George Harrison and Eric Clapton shared a legendary and tumultuous friendship that shaped not only their respective lives and careers but the shifting face of rock music itself in the early 1970s.
In All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs (Chicago Review Press, July 20, 2021), renowned Beatles expert Ken Womack and music historian Jason Kruppa explore Harrison and Clapton’s musical and personal collaboration, friendship, and rivalry.
Close attention is devoted to the climax of Harrison and Clapton’s shared musicianship—the November 1970 releases of All Things Must Pass, Harrison’s powerful emancipatory statement in the wake of the Beatles, and Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, Clapton’s impassioned reimagining of his art via Derek and the Dominos—two records that advanced rock ’n’ roll from a windswept 1960s idealism into the wild and expansive new reality of the 1970s.
Authors Womack and Kruppa interrogate these two iconic albums, from inspirations to studio sessions to legacies, and unearth new perspectives on Harrison and Clapton. Drawing on a mountain of archival material and featuring new research and new interviews with key participants, including drummer Alan White and bassist/Beatle confidant Klaus Voormann, All Things Must Pass Away sweeps aside the myths in favor of a richly detailed exploration of these two remarkable albums and the men who made them.
All Things Must Pass Away will provide readers with a powerful overview of Harrison and Clapton’s relationship—especially in terms of the ways in which their revolutionary musicianship and songwriting would eclipse rock music and redefine the genre.
InsideOutMusic/Sony Music are extremely pleased to announce the signing of progressive rock legends Jethro Tull to the label. The band has already completed a new album titled ‘The Zealot Gene’, which can be expected in early 2022.
Ian Anderson had this to say about the new signing – “After 54 years in the world of music recording, it is with great pleasure that I now sign Jethro Tull to a record company which reminds me, in many ways, of the old Chrysalis label – both as an independent and in its later years in partnership with EMI. Here are real music guys with a passion for the best and most creative in rock music. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship and more releases to come.”
InsideOutMusic Label Manager Thomas Waber states, “Adding Jethro Tull to the roster is an incredible honour for us. The band are true innovators of the genre and we are looking forward to working with them on their new album. We are sure their countless fans will be as excited about it as we are!”
With more than 30 albums to their credit and sales totaling more than 50 million, Jethro Tull are one of the most successful rock bands of all-time with a catalog that contains classics that still resonate today. Led by Ian Anderson, Tull still continue to tour throughout the world, entertaining audiences of all ages.
The band currently consists of Ian Anderson – Flute, acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals; Joe Parrish-James – Guitar; Florian Opahle – Guitar (album only); Scott Hammond – Drums; John O’Hara – Piano, keyboards and accordion, and David Goodier – Bass guitar.
Mickey Guyton will release her album, Remember Her Name, on September 24. Mickey co-penned 15 of the 16 songs on the album. Remember Her Name follows the release of her critically acclaimed EP Bridges which included “Black Like Me” for which she went on to receive a historic GRAMMY nomination. Her performance on the prestigious GRAMMY show was the first by a Black female country artist and was touted by NPR as “the night’s most affecting live performance.”
“Remember Her Name is a culmination of the last ten years of my life in Nashville,” shares Guyton. “This album is the closing of a chapter. All those years ago, I set out to create music that would make people feel self-empowered, loved, and comfortable with being themselves and this album holds true to all of that. I hope everyone who listens finds something that connects and speaks to them.”
Mickey is coming off an incredible year that saw her co-hosting the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards in April with labelmate Keith Urban, a historic performance and nomination for “Black Like Me” on the 63rdGRAMMY Awards in March and “Black Like Me” being named a Top 5 song of 2020 (all genre) by NPR and The Associated Press.
