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Blues Rising Star ANGELIQUE FRANCIS Rides the Current of Human Connection with ‘Long River’ Album

Eric Alper
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Blues Rising Star ANGELIQUE FRANCIS Rides the Current of Human Connection with ‘Long River’ Album

It takes so much more than a strong voice, songs, and performing ability to break through the ocean’s swell of talent out there; it also takes a special ‘something’ that, while hard to pinpoint, is undeniably irresistible. With that, there’s no denying powerhouse blues singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Angelique Francis has ‘it,’ and she’s letting it flow for the immense pleasure of listeners everywhere with the release of her highly anticipated second album, Long River.

Featuring the release’s first single, “Storms From My Eyes,” the stunning slow-burner of a song sets a languid, classic blues heartbreak start to the engrossing voyage down the Ottawa-based artist’s new 14-track collection.

Blues traditions are at the heart of all of the songs, but there are also intriguing genre bends towards Soul, Folk, Jazz, Gospel, and Rock along the way. Francis’ versatile, soulful, and evocative vocals anchor the trip, conjuring up reminiscences of Big Mama Thornton, Koko Taylor, Aretha, Bessie Smith, and more. And it’s the mixture of genres and influences running through Long River — and the sense of everything and everyone being connected — that anchor the key concept Francis wanted to convey with her new album.

“Despite our differences, and the vast variations in our personal histories, we are all floating down this river together,” notes Francis. “We are all connected in this way. We have all shared the same beginning, and we will all share the same end.”

Sharing that the title track of the album was written about the River of Life, for Francis, the universal connection and journey of all humanity is the thread that binds this project together.

“This analogy is the focal point on which this album of completely original songs is based,” she says. “A multitude of stories, experiences, and emotions of joy, pain, triumph, anger, love, embarrassment, and humour are reflected throughout.”

From the pure heartache of “Storms From My Eyes”, to the righteous anger of “Who is Caroline”, to the joy and devotion of “I’ve Never” and the revival celebration of “Soul Train Life”, Long River rolls over an exciting variety of musical territory. As Francis plainly and proudly puts in the album’s description, Long River is “a studio album recorded with live instruments” — and she plays several of them herself.

In addition to Francis’ focal point contributions as lead vocalist, she plays upright bass, electric bass, harmonica, acoustic and electric guitar, organ, and keyboards on the album. Joining her are four of her family members: co-songwriter, producer, drummer and vocalist Kiran Francis, saxophonist and vocalist Kharincia Francis, trombonist and vocalist Kira Francis, and vocalist Kayla Francis. Rounding out the band are Dave Williamson on lead electric guitar and Ed Lister on trumpet.

The fact that music is an all in the family thing for Angelique Francis is not surprising as she was immersed in it from childhood — first taking the stage at age 7 and then, making her national TV debut on the Oprah Network at age 13 for writing and composing a theme song for “The Gayle King Show”. By age 14, Francis had already become a proficient acoustic guitar, upright bass, electric guitar, and electric bass player, and was performing at a multitude of festivals. In 2018, she released her first album of original music, Kissed By The Blues.

Now, already internationally known for her electrifying performances while holding court center stage with her double bass, Angelique Francis is staking her claim as an exciting and eclectic musical force to be reckoned with. She and her band have been featured at the Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea festival, Sighisoara Blues Festival (Romania), Massey Hall (Women’s Blues Revue), Montreal Jazz Festival, Mariposa Folk Fest, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Ottawa Blues Festival, Mont-Tremblant Blues Festival, Ottawa Folk Fest, and many more. She has shared the stage with and opened for, a wide range of renowned artists — including Gary Clark Jr., Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales, Keb’ Mo’, Jimmy Vivino, Beth Hart, Tom Cochrane, Burton Cummings, Sugar Ray, and the list continues to grow.

Francis’ impressive list of credits and growing caché in the Canadian music industry has led her to be invited to host the upcoming 2022 Maple Blues Awards to be held both live and virtually from Toronto’s Koerner Hall on Monday, June 20.

With her diverse experience and influences, it’s no wonder that Francis prefers to keep her creative focus open and inclusive.

“Much like life, Blues music is also a river. Blues is at the root of all modern North American forms of music, and its influence has flowed into the creation of many genres we know and love today.

“This album is not only a beginning to an exploration of the current human condition, but an exploration and consolidation of the many forms of blues, and blues-influenced music.”

With a new album that sets a high-water mark buoying her along, Angelique Francis is ready to storm international stages again in 2022 with appearances already scheduled in Europe later this spring with more to come.

Pop Artist Sarah Tolle Releases Body-Positive Messaging in “Like It Or Not”

Eric Alper
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Pop Artist Sarah Tolle Releases Body-Positive Messaging in “Like It Or Not”

Beach season is soon upon us, and Vancouver-based pop artist Sarah Tolle has a new body-positive anthem titled “Like It Or Not” at the ready. Available now, the song’s message? Acceptance. “Like it or not/This is how I look naked.”

The track begins with that lapel-gripping line, followed by a driving, danceable disco beat. Tolle then takes us on a relatable journey of both liking and loathing her body — and trying to accept the body she inhabits on both good and bad days.

The idea came to her by accident, she shares.

“I’m an actor, and one day while I was getting dressed after a shower, I started overthinking, ‘What if I’m on set one day, and I’m doing a naked scene, and a whole crew of people are all up close in my junk…?’” Tolle recalls. “Then this voice in my head said, ‘Well, Sarah, like it or not, this is how you look naked. They’re gonna see what’s there. The rest of it is all a story in your head.’”

