As its first initiative of 2021, today, ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective announces the launch of the Amplify Interview Series.
With an ongoing mission to develop infrastructure for the betterment, upliftment and retention of Black people in the Canadian music industry, Amplify aims to celebrate and put the spotlight on Canadian Black professionals, both veterans and newcomers alike, in the music industry through a series of moderated interviews.
Curated based on diverse careers across different sectors of the music industry, the Amplify series will shed light on individual experiences, as well as the landmark moments that shifted the direction of the careers and amplified their success stories.
The monthly series, which will be available for streaming on the ADVANCE website, has launched with Katrina Lopes and Zamani Millar.
For more information on the series, follow our socials and subscribe to the official ADVANCE YouTube channel.
) Legendary producer & Hall of Fame songwriter Linda Perry is set to curate and perform at the upcoming two-day Rock ‘N’ Relief: Live Stream Series. Founded by Sean Penn and Ann Lee, CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a non-profit organization dedicated to crisis response.
CORE has been working tirelessly on the frontlines with partners to provide equitable access to free testing and vaccines across Los Angeles for the past year. This two-day live stream will benefit CORE’s life-saving programs. In addition, the concert will also benefit CORE’s work supporting the City of L.A.’s mobile vaccination program, which brings access to the vaccine directly to communities who need it most across L.A. The mobile vaccination program targets low-income communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. By providing direct access within the community and offering on-site registration, CORE is helping to eliminate the disparities in health equity as it relates to vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing.
Additionally, CORE helps operate the City of L.A.’s mass vaccination site at Dodger Stadium, which is currently serving as the largest vaccination site in the U.S., providing an average of 8,000 vaccines daily, with the capacity to administer more than 12,000 vaccines per day, pending vaccine supply. Linda Perry’s Rock n’ Relief concert aims to be a magnet to bring awareness to CORE as well as raise money in support of CORE’s daily outreach to broaden its impact in the community during this pandemic.
“Our critical mission within this moment of the pandemic is to provide equitable relief services to our local community, and we rely on donations to continue our efforts,” said CORE’s Co-Founder and CEO, Ann Lee. “We are thrilled that Linda Perry has curated such an amazing group of artists to support our cause and bring comfort and joy to people in this time of hardship.”
“As a mother and fellow member of this community, I wanted to do something to lift spirits and send a positive message of hope and humanity to all the healthcare workers and those on the front lines, as well as raise awareness and funds to support CORE and their relief efforts,” said event producer and longtime CORE supporter Linda Perry. “When I first put the word out, many jumped on board to contribute; we had over 150 bands submit to play. We are pleased to announce that California Love Drop and Monty’s Good Burger will provide food and beverages to all the digital workers that will be working hard to bring this powerful content to the viewers of this impactful concert series. Our goal is to do everything we can to thank CORE and the self-sacrificing people who keep us safe during this unprecedented crisis.”
The current lineup for this two-day concert series hosted by DJ Kat Corbett of SiriusXM & KROQ will feature artists like Foo Fighters, Deadmau5, Perry Farrell, Miguel,Carly Simon w/ David Saw, Gavin Rossdale, Pete Yorn, James Blunt, Jewel, Tracy Bonham, Sheryl Crow, Sammy Hagar DJ Adam Bravin (of She Wants Revenge), SHAED,Macy Gray, Willa Ami, Juliette Lewis, Donita Sparks of L7 & Friends, Linda Perry, Pete Molinari, Kevin Bacon, Silversun Pickups and more. Perry and CORE are working with Amazon Music to stream the concert live on the Amazon Music mobile app, and through the Amazon Music Twitch channel at twitch.tv/amazonmusic. Rolling Stone and YouTube will also further the reach of this timeless event. “We are extremely overwhelmed by the level of support we are getting from these rebel artists who are generously donating their time and so grateful for the backing from the biggest players in the media space. Can’t wait to get the word out and provide much needed funding for CORE while entertaining and lifting the spirits of the nation.” says Perry.
CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a nonprofit organization co-founded by Sean Penn and Ann Lee that is dedicated to saving lives and strengthening communities affected by or vulnerable to crisis. Within hours of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Penn mobilized a powerful network to take immediate action. More than 10 years later, CORE continues to lead sustainable programs focused on four pillars: emergency relief, disaster preparedness, environmental resiliency and community building. The organization has expanded beyond Haiti to support communities in The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the United States. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, CORE has been operating free testing sites across the country alongside local partners, providing essential resources and contact tracing services as well as part of its integrated “CORE 8” approach to combat the pandemic. In 2021, CORE is working with its partners nationwide to ensure safe and equitable distribution of vaccines as they become available to the communities the organization serves.
