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Herbert Von Karajan’s Timeless Recordings With The Berliner Philharmoniker Return Exclusively To Apple Music

Eric Alper
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Herbert Von Karajan’s Timeless Recordings With The Berliner Philharmoniker Return Exclusively To Apple Music

The legacy of Herbert von Karajan, one of the most influential conductors of the 20th century, shines brighter than ever as Warner Classics and Apple Music Classical announce the exclusive digital release of ten of his landmark recordings with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Available starting October 31, these albums return to streaming for the first time in years and will remain exclusive to Apple Music for four weeks.

Recorded between 1971 and 1981 for EMI, the ten albums capture Karajan’s famed partnership with the Berliner Philharmoniker at its creative zenith. From Mozart to Beethoven, Dvořák, Wagner, Sibelius, Strauss, and more, these performances define the legendary “Karajan sound” — lush, brassy, and meticulously balanced. The recordings have been fully remastered at Abbey Road Studios, available in pristine lossless quality up to 96/24.

“We are proud that Apple Music Classical will lead the digital renaissance of these recordings,” says Anjali Malhotra, Global Director of Apple Music Classical. “Though these recordings were made some 50 years ago, they remain as fresh and immediate as ever.” Alain Lanceron, President of Warner Classics and Erato, adds, “Karajan would have been gratified by this strong presence for his recordings on digital platforms.”

Originally recorded in the golden age of analogue, these albums document an era when Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker redefined symphonic performance. Their precision, beauty, and emotion continue to inspire listeners and musicians alike. A second wave of Karajan’s recordings is expected later this year, expanding the maestro’s digital archive.

Track Listing (10 Albums):

  1. Sibelius: Finlandia, En Saga, Tapiola, The Swan of Tuonela & Karelia Suite
  2. Beethoven: The Five Piano Concertos (feat. Alexis Weissenberg)
  3. Karajan in Paris: Bizet, Chabrier, Gounod & Berlioz
  4. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, Bassoon Concerto & Oboe Concerto
  5. Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Harp, Flute Concerto No. 1 & Sinfonia Concertante for Winds
  6. Karajan Conducts Johann Strauss: The Blue Danube, Emperor Waltz, Die Fledermaus Overture
  7. Karajan Conducts Wagner, Vol. 1: Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Tristan und Isolde
  8. Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 40 & 41 “Jupiter”
  9. Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”, Smetana: Vltava
  10. Ravel: Boléro – Debussy: La Mer & Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune

The Spikes Illuminate Beauty In Darkness With Debut LP ‘First Light’

Eric Alper
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The Spikes Illuminate Beauty In Darkness With Debut LP ‘First Light’

Emerging artist The Spikes (the moniker of Rome-born singer-songwriter, poet, and painter Iago Haussman) releases his hauntingly introspective new LP First Light, a project that finds beauty in shadow and light in vulnerability. Out now, the eight-track collection explores the emotional intersections of love, loss, and longing, with the focus track “Garden Song” serving as its glowing centerpiece.

Unlike most who grow toward the sun, The Spikes’ music takes root in the dark — tender, cinematic, and deeply human. “This is an album of ethereal beauty,” Iago says. “It is cinematic. It is an emotional and personal journey. Musically, it is more stripped back and quieter than my previous material, but it is also a lot more complex. More layered and atmospheric.”

“Garden Song,” accompanied by a stunning video directed by Michael Haussman (Madonna, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake), captures the rare safety found in another’s embrace. “At the time I wrote it, these feelings of love were very strong,” Iago explains. “No matter what happens out there in the real world, there is always safety in each other’s arms. Or each other’s garden.” The video expands this intimacy into something universal, portraying love that transcends age, class, and identity through a cast of real people from a Roman neighborhood café.

Beyond its focus track, First Light unfolds like a series of emotional postcards. “Dancing (In the Palm of My Hand)” channels The Great Gatsby’s yearning spirit, while “Sapling Tree” reflects on travel and solitude, written using William Burroughs’ and David Bowie’s famed cut-up technique. Songs like “Electric Cannibal” and “By the Moors” reveal a sharp edge beneath the tenderness — exploring chaos, creation, and the uneasy beauty of being alive.

