Sonic Reducers. 1 topic. 2 music nerds. 5 minutes.
We talk about some of this week’s biggest music releases, including Duran Duran, Elton John, The Rolling Stones and The Replacements’ Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash.
Photo Gallery: Maluma at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena
All photos by Mini’s Memories. If you are an artist or a band and need photos done, you can do no wrong contacting her with your details;
From the Ashes of a Global Pandemic Comes Ottawa’s TAMING SARI’s Electrifying & Timely “Crazy” New Rock Anthem
Speaking to the deep human desire of connecting with others, and how good it feels to let loose from it all, the timeliest of timely anthems has arrived from Ottawa rockers Taming Sari: “Crazy” is available now.
Taming Sari’s signature splashy guitar work and thunderous drums guide the listener through a supercharged anthem to inspire hope in the post-pandemic. Bringing us back to when life seemed more straightforward, “Crazy” is about the inherent connection we all feel towards one another, and how surreal it can feel to lose touch with our need to just enjoy life.
One listen to “Crazy” tells you everything you need to know about Taming Sari’s musical influences, and Toronto’s iconic Polson Pier set the backdrop for the band to channel the rock gods on a beautiful summer day and lay down a couple of blazing new tracks.
The sun-kissed harbourfront wasn’t the only inspiration leading into the recording studio: it would be the first time they would record with a new member, accomplished lead guitarist Joe Fraser, to create the perfect balance of grit and melody while paying homage to past rock n’ roll legends.
Taming Sari roars with the confidence of a band that has been touring stadiums for decades. The dedication to individual musicianship conveyed on “Crazy” can be found in every bar. The backbone of Taming Sari’s booming sound manifests itself through the chemistry of polished drummer Adam Ouellette and the seemingly effortless craftsmanship of Alex Pellerin on bass. Infectious riffs come courtesy of newest member Joe Fraser with the seamless weaving of rhythm guitar specialist Miguel Kingsberry filling out the rest of the uptempo grooves found within. The soaring vocals of “Ottawa’s #1 Rock Ginger” Warren Meredith easily accompanies the instrumental expertise on display, further reinforcing Taming Sari’s sense of timelessness.
Following the momentum of their debut album, Thirsty From The Draught, Taming Sari was positioned to take full advantage of the burgeoning concert scene across Canada shortly before the world was thrown into chaos with Covid. “Crazy” is the third single to capture the group’s artistic perspective on this tumultuous period in history; the first, “Loving Way,” dealt with the initial response to the virus along with the call for racial justice that was to come, and the second, the emotionally-charged “Gone and Run Away,” highlighted the sense of loss that our communities collectively feel.
After making numerous media appearances and safely playing for socially distanced crowds, Taming Sari is ready to hit the ground running. When live music makes its triumphant return, there is no doubt that this talented assembly of performers will grace stages with the same intensity found in their recordings.
Pop Songstress BREE WHITWORTH Sings About The Right Love at the Wrong “Time” in New Single
Just ask Romeo and Juliet: Finding the perfect love is a noble pursuit that can be fraught with peril. It can either work out to be forever, or never — and often, it all comes down to the timing. Kelowna, BC’s singer-songwriter Bree Whitworth is adding her voice to the chorus of the star-crossed swoons with her new single and remix, “Time” — available now.
An honest, heartfelt ballad that delivers full ‘80s nostalgia recalling Heart, The Bangles and Tiffany, “Time” is about meeting the right person but the timing is off, dooming the relationship. It’s the type of situation that the Vancouver-based artist feels has been amplified due to the global pandemic, and she has personal proof; as COVID shuttered the world, Whitworth was also experiencing the shuttering of a romantic relationship, and the grief and self-reflection that goes along with it.
“Sometimes, the only crime, really, is bad timing with no other explanation, but somehow it leaves you feeling like the criminal,” Whitworth explains. “I really felt like others would connect with these lyrics, probably with many going through similar situations of their own during the past 18 months.”
