Page 1684 – That Eric Alper

Heather Bambrick, Jane Bunnett, Reg Schwager & More to Perform at JAZZINTORONTO’s Free 4-Day Festival this July!

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 14, 2021

Heather Bambrick, Jane Bunnett, Reg Schwager & More to Perform at JAZZINTORONTO’s Free 4-Day Festival this July!

Heather Bambrick, Jane Bunnett, Reg Schwager, Neil Swainson and more are standing by, ready to go live for JazzinToronto’s newly announced upcoming festival this July 20th – 23rd!

Check out their GoFundMe page here, too.

JazzinToronto Live: A Community Celebration is a free festival set to live-stream from some of the city’s most beloved venues. The four-day digital event will present an exciting roster teeming with the diverse talent the City of Toronto has to offer — including Laura Hubert, Rebecca Hennessy, Alexis Baro, Nathan Hiltz, Donovan Locke, Jesse Ryan and Caity Gyorgy.

“JazzinToronto started in 2018 as a daily listings service on Instagram,” Founder and Co-Director Lina Welch shares. “Our mission is to connect Toronto jazz audiences, musicians, venues, and presenters — which has only become even more important during this challenging time.”

“When I joined JazzInToronto in January 2020, we had no idea what was in store for Toronto, the local jazz community, and the world-at-large with both the pandemic, and its ripple effect on live music,” Co-Director Ori Dagan adds. “Toronto and its music scene are hard-as-nails and determined to thrive, though, so when COVID hit, we became a presenter of weekly live-streamed performances with musicians from their living rooms.

“JazzinToronto: A Community Celebration is our first festival, and arrives at a time when there’s so much hope on the horizon for our city, and beyond!”

“What started as a mission to get local audiences out to enjoy all the great Jazz Toronto has to offer has turned into a new and expanded opportunity to spotlight our city’s incredible talent with a growing local, national, and international audience,” Welch says. “For an organization that started on a social media platform, it’s fitting that our first festival can be enjoyed in a similar way with audiences both from Toronto, and around the world.”

Endeavouring to remain accessible, the festival will be free to audiences tuning in via JazzinToronto’s Facebook page, facebook.com/jazzintoronto. The audience will be invited to make donations which will be split between the artists and participating venues.

Venue partners include the Rex Hotel, Jazz Bistro, Lula Lounge, Top O’ the Senator, Tranzac, DROM Taberna, The Emmet Ray, and Motel Bar as hosts for the initial broadcasts; the event will culminate in a double bill at Koerner Hall with multi-award winning headliners Jane Bunnett and Heather Bambrick.

Cyber-Metal Psy-Rocker Delivers S4lvati0n with New Single “Weird Equals Cool”

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 14, 2021

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Cyber-Metal Psy-Rocker Delivers S4lvati0n with New Single “Weird Equals Cool”

Prepare to thrash when you go deep with Canadian cyber-metal psy-rocker S4lvati0n and his blood soaked, sweat-stained, melodic massacre of a new single, “Weird Equals Cool” — available now.

The self-proclaimed indie metalhead leaves it all on the mix as he storms the gates with his newly dubbed genre cyber metal. A sophisticated remix of synth, industrial, heavy bass and percussion intertwined with traditional metal maximized, “Weird Equals Cool” is a welcome foray into a constantly evolving genre. Where S4lvati0n picks up is off the trail of his idols before him, blazing a new course into headbanging utopia.

“In 2019 and 2020, I was at my lowest mental health-wise,” S4lvati0n shares. “I lost my motivation completely, and I stopped being myself.

“I became a bit of a dulled, ‘chilled-out’ caricature of who I was before,” he reveals, adding, “but the thing that I find most outstandingly upsetting is that people started telling me I was ‘cool’ now, and they started talking badly about how I was before.

“It was like someone was telling me something behind my own back in a weird quad-dimensional way. In a way, society was telling me that my dull, unmotivated, depressed self was how I “’should’ be.