Mickey Guyton’s Remember Her Name Track List
Remember Her Name (Mickey Guyton, Parker Welling, Blake Hubbard, Jarrod Ingram)
All American (Mickey Guyton, Victoria Banks, Emma-Lee, Karen Kosowski)
Different (Mickey Guyton, Emma-Lee, Karen Kosowski)
Love My Hair (Mickey Guyton, Anna Krantz)
Lay It On Me (Mickey Guyton, Jaden Michaels, Gavin Slate)
MaroMaro has brought out his trusty Stylophone again, this time to cover a-ha’s “Take on Me.” This is going to be the first of a number of 80s throwbacks, as he says, “I’m planning on making some more 80s songs because I love the 80s in all of its fun musical glory. Let this be a beginning. On a side note, the chorus of this song with its wide octave shifts is as wide as the Stylophone’s full scale. If it was even a half step higher it would be unplayable.”
HAIL SATIN – the vinyl debut of Dee Gees (or the Foo Fighters) – coming to a local record store and dance party near you July 17th for the next Record Store Day drop on July 17.
With a song on her heart, Hamilton, ON pianist prodigy Alex Whorms has leant her ethereal vocals and masterful penchant for delicate homages to a new interpretation of Jann Arden’s “Insensitive.” It’s breath-taking, and it’s available now.
What was it about the chart-topping smash hit that would come to ring true with legions of fans — and other artists who cover it — all flocking to the track’s aching melancholy? Its truly honest lyrics of heartbreak and longing… Of letting go after being let down… All relatable, earnest words delivered by the honest-to-God truth of feeling every crack in your soul from losing love.
In short, it’s the perfect combination of sense and sensibility for the Hamilton-based indie songstress.
Whorms has been on a path of self-happiness and confidence since leaning into the full scope of her musical abilities. As a teen, she was eager to learn, perform, and conduct. Whorms, a self-described “classical music kid” who became a “musical theatre nerd” in high school, went from practicing piano five hours a day, to reading charts in pit bands and conducting choirs. She loved the dramatic melodies, the lyrics that told stories. She could handle Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Rodgers and Hammerstein.
What she couldn’t handle back then was the Top 40. “I hated it,” she admits. “I used to have an old iPod I would listen to in the car so I didn’t have to hear the radio. I used to go to the library and grab whatever CDs looked interesting, load them in and put them on shuffle.”
But it was a chance hearing of Sarah Slean that compelled the young Whorms to expand her listening wheelhouse, and encouraged her to learn songwriting of her own. Drawn to female songwriters, Whorms honed her skills as bandleader, and performer, focusing on creating masterful lyrics; those that tell a story. As she says, she has one specific goal: deliver honesty. Authenticity. Passion.
Now, the staggeringly talented young musician boasts two recordings to her credit — the 2017 EP Our Lives and 2019’s Burgundy. And with the releases, Whorms has also received wide-fair share of honours and accolades, including the 2019 Hamilton Arts Award of Emerging Artist in Music, and notable gigs including Toronto’s coveted Canadian Music Week (2019), Hamilton’s Festival of Friends (2018), and even the Sidewalk Café in NYC (2017).
In the wake of the 2020 pandemic, Whorms – as many of her musician peers and fellow performers – found herself in a creative space, with time to flesh out other endeavors and projects. This time, it was a stunning cover of Jann Arden’s 90’s classic, “Insensitive”. Stripped down to acoustic, Whorms’ rendition is a raw, pure, piano-based heartbreak. It’s quietly eerie. It’s quietly beautiful. It’s moving, touching, and devastating. Whorms’ delivery is sheer perfection — it pleads with the desire to just let go. To just move on. Even if it’s what the soul and the heart rejects.
Her adjoining music video is equally simple and poignant. In one black and white shot, we’re shown Whorms from the back, playing the piano quaintly and quietly. In a rushing moment, you’re transported to the innermost thoughts of a woman reluctantly saying goodbye, penning her tears into diary pages.
The future is bold and beautiful for Alex Whorms, as she continues her journey into the wider fringes of the industry; not only does she continuously collaborate with other artists, but she also composes for film and is working towards licensing her music for film and television. In the here and now, she’s looking ahead to getting on the road and performing. “I have enjoyed playing with a band, but when I’m up there alone, I’m totally free,” she says. “I can change the setlist in the moment. I can slow down or speed up. I can get the audience singing along. Or I can talk to them — or with them. It’s like having an intimate conversation in real time. The show can basically go anywhere and be anything.”
