Canadian artist Christopher Mihas is the puppet master behind the new synth-pop nu-disco outfit Moves After Midnight, and nowhere does he pull more strings than on the pulsating fresh banger, “Savage Love,” and debut EP, Fluorescent Memoirs — available now.
“It’s a song that many people will relate to,” Mihas says. “It’s about a relationship — not necessarily with a person, but with a substance; an addiction.
“I think most people have had some type of chaotic relationship — whether it was with a lover or substance abuse, or even both,” he continues. “‘Savage Love’ touches on that: how something destructive can also be appealing.
“The lyric, ‘venom kisses, a tasty prison’ kinda sums that up.”
The track throws back the tumbler of 80s nostalgia, and washes it down with the futuristic Nu Disco vibe Mihas has perfected over his tenure as a DJ. Fusing low-fi riffs with dreamy melodies that summons you to the floor, coercing you to dance, “Savage Love” — and Moves After Midnight, at large — pack a retro punch on the rollercoaster that is electronic beats and synth-pop sounds.
This inventive fusion of genres allows the listener to embark on a newly revitalized soundscape and, akin to snagging a peek at the book jacket before reading the entire novel, “Savage Love” is an invitation to Mihas-as-Moves After Midnight’s passion project preliminarily unveiled throughout the six-song strong offering.
Recorded at Mihas’ home, Fluorescent Memoirs went on for mastering at Musicboxx in Oakville and, to flesh out its scope, Mihas would enlist a variety of collaborators, including longtime friend Bartek Milczarzyk on guitar. “‘Savage Love’ sprang from a guitar riff that had been left on an outtake by Bartek,” Mihas reveals.
The album came to Mihas during the early parts of the pandemic in 2020; a window of time presenting itself to the DJ, and percussionist, which he utilized to collaborate and create the EP. It features four different vocalists, including British songstress, Silke, who leant her gorgeous, seductive and soulful vox on “Savage Love.”
“Savage Love” and Fluorescent Memoirs are available now.
Contemporary classical artist Jaye Marsh awakens her inner WildFlute, and welcomes audiences to experience Canada’s vast wilderness and beauty along the way with the release of her new single, “Calling” for flute and loon calls — available now.
Written by Diane Berry, and featuring loon calls by recordist John Neville, “Calling” is the first track from Marsh’s stunning forthcoming 13-song album, Flute In The Wild, which is set to arrive this November.
“I first performed this piece with John’s recording of loons on a small stage in Toronto, but thought it would be so fun to record on location at our cottage in Georgian Bay; it’s a regular haunt for loons,” Marsh shares. “My producer had me up at 6:00 am to get the quietest time and, during the recording, we had some neighbours paddle up and declare, ‘See, I knew it was a flute! My husband swore it was just loons!’
“I guess Diane’s piece is really effective in recreating a conversation between the flutist and her loon friends!”
As one element in the delectable ensemble that is Marsh’s Flute In The Wild project, “Calling” lands as one of the collection’s most fitting.
“This track is the closest to a direct nature and flute duet, and is most evocative of the Canadian experience in the wild,” she says. “The impetus for Diane writing this piece was her trying to explain to someone from Europe why the loon — being so ubiquitous in our country — appears on our money; they had never heard a loon call but now, with ‘Calling,’ she can share her piece with everyone who needs to hear a lonely, haunting call on a peaceful lake.”
In addition to Berry’s composition for “Calling,” Marsh commissioned three other esteemed composers to create an album dedicated to celebrating some of Canada’s wild and beautiful spaces; Elizabeth Raum, Richard Mascall, and Richard Herriott contribute to the album’s soundscape, immersing audiences in sonic experiences inspired by the Northern Lights, Bridal Veil Falls, Trinity Bay (in Newfoundland), and more. This is music that invites you to experience Canada through a flute lens.
The connection to the Canadian hinterland speaks to Marsh on a deeply personal and creatively intimate level; though physically based in Toronto, she reveals that her spiritual self soars in the Maritimes and Georgian Bay, where her inner WildFlute shines most vibrantly.