“This album isn’t about resolution,” Iago notes. “It’s about resonance. I want listeners to feel the emotion and interpret it into their own life, their own feelings of love and loneliness.” First Light invites listeners into a space where silence breathes, tension hums, and beauty blooms in the dark — a debut that lingers like a memory just out of reach.

Track Listing (Focus Track: “Garden Song”)

  1. Sapling Tree
  2. Garden Song
  3. Set Me Free
  4. Jungle Boy
  5. By the Moors
  6. Dancing (In the Palm of My Hand)
  7. Electric Cannibal
  8. My Fair Love

Dark-Pop And Art-Rock Artist Scarlet Nicole Unleashes Venom-Kissed Single “Poison” On Halloween

Eric Alper
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Dark-Pop And Art-Rock Artist Scarlet Nicole Unleashes Venom-Kissed Single “Poison” On Halloween

Florida-born, Los Angeles-based dark-pop and art-rock artist Scarlet Nicole marks Halloween with “Poison,” a hypnotic new single that turns betrayal into power. Produced by Derek Coburn (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Chelsea Wolfe, The Armed), the track swirls strings, distortion, and pulse-quickening percussion into a cinematic storm where confession meets incantation.

“I seek out revenge in the form of songwriting,” Scarlet shares. “This song came from a real place–a moment of deep betrayal that forced me to transmute pain into power. The video plays with the duality of hunter and prey, the serpent and the sheep, and ultimately, reclaiming your strength in the face of deceit.”

Directed by Evers, the “Poison” video plunges into a fever-dream ritual of decay and renewal. “Creating the visuals for ‘Poison’ was all about exploring Nicole’s call to power through her darker side,” says Evers. “It’s about how the parts of ourselves once seen as weakness can become our greatest strength.”

Where her debut “CRY BABY CRY” traced rebirth’s fragile tenderness, “Poison” is its darker twin – fierce, self-possessed, and unflinching. Tarot, mythology, and mysticism ripple through the lyrics, as Scarlet embodies her mantra: “I’ll turn your poison into medicine.” It is less a single than a spell, channeling influences from Mazzy Star to Massive Attack while carving a world entirely her own.

At 23, Scarlet Nicole has already lived multiple lifetimes of art and transformation, from a viral “Great Gig in the Sky” cover reposted by Pink Floyd to a fast-rising presence in the art-rock and dark-pop space. “Poison” is a hymn for the wounded, the wild, and the reborn – and a clear signal that Scarlet’s power is only growing.

Roger Eno Unveils Hauntingly Beautiful New Album ‘Without Wind / Without Air’

Eric Alper
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Roger Eno Unveils Hauntingly Beautiful New Album ‘Without Wind / Without Air’

British composer and pianist Roger Eno returns with Without Wind / Without Air, his most personal and emotionally revealing work to date. Released today via Deutsche Grammophon, the album combines solo piano meditations with richly orchestrated arrangements for clarinet, strings, synths, percussion, and electronics, creating a sound world that’s both intimate and cosmic. “It’s the most honest album I’ve ever made,” says Eno.

On Without Wind / Without Air, Eno continues his exploration of stillness and fragility — themes that have long defined his music — but adds a new layer of introspection and environmental reflection. The title, borrowed from Italian songwriter Pier Luigi Andreoni, took on deeper meaning for Eno as he contemplated the planet’s vulnerability. “It became a warning,” he explains, “a vision of a terribly bleak future — if any future at all.”

The record features a stunning ensemble of collaborators: Grace Davidson’s crystalline soprano, Cecily and Lotti Eno’s tender harmonies, and Eno’s own rare vocal performance on “The Moon and the Sea.” The Scoring Berlin strings, conducted by Jonathan Stockhammer, elevate three pieces with cinematic depth, while producer Christian Badzura contributes both performance and co-writing on the opening “Forgiveness” and closing “After Rain.”

