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Prolific artist and grunge-punk legend Donita Sparks is known for her fierce live shows and biting lyrical wit. Unable to deliver her singular brand of raucous rock and roll to fans in the flesh at this time, Donita launched a weekly absurdist variety show on April 3 @ 3pmPT (same time each Friday to follow) on the “We Are Hear: On The Air” streaming network. The Hi-Low Show will keep viewers on the edge of their couch cushions with music and art performances including special guests. Tomorrow’s premier episode will feature: counter-culture icon Lydia Lunch, and punk provocateur Dani Miller.
“We Are Hear: On The Air” is a free multi-platform streaming network launched this week by artist empowerment label/publishing/management/production collective founded by multi-platinum producers Linda Perry and Kerry Brown with support from partners – Roland, YouTube, Taylor Guitars, Blue Hats Creative, and more. The goal is to entertain, educate, and raise awareness plus raise funds for those directly affected by COVID-19 and their teams whose incomes have been compromised during the pandemic. Each video streamed will have a MusiCares “Donation” button (providing relief to members of the music community affected by the Coronavirus pandemic) and a direct PayPal.me link to support that person who might need it during these turbulent times. Audience members will have the option to give what they can to support those in real need including entertainers, crew members, and all creatives who cannot support themselves as this virus spreads. Other shows on the platform include: “What’s Up with Linda Perry,” “Raise Your Horns with Lzzy Hale,” a performance by Laura Jane Grace of Against Me!, “The Hi-Low Show with Donita Sparks“, “Jesse Malin: The Art of Social Distancing,” “In A Lonely Place with Matt Pinfield,” Tom Green live podcast recording, “Life of Kii Arens – Pop Art, Interviews, and Music,” Live with Macy Gray, DJ Adam 12 Bravin sets, The Top Floor Interactive Dance Show, Frank Turner, Natasha Bedingfield and more. Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | Website For more information on L7, give us a shout! |
L7’s Donita Sparks Launches Weekly “The Hi-Low Show”
1-minute tip for artists: Your favourite book.
👕 Girl Pow-R
You can can learn a lot about someone by judging their reading taste, and if you’re ever stuck on what to post on social media – share your favourite book. Autobiographies, or sci-fi? Shakespeare or that trashy novel? A new story or a classic you read in high school?
It “Must Be” Award-Winning Canadian Electro Chill-Pop Artist Mauve’s New Video
When it comes to Canadian electro chill-pop dynamo Mauve — and pressing play on her newly minted video for “Must Be” — three things to know:
• The Toronto-area artist is at 1.5 million streams across her social platforms
• Her velvety and enveloping voice — and multi-talented songwriting and production skills — took an InterContinental Music Award for “Best of North America” and a Niagara Music Award nom for “Best New Artist”
• Mauve’s premiere album, Palette — where “Must Be” resides — has been featured on hundreds of taste making playlists around the world
“Sometimes love can come to you unexpectedly,” Mauve says of “Must Be.” “I wrote this after thinking back in awe at how suddenly the emotions can come to you…
“It just changes everything from night to day,” she continues. “Suddenly everything you once saw as dull and grey is now beaming and bursting with light, and that’s because this startling feeling of love has popped into your life. This song represents that extra boost in your stride and the never-ending smile you get on your face due to the elated feelings of love.
“And it’s not just talking about love in the relationship sense — it can be the love you get through the birth of a child or through accomplishing something you never thought would be possible. It’s about that innate sense of joy that you feel comes effortlessly to you, which to me is the sign of true love.”
“Must Be” is the newest single off Mauve’s debut EP, Palette.
The extended features the Toronto-based artist’s recently released EP, Palette, have received are lengthy — including, but not limited to, NBC-2, FOX40 News, ABC7 News, CBC Music, 107.3 Virgin Radio, Buzz Music LA, Talk About Pop Music, WFMZ-TV 69, Best Kept Montreal, Tinnitist, KOTV-TV CBS-6, IndieCan Radio on SiriusXM, MediaPro Music, Beat Lounge, Canadian Beats, Cashbox Canada, The Girls at the Rock Show, Daily Herald, 100FM, CHUO FM, and many many more. A frequent live performer, she has taken the stage at events such as YOUTH DAY Global at Yonge-Dundas Square, and the 2020 Toronto Music Expo.
A rich voice in a small frame, Mauve grew up inspired by theatrical performances before turning to her piano; from the age of 14, she has worn her heart on her sleeve as she has learned to play and write her own songs.
