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Rockers DUTCHMAN have arrived and are on the “Run Run Run”

Eric Alper
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Rockers DUTCHMAN have arrived and are on the “Run Run Run”

Harrington, Delaware’s Dutchman have arrived, and this four piece are on the “Run Run Run” with this, their new single — available now.

Freshly pressed from their debut offering, Dutchman Vol. 1 — a follow-up to the group’s breakthrough EP, A Broken Man’s Life and precursor to Dutchman Vol. 2 — the song harnesses the sonic talents of the band’s initial lineup: Jake Dutcher (vox/rhythm guitar), and Connor Johnson (vox/lead guitar), alongside Garrett Gravatt (lead/rhythm guitar) and Franco Solorzano (keys/bass), who were added shortly after first forming in 2017.

The group gelled quickly, finding themselves in the throes of writing an entire collection of tracks that would ultimately make up Volumes 1 & 2 of their eponymous offerings.

“To this day, Dutchman Vol. 1 stands as our quickest collection of songs, only taking a month in the studio from start to finish,” the band reveals.

“During this period, we were mostly recording and taping footage ‘in house’ with all master mixes and video editing being done at my place, except for some stuff,” Johnson adds. “Two songs that were shelved during the making of Volume 1 happened to be ‘These days’ and ‘Last year;’ they ended up on Volume 2.”

Along with the full-length comes the group’s leading single, “Run Run Run” — an alternative-rock soundscape with ambling guitars, and catchy, ear-worm melodies.

Dutchman plucks apart a variety of generations of rock and roll music, and blends them into a sound uniquely their own. From staging pulsating riffs with tightly woven harmonies, “Run Run Run” executes a good time vibe, amped up to eleven.

Much like the album, the song was recorded primarily at Johnson’s pad — with the band handling the vocal tracks at their local studio, Electric Fossil. Owner/engineer, Kirby, assisted fine tuning the production and final edits.

“The making of Vol. 1 started in October 2019, and was done in order of appearance on the track listing,” Dutcher explains. “Starting with ‘It’s A Wild Life,’ we knew we had something good.

“Not to mention that, after ‘Run Run Run’ was completed, we were really on a roll.”

The subsequent music video for “Run Run Run” currently streams on YouTube, with a brand new edit mix for the visual. “The video was filmed locally at our very own Electric Fossil Studios in early November of 2019,” the band says. “Our Engineer Kirby delightfully made a cameo on the bass for us.”

Dutchman Vol. 1 is an impressively sketched album of intricate detail, and rousing melody. Each track on the record seamlessly bleeds into the next, providing an epic soundtrack for the best of summer nights, bonfire get-togethers, and patio mixers.

What’s enchanting about Dutchman is their penchant for being both loud and resounding, without complicating it. The group is built on good music, good times, and good old-fashioned rock and roll — the kind you pour a pint for.

Dutchman Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 — and “Run Run Run” — are available now.

Short Music Doc: The Foo Fighters’ “The Day The Music Came Back”

Eric Alper
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Short Music Doc: The Foo Fighters’ “The Day The Music Came Back”

On June 20, 2021, after 466 days without live music, Foo Fighters reopened Madison Square Garden to a sold-out crowd, marking the first full capacity concert in a New York arena since the start of the pandemic. This short documentary “The Day The Music Came Back” highlights the cathartic and highly anticipated experience that our city, whose heart beats to the sound of live music, had long been waiting for.

Country Artist and Guinness World Record Joy Chapman Goes For It with “Could’ve Been Yes”

Eric Alper
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Country Artist and Guinness World Record Joy Chapman Goes For It with “Could’ve Been Yes”

Guinness World Record-holding vocalist and Canadian singer/songwriter Joy Chapman corrals life’s would’ves and should’ves in this, her sassy new single, “Could’ve Been Yes” — available now.

Dubbed a “hard-rocking fusion of country, rock, and rockabilly” by music critic Kristina Mondo, the track teems with Chapman’s inimitable songwriting skill and vocal talent — the latter of which recently cemented her status as holding the Lowest Female Vocal Note with Guinness World Record.

“At first glance, the message of this song is focused on a guy not being brave enough to ask out the girl he really wants to,” Chapman offers. “Ultimately, he never does.

