They were Spotify playlists before Spotify.
Musician Creates Song. But Uses Only 3-Letter Words.
Is it possible to write a song that only uses three-letter words? Brett Domino tried and did it.
Toronto Alt-R&B & Pop Artist CHRIS GREY Shares His “Reasons” Behind It All in NEW EP Falling Apart — Available Now!
Canadian alt-R&B and Pop artist Chris Grey had his “Reasons” when penning his latest single, fresh off his new EP, Falling Apart — both available now.
“I wrote ‘Reasons’ as I was starting to realize I was in a relationship that wasn’t good for me,” Grey shares. “I couldn’t imagine not being with her, but the relationship was making me miserable. This song captured the moment I was halfway leaning into the relationship, and halfway getting out of it.”
The single — one of 6 tracks on his newly minted EP Falling Apart — serves as a bookend, so to speak; it marks both the beginning and end of the relationship, all in one track. “The vocal sample you hear in the bridge and that plays throughout the track is from one of my old, unreleased songs. It was actually the first song I wrote about her, and ‘Reasons’ was the last song I wrote while I was still with her…”
Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, the Jamaican-Canadian producer, singer and songwriter was first drawn to producing music at age 11; he comes by the interest through his father, ‘80s-era celebrity Jamaican DJ Ferno of Soul Sensation.
Now, at 18-years old, Chris Grey holds a burgeoning portfolio, teeming with both award-winning photography and videography as well as impressive production and songwriting credits. He has worked with local indie artists all the way to major-label artists signed to Universal, Sony and XO, including 88Glam’s latest release.
Collaboration may be intrinsic to the multi-faceted and multi-media artist’s creative process, but the honing of Grey’s solo sound is the evolution to keep an eye on: Falling Apart was entirely self-produced, written, recorded and mixed in his home studio.
“Reasons” and Falling Apart are available now.
Introducing Alex Frew: The Canadian Newcomer Hopes To “Get Out Alive”
You may have never heard of Alex Frew, and if it was up to him, he would like to keep it that way. For Alex Frew, his music speaks for him and his debut single “Get Out Alive” is loud and clear. The Canadian songwriter sings of love lost, navigating his social anxiety and wondering if he’ll ever be the same again, or here to see another day. The theme is juxtaposed with his soothing vocals that will make you fall in love with the young crooner; a happy ending after all. “Get Out Alive” marks the first release of many.
Eighteen-year-old Canadian singer/songwriter Alex Frew is a swirling mix of emotions, yet unafraid to express the state of his mind. His sound speaks teenage angst that rings passionately over melancholy tracks, narrating a journey of wanting to be alone but needing to be in love. He may have “a lump in his throat” but the one thing that is clear is his unique way with words when it comes to music. This newcomer is set to make his mark with his debut in 2020.
Paul McCartney announces ‘Flaming Pie’ Archive Collection release
On 31st July, Paul McCartney’s critically acclaimed and universally beloved tenth solo album Flaming Pie will be the latest to receive the Archive Collection treatment, being released on formats including a 5CD/2DVD/4LP Collector’s Edition, a 5CD/2DVD Deluxe Edition, plus 3LP, 2LP and 2CD editions.
All digital pre-orders for the Archive Collection release of Flaming Pie will include ‘Young Boy’ EP. Also available as a stand alone purchase, the EP recreates the 1997 ‘Young Boy’ maxi single and features the remastered Flaming Pie single ‘Young Boy,’ a home recorded version of the song, the original B-side ‘Looking For You,’ and excerpts of ‘Oobu Joobu Part 1’ also from the original single. The two music videos for the track have been restored and will also be published on the same day.
Originally released May 5, 1997, Flaming Pie ended a four-year gap between McCartney studio albums. Recorded largely in the wake of Paul’s involvement in the curation and release of The Beatles Anthology series, Flaming Pie was shaped and inspired by that experience, with Paul remarking at the time “(The Beatles Anthology) reminded me of The Beatles’ standards and the standards that we reached with the songs. So in a way it was a refresher course that set the framework for this album.” Produced by Paul, Jeff Lynne and George Martin and featuring a supporting cast of family and friends including Ringo Starr, Steve Miller, Linda McCartney and son James, Flaming Pie is equal parts a masterclass in songcraft and a sustained burst of joyful spontaneity. With highlights ranging from the uplifting and inspirational opener ‘The Song We Were Singing’ to the raucous title track (named for a quote from an early John Lennon interview on the origin of The Beatles’ name: “It came in a vision – a man appeared on a flaming pie and said unto them, ‘from this day on you are Beatles with an A.’”) to the pensive ‘Calico Skies,’ and featuring singles ‘Young Boy,’ ‘The World Tonight’ and ‘Beautiful Night,’ Flaming Pie would represent yet another pinnacle in Paul’s solo catalogue: Released to rapturous reviews, the album would be Paul’s most commercially successful release of the ‘90s, achieving his highest chart positions since the ‘80s and would receive gold certifications in the US, UK, Japan and more.