Bittersweet and moving, Canadian indie pop artist Alex Goupil has just released his fifth single, “Drowning” — available now.
Possibly his most ambitious offering to date, the undeniable love song stands out with its unique sonic and lyrical contrast. Though the Ottawa-born musician is singing his heart out about a lost love, the brazenly happy-go-lucky instrumentals suggest otherwise; as If there’s a light at the end of the tunnel — which is exactly what Goupil was going for.
Give “Drowning” a few listens and you’re bound to discover a sound or hook that you didn’t in the previous listen. The melody, however, is likely the first thing you’re going to notice, other than Goupil’s extraordinary vocal capabilities. The cheerful nature of this song is just downright infectious, and could easily have a crowd of people singing together arm in arm, with wide-eyed grins on their faces.
A prolific and conscientious writer, Goupil is constantly working on his craft at his home studio where he tries to “mix everything that’s good but, on the face of it, doesn’t go together — until you find (the) chord or that beat to make it all click.”
While he was born and raised in Canada’s capital city, he moved to England a year prior to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to further pursue his music career. He spent two full years living in London, playing a myriad of shows and new music to audiences completely new to him. It wasn’t until recently — after releasing his first four singles — that he returned home to the Great White North.
Fittingly enough, the three-minute serenade was inspired by his move across the pond.
So why is it a bittersweet love song, some might ask? Well, “Drowning” came from an intense feeling of inner-conflict which shrouded Goupil in a wave of confusion. A classic “should I stay or should I go” situation, if you will. The young, aspiring musician had caught feelings for a special someone right before his departure and, while he was ecstatic to pursue his dream of taking on a brand-new city on his own, he couldn’t seem to get his Juliet (per se) out of his mind. He says it was “driving (him) crazy.”
Lyrics like “I want you to want me to stay” make it evident that the love-stung artist was writing about a certain someone, however, he revealed that it now means something different to him. “I (can’t) help but think of London every time I (sing) that line,” he says.
Goupil admitted his romantic desires initially made leaving Ottawa “so much harder,” but at the end of the day, “it was the best thing (he) could have done…
“I got some good song inspirations out of it,” he added, looking at the positives of it all.
Yes, he lost out on an opportunity at love, however, it was his own choice, and for an opportunity he’d dreamed of his whole life.
Growing up, Goupil used his parents’ garage as a space to write and record music on GarageBand with his classmates. Though they were able to catch the attention of locals with their early demos, their temporary band slowly disbanded as they each parted ways to begin respective post-secondary school educations. Goupil, on the other hand, worked seemingly-endless weeks to save money to fund his move to England, before inevitably doing so in 2018.
As well as “Drowning,” Goupil’s back-catalogue includes: “Letting Go,” 2020’s “Lost in Dubai” and “Ocean Waves,” as well as his 2019 debut, “Crazy.”
Infused with trap flavouring, and inspired by world sounds, genre-transcending artist KingDow says he’s flexing his third eye prowess in his new single, “Toucan Woucan” — available now.
Produced by Tophatt Productions, “Toucan Woucan” is a single off the Seattle-area artist’s upcoming album, Spiritual Eyes — a project that was cultivated during his spiritual awakening in 2020, he reveals.
As a dancer and bass player, KingDow incorporates his talents into his arts through his visuals and in the music; in the video for “Toucan Woucan,” KingDow sparrs with himself while rapping about the opening of his inner eye, and bringing the world to a higher vibration.
“Toucan Woucan” gives the audience what to expect from KingDow’s project as its Fall 2021 release date approaches. With a mantra that we are all dimensional beings having a human experience, Spiritual Eyes EP represents KingDow’s awakening during this new paradigm. With catchy hooks and production reminiscent of trap and world music, KingDow uses his melodic flow to convey his message. This new sound that KingDow has cultivated is refreshing and something that will help open people’s minds to the possibilities of genre bending.
