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SiriusXM Spreads Holiday Cheer with Launch of Most Holiday Music Channels Ever

Eric Alper
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SiriusXM Spreads Holiday Cheer with Launch of Most Holiday Music Channels Ever

SiriusXM announced today its extensive holiday music lineup featuring 19 ad-free channels including two new channels, Holiday Instrumentals and Noël Incontournable, as well as the much-anticipated Holly and Holiday Traditions channels. The festive music channels are kicking off the holiday season and are available on the SXM App now, Your Home For The Holidays.

SiriusXM’s holiday music channels, its biggest lineup ever, will spread the holiday cheer, offering listeners a variety of traditional holiday songs, classic Christmas carols, contemporary holiday tunes, seasonal soul music, holiday pop songs, country Christmas classics, Hanukkah music, and classical Christmas favorites.

SiriusXM will again launch a collection of holiday music online channels, including 70s/80s Christmas, Jolly Christmas, Rockin’ Xmas, Holiday Chill-Out and Jazz Holidays.

SiriusXM is available to subscribers in their car and on their phone and connected devices at home with the SXM App. Streaming access is included for most subscribers. Go to www.siriusxm.com/ways-to-listen to learn more.

For more information visit: www.siriusxm.com/holiday-music

SiriusXM’s holiday channel lineup features:

Holly (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 105) 
Contemporary holiday hits featuring songs by Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Pentatonix, Norah Jones, John Legend, Train, Lady A, Ariana Grande and more. 
Available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 105 now through Sunday, December 26

Holiday Traditions (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 71)
Traditional holiday recordings from the ’40s through the ’60s by artists such as Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Ray Conniff and Nat King Cole.
Available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 71 now through Sunday, December 26

Hallmark Channel Radio (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 104)
Hallmark Channel Radio is back for the holidays, featuring timeless Christmas music and carols that celebrate the joy of the season. Hear the songs you love brought to you by beloved Hallmark stars like Candace Cameron Bure, Lacey Chabert, Jonathan Bennett, and more, who will share their favorite holiday songs and traditions. The channel will also take listeners behind the scenes of their all-new Countdown to Christmas movies. Hallmark Channel Radio is the perfect destination to embrace the wonder of the season with loved ones.
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26
Monday, November 23 – Sunday, December 26 via satellite on channel 104

Holiday Soul (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 49)
Classic soul and Motown holiday music from the 60’s and 70’s, along with R&B holiday music from the 80’s, 90’s and today, including Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Lou Rawls, Smokey Robinson, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, John Legend, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton and many more.
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26
Tuesday, December 7 – Sunday, December 26 via satellite on channel 49

Country Christmas (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 58)
Spanning the generations of country Christmas music, including Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood and George Strait. 
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26
Tuesday, December 7 – Sunday, December 26 via satellite on channel 58

Christmas Spirit (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 63)
Christmas music and holiday favorites exclusively from contemporary Christian artists including Amy Grant, Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Lauren Daigle, for KING & COUNTRY, Michael W. Smith Matthew West, Francesca Battistelli and more.
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26
Tuesday, December 7 – Sunday, December 26 via satellite on channel 63

Holiday Pops (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 76)
Classical Christmas carols and holiday favorites performed by some of the greatest classical artists of all-time, including Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Luciano Pavarotti, New York Philharmonic, King’s College Choir, Boston Pops and Thomas Hampson.
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26
Friday, December 24 – Saturday, December 25 via satellite on channel 76

Acoustic Christmas (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 6)
The tree may be lit, but SiriusXM wants to help you unplug this Christmas with nothing but acoustic holiday tunes. Hear new and classic holiday songs from well-known singer songwriters and bands like Jack Johnson, Sia, George Ezra, Train, Norah Jones, Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, The Lumineers and many more.
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26
Friday, December 24 – Saturday, December 25 via satellite on channel 6

Mannheim Steamroller Channel (available on the SXM App)
Mannheim Steamroller takes holiday classics in a refreshing new direction with their signature blend of symphonic, new age and rock music. Explore more than three decades of their majestic sounds of the season with Mannheim Steamroller founder Chip Davis.
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26