Time chose the lies we tell ourselves every day and night
We can’t make it right but you’re always on my mind
During lockdown, Whitworth’s main solace was her piano, so she took to what she knows best — turning heartbreak into song. “Time,” and another upcoming single, “Mister Wrong”, were written and recorded during this introspective pandemic period and both are set for imminent release.
Whitworth took on a new challenge to record the songs with her longtime producer Winston Hauschild. They wrote the melodies via Zoom calls and built the song structures all completely from a distance. Months later, when restrictions eased up, Bree traveled to the Treehouse Studio on Bowen Island to record vocals for the tracks while still never physically being in the same room as Hauschild. No hugs or high fives when their long day was done, but they produced two stellar songs nonetheless!
The “Shamus Goes to Hollywood” single remix of “Time” takes the emotional ballad with a shimmering ‘80s aesthetic and opens it up into a joyous, dance floor banger — thanks to a new collaboration with Nova Scotia-based pop, hip-hop and electronic producer Shamus Musik.
“I was super excited to work with Shamus again,” says Whitworth. “I gave him full permission to ‘go to town’ to make the remix as upbeat and dancy as possible, and of course, he did not disappoint.”
Whitworth and Shamus Musik previously collaborated on the remix for the single “Don’t Let Me Go” from her 2019 EP, Siren Songs. The two have never met in person, living on opposite sides of Canada, but they’ve discovered a great, long distance creative relationship making killer remixes of already great tunes.
With two new single releases this fall, Bree Whitworth is topping up a catalogue that already includes three previously released albums and various project-related singles. Her songs have also found their way into a television series and a Paris-based music library.
“Time,” and the Shamus Goes to Hollywood Remix, are available now.
James Taylor Announces Rescheduled Canadian Tour With Jackson Browne
For the first time ever, James Taylor & His All-Star Band, with special guest Jackson Browne, will perform together across Canada. Jackson will replace the previously announced Bonnie Raitt who unfortunately is no longer available to join these rescheduled concert dates due to her prior touring commitments.
“Last year was a time of great disruption and general upheaval for all of us. My plans for a coast-to-coast concert tour of Canada with my dear friend, Bonnie Raitt, were seriously sidetracked. Our rescheduled dates for this September were likewise denied. But we’ve been determined to follow through; to make the tour happen and, come hell or high water, we’re setting our sights on this coming Spring of ‘22. The one wrinkle is that Bonnie will be unable to join us for the newly rescheduled dates. Happily, Jackson Browne and I have been touring together this Summer and Fall and he has agreed to come to Canada with me. We’ve been delighted with the response from our audiences on this current tour of the States and I’m hoping that those of you who have been holding onto tickets for the Canadian concerts will be pleased with the surprise change in the bill. Of course some of you may have had your hearts set on seeing Bonnie and would like to receive a refund due to the change. This we will cheerfully and expeditiously accommodate. But I dare say that the rest of you will not be disappointed. See you all this Spring.” James Taylor
The highly acclaimed tour will kick off in Canada on April 21, 2022 at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Pollstar recently commented of the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers during their current US tour that “these songs not only endure but expanded to include the life-worn truths of coming of age in the 21st century by two American treasures.”
Previously purchased tickets will be honored for all of the rescheduled dates and fans are encouraged to hold onto their tickets. Should you be unable to attend the rescheduled date, please reach out to your point of purchase for information on refunds.
As a recording and touring artist, James Taylor has touched people with his warm baritone voice and distinctive style of guitar-playing for more than 40 years, while setting a precedent to which countless young musicians have aspired. Over the course of his celebrated songwriting and performing career, Taylor has sold more than 100 million albums, earning gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards for classics ranging from Sweet Baby James in 1970 to October Road in 2002. In addition to multiple Grammy awards, Taylor has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2012, Taylor was awarded the distinguished Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government and the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama in a White House ceremony. In November 2015, Taylor was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. In December 2016 Taylor received the Kennedy Center Honors, which are presented annually to individuals who have enriched American culture by distinguished achievement in the performing arts.
