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Canadian Alt Garage Rockers THE VANIERS Go “Wild” On New Single

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Canadian Alt Garage Rockers THE VANIERS Go “Wild” On New Single

Canadian alt-garage rockers The Vaniers have gone “Wild” with their newest single, a decidedly nuanced, pared-down version of the track heard on this year’s debut EP, Who Are You To Say? — available now!

“The song has a rebellious undertone, and is mainly about being yourself, voicing your thoughts, and not caring what others think,” says the band: Diego Paz on bass guitar and vox, Alex Iacobellis on guitar, and Nick Donato on drums.

The long-time friends are currently revisiting their five-track breakthrough March 2020 release, offering audiences acoustic versions of each song as well as insights into their makings. “We’d much rather be on stage or in the studio these days,” they assure. “But, for now, we all have to do our part and stay safe. Hopefully these acoustic sessions can help brighten everyone’s quarantine.”

As for “Wild,” the track itself was written in about 15 minutes during a seemingly standard-issue rehearsal. “We were rehearsing at Alex’s and trying out some new ideas and things started to feel a bit forced,” Paz recalls. “We decided to step out and get some food.”

When they got back, things just clicked and the rest is history that can be heard by pressing ‘play.’ “When we got back, Diego picked up the bass and the bassline for the track was the first that came out,” Iacobellis says. “Nick threw on his beat, and Diego just started singing.”

“I remember telling Alex to just play the first thing that came to his head,” Paz adds. “And when he started playing the main riff? We knew we had something.”

“It was exciting to suddenly have something from absolutely nothing,” Donato says. “The song pretty much wrote itself… We must’ve played it 30 times that day, and the final product is very close to what we played that first time.”

Most recently, audiences were introduced to Who Are You To Say?’s premiere single, “On The Regular.” “It’s got a carefree, toe-tapping rhythm that’s perfect for a day drink in the summer,” Paz offers of the track’s warm weather vibes and retro-inspired video. “It was written over a weekend at a cottage in Tiny, Ontario… We hauled all the equipment up after a late-night gig at Junction City Music Hall, set up after getting there around 3:00 am, and jammed the entire weekend.

“We were just focused on having a good time when we wrote ‘On The Regular’ and I think you can feel that in the music.”

The Vaniers (pronounced ‘van-ee-ays’) have taken the stage at The Horseshoe Tavern, Lee’s Palace, Taste of the Danforth, and more since their 2016 inception. Who Are You To Say? is the Toronto-based band’s official premiere release.

“The EP speaks to finding your footing through the ups and downs of an experience, and not being afraid of who or what’s out there to judge you,” says Paz on the album’s overall theme. “They’re a diverse collection of tunes — some to party to, make love to, sing along to, and even cry to.

“Tracking the recording finished relatively quickly,” he continues, adding about early days converting the Iacobellis family’s living room into a rehearsal space. Who Are You To Say? was ultimately laid at Inception Sound Studios with producer Brandon Pero. “The mix, however, took months as we were extremely particular about how we wanted the EP to sound.

“We learned to appreciate the subtleties in our music and taste, and were determined to have that come out in the record.

“We hope people dig it.”

“Wild” and Who Are You To Say? are available now.

Glass Tiger’s Vinyl Reissue Of Their 1986 4x Platinum Debut Album ‘The Thin Red Line’ Out August 28

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Glass Tiger’s Vinyl Reissue Of Their 1986 4x Platinum Debut Album ‘The Thin Red Line’ Out August 28

Today, JUNO Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated Canadian rock band Glass Tiger, comprised of Alan Frew (vocals), Al Connelly (lead guitar), Sam Reid (keyboards) and Wayne Parker (bass), announces the vinyl reissue of their 1986 4x Platinum debut record The Thin Red Line. The newly remastered LP is set for release on August 28 on 180g tiger striped coloured vinyl via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. The 1LP edition arrives in a single jacket with brand new sleeve art. The Thin Red Line is available for pre-order now with immediate digital access to hit singles including, “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone),” “Someday,” “Thin Red Line,” and “I Will Be There.”