Grammy Award winning Toronto based-producer collective and prolific alt-pop duo, Locals Only Sound are not only developing new talent and bringing fresh perspectives and unique sounds to established artists. With focus on their appreciation for alt-electronic music and combining it with the abiding passion for R&B vocals paired with modern beats, Gray Hawken and Curtis Smith write, produce and record all their own music.
The first project, coming off their critically acclaimed debut OPUS 1tape, which the pair describe as an extended EP – or more accurately a mixtape – the first installment of Locals Only Sound’s partnership. Curtis says “the core of our style is from the alt-electronic, R&B world; because that’s the vibe we’re living now. But it also takes in influences from rock and the singer/songwriter genres,”, adding that he comes from the “classic rock world” with a more introspective singer/songwriter style. Gray comes from a classically trained musical family; growing up with the voice of his mother’s choral singing and surrounded by Jazz instruments in the house.
After spending a year on the road touring their critically acclaimed EP, OPUS 1 across Canada, US and the UK, the single “Move With Me” is the first taste of what’s ahead for the Locals Only Sound.
Today, Locals Only Sound is YouTube Canada’s Trending Artist on the Rise. A feature which celebrates promising and new emerging artists.
Families are celebrating kids party using costumes where people get to dress up in iconic attire. The most popular party costumes for children will mainly revolve around superheroes and princesses. It is no wonder that Frozen Elsa and Anna costumes are usable for both birthday and Halloween parties. The superhero costumes, like characters from the avengers, helps in fuelling the imagination of young boys.
With the need to celebrate milestones and special occasions, it is beneficial to know trends in the industry. In the market, there are many kinds of costumes for both kids and adults. However, in this read, we will focus on the most popular costumes for kids.
Party Costumes for 2021
Themed parties are gaining popularity among people of all kinds of all ages and walks of life. There is a wide variety of selection whenever looking to find a costume for kids. However, if you are keen, the choice will be easy as their choice will most likely depend on their favourite movie or cartoon character. The perfect costume needs to be cool and fitting. Check for its comfort and any other specific needs for kids.
Trending Ideas for kids Costume Parties
Halloween would not be fun for kids without costumes. On the other hand, the trend is quickly gaining precedence in all kinds of kids parties. The fun is when they get to take pictures with the costumes alone or with their friends. Here are some of the most popular ideas for 2021;
Popular Costumes for Girls
Girls love to dress up in fancy and elegant apparel. Consider the superheroes or princesses that the kids find appealing. Whether it is a toddler or a developing child, there are stylish outfits to fit different themes and budget.
Here are some of the popular ones;
The Supergirl costume.
Tinker Bell costume.
Costume from Frozen characters Princess Anna and Elsa.
Wonder woman comic character costume.
These characters will probably have several costumes in their collection. The choice will depend on the preference and selection of the kids. You do not want them to dislike the choice of outfit as it may end up ruining their party.
Popular Costumes for Boys
Boys get excitement whenever they suit up in costumes from their favourite movies or TV character. They love doing it whenever they are playing with friends, and it is more memorable for them if they have a themed party. Below are some popular costume choices for 2021;
The superman costumes.
A police officer’s costume.
The doctor’s costumes.
Vampire costumes.
Batman costumes.
Black Panther costumes.
Harry Potter costume.
Finding a great costume for your little boy is not tricky. There are a lot of classics to check out when shopping attire for themed parties.
Conclusion
Are you finding it challenging to find the right costume for a kid’s themed party? There is no need to worry as you have an idea of what is trending in the industry. However, you can try asking your child what they want for their party.
More often than I can count, I’ve been asked if I would write an autobiography, but the time has never been right. The one thing I’ve always managed to do, whether at home or on the road, is to write new songs. I know that some people, when they get to a certain age, like to go to a diary to recall day-to-day events from the past, but I have no such notebooks. What I do have are my songs, hundreds of them, which I’ve learned serve much the same purpose. And these songs span my entire life.’ – Paul McCartney, The Lyrics
From his early Liverpool days, through the historic decade of The Beatles, to Wings and his long solo career, The Lyrics – out November 21, 2021 – pairs the definitive texts of 154 Paul McCartney songs with first-person commentaries on his life and music. Spanning two alphabetically arranged volumes, these commentaries reveal how the songs came to be and the people who inspired them: his devoted parents, Mary and Jim; his songwriting partner, John Lennon; his “Golden Earth Girl,” Linda Eastman; his wife, Nancy McCartney; and even Queen Elizabeth, among many others. Here are the origins of “Let It Be,” “Lovely Rita,” “Yesterday,” and “Mull of Kintyre,” as well as McCartney’s literary influences, including Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, and Alan Durband, his high-school English teacher.