In 2015, Taylor released Before This World, his first new studio album in thirteen years, which earned him his first ever #1 album. Taylor’s latest release American Standard earned him his sixth overall Grammy award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. American Standard infuses new sounds and fresh meaning into these timeless works of art, reimagining some of the most beloved songs of the 20th century and making them completely his own. In 2020, Taylor also released Break Shot, the first-ever Audible Original performance by James Taylor, and a deeply personal and authentic audio-only memoir.
Hailed as one the Greatest Songwriters of All Time by Rolling Stone, Jackson Browne has written and performed some of the most literate and moving songs in popular music. A defining Americana artist, who’s songwriting is often charged with honesty, emotion and personal politics, Browne is known for his hits, like “Running On Empty,” “The Pretender,” “Doctor My Eyes,” and “Take It Easy,” as well as deeply personal ballads such as “These Days” and “In the Shape of a Heart.” He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.
Nearly five decades since his 1972 debut LP, the songs on Jackson Browne’s new album Downhill From Everywhere sustain the soulful intimacy of his first release, combined with a power and wisdom gained from a life pursuing positive change. Like much of Browne’s illustrious catalog, Downhill From Everywhere is fueled by a search—for connection, for purpose, for self—but there’s a heightened sense of urgency written between the lines, a recognition of the sand slipping through the hourglass that elevates the stakes at every turn, all while maintaining a defiant sense of optimism that seems tailor-made for these turbulent times.
Tour Dates:
21-Apr-22 St. John’s, NFLD Mile One Centre
24-Apr-22 Halifax, NS Scotiabank Centre
25-Apr-22 Moncton, NB Avenir Centre
27-Apr-22 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre
28-Apr-22 Montreal, QC Centre Bell
30-Apr-22 London, ON Budweiser Gardens
1-May-22 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
5-May-22 Winnipeg, MB Canada Life Centre
7-May-22 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
9-May-22 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place
11-May-22 Victoria, BC Save On Foods Memorial Centre
12-May-22 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
Spotify & Shopify join forces to launch the digital “merch tables” of your dreams
Today Shopify announced a global partnership with Spotify that will empower artists to share their brands with fans and listeners on the platform.
With Shopify’s Spotify channel, artists can connect their Spotify for Artists account with their Shopify online store, allowing them to sync their product catalogue and display featured products directly on their Spotify profiles. Fans and listeners can then browse these products directly on the artist’s Spotify profile and make a purchase.
Shopify is giving artists and merchants the ability to monetize across every surface where commerce is possible—like TikTok, Instagram, and now Spotify—all from a single platform. Giving artists around the globe the ability to expand their commerce footprint beyond just merch table T’s.
One of the artists jumping at this chance to expand her eclectic, whimsical line on the heels of her 10/15 album drop is colorful funk-pop artist Remi Wolf — dubbed by The New York Times as “a star-in-waiting.”
For more information on the partnership, view Shopify’s newspost.
Janis Ian To Release Her Last Studio Album, The Light at the End of the Line, on January 21
Today, legendary singer/songwriter Janis Ian announces The Light at the End of the Line, set for a January 21, 2022 release on her own label, Rude Girl Records. The Light at the End of the Line is Ian’s first album of new material in 15 years, and is also her last solo studio recording – a “swan song,” she notes. The Light at the End of the Line also sets the stage for Ian’s final North American tour in 2022, aptly titled Celebrating Our Years Together. First track “I’m Still Standing” is the perfect statement for this enthralling album.
The Light at the End of the Line bookends a kaleidoscopic catalog that began with her 1967 self-titled debut at age 15. The songs are intimate portraits of getting older but wiser (“I’m Still Standing”), of knowing when to stand up and not take any more shit (“Resist”), of celebrating life’s fleeting beauty (“Swannanoa”), of exalting in your true identity (“Perfect Little Girl”), of paying homage to a lifelong hero and her demons (“Nina,” as in Simone). The Light at the End of the Line feels like a victory lap for an artist who has nothing to lose and nothing left to prove. You hear that in the risks Ian took in both her lyrics and the inspired production choices.