And so it continues….the story of one of Canada’s most enduring and iconic bands, Glass Tiger, roars on. Originally known as, Tokyo, the band formed in Newmarket, Ontario, in 1981 and spent several years cutting it’s teeth in the bar scene of the day. With rapidly growing popularity it didn’t take long for all the major record labels to come courting, culminating in their signing a world-wide recording deal with, Capitol Records, in 1985.

Changing their name to Glass Tiger, their debut album, The Thin Red Line quickly became an unstoppable force, rocketing up the charts to become the fastest selling debut album in Canadian history, spawning no less than 5 hit singles. Leading the charge was the now-and-forever iconic, Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone), a song that is forever etched into the very fabric of popular music’s history.

5-time Juno award winners, 5-time Canadian classic winners and Grammy nominated, Glass Tiger have shared stages and recording performances with some of the world’s leading acts including; Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Bryan Adams, Journey, Julian Lennon, Cheap Trick to name but a few.

On the upcoming reissue, Alan Frew says: “Re-mastering and re-issuing The Thin Red Line, is not only a testament to the enduring legacy of an album, it’s also a testament to the enduring legacy of a band and it’s fans. You are the best in the world and you share with us your love, not only of GLASS TIGER but also a love of one of the greatest decades in the history of music.”

Originally released in 1986, Glass Tiger’s debut album The Thin Red Line has become a quintessentially Canadian rock album. The lead single “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone),” which features backup vocals by Bryan Adams, peaked at #1 on the Canadian charts and at #2 on the US charts. The album’s successful follow-up single “Someday,” went on to reach #7 in the US and #14 in Canada. Both singles won ‘Single of the Year’ at the 1986 and ‘87 JUNO Awards, marking the first time in the award’s history that the accolade was won by the same artist in two consecutive years, for singles from the same album. In 1987, the band dominated the Rock Express Magazine reader’s poll, winning ‘Top Canadian Group,’ ‘Top Canadian Album’ for The Thin Red Line, and ‘Top Canadian Single’ for “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone).”

Today, “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone),” “Someday,” and “My Town” remain the band’s top tracks in Canada, the US, and Mexico.

The Thin Red Line – Tracklist [1LP]:

  1. Thin Red Line
  2. Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)
  3. Closer to You
  4. Vanishing Tribe
  5. Looking at a Picture
  6. The Secret
  7. Ancient Evenings
  8. Ecstasy
  9. Someday
  10. I Will Be There

 

Peggy Lee Centennial Year Celebration Continues With New Music Releases And PBS Documentary

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Peggy Lee Centennial Year Celebration Continues With New Music Releases And PBS Documentary

The centennial celebration of Peggy Lee’s birth—May 26, 1920—continues to be commemorated with new music releases and the airing of an updated documentary. Honoring one of the 20th century’s most important musical influences in the world of jazz and popular music, the Peggy Lee Estate today announces the digital-only release of The Capitol Transcriptions 1946-1949, and the airing of an updated edition of Fever: The Music of Peggy Lee in partnership with American Public Television.

One of the most important musical influences of the 20th century, Peggy Lee wrote over 250 songs, recorded over 1,100 masters, and had over 100 chart hits throughout her seven-decade career. As one of the world’s first female contemporary singer-songwriters, she co-wrote and sang many of her own hits, most notably “He’s A Tramp” for Disney’s Lady and the Tramp as well as “It’s A Good Day” and “Mañana.”  She’s best known for hits “Why Don’t You Do Right?” “Fever,” “I’m A Woman,” and “Is That All There Is?,” for which she won the GRAMMY® for Best Contemporary Female Vocal Performance. A 13-time GRAMMY® nominee, she received Lifetime Achievement awards from NARAS, ASCAP and The Society of Singers, was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Pete Kelly’s Blues.