Tracks like “Spell” and “The Final Year of Blossom” reveal Eno’s mastery of space and silence — his piano melodies suspended like breath between moments of tension and release. The title track, with its stormy dissonances and piercing clarinet lines, captures the album’s central theme: the fragility of life and the inevitability of change. A limited-edition vinyl pressing includes an artcard featuring Eno’s abstract mayfly painting — a symbol, he notes, “of how transient our lives are.”

“I thought I had to do something different for this album,” Eno reflects. “The world has changed in a way that I really don’t like, and I felt it would be disingenuous not to include that. I’m reluctant to show myself in my work, but this album takes the veil off.”

Track Listing:

  1. Forgiveness
  2. Spell
  3. There Was a Ship (feat. Cecily Eno)
  4. The Moon and the Sea
  5. The Final Year of Blossom
  6. Without Wind / Without Air
  7. Mayfly
  8. Before the Fall
  9. Under Glass
  10. After Rain

Oscar-Winning Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir Unveils Intimate New Album ‘Where to From’

Eric Alper
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Oscar-Winning Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir Unveils Intimate New Album ‘Where to From’

Icelandic composer, cellist, and Oscar winner Hildur Guðnadóttir returns with her long-awaited new studio album Where to From, out now via Deutsche Grammophon. Marking her first solo release in a decade, the nine-track collection is an exploration of friendship, creativity, and the mysterious ways music emerges — quietly, instinctively, and without warning.

Best known for her Academy Award- and Grammy-winning scores for Joker and Chernobyl, Guðnadóttir turns inward on Where to From, creating music that’s both deeply personal and universally resonant. The project began as a series of voice memos — spontaneous melodies recorded on her phone over several years — which she later developed into finished compositions. “After working on so many film soundtracks, it was interesting to take a completely different look at the way music comes to me,” she explains. “It’s the music that wakes me up at night or flies into my head as I’m driving, walking, or cycling. It always arrives unannounced.”

Guðnadóttir performs on cello and vocals throughout the album, joined by a close circle of collaborators and friends: Liam Byrne (viola da gamba), Clare O’Connell (cello), Eyvind Kang (viola), and vocalists Jessika Kenney and Elsa Torp. The project was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Francesco Donadello, with visual direction and cover artwork by artist and choreographer Gisèle Vienne. The album booklet includes an in-depth conversation between Guðnadóttir and film director Todd Field (TÁR), further emphasizing the album’s spirit of dialogue and shared creativity.

“The friendships that form when you work in collaboration are such a privilege,” Hildur says. “There’s a special bond and a telepathy that connects you with others the more you perform with them.” This sense of kinship extends to her listeners. She describes Where to From as “a creative dialogue with the people who will listen to this music in the future,” hoping it may inspire others to create — as her own music once inspired filmmakers and even a biologist who told her it sparked a breakthrough in his research.

Tour Dates:
Hildur Guðnadóttir and her ensemble will perform Where to From live throughout the 2025–26 season:

  • Nov 1–2, 2025 – Volksbühne, Berlin
  • Mar 21, 2026 – Barbican Centre, London
  • Apr 26, 2026 – Vienna Konzerthaus
  • Jun 6, 2026 – Harpa, Reykjavík (as Artist in Residence at the 2026 Reykjavík Arts Festival)
  • Late June 2026 – Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam (Holland Festival)

Track Listing:

  1. Make Space
  2. Flow State
  3. Through Light
  4. Where to From
  5. Stillness
  6. Threads
  7. Echo’s Return
  8. Time Passes Quietly
  9. The Distance Between

Global Pop Visionary MIKA Launches New Era With Anthemic Single ‘Modern Times’

Eric Alper
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Global Pop Visionary MIKA Launches New Era With Anthemic Single ‘Modern Times’

Multi-platinum, BRIT Award-winning, and GRAMMY-nominated pop powerhouse MIKA returns with his triumphant new single “Modern Times,” out now via Republic Records. The release marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the global icon, who has teased that a full-length album is on the horizon. The single arrives alongside a cinematic music video filmed in Vienna and directed by Rupert Höller (Foster the People).

