Check out Overdriver Duo’s impressive ukulele rendition of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”
Anna Sofia Reveals Spellbinding ‘Broken Perfection Garage Session’ EP
Canadian 17 year old rising singer-songwriter Anna Sofia has cemented herself as an artist to watch for this year and beyond, gaining acclaim from the likes of Wonderland, IDOLATOR, American Songwriter, CLASH and more for stellar indie-pop showcase, Broken Perfection.
Today, Anna Sofia continues to showcases her otherworldly ability with the reveal of the Broken Perfection Garage Session, a wonderful stripped back version of the Jeff Hazin produced EP.
At just 17, the Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has won critical acclaim, millions of streams and legions of dedicated fans for one simple reason: she’s being herself. Her music is not the result of focus groups, marketing or following trends. There’s no hindsight and no lecturing. She’s just an artist living in the moment, reflecting life back to the same people coming of age and navigating the drama of becoming an adult – with sophisticated but immediate indie meets R&B bangers that are totally free of pretense and bullshit, singing directly from the heart of the Gen Z experience.
While determined to reach as many people as possible, Anna Sofia has no manifesto or mission statement – just to stay true and speak to others. “I don’t have a message. It’s just real life,” she admits. “One day, I hope to fill stadiums all over the world. I want to have fans everywhere and have some way of helping them or guiding them through my music. My confidence comes from being myself and connecting with people.”
Sound of Music Festival Announce Mike Taylor Bursary
With special cooperation from Walk Off the Earth, a partnership between The Sound of Music (SOM) and the firm of Taylor Oballa Murray Leyland LLP, have joined the Taylor Family to proudly announce the annual Mike Taylor Music Education Bursary.
This award will help a promising young individual from the Burlington area pursue their dreams of a career in music and allow Mike’s life and legacy to live on for generations to come.
“Mike Taylor was a person who truly embodied the phrase life is for living”, says SOM executive director, Myles Rusak. “He was deeply passionate about family, friends, business and music alike, he poured his heart and soul into everything that he did and made a massive impact on the lives of people all over the world. We are grateful to have the opportunity to help cement his legacy in this community by giving back to the youth who would follow in his footsteps.”
Many people came to know Mike as the silent, stoic, larger-than-life “Epic Beard Man” that comprised 1/5 of Walk Off the Earth, but few were aware of just how kind, caring and compassionate a person he really was. Mike cared deeply about music education, and worked closely with charities like MusiCounts to help provide young people all across Canada with the opportunity to play, perform and learn about music.
The $1000 bursary will be awarded annually following a call for submissions. A panel consisting of representatives of the Sound of Music, Taylor Oballa Murray Leyland LLP and a member of Taylor Family will select a finalist to receive the one-time bursary.
This bursary is one further step towards fulfilling the Sound of Music’s new vision of being a true champion, year round, for the arts in Southern Ontario. We are proud of this commitment to our community and look forward to being a part of the future development of emerging artists in the region for years to come.
Michael Kiwanuka’s Eponymous Third Album Wins The Mercury Prize Album Of The Year
Michael Kiwanuka is very proud to be the 2020 winner of this year’s Hyundai Mercury Prize for ‘Album of the Year’ with his eponymous and peerless third album, KIWANUKA.
Michael, who has been nominated for the prize with each of his albums to date, took home the prize at the third time of asking with a record that united the judges.
Remarking on the news straight after its announcement, Michael said: “I don’t even know what to say – I’m speechless. This is amazing…I don’t even have any words. This is ridiculous, it’s crazy! I’m so happy. Third time’s a charm. It’s blown my mind. I’m over the moon, I’m so excited – this is for art, for music, for albums. This is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do so to win a Mercury is a dream come true. Music and art means so much to me and this is an award that celebrates that so I’m over the moon.”
The judging panel heralded the record as a ‘masterpiece’: “Warm, rich, hugely accomplished and belonging to no one genre but its own, KIWANUKA is a masterpiece.”
KIWANUKA was released in November 2019 to widespread critical acclaim, with The Guardian describing it as one of the albums of the decade. Produced/co-written with Danger Mouse and Inflo, it’s a record that tackles a broader understanding of identity, social injustices, acceptance and resilience all spun through a sonic feast of sound.
To coincide with the award, Michael is pleased to share the video for his latest single, “Light (edit).” “Light (edit)” here is a mesmerizing, psychedelic-kissed tune that showcases the musicianship and atmospherics that make KIWANUKA such an alluring record.
Today, Michael discusses the making of the record and what the award means to him in conversation with Jools Holland on BBC 2. Listen HERE.
KIWANUKA could conceivably have dazzled in any era. A rich and soulful modern classic.
