Come for the idea, stay for the Shakespeare.
Montreal Brother/Sister Duo JUST COSTA Make Everything “Peachy” With Fresh, Feel-Good Summer Groove
For Canadian brother-sister duo Just Costa, music is just the ticket to their own sonic theme park, and their glistening, feel-good summer anthem “Peachy” — available now! — lands as top contender for its theme song.
Lighthearted and upbeat, the track mixes pop, R&B and g-funk into a catchy groove start to finish, combining full band and synth-based elements along the way. “The message shines as a pinnacle of positivity,” the sibling set says. “It expresses that every moment can feel like a margarita on the beach.”
This Montreal-based fam-band embodies the term “happy-go-lucky” through and through. That likening of their music to a theme park? That’s their real deal.
“We call it Just Costa Land,” quips Jesse Just Costa, who leads the outfit with older sibling Juliana. “It’s like this: We want to bring the sense of an amusement park to our music. The excitement, the enthusiasm, the joie de vivre, the willingness to be happy and grateful and positive and live life to the extreme; that’s what we’re trying to construct.”
Between them, they have all the building blocks they need in a sort of supernatural blend of style, skill and substance that takes a lifetime to achieve. Which is about how long the Just Costas have been making music.
By age 13, guitar prodigy Jesse was taking Montreal’s rock scene by storm, playing lead and fronting his own outfit. Meanwhile, Juliana had begun a solo career as an acoustic singer-songwriter. The turning point came a few years ago, when she was heading to Vancouver to record. Jesse decided to tag along, and in need of material, they began to write together for the sessions. The magic was instant. “We weren’t just putting catchphrases over standard chords; we were writing these intricate, meaningful songs,” Jesse recalls. “That really solidified things. That’s when we really hit the ground running together.”
They haven’t slowed. Since joining forces (and fittingly combining their parents’ surnames for their handle), they’ve more than made up for any lost time. They’ve appeared on talent show La Voix (The Voice), played over 400 shows — including a 16-date tour of Italy — performed at festivals and conferences (including the MUZ showcase in Montreal, where they took home a trio of people’s choice awards), released one album — In Time, All Things under their previous moniker Juliana & Jesse — and are midway through writing and recording a new full-length. More focused and ambitious, their newer material takes full advantage of their creative kinship and shared vision — while also acknowledging their different musical backgrounds and skill sets. “One of our greatest strengths in working together is how varied our individual strengths are,” Jesse explains. “I know where Juliana has me beat, and where she might be able to handle a situation twice as well, and I feel like she knows the same about me. So that’s where the lines get drawn.”
As if on cue, she picks up the thread: “For the most part, Jesse has a real knack for melody and chords, and groove as well. So he’ll put something down and we can play off that. And I really like to write lyrics, so we’ll play off of each other. We work together really well in that sense. Other times, I’ll have a really simple kind of idea on the guitar and I can always count on Jesse to spice it up. It’s always good to have a partner in any venture, and there’s no better partner than family. We are really connected — we’re also best friends — and we really do see it as a big blessing. We’re not scared to push each other. And by bringing the best out of each other, we’ve reached some really cool and unique places songwriting-wise that we might not have found. And we feel we have something really special we can bring to people.”
That gift in a nutshell: Love. “I break down life into two really simple things: doing what you love and doing it with the people that you love,” Jesse says. “That’s really where the magic comes from. That’s when the highs start getting higher and the lows don’t feel so bad. That’s what we have, and that’s what we want to share with people. Really, we want to light up every room that we go into. I feel such an energy and positivity inside of me and so much gratitude for everything I have. We want to bring that to ourselves and to bring other people with us. We want … ”
Naturally, Juliana finishes his thought: “We want to take everybody along for the ride.”
The destination? Just Costa Land, of course. Enjoy the trip and get ready to groove.
“Peachy” is available now.
Alexandria, ON’s Contemporary Jazz Singer/Songwriter KATIE DITSCHUN Says “That Is That.” When it Comes to People’s Need for Others
Canadian contemporary jazz pop singer/songwriter Katie Ditschun lovingly affirms “That Is That.” when it comes to life, love and people’s need for each other in this, her new single — available now.