During the 1940s, Capitol’s Transcription Library Service produced records exclusively for radio airplay and not commercial sale. From 1946-1949, Peggy Lee, backed mostly by a small jazz group, recorded masters for the Capitol Transcription Library Service. The Capitol Transcriptions 1946-1949, a 72-track collection, features 55 songs making their worldwide digital debut and includes two Peggy Lee compositions, “Don’t Be So Mean To Baby” and “I Don’t Know Enough About You.”

Fever: The Music of Peggy Lee, which originally aired in 2004, has been newly updated for the centennial commemoration. The 60-minute PBS program, which will air in select markets in mid-July and premieres in most areas the week of August 29, explores her life and songs as told in her own words, though vintage interviews and performances. Check local listings for air dates and times.

Featuring her biggest hits and most famous signature songs, spanning the 1940s through the 1980s, Fever: The Music of Peggy Lee offers a wealth of extremely rare footage and images, including photographs and home movies. The program also includes commentary by family, friends, and colleagues, including k.d. lang, Quincy Jones, Andy Williams, Nancy Sinatra, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Margaret Whiting, and interviews with Michael Feinstein and Lee’s daughter, Nicki Lee Foster, and her granddaughter, Holly Foster Wells.

Three premiums for the Public Television pledge drive include: Something Wonderful: Peggy Lee Sings the Great American Songbook, a new 2-CD set with dozens of never-before-released recordings from Lee’s radio series and featuring performances with guest songwriters Hoagy Carmichael, Matt Dennis, Frank Loesser and Johnny Mercer; and Peggy Lee, Things Are Swingin’: Her Greatest Songs, an exclusive new DVD featuring a color television special from 1967, plus several previously unavailable bonus performances from each decade from 1940-1970, plus a new featurette with Michael Feinstein titled, Singing Peggy’s Praises.

This year has already seen the release of Ultimate Peggy Lee, a new 22-track career retrospective that features her hits, five songs she co-wrote, as well as the previously unreleased “Try A Little Tenderness,” which makes its world debut 57 years after it was recorded. This set is among three titles offered during the PBS pledge drive.

Also recently released is Peggy Lee Decca Rarities, a 31-song digital-only collection of artistically and commercially successful recordings over her career with Decca Records. Eleven of the featured tracks were co-composed by Lee, among these are seven songs co-written by Lee and Sonny Burke for Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, some of which did not make the final film. Though long associated with Capitol Records, Peggy Lee recorded with Decca for five years (1952-1956).

 

Born Norma Deloris Egstrom in Jamestown, North Dakota, she was christened Peggy Lee in 1937 by a local North Dakota deejay. A 13-time GRAMMY Award-nominee, Peggy Lee helped redefine what it meant to be a female singer with her captivating voice, which continues to resonate with audiences of all ages. Her compositions and recordings, including “It’s A Good Day,” “I Don’t Know Enough About You” and “I Love Being Here With You,” can be heard today in countless television shows and feature films.

Best known for such songs as “Is That All There Is?,” “Fever,” “Why Don’t You Do Right,” and “I’m A Woman,” which made her a jazz and pop legend, she recorded over 50 albums and amassed over 100 chart entries. She won the GRAMMY® for Best Contemporary Vocal Performance for her 1969 hit “Is That All There Is?” In 1995, she received the GRAMMY’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Coined “the female Frank Sinatra” by Tony Bennett, Lee did something few of her male counterparts ever attempted: she wrote songs. As one of the foremothers of the singer-songwriter school, Lee ranks among the most successful female singer-songwriters in the annals of American popular music. Over her remarkable seven-decade career, singer, songwriter and composer Peggy Lee wrote over 250 songs and recorded over 1,100 masters.

Her vast and varied catalog of compositions have been covered by Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Diana Krall, Queen Latifah, Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Janelle Monae, Nina Simone, Regina Spektor and Sarah Vaughan.