“Who is the WildFlute?” she offers. “The WildFlute is a water sprite… A trickster… A siren… A WildFlute is the haunt of a loon, a cooling waterfall mist, rain drops, butterfly wings… WildFlutes enjoy the sound of the flute in any place they find it: hip hop, jazz, symphonies, Indigenous song, jigs and reels…
“Whether you play the flute, or listen to the flute,” she adds, “you are a WildFlute!”
A beloved recitalist throughout Ontario, Flute In The Wild isn’t Marsh’s first foray into harmonizing the talents of her peers; having curated numerous Flute and Friends concerts, she is currently the principal flutist with the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, and plays regularly with other regional orchestras across the province. A celebrated soloist on both the flute and piccolo, Jaye Marsh has also performed as principal flute in the orchestra opening for Evanessence, as well as the Cirque Musica tour orchestra.
As her debut album, Flute In The Wild features Darren Hicks on bassoon, Heidi Elise Bearcroft on harp, Andrew Morris on percussion, Christina Marie Faye and Richard Herriott on piano, and Wasauksing First Nation elder and storyteller John Rice.
“The germ of this project began with the death of my father in 2017,” Marsh shares. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, this is still a major shift in a person’s life… Not only did half of my history disappear, but I also felt a strong urge to collect and touch all the things he created as a graphic designer.
“I realized I wanted to leave something for my own children to be proud of, and to hold on to.
“I also wanted to contribute to my musical community,” she continues. “So, in addition to the dedication to my family and friends, this project is ultimately an offering of new music to all the flutists around the world; parts are available and I welcome everyone to make these fine compositions their own in hopes that they will take the opportunity to play a little piece of Canada themselves.”
“Calling” is available now. Flute In The Wild is available November 19th, 2021.
Garnishing the latest track to land from the Find Move Love EP with a feature from Jey Oh and Slim Tyme, Calgary producer Chefbeatz and singer/songwriter Kelly Besd’s new song “Love” is available now.
Deliciously savoury and sonically crave-worthy, “Love,” and Find Move Love in its entirety, give listeners a heartfelt story of triumph over the complications that arise when trying to swoon a partner — and, inevitably, fall in love.
Based in Calgary, Chefbeatz is a West-African born producer who has found a niche in both diverse production style and the Canadian music scene. His incorporation of his African roots is coupled with his experiences working with western music — specifically, hip-hop, R&B, and pop music. Throughout the Find Move Love EP — and most certainly, “Love” — it’s clear Chefbeatz is more than willing to push the boundaries of music production as a storyteller who explores depth and movement.
However, Chefbeatz’s “musical soup” is not complete without a little bit of spice; joining forces with a handful of Calgary’s finest, Chefbeatz set his sights on fusing his unique AfroSwing style of composition with Kelly Besd’s inherent knack for fusing pop music into unexpected genres.
A breakthrough artist since splashing onto the scene, Besd has worked alongside legendary producers such as Eddie Kramer, and previous releases since her debut have been met with a rapid amassing of adoring fans. The two met in Chefbeatz’s studio one day while he was working on instrumental compositions, giving these two a classic, yet traditionally inspiring story of success. Some call it being in the right place at the right time, however these two artists call it destiny, and the passionate musical pairing has led to the discovery of a mutual appreciation for diligence and genre bending — a characteristic present in both of their production styles.
From there, and as many great culinary masters do, Chefbeatz sought the perfect garnish to complete his concoction; with a certain style and grace at the top of his mind, Chefbeatz on-boarded Jey Oh to perform the alluring male R&B vocals that really drive the overall theme of finally finding love.
Not quite finished, Chefbeatz continued seeking to finesse the final details, ultimately summoning Slim Tyme to weave sultry saxophone riffs throughout “Love,” adding the extra flair this production was after.
The result of Chefbeatz and Kelly Besd’s search for the perfect talents ends in an alluring combination of afrobeats mixed into hip-hop and jazz tropes, highlighting the challenges and rewards of seeking love. The third, and fittingly titled, track from the Find Move Love EP, “Love” deftly displays elements of each performer’s distinctive talents, and puts them on an appropriate pedestal.
It’s hard to say what, exactly, was in the water in Liverpool in the early 1960s that wound up producing the Merseybeat sound and hundreds of groups of varying success. Four teenagers caught the scene by surprise and found screaming fans at every turn. Their names were Mary, Sylvia, Pam and Val.