“That is exactly what the line ‘you hate when I smile, and you laugh when I cry’ stands for,” he continues. “When you’re different, you get penalized for doing things that make you happy; you get rewarded when you let go of yourself.

“My whole message is that, if you are weird, you are special.”

S4lvati0n takes no prisoners on the track, opening with fiercely dark melodies juxtaposed with charmingly dreamy synth. Equally as impressive as his exquisite production on the song is his near-inhumane vox; a spectrum of damning roar to harmonic falsetto, S4lvati0n runs the scale in hauntingly beautiful strides — deep and growling, to begging and pensive. Compared to Oli Sykes, S4lvati0n fluidly switches between angelic and demonic snarls through his vocals; a testament to his devotion to his craft and his commitment to exposing the rage of all those who are considered anything but normal.

Beyond production values, his lyrics are savagely explicit, unashamedly leaving it all out to dry. S4lvati0n makes no apologies; his angst serves as a shallow grave to those who’ve wronged him, and his resolve to make sure they know.

His emphasis, he says, is on the injustices the unorthodox individuals have to face in the world. Through his imagery in captivating lyrics, his quest is seemingly simple, yet tangled in complexity. How do you tell the world that you don’t have to “fit in” to actually become the most normal of all? It’s a task this artist is ready to tackle.

For all the heartbroken, the pushed around and dejected; for all those who seemingly can’t catch a break, can’t be themselves — those who have to feel the persistent nagging of a society that didn’t want them, and identify as misfits on the fringe of a world devoid of acceptance — there’s S4lvalti0n.

And he’s coming to save us all.

Ed Sheeran Announces New Single ‘Bad Habits’

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 14, 2021

0

Ed Sheeran Announces New Single ‘Bad Habits’

Ed Sheeran has confirmed his official return with the announcement of his brand-new single “Bad Habits,” out everywhere June 25, 2021.

Sheeran hinted at his return to music last week in a now viral clip alongside actress and close friend Courtney Cox. In addition to this, Sheeran has also unveiled the single’s accompanying artwork that reveals him as a vampire character, which he has been teasing on his social channels recently, including in overnight posts featuring a string of London landmark projections, including the Tate Modern.

Commenting on his comeback, Ed Sheeran says: “I’ve been working away in the studio over recent months and I can’t wait for you to hear ‘Bad Habits.’ I always aim to push myself and my music in new directions and hopefully you’ll hear that on the new single. Feels great to be back!”

The announcement follows the recent news of Ed performing live from Ipswich Town’s Portman Road football stadium in Suffolk, England, on June 25th for TikTok’s UEFA Euro 2020 show. The upcoming set – directed by Ed’s long-term collaborator, Emil Nava, and streaming globally on TikTok (@edsheeran) starting at 4pm ET/9pm BST – will include a host of fan favorites in addition to Ed’s first-ever live performance of “Bad Habits.”

“Bad Habits” will mark Sheeran’s first official release since 2019’s Platinum-certified, GRAMMY-nominated No.6 Collaborations Project, which includes the multi-platinum, chart-topping hits “I Don’t Care (with Justin Bieber)” and “Beautiful People (feat. Khalid),” and features guest appearances from the likes of Travis Scott, Bruno Mars, Cardi B and more.

Painting by David Bowie Found in Donation Store in Northern Ontario Goes Up for Auction

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 14, 2021

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Painting by David Bowie Found in Donation Store in Northern Ontario Goes Up for Auction

Cowley Abbott is pleased to debut an exciting artwork to collectors and fans of David Bowie in its Online Auction of International Art, June 15 – 24. D Head XLVI was found in the most unexpected place: a donation centre for household goods in Northern Ontario, just south of North Bay. The chance discovery of this treasure within a pile of unwanted goods is quite remarkable. The consignor of the painting was astonished upon viewing a label which read “David Bowie” and realizing it was the signature of the artist inscribed on the reverse. After conducting thorough research, which included correspondence with a David Bowie art and signature specialist in the United Kingdom, Cowley Abbott was able to confirm that the painting is indeed by the famous artist and part of a series that he completed in the 1990s.