The  Capitol Transcriptions 1946-1949 [digital-only]

  1. Wherever There’s Me There’s You
  2. All The Cats Join In
  3. A Nightingale Can Sing The Blues
  4. Come Rain or Come Shine
  5. The Best Man
  6. If You Were The Only Boy
  7. Love Doesn’t Grow On Trees
  8. I Guess I’ll Get The Papers And Go Home
  9. My Sugar Is So Refined
  10. I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love With Me
  11. Lonesome Road
  12. Them There Eyes
  13. You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me
  14. The Glory Of Love
  15. Melancholy Lullaby
  16. Taking A Chance On Love
  17. A Cottage For Sale
  18. Fools Rush In
  19. Sometimes I’m Happy
  20. The Way You Look Tonight
  21. Love Is Just Around The Corner
  22. Porgy
  23. Blue Skies
  24. I’ve Had My Moments
  25. Blue Moon
  26. Don’t Be So Mean To Baby (‘Cause Baby’s Good To You)
  27. Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man
  28. Mean To Me
  29. I’m Confessin’
  30. Summertime
  31. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
  32. Georgia On My Mind
  33. Rockin’ Chair
  34. Swing Low Sweet Chariot
  35. Just Like A Gypsy
  36. Somebody Loves Me
  37. The Lullaby Of Broadway
  38. In My Solitude
  39. I Get A Kick Out Of You
  40. Lover Come Back To Me
  41. I Don’t Know Enough About You
  42. Oh, Look At Me Now
  43. I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)
  44. Someday, Sweetheart
  45. If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight
  46. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
  47. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone
  48. Birth Of The Blues
  49. Careless
  50. Then I’ll Be Happy
  51. I Only Have Eyes For You
  52. Back In Your Own Back Yard
  53. How Long Has This Been Going On
  54. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
  55. As Long As I’m Dreaming
  56. Swinging On A Star
  57. Aren’t You Glad You’re You
  58. Trav’lin’ Light
  59. Save Your Sorrow For Tomorrow
  60. Oh! You Crazy Moon
  61. ‘S Wonderful
  62. Imagination
  63. This Can’t Be Love
  64. You’re Driving Me Crazy
  65. Goody Goody
  66. I Ain’t Got Nobody
  67. Molly Malone
  68. This Little Piggie
  69. But Beautiful
  70. Fine and Dandy
  71. ‘T Ain’t So, Honey, ‘T Ain’t So
  72. When A Woman Loves A Man

 

 

 

Paul McCartney’s ‘Beautiful Night’ EP Set To Be Featured On The Forthcoming ‘Flaming Pie;’ Archive Collection Out July 31

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Paul McCartney’s ‘Beautiful Night’ EP Set To Be Featured On The Forthcoming ‘Flaming Pie;’ Archive Collection Out July 31

Paul McCartney today releases the Beautiful Night EP as part of the forthcoming re-release of his acclaimed 1997 album, Flaming Pie. Due for release on July 31st, Flaming Pie marks the thirteenth installment in Paul’s GRAMMY Award-winning Archive Collection.

The EP recreates the original 1997 ‘Beautiful Night’ maxi single, featuring the remastered Flaming Pie single, ‘Beautiful Night’, a 1995 demo of the song, an alternate ‘Run Through’ recording, and ‘Oobu Joobu Part 5’ – a medley of Beautiful Night-themed chat, alternate mixes and interview recordings of Paul and Ringo Starr speaking about the song.

A newly remastered music video for Beautiful Night, originally filmed in 1997, is also released today.

Beautiful Night marks one of the first collaborations between Paul and Ringo Starr since The Beatles. Speaking of his memories of that time, Paul said:

“I’d been saying to Ringo for years that it’d be great to do something, because we’d never really done that much work together outside The Beatles. One night Jeff Lynne suggested, “why don’t you get Ringo in?” and I said, “OK!” It just sort of happened.

I had this song Beautiful Night which I’d written quite a few years ago. I’d always liked it but I felt I didn’t quite have the right version of it.

So I got this song out for when Ringo was coming in, and right away it was just like the old days.”

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.

Paul’s critically acclaimed and universally beloved tenth solo album Flaming Pie will be the latest to receive the Archive Collection treatment, released on formats including a 5CD/2DVD/4LP Collector’s Edition, a 5CD/2DVD Deluxe Edition, plus 3LP, 2LP and 2CD editions.

