Sonic Reducers: 1 topic. 2 music nerds. 5 minutes.
Listen in as we discuss Johnny Marr’s upcoming Fever Dreams album and go through the lengthy list of the former veteran guitarist’s post-Smiths collaborations, and beg Johnny to hit us up for interviews.
The Velvet Underground. A hypnotic new documentary and the first major film to tell the band’s legendary story. Playing in theaters and on Apple TV+ October 15.
The Velvet Underground created a new sound that changed the world of music, cementing its place as one of rock and roll’s most revered bands. Directed with the era’s avant-garde spirit by Todd Haynes, this kaleidoscopic oral history combines exclusive interviews with dazzling archival footage.
The Velvet Underground: A Documentary Film By Todd Haynes – Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack, a 2CD and digital soundtrack that features both well-known and rare Velvet Underground tracks, will be released on October 15, 2021. Curated by the documentary’s director, Todd Haynes, and music supervisor Randall Poster, the album is the official soundtrack for the critically acclaimed Apple Original documentary.
Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), played by eight electronic devices in The Device Orchestra: two electric toothbrushes, three credit card machines, one toaster, one steam iron, and one electric typewriter.
Canadian rocker Kevin Towill may have planted his roots in the punk community, but it’s his expressive, electric guitar-laden new EP, After The Party Is Over — available now — that showcases the depths of his ability to bend genres and colour outside the lines.
Kicking off with lead track, “The Contemporary American Dream,” the Calgary-based artist’s move to write a solo album followed Towill’s decision to re-prioritize his ‘9-5’ life, shifting focus from working solely at a gig he picked up when his former punk outfit, The Reckless Heroes, disbanded in 2017, and gravitating back to music.
“Music was far too important and self-identifying to abandon completely,” he explains; knowing that music was a lifeline to the air he breathes, Towill set out to lay the tracks of his breakthrough solo project.
After The Party Is Over maximizes the time it’s afforded across five intricate songs — each rooted in electric, and each telling its own unique story. Towill shines in fluidly moving from one song to the next; some requiring vocals, others an instrumental roadmap to an artist’s mind.
Towill’s gritty, bass-heavy vox pleads, concedes, offers, and bargains across the melodies. Pulling back the instrumentation pushes Towill into a raw, sonic-sphere where his voice is forced to carry the track.
On this EP, Towill gives it all — unabashedly. His vox is brought to the spotlight; every word, and every nuance highlighted to expose him under his artistry.
And he makes this leap from punk to introspective flawlessly.
Coercing a variety of song styles, Towill preys on his influences to create an overall journey in ambiance. Some tracks are laced with upbeat, 90s vibes; others are melancholic and deeply introspective.
Percussion – including double kick, pulsating drum lines – creep in on the opening track “The Contemporary American Dream,” featuring ethereal back-up vox that equates the song as both liberating, and haunting in equal measure. Towill concludes the EP with simply “Goodbye,” an instrumental, exclusively electric guitar curtain call that wraps up the pieces of the album with a tidy bow and a nod of thanks for listening.
What Kevin Towill gleans from the album is validation. From years spent hauling the enormous space that occupies the punk scene, After The Party Is Over reiterates what fans of Kevin Towill already knew: that even in an ultraviolet, stripped back and vulnerable soundscape, he shines on with rugged talent.
And he didn’t have to wait until After The Party Was Over to tell it, but we’re glad he did.
After The Party Is Over and “The Contemporary American Dream” are available now.
Diving even deeper into his realest, rawest, and most realized artistic self yet, Canadian contemporary pop, R&B and soul artist Ezra Jordan (son of Marc Jordan and Amy Sky) releases his new single, “dollarama” — available now.
“This song was written during one of my lowest points during the pandemic,” Ezra shares. “I was suffering from a pretty significant depressive episode, my plans to move to LA had been derailed, and I had lost my job and moved back with my parents.