Michael’s eagerly anticipated tour of the UK is now scheduled for the Spring:
26th March – O2 Academy, Glasgow
27th March – Bonus Arena, Hull
29th March – O2 Apollo, Manchester
30th March – Empress Ballroom, Blackpool
1st April – DeMontford Hall, Leicester
2nd April – Princess Pavilions, Plymouth
3rd April – Brighton Centre, Brighton
5th April – O2 Academy, Leeds
6th April – O2 Academy Brixton, London
15th September – O2 Academy, Newcastle
16th September – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
17th September – Alexandra Palace, London
Billie Eilish Announces Documentary Feature Film, Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry, Coming February 2021
Apple and Billie Eilish today announced that the highly anticipated documentary feature film, Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry, directed by award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler (“Belushi,” “The September Issue,” “The War Room”), will premiere in theaters and on Apple TV+ in February 2021. The documentary is from Apple Original Films, in association with Interscope Films, Darkroom, This Machine and Lighthouse Management & Media.
Billie Eilish released her groundbreaking debut album WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? in 2019 via Darkroom/Interscope Records/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company, and won Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album at this year’s 62nd Grammy® Awards in January, followed by her rousing performance of The Beatles’ “Yesterday” at the 92nd Oscars®. This year also saw 18-year-old Eilish release her internationally hailed official James Bond theme song “No Time To Die,” for the forthcoming MGM/Eon Productions James Bond Motion Picture.
1-minute tip for artists: Music conferences and a tip.
The one thing that will set you apart from the other viewers watching an online conference.
5 Enticing Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument in Adulthood
Bloggers have written thousands of articles about the benefits of learning music to children. Few pieces dive into the massive benefits you can get as an adult from learning a musical instrument.
Be it the cello, the piano, or a guitar, your overall health can benefit from learning an instrument. The good thing is music learning has never been more accessible. Music academies such as LVL Music Academy now offer online music lessons, and you can even create a whole symphony on your computer with today’s technology!
If that’s not enough to convince you to try music as an adult, the following five reasons to play an instrument will.
1) Improve Brain Power
Learning to play a musical instrument is an activity that involves the motor and multi-sensory (visual, auditory, and somatosensory) functions. The constant stimulation of these areas during the learning process improves your brain’s verbal memory and spatial reasoning ability.
It also improves your literacy. Studies show that learning a musical instrument increases the volume of gray matter in the brain.
2) Manage Stress Levels & Improve Overall Health
The daily grind can take its toll on us in unimaginable ways. Studies show that immersing yourself in learning a musical instrument is a great way to reduce anxiety and stress levels and lower your heart rate and blood pressure. This process also boosts your immune system, making you more disease-resistant.
Adults who play music are unlikely to suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The act of creating music is calming and fulfilling. And It’s no different for a beginner. The best thing about this calming effect is that you can transfer it to other areas of your life.
3) Improve Your Confidence Levels
It might look simple when you watch experienced musicians perform in front of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of people. However, doing this takes loads of confidence and self-belief. It doesn’t matter how long the musician has been playing or performing music.
Best of all, this newfound self-belief and confidence enter into other situations. Learning a musical instrument means you put yourself under some pressures experienced musicians go through while performing. It doesn’t matter how big or small your audience is; the point here is that you learn to face your fears and build your confidence levels as you perform for the audience. This process gets better after every single performance and improves your overall confidence levels.
4) Build Your Patience and Discipline Muscles
The best things in life are worth working for. Learning a musical instrument is no exception to the rule. To build expertise, you’ll need to work hard and long hours. It would be best if you persevered as you try and fail — because you will fail many times.
The process of starting over again and grinding your way through is an excellent lesson in discipline and patience, which is why it is fulfilling when you discover that you can now play the instrument with some superb proficiency.
5) Improve Your Social Life
By learning a musical instrument, you can create beautiful music for your loved ones. Playing music for friends and family also strengthens your bonds and creates lasting memories. If you prefer to play in public, you might make new friends primarily if you practice and play with fellow learners or a group of musicians.
The act of producing music together creates a sense of fellowship among the group. This allows them to build stronger and healthier friendships.
Final Thoughts
Finally, learning and playing music is fun. The process can be frustrating and tiring, but the benefits far outweigh the time it takes to practice.
Photo Gallery: Johnny Orlando with Sylo Nozra at Toronto’s OLG Play Stage
All Photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
Waterdown, ON’s Singer/Songwriter GREG RIDER Second Date Was Almost ‘TinderCringe’ in New Single, “Accident”
Canadian country-pop artist Greg Rider’s second date felt just like the first in this, his new single “Accident” — available now!
“This song came to life after a date in Nashville,” Rider recalls. “It started as an innocent online dating match with a Canadian girl, and it turned into a hilarious coincidence… Or ‘Accident.’”
Grab the popcorn, here’s how the story goes: Rider met up with the girl — a fellow songwriter — and soon after grabbing a drink and getting to know one another, she insisted he looked familiar. “She was from Alberta, and I was from Ontario,” he explains. “I was confident I’d never met her before.
“But then she asked, ‘did you ever live in Montreal?’ and my eyes went wide. She said, ‘oh my God, are you Greg from Montreal?! We went on a date and I still talk about that night with my friends!’
“I was in utter shock, and couldn’t believe what she was saying. I felt horrible because I didn’t remember it at all. She had a different hair colour back then, and I was 22 and a club promoter, so I met quite a few girls that summer, but… I still felt like a horrible person!”