Pre-order the Flaming Pie collection HERE

Beautiful Night – EP Tracklisting

  1. Beautiful Night (Main Album – Remastered)
  2. Beautiful Night (1995 Demo)
  3. Beautiful Night (Run Through)
  4. Oobu Joobu Part 5:
    1. And Now (Jingle)
    2. Oobu Joobu Main Theme
    3. Beautiful Night Chat
    4. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Chat About ‘Beautiful Night’
    5. Ringo Starr Chat
    6. Beautiful Night (Flaming Pie Mix)
    7. Beautiful Night (Original Version)
    8. Goodbyes
    9. Oobu Joobu Main Theme

Keith Urban Flies Towards Upcoming Album Release With “Superman,” New Single And Video Out Now

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Keith Urban Flies Towards Upcoming Album Release With “Superman,” New Single And Video Out Now

“It wasn’t like I set out to write a song called ‘Superman’,” said four-time GRAMMY© Award winner Keith Urban.  But he did, and WARNING: have a neck brace handy and wear comfortable shoes.  It’s as infectious a song as Urban has ever released, brimming with energy and swagger.  “Superman” marks the third in a series of monthly releases leading into his forthcoming September 18th album release, THE SPEED OF NOW Part 1, and as the song becomes available on all streaming platforms, today also marks the release of its accompanying music video where Urban is seen in rare form –– as a hand-drawn, animated, flipbook character.

Of “Superman” Urban says that it’s a song specifically written with a bunch of places in mind, but it’s written metaphorically.   “I like when listeners can put heir own story, their own faces and their own characters into the song, and this one to me, is definitely one of those songs.”

Urban has consistently used his artistry and musical curiosity to fuse together that which might not seem to go together and “Superman” is no exception.  While most wouldn’t envision a dance/electronic/pop songwriting, production and mixing trio (Captain Cuts), one of Nashville’s most sought after country music writers (Craig Wiseman) and a YouTube flipbook phenomenon (Andymation) all involved in the creation of a song Urban does, and it works to perfection.  It’s the key ingredient that when combined with his driving musical inquisitiveness, helps to understand why Urban is one of the most well-respected artists in the world.

Alessia Cara Releases Her New EP, This Summer: Live Off The Floor, Along With 8 Live In-Studio Performance Videos

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Alessia Cara Releases Her New EP, This Summer: Live Off The Floor, Along With 8 Live In-Studio Performance Videos

Grammy Award®-winning singer-songwriter Alessia Cara gives fans around the world an intimate look into her creative process and the live evolution of her deeply personal songs with the release of her new EP, THIS SUMMER: LIVE OFF THE FLOOR, today available on all platforms via Def Jam Recordings/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. Alessia will be donating her share of net royalties to Save the Children for the next 21 years. She explained her decision further on this Instagram post:

“I put out an EP last September and shortly after recorded a live off the floor version, which was set to come out this summer. Then the world flipped upside down, so I decided to donate all my proceeds from this EP for the next 21 years to ‘Save the Children’, a global organization that saves and improves the lives of children who have been denied their rights by ensuring they have shelter, food, protection, healthcare, and education. This includes the 12 million kids currently suffering in Yemen, Indigenous children in Canada, children of colour in vulnerable communities, and anyone who needs help across 117 countries.

Recent events have made it even more evident that we need to uplift and care for the youth as much as possible. There are so many kind, colourful, intelligent, and driven kids who don’t have access to the resources they need in order to become the best future leaders or simply live a life they deserve. We won’t see a better world unless the ones who can one day change it are equipped to fulfill their true potential. Thanks to my team for getting on board, and to the wonderful musicians who played on this record. Hope this will be a bit of light in a (for lack of a descriptive enough term) weird time.

THIS SUMMER: LIVE OFF OFF THE FLOOR, out July 17th.