It wasn’t only their sound that turned heads. They were The Liverbirds, Britain’s first all-female rock ’n’ roll band. Sitting down with surviving members Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders, you’d never know these two exceedingly charming Scouse (that means they come from Liverpool) matriarchs rocked a tour with The Rolling Stones. Lent their instruments to The Kinks. Rolled joints for Jimi Hendrix.
John Lennon himself told them that girls don’t play guitar. Well, John, they did. Imagine that.
“Almost Famous” is a special Op-Docs series of short films directed by Ben Proudfoot featuring people who nearly made history — only to fall short. These are tales of overcoming disappointment at its most epic, from an astronaut who never flew to a superstar who never was.
There’s a good chance you’ve been asked to dance, or asked someone else to. But if that dance was with Death, would you square up or bow out?
That’s what Edmonton alt-electronica artist Rick Christian is asking in his new single and music video-turned-horror flick, “Will You Dance With Death?” — available now. The electronica, low-fi, banger wastes no time mashing a dance bop with dark, chilling lyrics. And it’s just as Rick Christian likes it.
“I wanted something dark that people could dance to,” Christian says, simply; his music is heavily entrenched in bass and synth, layering his lyrics inside the production. “I attempted ideas and techniques when recording and producing this song that I had never done before. The production and blending of the synth in the mix was the next level for me. The hours of post production really paid off.”
A true fan of horror, Christian says he grew up a fan of the genre. Likewise drawing on his own life experiences, he developed “Will You Dance With Death” as a reflection of what he saw going on around him. “I saw the pandemic landscape affecting people’s mental states and actions, I couldn’t help myself and had to reflect on it,” Christian explains, “When you witness several attempted public suicides, it changes you forever. The best material is your own reality and experiences.”
Unapologetic in the depth of his darkness, or where the curtain drops on his sometimes controversial lyrics, Christian says he found his way to this particular breed of song over something as uncomplicated as an everyday task. “I was alone drinking coffee one morning,” he recalls. “I played and recorded a couple bars of the song; I knew this was something big.”
Translating this track into its visual counterpart has been a big step forward for Christian’s musical career. Mingling his love for thrillers with the dark undertones of the song, Christian came together with Daniel Gadowski to direct and produce the video. A committed exceptional talent with an eye for the shot, Christian refers to Gadowski as someone who has a “perception for the big picture that is taking him places.” The pair enlisted several models as actors for the project. “They did an amazing job and it will always stand out in my mind,” Christian says from behind the scenes of the video production. “They were so dedicated and committed to the performance. I know we will see big things from them in the near future.”
Routinely vlogging updates, and candid about production, Rick Christian is inviting fans to travel with him on this journey to answering life’s most perilous questions, and facing each trepidation in the one way we can unilaterally know how — through dance.
Personifying sonic grit and technical musicianship, Canadian hard rock band Live Animals bring the authenticity back to rock n’ roll with their soaring new single, “Uplifting” –– available now.
With it, the Toronto-based rockers have unleashed their raw creative energy with their epic new EP, (ep)iphany; electricity pulses right out the gates through the expertly crafted guitar riffs of Spencer Bailey and the exceptionally developed vocal stylings of Andrew Healy, both founders of the band — their musical chemistry on full display with the follow-up to their debut release.
“Uplifting” is a song about the power of music and its ability to unite the world despite the ongoing global health crisis. The positivity that radiates from every musical note blends effortlessly with Live Animals’ message of hope and is delivered as sincerely and potently as only they could.
Dramatic changes to the writing and recording process were made during the pandemic that enabled Live Animals to continue delivering their signature sound without compromise. Songwriting and instrumentation were put together remotely over time until vocal parts were conjured and executed. The natural adjustment to their new format of music creation would inspire the single to evolve into an entire full-length project.
(ep)iphany is a four-song EP that delivers all of the depth and charisma found in the most successful rock productions while simultaneously capitalizing on their unique approach to music. Another critical aspect of Live Animals’ ability to hone their EP and cross the finish line is engineer/producer and founder of Acrylic Records, Harley Butt. Drawing on more modern hard rock and grunge influences for (ep)iphany, Live Animals elevate their classic sound while continuing to explore the darker side of rock through their skillfully composed melodies. The cover art for the EP was also created and stylized in-house, only further reinforcing the renaissance approach the band takes with their art.