As the thirteenth release in the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, Flaming Pie will be available in formats including a numbered, limited seven-disc (5CD/2DVD) Deluxe Edition Box Set comprised of the original album remastered at Abbey Road Studios, 32 bonus audio tracks including unheard home recordings and demos, alternative studio recordings, rough mixes and B-sides including selections from Oobu Joobu parts 1-6, Flaming Pie At The Mill CD (Paul’s hour-long tour of his studio), video content including the In The World Tonight documentary, original music videos, EPKs, interviews, performances and behind-the-scenes material, a 128-page book containing previously unpublished images by Linda McCartney, expanded album artwork from the archives and the story behind the album written by Chris Heath – including track-by-track information, recipes and new interviews with Paul, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, Steve Miller and key album personnel, studio notes, handwritten lyrics, the 1997 Flaming Pie issue of Club Sandwich, the official newspaper of the Paul McCartney Fanclub, downloadable 24bit 96kHz HD audio, and more.
A 4LP/5CD/2DVD Collector’s Edition — strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies issued in a cloth wrapped two-piece collector’s box — will feature everything in the Deluxe Edition plus a marbled art print portfolio of six silkscreened Linda McCartney art prints, exclusive vinyl versions of the remastered album cut at half speed across 2LPs in an exclusive gatefold sleeve, an LP of home recordings in a hand-stamped white label sleeve, and “The Ballad of the Skeletons” – Paul’s 1996 collaboration with Allen Ginsberg, also featuring Philip Glass and Lenny Kaye – released for the first time on vinyl and cut at 45 RPM with vinyl etching and poster.
Additional Flaming Pie Archive Collection formats will include 2CD (remastered album + 21 tracks of bonus audio), 2LP (remastered album cut at half speed across two 180g LPs in gatefold sleeve with booklet), and 3LP (remastered album cut at half speed across two 180g LPs in gatefold sleeve with booklet, plus single 180g LP of unreleased home recordings in hand-stamped white label sleeve both housed in a slipcase). The release will also be available on streaming platforms.
– Numbered cloth wrapped clam shell box
– CD portfolio containing 5CDs and 2DVDs
– 128-page book containing previously unpublished images by Linda McCartney, expanded album artwork from the archives and the story behind the album – including track-by-track information, recipes and new interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynne, SteveMiller and key album personnel, written by Chris Heath.
– Facsimiles of John Hammel studio notebook, Club Sandwich Magazine, Flaming Pie plectrum, and envelope containing handwritten lyrics for 8 tracks and The Flame newspaper
CD1 – Remastered Album
1. The Song We Were Singing
2. The World Tonight
3. If You Wanna
4. Somedays
5. Young Boy
6. Calico Skies
7. Flaming Pie
8. Heaven On A Sunday
9. Used To Be Bad
10. Souvenir
11. Little Willow
12. Really Love You
13. Beautiful Night
14. Great Day
CD2 – Home Recordings
1. The Song We Were Singing [Home Recording]
2. The World Tonight [Home Recording]
3. If You Wanna [Home Recording]
4. Somedays [Home Recording]
5. Young Boy [Home Recording]
6. Calico Skies [Home Recording]
7. Flaming Pie [Home Recording]
8. Souvenir [Home Recording]
9. Little Willow [Home Recording]
10. Beautiful Night [1995 Demo]
11. Great Day [Home Recording]
CD3 – In The Studio
1. Great Day [Acoustic]
2. Calico Skies [Acoustic]
3. C’mon Down C’mon Baby
4. If You Wanna [Demo]
5. Beautiful Night [Run Through]
6. The Song We Were Singing [Rough Mix]
7. The World Tonight [Rough Mix]
8. Little Willow [Rough Mix]
9. Whole Life [Rough Mix]
10. Heaven On A Sunday [Rude Cassette]
CD4 – Flaming Pies
1. The Ballad Of The Skeletons
2. Looking For You
3. Broomstick
4. Love Come Tumbling Down
5. Same Love