“I love this album,” Ian says. “There is an element of, ‘This is the absolute best I can do over the span of 58 years as a writer. This is what I’ve learned.’ And I realized that this album has an arc, and I’ve never really done anything like that before.”
Ian is also planning her final run of the US, the Celebrating Our Years Together tour, with dates starting in February and running through May 2022. Her tours have sold out in every country she’s visited, and this one will likely follow. Dates are listed below and will continue to be updated; for tickets go to janisian.com. Additional shows for September, October and November 2022 are in the works and will be announced soon.
Janis Ian began her iconic career at age 14 when she wrote her socially and politically impactful song “Society’s Child” about an interracial romance between teenagers. Her honest songwriting has translated into timeless, culturally significant tracks including “At Seventeen,” “Jesse” and “Stars,” the latter which was covered by Nina Simone, Cher, Mel Tormé and a host of other artists who felt the song spoke to their own lives. She has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards and won two: one in 1976 for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female (“At Seventeen”) and one in 2013 for Best Spoken Word Recording (Society’s Child: An Autobiography).
Over her extraordinary career, Ian has forged deep connections with her fans, and she cherishes those associations. She notes, “As I wrote The Light at the End of the Line, I realized that it’s really a love song. I didn’t understand that so many years of meeting my audience after shows, of corresponding with them, had created this very real relationship that few artists are privileged to have.”
JANIS IAN 2022 TOUR DATES
February 24 – Santa Fe, NM – Jean Cocteau Theatre
February 25 – Santa Fe, NM – Jean Cocteau Theatre
February 26 – Santa Fe, NM – Jean Cocteau Theatre
February 27 – Santa Fe, NM – Jean Cocteau Theatre
March 3 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theater
March 6– El Cajon, CA – The Magnolia
March 11 – Santa Monica, CA – McCabe’s Guitar Shop
March 12 – Santa Monica, CA – McCabe’s Guitar Shop
March 13 – Santa Monica, CA – McCabe’s Guitar Shop
March 16 – Fresno, CA – The Painted Table Events Center
March 18 – Saratoga, CA – Montalvo Arts Center
March 20 – Berkeley, CA – Freight & Salvage
March 31 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
April 2 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Parker Playhouse*
April 3 – Stuart, FL – The Lyric Theatre
April 6 – Jacksonville, FL – WJCT Soundstage
April 14 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffe Lena
April 15 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffe Lena
April 16 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffe Lena
April 18 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffe Lena
April 21 – Old Saybrook, CT – The Kate
April 23 – Lynn, MA – Lynn Auditorium*
April 24 – Turners Falls, MA – Shea Theater Arts Center
April 27 – Harrisburg, PA – The Whitaker Center*
April 29 – Richmond, VA – Tin Pan
April 30 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
May 1 – Newton, NJ – The Newton Theater
May 5 – Collingswood, NJ – Scottish Rite Auditorium*
May 6 – Ocean City, NJ – Ocean City Music Pier*
May 7 – New York, NY – Concert Hall Society for Ethical Culture*
May 8 – Riverhead, NY – Suffolk Theatre
May 11 – Cleveland, OH – The Kent Stage
May 13 – Stoughton, WI – Stoughton Opera House
May 14 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music
May 15 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music
May 22 – Iowa City, IA – The Englert Theatre
*with special guests Livingston Taylor and Tom Chapin
Nemahsis Unveils New Single ‘Paper Thin’
Today, Canadian singer/songwriter Nemahsis shares her second single ‘paper thin’ via 11 Acres/Universal Music Canada.
‘paper thin’ is a brooding guitar ballad, exploring the insecurities a young Nemahsis faced while growing up. Conflicted by her appearance, Nemah would pray to God to change the way she looked. “I was taught to pray for whatever you want, and God will provide. I wasted two decades begging for fairer skin and lighter eyes; it became routine,” says Nemahsis. “I spent the majority of my life hating the features I currently love most about myself.” A display of her intimate storytelling, ‘paper thin’, is the outcome of Nemah overcoming her internal battles and learning to love herself.