“I took stock of my life, my relationships, my friends, and my own self-image, and tried to figure out where this empty feeling was coming from.
“Out of that, I wrote ‘dollarama.’”
With nearly six million streams across Spotify and YouTube alone — plus appearances as a finalist on CTV’s The Launch, performing at the 2019 JUNO Awards TD Green Room, and charting at radio across the US — “dollarama” arrives ahead of Jordan’s forthcoming sophomore album, 117. Scheduled for release this Fall, the five-track EP follows 2020’s breakthrough debut, Cheap Therapy.
“This collection of songs is, without a doubt, the most meaningful and vulnerable music I’ve ever released,” he says. “I’ve been doing this ‘music thing’ for a while now, but I think it took this many years to feel fully realized as a writer and an artist.
“In so much of my other music, I’ve always felt there was a compromise; I was trying to shoehorn the music I really wanted to make into a form that was ‘cool’ or ‘poppy’ or ‘current’ enough. But when I truly faced the thought of abandoning music and finding some other way to spend my life, I felt I owed it to myself to make at least one thing that was as close to my true artistic vision as I was able to get.
“And that’s the 117 EP.”
“dollarama” is available now. 117 is available October 6, 2021.
Sonic Reducers: 1 topic. 2 music nerds. 5 minutes.
Sit in as we get excited about Todd Haynes’ upcoming Velvet Underground documentary, tie it in with all the assorted VU rarities and reissues that have come down the pipe lately, and ponder whether this movie could have been made when Lou Reed, Nico and other principals were still around.
All photos by Mini’s Memories. If you’re an artist or band and need photos done for your next release, you can no wrong contacting her with your details: minismemories@hotmail.com
Sometimes the best things about summer are the most simple: the smell of dew in the grass, a charge in the night air, and infinite stars in a clear sky. And Nobeton, ON’s singer-songwriter Matt Morson captures these modest joys, and more, with his new single “Tailgate Patio” — available now.
All about a night of jubilant dancing and partying among friends in the bed of a truck, Matt takes us along for the ride among driving electric guitars and an easy, dashboard-thumping beat. His lyrics take us down tree-lined country roads – windows down, breeze in our hair – to the perfect spot for a bonfire and, of course, a tailgate. The headlights illuminate your crush’s smile, there’s a hint of perfume in the air, and then your favorite song comes on the radio. All in all, the perfect summer night. A singalong-ready chorus, female-backed vocal harmonies, and a wailing guitar solo make it one that’s hard to forget.
A faster, more rock-infused departure from his usual country-and-blues sound, Matt wrote “Tailgate Patio” while sitting on a hill at dusk, turkey hunting. “Not the usual place to write a song,” Matt said, “but it seemed to produce results for me.” All he knew when he started was that he really wanted to write a summer song. “Growing up, I loved those summer anthems that made you want to drive with the windows down, so I thought I would try my hand at one,” he says, adding that the resulting song is what he set out to do. “It’s fun and fast and still a little rock inspired as all my music is. It’s a summer jam that I feel is still me. Still in my lane.”
Born and raised in a small town in Ontario, Matt has always used his love of music and songwriting as a mode of self-expression. He picked up his first guitar at age 11 to master Led Zeppelin’s “Communication Breakdown,” and it all fell into place from there. Matt’s charismatic presence and ability to connect with an audience have led him to many notable performances throughout his career. Highlights include opening for Doc Walker, George Canyon, Jojo Mason, River Town Saints, Paul Brandt, and Aaron Pritchett. Most comfortable on stage, he and his band are known for a high energy and extremely passionate live show.
Not one to expect opportunities to just come looking for him, Matt spends the bulk of his free time in the studio, recording and rehearsing with his band. He’s always striving to improve his sound and hone his artistry. Hence writing a song even while turkey hunting, reaching through the dusk for that danceable summer jam.
“Tailgate Patio” is available now.