6. Oobu Joobu Part 1
7. Oobu Joobu Part 2
8. Oobu Joobu Part 3
9. Oobu Joobu Part 4
10. Oobu Joobu Part 5
11. Oobu Joobu Part 6
CD5 – Flaming Pie At The Mill
DVD1 – In The World Tonight
DVD2 – Bonus Film
1. Beautiful Night
2. Making Of Beautiful Night
3. Little Willow
4. The World Tonight [Dir. Alistair Donald]
5. The World Tonight [Dir. Geoff Wonfor]
6. Young Boy [Dir. Alistair Donald]
7. Young Boy [Dir. Geoff Wonfor]
8. Flaming Pie EPK 1
9. Flaming Pie EPK 2
10. In The World Tonight EPK
11. Flaming Pie Album Artwork Meeting
12. TFI Friday Performances
13. David Frost interview
Plus downloadable 24bit 96kHz HD audio
COLLECTOR’S EDITION:
All the contents of the Deluxe Edition plus:
– Numbered cloth wrapped two-piece collector’s box
– 4LPs including: exclusive remastered album cut at half speed across 2LPs; hand-stamped white label vinyl featuring home recordings; exclusive “The Ballad Of The Skeletons” 12” single with vinyl etching and poster
– Exclusive marbled art print portfolio housing six Linda McCartney art prints
LP1 – Remastered Album
Side 1
1. The Song We Were Singing
2. The World Tonight
3. If You Wanna
Side 2
4. Somedays
5. Young Boy
6. Calico Skies
7. Flaming Pie
LP2 – Remastered Album
Side 3
8. Heaven On A Sunday
9. Used To Be Bad
10. Souvenir
Side 4
11. Little Willow
12. Really Love You
13. Beautiful Night
14. Great Day
LP3 – Home Recordings
Side 1
1. The Song We Were Singing [Home Recording]
2. The World Tonight [Home Recording]
3. If You Wanna [Home Recording]
4. Somedays [Home Recording]
5. Young Boy [Home Recording]
Side 2
6. Calico Skies [Home Recording]
7. Flaming Pie [Home Recording]
8. Souvenir [Home Recording]
9. Little Willow [Home Recording]
10. Beautiful Night [1995 Demo]
11. Great Day [Home Recording]
LP4 – The Ballad Of The Skeletons
Side 1
1. The Ballad Of The Skeletons
Side 2
– Vinyl etching
3LP FORMAT:
LP1 – Remastered Album
Side 1
1. The Song We Were Singing
2. The World Tonight
3. If You Wanna
Side 2
4. Somedays
5. Young Boy
6. Calico Skies
7. Flaming Pie
LP2 – Remastered Album
Side 3
8. Heaven On A Sunday
9. Used To Be Bad
10. Souvenir
Side 4
11. Little Willow
12. Really Love You
13. Beautiful Night
14. Great Day
LP3 – Home Recordings
Side 1
1. The Song We Were Singing [Home Recording]
2. The World Tonight [Home Recording]
3. If You Wanna [Home Recording]
4. Somedays [Home Recording]
5. Young Boy [Home Recording]
Side 2
6. Calico Skies [Home Recording]
7. Flaming Pie [Home Recording]
8. Souvenir [Home Recording]
9. Little Willow [Home Recording]
10. Beautiful Night [1995 Demo]
11. Great Day [Home Recording]
2LP FORMAT:
LP1 – Remastered Album
Side 1
1. The Song We Were Singing
2. The World Tonight
3. If You Wanna
Side 2
4. Somedays
5. Young Boy
6. Calico Skies
7. Flaming Pie
LP2 – Remastered Album
Side 3
8. Heaven On A Sunday
9. Used To Be Bad
10. Souvenir
Side 4
11. Little Willow
12. Really Love You
13. Beautiful Night
2CD FORMAT:
CD1 – Remastered Album
1. The Song We Were Singing
2. The World Tonight
3. If You Wanna
4. Somedays
5. Young Boy
6. Calico Skies
7. Flaming Pie
8. Heaven On A Sunday
9. Used To Be Bad
10. Souvenir
11. Little Willow
12. Really Love You
13. Beautiful Night
14. Great Day
CD2 – Bonus Audio
1. The Song We Were Singing [Home Recording]
2. The World Tonight [Home Recording]
3. If You Wanna [Home Recording]
4. Somedays [Home Recording]
5. Young Boy [Home Recording]
6. Calico Skies [Home Recording]
7. Flaming Pie [Home Recording]
8. Souvenir [Home Recording]
9. Little Willow [Home Recording]
10. Beautiful Night [1995 Demo]
11. Great Day [Home Recording]
12. Beautiful Night [Run Through]
13. Whole Life [Rough Mix]
14. Heaven On A Sunday [Rude Cassette]
15. Great Day [Acoustic]
16. Calico Skies [Acoustic]
17. C’mon Down C’mon Baby
18. Looking For You
19. Broomstick
20. Love Come Tumbling
The Alberta Government Are Helping Out Musicians
The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the gig economy, impacting all aspects and individuals who derive a living from live music experiences.
