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.
With The Golden Seals’ latest feel-good summer banger, “To Be or Not To Be (With Me)” — available now — vocalist, bassist and guitarist Dave Merritt channels the soliloquy spirit of ‘The Bard’ with the lyrics “I know I’m no Olivier, I’m just an old clown; but the irony is, I’m bringing us down.”
The Ottawa-based pop rock ensemble’s retro-ish new single transports listeners back to a vintage 1970s-era soundscape via today’s digital DeLorean — in a kaleidoscope-induced, Cheap Trick-esque kind of way!
Along with drummer/percussionist Philip Shaw Bova and guitarist/synths Kevin Lacroix (Ron Sexsmith, Communism) — The Golden Seals continue to deliver a plethora of chart-topping hits. The Canadian band’s 2019 release “Something Isn’t Happening” featured the CBC national radio mainstay “Independence Day.”
Prior to Merritt hitching himself to the Seals’ golden ride, the multi-faceted musician was a staple for over three decades on the Canadian music scene, including with his first project, Adam West. Merritt’s songs have also been recorded by Rheostatics and sung by songstress Sarah Harmer.
Bova, an in-demand mastering engineer who’s been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards (Bahamas, Lido Pimienta) mixed and mastered the song after he, Merritt and Lacroix each recorded their own parts in their home studios.
Currently, the brand-new single has been added to the CBC national playlist in Canada and is available for streaming and for purchase on Bandcamp.
Music is a tool, outlet, industry, part of history, and a form of escape. Slipping into the rhythm and lyrics of an artist can transport you to a place of calm and serenity or the fast-paced energy of a rock concert. Regardless, when combined with meditation, music is a form of stress management proven to help with overall health.
Music does not require a conscious effort from you as it calms your body and alleviates the stress running rampant in your mind. It is a way to monitor your breathing, lift your mood, and manifest other stress-reducing habits.
Meditation is a stress management strategy that can calm the body and mind with resilience to stress built over time. Combining melodies and meditation melds the beneficial effects of both, providing stress relief.
With regular practice, meditation and music might be just what you needed to add to your routine. Learn more about what it entails below.
Time Commitment
Typically, twenty minutes is optimal for music meditation. However, just one song can help restore energy and reduce stress.
Steps to Music Meditation
Music
The first step in this journey is the music itself. You want something relaxing that you actually enjoy listening to. So, if you don’t like classical music or light jazz, don’t choose it. Ideally, look for something with a slower tempo, preferably without lyrics, so you can stay focused and engage your mind.
If you are interested in using actual instruments in your meditation, Music and Tempo has recommendations on instruments ideal for calming the mind.
Position
Next, move into a comfortable position and relax. Now, many people think they need to sit cross-legged on the floor or with a cushion. In reality, comfort is key so pick the position that is comfortable for you. One recommendation is to avoid lying down if you fall asleep quickly when tired. After all, this is meditation, not naptime!
Since you are building a habit, you can experiment and find the match for you. Once you are comfortable, close your eyes, relax your muscles, and breathe deeply. Direct your focus towards relaxing your belly, shoulders, and even your face. You carry tension in all parts of your body when you are stressed, even if you do not realize it.
Breathe
Breathe deeply, using your diaphragm. Breathe in through your nose, drawing oxygen deep into your belly, and then slowly exhale through your mouth.
Focus
Keep your attention focused on the melody and your body. The hard part is not letting your mind wander to all the things that led you to try meditation in the first place. Instead, listen to the sounds of the music and the feelings it evokes. It might sound cliché, but really feel the music.
Continue
Keep this going until time runs out, whether that is one song or twenty minutes. When thoughts infiltrate your mind, gently redirect your attention to the music and push them away. The purpose is to stay present with the music and the physical sensation of relaxing your body. You are trying to quiet the inner voice and immerse yourself in relaxation. As you wrap up, do not sit up suddenly and jump back to your day. Let your mind and body draw you back.
Tips
Meditating can be hard if your mind is constantly buzzing. If needed, start with a few songs and work your way up.