From Canada’s northern epicenter of music, straight to the nation’s capital, Nunavut-based record label Hitmakerz is set to host a week-long professional development event this September.
Hitmakerz Compound will take place from September 2–9, 2021. The songwriting and music production workshops will take place September 6, 10, and 11, 2021.
During these events, six artists from Hitmakerz’s inimitable roster will be harnessing their time together for a dynamic week of creative collaboration and music making. And extending beyond their own incredibly multi-talented roster of Inuit artists, Hitmakerz will welcome industry heavy hitters –– including award-winning, Platinum-selling producers Chris Birkett and Dale Penner, as well as many other local Ottawa-based songwriters, producers, and artists.
In this project, Iqaluit’s head-turning record label will transform an Ottawa-area mansion into an immersive content creation house dubbed the “Hitmakerz Compound.” Four of the artists in attendance — Joey Nowyuk, Jacob Okatisak, Brenda Montana, and Angela Amarualik — will write songs, record, and producer their upcoming albums, while two artists –– Aocelyn (pronounced “aw-slin”) and Shauna Seeteenak –– are slated to record music videos for upcoming single releases and demos for their next albums.
Several of the artists have had their albums come out in 2021, including Joey Nowyuk –– whose album Tumitit won an Indigenous Music Award –– Shauna Seeteenak, and Aocelyn. During Hitmakerz Compound, all of the artists will also undergo daily industry training and coaching.
According to Hitmakerz CEO Thor Simonsen, the project was born out of necessity and pragmatism. “The idea came about since we were already flying people around the country for production,” says Simonsen. “Then we thought: Wouldn’t it be great for all these amazing artists and producers to meet and work in the same space at the same time?
“The project was partly inspired by the innovative concept of a TikTok content creation house” Simonsen continues. “We expect the Hitmakerz Compound to allow our artists to be inspired, cross-pollinating ideas in order to create new music, beautiful content, and continue developing sustainable careers in the arts.”
The producers lined up to work with the artists are no strangers to the industry, or creative ways of producing music: Birkett has worked with the likes of Led Zeppelin, Sinead O’Connor, Sting, Quincy Jones, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. His work has won him a Grammy, JUNO Awards, and Canada’s top musical honour, the Polaris Prize.
Penner, a Platinum-selling and multi-award winning producer, engineer, and mixer, also has a chart-topping list of credits that include Nickelback, The Matthew Good Band, Econoline Crush, and more.
Simonsen, also an award-winning music producer, will be the executive producer of each project. Simonsen’s credits include everyone on the label’s roster, as well as Aasiva and the late Kelly Fraser — with whom he originally founded the company in 2016.
Legendary Nunavut speed-rapper, Hyper-T (TO BE CONFIRMED), as well as Ottawa-based music producer, Tev Bourque (TO BE CONFIRMED), will also be working with the artists as producers. Additionally, Hitmakerz COO and Performance Coach, Sarah Elaine McLay, will assist with production and training.
in order to capture the spirit of the project for a potential documentary, Joan Prowsewill direct a small team of aspiring documentary filmmakers. Joan is a JUNO Award-nominated and esteemed writer, producer, director, and video editor. The music videos will be directed by Ottawa-based filmmaker Rachel Vrecic, who will manage a small team of filmmakers.
In addition to the albums, music videos, etc., three full-day songwriting and music production workshops will be held on the campus — taught by Birkett and Penner, respectively. Open to any Ottawa-based artists with more than two years of songwriting experience, the workshops are $248, and will serve to help artists create new material and network; all attendees must provide proof of full Covid-19 vaccination.
The songwriting workshops will offer guidance and feedback as songwriters pair off to write and record demos for three new songs each. Demos and stem audio files will be recorded for each song and sent to the songwriters. The music production workshops will offer industry-leading take on music production, as well as hands-on instruction to create and enhance productions. The workshops, which will include other presenters, will provide tips, tricks, and best practices on how to make a living as a professional songwriter and/or producer and engineer.
