggest smile on my face! This song would finally allow me to live out my 80s popstar dream!’”
However, no 80s pop song is complete without a music video, especially one where balloons fall from the heavens. Nathalie Miranda checks all the boxes in her debut music video for “Is This Love,” using her connections as a breakthrough musician to really make this production complete; taking advantage of local venues and a bit of home reorganizing creates the perfect aesthetic for this breakout synth-queen.
“I took inspiration from 80s artists like Kylie Minogue and Madonna, but my main reference point was ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ by Whitney Houston,” she explains. “I loved the colors in her video and the way everything was fast-paced. I even bought a purple dress similar to the one she wears in the video! It took a bit of searching but I found something very close, and it worked perfectly.”
Nathalie Miranda is a London-based pop/soul artist whose earned respect branches from her power-house vocals and incredibly soulful voice. Best characterized as the UK’s response to US Uber Divas, Miranda’s voice and energy is single-handedly laying the foundation for a break-out in the music industry.
Nathalie Miranda has a knack for experimenting with different styles, pushing through the red tape of being boxed into a single genre – let alone industry standards.
Inspired by legendary musicians of the past, Nathalie Miranda takes inspiration from her idols and effortlessly adapts it into her own inimitable sound. Her unmistakable vocals have caught the attention of many producers internationally who’ve invited her to co-write and feature on many dance tracks.
Girl Pow-R Dazzle with Out-Of-This-World New Single, “Galaxy”
While Girl Pow-R may be based out of Toronto, the young, powerhouse women who comprise the group come together from all parts of the globe, and now they’re back with a single that’s outta this “Galaxy.”
The JUNO-nominated girl group — including Emma Bown from Hamilton, Cindy Kofman from Richmond Hill, and Carina Bianchini from Markham — have been inspiring audiences and motivating young people since bursting on the scene in 2017. The pop/alternative/dance outfit found one another on International Women’s Day, and have been leaving their indelible mark on the music community ever since.
Now they’re back with “Galaxy,” the eponymous lead track off their sophomore release. The electro-pop, alternative track is a metamorphosis into a new sonic era for the group. Produced by Jovan Jovanov and Ivan Jovanov IWAYO, the song speaks to the greater purpose of the group: reminding fans that nothing is impossible and that aiming for the stars means landing among the galaxy and new heights.
“‘Galaxy’ is all about leaving your mark and chasing after your dreams no matter how big they may be,” says Cindy. “We will learn to conquer the whole galaxy, as we are determined to make it! We want the listeners to know that we are coming out strong with our new music and plans, and we can’t wait to make our dreams come true!
“We hope to inspire everyone to go after their dreams no matter how big or small they are!”
The music and the messaging are appropriate for all ages, as Girl Pow-R continues to provide family-friendly music that’s both exciting to dance to and it provides uplifting messages with clean lyrics. “We collaborate on the songwriting, but sometimes we will break off into groups,” Carina explains. “Our producer Jovan gives us ideas for the style of our song, and we come up with different concepts and experiment with lyrics; typically the music comes before the lyrics.
“I believe our music stands out because of the messages we promote that stand behind anti-bullying and self-confidence.”
Girl Pow-R has earned legions of fans the world over, boasting hundreds of thousands of streams and spins online. Beyond the music, the group provides a visual component to their tracks and hits the road performing at hundreds of appearances per year. Their music earns steady rotation in radio and has become internationally recognized both by the sheer number of fans and equally impressive accolades. The music video of “Galaxy” is slated to drop by early Spring 2022.
“‘Galaxy’ started from an idea about using outer space as a metaphor for all of the big things we want to achieve, and places we want to go,” says Carina. “There is no limit on what we and our fans can achieve. We hope that listeners can feel inspired to achieve their goals after listening to this song because if it’s possible to go to space, which the world has already done, then it’s possible to do anything.”
“‘Galaxy’ is basically a symbol for us (and our fans) achieving great things that are ‘out of this world,’” adds Emma. “The inspiration came from wanting to write a song about the future and how we can reach our goals.”
It’s Girl Pow-R’s “Galaxy”… And we’re all invited to orbit it.
Robb Nash is the “Ally” Many Need with Release of New Single & EP
Named an ‘Extraordinary Canadian,’ award-winning Canadian rocker and Governor General of Canada Meritorious Service Medal recipient Robb Nash is the “Ally” many who are waging war against mental illness need to have on their side.
So goes the fitting title of his newly available song and EP, “Ally” — the latest in a string of stirring releases shining a stark spotlight on suicide and prevention.
“With the theme of being ‘at war’ with mental illness, I wanted to show all aspects of it,” Nash shares, citing his forthcoming album’s title, This Is War. “There are moments when you’re on the front lines. There are moments when you’re in triage
“And the new single, ‘Ally,’ is the moment you realize that, in order to win any war, you can’t fight it alone,” he continues. “In the song, you’ll hear two people having faced the same struggles cry out and vow to be there whenever their ally feels fragile and vulnerable.”