“From there, I was thinking about how many times people don’t go after what they really want. It’s usually out of a fear of rejection — but if you don’t have the courage to ask, you’ll never know. Because of that, I think the message of the song can be taken further and applied to any aspect of one’s life when you’re not going ahead and giving something a try.

“After all,” she adds, chuckling, “it ‘Could’ve Been Yes.’”

It’s a notion the British Columbia-based artist seen on The Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon, UK Morning Live, Entertainment Tonight Canada, and more, is no stranger to.

With an earlier start than most, thanks to her mother who was a music school teacher, Joy Chapman has honed her craft and skill to hit everything from high soprano to alto, tenor, and even bass; this contributes to her holding the current Guinness World Record at a measurement of 33.57 Hz C1.

This, combined with a lifelong love of writing and poetry, translated into a music career — including a multitude of performance credits such as holding her own Diva Tribute show, and performing main stage at the PNE. Chapman also toured with Legends International for six years (2014-2020), and released a holiday single, “Santa Claus Drank All My Beer Last Night” (2019).

With the song already heard across CBC, KTMO, KOFM, WBCU, WOCO, plus Italy’s Incontro Radio and the UK’s Spectrum Radio, and more, “Could’ve Been Yes” is the latest to land alongside Joy Chapman’s album release, Footprint In My Songs. The 15-track LP showcases the multi-talented artist’s inventive, genre-bending retro-modern country sound and inspirational, introspective — but also humorous and witty — perspective on life.

“It’s that great hockey analogy: 100% of the shots not taken won’t make it into the net,” Chapman explains about “Could’ve Been Yes,” and beyond. “As a musician, I’m getting used to the rejection — but I don’t care anymore. I just keep sending in and trying. What’s the worst that can happen, really? I get another ‘it’s great, but…’ rejection?

“I always stay focused on the fact that, if I don’t try, maybe it ‘Could’ve Been Yes.’”

“Could’ve Been Yes” and Footprint In My Songs are available now.

Canadian Record Producer Taabu Joins Forces with Kenyan Singer Yviona for “Pigana”

Eric Alper
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Canadian Record Producer Taabu Joins Forces with Kenyan Singer Yviona for “Pigana”

Canadian record producer Spencer Heaslip, AKA Taabu, continues to showcase his musical talent and range with this, the release of his heart-pounding ominous new pop single “Pigana (feat. Yviona)” — available now.

Landing just a month after the release of his upbeat, bubblegum-pop EDM single, “Ooey Gooey (feat. Omega Mighty),” ”Pigana” is the second cut from the Toronto-based artist’s forthcoming debut album, Bellows.

Translating to “fight” in Kiswahili — Yviona’s native tongue — the title “Pigana” was inspired by the subject matter of the two-and-a-half-minute rollercoaster. Yviona, who wrote the lyrics, explains it was inspired by “broken relationships caused by miscommunication.”

“This is a tale of two lovers who struggle to make it work before contemplating pulling the plug,” she adds.

For a breakup song so dark, and filled with so much intensity, you wouldn’t expect it to kick off with a Kalimba; it does, however, and it works beautifully.

It’s what Taabu does with the melody that really sets the scene; he left the lyricism up to his musical partner, taking the reins fully and completely on the instrumental elements. Though his playing invokes an uneasy sense of dread, given how catchy it is, it reels you right in to stay until the end. Before you know it, the spotlight is Yviona’s as she undoubtedly brings the listener home with her urgent and tension-filled delivery… Chef’s kiss!

After working together pre-pandemic, Taabu says he and Yviona “quickly established a mutual respect for each other’s ideas, perspectives, creative input and talent.”

“Yviona was receptive to the energy I conveyed in the production and elaborated on that energy absolutely perfectly,” he adds.

“Pigana” is the second collaboration between the two, and succeeds their 2019 pop track, “Summer.” Despite being more than 12,000 km away from one another — Yviona in her hometown of Nairobi, and Taabu in Brampton, ON — the multi-talented producer says their “over-sea synergy” made the process of working together “seamless, diverse, and exciting.”

Fortunately, diversity happens to be both Taabu’s goal and forte…

With an obsession around versatility that flourished from basement metal recordings into electronic/dance, pop, hip hop, and reggae-influenced production at the mere age of 18, his fascination with the integrity, clarity, and depth of all music expanded as he explored the world of sound design.