Love, Alessia”

THIS SUMMER: LIVE OFF THE FLOOR presents newly recorded live performance versions of all six songs from the original This Summer EP. Recorded in a live floor studio session with a group of masterful players, including lush string arrangements, LIVE OFF THE FLOOR includes bonus live versions of Alessia’s landmark global hits “Here,” her triple platinum debut single, and “Scars To Your Beautiful,” her double platinum hit, as well as her original song “I Choose” from the #1 Netflix film The Willoughbys in which she made her acting debut as the lead character.

Last month, Alessia Cara led the nominations at the 2020 JUNO Awards and had the most wins of the night with three JUNO Awards: Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. Cara also presented the International Album of the Year Award and performed the live in-studio version of “Rooting For You” within the virtual celebration broadcast.

April 22nd marked the premiere of the #1 Netflix animated featured The Willoughbys, in which Alessia (in her first voice-over acting role) joined an all-star cast including Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, Sean Cullen, and Ricky Gervais.

The Prince Estate Releases Previously Unheard Track “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (1979 Version)”

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The Prince Estate Releases Previously Unheard Track “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (1979 Version)”

Today, The Prince Estate in partnership with Warner Records, releases “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (1979 Version),” a previously unheard recording from Prince’s legendary vault that will be featured on the expanded reissue of Prince’s iconic Sign O’ The Times out September 25.

“I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (1979 Version)” was recorded at Hollywood Sound Recorders, Studio A on May 23, 1979, and engineered by Bob Mockler. It is the oldest recording in the Super Deluxe Edition collection, dating back to sessions for Prince’s self-titled 1979 album. Its basic elements are minimal: live drums and claps, bass, guitar, synth, and nine layers of Prince’s voice.

The track was retrieved from the vault in June 1986 and re-recorded, with Prince adding a solo and updating the sound, and that new version was given a prominent place on the unreleased Dream Factory and Crystal Ball collections before finally being released on Sign O’ The Times.

Check out @prince on Instagram and Twitter for never-before-seen handwritten lyrics for “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man”.

The new Sign O’ The Times expanded reissue will be available this fall via all physical, digital and streaming partners, with the classic album remastered for the very first time. The Super Deluxe edition features 63 previously unreleased tracks, as well as a previously unreleased 2+ hour video concert performance from the vault.

Pre-order here.

In June, the first unreleased track from Sign O’ The Times Super Deluxe edition reissue was shared. “Witness 4 The Prosecution (Version 1)” is now available on all digital download and streaming platforms. The track was recorded on March 14, 1986, at Prince’s Galpin Blvd. home studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, and was originally intended for inclusion on the halted Dream Factory album.

Portugal The Man Launches PTM Foundation

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Portugal The Man Launches PTM Foundation

GRAMMY Award-winning alternative rock band, Portugal The Man announced the official launch of PTM Foundation. PTM Foundation will serve as the band’s primary vehicle to engage, advocate for, and reinvest in the communities they grew up in and currently belong to and care for. PTM Foundation’s work is focused on universal issues related to human rights, community health and the environment, with an emphasis on causes directly impacting Indigenous Peoples.

Utilizing activism, community engagement, advocacy and philanthropy, the band hopes to build community resilience, empathy and awareness through the power of music, stories, art, education and connectivity. What sets the organization’s work apart, however, is a focus on a very unique and often disenfranchised group of communities that is of particular concern for the band: Indigenous Peoples. With underrepresentation in government, erasure and invisibility, these Native Communities face inequities in funding, lack of compassion and disconnection from heritage that results in a range of trauma. Through PTM Foundation, the band is making a global commitment to uplift the sacred voices of Indigenous Peoples, who are often the most informed, yet silenced, among us. (Additional information on partners, grants and funding, can be found attached/below)

“We know Indigenous Peoples face persistent and enduring challenges to their communities, their lands, and their basic human rights, with extremely limited support from the government as well as the broad spectrum of philanthropic institutions,” said John Gourley of Portugal The Man. “This is wrong, and our band has decided to do something about it.”