Many people may not know that Bowie enjoyed painting, and between 1994 and 1997 he created a series of approximately 45 works on canvas which he titled Dead Heads (or D Heads), each with a different non-sequential Roman numeral. The sitters ranged from band members, friends and acquaintances and there were also some self-portraits. It has been suggested that, for some of these important paintings, Bowie drew inspiration from the Ziggy Stardust era. With long hair and a pronounced profile, this energetic and enigmatic portrait is truly a rare representation from a celebrated artist.

Sonic Reducers: Ryan Adams’ New Album

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 14, 2021

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Sonic Reducers: 5 minute video. 2 music geeks. 1 big story.

Join us as we talk about Ryan Adams’ new album Big Colors, separating the artist from the art, and why Eric does not want to see your fist.

Land of Hope and Dreams Spotlight: Jon Landau and Caryn Rose

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 14, 2021

0

Land of Hope and Dreams Spotlight: Jon Landau and Caryn Rose

Jon Landau talks about the early days of rock journalism, his work with the MC5, and the importance of Dave Marsh as a journalist, critic, and advocate. Plus, a message from The Who’s Pete Townshend reflecting on 50 years of Dave as a friend and critic.

OMD Announces “Souvenir 2022” Greatest Hits North American Tour

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 14, 2021

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OMD Announces “Souvenir 2022” Greatest Hits North American Tour

Today, OMD announces the “40 Years Greatest Hits” 2022 Tour. In addition, the band will be performing the “You Me & OMD” livestream on June 19th. All proceeds from the livestream will be split between OMD’s touring crew who have not had any work since February 2020.

Today’s announcement comes as part of another exciting instalment of the band’s 40th anniversary celebrations which first saw the reissue of their first four classic albums on 180g vinyl, mastered at half speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road and housed in their original iconic die cut sleeves designed by the legendary Peter Saville.

“Electronic music is our language,” Andy McCluskey says. “It’s how we talk.”

“We’re at our best when we’re in a room together, working,” Paul Humphreys adds. “That’s when the sparks and ideas happen. It’s the same now as it ever was.”

The band were formed in 1978 by teenage friends Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys. They quickly became electro-pioneers with a string of hit albums released throughout the 1980’s, eventually selling over 25 million singles and 15 million albums across their career to date, establishing them as electronic synthesiser pioneers and one of Britain’s best-loved pop groups.

In 2018, OMD also played two acclaimed concerts at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in October. Both shows sold out and featured orchestral arrangements of many of OMD’s biggest hits, with The Times’ four-star review describing the arrangements as “working perfectly with the orchestra and demonstrating how uncompromising OMD have been“. It also went on to say that the band “rejected every rock’n’roll cliché going and made the Philharmonic Hall seem like their spiritual home.” The shows coincided with the anniversary of OMD’s first-ever gig which took place at legendary Liverpool club Eric’s in October 1978.

The celebrations also spawned a must-read special 40th anniversary book which tells the story of OMD from the garage beginnings right through to the latest sell-out tours. Featuring memories from band members, other musical artists that they have influenced, famous admirers and loyal fans.

OMD 40 YEARS – GREATEST HITS 2022 North American Tour

4/22 – Orlando, FL – Plaza Live
4/23 – St Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
4/24 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
4/26 – Washington DC – Lincoln Theatre
4/27 – Glenside, PA, Keswick Theatre
4/29 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
4/30 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
5/1 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues
5/3 – Toronto, On – History
5/4 – Royal Oak, MA – Royal Oak Music Theatre
5/6 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
5/7 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore
5/8 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman
5/10 – Dallas, TX – TBD
5/11 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
5/12 – Austin, TX – ACL Live @ The Moody Theater
5/15 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
5/16 – Salt Lake City, UT – Union Events Center
5/20 – Vancouver, BC – Malkin Bowl
5/21 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theater
5/22 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
5/24 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
5/25 – El Cajon, CA – Magnolia
5/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre

Country Artist Myranda Christi Gives a “Pure” Reminder with New Single

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 12, 2021

0

Country Artist Myranda Christi Gives a “Pure” Reminder with New Single

It’s by “Pure” coincidence that Myranda Christi found this the perfect song to kick off her career as a recording artist…

The Bowden, Alberta-based songbird, who managed to make her way to becoming a close-contestant for her country’s version of Idol, says she knew “Pure” — available now — was the track to make her debut.