Navidad (available on the SXM App)
Latin holiday music and traditional sounds, including Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, Tito El Bambino, Marco Antonio Solís and Fania All-Stars.
Available on the SXM App now through Thursday, January 6

Radio Hanukkah (available on the SXM App)
Extensive collection of Hanukkah-themed music, including contemporary, traditional and children’s selections as well as daily reflections and prayers related to the holiday.
Available on the SXM App Tuesday, November 23 through Monday, December 6

Jolly Christmas (available on the SXM App)
Upbeat, energetic holiday hits from The Chipmunks and Gene Autry to Mariah Carey and Jose Feliciano. Feel-good, singing along with the songs you know, bringing smiles to the season! Always a holiday hit…on Jolly Christmas.
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26

Holiday Instrumentals (available on the SXM App)
An all new holiday music channel featuring holiday favorites, but the vocals are replaced with instruments. String, piano, orchestra versions and more of your favorite holiday hits. Feel free to sing along with holiday hits instrumental style.
Available via streaming on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26

Noël Incontournable (available on the SXM App)
An all new holiday music channel featuring Francophone Christmas classics and contemporary holiday hits from the ’60s to today with music from Ginette Reno, Bruno Pelletier and Laurence Nerbonne.
Available year-round on the SXM App.

Jazz Holidays (available on the SXM App)
Fire up the chestnuts and be prepared to bop along under the mistletoe with Christmas favorites from classic legends and contemporary jazz stars alike. Featuring songs from Ella Fitzgerald, David Benoit, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny G, Dianne Reeves, Dave Koz, and Vince Guaraldi.
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26

70s/80s Holidays (available on the SXM App)
Sing-a-long to the biggest and most familiar Christmas and holiday songs from the ’70s and ’80s. Featuring songs from The Carpenters, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, Hall & Oates, The Jackson 5 and more.  
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26

Rockin’ Xmas (available on the SXM App)
SiriusXM’s Rockin’ Xmas Channel features classic Christmas songs that rock including hits, from AC/DC, Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi, U2, Tom Petty, REO Speedwagon, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Eagles and more.  Plus hear songs that might make you laugh from Cheech & Chong, Adam Sandler and others. 
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26

Holiday Chill-Out (available on the SXM App)
SiriusXM brings you a 24/7 Holiday Chill-Out channel featuring downtempo & deep house versions of classic holiday music.
Available on the SXM App now through Sunday, December 26

New Year’s Nation (available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 105)
New Year’s Nation is custom curated to serve as your ultimate New Year’s celebration playlist powering your party with the best pop, rhythm, dance and hip-hop hits from across the nation to ring in 2022. Featuring songs from Dua Lipa, Justin Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers and more.
Available on the SXM App and via satellite on channel 105 on Monday, December 27 through Monday, January 3

Alt.Rocker MDMP Channels Cosmic Forces of Sound and Silence into Emotionally-Charged “Strength”

Eric Alper
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Alt.Rocker MDMP Channels Cosmic Forces of Sound and Silence into Emotionally-Charged “Strength”

Cosmic forces of sound and silence are channelled effortlessly through the artistic perception of multi-disciplined renaissance musician MDMP on the emotionally charged single “Strength” — available now.

The new single off MDMP’s ambitious 27-part debut album, Day One, “Strength” is a harrowing tale surrounding the internal struggle that invites itself in when all hope seems lost.

Featuring the ultra-talented metal band Dayshell out of Southern California, MDMP fearlessly captures the haunting realities of those who deal with trauma in harmful ways; particularly those with substance abuse issues. Meticulous listeners are rewarded with a vocal performance that takes no lyric for granted with the depth and raw energy that does this pain-staking subject justice.

Look no further than the official music video for “Strength” to watch the emotional story of a young man who keeps slipping further into darkness with an array of gut-wrenching imagery that hits home. MDMP’s goal with this song is to focus on an issue that affects people worldwide. Every detail was considered when addressing the somber tone of the video with high-quality acting and artful cinematography lending itself to the authenticity of the lyrics.

While darker aspects of the human experience are explored comfortably on Day One, a myriad of universal themes are embedded within the vast sonic spectrum of MDMP’s unique instrumentation. There is no limit to the scope of musical ideas on the epic 27 song album that ranges from arena rock to more introspective synth compositions to the fantastical hair metal bands of yesteryear while also incorporating reggae and disco elements.