With images from McCartney’s personal archives―handwritten texts, paintings, and photographs, hundreds previously unseen―The Lyrics, spanning sixty-four years, becomes the definitive literary and visual record of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
Queer, non-binary, Indigenous pop singer/songwriter Angel Baribeau – based in Cree Nation of Mistissini, Quebec – tells a tale of love and loss passed to the next generation in this, their newest video for “Wish We Were Older” — available now.
Depicting an elderly woman reminiscing with visual memories about her past, the snapshots weave through love and loss and illustrate an uplifting timeline of her life as a queer woman.
“This music video will be a recounting of a lifetime of true love between an elderly 2 spirit Indigenous couple,” director Nang K’uulas / Patrick Shannon shares of the video’s scope. It shows “the challenges, the joy, the raising of a family in a community where that isn’t common,” adds. “It’s somber, but beautiful — and a reminder that everyone can find love and bring beauty into this world.”
“Working with Nang K’uulas / Patrick Shannon was a privilege,” the Montreal-based artist shares of the experience. “He went above and beyond, and I’m so grateful. It started with a call about a concept I had in my head, and Nang made it a reality.
“Working with an all-Indigenous cast for this video is an incredibly proud moment for me,” Baribeau continues. “I often talk about the importance of Indigenous and Queer representation, and this video is my hope for continuously providing that for Indigenous and Queer youth.
“It was an honour to work with so many incredibly strong Indigenous women, and to be able to spend time with them and hear about their lives and experiences.
“Nothing will ever compare to those conversations.
In addition, there were delights on-set. “Tealy made us all fry bread; it was delicious,” Baribeau shares. “And the little one, Konwaherawi was an utter joy to work with; her mother and her are a magical duo. That wass (kid) wants the stars, and they shall be hers.
“One of my favourite memories was filming in the Old Port. It’s stunning: I’m so glad we made that choice (even if we almost lost my guitar…!)
“And my dear friend Chris Robertson lent us his cabin to film in. It’s been in his family for decades, and I don’t think the video would have been nearly as successful if it wasn’t for him and his generosity; I’m glad people like him exist.
“My cousin is one of the actresses in this video,” Baribeau reveals. “But I personally didn’t know who we were casting, so you can imagine my surprise when my cousin Kenny walked in with his daughter, Mehki…
“It was an unexpected family reunion!”
“Wish We Were Older” is the latest to land from Baribeau’s recently released stunning debut, For Those I Love(d).
Featuring breathtaking vocals paired with lyrics that traverse emotional terrains rugged and smooth, the EP flows forth with a wisdom-rife, intimate vulnerability cascading through distinctly warm textures and catchy acoustic pop melodies.
With the album taking a Top 3 spot on Apple Music Pop Canada’s charts soon after its Summer 2020 release, the six-track EP’s debut single “Love Is Up The River” quickly garnered more than 20,000+ streams on Spotify and hit Top 10 on the NCI FM Indigenous Music Countdown hosted by SiriusXM Canada; single “Wish We Were Older” followed its path with another ~ 28,000 streams, hit #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown and was featured on CBC North.
“I named my EP For Those I Love(d) because I realized the songs all represented love I had or have for people that have come through my life,” Baribeau shares. “Whether they are here still, or on their own path, this project aims to honour the love I felt and feel.
“I had many Moms growing up,” Baribeau continues. “Powerful women that showed me love in the times I needed it most. My Moms gave me the tools I needed to be who I am and, in fact, they did the heavy lifting when it came to building up my own strengths. It was the women around me that taught me to be brave, to exist without apology, and to love without fear. These women were blessings and I am forever grateful for their love.”
They also nurtured Baribeau’s primary introduction to music. “My Gookum is hard of hearing but, growing up, I never saw her let that take away from her love of music. She would play her guitar even if she couldn’t hear it was out of tune, or blast her music so she could hear the lyrics. Gookum loved music because music is for everyone.
“My Mom and other women would sing me the ‘Meh Meh Sou’ chant as a lullaby, and eventually I would come to use lyrics to communicate my own emotions. Whether I was crying over someone who broke my heart, or even after breaking my own, music was always there; it has helped me through almost every stage in my life.”
Originally from the Cree community of Mistissini, Quebec, Baribeau first started through the formation of their early indie folk outfit, Simple Human Tribe. Their solo work gained momentum in 2014 when they were selected for feature on the #1 iTunes chart-topping N’we Jinan compilation album, Eeyou Istchee Volume 1.