Nemahsis’ latest offering is the eagerly-awaited follow-up to her soaring debut single, ‘what if i took it off for you?’. Released earlier this year, the track details the Canadian’s experience of shooting a major campaign for a multimillion-dollar corporation and being offered no compensation for it, with the brand justifying, “It’s a good look for your community.”. Nemahsis stood up for what she knew to be right and flatly refused for them to use her image and in her exact words, ones that will come to define so much of what she does as an artist, “I’m not going to be anybody’s token Hijabi girl.” Despite Nemah’s refusal the brand went ahead and used the images anyway, this undeniable act of exploitation set in motion a chain of events that brought Nemahsis to write and release her first record.
Nemahsis is a fresh talent who grew up on a farm outside of Toronto. Before entering the world of music, she was a Grade A business student and worked for a cosmetics giant. The quiet storm of her vocals has already found a massive audience across socials (including TikTok, where she has over 400k followers).
Equipped with striking vocals and poignant lyrics, ‘paper thin’ is another soul-baring track from the emerging singer/songwriter. With plenty of new material to come from Nemahsis, ‘paper thin’ is a stellar addition to her burgeoning repertoire.
Rise Against Announce New EP “Nowhere Sessions” Out November 12, 2021
Rise Against today announced their new EP Nowhere Sessions, a live expansion of their acclaimed latest album Nowhere Generation, will be released on November 12th, 2021, via Loma Vista Recordings/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. Inspired by the album’s success and this summer’s triumphant U.S. tour playing various sold-out amphitheatres and major festival stages nationwide, the EP captures and celebrates the anthemic intensity of the band’s renowned performances, shown here in peak form. First single “Talking to Ourselves (Nowhere Sessions),” a live version of the band’s current radio single and one of three Nowhere Generation tracks featured on the EP, is out now; of the song, singer/guitarist Tim McIlrath says, “‘Talking To Ourselves’ is about watching yourself and the people around you fall into complacency. Despite your best efforts to get people’s attention, it feels like no one is listening. Sometimes we feel the urge to do something crazy, to disturb the peace, to jostle the world around us awake. Our actions might be seen as out of the ordinary, but they are acts of desperation when all else failed.”
Other songs on Nowhere Sessions include Rise Against’s 2009 breakout hit “Savior,” which has accumulated nearly 1 billion streams to date and held its place at #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart for a staggering 65 consecutive weeks, as well as fiery covers of Misfits’ “Hybrid Moments” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son.” The EP also features a live version of their soaring, impassioned rock hit “Nowhere Generation” (the original climbed to #1 at Rock radio and #7 at Alternative radio, where it held in the Top 10 for 10 consecutive weeks). “Our songs take on so many different patinas when we play them live or strip them down,” says McIlrath of the new EP. “In some ways, every time we play it is different. It was fun to document one of those sessions and we’re excited to share it with the world.”
McIlrath and Zach Blair of Rise Against will next play three intimate U.K. album release shows in November in support of Nowhere Generation. The full band will close out 2021 by playing Chicago’s Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom on December 10th as part of WKQX’s The Nights We Stole Christmas festival. A current itinerary is below, including an initial set of 2022 live dates.
On Nowhere Generation, released in June, the multi-Gold and Platinum band draws a line in the sand with its blazing and aggressive punk rock and lyrics that shine a spotlight on the social and economical deck that has been stacked against our younger generations’ pursuit of The American Dream. The album debuted at the top of multiple Billboard charts with its first week sales (#1 on Rock, #3 on Top Current Albums, #3 on Vinyl, and the Top 40 of the Top 200), and has been earning the band great press from outlets including Revolver, Consequence, Brooklyn Vegan, Grammy.com, American Songwriter, The Line of Best Fit, Clash, Kerrang!, and All Music, while June 4th was declared “Rise Against Day In Chicago,” the band’s original hometown.