Taabu currently holds credits working with some of the biggest names in the game — including work on tracks with JUNO and Polaris Prize-nominated Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Haviah Mighty, The Sorority, Rochester, Yviona, Lex Leosis, Marcio Novelli, Raz, and more.

Bellows, Taabu’s highly anticipated debut album is set for a July 2021 release, is set to feature lead single “Ooey Gooey” and “Pigana” — among a handful of other brand-new, original tracks.

Taabu and Yviona’s “Pigana” is available now.

Vienna, Austria Pop A.I. Trio LUCY DREAMS Source a Sense of Peace in Outer Space with “Dreamland”

Eric Alper
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Vienna, Austria Pop A.I. Trio LUCY DREAMS Source a Sense of Peace in Outer Space with “Dreamland”

Vienna, Austria dream pop trio Lucy Dreams source a sense of peace in outer space with their new single and psychedelic video for “Dreamland” — available now.

The song itself is an exploration of freedom. It “is both the analogue and the digital subconscious put into sounds, a gentle-minded breakout from mental patterns and their subsequent realities,” asserts band member David Reiterer.

A gorgeous synth-heavy ballad that sparks inspiration along with alleviation, the music video then centres around Mr. Mirandola — a man walking across landscapes, dreamscapes, and multiverses in search of a better world.

Though it’s hard to say if the journey has turned him into a man whose inner world is too good for the one he’s searching for…

The first taste of their upcoming debut album, Götterfunken, “Dreamland” showcases the outfit that is Reiterer alongside Philipp Prückl and an independent system of digital and analogue effects, Lucy.

An A.I. born out of Reiterer and Prückl’s time in the studio tinkering away with music recording software, the group’s relationship with one another has grown over the past few months, to the point where it’s safe to call Lucy an A.B — artificial band member.

“Lucy’s impulses were very special here,” Reiterer and Prückl share. “The glittering synth in the verse is based on an old traditional Viennese melody Lucy was fed with.

“Also, the 4-note-melody before the chorus was Lucy’s idea — just as the sound of the guitars that are very similar to the ones in the ‘Twin Peaks’ theme. Based on this input, we have composed the instrumental for Dreamland.”

“Then, on a starry night during lockdown, I was alone in my apartment and had a colourful drink. I went for a walk and looked at the sky more than where I was headed. So I laid down, directed my body towards the stars, with the instrumental version of dreamland in my headphones…I wrote the lyrics for ‘Dreamland.’”

Inspired by the greats such as Mark Hollis, Kate Bush, Bowie, Empire of the Sun and Wayne Coyne, Reiterer (34), Prückl (32) and Lucy (X732) are meticulous connoisseurs of the classics — along with a ton of more obscure titles that they draw inspiration from. Their passion for large-scale cinemascope staging in their performances is the result of years of intense research into music, spirituality, science, nature and philosophy.

Lucy Dreams creates music in celebration of Mother Earth and for a sustainable future to be paved for all human beings, despite the human race’s constant mistreating of Her. With that, they wish for Lucy to act as an ambassador for this message. Selfless in her image and goals, both literally and figuratively; she will act as our guide, with Reiterer and Prückl as her mediators.

“Dreamland” is available now.

Toronto Singer/Songwriter SHANNON DOOKS Eschews All “Doubts” in New Single

Eric Alper
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Toronto Singer/Songwriter SHANNON DOOKS Eschews All “Doubts” in New Single

It’s the ‘straight from the cereal bag.’ It’s the steering wheel slam. It’s the glow-up, the girlfriends, and the goblet of red. Moment by moment, Oshawa-born, Toronto-based singer/songwriter Shannon Dooks delves deep into “Doubts” and those post-breakup blues with this, her new official video — available now.

Landing ahead of this year’s forthcoming release, Do It Again, “we wanted to capture the very private moments of a woman going through a breakup, and how she copes with it all,” Dooks says of the official visual’s concept. “We wanted to weave through some relatable, light-hearted moments, as well as underlying tones of realness.

“Ultimately, the video embodies how I work through my own self-care after cutting ties with someone who consistently let me down.”

Shot and directed by Nick Posthumus (Midnight Vesta), Dooks nods to the joys and creative sparks of working amongst friends on the project. “It was a real, true pleasure working with such insanely talented friends,” she shares. “Nick is a long-time friend of mine, and we frequently collaborate, write, and perform music together. Evan Henderson edited the final cut, and also worked all the VHS and vintage elements of the shoot. Morgan O’Grady did my makeup, as well as for Alyssa Giddings, Rosemary Moore, and herself for the ‘ladies’ portion of the shoot.”