Today’s announcement unveils the website for PTM Foundation, home to more information about the organization’s partners and additional resources and educational tools. The website also includes a short film created in partnership with Filmmakers Josué Rivas and Aaron Brown. A core tenet of the Foundation’s mission is to provide easily accessible information, education, and training opportunities.

In conjunction with today’s official launch, PTM Foundation also announces Get Out The Native Vote, a nonpartisan grant program designed to promote resources that encourage voter registration amongst Indigenous Peoples and increased engagement in the civic process. This is the second official grant program started by PTM Foundation, joining the COVID-19 Native Community Relief grant program introduced in May, which provided funding to 20 organizations that support Native communities with COVID-19 relief. The foundation has plans for future grant programs, to be announced in the coming months.

Having long been vocal in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism, the band recently utilized their Foundation arm to raise money for the Minnesota Freedom Fund via the sale of exclusive t-shirts – designed by artists Wooden Cyclops and Austin Sellers – with all profits directly benefitting the organization.

To learn more about PTM Foundation, including ways to get involved, visit www.PTMFoundation.org and follow PTM Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

 

ABOUT PORTUGAL THE MAN

Grammy Award-winners Portugal The Man began their career in their home state of Alaska and have gone on to become one of the most successful and recognized rock bands of the last decade, touring the globe and selling millions of records, along the way. In addition to their impressive list of music industry accolades and achievements, the band recently received the Legend Award at the Native American Music Awards, as well as the Public Sector Leadership Award by the National Congress of American Indians. For more information on Portugal The Man, please visit www.portugaltheman.com.

Launched quietly in May 2019, PTM Foundation has already reached more than 1MM individuals through their advocacy on tour and provided grants to and built partnerships with more than a dozen organizations across the United States, including The Skatepark Project, The Ally Coalition, United Confederation of Taino People and many more.

This launch also signals the opening of three national grant programs today for organizations that focus on the same goals to build community resilience, empathy, and awareness and utilize music, stories, art, education and connectivity to do so. The three grant programs include:

  1. COVID-19 Native Community Relief: 20 organizations have been identified to receive funding to support Native communities with Covid-19 relief.
  2. Get Out The Native Vote: a nonpartisan grant program designed to promote strategies that will get Indigenous Peoples registered to vote and engaged in the civic process.
  3. Land Acknowledgement Activism: In partnership with the City of Portland, this pilot project is designed to implement Land Acknowledgements at all City of Portland events. During their most recent North American tour, the band asked Native Tribal leaders to open each show with a blessing, as a reminder that most of us are immigrants and that the land we call home was once native land. The band also released a coinciding “land acknowledgement” video to honor indigenous people.

A land acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects indigenous peoples as traditional stewards of the land and enduring relationships that exist between Native Peoples and their traditional territories. This is a very tangible example of the Foundation and band’s distinct work focused on Indigenous Peoples.

“We are thrilled to partner with Portugal The Man who has demonstrated a shared commitment to honoring Native People and bringing attention to their historic and present-day experiences,” added Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, “We are thankful to the band and the foundation for the precious resources and energy they are investing into the project.”

PTM Foundation is supported by the newly developed PTM Fund, administered through the Oregon Community Foundation, to help support, grow, and sustain this work for years to come. The work is funded entirely by donations from Portugal The Man and their growing community of support. All organizational overhead expenses are paid out of pocket by the band and management team. This means that 100% of money raised into PTM Fund goes directly to support the communities they hold so dear.

“Oregon communities and those communities in need around the world will benefit from the generosity, community spirit and civic engagement demonstrated by Portugal The Man.” Max Williams, President and CEO of Oregon Community Foundation continued, “We celebrate this partnership as an opportunity to engage more Oregonians in the power of philanthropy to lift fresh voices and bring people together across our state and have the power of the band’s global reach to make an even broader impact.”