Nowhere Sessions EP Tracklist:
Talking To Ourselves (Nowhere Sessions)
Broken Dreams, Inc. (Nowhere Sessions)
Fortunate Son (Nowhere Sessions)
Nowhere Generation (Nowhere Sessions)
Hybrid Moments (Nowhere Sessions)
Savior (Nowhere Sessions)
Rise Against tour dates:
11/15 – Leeds, U.K. – Nowhere Generation UK Album Release Event
11/16 – Brighton, U.K. – Nowhere Generation UK Album Release Event
11/17 – Kingston Upon Thames – Nowhere Generation UK Album Release Event
12/10 – Chicago, IL – 101 WKQX The Nights We Stole Christmas
04/01 – Ville De Québec, Canada – Videotron Centre
04/03 – Laval, Canada – Place Bell
04/04 – Ottawa, Canada – TD Place
04/06 – Toronto, Canada – Scotiabank Arena
04/07 – London, Canada – Budweiser Gardens
06/09 – Nickelsdorf, Austria – Nova Rock
06/09 – 06/11 – Interlaken, Switzerland – Greenfield Festival
06/10 – Derby, U.K. – Download Festival
06/23 – Clisson, France – Hellfest
06/25 – Ysselsteyn, Netherlands – Jera On Air Festival
06/29 – Viveiro, Spain – Resurrection Fest
Inspired by Twillingate & An Award-Winning Short Film, Rozalind MacPhail Releases “Never Let Go” Music Video
Called “Never Let Go,” award-winning St. John’s-based singer/songwriter and flute looping troubadour Rozalind MacPhail has released a new music video inspired by her artist residency through the Unscripted Twillingate – Digital Arts Festival and Director/Producer/Writer Joshua Jamieson’s LGBTQ short film, Waiting Outside.
Featuring the Newfoundland-based multidisciplinary artist, inspirational speaker, and classically-trained musician’s moody vocals, atmospheric omnichord, and percussive flute loops, “Never Let Go” is about leaving a loved one behind after being diagnosed with a serious illness.
“I composed ‘Never Let Go’ after being moved by the story behind Newfoundland and Labrador Director Joshua Jamieson’s award-winning LGBTQ short film, Waiting Outside,” MacPhail shares. “Having to leave a loved one behind after being diagnosed with a serious illness is a tough experience to put into words, but Joshua Jamieson captured it so beautifully in his film.
“I always wanted to release the song as a single, but felt it needed a new musical direction before I did,” she continues. “After initially composing the song for the ending credits of Jamieson’s film, I recorded new flute parts and new vocal harmonies during the pandemic. Torbay-based Producer Terry Barrow laid down some ukulele bass grooves, and we got Ottawa-based audio engineer Jason Jaknunas to add his mixing magic to really make it pop.
“Without this amazing team of engineers, this song would still be sitting on the shelf.”
When it came to creating the music video, it was important to MacPhail to incorporate parts of Joshua’s film — which is currently on CBC Gem as part of Reel East Coast (Season 6, Episode 3) — to tell the story, along with footage of her singing the song, she says. “We tried to shoot video footage twice in horrible winter weather conditions, but I never felt like the footage was right for the video, so the song remained on the shelf.
“Then, when I was invited to do an Artist Residency through Unscripted Twillingate – Digital Arts Festival, it felt like it was meant to be. Twillingate, and it’s breathtaking landscape, was the perfect location to shoot this footage. We met with the brilliant local photographer and drone cinematographer, Julian Earle, who captured everything so beautifully. We feature my favourite spots in Twillingate as we tell the story of riding my bike from sunrise to sunset, all as the story unfolds in Jaimeson’s touching film.”
As one of the world’s most buzzed about Gemeinhardt artists, MacPhail has received multiple honours and awards — including an East Coast Music Award for Electronic Recording of the Year, and MusicNL’s Female Artist of the Year.
Rozalind MacPhail’s “Never Let Go” is available now.