Picking a once-thriving connection apart once it turns dubious, and acknowledging the signs can be a tough experience, the song was penned by Rosanne Baker Thornley, and produced by UK-based producer Will Schollar.

Everything from the innocent piano intro to the mellow rhythm sections that follow, the arrangements send the notion of a fond farewell wrapped in a melodic package. The message within is signed, sealed and delivered by Shannon Dooks’s harmonious and smooth vocal style.

As light as the single sounds, the weight within the lyrics denotes a tipping point in a crumbling relationship. According to Dooks, “it’s that feeling of constantly putting in effort into the relationship, and each broken promise is that much more devastating as it goes on…

“And then you finally reach a breaking point.”

The introductory lyrics in the first verse of “Doubts” perfectly summarizes the singer’s insight: “Don’t write, don’t text, don’t call, don’t do anything at all.” Further reinforcing the message are the closing lyrics of the first verse: “You tell me go, you tell me stay, you tell me leave, but don’t tell me what I should believe.”

A follow-up to her 2014 self-titled debut EP, Shannon Dooks, that has over ~150,000 streams on Spotify alone, her sophomore album, Do It Again, is set for release this summer.

Also this season? She’ll be heard singing with JUNO Award-winning R&B singer/songwriter Daniel Caesar in “Meaning,” in addition to their previous collaborations, “Violet” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me.”

Her YouTube channel is sprawling with live-off-the-floor funkified renditions of classics such as Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” among many others, and her songwriting and vocal feature credits also extend to Canadian singer-songwriter Raff Pylon’s “Christmas in California,” featuring Snoop Dogg.

Do It Again is being recorded at Kensington Sound with producers Ben Pelchat and Earl Powell, and singer/songwriter and mentor, Rosanne Baker Thornley.

“Doubts” is available now.

Toronto Rocker And Roller Derby Star SIOBAMM Crushes “Bones” with New Single

Eric Alper
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Toronto Rocker And Roller Derby Star SIOBAMM Crushes “Bones” with New Single

Roller derby enthusiast turned production badass of rock and roll, Siobamm trades in her roller skates for electric guitars and microphones on her new single, “Bones” — available now.

The indie songstress is no stranger to the recording studio, having been introduced to the music community through her family’s band Madd Paddy. As Siobamm remembers, she stepped into the recording booth at the age of ten, and thereafter spent her formative years in Irish bars watching her talented kin perform.

Now, she’s utilized her know-how and the creative genes passed down to her to create, design and devise a home studio she can call her own. From derby girl to songwriter, and producer, Siobamm can safely say she inherited the family business.

When the pandemic caused a global shutdown, it became obvious to Siobamm that a return to roller derby was unlikely in any near future. Inspired by the space and time she was afforded under lockdown, she took to learning music production, honed in on her previous experience performing in bands and went back to her song writing roots. “I’m proud of myself and what I created in a year,” she says. “I’m excited to keep learning and growing in all aspects of music.”

On her debut EP, Gloom Patrol (May 2021), Siobamm’s efforts as both the writer and the producer provide a complete insight to her as an artist, and what she was willing to put forward for her debut record.

Dreamy, fuzzy, lo-fi guitar. Alternative, grungy, melodic harmonies. Clever lyrics. Smart visuals. Siobamm has carefully curated the album from the opening riff to the presentation in video. Fiona Apple spooning with Mazzy Starr, singing an Elle King lullaby. A 90s soundscape with a modern, cutting edge.

“There are not a lot of women in music production,” Siobamm says, emphasizing: “I want to show girls that learning the technical stuff isn’t hard, and is really interesting and fun.”

With quarantine in mind, Gloom Patrol’s four-track-strong song list is a gothic anthem for the misfits dealing with the misfortunes of a world lost, and tucked away. Each track reminds the listener there is someone else on the other side of this tin can — just like you. Like me. Like Siobamm, who eagerly understands the peril of human existence in a time where everyone was locked down and forced to keep themselves company.

It’s a love letter to all of us, penned by a gal who took the time she was given to write something we could all relate to; chopped up into blended pieces that make the package perfect for the pallet.

It’ll have you asking for seconds. And let’s hope this jammer has plenty more in the pack.