“Modern Times” opens with five intertwining piano parts — “like the turning cogs of a mechanical machine that beats the rhythm of a heartbeat” — before building into a soaring anthem that captures both the chaos and beauty of life in motion. Co-produced by MIKA and Nick Littlemore (Empire of the Sun), with additional production by Peter Mayes (PNAU), the song is entirely written by MIKA and embodies his signature blend of theatricality, honesty, and melodic power.

“The song for me is like a treadmill, and that treadmill is life, life in all its good and all its bad,” MIKA shares. “As time goes on and life gets more confusing and sometimes overwhelming, we look further than the world around us, into the world of mythology, desire and dreams. ‘Modern Times’ is a cathedral-like cry, for faith and spirit, resisting the grind and weight of life and the passing of time.”

The track follows a creative streak that’s seen MIKA expand far beyond music. From hosting Italy’s David Di Donatello Awards and mentoring on La Voz Spain, La Voix France, X Factor Italy, and the UK’s The Piano, to receiving the Nordoff & Robbins Global Impact Award earlier this year, he continues to prove himself a dynamic force across art and culture.

With over 20 million albums sold worldwide, platinum and gold certifications in 32 countries, and performances at Coachella and the Eurovision Finale, MIKA’s impact on modern pop remains undeniable. As “Modern Times” ushers in a new era, it’s clear that MIKA’s kaleidoscopic world — full of color, hope, and heart — is still expanding.

Synth-Pop Duo Flight To London Announce 80s-Inspired Debut Album ‘Instructions For Losing Control’

Eric Alper
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Synth-Pop Duo Flight To London Announce 80s-Inspired Debut Album ‘Instructions For Losing Control’

Electrifying synths, emotional storytelling, and pure 80s heart — Flight To London are ready to take off with their debut album Instructions For Losing Control, out November 21. The duo — Jimmy McGorman (Goo Goo Dolls, New Radicals, Weezer) and Robb Vallier (Dave Stewart, Sabrina Carpenter, Gin Blossoms) — channel their love of 80s icons like Tears For Fears, Phil Collins, and Depeche Mode into a dazzling collection that’s nostalgic yet forward-looking.

Instructions For Losing Control captures the sound of two lifelong collaborators stepping into their own spotlight. “After years of writing and producing for other artists, we’re finally pouring our hearts into our own long-awaited dream: our debut album,” the duo said. “Every track is a raw snapshot of the past twelve months, capturing who we are as musicians, friends, and people navigating this complex world together.”

The album’s lead single “No One’s Forgiven”, released September 19, introduced their cinematic, politically charged sound, described as Genesis meets The Hurting-era Tears For Fears. Its follow-up, “Walls” (October 24), features powerhouse vocalist Charlean Carmon and an all-star lineup including Rami Jaffe of Foo Fighters, Jon Button of The Who, Eric Fawcett of N.E.R.D., and Jack Karlson’s Democracy Manifest, layering the track with vintage textures and modern punch.

With production that merges analog warmth and digital clarity, Instructions For Losing Control explores the tension between nostalgia and modernity — from the anxiety of digital overload to the longing for emotional connection. The cover art, designed by Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices, ties the project together with a surreal, collage-style aesthetic that nods to the era’s visual experimentation.

Blending shimmering synths, heartfelt lyricism, and an unmistakable sense of adventure, Flight To London deliver a debut that sounds like the past reimagined for the future — a “flash-forward wearing parachute pants.”