One peek up Nash’s sleeve at the hundreds of names tattooed on his arm reveals he very much walks the talk.
“The names are from over 900 suicide notes I’ve received from kids,” Nash explains. “Some of them have my lyrics as tattoos, too; it’s a mutual relationship of ‘go forth and conquer.’”
Alongside The Robb Nash Project’s new songs, “This Is War” and “Ally,” and the album that orbits them, the skin-inked gesture is part of Nash’s long-held commitment to combat mental illness — a high-stakes conflict he personally endured.
Found with no pulse following a head-on collision, Nash was resuscitated on the side of the icy road near his home in Winnipeg, MB. His skull was rebuilt with Titanium, and his lengthy recovery sparked a severe depression. “Frankly, I did not want to be alive,” he shares. “I was an athlete; my identity was lost, and that brought me to a very dark place for two-and-a-half years.
“Men in this society can feel like talking about our feelings or struggles is weak, so I kept it inside. One day, I picked up the guitar and started my entire journey into music to tell my story.”
While that journey included, at one point, a record deal on the table, it ultimately morphed into a motivational-meets-music tour telling his story, confronting stigmas, demonstrating purpose, and welcoming those most vulnerable to feel okay asking for help.
Now in its 11th year and counting, The Robb Nash Project has appeared before more than 500,000 people — mostly students across the country, as well as at maximum-security prisons, and keynote speeches for the Psychiatric Association of Canada. He also works closely with Kids Help Phone, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and school counselors to ensure students get the follow-up they need.
While the new album’s inspiration might have come from students coast to coast, the sound on This Is War is all Nash’s. Co-produced by Anthony Anderson and Steve Smith, the 13-track heavy rock release reveals the familiar full-throated rallying cry of anger, hope, and concern previously displayed across EPs Tell Me Why (2019), Live On Arrival (2020), and more. This is War marks the first release under Nash’s new partnership with Warner Music Canada.
“It all has the same goal: save lives,” Nash says of both his public health leadership and music — including This Is War. “I’ve realized you can have all the resources available, but if people aren’t ready to reach out for help, it’s no use.
“In that, I was trying to figure out what my role was,” he shares of both the album, and his ongoing ethos that’s earned him a rightful spot in Peter Mansbridge’s book, Extraordinary Canadians, as well the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada.
“I’m not a counselor. I’m not a psychologist. I’m here to get the conversation started, and to let people know it’s okay to reach out for help.”
Danny Blueberry Pays Homage to “Batman and Robin” with New Single
There’s no denying the bat signal in the audio sky. It’s Montreal’s Danny Blueberry flying high on his latest single, a cheeky homage to the dynamite duo of the Superhero universe — “Batman and Robin” is available now.
“I loved everything about the show,” Blueberry says of the Batman series. “From the opening song to the brightly dressed, campy characters and intense wild storylines…
“But what really caught my attention was the Batgirl/librarian character played by Yvonne Craig,” he continues. “I fell in love with her character and was always astounded at how Batman and Robin always seemed to ignore her as they spoke about the crimes they wanted to prevent and the Bat-toys they would use.”
An international storyteller with experience spanning decades, Blueberry has gone on to pen more than seventy songs over his illustrious career. Time spent in Taiwan in 2021 introduced Blueberry to Mike McLaughlin and Chuck Payne, two American musicians based out of the Asian country. Together, the trio spent nearly a year recording together and ultimately produced nearly thirty originals Blueberry had crafted over his tenure as a musician.
“These songs are now being released monthly,” Blueberry explains. “Each with a video, and each will be part of a collection called The Opium Year.” The first three tracks off the latest album have reached 300k+ streams on Spotify in their first month alone.
“The collection contains songs I’ve written over a forty-year period – this is one of the most immature ones, but also quite a lot of fun and an audience favourite at my shows,” Blueberry adds.
“Batman and Robin” is a cleverly masterminded rock piece; high-energy, and fast tempo as if you’re listening to a comic book out of your speakers. Its electrifying lead guitar mashed with pulsating percussion lets you relive the earliest inceptions of the original cartoon Batman and lingers on like an earworm.
“As I got older and learned how to play guitar, this was the first song I wrote as I imagined a racier version of the show,” Blueberry says. “The lyrics and angst show what was going through my 17-year-old brain back in 1980.”
The sheer fun and excitement of Blueberry’s “Batman and Robin” is a reassurance that nostalgia lives on — through reruns, through memory, through newly designed homages; and for this songwriter, through audioscape.
One spin and you’re suddenly a citizen of Gotham. The moon has been set aside as the brightest light in the sky. It’s been replaced by the bat signal of Danny Blueberry. And the message is a song about the most heroic dream team of them all — “Batman and Robin.”
Pixar Turns ‘Monsters Inc.’ Into A Silent Film
It’s scarin’ time! Grab your popcorn and watch Mike and Sulley fill up those scream canisters in this classic silent film style.