Professional musicians who rely on performance income are among the most vulnerable cohorts. The Province of Alberta recognizes the urgent need to support artists through these challenging times, and also the importance that home-grown talent has in connecting Albertans through music.
In response to this challenge, the government is working with four of Alberta’s music industry organizations with provincial mandates – The Alberta Music Industry Association (Alberta Music), National Music Centre (NMC), CKUA Radio Network, and Stagehand – to develop an innovative program designed to showcase Alberta’s diverse talent and provide support for artists. The ALBERTA SPOTLIGHT online series is meant to connect Albertans across the province with music during these times of physical distancing.
Please note, some artists have chosen not to accept tips. In these cases, links have been provided to their website.
Applications are now open and weekly concerts will be announced throughout the summer. Apply here.
Universal Music Canada Announces Vinyl Reissue Of Trooper’s Six-Time Platinum Album ‘Hot Shots’
Universal Music Canada announces the upcoming reissue of Hot Shots, the 1979 greatest hits record by the legendary JUNO Award-winning Canadian rock band – and one of Canada’s top-selling bands of all time – Trooper. The six-time platinum compilation album will be remastered and released July 17, 2020 on 180-gram white vinyl via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company.
Produced by Canadian music icon Randy Bachman, Hot Shots features greatest hits culled from the band’s first five studio albums. When Hot Shots was originally released, it broke all records for Canadian sales of a Canadian album and has achieved more than sextuple platinum sales in the years since.
In conjunction with the band’s 45th anniversary year, Hot Shots will be reissued on limited edition 180-gram white vinyl with newly mastered audio and faithfully restored original artwork that has been housed in a gatefold complete with the original die-cut jacket.
Vocalist Ra McGuire and guitarist Brian Smith have been performing together since 1965 and are the founding members of Trooper. The band released their first album in 1975 and, 45 years and 11 albums later, have achieved numerous landmark successes including 6X platinum certification, a Juno Award for Group of the Year, and the SOCAN National Achievement Award. Trooper – often dubbed “Canada’s greatest party band” – remain one of the most in-demand touring bands in the country.
Hot Shots – 180g White Vinyl Reissue Tracklist:
Side A
• The Boys In The Bright White Sports Car
• Baby Woncha Please Come Home
• General Hand Grenade
• Two For The Show
• Ready
• Santa Maria
Side B
• We’re Here For a Good Time (Not A Long Time)
• Oh Pretty Lady
• (It’s Been A) Long Time
• Round Round We Go
• Moment That It Takes
• Raise a Little Hell
Best Authentic Gold Jewelry In 2020
Gold is not just an adornment; it’s much more than that and all speciousness. The kind of belief that everyone got wearing jewelry on every occasion. That makes everybody stand out in the crowd. That’s why the jewelry market is considered to be more than an ornament.
While buying gold jewelry, One you should look at various elements of design range and the kind of elements that you should look into that ensure 100% value for the money that you are going to spend. When you are buying gold jewelry, look for a gold jewelry need-based and occasion-based.
Every jewelry that should be selected based on the occasion and based on the situation that makes the memory more about the jewelry.
Always Look At The Fine Craftsmanship And Design Of The Jewelry Before You Buy Gold Jewelry.
Ensure that the jewelry has been made in a way the fall is perfect and the intricacies that are maintained in every element while making the gold jewelry.
Look at the stone arrangements look at these studded stones and the way there fall and the complete element of the jewelry that standouts when you look at as overall jewelry segments.
- First, understand whether it is handmade or machine made and look at the fine craftsmanship. Evenly done in every place, if you look at every element of the jewelry, the fine craftsmanship is quite visible in the jewelry.
- The second thing looks at the kind of stone setting that it has got in it or if it is plain gold jewelry, the kind of design spread that it has got. In this case, kindly look at the stone arrangement and the equal treatment that the craftsmen have given for the stones.
- The third thing that you ought to look at is the fall of the jewelry it should fall on to the neck you can see the fall of the necklace which is very elegant and once you are very satisfied with the design you need to understand what kind of purity that you are going to buy.