“The first time I got to read the lyrics to ‘Pure’, it spoke to my heart in so many ways,” Christi reveals. “I knew at once that it was the perfect song for me to start my career with.

“The kind of love this song talks about is one so many people not only have, want, or need, but also deserve.”

A delicate, piano-based adult contemporary tune, the song finds its niche in unabashedly revelling in the beauty of simplicity. Christi strips back to a near whisper, before cascading in rushing crescendo. Her powerhouse talent reigns through, showcasing her innate vocal prowess.

“Practicing the song was an amazing experience,” Christi recalls. “Using the rough track to get a feel for the rhythm was so much fun!

“I was so excited to give this song the emotion and attention it deserved. Given the current Global COVID-19 Pandemic, I knew this song is exactly what the world needed right now. So, I went into the studio to record it for the first time ever.

“The studio experience was one I have experienced before, but never to this quality. It was amazing, and I never wanted to leave. The recording experience was one that I will never be able to replicate again and one I will always look back on in the most amazing way possible.”

Penned by veteran songwriters J.C. Veaudry, Jacqueline Burke and Corey Lee Barker, “Pure” is a tranquilizing reminder of how love can be real, and really felt through song and lyric.

‘Pure as the song the bluebirds sing – Pure as the water from a mountain spring,’ speaks the chorus, Christi’s impressive and eloquent vocals inviting the listener to remember love in its rawest form. ‘Our love – must have been written in the stars,’ she sings.

Currently signed to MC1 Nashville/Brandy Records Canada, Christi has enjoyed a slew of early success in her career; from radio musicals to a three-song cover album she recorded in Red Deer, Alberta. Her start on the stage began when she performed in a variety of singing competitions, from Kiwanis Music Festivals to Alberta Provincials in 2007.

After years of teaching vox to students, Christi steps onto the stage and accepts the spotlight for herself; a deserving shine for an artist intent on making her mark on the music scene.

Now on the horizon of a promising, and exciting tenure as a solo artist, expect much to come from Myranda Christi. The girl with the big dreams, the big voice, and the song dripping with “Pure” happiness.

Linus Entertainment and Popguru Sound & Vision Announce Global License Deal

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 12, 2021

0

Linus Entertainment and Popguru Sound & Vision Announce Global License Deal

Linus Entertainment Inc. and Popguru Sound & Vision Ltd. announce today that they have signed a global exclusive licensing deal that will see future and back catalogue Popguru releases being marketed and distributed by Linus, that includes music from both The Confidence Emperors and Popguru label imprints. The new pact enables Popguru to now bring Linus’ marketing team and global reach to its artists. The first release under this new arrangement will be the John Orpheus album Saga King. Earlier this year, Penguin Random House launched his book of memoirs entitled Saga Boy under his real name of Antonio Michael Downing. There will be new albums to follow from The Wilderness of Manitoba and Martha and the Muffins.

Linus president Geoff Kulawick says, “It’s a real honour to be able to work with Graham Stairs again, he has repeatedly proven his A&R and record production skills, and his ability to personally connect with artists across many genres makes Popguru an ideal label partner for us.”

Popguru president Graham Stairs says, “I have known Geoff Kulawick since our early days in the music business when I signed Rheostatics to Intrepid Records and Geoff signed them to Warner-Chappell for publishing. That was one interesting ride! Then, I was doing A&R and International at True North Records when Geoff bought the company. He has built a great group of companies and I look forward to working with Geoff and his team on upcoming Popguru and The Confidence Emperors releases.”