“One morning, in the shower, I was singing songs from one of my favourite musicals and felt overcome by the powerful fact that everyone needs other people in their lives,” Ditschun recalls. “The power of love and human connection is unparalleled.
“People need people. That is that. People need people. That’s a fact,” she continues, citing the song’s basis. “The juxtaposition in ‘That Is That.’ — with a firm period — is in the fact that it’s a simple song with simple words and statements, but it’s also a very complex and complete message.
“It’s whimsy with depth.”
On that note, ’whimsy with depth’ is a wonderfully all-encompassing description that wraps all that is Katie Ditschun’s music and purpose together into one.
Born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, Ditschun spent time in Montreal, Quebec following her studies at Berklee College of Music for jazz and contemporary vocal, before returning to her home province; she now calls Alexandria home. Though she was diagnosed at 18 months old with juvenile arthritis, beginning piano lessons at age four to keep her fingers moving, it was the onset of her mother’s terminal illness that gave Ditschun the push to pursue music full-time.
“My songs are about relationships — of love, and of those often confused for love,” she explains of her 2019 debut release, Spare Skirt — home to previous singles “Here We Are,” “HER,” and now “That Is That.” Recorded in Ottawa, and featuring some of Eastern Ontario’s best jazz musicians, the track and album feature Ditschun on vocals, piano, and ukulele — a nod to the singer/songwriter’s self-described style of quirky piano pop meets serious jazz notes and thematic, explorative story-based lyricism. “I’m particularly interested in situations where people lack self-knowledge, or gain greater awareness about oneself, or one’s place in the world.
“While first recording this song in-studio, my co-producer said he felt this song was completely me,” Ditschun adds of “That Is That.” “I’m not sure I’ve ever received a nicer compliment…
“You’ll never regret loving, and I like to think that’s me: love hard. I try every day to be the person my dog thinks I am. I need people, and I remind myself that people need me too.”
Ditschun has embodied a form of this sentiment week after week since the national onset of COVID-19, working at mindfully connecting with her community through complimentary virtual music lessons via Facebook live. With a world reacting to increased isolation, Ditschun hoped her at-home music lessons in a live, “social” setting could offer respite for audience members navigating the world’s new circumstance.
“There’s something about being in the moment when the music is all there is…” says the classically trained musician with over 20 years experience in teaching, and member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association. “For me, all life’s worries melt away and I’m left only concerned about what phrase comes next and letting the notes float out.
“It’s my hope that my online music lessons can offer even just a bit of that for others in this challenging time.”
For those looking to optimize a rise in screen time by developing their sonic skill sets, the lessons are available via Ditschun’s Facebook page; they are geared towards beginners and focus solely on singing — no instruments are required.
For “That Is That.,” Ditschun’s lessons go a step further: “So, if you feel like it, head online, pick up your ukulele — or whatever you play! — and find the lyrics and chords for ‘That Is That.’ at UltimateGuitar(dot)com,” she invites. “Make the song your own, and send me the link to your versions so I can share!”
“That Is That.”’s name, incidentally, serves a secondary purpose; given that it’s the final track on Spare Skirt, it offers a fittingly impassioned bookend to her breakthrough album.
“That Is That.” is available now.
SOCAN Gets Music Makers Paid for Live Facebook and Instagram Concerts with Encore! Program
Music lovers across the country and social media platforms have benefitted from the generosity of Canada’s music creators since the start of the COVID-19 crisis with live online concerts on Facebook and Facebook-owned Instagram.
SOCAN is now reciprocating the love by launching Encore!, a program that compensates music creators and publishers for their invaluable work.
“Like so many Canadians, SOCAN member songwriters, composers, and music publishers are facing tough times, with the loss of revenue from touring and in-person concerts,” said Jennifer Brown, Interim-CEO of SOCAN. “Many of our members have stepped up for fans, staging online concerts to bring the public together and keep their careers moving ahead, so it is only fair that they get paid for their generous work with our Encore! program.”