Unfettered by genre conventions, MDMP is an anomalous songwriter who has long since thrown out the rule book to craft something singular in its vision. “Some artists are determined to be the same and never change, and they’re going to go down with that ship,” he says. “I don’t want to do that.

MDMP is the brainchild of Hawaii-based singer/songwriter and eclectic multi-instrumentalist Jeremey Meyer. Nebraska in the 90s was a pivotal period for the impressionable young artist who would absorb influence from the greatest rock bands at the time—going as far as to recite legendary macabre poet Edgar Allan Poe in song during his school’s English class. Meyer’s love for multi-faceted art would accompany him to the sands of Iraq as a military service member before returning home and finding success on stage as bassist for hard rock band Sherry Drive. Meyer would relocate to Nanakuli, Hawaii, where he continues to push himself creatively under the enigmatic alt-rock outfit MDMP.

MDMP’s debut album, Day One, and the melancholy new single, “Strength,” are available now on all digital platforms, CD and Vinyl.

Nunavut-Based Pop-Rap Artist Aocelyn Unveils New Single & Video in “I Wish I Was a King”

Eric Alper
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Nunavut-Based Pop-Rap Artist Aocelyn Unveils New Single & Video in “I Wish I Was a King”

Inuk pop-rap artist Aocelyn ascends to her rightful throne with the unveiling of her new single and video, “I Wish I Was a King” — available now.

The song lands ahead of the 22-year-old Nunavut-based songwriter, vocalist and freestyler’s forthcoming debut album, Lovely, set to arrive this November 5th via Iqaluit-based record label, Hitmakerz.

An extremely unique artist who has overcome many challenges, including housing insecurity and extensive bullying throughout her life, Jocelyn Arreak — and nom de plume, Aocelyn (pronounced “aw-slin) — hope to help others avoid the bullying that she experienced.

Having written her first song “Live To Love Life” in an attempt to deal with the harassment she faced, she says her music focuses on themes of believing in yourself, rooting for those who’ve been outcasted, spreading hope, and breaking the stigma around mental illness.

Discovered by the late Kelly Fraser, Aocelyn released her first music video “Adventure Awaits” in 2019, and was also featured in the music collective Ajungi album that same year. In September of 2021, Aocelyn attended the Hitmakerz Compound in Ottawa, where she recorded the video for “I Wish I Was a King” with filmmaker, Rachel J. Vrecic.

“I Wish I Was a King” — as well as the rest of the Lovely album — was produced by Thor Simonsen (Kelly Fraser, Aasiva, Joey Nowyuk, Shauna Seeteenak, etc.) and Bardur Haberg (Girls’ Generation, Namie Amuro, Kumi Koda, The Disney Channel, etc.). The single artwork was created by Bjorn Ulvedal Simonsen.

Financial support for the album and music video was provided by the Government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Film Development Corporation, respectively.

Lovely is available November 5, 2021.

“I Wish I Was a King” is available now.

Folk-Rock Songstress ERIKA LAMON Moves Forward to “Catch the Light”

Eric Alper
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Folk-Rock Songstress ERIKA LAMON Moves Forward to “Catch the Light”

Love affairs, personal epiphanies, floods of memories, messy situations… Every life story can become inspiration for a song, and Canadian folk-rock artist Erika Lamon is distilling such moments into her forthcoming album, and new single “Catch the Light” — available now.

Confronting the world at a pandemic standstill gave Lamon and her co-writer, producer, and husband, Max Nolet, the desire to set creativity in motion and record an album. The result is the Kingston-based singer-songwriter’s first full length, and FACTOR funded effort, Hues — set to arrive May 27, 2022.

Fittingly, the album recording process began in 2020 with Lamon sitting in the middle of her home studio with “lyrics from the last few years strewn about me on the floor,” she recalls.

“I asked myself: ‘what songs am I really excited about? Cutting it down to fifteen songs was tough.”

Then, as inspiration would strike, Lamon and Nolet would write new songs, cutting that initial list even more.

“But throughout the process, we let excitement be our compass for the album,” explains Lamon. “By the end of the winter, we had narrowed it down to a single pile, and ‘Catch the Light’ was at the top of it.”