Gloom Patrol and “Bones” are available now.

Wow. The Seinfeld Theme Mixed With A Hit Song From Every Year Seinfeld Was On TV

Eric Alper
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Wow. The Seinfeld Theme Mixed With A Hit Song From Every Year Seinfeld Was On TV

To celebrate the 32nd anniversary of Seinfeld, mashup legends The Hood Internet collaborated with Seinfeld Current Day to mix a hit song from every year the legendary show was on television.

The Official Trailer For “Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage” Might Make You Glad You Weren’t There

Eric Alper
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The Official Trailer For “Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage” Might Make You Glad You Weren’t There

How did an iconic celebration of harmony descend into mayhem? Woodstock 99, the first film in Bill Simmons’ Music Box HBO series, examines how the festival collapsed under the weight of its own misguided ambition. The HBO original documentary premieres July 23 on HBOMax.

Outkast’s Game-Changing Second Studio Album “ATLiens” Gets Expanded Edition For 25th Anniversary

Eric Alper
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Outkast’s Game-Changing Second Studio Album “ATLiens” Gets Expanded Edition For 25th Anniversary

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, and SME’s Certified are celebrating the 25th anniversary of ATLiens–the cinematic hip-hop masterpiece that rocketed Outkast (André 3000 and Big Boi) into the mainstream stratosphere from the duo’s Atlanta underground music scene launchpad–with an expanded edition of the album, newly uprezzed HD videos of the album’s key singles, limited edition 25th anniversary merchandise and more coming Friday, August 27.

ATLiens (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) features the original album in its entirety bundled with a full-length collection of 14 previously unreleased instrumental tracks. The newly-expanded 25th anniversary edition of ATLiens is mixed in Hi-Res 24bit sound.

25th anniversary ATLiens single bundles include the album’s singles–“Elevators (Me & You),” “ATLiens” and “Jazzy Belle.” Videos for each of the songs have been upgraded to HD as part of the celebration. “Elevators (Me & You)” has recently been certified RIAA platinum, joining the single “ATLiens” (RIAA gold) and the album ATLiens (certified RIAA double platinum).

Legacy will be releasing a limited edition 25th Anniversary 4LP 12″ vinyl edition of ATLiens which will include the original release on 2LPs and the previously unavailable instrumental album on 2LPs. Pre-order available here.

Coming to you from Vinyl Me, Please (VMP), in association with SME, is the “extraterrestrial-straight from ATL” sophomore album from Outkast, ATLiens. The 25th Anniversary Edition of ATLiens will be featured as Vinyl Me, Please’s Hip-Hop Record of the Month for August 2021. Available to VMP members on 2LP Neon Green and Blue Galaxy vinyl, this album is mastered at half speed and includes an exclusive Listening Notes booklet for an overall listening experience that is out of this world. Join Vinyl Me, Please as they explore new galaxies of sounds that are lost and found to create transcendent tangible music experiences.

Get On Down is releasing an exclusive bundle including a 4LP set housed in custom gatefold jacket with printed inner bags pressed on standard black vinyl; the Get On Down set includes the ATLiens original vocal album and the full-length instrumental album, commercially available for the first time. Exclusive to Get On Down, the Glow In The Dark big hole 45, featuring the single “Elevators” b/w “ATLiens,” housed in a custom printed inner sleeve and miniature outer jacket facsimile of the commercial 12″ release. This 45 vinyl pressing will be limited to 3000 copies. Pre-order the Get On Down anniversary vinyl bundle here.

Merch Traffic has curated an e-commerce collection to commemorate the groundbreaking and one of a kind ATLiens album. The collection features custom-made pieces, hand-drawn artwork, and a variety of unique novelty items specifically made for the 25th Anniversary.

With ATLiens, Outkast’s second studio album, the American hip-hop duo focused an outer space-inspired musical lens on 1996 Atlanta street culture, finding common ground in a range of characters from hustlers to extra-terrestrials.

Released on August 27, 1996, by LaFace Records. ATLiens entered the Billboard 200 chart at #2 and sold nearly 350,000 copies within two weeks of release. The album It has been certified double platinum by the RIAA, for shipments of two million copies in the United States, and generated the hit singles “Elevators (Me & You)”, “ATLiens”, and “Jazzy Belle”.

Since its release, ATLiens continues to be heralded by top magazines, music critics and aficionados as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.

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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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