Linus Entertainment is a leading global independent music company comprising distribution, publishing, concert promotion and artist marketing through its labels True North Records (Bruce Cockburn | Buffy Sainte-Marie), Stony Plain Records (Ronnie Earl | Sue Foley | Colin James) Linus Entertainment (Jane Bunnett & Maqueque | David Clayton-Thomas), Spring Hill Media (Golana | The Mozart Effect) and The Children’s Group (Classical Kids | Fred Penner).

Founded in 1998, Popguru Sound & Vision is a fully integrated, Toronto-based music company whose core business consists of two record label imprints, artist and producer management, music publishing and licensing music for film, television and other media. Popguru has a diversified roster of artists that includes Grand Analog, Odario, Martha and the Muffins, John Orpheus and The Wilderness of Manitoba, among others.

Prior to starting Popguru, founder Graham Stairs’ background was in A&R and International for Intrepid Records, Latitude Records, EMI Music Canada and True North Records. The strength of the company is its artists and repertoire. Popguru subscribes to the philosophy of building long-term careers for its artists and songwriters. The company’s mandate is to develop Canadian artists and repertoire for the domestic and international marketplaces.

Get “High” on Jordana of Earth’s Stunning New Electro-Pop R&B Single

Music

Eric Alper

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Jun 12, 2021

0

Get “High” on Jordana of Earth’s Stunning New Electro-Pop R&B Single

Breathy. Sultry. A fusion of electro-pop with notes of R&B. Canadian singer/songwriter Jordana of Earth is back with her latest offering, an intimate love letter simply titled, “High” — available now.

Her delicate vocals float like silk between the melodies, dripping with passion and eroticism in a vein not unlike Childish Gambino’s “Redbone” mingled with the edginess of The Weeknd — a near-notable nod to the indelible Toni Braxton. With “High,” the Toronto-based artist takes calculated risks with the track, tying off intricate beats with smart lyrics and a dream-like vox that transcends the listener into a sphere caught somewhere between being in love, and making it.

“I talk about being in my head, and this lover’s ability to pull me out of it, even if it’s just in a brief moment of intimacy,” Jordana of Earth explains. “It’s honestly a pretty personal song — I talk about darkness, about the trials of life having knocked me off track, and a sort of disassociation I sometimes feel from people and the world around me because of that. Getting caught up in my head, in my own world, disconnecting from things.”

She says the song describes this moment of intimacy being that one thing that brings her back to her true self. “(This is) allowing me to be present and alive in that moment,” she reveals. “It’s about getting me ‘High’ off the vibe of this person, and how that’s not some purely emotional or magical, or mysterious thing that’s at play, but rather something real and significant. Like there’s something about who this person actually is, and their depth, and their ability to be so real and so present, that is sort of helping me deal with my apparent tendency to disconnect from people and from situations.”

Produced by Toronto’s Caleb Elias G — who also helmed production on previous offerings “Tell Me” and “Ringer” — “High” joins the ranks of JoE’s 100,000+ streams and 10+ other stunning singles released since 2020.

Masterfully, Jordana of Earth has released the subsequent music video for the track — a captivating black and white snapshot to the artist whimsically surrendering to her lover’s hold on her. Its simple, one-shot storyboard frames a space and place in time — our protagonist spending a few fleeting moments to revel in the experience of love.

“It walks the line between disconnect and intimacy, and the lyrics are sort of navigating that space,” JoE says. “The main line of the chorus, ‘you get me so high’ is playing off the idea of being high, as something that’s chemical or of an altered state, but rather I’m talking about something that’s really quite the opposite. Something real and unaltered and just pure.”

Become entranced with Jordana of Earth, as she invites you to lean into desire by using the magic of melody, the imagery of intimacy, and the hypnosis of being high off love, loving, and being loved. It’s a trip you’ll want to take again, and again.