Ultimately, Baribeau’s goal is to be that of a changemaker, noting the responsibility they feel to pursue their talent to create more representation within the industry for those who look and identify as they do.
“It’s important to see yourself in the world, and to have an image reflected back at you that accurately represents you,” they say. “To see that positive imagery is fundamental to a child; at least, it was to me. If you don’t see yourself in the world, you might come to question whether your existence is valid. I felt this way for many years while growing up and it was only when I saw more folks like me I realized it’s okay for me to take up space.
“I want to do that for others,” Baribeau continues. “In my own intersectionality, I represent so many more folks that are constantly under-represented in my communities and mainstream media. I want people to see me and know our existence is valid and needed; to feel like you’re not alone is a powerful thing.”
Multi-GRAMMY and JUNO Award-winning artist Chin Injeti releases a rallying cry of self-love and reliance in this, his new single “For The Love Of Life”.
And it wasn’t completed without some of Injeti’s tenured collaborative magic; he called upon fellow Vancouverite Teon Gibbs to feature on the track.
With a burgeoning catalog at 255,000+ streams across Spotify alone, “For The Love Of Life” is Injeti’s first of the year, and follows 2020 offerings of “Let Go,” “Serious,” and “Falling” — the latter of which featured Esthero on accompanying vox and Delhi 2 Dublin’s Tarun Nayer on tabla.
Born in Hyderabad, India and having to survive polio from birth, music therapy treatments helped facilitate his motor skills — ultimately changing his life. His path towards the craft became clearer when Injeti teamed up with then-partner DJ Khalil with whom he made multi-GRAMMY and JUNO Award-winning music with and for the likes of Dr Dre, Eminem, Drake, Pink, Aloe Blacc, The Clipse, Lecrae, K’Naan, and more.
Getting his official start in an in-home studio built by his father and brother, he also fronted the JUNO and Much Music Video Award-winning band Bass is Base, won SOCAN’s Songwriter of the Year Award, and enjoyed years of creating, touring and performing with the likes of The Fugees, The Roots, Jamiroquoi, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and more.
Further, Injeti has created and taught curriculum for Vancouver’s NIMBUS, been a featured speaker at TEDx discussing the healing properties of music, and long recognized for his life’s work as an inspiration, teacher, mentor, leader, innovator, singer, multi-instrumentalist, writer, collaborator, student, and yes, icon, with a star on Vancouver’s prestigious Walk of Fame.
Presenting a new paradigm for music industry education led by two visionary females, 35X+ platinum GRAMMY-nominated songwriter Ali Tamposi and Armenian-American artist, activist, and music industry veteran Tamar Kaprelian introduce their new digital education series “Song Start” on Spotify’s recently launched Noteable platform. Noteable serves as Spotify’s official global home for the songwriting, producing and publishing community.
“It excites me to be able to draw back the curtain, and to give aspiring songwriters and producers access to the tricks and the tools that industry professionals use on a daily basis,” says Ali Tamposi.
Tamar Kaprelian adds, “Music education is in need of major innovation. What currently exists is expensive and doesn’t keep up with how quickly the music industry changes and evolves. We want Song Start to be a jumping off point – an accessible place for creatives to start. We want to teach people what they really need to know about songwriting, music production, and music business so that they can go out and do it themselves!”
Sharing a mission to uplift the next generation of creators, Ali and Tamar joined forces in order to demystify the craft of songwriting, music production, and music business for new writers and artists. Drawing on dynamic experience working with some of the biggest superstars in the world, they will provide invaluable insight into this often complicated industry as part of this freely and globally accessible program. “Song Start” empowers viewers with all of the tools to write and produce music and ultimately launch careers. It also democratizes music industry education online in the process. Ali has co-written a long list of chart topping hit singles for everyone from Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes to Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa, offering unmatched perspective into the artform.
The series serves as a groundbreaking e-learning extension of Tamar’s NVAK Foundation. She founded the 501(c)3 non-profit in 2016, and it has impacted, championed, and uplifted over 1,500 musicians throughout Armenia, Malawi, and Israel in the past five years. Representing another tier of the organization, she recently co-founded the NVAK Collective alongside fellow songwriter and producer Alex Salibian. Driven by purpose and committed to innovation and disruption, the record label cultivates female and non-binary talent from underserved regions such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and North and East Africa. NVAK has galvanized the support of some of the music industry’s most powerful female forces to change the industry worldwide and elevate a new vanguard of talent into the spotlight. Be on the lookout for more from Tamar Kaprelian and NVAK soon.