So here they were, four years later in a different city in a different country; Rider couldn’t help but question what it all meant. “I wondered, was this a huge coincidence? Why am I meeting this girl again? Was it meant to happen? Or is this more of an ‘Accident’?”
While the second lease on love leaned more /TinderCringe vs /TinderSuccess, the pair have stayed friends to this day and can thank the other for an excellent story in their respective songwriting banks.
“Accident” is the newest song to land after this summer’s previous release, “One Town Away.” With music influenced by the likes of Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, and Tim McGraw, Rider first set his sights on starting his musical journey in Montreal, busking on busy street corners and playing the city’s vibrant bar scene. From there, he took flight to the Cayman Islands, balancing time between bartending and songwriting, playing open mics under the sun and stars.
His islander life wouldn’t last for too long; he was soon convinced to try his hand at North America’s country music capital, Nashville, where he earned the opportunity to play on Grand Ole Opry’s radio station WSM, at the incomparable venue Whiskey Jam, a full-time residency at Nashville Broadway’s top venues, and full-time at FGL House.
He’s back where it all started, now, setting up shop in Waterdown after a recent cross-Canada tour playing over 75 schools to more than 30,000 high schoolers, sharing music with a message of hope and resiliency.
“After years of traveling, I’d been thinking more and more about the day when I’d finally settle down. Crazy, eh? But I always think about when and where I’ll meet my ‘person.’
“I thought I would have found her by now, but I guess it’s not the right time. And it wasn’t that night in Nashville, or that previous night in Montreal.”
Until then, it’s as Bob Ross would say: only ‘Happy Little Accidents’ here.
Award-Winning Contemporary Jazz Songstress Fiona Ross Releases The Live Sessions Video Album
Award-winning, internationally acclaimed contemporary jazz artist Fiona Ross unleashes today an electrifying rendition of some of her favourite works across four album releases in The Live Sessions Video Album — including her most recent, Fierce and Non-Compliant.
“I tried to do the whole live session at home, but it really wasn’t me,” the songstress explains. “It also meant I didn’t have my incredible musicians with me.
“Part of my sound and what I love about what I do is the incredible people I get to work and play with,” she continues. “I feed off their energy and, well… I just love playing with them!
“Due to COVID-19, all of my gigs were cancelled for the foreseeable future, but as soon as the studio I normally rehearse at re-opened, I jumped to book it.”
The joint — one that’s also held court for the likes of Adele, Nina Simone, Patti Smith, Tom Jones, Paul Weller, Rhianna, and more — had been shut for nearly five months at that point, and the band hadn’t played together in just as long. Thanks to their undeniable creative chemistry, however, they instantly picked right back up where they’d left off.
“It was so exciting to see everyone and play,” Ross recalls of a day that, otherwise, would’ve been par for the course but now exceptionally memorable due to the circumstances. “First time playing in months… It was a wonderful thing; there were smiles everywhere.”
Based in London and resonating throughout the international scene, Ross is known for her illustrative songwriting and unique fingerprint of sound that blends a Latin Jazz with vintage club styles, plus a touch of Neo soul for good measure.
“Her style is poetic and the messages ooze with Millennial angst,” says Jazz Weekly of Ross’ heart-wrenching ballads and demonstrable lyricism. “‘Don’t Say’ is stunning,” Jazz Quarterly adds, noting the track in particular. “Delicate, languorous, gentle like a sad reflection over a martini at the end of the night, but then the heart-yanking burst of passion, the emotion like a comet exploding with raw regret. It’s beautiful. The arrangements continue to be unexpected, original, thrilling, and perfectly judged for the exquisite instrument of her voice. Really, really beautiful. Seriously beautiful.”
Since the age of two, there has rarely been a day for the award winning vocalist, pianist, composer, producer, educator, and journalist that hasn’t centered around music. Storied highlights include fibbing her age at 14 years old to elbow her way onto jazz club stages throughout London to gig on weekends, and attending England’s prestigious Arts Educational School. As Head of British Academy of New Music for nearly a decade, Ross is credited for having a hand in training the likes of Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, and Jess Glynne, to name a few.
In her artistic career, Ross has previously released Black, White and a Little Bit of Grey, Just Me (and sometimes someone else), and A Twist of Blue.
When it comes to her most recent release, Fierce and Non-Compliant, the album is not merely a sonic sojourn into Ross’ songwriting journal, but also her jotter notes as an esteemed jazz journalist. “I’ve interviewed some incredible people,” she shares, including Maxine Gordon, Steven Gadd, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Terri Lynne Carrington, and Kyle Eastwood, to name a few. “I’d wanted to include some people on the album that have really inspired me as a person and as an artist. I was truly blown away they said yes.”
It has also been the contemporary virtuoso’s most challenging artistry yet, she says.
This album “has been a huge challenge on many levels,” Ross says, having completed all of the writing, arrangement and production, save for two of the 13 tracks produced by Snow Owl. “I have reached into places I have just not been before.
“The ‘fierce’ is coming from many different angles,” she continues. “It has been emotional!”