In each workshop, attendees will receive bonuses valued at more than $1,400, including a free PRO Single Release with CD Baby, access to Indie Week’s Music Pro Summit, a free mini-course on grant writing, free headshots or band photos, and a free vocal assessment. Attendees will also receive valuable insights from other on-site professionals, including Ottawa-based entertainment lawyer, Byron Pascoe, of Edwards Creative Law. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will also be included, as well as discounts, prizes, giveaways, and more.
“I think everyone will benefit from getting to know each other and working together,” Simonsen says of the event. “These intimate events will create amazing new music, friendships, and unforeseen opportunities for growth”.
“Covid-19 completely changed the world of concerts, live music, and gatherings,” says McLay. “For us, this in-person event is a sign of hope towards a return to normalcy.”
Canadian women are increasingly ready to travel, says Carolyn Ray, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of JourneyWoman. And many of their top destinations are right here, between our coastlines.
The internationally renowned travel publiciation’s Global Travel Trends: Women’s Travel Readiness and Once-in-a-Lifetime Travel Experiences surveys took a look at Boomer and GenX women’s travel habits, seeing who is actively planning future travel — and where.
“In January 2021, there was notable apprehension around how ‘ready’ travellers — especially women travellers — were feeling,” Ray shares, noting one-third of respondents from around the world were planning to travel in 2022, and another third weren’t sure when they’d next hit the road. “Our research shows that as of July 2021, the number of women planning to travel in 2022, or sooner, rose considerably.”
“As key influencers in travel, Boomer and GenX women are signalling several major shifts in their future travel habits,” Ray says. “They’re more likely to explore somewhere completely new, travel for longer periods of time, which is a trend called slow travel, and allocate more of their disposable income to travel — especially since women are 73% more likely to pay a premium to feel safe.
“Women will be more purposeful in the way they travel, choosing more eco-friendly, ethical wildlife and indigenous travel experiences,” she continues. “Pre-pandemic, most women took two or three trips per year and, while that average is on-trend to continue, I expect we will see a rise in female travellers seeking out places in need of tourism dollars, as well as more eco-friendly accommodations, and choosing to engage in more ethical animal experiences.”
For Canadian women looking to first travel within their own borders, more than half of respondents listed a visit to British Columbia and Alberta — a destination also at the top of Ray’s itinerary. “In July, I joined women-owned Wild Women Expeditions on a week-long, off-the-grid backcountry horseback riding trip in Banff through the Canadian Rockies,” she shares, adding that her next trip will be to the Northern Lights in the Northwest Territories this September. “Setting your soul on fire underneath the ethereal Northern Lights ranked #1 on JourneyWoman’s list of Top 7 Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences Recommended for Women, by Women.
“Travel-at-home trends show a strong interest in both of our beautiful coastlines, as well as Quebec or our most northern regions,” she continues. “We asked women for their Top 10 Less-Travelled Places to Get ‘Off the Grid,’ and three of the finalists were right here in Canada: Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Baffin Island.
“Beyond our borders, many Canadian women are looking at Europe as one of their first destinations once travel resumes safely. Boomer and GenX women travellers generally prefer a slower, more authentic approach to their travels — and often ones that include elements of luxury, or wellness, or have some culinary, historical, art, nature, or adventure aspect to it.”
Founded in 1994, JourneyWoman™ is the world’s first solo female travel resource and one of the most popular and respected women’s travel brands in the world, providing advice, tips and editorial on solo travel safety to a global audience of adventurous women. Based in Toronto, Canada, JourneyWoman Publisher Carolyn Ray is a board member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC). To help women be more purposeful when they travel, JourneyWoman has created a 10-point TravelReady Checklist, and hosts virtual events on topics such as self-defense and safety, downsizing, travel insurance, and ethical animal tourism. JourneyWoman is a registered trademark of Journeywoman Enterprises Inc.
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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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