If your mind is overwhelmed with memories, thoughts, and internal dialogue, it could be the music. Try switching up your music selection to find the right fit.
Use the songs to time your meditation to stay within your scheduled time.
If you are ‘thinking too much,’ don’t worry! It is expected for newcomers to meditation. Just work on redirecting your attention and shifting focus.
The Bottom Line
Meditation does not always have to be about counting your breaths and envisioning waves washing over your body. It can also be a time when you tune yourself into the sound of music. Give it a go and see where it takes you.
Spun straight from storybook shelves of fantasy and folklore, award-winning Canadian group ViVA Trio have released a new single ahead of their forthcoming concept album; “Lorien” is inspired by Lord of the Rings’ Galadriel, and is available now.
Featuring ethereal vocals, theatrical moments, and a feel-good, soothing vibe, “Lorien” lands as an entertaining listen. And with electronic vocal layering, upbeat theatrical interludes, and a light-hearted energy, this track continues to demonstrate how ViVA Trio doesn’t do anything by halves; their first album, Nothing Else Matters, features 11 songs recorded with a full 52-piece live orchestra and children’s choir.
This time, having used their time away from touring due to Covid-19 to begin writing their next album, ViVA Trio is creating a full storyline spun out of fantasy and folklore — complete with mythical characters from Danish and Russian folk tales.
All the music will be written by the trio, fusing styles and defying categorization. They will take this album through a kaleidoscope of genres from cinematic, theatrical, classical to electronic and folk, with their incredible team of musicians, sound engineers and producers in Toronto and Europe.
Centered around the royal elf from the Lord of the Rings series, Galadriel, “Lorien” is the first release of many that come in anticipation of the female trio’s new concept album.
ViVA Trio’s Anna Bateman, Erin Fisher and Katya Tchoubar are Tolkien fans, and were excited to bring a little Tolkien magic into their album and story. The Lady of Lorien — aka Galadriel — is called upon for guidance, wisdom and prophecy by the young, yet also immortal Lumina, ViVA’s character based out of Russian folklore. This is the only song on the album which will feature the Galadriel character, and therefore, is just an appetizer of what’s to come on the rest of the album. Erin plays Tolkien’s sage Elvish ruler, and remarks, “I’ve been a voice teacher for so long that giving good advice feels very natural actually, and writing for the Lady of Lorien was really fun! The biggest stretch in playing Galadriel was going Blonde!” “So, did you have more fun?” Katya asks. “It was fun actually! But I think I’ll leave the blonde to you guys!” Erin responds.
The women of ViVA Trio are no strangers to being in full character and costumes; each member has a long list of operatic and musical theatre credits. “To me this feels more like a return to our roots with a twist,” Katya says. “With this album, we’re creating our own story with characters from fantasy and myth!”
The stunning fantasy-like visuals were crafted by a carefully hand-picked all-female Canadian team: Toronto designer Elina Ten, who has created custom gowns for Celine Dion, Shantelle Canzanese and her team from Flawless by Design, who are regularly seen on Toronto film sets, Mississauga photographer Asya Akhoundov, and Vancouver’s sensational digital artist making waves on instagram, Lillian Liu.
Anna, who has the highest vocal range of the group, plays the youthful character Lumina in the story of their album, and also in “Lorien.” “In this song, we’re meeting the character Lumina in a cross-roads moment where she summons the Lady of Lorien, like a young girl would talk to her Aunt or Godmother,” Anna says. “We thought, who better to ask for advice than from an all-knowing sage, like Galadriel? Hard to top that I think!”
With multiple standing ovations every show, this international touring, all-female group has performed throughout Canada, the USA and Europe. Their latest release “Siren Song” was featured on top music blogs across North America and Europe, received airplay on radio stations nationally and internationally, and offered a sampling of what’s coming from the trio.
Begin the journey and watch the story of ViVA Trio’s sophomore album unfold…
Canadian artist Keegan Chambers delivers a searing new single in the form of “look What You’ve Done” — available now.
The heart-pounding, electric guitar-driven track is fresh from her newest EP, June 2021’s Out Of My Head.