Live Animals was formed in 2017 by multi-instrumentalist Spencer Bailey and vocalist Andrew Healy, appropriately dubbed “The Pterodactyl” for his rip-roaring pipes. The band’s distinctive sound results from the overarching duo-philosophy of respecting the legacy of rock while being fearless in leading it into the future. Live Animals is Toronto-based, but has been active in the hard rock music scene across Ontario since its inception. Missing the chance to play more shows in the pre-pandemic world leaves no doubt that Live Animals will be blazing onto the live music circuit with the intensity that the music fans everywhere crave.
Where the pop/punk paradigm of the 90s left off, Toronto-based band LST IN HLYWD have picked up — and there’s nothing “Bittersweet” about it!
This Toronto-area supercharged indie group of 17-20-somethings are laying down tracks that could easily slide into soundtracks for the summer of ‘96 — and that’s precisely what they set out to do.
While most teens were sequestered to their bedrooms, their parents’ living rooms — the mundane and mediocrity of less to do, and even little to see due to the global pandemic of 2020 — James Marrin decided to get creative, and LST IN HLYWD was born. By the fall of that same year, the little-band-that-could grew to a four-piece, and finally rounding up to a five by spring 2021. And now the group has nowhere to go but up into a stratosphere built on the shoulders of their idols: Fall Out Boy, MGK, Chase Atlantic, among others.
What this group of resilient and resourceful youths were able to achieve during a two year full-stop on social interaction was utilize their Gen Z know-how and find ways to communicate and practice — mainly on Zoom calls. This stroke of genius allowed the newly-found band a chance to write, record, collaborate, and even play even before they’d ever stepped into the same room together. Alongside Marrin (vox/rhythm guitar), Catherine Carter (rhythm guitar/keys), Chris King (percussion), Yanko Mladenovic (lead guitar), and Calvin Thistle (bass) make up the totality of the group. Their first performance live, and together, finally happened in March of this year, months after their first online interaction.
Of their writing session, “Bittersweet” became their first fully developed song, completely brainstormed and fleshed out over Zoom. “The inspiration for the song came from a painting that Jamie’s girlfriend created with the word ‘Bittersweet’ in the background of it,” the band explains. “‘Bittersweet’ is a fun and upbeat song with a bittersweet twist at the end. It’s perfect for parties, hanging and cruising with friends.”
The premiere of “Bittersweet”’s visual counterpart was specifically designed to appear as a homemade video, the essence of a fun and carefree teenage summer. “Most of the film came from real parties and get-togethers the band had all summer 2021,” LST IN HLYWD say, adding, “We wanted to create a fun video everyone can relate to especially as for the past two years teens have not been able to act like teens and go out and have fun due to the global pandemic. So we wanted to bring the good feeling of getting together with friends and having the ‘summer of your lives’ directly to our audience through the music video.”
Their upbeat bop rests neatly in the pop/punk/alternative soundscape formatively dominated by a variety of Canadian-turned-cross-over-big-leagues. From Sum 41, to Simple Plan, Billy Talent and even a smackerel of good ole Treble Charger vibes, LST IN HLYWD becomes both a nod to the past as they do an arrow to the future forward. And if “Bittersweet”, in all its good vibration summer-time anthem ways, is any indication what a group of youth can accomplish through the complexities and restrictiveness of Zoom meetings — imagine what happens when we unleash them unto the world.
For LST IN HLYWD, planning to drop their debut album in January of 2022 is their short-term goal. But one could easily predict global dominance as the one they should shoot for next.
The timely, passionate, and humanely political work of America’s greatest folk singer and songwriter is presented through his own words and art — curated by Woody’s daughter — in “Woody Guthrie: Songs and Art, Words and Wisdom” by Nora Guthrie and Robert Santelli, an essential self-portrait, including never-before published lyrics and personal writing, and testimony from contemporary writers and musicians on his powerful relevance today.