Even though “Catch the Light” was written in 2015 prior to the release of Lamon’s debut, self-titled EP, Lamon knew the song’s time had now come to be recorded and released.

“I remember sitting with a guitar at my in-law’s kitchen counter and playing it for the first time for Max, my now-husband and producer, and everything was there.”

Following where excitement led also influenced the recording of “Catch the Light,” she continues. “A lot of things appeared at the last minute in the song as people got creative: the bass swells, the backup vocals…. Even the guitar solo wasn’t part of the original plan.

“That’s the beauty of art: Those unscripted moments make a recording what it is.”

Writing and recording Hues and releasing “Catch the Light” mark Lamon’s reemergence from two years of performing and touring from Toronto to Charlottetown following the 2017 release of her debut EP. In 2020, the much anticipated, one-off single and video “Omen” garnered attention from FACTOR, and earned Lamon financial support for recording her first album and releasing “Catch the Light” this year.

“Music, for me, is about connecting to ourselves and the world around us through story,” explains Lamon. “And when we made the demo for ‘Catch the Light,’ all I could think was: this is the start of that story.”

“Catch the Light” is available now. Hues is available May 27, 2022.

Sonic Reducers: TikTokers Are Blaming The Devil For Astroworld Disaster

Eric Alper
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Sonic Reducers: TikTokers Are Blaming The Devil For Astroworld Disaster

Sonic Reducers. 1 topic. 2 music nerds. 5 minutes.

We try to comprehend claims that Satan was behind the Astroworld tragedy, dig deeper into the connection between the devil + music, and wonder why rappers + hip-hoppers aren’t as preoccupied with Lucifer.

U.S. Postal Service Reveals New Pete Seeger Stamp for 2022

Eric Alper
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U.S. Postal Service Reveals New Pete Seeger Stamp for 2022

The U.S. Postal Service has announced a new Pete Seeger stamp to be issued in 2022.

“The new 2022 stamps are miniature works of art, designed to be educational and appeal to collectors and pen pals around the world,” said USPS Stamp Services Director William Gicker. “As always, the program offers a variety of subjects celebrating American culture and history. The vivid colors and unique designs of this year’s selections will add a special touch of beauty on your envelopes.”

The 10th stamp in the Music Icons series honors Pete Seeger (1919-2014), a champion of traditional music and its power to inspire activism. Seeger’s clear tenor voice, iconic banjo and enormous charisma transformed concerts into singalongs. The stamp art features a color-tinted black-and-white photograph of Seeger singing and playing his banjo in the early 1960s, by Dan Seeger, the performer’s son. One side of the pane includes 16 stamps and the image of a sliver of a record seeming to peek out the top of the sleeve. A larger version of the stamp art photograph appears on the reverse side. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp and pane.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.

Pandora Honors First-Ever Hip Hop History Month This November With New Hip Hop Forever Station

Eric Alper
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Pandora Honors First-Ever Hip Hop History Month This November With New Hip Hop Forever Station

November has officially been recognized by the United States Senate as Hip Hop History Month, and to commemorate the very first iteration of this annual celebration of hip hop music, Pandora will launch a brand new station to take fans on a journey through the decades of the genre. The new station, entitled Hip Hop Forever, will feature four artist-curated modes highlighting hip hop music from the 80s through today.

From coast to coast, subgenre to subgenre, Pandora will honor the iconic musical artists who made hip hop one of the most popular art forms in the entire world. Each decade of hip hop history will have its own featured Mode on the “Hip Hop Forever” station, hosted by trailblazing artists who will walk listeners through their favorite songs and stories from that time. The Modes feature commentary from Kid n Play, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Naughty By Nature, Ghostface Killah, Lil Jon, Soulja Boy, Drumma Boy, BIA, Wale, Latto, Don Toliver, Lakeyah, Rich the Kid, and Hitmaka.

“Hip Hop has become bigger than just a genre of music, it’s pop culture and a lifestyle,” states J1, Pandora’s Senior Director of Hip Hop. “Working directly with artists to present their music and hear them tell their stories was fun, enlightening and an honor. We’ve been able to create something that hip hop fans will not find anywhere else.”