SOCAN’s Board of Directors and management team recently approved the allocation of a portion of licensing revenue collected from Facebook for the Encore! program.
Encore! will ease the financial burden on SOCAN writer members and their publishers created by the pandemic. A total of approximately $200,000 is available each quarter for the program for the duration of the COVID-19 lockdown in Canada.
To receive an Encore! payment for a live music event on Facebook or Instagram:
- At least ten songs/compositions performed live, or a live performance of at least 30 minutes on Facebook or Instagram from March 15, 2020, to March 7, 2021 (inclusive).
- At least 100 people must have accessed the online event.
- A setlist of all music performed has to be sent via SOCAN’s Notification of Live Music Performance form at SOCAN.com, with the “venue” identified as Facebook or Instagram.
- Claims must be made within 90 days of the Facebook/Instagram concert occurring.
Each online concert will be eligible for a total payment of $150, with shares of royalties going to all rights holders of the music performed.
Live performances on social media properties normally do not generate more than a few dollars in royalties for songwriters, composers and music publishers. Typically, royalties from music used on these platforms come from streamed and downloaded recorded music.
In addition to live music events on Facebook and Instagram, SOCAN is in the process of adding more online platforms to the Encore! program. The organization is encouraging its members to submit set lists for all online concerts. Just be sure to indicate the social media platform as the venue.
SOCAN will soon launch its regular “Get Set, Get Paid” awareness initiative, encouraging members to submit Notification of Live Music Performance set lists for past in-person concerts. Only by submitting set lists can license money paid by concert venues be matched to the correct rights holders of the music performed, enabling those who earned royalties to receive them.
SOCAN also confirmed that its regular distribution of royalties to all members will go out as planned on-time. Since March 13th, all 275 SOCAN employees across its offices in Toronto Montréal, Vancouver and Los Angeles have been teleworking with the company operating at full capacity.
Stevie Wonder on the Drums
Stevie Wonder is, of course, a genius on keyboards and harmonica, but check out this jaw-dropping drum solo from early in his career.
Grey Daze Open Download TV With Premiere Of “B12” Video In Honor Of Chester Bennington
Grey Daze opened the first ever Download TV, a weekend long virtual festival (June 12 – 14) from the creators of Download Festival, with the premiere of their video for “B12”. The song is from the Phoenix-based band’s forthcoming album, Amends out June 26 via Loma Vista Recordings.
“Everything we’ve done surrounding the upcoming release of Amends has been to honor Chester,” explains Grey Daze co-founder and drummer Sean Dowdell. “The video for ’B12’ is no exception. We wanted to celebrate all that has been accomplished in seeing Amends, a release he had wanted to bring to life, and in this video we not only brought his lyrics to life, we also were able to feel his presence as we performed alongside his vocal track.” The live performance is interspersed with clips from the recording of the song, which features contributions from Head and Munky of KORN. Head said of the track: “…the range, the power, the melody, and the flow… it sounds like he’s (Chester) in his prime.”
Grey Daze have released a number of profound videos in support of the 11-song release, offering fans a look into the early musical moments of one of modern rock music’s most beloved singers. “What’s In The Eye” showcased live footage of the band, sharing some of Chester’s first moments as a front man. “Sickness” portrayed the real life story of Sean becoming Chester’s “big brother” after witnessing him being bullied. “Sometimes” proved how powerful Chester’s lyrics were, even as a teenager, with the clip showcasing his words, “Maybe things will get better, maybe things will look brighter” against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis. “Soul Song” was possibly the most heart-warming of all, with Chester’s son, Jaime Bennington writing and directing the visual piece. In an interview with Alternative Press, Jaime explained that the video, which was set at a beloved family getaway in Sedona, Ariz., was reflective of his experience with mindful meditation, saying: “Through it, I have not just spoken with him but seen him with my own two eyes. And that is what this video is about. It’s about that practice. It’s about the lasting power of memory and about taking grief at my own pace.”