“I have always been a lover of all forms of art, because to me there is no limit for what can move and inspire somebody,” she says, on her inspiration behind her recently released album, Palette. “Of course, the musical form of art is what stuck with me the most, but visual arts is another form that can express emotions through colour and shape.”
Influenced by the deep and emotional vocals of Amy Winehouse and Sia, you can feel the vulnerability in Mauve’s lyrics from start to finish across the EP, as they are placed over a catchy, tropical house beat. She gives credit to her home city of Toronto for providing many outlets and opportunities to explore different styles of music through its vibrancy and the diversity of its people.
“I see sound as having the ability to express feelings and connect people through the different colours of tone as well,” she continues. “When creating a song, it is like you are an artist with a paintbrush, combining different colours together and layering them to set a scene for someone else to imagine. It’s like you are painting, but with sounds.
“I feel like this new collection of songs is an embodiment of different emotions and experiences, like the different colours you experience in life.
“I hope to create an expression of music that people can visualize, and evoke different feelings from, just as a painting would. I am not one to create a song that is dull or meaningless to me, so that is why I want all of my work to feature splashes and pops of colours that spark life and creativity to those who are listening.”
“Must Be” and Palette are available now.
SOCAN Announces $2-million Enhanced Emergency Program for Struggling SOCAN Members
SOCAN is expanding its efforts to provide financial assistance to struggling members as a result of the COVID-19 crisis by allocating up to a total of $2-million for emergency royalty advances.
The program is based on information gained from discussions with numerous SOCAN members. It is primarily aimed at SOCAN’s songwriters and screen composers whose ability to sustain their income has been compromised by the impact of the crisis on the music industry, especially on those whose concerts have been cancelled, or whose television and movie productions have been suspended. The interest-free advances will be considered based on each member’s most recent earnings history, urgency and need.
“SOCAN has our members’ backs,” said Eric Baptiste, CEO of SOCAN. “Getting funds to struggling members as soon as possible is of the utmost importance, and we will do whatever we can to help. We have a long history of supporting our members in time of need.”
Each individual application will be considered on its own. SOCAN already provides royalty advances to thousands of deserving creator and publisher members every year as part of its commitment to nurturing the careers of Canada’s music creators. Domestic music publisher members are able to access support as well.
Members who have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis and wish to apply for the program should contact SOCAN’s Membership team at 1-866-307-6226, or by email at members@socan.com
Priority will be given to SOCAN members who are faced with a loss in live performance royalties or screen composers whose productions have been suspended.
The interest-free advance program will be followed by additional support initiatives that will be announced in due course as needs are better identified.
As one of the leaders in the Canadian music ecosystem, SOCAN is in proactive contact with all relevant levels of government to draw their attention to the need of music people and businesses to benefit from all general economic relief programs and to consider specific programs for music, as one of the highly impacted sectors. While SOCAN and others will do their parts, the crisis is on a scale that only governments can mitigate.
SOCAN collects license payments from businesses that use recorded and live music. It then identifies the music that was used to those who hold the rights to it and distributes what they have earned in regular royalty payments.
SOCAN will announce additional programs designed to assist its members through the crisis as they are determined.
About SOCAN
SOCAN is a rights management organization that connects more than four-million music creators worldwide and more than a quarter-million businesses and individuals in Canada. More than 160,000 songwriters, composers, music publishers and visual artists are its direct members, and more than 100,000 organizations are Licensed To Play music across Canada. With a concerted use of progressive technology and unique data as well as a commitment to lead the global transformation of rights management, with wholly-owned companies Dataclef and MediaNet, and Entandem (co-owned with RE:SOUND), SOCAN is dedicated to upholding the fundamental truths that music and visual arts have value and creators and publishers deserve fair compensation for their work. For more information: www.socan.com
1-minute tip for artists: Post something funny!
Entertainment is a big part of why people go on social media in the first place. Look for opportunities to have fun with fans and followers — just be sure to stay true to your bands as an artist, and never go for the offensive.
London, UK’s Folk Pop Duo The Temporary Residents Bring “Unity” to the Universe
Breakout art-folk-pop duo The Temporary Residents embody sounds from every corner of multiple genres and decades, and in this — their new single “Unity” — they even pull from the outer galaxies as well.
“The sound of ‘Unity’ will take you on a journey through the multiple layers of the universe,” vocalist Yulia Hayden offers.