Track Listing:

  1. No One’s Forgiven
  2. Walls (feat. Charlean Carmon)
  3. Parachute Love
  4. Machines Don’t Dream
  5. Control
  6. The Distance
  7. Fade to Blue
  8. Ghost Frequencies
  9. Late Night Cinema
  10. Modern Love Affair

Country Icons Little Big Town Revive Beloved Series With New Covers EP ‘Scattered, Smothered and Covered’

Eric Alper
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Country Icons Little Big Town Revive Beloved Series With New Covers EP ‘Scattered, Smothered and Covered’

Country music’s harmony powerhouse Little Big Town has come full circle with the release of Scattered, Smothered and Covered, their brand-new covers EP available now via MCA Nashville. The project celebrates great songs across eras and genres while reviving their fan-favorite Scattered, Smothered and Covered video series — a viral sensation that first introduced fans to the group’s unmatched flair for reimagining classics over a decade ago.

A 32-time CMA Award nominee and three-time GRAMMY Award-winning group, Little Big Town — Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook — infuse every track with their signature vocal chemistry and heartfelt storytelling. The six-song collection brings new life to familiar favorites, showcasing the group’s versatility and love for timeless songwriting.

The EP kicks off with a soaring take on “Wonderwall” by Oasis before drifting into a lush, harmony-rich rendition of “Rocket Man” by Elton John. Their live version of “Wichita Lineman,” featuring the song’s legendary writer Jimmy Webb, adds extra emotional resonance, while “Take Me Home” featuring Sugarland gives Phil Collins’ classic an Americana spin. The band’s soulful approach to “Hello, It’s Me” by Todd Rundgren and their powerful live performance of “Life in a Northern Town” featuring Sugarland and Jake Owen wrap the project in warmth and nostalgia.

“From the first time we covered these songs to now, they’ve become part of our musical DNA,” the band shared. “Each one reminds us why we fell in love with harmony, melody, and great storytelling in the first place.” The result is a heartfelt tribute to the art of songwriting — a record that bridges generations while reaffirming Little Big Town’s place among country music’s most enduring voices.

Track Listing:

  1. Wonderwall (originally by Oasis)
  2. Rocket Man (originally by Elton John)
  3. Wichita Lineman – Live featuring Jimmy Webb (originally by Glen Campbell)
  4. Take Me Home featuring Sugarland (originally by Phil Collins)
  5. Hello, It’s Me (originally by Todd Rundgren)
  6. Life in a Northern Town – Live featuring Sugarland and Jake Owen (originally by The Dream Academy)

Philadelphia Phenom Armani White Unleashes Genre-Bending New Album ‘There’s a Ghost in My House.’

Eric Alper
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Philadelphia Phenom Armani White Unleashes Genre-Bending New Album ‘There’s a Ghost in My House.’

Philadelphia’s own Armani White is back with a Halloween drop for the ages. The platinum-selling artist has released his bold, emotional, and sonically fearless new album There’s a Ghost in My House. via Def Jam Recordings. The 11-track set showcases Armani at his most inventive, balancing vulnerability with swagger, introspection with experimentation, and sharp bars with soaring hooks.

“Initially, There’s a Ghost in My House. was a play on the idea that there was an actual ghost in my house,” Armani explains. “There was nothing to fear though, because this ghost is just a part of me. For a while, I fought the idea of metamorphosis. Eventually, I accepted change can be scary, but you shouldn’t fear it.” That idea — of embracing change and transparency — defines every track on the album.

From the booming opener “HOME.” to the funk-charged “SAY IT TO ME.” and the soul-searching “BIGGER PERSON.,” Armani flips between styles with effortless charisma. The haunting “GHOST.” featuring Samara Cyn and the cinematic closer “PHNTM.” featuring T-Pain capture his unique ability to mix humor, honesty, and heart while maintaining a hook-driven, anthemic edge.

Critical acclaim has poured in already. BET praised him for “proving once again why everyone’s eyes stay on him.” Billboard called “GHOST.” a groove you can’t resist, while UPROXX noted that Armani and Samara Cyn “leave a lasting impression.” Meanwhile, “CUT THE LIGHTS.” gained viral traction after Armani previewed it at the NFC Championship Game, electrifying fans before the Eagles’ Super Bowl run.