Spiritual Eyes is available September 1st, 2021. “Toucan Woucan” is available now.
Riding high off the foot of his newly-released, self-titled album, Regina, Saskatchewan-based, Indigenous country artist Conrad Bigknife has released a third single to accompany his fourth full-length. One of Bigknife’s most infectious numbers to date, “Never Say Never” is available now.
Early album offerings — from the enticingly glum and gut-wrenching lead single “I Miss You,” to the thought-inducing, yet inspirational follow-up track “Nothing but Me” — make evident Conrad Bigknife, both the album and the musician, is here to take avid country listeners on a rollercoaster ride of a lifetime. It’s a ride of not only sonic elements, but emotional ones too.
“Never Say Never,” the latest from the renowned Canadian musician, backs that sentiment up to a tee as well. Fortunately, however, fans of Bigknife will find that this tune will take them to the height of this unpredictable and theoretical rollercoaster ride.
After having your spirits lifted by the interlacing baritone and high electric guitar melodies of “Nothing but Me,” “Never Say Never” will inevitably put you in a good place as it kicks off with a tasteful instrumental chocked-full of upbeat country guitar licks, which are backed by subtle, yet impactful slide guitar fills. Sure, the lyrical content is all about not giving up when the going gets tough, but accompanied by the soulful instrumentals and comforting voice of one of Canada’s top up-and-coming Aboriginal artists, it’s bound to be one of the most inspirational country songs you will hear this year.
Nearly 20 seconds into the first verse, Bigknife’s signature voice can be heard as he sets the overarching scene for “Never Say Never,” which the songwriter summarizes as being “about not giving in to the ‘this will never work’” demeanor.
“Because that’s the real beginning of the end.
“It’s about the times in a relationship when it seems to be going all wrong, and no one knows why it’s happening,” he continues. “There’s a serious shift starting and it starts to feel weird and really uncertain. When it’s tears and confusion, and it’s getting ugly, that’s when we have to remind ourselves not to throw it away. It’s really easy to let negative momentum build.
“You can leave and slam the door on your way out — be dramatic and wild. (But) then take some time to pull it together and get right back home where you belong. It’s OK to watch it blow up and let it calm back down again. Trust the promise to be there for each other (in a relationship), no matter what.”
Touching on his new album as a whole, Bigknife describes it as a “conscious decision to throw away any self-imposed guidelines I had adopted along the way of what makes up ‘real’ country music.
“There’s a song for a friend who lost a child, there’s songs that take light jabs at the sometimes silliness of love and there’s a couple of memories of honky-tonk nights,” he adds. “What makes it a country album, more than anything, I think anyway, is the instruments and feel. It’s pretty raw, pretty open in spots, because I wanted to keep the songs as they were written.”
The 2019 Saskatchewan Music Awards Indigenous Artist of the Year nominee is more than proficiently DIY when it comes to his sound; for his new album, released in April, Bigknife wrote, sung, recorded, mixed and mastered the songs himself, adding a layer of precise skills to raw talent. Additionally, he’s proud to have collaborated with a host of multi-talented instrumentalists to bring the 12 studio and two live performance tracks on this contemporarily themed, classic sounding collection to life.
“I work with great people who put their hearts into these songs, and I’m so grateful because I think these songs show who we are at this point in time,” Bigknife reflects. “We love making music and I hope that shines.”
Bigknife’s big love for classic country and its heroes like Johnny Cash, Freddy Fender, George Strait, and Conway Twitty was also cemented in childhood and his family’s record collection. His reverence for the greats combined with a “conscious decision to throw away any self-imposed guidelines I had adopted along the way of what makes up “real” country music” has resulted in a new single and album that both pay tribute and push the thematic envelope. Bigknife’s can-do confidence was instilled while growing up in a close-knit family of ten on the Starblanket First Nation near Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan.
Conrad Bigknife, the self-titled, fourth album by the award-nominated musician — which includes the brand-new single “Never Say Never” — is available now.