The single and EP continue to confirm the FACTOR Canada Artist Development recipient is a force to be reckoned with; from a childhood filled with big rock star dreams, Chambers began to feel the fruition of those hopes with her 2019 release, “Loving You,” and its subsequent music video — which she also co-directed.
Now she’s back, having paired up with award-winning producer impresario Daniel Tsourounis, and ready to shake the rock community by the collar, demanding it call her by her name. Chambers’ leading new track, “Look What You’ve Done” is a testament to a woman with something to say. And she’s not backing down from the message.
“’Look What You’ve Done’ was written after a traumatizing experience brought out an anger in me I’d never seen before,” Chambers reveals from behind the scenes on creating the single. “While working through those violent thoughts of revenge, I also wrote a short film which I hope to produce as a music video for the song if we get the RBC Prism Prize grant. Keeping my fingers crossed!”
Not only has Chambers snagged the attention of FACTOR, but also of indie music guru and godfather, Alan Cross. The media giant, who has famously helped propel the careers of countless independent musicians from across Canada, gave Chambers a shot on the air with his much-loved program Uncovered Gem (102.1 The Edge, Toronto, Canada) “I accidentally sent him the wrong MP3 — which he played,” Chambers laughs. “But at the end of the day, I still got radio play so it’s definitely a win!”
She’s done far more than just winning a slot on the airwaves. Chambers is locking in fans by creating a career stringing together instant-hit singles, like these that are rolling off the Out Of My Head EP.
Boasting a four-song strong track list she says she’s glad to “get out of her head,” Chambers is honing her talents as a songwriter with a big voice and her eye to spot a flurry of impressive cameos to flesh out each record. Featuring additional instrumentation by Skull Fist’s Jonny Nesta and Spencer LeVon of Fatality and Brother Levon, Chambers says “if rolodexes were still a thing, Daniel (Tsourounis)’s would be stacked with insanely talented musicians — many of which, he would call friends. Though I’m very grateful to both Jonny and Spencer for their contribution to this record, I’m mostly just grateful to know them.”
For Chambers, incorporating her fellow musicians on the album turned each song into a joint venture. “Though I just go by my name, Keegan Chambers, each song is its own collaboration,” she explains. “I wanted to make sure to showcase the other musicians’ talent and give the audience some major ear candy in the process.”
Chambers’ electrifies on each song, each of the way through. She channels a deeply seeded whiskey on the rocks shooter to nail down a rugged rock sound that would make Debbie Harry and Joan Jett salivate with pride. Her clever artistic nuances go far beyond stacked harmonies and seething riffs; Chambers incorporates snapping, synths, and other electronic sounds that amp her songs to an entirely bigger soundscape. “We (also) tried to keep the instrumentation mostly organic so that when we are able to get back out to perform live, we’ll be able to recreate the same energy,” she says.
Her bluesy, rock belt is proudly displayed on the sole ballad from the EP, “Love At First Sight.” A breathy, rock and roll proclamation of love and adoration, Chambers says everyone deserves to put out that one solid romantic track. “What record is complete without a ballad?” she asks. “’Love At First Sight’ was originally released on my acoustic EP, but Daniel was adamant that it deserved to be fully produced. So we cut it down from five and a half minutes to a more reasonable three and a half, and I have to say it turned out beautifully.
“I’m hoping, with all these post-covid weddings coming up, that someone likes it enough to want to use it as a first dance song.”
In addition to a melodic rock and roll sure-fire EP, Chambers has also released a set of behind-the-scenes videos with the songs to give her fans an up-close and personal inside look at the process of releasing the album. Shot at B Town Sound in Burlington, and cover art photoshoot at Lovt Studio in Toronto, Chambers says “as an actress and filmmaker, I would love nothing more than to produce a music video for each and every song I release — all with a cohesive concept and storyline. But when you’re almost entirely self-funded, it’s just not realistic.
“That said, I’m really happy with how these videos turned out. This EP carries a lot of vulnerability and what better way to showcase that than with raw, behind-the-scenes footage?”
