This is a new phase THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS album: BOOK.
They Might Be Giants’ brand new project is a deluxe set: A 144-page cloth-bound hardcover art book of full-color photography by Brian Karlsson, as well as original TMBG lyrics graphically set in the style of poetry concrete by world-famous designer Paul Sahre on an IBM Selectric typewriter from the early ‘70s. The featured lyrics are selections from BOOK, a forthcoming EP, My Murdered Remains, and I Like Fun. Inside every book of BOOK there is a copy of the musical album BOOK on an indestructible compact disc, and everyone who orders the book of BOOK will get an instantaneous download on release day. Both the fancy WAV format and the practical MP3 format will be available to you.
The book of BOOK will have a first-edition pressing of 10,000 copies. Currently, more than 7,000 have been pre-sold.
BOOK will also be presented on 180-gram audiophile vinyl and a standalone CD. All formats are available for pre-order now and all come with an instant download of “I Broke My Own Rule” and “I Lost Thursday.” You will also receive additional downloads between now and release day as they are made available. You can order it here.
While Americans are firing up their grills and filling up their beer coolers for the first almost post-pandemic 4th of July, folk singer-songwriter Josie Bello is pouring on some deliciously satirical BBQ sauce with her new single, “Happy Independence Day” — available now.
With bright country swing from her Kit House Band and lyrics tinged with dark, ironic humour, Bello paints the holiday with red, white and Americana blues all over. While enthusiastically wishing everyone a “Happy Independence Day,” she skewers what has become the hallmark of American summer celebrations, BBQ and beer drinking, by pointing out the side dish of blind indifference that can go along with them.
“So, Happy Independence Day
We’re gonna celebrate it the American way
With beer in our glasses and our heads up our…
Happy Independence Day!”
“The lyrics take a humorous jab at how Americans are celebrating their independence while beholden — yet indifferent — to the economic and social inequities of our time, including political corruption, food insecurity, under-employment and disparity in truth-telling by cable news commentators,” says Bello.
“You recently got a promotion and a raise
Found your take home was less than you gained
You saved twenty years to send your kid to college
Now, he’s a barista with graduate knowledge”
“Happy Independence Day” is the second holiday-focused single the Long Island-based musician has released in the past six months, following up her Christmas 2020 release “Come Home.” Both songs are creative postscripts to Bello’s second solo album, 2020’s Have Purpose Live Long, which spent eight weeks at #1 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Contemporary Folk Albums Chart from December 2020 through February 2021.
“Happy Independence Day” also marks the first time Bello has recorded with members of her live band, the Kit House Band. In addition to her husband Frank Bello on bass guitar, she’s joined by Shawn Cullinane on acoustic guitar and vocals, Mike Nugent on electric guitar and Shawn Murray on drums. Nugent plays double duty as Bello’s producer in studio for all her recordings including this one at Huntington, New York’s Melts in Your Ears Studio with Kevin Kelly of The Workshop East Studio engineering.
Aptly described at “Part Baez/Part Emmylou” by Fatea Music Magazine UK, Bello’s songs from Have Purpose Live Long and 2018’s “Can’t Go Home” have received extensive U.S. and international airplay on Roots, Folk and Americana-centric channels. Individual tracks have appeared on and climbed radio charts including the aforementioned Roots Music Report Chart, the Folk Alliance International Chart, the EuroAmericana Chart and the Americana Albums Chart.
A timely, tongue-in-cheek takedown of the American socio-political state of affairs, “Happy Independence Day” from Josie Bello is available now!
BTS is showing ARMY some love with a mic-drop-worthy performance special on SiriusXM Hits 1 (Ch. 2). BTS joined SiriusXM hosts Tony Fly and Symon for an exclusive interview and performance of their smash hits “Butter” and “Dynamite,” which premiered on July 1 at 6pm ET.
After the premiere, the HITS 1 ON 1 special will replay again at 8pm ET. Watch exclusive video of BTS’s two-song performance below!
Tenacious D’s “You Never Give Me Your Money / The End”, a tribute to The Beatles, is out on all digital platforms. Crush the link below to pre-order the vinyl and support Doctors Without Borders! Tweeting about the release, Paul McCartney said, “This Tenacious D cover of our song is fantastic! It’s so imaginative and so well performed. What a great tribute to the original. Guys – I love it”.
Alt-pop indie rocker Apricity ushers audiences into a dim and grim post-apocalyptic world with the release of her sophomore single and video, “The Fear” — available now.