“Filled with stars, echoes and mysteries,” guitarist Patrick Hayden adds.
Their goal, they explain, was to round seriously powerful vocals up in a lyrical lasso before letting them sonically expand to the other side of the universe. “Like they’re calling out to reunite with the celestial family.”
There was very pointed inspiration for the track’s direction, namely Tears For Fears’ 1985 mainstay, “Shout.”
“During the production of this song, we knew we wanted to create the biggest sonic soundscape possible,” they share. “After hearing it on the radio in Jersey, ’Shout’ seemed like a good reference point.
“We were inspired.
“From there, we worked with our producer to make that similar kind of sound — expansive, larger than life, almost — but with a more contemporary feel to it.”
Released this spring, audiences are instantly receptive, with Dr Johns Surgery Records Radio pointing out its “dark but not emotional” vibe, adding that “the feeling in the vocal is excellent, the mix is spot on… Captivating, to say the least.”
Soundsol cuts quicker to the chase: “great track.”
“Unity” shows where The Temporary Residents are as of now, but as far as origin stories go, this is far more textured than ‘girl meets boy.’
While they met in London, England during work on a human rights awareness campaign, Patrick and Yulia are originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands and Kyrgyzstan, respectively.
Patrick — whose father was a well-established movie producer — was drawn to the creative field at a young age; having moved to London to pursue music, he previously studied Fine Art in Liverpool, specializing in painting and drawing.
Yulia was equally immersed in the arts from a young age, singing, dancing and performing on stage before moving to The Netherlands to take up acting. There she received a Dutch Award nomination for her role in the film, Katia’s Sister before moving to New York City to study at the T. Schreiber Studio & Theatre.
As they describe it, they share a “contempt for political correctness, but neither do (we) vote.” They’re confident they can illustrate the world’s injustices through music.
“We live in times where the truth remains elusive, and misinformation, disinformation, and lies are pushed at us from a multitude of sources,” they say. “We in our music seek to be honest and, at times, even expose falsehoods that are promoted widely.
“Our inspiration is rooted in traditional values, and we reject the postmodern ideology of struggle.”
“Unity” is available now.
Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Spotify has engaged partners across the industry to discuss how we can support artists and the creative community who have been deeply impacted by the effects of the virus. Though streaming continues to play a key role in connecting creators with their fans, numerous other sources of revenue have been interrupted or stopped altogether by this crisis.
Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief
Spotify has launched the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project, which recommends verified organizations that offer financial relief to those in the music community most in need around the world. Currently, they’ve partnering with MusiCares, PRS Foundation, Help Musicians, Unison Benevolent Fund, and Centre National de la Musique, and are looking forward to adding more partners worldwide. Spotify is making a donation to these organizations and will match donations made via the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief page dollar-for-dollar up to a total Spotify contribution of $10 million.
UPDATE: Artist Fundraising Pick
Spotify has also now launched a new Spotify for Artists feature: the Artist Fundraising Pick. Just like artists can select any piece of music to highlight on their profile as an Artist’s Pick, they can now highlight a fundraising destination (in addition to their Artist’s Pick).
First and foremost, this feature enables artists who are interested in raising money to support themselves, their bands, or their crews, to get the word out to their fans on their Spotify artist profiles. We have a strong group of initial fundraising partners: Artists can choose to add a link to Cash App, GoFundMe, and PayPal.me.
They’ve also created the option for artists to fundraise for an initiative connected to helping those most impacted in the music industry. Artists can select any of the aforementioned verified organizations participating in the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project.
For all the information on this feature, see here.
Programs from Spotify Creator Tools
For those continuing to create at home, music talent marketplace SoundBetter is waiving its revenue share, cloud-based audio recording platform Soundtrap will offer extended free trials for educators, and Anchor will waive fees on its Listener Support feature.
Canada’s Independent Artists On Stingray Music
Stingray Music, a supporter and sponsor of CIMA’s Music Export Canada program, has partnered with CIMA to launch a dedicated channel through their official streaming service. This channel will exclusively feature “Canada’s Independent Artists”.
Through a call out to our members, CIMA compiled over 150 songs by companies and their artists who participated in their export missions over the past few years.
You can listen to the playlist below by signing up for Stingray Music’s streaming platform. The playlist will be available digitally through Stingray’s online web players. Starting listening now by clicking on the link below!