Amends is the origin story of one of modern rock’s most recognizable voices and also a full circle moment among friends. The album is the fulfillment of a planned Grey Daze reunion that Chester had announced prior to his untimely passing. The remaining band members – Dowdell, Mace Beyers (bass) and Cristin Davis (guitar) – along with Talinda Bennington (Chester’s widow) and his parents, made it their mission to see the project through with assistance from Tom Whalley, the founder of Loma Vista Recordings and former Warner Bros. Records Chairman during Linkin Park’s tenure at the label. Dowdell, Beyers and Davis selected the tracks from the band’s mid-90s, but largely unknown, catalog and re-recorded the music in 2019 to accompany Chester’s re-mastered vocals. Produced by Jay Baumgardner, several musicians leant their time and talent to the album, including Korn’s Brian “Head” Welch and James “Munky” Shaffer, Page Hamilton (Helmet), Chris Traynor (Bush, Helmet, Orange 9MM), LP (Laura Pergolizzi), Jaime Bennington, Jasen Rauch (Breaking Benjamin), Marcos Curiel (P.O.D.) and Ryan Shuck (Orgy). An eight-part video series titled “Making Amends” documented the process of bringing the album to life.
Amends is available in a variety of collectible formats with several iterations available exclusively via the band’s website. The CD comes as a 16-page case-bound book; a first pressing, ruby red vinyl variant exclusive to the band’s webstore; and a numbered deluxe edition featuring both a CD and LP, which includes the first ever disc tray designed for vinyl, a 60-page book with never-before-seen photos, 180g red and white splattered vinyl, and a collectible set of band memorabilia dubbed the “Grey Daze Archive.” Digital and other standard versions of the album are available HERE. Pre-orders on the band’s webstore include instant downloads of “What’s In The Eye,” “Sickness,” “Sometimes,” “Soul Song” and “B12.”
Gregory Porter Addresses Racial Prejudice On His Soulful New Single “Mister Holland”
Gregory Porter has released “Mister Holland,” a soulful new song with a pointed underlying message about acceptance and racial prejudice from his forthcoming album ALL RISE, which will be released August 28 on Blue Note Records.
Porter’s version of protest can be worldly or down-home, as on “Mister Holland.” The brass-blessed southern soul jam finds Porter (ironically) thanking the white father of his love interest for not making any trouble over his black skin. Porter explains: “That suggests that maybe I liked a girl when I was 15 and I came to a door and somebody said, ‘Nigger, if you don’t get away from this house…’ That type of energy is being resurrected and made to feel okay these days. I think about things like that for my son.”
“Ultimately ‘Mister Holland’ is a song about equality,” continues Porter. “It’s about the desire for mutual respect and the desire for a young man to be treated like an average teenager.A song of thank you for being treated normal. The implied unspoken experience is the subtle protest of this song.Stevie and Marvin taught us how to groove with a social song, so, thank you Mister Holland.”
“Mister Holland” follows previous ALL RISE singles including the celebration of love “Phoenix,” the heartfelt ballad “If Love Is Overrated,” and the gospel-infused lead single “Revival,” with its powerful video starring dancer Jemoni Powe. “I wanted the video to have an important political message too,” says Porter, “which is why we chose to honor the young man from Baltimore, Freddie Gray, at the beginning. There are so many things in life that can get you down and make you feel small, whether it be racism, self-doubt, insecurity, or financial situations. It’s about finding your source of strength to bring you back to seeing who you truly are so that you can be restored to the giant that you are.”
Following 2017’s Nat King Cole & Me, a dedication to his lifelong idol, ALL RISE marks a return to Porter’s beloved original songwriting—heart-on-sleeve lyrics imbued with everyday philosophy and real-life detail, set to a stirring mix of jazz, soul, blues, gospel, and pop. The album, which was produced by Troy Miller, also represents the evolution of Porter’s art to something even more emphatic, emotive, intimate, and universal too.
“Yes, you could say that I went big,” says Porter about his latest, which combines the talents of his longtime loyal bandmates, a handpicked horn section, a 10-member choir, and the London Symphony Orchestra Strings. “But, quite frankly, the way I write in my head, it all happens with just voice and piano first, and it’s built up from there. It feels good to get back to the rhythms and the styles and the feelings and the way that I like to lay down my own music from start to finish.”