And with its release, Out Of My Head is available just in time to become the soundtrack of the summer. With four budding ear-worm records to choose from, soon Keegan Chambers will not just have gotten out of her own head, she’ll have made her way into yours.
“Look What You’ve Done” and Out of My Head are available now.
Badass Canadian rockers Whatzername are guaranteeing audiences always put a song to the name with the unleashing of this, their searing, sardonic anti-establishment single, “Freedom” — available now.
“This song is a tongue-in-cheek anthem to those that work minimum wage in a first world society,” band members Ashlee Standish, Clairisa Rose, and Jess Gold share.
“It addresses the idea of social responsibility, and how hard it is to stay sane while being poor and impossibly trying to ‘get ahead,’” Rose continues. “It’s about poverty, and the limitations people face because of their financial barriers…
“All while living in a ‘free world,’” they add.
It’s the same edgy and fierce torrent of songwriting perspective that welcomingly prods and provokes from across the St. Catharines/Niagara Falls, ON-based trio’s collection of work — including 2019’s breakthrough single, “Something,” follow-up offerings “Vulture” and “Heart of the Undead,” and more.
And it’s all come to a head with their newly released eponymous debut EP, Whatzername (2021).
“For some, music is a hobby, or something you enjoy listening to,” Gold says. “For us, music is as important as breathing is. It’s how we heal, express, communicate, and connect with others on this planet.
“We’re familiar with the heavier and darker side of living, and have an edge,” she adds. “We are not happy pop music; we’re moody, dark, haunting — yet soothing in a knowing, consoling way.”
Much of Whatzername’s ethos mirrors Standish’s as the band’s principal songwriter and leader. “I’ve played keys since I was six and am a classically trained pianist with the Royal Conservatory of Music,” she explains. “I’m a multi-instrumentalist, a poet, storyteller, empath, animal lover, LGBTQ supporter and friend, and encourager of humanity and our need for recognizing our ongoing social, political, and environmental issues.
“I’m a deep-thinking woman who truly wants to love, and shine light, and ignite it within others. My joy in life is to share ideas; stories and songs about reaching for the impossible dream. Being an artist, a songwriter, a musician, a community arts supporter, and a single parent with limited means, music is how I survive and strive.
“The concept of our songs are about strength, perseverance, embracing living life, and accepting death — all through a sarcastic tone,” Standish adds. “Stories about the people you meet, both the good kind, and the bad — and why it’s important to effin’ try.”
Commanding attention with their wailing guitars, melodic lo-fi distortion, and snarling vocal harmonies, the up-and-coming heroes of rock punk are a formidable hailstorm of talent each in their own respective ways.
Having worked with Wow! Recording Studio & Creative Space’s owner and sound engineer Joe Lapinski, and director Bryce Smith — as well as guest collaborators Serena Pryne and Danno O’Shea — it’s their unifying love for alternative, edgy rock music that radiates as a force to be reckoned with, daring anyone who tries to stop them to step up… These three aren’t messing around.
Emblematic of Whatzername, both the album and the band, as a whole, “Freedom” dives into the deep end, refusing to back down from the very first note.
It’s electric-guitar heavy, with industrial riffs that challenge the pulsating percussion. Its lead vox and harmony meld like Joan Jett and Cherie Currie; a timeless Go-Go’s vibe in a Distiller’s chokehold that reminds that punk is very much alive.
“Freedom” and Whatzername expunge all you thought you understood about music — and twist it into a mysteriously woven collection penned by three multi-talented artists redefining what modern rock should sound like.
Canada’s rockin’ Rabbi, author, musician, and founder of Kiddush Club Gary Zweig has just the soundtrack for getting families active this summer: the release of his new song, “Exercise” — available now.
Channelling everyone from the world’s greatest athletes to the beginner at-home fitness enthusiast, Zweig says he set out to create an exciting song to exercise alongside with.
“It’s fun, it’s funky, and it’s got a bit of rock and roll,” the Toronto-based multi-talented singer/songwriter enthuses. “I’m young at heart, so I wrote this song for kids of all ages — from 1 to 101 years old!”