For those newly enchanted under Apricity’s cast of spells, be prepared for an audio and visual storybook of epic tales — literally and figuratively. “The Fear”s official music video is set in a steampunk world with dashes of Walking Dead and comic book escapism for good measure, and the release also features a stunning graphic novella to well-buckled boot.
“After searching far and wide in a post-apocalyptic world, I find my companion, Jason, only to discover he is now being used for sport to fight the captured zombies,” Apricity reveals of the multimedia project’s plot.
“It’s my second time working with Dropout Entertainment/Toronto Creatives’ director, Jesse Read — along with yet again, local amazing talent,” she continues. “It all really tied together to create something eerie that captured the unknown state of the world as we felt it was in with the pandemic.”
Her second official single, “The Fear” delivers an equally haunting sequel to her recent breakthrough debut, “All My Lies” — which has more than 200,000+ streams across platforms.
For the Scotland-born, Canada-based powerhouse vocalist, both “The Fear” and “All My Lies” showcase her intense vox over fastidiously chosen tracks that embody the spirit and vision of her musical tenure. Channeling the prowess from the likes of Shirley Manson and Alanis Morrisette, the indie songstress holds nothing back — pushing the boundaries on art, music, and all that’s in between.
As an artist, Apricity promises to prey on the darkest corners of your mind, revealing your insecurities and curiosities about the afterlife; where “being awake” could mean a state of consciousness, a state of dreaming, or simply the state of mourning you’ve left behind.
Apricity’s penchant for the visual adaptation of music doesn’t rest solely with her captivating releases; the singer’s socials are rife with staggering spotlights of her artistry, pops of portraits chronicling her creativity.
How do you say ‘hello’ in extra-terrestrial? In a sonic pairing where not even the sky is a limit, jazz funk afrofuturists Cosmic Krewe’s ‘Cosmic Couple’ and award-winning multi-instrumentalist Kevin Hearn aim to unite the masses with the release of their new single, “Hello Hello (One Planet)” — available now.
Adding to his lauded list of musical crossovers, the multi-platinum selling and Canadian Music Hall of Fame member of The Barenaked Ladies recently collaborated with the iconic husband-and-wife musical prowess that is singer/songwriter and producer Laranah Phipps-Ray (La Funkalicious), and renowned trumpeter Michael Ray (Sun Ra Arkestra, Kool & The Gang).
“We sure had fun making music again,” Hearn shares of the track. “We decided to say hello in different languages — including some extra-terrestrial ones. I added the melodic chant, and a few layers of piano/keyboards to Michael’s chord sequence and Laranah’s singing.
“In this time when so many are feeling distanced, disconnected, and isolated, it felt fitting to reach out with musical salutations to all,” he adds.
Having first crossed paths in 2012, “Hello Hello (One Planet)” is the latest extension of the trio’s collaborations together.
“I met Michael Ray after seeing him perform with the Sun Ra Arkestra,” Hearn recalls. “The event was celebrating the new home of Toronto’s Regent Park School of Music, and it was one of the most inspiring musical performances I have ever seen.
“I fell in love with Michael’s musicality, his voice, his trumpet playing, and his joyful exuberance as he led the hall in singing ‘We Travel the SpaceWays,’’ he continues. “We collaborated on a project of mine, The SuperHero Suite, and Michael became a regular guest on The Barenaked Ladies albums. The first time I met his wife, Laranah, who is also jazz royalty, the three of us had an impromptu jam session in the BNL dressing room backstage in Philadelphia.
“And in this new instalment of our musical friendship, it was I who was invited to contribute to one of THEIR songs!”
With lyrics spanning the globe and beyond, and lines like ‘Let’s get in tune with each other for what it’s worth.’
“Because it just makes sense,” Hearn nods. “Take care, and remember… Space Is The Place!”
Oshawa, ON’s alt-rocker Cory Williams — the man behind the collar of White Collar Grunge — is bringing audiences to their knees with the outfit’s new single, “Capitulation” and eponymous album — both available now.
The debut release has been a lifelong dream for this lifelong musician who began tickling the ivories as a child. It was the fate of having Nirvana’s Nevermind gifted to him that changed the trajectory of his music, and ultimately his life. Now having founded the group, and fostering the ten tracks that made the final cut of the album, Williams is reveling in seeing his conquest come true.