Earlier this year, the Senate unanimously voted to officially recognize November as Hip Hop History Month. The legislation notes that hip-hop is a genre that “transcends many different ages, ethnicities, religions, locations, political affiliations, and socioeconomic statuses, which demonstrates the melting-pot quality of Hip Hop art and culture.”

“God used Hip Hop to save my life,” says Play of the trailblazing hip hop duo Kid n Play about Pandora’s recognition of Hip Hop History Month. “Hip Hop culture inspired me to start paying attention to gifts I didn’t know I had. I appreciate, support and salute Pandora’s Hip Hop Forever Radio to hopefully inspire & point others in a positive direction!”

Pandora Artist Takeover Modes live on the platform’s top stations and feature the biggest names in music across Pandora’s most popular genres. Artist Takeovers feature music handpicked by the artist including a mix of their own songs and personal favorites from other artists, with special audio commentary describing their selections and what they mean to them.

Listen to Hip Hop Forever on Pandora here.

Fate-Crossed Rock Duo LIBRE STONE Lay it All On The Line For New “Mark of Cain” Single and Album

Eric Alper
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Fate-Crossed Rock Duo LIBRE STONE Lay it All On The Line For New “Mark of Cain” Single and Album

England’s fate-crossed rock duo Libre Stone lay it all on the line when it comes to the release of their new full-length album and title single, Mark of Cain — available now.

The 11-song strong release follows their debut EP, Wrecking Ball, and lands as a passion project they were forced to create remotely due to a global-wide pandemic.

The pair met at a Tears for Fears fan group gathering, and found commonality and mutual ground within each other from their first encounter. “Dion Smith and I got chatting and he told me he played a bit of guitar — which was an outright lie,” Julian Orzabal (brother of Roland of Tears For Fears) recalls of their first interactions. “He plays a lot of guitar, and plays it very well.

“I said I needed a couple of guitar solos for a project I was working on,” Julian continues. “A week or so later he sent me the solos, and they were great. He then asked me to write some lyrics on a tune he had, and I obliged.

“That was the start of Libre Stone.”

From there, the two would buckle down as musicians and songwriters, music makers and storytellers, bouncing ideas off one another, and trusting the intuition of the other to create the soundscape that would eventually shape Libre Stone into what we hear today. “We soon realised we were a great combination for writing together because he brought the ideas to the areas I was not so good at, and I brought the missing parts of the puzzle to the areas he was not so good at,” Dion says. “So, it just worked!

“We continued to write and realised, the more we worked together, the easier the process became and the better the songs were.”

Now, with their commitment to creating together had become concrete, it was time for Libre Stone to turn to penning an arsenal of songs that would later become a debut EP, followed by their full-length effort, Mark of Cain. “We decided to write a full album of material and we continued to write enough material for a second album,” they say.

Though the pandemic of 2020 would prove a challenge in terms of conventional brainstorming and collaborations, the pair would get creative and turn to writing and recording the album completely solo from one another. “We recorded everything remotely,” they recall, with Dion adding: “Julian and I had ideas separately, which we would email back and forth to further develop the ideas. We were never in the same room working on the songs for the album.

“When creating music remotely and not being in the same room because of lockdown, you would think it would be really difficult to make music — but it was quite the opposite,” Dion continues. “It was actually very rare for us to come up with ideas that the other person didn’t like, and everything always seemed to click in place.”

Dion and Julian found themselves in the fortunate luck of an A-list team of guest musicians who then rounded out the sound of Libre Stone, converting the duo into a lush, full-band. Featuring Jamie Wollam (drums), Andy Carr (bass), Michael Wainwright, and Guy Townley (backing vox), the duo says: “We had the opportunity to work with other first class musicians which helped bring the Mark Of Cain songs to something we are both really proud of. It was a fantastic opportunity to work with outstanding musicians on the album, both Jamie and Andy brought their own styles and sounds to the music.”

“I think they both really understood what we were trying to do, and the sound we were trying to achieve,” Dion adds. “And, of course, with the additional backing vocals from Michael and Guy, it brought everything to how Julian and I imagined everything would sound.”