As Porter worked out this album’s direction, he looked inward, upward, and around him, and arrived at a raison d’être found in the title, ALL RISE. “We hear that phrase when presidents or judges come into the room,” says Porter, “but I’m thinking all of us rise—not just one person being exalted. We are all exalted and lifted up by love. This is my political thought and my real truth. It comes from my personality, my mother’s personality, the personality of the blues, and of black people. It’s this idea of making do with the scraps, of resurrection and ascension, and of whatever the current situation is, it can get better through love.”
ALL RISE is available for pre-order HERE in deluxe and standard vinyl, CD, and digital versions.
Urban Legends Honours Black Music Month With Weekly Live Streaming Events
Urban Legends today announced a month-long celebration of Black Music Month that includes live DJ sets, new mini-documentaries about James Brown, new episodes of the docu-series Through the Lens, and new releases of re-mixes of classic songs. Urban Legends, a division of UMe, Universal Music Group’s global catalog company, celebrates and curates a catalog of some of its most powerful and influential artists and music spanning R&B, soul, hip-hop, rap, blues, reggae genres and more.
Urban Legends is bringing a new vision to its work through cutting edge technology. Among the first steps, Urban Legends is reimagining and relaunching a digital space for interaction and engagement with fans from on-going livestream tribute shows, content series and curated collections of vinyl.
BLUEPRINT OF RAP/THE GODFATHER OF SOUL (Curated by DJ Premier)
Kicking off BLACK MUSIC MONTH celebrations, Urban Legend/UMe/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company spotlights one of the greatest artists of all-time, “The Godfather of Soul” James Brown. This week Urban Legends explores the music of James Brown, whose unique style laid down the foundation of Hip-Hop, demonstrating why he is one of the most sampled artists of all-time.
Tomorrow, June 18th, James Brown’s official YouTube Channel unveils the trailer for Funky Drummer, episode one of new three-episode animated mini-series titled Get Down, The Influence Of James Brown. Narrated by Questlove (The Roots, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), and featuring Lord Finesse and Co-founder/former EIC of Wax Poetics Magazine, Andre Torres, the three-part series was created by UMe along with Dreambear and explores the sonic DNA of James Brown whose music is continually sampled and whose trademark phrasing is deeply woven into the fabric of Hip-Hop. The full episode of Funky Drummer premieres on July 10th and can be viewed here with part two (Funky President) and part three (The Payback) coming soon.
To celebrate the release of Funky Drummer, on July 10th at 4:00 pm PDT/7:00 pm EDT, DJ Premier will do a special DJ set on his official YouTube channel, paying homage to The Godfather, spinning key James Brown tracks and giving a first-hand sampling history lesson while taking questions from fans.
DEF JAM ERA – PERFECTS RAP
The second week of BLACK MUSIC MONTH spotlights the Def Jam Era – Perfects Rap, with the premiere of the original Def Jam/UMe three-episode mini docu-series Through The Lens focusing on the iconic Hip-Hop photography of Janette Beckman, Ricky Powell and Jonathan Mannion. Hosted on Def Jam’s YouTube channel, this original series covers 40 years of the music and culture of the Hip-Hop movement from its infancy.
Episode one of Through The Lens premieres on June 19th, focusing on British-born photographer Janette Beckman, who lives and works in New York and began her career at the dawn of punk rock, working for such music magazines as The Face and Melody Maker. Beckmann was one of the first photographers to shoot LL Cool J, T La Rock and Slick Rick, whose images are featured in the series.
Episode two premieres on June 26th and features photographer Ricky Powell with in-depth interviews and images, with most of the latter unreleased including a photo of Chuck D at a mutual friend’s wedding in the Dominican Republic in 1989 on the precipice of Public Enemy releasing the album Fear Of The Black Planet.
Episode three premieres on July 10th and focuses on the photos of photographer and film director Jonathan Mannion, who has shot more than 300 album covers and worked with hip-hop and R&B performers including Jay Z and Young Jeezy. Through The Lens features twenty rarely-seen Mannion photos, including contact sheets from the Reasonable Doubt photoshoot with Jay-Z, as well as stories behind photos of Method Man, Redman and DMX.