“Some of the best advice we were given early on is to never stop writing,” Williams recalls of his early days of forming rock bands. After a brief hiatus from gigging, Williams returned to his songwriting roots, prepared to pen a new album on his terms. “I’m more excited to work on music than I’ve ever been because I don’t take it for granted and I’m making music that I love without compromise,” he explains. “I thought it would be best to make this record with no expectations. I used to feel like music owed me something but eventually came to realize that the only reason to make music is because you love it.”
The album is a collection of songs that tackle a variety of experiences, nuances, and moments in time — all set to a soundtrack of an entirely innovative subgenre of rock. The rushing synth, bleeding percussion, and whimsical melodies are perched on the branch of the Smiths, foretold by the Human League, and yet juxtaposed with the fringe of the early 90s.
Williams, whether aware or not, has created something uniquely his own. “I was playing the demo for ‘Synthesis’ when I was hanging out with my cousin and he said: ‘this is White Collar Grunge!’ as if it were a sub-genre I hadn’t heard of before,” Williams reveals. “At the time I had thought it might be a good name for my project and after writing ‘Capitulation’, I became sold on it.”
From fleshing out the tracks that would ultimately complete the album, Williams was tasked with forming White Collar Grunge; a group that not only could bring the music to life, but also be prepared to bring his vision live on the stage when the world is ready to reopen to concerts and performances. “Having Max Trefler play drums on the record with Adam Fair engineering at Villa Sound was an idea I think I had subconsciously for a while,” Williams says. “Max is a great drummer and really locked into what was going on. Adam set up a really nice vocal chain for me and we layered on the vocals. We got the drums and vocals down for the whole record in 3 days which was pretty intense. I think Adam did a killer job mixing the record and Noah Mintz’s mastering definitely enhanced it.”
Each track off the album fluidly slides into the next, creating a finely crafted soundscape that will leave you asking why you’re not spinning this offering on a 45. Song after song, you’ll find yourself transfixed by the energy of White Collar Grunge. The pack put it all down in music, daring you to listen to the album from end to end — no skips necessary. Their leading single, “Capitulation” is a twisting, 80s soaked, new-wave venture with a modern spin. “Mortal Strike” pierces you straight through your heart with its 90s outlier intonation. And when you find yourself at the end of their exceptionally masterful debut offering, you’ll question where they’ve been all your music loving life, and why you’ve waited to press play to listen all over again. Right now.
“Capitulation” and White Collar Grunge are available now.
Chart-topping and award-nominated Mississauga, ON-based country artist Bree Taylor channels her superwoman vocals with new single, “Kryptonite” — available now.
Recently nominated for a 2021 Mississauga Arts Award (MARTY) in the Music: Solo Vocalist — Emerging category, the Ontario-based singer/songwriter has been churning out classic country tracks for the better part of the past two years.
With “Kryptonite,” she’s granting an all-access pass to fans with this contagiously upbeat, diary-reading track about a love that’s so wrong, it feels so incredibly right.
Since the age of six, Taylor has been harnessing her impressive vox onto stages and in recording studios. The up-and-comer has worked with the likes of vocal coach to the stars, Bob Garrett (Los Angeles), and Lorraine Lawson (Toronto), notable for her work on CTV’s “The Launch.”
Taylor began penning her own tunes when she was a teen, and found early success with her pop debut EP, Unbreakable. Shortly after, she switched gears and fashioned herself inside the country genre — and her fans came with her. Taylor’s 2020 drop “Cry” gained an impressive 70,000+ organic streams, and her most recent single, “Burning Bridges” soared to #1 on the Canadian Indie Charts in October of last year (#17 of 50 in Indie Songs ranked overall for 2020).
Never one to shy away from the human experience and singing them into reality, Taylor invited fans to her rawest self, releasing an acoustic, off-the-floor version of “Cry” this past January. Her intention was to give the listeners a new way to connect with the single, but also draw attention to mental health — a cause she holds close to her heart.
On “Kryptonite,” Bree Taylor unleashes a hellstorm on a partner who might have been, could have been, had been, but ultimately shouldn’t have been.
And we’ve each been there; from flirting with danger, to running directly into the fire, many of us know all too well the perilous doom that awaits us when we exchange love for lust. But doesn’t it just feel too damn good to leave well enough alone? Taylor unashamedly lets that careless whisper do all the talking on this rambunctious, roller coaster ride of intimate desire of knowing better, but disregarding the consequences anyway.
“You might be the devil in disguise,” Taylor affirms, packing heat on her next punch: “Fill up my head with your sweet lies, can’t tell what’s wrong it feels so right.” Written by Taylor and frequent collaborators Donny Anderson and Murray Daigle, the song refuses to veer off the path of authenticity, honesty, and real, pure emotional highs and lows.