Title track “Mark of Cain” is a rushing rock bop; melodic, splashy electric riffs and licks from Dion, drawing the rumbling of Julian’s deeply seeded vox. It’s oozing with classic rock nostalgia, featuring memorable hooks and danceable bass/percussion. Dion and Julian take turns in the spotlight, from the electric lo-fi, to the sing-along chorus, “Mark of Cain” are each of them, and both of them; beautifully intertwined while singularly celebrated, tantamount to their success as a duo.

The album teaser is available online; a 90-second sneak peek into the album as a whole. Akin to flipping the book open to read the highlights, the teaser will draw you into Mark of Cain. Libre Stone’s full length effort is as much a triumph as it is a love-letter to the music that moves and inspires both of them. And now they’re offering that to each of us.

Mark of Cain is available now.

Canadian Folk Troubadour JAMES GORDON Highlights Growing Gaps in Humanity with “The Great Divide”

Eric Alper
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Canadian Folk Troubadour JAMES GORDON Highlights Growing Gaps in Humanity with “The Great Divide”

Most of us know what living on the “wrong side of the tracks” means, but how many of us realize the role social injustice often plays in who lives there? Prolific Guelph, ON-based folk singer-songwriter James Gordon examines this, taking a deeper look into humanity’s widening chasms, pulling no punches in the process, in this, his new single, “The Great Divide” available now.

“There’s a railroad track near my house that divides the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’,” he notes. “It’s the same in many towns.

“It got me thinking about all the different ‘divisions’ we’ve created in our society,” he continues. “Economic, racial, class, etc… The song ‘The Great Divide’ came from this observation.”

Like a freight train blowing its attention grabbing horn, “The Great Divide” chugs along, calling out social injustices that keep surfacing in our boiling melting pot. The wail of the mouth harp in the song’s intro and extro echoes the growing chorus of discord we’re hearing more often for various reasons around the globe.

In the key folk music tradition of turning a mirror on ourselves and our human condition, Gordon reflects an image that is uncomfortably true and impossible to turn away from.

It’s not just the tracks that split this town
It’s a system built to keep you down
If you don’t have the money and your skin is brown
Then slavery’s alive
All along the great divide

“The Great Divide” is the second single and lead track from Gordon’s 40th (yes, 40th) album, When I Stayed Home — a self-produced, pandemic-born project released in July 2021. Although Gordon admits he’s “lost track” and there could actually be more than 40 albums under his belt now; over his enduring forty-year career, Gordon has released music both as a longtime, successful solo artist, and as a founding member of the groundbreaking Canadian folk group, Tamarack.

“I can’t seem to stop writing songs,” Gordon shares. “Mostly, they write themselves — I just hold up a net, and catch them as they flutter past.”

Written and recorded at home during the extended periods of pandemic imposed isolation that we’ve all experienced since early 2020, the album is just one of a number of projects Gordon dove into during lockdown. A legendary ‘gig pig’ who has toured relentlessly around the world since he was 20 years old, Gordon, like many musicians, found it difficult at first to adjust to staying home but then, he got busy, really busy.

From his tiny home studio, Gordon finished a novel that is accompanied by a 36-song recording; he did a virtual tour of his one-man show “James Gordon’s Emergency Climate Musical”; he kicked cancer’s butt, dealt with the overwhelm of his side hustle as a Guelph city councillor during Covid, and perhaps most significantly, wrote and recorded his 40th album. He may have been staying home but he was anything but standing still.

During a time when all of humanity has been threatened by a microscopic foe, Gordon had a lot of personal time to focus on songwriting and sharpen his recording skills to bring those new songs to life. The new songs are as current and they are socially conscious, with the album’s first single “We’ll Bring You Home” written in response to the shocking news that unfolded around Canada’s Indigenous residential schools this year.

In addition to “The Great Divide,” and its commentary on the income gap and racism, the songs on When I Stayed Home examine climate change, empathy, social justice, our natural environment and ‘love in a challenging time.’

“These are songs that demanded to be written,” says Gordon. “And I’m excited about sharing them with the opening-up world.”

“The Great Divide” and When I Stayed Home are available now.

What Happens When A Violinist Breaks A String During Tchaikovsky

Eric Alper
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0
What Happens When A Violinist Breaks A String During Tchaikovsky

Violinist Ray Chen broke a string while playing Tchaikovsky, and handles it like the pro he is.

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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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