On June 19th at 7pm EDT Def Jam’s YouTube channel and Instagram page will host a special DJ set by the legendary DJ/Producer Clark Kent paying homage to Def Jam. Credited for discovering Jay-Z, DJ Clark Kent has produced some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop and R&B including Mariah Carey, 50 Cent and The Notorious B.I.G.
JANET JACKSON – PROTOTYPE OF A DIVA
On June 24th, the Urban Legends YouTube Channel presents a YouTube Livestream Session featuring DJ Natasha Diggs performing a live DJ set honoring Janet Jackson. As one of the most sought-after DJ’s in the world, Natasha Diggs has played some of the hottest parties around the globe, from her world-famous New York residency “Soul in the Horn” to Beijing, India, Sydney, London, Paris, Tokyo and Prague. She has performed alongside some of the biggest DJs and artists in the business including Erykah Badu, Rakim, Q-Tip, Bruno Mars, Damian Marley and Lauryn Hill.
MOTOWN STATE OF MIND: RELEASE & LIVE STREAM
On June 26th, Motown/UMe will release digitally Motown State Of Mind, a set of Motown classics handpicked, remixed and reimagined by legendary rapper and Hip-Hop producer Lord Finesse. On July 24th, Motown State Of Mind will be released as an exclusive 45 RPM box set containing seven 7-inch records on black vinyl featuring the remixed version on Side A and the classic original on Side B. To celebrate the release of one of his most ambitious projects to date, Lord Finesse will perform a special Motown State Of Mind Live Stream on the Motown socials on June 26th, the digital release date.
More events to be announced as the celebration of BLACK MUSIC MONTH continues.
ABOUT URBAN LEGENDS
Urban Legends is an imprint and cross-platform initiative devoted to the curation and celebration of the most significant and influential catalog of music and culture spanning R&B, soul, hip-hop, rap, blues, reggae and more. Urban Legends serves as both an editorial content site and ecommerce platform, delivering daily news, videos, editorial features and franchises. Urban Legends is a division of Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), the global catalog division of Universal Music Group (UMG).
Kingsville, ON’s Alt-Folk Rock-Country Band FRESH BREATH Get Outta Town in New Single, “Time For A Change”
Award-winning Canadian alt-folk rock-to-blues duo Fresh Breath are taking off and getting outta town, adding to their over 100,000+ streams across Spotify along the way, with their newest country-inspired single, “Time For A Change” — available now!
“At face value, it’s a song about wanting to break free from the stressful normalcy of small town living,” Katie Pascoe says. “It’s about heading out on an adventure with the one you love.
“Getting out of town,” Josh Pascoe adds. “Together.”
But as most great songs do, there’s a personal backstory to “Time For A Change,” too.
“It’s inspired by some personal events that happened to us,” Josh explains. “A friend of ours who lives in Calgary, Alberta, was chatting with us about their upcoming western tour at the time. Knowing we’d be there during the Calgary Stampede, he encouraged us to learn and brush up on some country music.”
“So we decided to write our own!” Katie adds. “We kept it honest, simple, and to the point.”
To boot, the pair had both experienced a weekend full of ‘small town drama’ at the time, so they included it in the track. “As we were writing, Josh was sipping on whiskey and it also happened to be a Tuesday…. That got worked into the very first line of the song, and it all fell into place from there.”
The Ontario-based husband and wife duo are fresh off their recent Spring 2020 double-single release for “Tomorrow Today” and “Make It Together.” The tracks beamed brightly as positive perspective pieces amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond their growing 100,000+ streams across Spotify alone, Fresh Breath have also garnered critical acclaim and radio attention; 93.9 The River / AM 800’s Dan Macdonald says “Fresh Breath is on FIRE on this new record,” citing their 2019 release, The Big Picture, which also received airplay on 99.1 CKXS, CJIM, CBC, and more. Previous albums have also included 2017’s Us Against The World, 2015’s A Dream That’s Not Followed… is a Dream That Is Lost, and 2010’s The Speed Of Sound.