PTM Foundation Community Advisory Board
Sachem Hawkstorm, Chief of Schaghticoke First Nations Tribe – Strategic Advisor
Roberto Borrero, Chief of the United Confederation of Taino People – Community Engagement Coordinator
Josué Rivas, Mexica/Otomi – Storytelling Advisor
April Holder, Sac and Fox Nation – Community Advisor
Aaron Brown – Creative Advisor
Brian Trautman – Community Advisor

PTM Foundation Board of Directors
John Gourley – PTM Foundation Board Vice Co-Chair
Zachary Carothers – PTM Foundation Board Vice Co-Chair
Rich Holtzman – PTM Foundation Board Chair
Ashley Sisino – PTM Foundation Board Secretary
Dave Stein – PTM Foundation Legal
Eric Howk – PTM Foundation Board Member
Zoe Manville – PTM Foundation Board Member
Kyle O’Quin – PTM Foundation Board Member
Jason Sechrist – PTM Foundation Board Member

 

PTM Foundation Administrative Team
Logan Lynn – PTM Foundation Director

Serena Ryder Releases New Single “Candy”

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Serena Ryder Releases New Single “Candy”

Six-time Juno Award winner Serena Ryder has released her new single “Candy” today. The new song is the lead single off Serena Ryder’s upcoming album: The Art of Falling Apart. The 10-track project chronicles Serena’s years of struggle with mental health, and her journey from mental illness to wellness. Serena debuted the track as part of the official Canada Day virtual celebrations, of which she also played co-host. A video for “Candy” featuring Tanya Howard, one of the star dancers of the National Ballet of Canada will follow in the coming weeks. “Candy” is available now on all DSPS here.

Of the new single, Serena says “This song is about being vulnerable and the many layers to being a human on the path to wellness. Candy is an intro to let everyone know that I’m about to show my softer, more vulnerable side with this new record.”

The Art of Falling Apart was written and recorded over just ten days. The track listing allows the listener to follow Serena’s creative process in a truly linear sense. Each song was recorded the day it was written, featuring powerfully raw, unprocessed vocals. “Candy” is the first song on the album, through which Serena begins to open up, unravelling her upbeat, sunny edges to show a softer, more vulnerable side. The album is just a piece of a greater movement for Serena as a leader in mental health and wellness.

The release of “Candy” also marks the first release by ArtHaus Music under its new distribution agreement with Warner Music Canada. Of the new partnership, President of Warner Music Canada says “We are thrilled to welcome ArtHaus Music to the Warner Music Canada team. I’ve long been an admirer of both Serena Ryder and am thrilled to be working with my longtime friend Sandy Pandya.” Founder of ArtHaus Music Sandy Pandya adds “Steve Kane is a genuine music-man, and we are beyond thrilled to work with him and the team at Warner Music Canada in building and fostering the Arthaus Community.”

A longtime health and wellness advocate, Serena has worked with a variety of initiatives, including Bell Let’s Talk, WE Day, Unison Benevolent Fund, and in 2018 won the Margaret Trudeau Mental Health Advocacy Award. She has presented her keynote speech, also named The Art of Falling Apart to audiences across Canada. Recently, she launched The Art of Wellness — a free mindfulness program for artists and creatives. To learn more about The Art of Wellness, click here.

Serena Ryder is one of Canada’s most successful singer-songwriters. In addition to co-hosting the televised JUNO Awards show, she has won 6 Juno Awards including Songwriter of the Year and two for Adult Alternative Album of the year. Serena has also won a Canadian Screen Award for Achievement in Music – Original Song. She has performed as a feature artist on songs by Simon Ward (The Strumbellas), Shawn Hook, Johnny Reid, The Trews and Melissa Etheridge. Serena Ryder was the first Canadian Artist to reach the #1 spot on the CBC Radio 2 Top 20 chart. She has performed on an incredibly diverse number of stages, including the Luminato Festival, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the 2014 NBA All Star Game, the 2015 Pan Am Games Closing Ceremony and the 2018 Canadian Country Music Awards broadcast show.

Ella Fitzgerald speaks about racism in the USA towards African Americans.

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Ella Fitzgerald speaks about racism in the USA towards African Americans.

The previously unreleased words of Ella Fitzgerald about racism in the USA towards African Americans.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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