Fresh off supporting T-Pain on the “TP20 Tour,” Armani White continues to prove he’s one of hip-hop’s most dynamic forces. Between his platinum smash “BILLIE EILISH.,” his breakthrough Road to CASABLANCO., and now There’s a Ghost in My House., Armani shows no sign of slowing down — if anything, he’s only getting more unpredictable, personal, and powerful.

Track Listing:

  1. HOME.
  2. GHOST. (feat. Samara Cyn)
  3. CUT THE LIGHTS.
  4. BIGGER PERSON.
  5. POST MODERN.
  6. TTSO.
  7. FLASHMOB 1.
  8. FLASHMOB 2.
  9. MOUNT PLEASANT.
  10. SAY IT TO ME.
  11. PHNTM. (feat. T-Pain)

Kodak Black Drops ‘Just Getting Started’ Album and Celebrates With Two Florida Arena Blowouts

Eric Alper
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Kodak Black Drops ‘Just Getting Started’ Album and Celebrates With Two Florida Arena Blowouts

South Florida rap star Kodak Black has unleashed his eighth studio album, Just Getting Started, out now via Vulture Love / Capitol Records. Blending trap soul with reflection and raw honesty, the 20-track project boasts a sleek sound, thoughtful storytelling, and features from Chance the Rapper, Don Toliver, Gunna, Lil Yachty, and Pharrell Williams. It’s Kodak at his most open, evolving, and self-assured.

To celebrate, Kodak is hosting two massive Halloween arena shows in Florida — the Bill Kill Halloween Concerts. On October 31, he headlines Tampa’s Yuengling Center with Skrilla, Real Boston Richey, Hotboii, and BLP Kosher. The following night, November 1, he performs at Fort Lauderdale’s FTL War Memorial alongside Sexyy Redd, Rob49, YTB Fatt, YKNIECE, 1900Rugrat, and KOSHER. These performances mark a new milestone in Kodak’s journey, blending community, spectacle, and celebration.

At the emotional core of the album lies “Time to Be Free,” a track where Kodak lays bare his growth: “I’m happy I got another chance at life to be perfect / I’m open to new methods and to finding new purpose.” Balancing raw trap energy with introspective depth, Just Getting Started features bangers like “Imma Shoot” and “Still Get Chanel,” praised by Billboard and VIBE for its blend of humor and vulnerability.

Kodak’s creative fire hasn’t cooled for a second. Between his viral RapTV Freestyle, collaborations with DJ E Money, Ne-Yo, Ty Dolla $ign, YG, and Marques Houston, and over 25 billion streams, he remains one of the most dynamic voices in hip-hop. Deeply rooted in his Florida community, Kodak continues to give back through rent relief, his annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, and donations that uplift the 1800 block he came from.

Just Getting Started is more than an album — it’s a declaration. Kodak is focused, grounded, and still hungry. The message couldn’t be clearer: he’s only getting started.

Tour Dates:
Bill Kill Halloween Concerts

  • Oct 31 – Tampa, FL – Yuengling Center w/ Skrilla, Real Boston Richey, Hotboii, BLP Kosher
  • Nov 1 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – FTL War Memorial w/ Sexyy Redd, Rob49, YTB Fatt, YKNIECE, 1900Rugrat, KOSHER

Track Listing:

  1. Project Blue
  2. Still Get Chanel (feat. Chance the Rapper)
  3. No Flaggin
  4. Mumble Rap (feat. Pharrell Williams)
  5. All Black Rolex
  6. Endless Nights (feat. Gunna)
  7. Really Liv’n
  8. YMCA
  9. Shootin Craps (feat. Lil Yachty)
  10. Imma Shoot
  11. Who You Seeing Tonight (feat. Don Toliver)
  12. Calculated Steppin
  13. Jungle Fever
  14. Time to Be Free
  15. Prison Deform
  16. The Better
  17. Yes Indeed (feat. TTO K.T. & Reign)
  18. Savage Compassion
  19. Keys to the City (Extended)
  20. All Love
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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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