Folk Roots Radio notes that they have “great energy, (and are a) great live band;” Buzz Music LA agrees, adding “good, high energy with an electrifying delivery… (Want) to see a performance like this live!”
Finland’s Award-Winning Dream-Pop GEA Releases “Despite” Video and Single, Produced by Canadian Chris Birkett (Buffy Sainte-Marie, Sinead O’Connor)
Award-winning electroacoustic dream-pop art-rocker GEA grounds her otherworldly ambient fairy-folk sound within the densely lush Finnish forestland in this, her newly released single and video “Despite” — available now!
The song was first pre-recorded with award-winning and internationally heralded producer, singer/songwriter, sound engineer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Chris Birkett (Sinead O’Connor, Alison Moyet, The Pogues, Bob Geldof, Buffy Sainte-Marie). “We did this in Finland, in a small, arctic island called Hailuoto,” GEA shares. “It is close to the city of Oulu, where I’m originally from.
“The pandemic gave us quite a bit of challenges in getting this song done,” she continues. “I was going to fly to Toronto in April to record the final vocals and to be part of the mixing, but it didn’t happen. I recorded the vocals remotely in Helsinki, Finland, with the help of amazing producer and friend Oona Kapari while Chris did the instrumental recordings, production and mixing in Toronto.
“The mastering was done by Fred Kevorkian in Brooklyn, New York, and the single visual and brand design was done by bynew.co in Tallinn, Estonia. We worked fluently between four countries, despite all being heavily influenced by the pandemic.”
As known for since her breakthrough debut Butterflies (2017) and sophomore follow-up Snow (2019), the song-based storyteller wastes no opportunity in “Despite” to use her music to channel messages from spirit guides, laying bare notions of healing, transformation, and growth.
“‘Despite’ is a song about gratitude and unconditional love for love, despite the challenges, disappointments, and hard times it provides,” GEA says. “I want to dedicate it to all the people who have been influenced by the global pandemic…
“We are experiencing an unusually tough period of uncertainty, fear, and loss of loved ones, or jobs, and more,” she continues. “I wish to reconnect us who are struggling with hope, joy, and gratitude. I hope with this song, we can celebrate our beautiful journey on Earth, regardless of our troubles.”
“Despite” is the premiere single from GEA’s forthcoming release, Call for a Snake.
And much how the connection of the song and its creation are deeply intertwined with the current state of the world, the track also sets the tone and begins to touch on a part of Call for a Snake dedicated to something GEA very much admires: The spirit of the swan. “Swan represents beauty, loyalty, grace, love, and elegance,” she explains. “Swan is an iconic figure in Finnish folklore, and it moves fluently between this dimension, afterlife, and other transcendental dimensions.”
“I wrote this album after taking a bold decision to quit my job and dedicate my life to my soul mission: touch the light within people with my music,” GEA reveals. “It was not an easy choice to make as a single mother… I traded the comfort of financial security into serving my purpose, and it made me happy beyond words.
“My songwriting changed,” she continues. “I call it a ‘divine downloading’ where I get my songs through channeling. The songs on Call for a Snake are about different aspects of our spiritual journey. I only understood the concept afterwards as the different parts became clear to me gradually.”
Based in Finland, previous releases set the stage for GEA warmly acclaimed welcome into the North American music scene; she was nominated for ‘Best Emerging International Artist’ at Indie Week, and her song “Followers” was licensed to Netflix series directed by Emmy Award-winning Michele Josue, Happy Jail. GEA’s music video for “Alone” won a Hollywood Golden Film Award for ‘Best Editing,’ and “Pink” was crowned “Best Soundtrack Award” at the Social Machinery Film Festival.
“GEA is a passenger of the universe,” Atwood Magazine’s Carolyn Fasone proclaims. “(Her music) is ethereal, translucent, and the moment her haunting soprano permeates my brain, it feels as if a pink glow is emanating from my body.
“That is the power indie pop artist GEA possesses.”
Hear… No, experience it first-hand in “Despite” — available now.