Heard on Kiddush Club’s third album release, Toys, the nine-track LP joins Kiddush Club’s other releases — their eponymous LP, Kiddush Club, and The Wine Album.
First formed in 1988, Zweig initially started Kiddush Club to create parody songs with a decidedly rock n’ roll twist. Featured across CBC, AM740, the Toronto Star, Chatelaine, CITYTV’s Breakfast Television, and more, Zweig most recently penned Toys for his son as a response to a family favourite movie, Toy Story. “I wanted to use themes kids could relate to,” he explains. “The album covers things like sleep, toys, and of course, ‘Exercise.’
“It’s been a hit everywhere we’ve played.”
For Zweig, who started playing the guitar at age 10, that includes Canada, Sweden, Barbados, Mexico, the U.S., and more.
Innovative and prolific composer Huguette Lavigne is throwing back and taking you along for a jazzed-up, improvisational ride to “Piano Retro” — available now.
The Ottawa-based pianist calls this new release from her latest album Five O’Clock Somewhere “old-school piano jazz… An easy going, smooth flowing, just plain cool jazzy piece and good for the soul.”
She then sets the throwback scene featuring an old-time jazz club player that she imagines performing the song. “Some guy sits down in a smoky room at a large black grand and plays around with jazzy swirls, runs and melodic twists,” Lavigne describes. “He doesn’t take it too seriously, and it all ends with his notes slipping down a long glissando and the bubbles on his brain disappear.”
With the song’s sly, intriguing flourishes, and free flowing form, one can imagine Lavigne’s own whimsical smile as she allowed her muse to guide her fingers in the creation of this piece. Following her fingers and colouring outside the lines is how Lavigne has composed all of her 40-plus pieces over five albums, all released in the last five years.
“There is something about breaking the rules that can be terribly satisfying,” she notes. “My fingers sometimes go where they want to on the keyboard and at times I sort of have to take them back home or rein them in.”
That’s also exactly where the video for “Piano Retro” focuses as well with Lavigne’s fingers dancing on the keys and musical notes swirling in tandem. The video is now available on Lavigne’s YouTube channel.
Along with the improvisational jazz leanings of “Piano Retro,” all of Lavigne’s songs on Five O’Clock Somewhere are diverse in tone and mood. From the sombre “Requiem,” an ode to our current global pandemic, to the playful, fun movement of “As It Goes” to the slow, summer’s day on a boat drift of of “Aux Airs De L’eau,” all nine songs on the album vary greatly in theme. They’re perhaps an extension of Lavigne’s Franco Ontarian, Québecois, and English Canadian upbringing and her wide ranging musical influences of Neoclassicism, Neo-Romanticism, Minimalism, Jazz, Folk and Classical music from India.
“There has always been something alluring about the pieces I studied, loved and discovered over the years,” recalls Lavigne. “They are valuable, inspired specimens of the universal landscape we have all inherited and that we live in today. The fabric of that music inspires me to this day.”
It’s safe, and exciting, to say that no two of Huguette Lavigne’s performances would be exactly the same. You wouldn’t see sheet music or traditional charts as Lavigne relies instead on shorthand of her own to facilitate recall for performances. Finished compositions are eventually stored entirely in her head and fingers and once they’re recorded, Lavigne moves on to creating the next piece.
“Somehow and unexpectedly, a style, theme, mood, emotion or vision is released from the deep recesses of memory,” she explains. “It’s a place where the subjective is stored and it surprises me when it lets something loose. Then, I either capture it, or let it go.”
Huguette Lavigne’s delightful “Piano Retro” is ready for all ears to capture now!
Legendary rock band Queen has teamed up with Amazon for the newest Alexa interactive skill experience.
With over 400 questions, the Queen Trivia Challenge takes fans on an immersive trip through Queen’s music and history, revealing some surprising facts and insights into one of the most iconic bands in the world.
Queen Trivia Challenge skill for Alexa includes clips from the band’s greatest hits, documentaries, and live performances. On Alexa-enabled devices with screens, not only can you hear the music, you can also see the videos.
Click here to test your Queen knowledge and ask Alexa to play the Queen Trivia Challenge.