Inside the melodic lines of love growing wild is the insatiable talent of Taylor’s delivery on lyric. Her full-bodied vox will toss a memory to a young Trisha Yearwood, an Ashley McBride on the rocks, and a Carrie Underwood candor that worms itself into your ear and taunts you to try to turn away. Taylor’s got a gift beyond singing and songwriting – she’s born with the talent that draws you in and holds you captive till every last grit and grime, every last husky note, every last perfectly pitched crescendo has been placed on your lap. You’ll find yourself at the end of the track, rapidly trying to start it all over again.
“My kryptonite,” Bree Taylor muses on the chorus, “My kryptonite.”
It glows so bright, you’ll feel the need to touch it, indeed.
Chart-topping, award-winning alt-rocker Joey Nowyuk has released his newest single and video, “Pray” — available now.
Produced by Thor Simonsen (Kelly Fraser, Aasiva), and Dale Penner (Nickelback, The Matthew Good Band), “Pray” is the latest preview for the Nunavut-based artist’s forthcoming debut, Tumitit. Set for release this July via Hitmakerz, the album also features Inuit throat singing performed by JUNO Award-nominated band Silla + Rise’s Qattuu Evic; the video for “Pray” was directed, filmed, and edited by Paris-born filmmaker, Aïda Maigre-Touchet.
Joey Nowyuk’s name has been top of mind for some time now, with his previous release “Nalligigakku (Because I Love Her)” hitting #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown. Currently nominated for the CBC Searchlight Contest, the track has stacked more than 100,000+ streams across platforms, adding to his previous hundreds of thousands via Soundcloud.
Hailing from Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Nowyuk first picked up the guitar when a travelling music workshop visited, he recalls. “I was inspired to keep playing, but that wasn’t an easy feat when guitar strings could not even be purchased in my community, being so remote!”
Nevertheless, Joey Nowyuk’s beat-heavy, guitar-driven songs have beamed beyond Northern borders like the rays of optimism and hope they espouse — including translations across Inuktitut, English, French, and Japanese. “I want to reach people around the world, just as much as Nunavut and Canada,” he says. “Tumitit is the Inuktitut word for ‘footsteps’ in English and, as the title suggests, I want others to walk in my footsteps by continuing to improve their lives and reach for their goals.”
A talented multi-instrumentalist on guitar and drums, in addition to powerhouse vocals, Nowyuk’s extensive songwriting repertoire has also taken top prize at the annual Qilaut Songwriting Contest three times — including its most recent 2021 event. “At their root, many of my songs are very personal, and Nunavummiuit often tell me they can relate; I touch on a lot of topics such as growing up an Inuk, mental health and suicide awareness, as well as living in the North.”
Joey Nowyuk has performed at the Pang Fest, Alianait Arts Festival, Toonik Tyme Festival, QIA Gala, and more, and previously released “Christmas Together” (2020) with Brenda Montana.
Funding for the album and music video was provided by the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Film Development Corporation, and the MVP Project, a joint initiative of RBCxMusic and the Prism Prize (administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television).
“Pray” is available now. Tumitit is available July 16, 2021.
The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) and TikTok today announced an agreement for the collection of digital mechanical royalties in Canada, delivering a new revenue stream for music publishers and self-published songwriters. The new deal also accounts for TikTok’s past use of musical works and sets up a forward-looking partnership.
“TikTok’s integration of music with video has created a new opportunity for music creators to engage users from around the world. Not only has the platform fueled new song discovery but it has given classic songs new life. The activity has swelled outside the platform, directly impacting increased consumption across all media. CMRRA will continue to support new technology platforms that seek to properly license music, ensuring rights holders are compensated” said Paul Shaver, President of CMRRA.
“We are thrilled to enter into this agreement with CMRRA in Canada, to connect music publishers and artists to new audiences and enable song discovery through the power of TikTok. Given the ever-changing music industry, we’re committed to working together to create new revenue opportunities and offer an innovative way to reach fans,” said Jordan Lowy, Head of Music Publishing Licensing and Partnerships, TikTok.
The agreement is designed to enrich users’ experience and the creators of the music made available by the platform by helping them get their music seen on a canvas with unlimited avenues for expression. TikTok is home to emerging talent and many top artists presenting their creative vision through its video formats. The platform enables and promotes music discovery by presenting songs in new contexts, simultaneously building bridges for artists and creators to connect with global audiences and driving their business forward.