Here, a list of jewels we know is always primed for a celebration, and always welcome at one too.
Antique Necklace Gold
The antique necklace is a piece of jewelry that reached the age of 100 years or more. Antique jewelry is made of precious metals like diamonds, gold, silver, platinum, rubies, and pearls. Antique jewelry doesn’t need to be made of only pure gold. Yes, antique gold jewellery is definitely made of pure gold.
Antique Gold Bangle
Antique gold bangles are continuously in great demand and are remnants of our rich history. They are available in wonderful styles and patterns and augment the sweetness of the limbs.
Gold Earrings
Gold earring is a small piece of jewelry that’s worn through a little hole within the ear lobe. An example of stud jewelry or gold earrings is a tiny diamond set in gold and worn within the ear lobe.
Some other types of gold jewelry are:
- Gold Filled Jewellery
- Solid Gold Jewellery
- Gold Plated Jewellery
- Gold Vermeil Jewellery
- Gilded Gold Jewellery
Conclusion
Gold jewelry has been used throughout the centuries in a lot of a similar approach; it’s in different civilizations. It’s served as a standing symbol also as a reminder of the wearer’s place in the world.
Joan Osborne Speaks Out On New Album TROUBLE AND STRIFE – Out September 18, 2020
Acclaimed singer/songwriter Joan Osborne is back with Trouble and Strife (Womanly Hips Records), her first album of original material in six years. Osborne self-produced the new collection and penned all ten songs, with two co-writes. Trouble and Strife finds the gifted vocalist offering a strong yet uplifting response to some of the socio-political issues plaguing our nation over the last several years. Osborne beautifully balances the weight of her messages with solace and optimism. The new track ”Boy Dontcha Know” touches on the challenges of being a female in our society and why one might prefer to be male.
The album opens with the inspiring “Take It Anyway That I Can Get”, a soulful calling to brazenly live life to the fullest. “Hand’s Off” is a visceral reaction to the unchecked corruption that is happening before our eyes, while on “That Was A Lie” Osborne takes on the acceptance of misinformation and how it has been weaponized and normalized. Driven by an infectious 1970’s synth riff, “Never Get Tired (Of Loving You)” features a heartfelt message of reassurance for her teenaged daughter during unstable times. Osborne offers a comforting song of hope on the beautiful lullaby, ”Whole Wide World” as she sings, “We could see the whole wide world from here, Lookin’ past the sorrow and the tears, Let me take you to that better place, Let me put that smile back on your face.”
On one of the album’s most important songs, “What’s That You Say” Osborne focuses on immigration and the plight of Ana Marie Rea. Rea spoke in-depth with Osborne about the difficulties she and her family faced when coming to America from Mexico seeking asylum, and the challenges since. Rea’s words can be heard throughout the powerful song, spoken in her native tongue.
Throughout her 25-year, multi-Grammy nominated career, Joan Osborne has never been an artist confined to one space. She has utilized her incredible voice through her own songs while also becoming one of her generation’s finest interpreters. Osborne has shared the stage with artists ranging from Stevie Wonder and Mavis Staples to Bob Dylan and Lucinda Williams and she continues to seamlessly blend into any genre. On Trouble and Strife, her tenth studio album, the need for her voice and words has never been stronger.
After Years on the Road, Waterdown, ON’s Country Singer/Songwriter Greg Rider Wonders if Love is Just “One Town Away”
Canadian country-pop artist Greg Rider takes to wondering if the love of his life is just “One Town Away” in this, his new single — available now!
“This song was actually written in two days,” Rider recalls, looking back at a songwriting session with collaborator Rich Cloke. “I didn’t plan it at all.
“I was a bit stuck,” he explains. “I had songs that I couldn’t release yet, so William Gaboury — producer and owner of Father & Son Records — suggested I write something new and come visit him in Montreal that same weekend to record everything.
“It all happened so fast… Within four or five days, everything about ‘One Town Away’ was done!”
This song’s particular process may have been quick, but the concept had been percolating in Rider’s mind for years — albeit subconsciously, for the most part.
“This is the first song inspired by my roots,” he shares of growing up in Waterdown, suburban-meets-country town about an hour east of Toronto. “I was always running away from my hometown, and running towards new opportunities.
“Those county lines could never keep me for long.”
That’s for sure.
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.
“But can you imagine if I’ve travelled all around the world and she ends up being one town away? That’s what the song is all about.”
“One Town Away” is available now.