Woody Guthrie and his passionate social politics are as crucial today as they have ever been. A powerful voice for justice, and the author of more than 3,000 songs (including “This Land is Your Land”), he was also a poet, painter, illustrator, novelist, journal keeper, and profuse letter writer. Curated by his daughter Nora and award-winning music historian Robert Santelli, this fresh, intimate, and beautifully designed book thematically reveals Woody’s story through his own personal writings, lyrics, and artwork, urgently bringing his voice to life.
Featuring never-before-published lyrics to some of his greatest songs, personal diary entries, doodles, quips and jokes, and piercing insights on his politics and justice, this is an undeniable and important celebration of Woody’s vibrant life’s work. Created to be enjoyed by all – those interested in folk music or those interested in Woody’s thoughts on Life in all its aspects, from Politics and Spirituality, to Love and Family – this book reflects Bob Dylan’s thoughts on Woody Guthrie; “You can listen to his songs and learn how to live.”
Woody Guthrie has had a profound impact on American musicians, writers, politicians (and the everyman who found solace and kinship in Guthrie’s writings and political beliefs), who have been shaped by his music and activism—namely the great founding father of songwriting himself, Bob Dylan, for whom he was a mentor. Others who have named Guthrie as a major influence include Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Pete Seeger, John Mellencamp, Billy Bragg, Joe Strummer, and Jerry Garcia, just to name a few.
Today, the legendary duo Tears For Fears have announced UK tour dates in support of the forthcoming release of their first new studio album in nearly two decades, THE TIPPING POINT, which is released 25th February.
As part of the Tipping Point World Tour the band will be touring the UK in July 2022 with special guest Alison Moyet. Fans who pre-order The Tipping Point from the band’s official store will be eligible for an exclusive ticket pre-order from the 17th November, two days before the tickets go on general sale.
Also on sale from the band’s official store as of this Friday is an exclusive limited edition PINK vinyl version of The Tipping Point.
Speaking about going back out on the road Curt Smith said, “We couldn’t be more excited to start playing concerts again. We’ve missed seeing our friends on the road around the world and the energy of performing live.” Roland Orzabal shared “The Tipping Point has been a long time in the making and we are looking forward to playing our favourites from the new album as well as our classics from throughout the years.”
Arriving on the 25th February The Tipping Point is the band’s first album since their reunion album Everybody Loves A Happy Ending in 2004. Since then, the band have toured extensively, including a sold-out UK arena tour and in 2017 released Rule The World, a best-of compilation that returned the band to upper reaches of the album charts once more. In September of 2022 the band were honored with the Outstanding Song Collection Award at the 2021 Ivor Novello Awards.
When asked why make The Tipping Point now? Roland Orzabal says, “Before everything went so right with this album, everything first had to go wrong, it took years, but something happens when we put our heads together. We’ve got this balance, this push-me-pull-you thing – and it works really well.” Curt Smith agrees, “If that balance doesn’t work on a Tears For Fears album, the whole thing just doesn’t work. To put it in simple terms, a Tears For Fears record and what people perceive to be the sound of Tears For Fears – is the stuff we can both agree on.”
Tears For Fears were one of the most iconic bands of the ‘80s, selling over 30 million albums worldwide with singles such as “Shout,” “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” “Mad World,” “Sowing The Seeds Of Love,” and “Woman In Chains” acknowledged as classics.
The Tipping Point is the bold, beautiful and powerful sound of Tears For Fears finding themselves together, once again.
TEARS FOR FEARS UK TOUR JULY 2022 WITH SPECIAL GUEST ALISON MOYET
July 1st Telford QEII Arena Telford, Shropshire
July 2nd Longleat House Warminster, Wiltshire
July 5th Waddesdon Manor Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
July 7th Utilita Arena Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne
July 8th Floors Castle Kelso, Scotland
July 9th Lytham Festival Lytham St Annes
July 12th The Incora County Ground Derby, Derbyshire
July 14th Leeds Millennium Square Leeds, Yorkshire
July 15th Warwick Castle Warwick, Warwickshire
July 16th Scarborough Open Air Theatre Scarborough, North Yorkshire
July 19th Chewton Glen New Milton, Hampshire
July 20th The Spitfire Ground Canterbury, Kent
July 22nd The 1st Central County Ground Hove, Sussex
July 23rd Cardiff Castle Cardiff, Wales
July 24th Hatfield House Hatfield, Hertfordshire
July 26th Powderham Castle Exeter, Devon