Song Start was initially created by Ali’s organization, the Creative Waves Foundation, founded in 2019 as a way to grant wider access to opportunities in music for underserved young talent. Co-founded by Ali and her mother Candy Tamposi (a former school principal), the organization supplies grant opportunities to schools in need of resources to fortify their respective arts programs. Among many initiatives, Creative Waves has supported Cristo Rey Schools and select alumni in pursuit of degrees in music education, and donated a “Creative Waves Music Room” to the First Haitian Baptist Church of Belle Glade, FL—a black-led nonprofit specializing in the education of students under the duress of poverty. The organization recently played a significant role in raising $700,000 for the church (with $80,000 as a direct result of Creative Waves Foundation efforts), and will continue to support fundraising efforts to reach the $1 million goal. In the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the foundation also contributed to funding vans to deliver food and aid to families in need.
Song Start is an easily accessible, contemporary online music education platform taught by a group of diverse, A-list creatives and industry professionals. The mission is to give up-and-coming musicians the tools and resources they need to be able to write and produce their own music.
As a songwriter, Ali Tamposi relies on a dynamic personal history and a keen sense of empathy to transpose real memories and moments into anthems for some of the most influential artists of all-time. Kickstarting her career in 2008, she has co-written for a wide variety of artists including Beyoncé, Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, blink-182, James Blake, Justin Bieber, Ozzy Osbourne, BTS, Kelly Clarkson (for whom she penned “(Stronger)” and earned her first GRAMMY Award nod), and most recently Miley Cyrus for her hit “Midnight Sky” and new album Plastic Hearts. With billions of streams, three number one entries on the Billboard Hot 100 out of ten in the Top 10, and dozens of multi-platinum certifications, she garnered BMI’s “Pop Songwriter of The Year” award alongside frequent collaborator Andrew Watt in 2019, and received the “Song of the Year” award at the 2013 BMI London Awards. Meanwhile, Billboard described her best as “a force.” In fact, some of the most ubiquitous hits of the past decade have sprung from her pen.
Tamar Kaprelian is an Armenian-American artist, activist, and music industry veteran. A Phi-Beta-Kappa and Summa Cum Laude graduate from Columbia University she signed major recording contracts with RCA and Interscope Records and honed her craft as a songwriter with some of LA’s top songsmiths. In 2015, she represented Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest; and in 2016, she founded Nvak Foundation, which was named one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” in 2020.
Famed New York disc jockey “Murray The K” (Murray Kaufman) became known as “The Fifth Beatle” when he befriended John, Paul, George & Ringo during the musical British Invasion of the 1960s. In addition to presenting all-star rock and soul concerts at the historic Brooklyn Fox theatre, Murray The K hosted a legendary star-studded special, It’s What’s Happening Baby to be telecast for the first time in more than a half century. The show featuring live, on-stage performances by some of the greatest soul, rock and r&b artists of the 20th century debuts Saturday, March 6 at 7:00 pm Eastern/ Central/Pacific Time on Public Television outlets with encore telecasts; check local listings.*
The long-unseen landmark program is being presented by veteran public television producer TJ Lubinsky, creator of the hugely popular My Music specials on PBS. It’s What’s Happening Baby has been newly-restored from original video and audio master tapes. The ground-breaking program was the brainchild of Kaufman, who had given many of the greatest African-American perform- ers their breakthrough in his staged concerts and radio shows. He then fought to present that powerful pool of talent, including many of the bright soul-pop stars of Motown on It’s What’s Happening Baby. The once-in-a-lifetime special was originally commissioned by the U.S. government’s Office of Economic Opportunity as part of the war on poverty, encouraging American youth to seek summer employment while out of school.
Featuring over a dozen iconic artists — including Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick, The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Johnny Rivers, The Miracles, Herman’s Hermits, The Temptations and Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles — It’s What’s Happening Baby proved to a huge success when it first aired on June 28, 1965 on CBS, attracting over 20 million viewers. Of special note is the fact that Mary Wilson of the Supremes shared her recollections of the show of which she was part. She recorded her interview for the program on January 26, 2021. It was to be the very last interview she would ever give as she passed away just 13 days after that nostalgic encounter.
Now, nearly 56 years later, many of the original musical artists appear in new segments, offering fond memories of working with Murray The K, who helped put rock and roll music into the mainstream during his days as one of the most influential radio personalities in New York during the 1950s and 1960s. Dionne Warwick recalls, “He was the man! To be part of a Murray The K show was the thing to be.” Little Anthony adds, “He was a real showman. Everybody fell in love with him.”
*Special New York market note: It’s What Happening Baby airs on WLIW at 10:30pm on March 6th.