Another attention-grabbing line in “Like It Or Not” is about wanting a beach body: “And if you wanted/ A beach body/ Listen up/ Step one: take your body to the beach/ That is all you have to do.” The idea for that one came from Tolle’s sister Anna and her approach to body acceptance on social media.

“I remember she posted this photo of herself in a swimsuit on the beach and, let’s just say the photo was not chosen for being the most flattering,” Tolle says. “And she wrote something like, ‘Here’s how to get a beach body: (1) Have a body (2) Take your body to the beach.’

“I like that no-nonsense sentiment.”

In creating the cover art and teaser video for the song, Tolle purposely went without makeup and didn’t comb her hair after her shower. “It was important for the integrity of this song’s message that I show up unadulterated and walk the talk,” she says. “‘Being confident’ in your body doesn’t mean you’re free of insecurities and shame… It means you experience all those things, and you also make room for celebration, nurturing, and gratitude.

“If you like some parts of your body but haven’t accepted other parts, well, that’s life. You’re on the journey.”

Sarah Tolle is a singer-songwriter based in Vancouver, BC, whose warm, energetic music is an exploration of radiant self-expression and a loving invitation to sing and dance. Her music is marked by a trusting openness, delivering pieces that are simple and accessible, yet empowering and fiercely immersive. You’ll hear themes of encouragement, acceptance, tolerance, and peace in her eclectic pop compositions that blend house beats, sweeping orchestral sounds, old-time banjo folk, and more.

Tolle grew up on a beautiful old farm in Wisconsin in a family that practiced music for fun and supported artists. In this space where the lines blurred between work and play, creativity wasn’t so much taught as it was simply practiced. Her mission with music is to revitalize and heal; to help people love themselves and the beings around them.

Canadian Post-Punk Art-Rockers AUS!Funkt Want You to “Set yourself free” with the Release of their Latest Single

Eric Alper
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Canadian Post-Punk Art-Rockers AUS!Funkt Want You to “Set yourself free” with the Release of their Latest Single

Canadian art-rock quartet AUS!Funkt want you to “Set yourself free” with the release of their fiery new single.

Fresh from their newly landed EP, Human Response, the track offers a straightforward message through its unconventional mash-up of the Toronto-based band’s signature blend of post-punk surf-rock, psychedelia, and electro-funk.

“This song came together pretty quickly, and was one of the first we wrote together as a group,” the band recalls. “Michael Wallace of Preoccupations helped produce this track, and added some percussion and tape-delayed vocal effects.”

The video for “Set yourself free” — which simulates a real beach using a green screen — pays homage to Toronto’s legendary Bloordale Beach, a spot that holds a special and somewhat symbiotic meaning for the band, who are Miroslav Miskovic (aka Jozzef Ladovina), Evan Henderson, Olivia Korwan, and Hugo Frutuoso.

“Bloordale Beach was a big, empty lot south of Bloor and Brock that a community of artists and locals transformed into a hangout spot that anyone could enjoy,” the band shares. “Unfortunately, it’s now been demolished; but we are proud to preserve its legacy with our video.

“Bloordale Beach fits the concept of AUS!Funkt perfectly: the area was repurposed to serve as a playground for the creative community in the same way we reuse and repurpose musical ideas to recreate different, constantly changing versions of songs when we play live.

“This is particularly important when we see more and more music venues and rehearsal spaces disappearing in Toronto,” they continue. “It’s important to not forget, as we tend to set ourselves free, that we should also aim to free the spaces from the cuffs of bureaucracy for people to push the barriers of art; Bloordale Beach was one of those attempts.”

“Set yourself free” is one of three songs from AUS!Funkt’s latest EP, Human Response. The selection touches on basic desires as human beings — freedom, connection, and communion — and include other staple songs from the band’s live repertoire, the bouncy-synthed, heavily percussed, and jagged-guitar stabby “Where’s my empathy?” and the brutish, in-your-face guitar-fuzzed rock-ripper that is “Socialized (feat. Blake Lambert).”

Also included are reimagined versions of “Set yourself free” with an ‘Acid Surf Version,’ as well as “Where’s my empathy?” with an ‘Electro Gospel Version’; both alternative takes are under Miskovic’s moniker of El Jozzef, with the latter also featuring Jen Simpson.

Human Response follows AUS!Funkt’s early-year offering, January 2022’s Post-Stagnation. Both EPs were penned pre-pandemic, but the band felt the world’s state of evolving affairs matched the relevancy of the songs and their underlying messages.

“’Information YEAH!’ hits all the keywords that marked this last two years: information, regurgitation, constant negation, no inspiration, indoctrination, suffocation and many other ‘-ations’ that we struggled with as a band,” AUS!Funkt says of Post-Stagnation’s lead single. “But, at the same time, the whole world did as well. It’s not that these things did not exist before the epidemic hit, it’s just that they became much more palpable in the time of crisis.”

Vancouver’s Indigenous Pop Singer Alexis Lynn Isn’t Afraid to “Fall Apart” in New Single

Eric Alper
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Vancouver’s Indigenous Pop Singer Alexis Lynn Isn’t Afraid to “Fall Apart” in New Single

Encapsulating a personal, edgy, and inside view of her perspective on the world, Alexis Lynn lays it bare on her latest single, “Fall Apart.”

Unafraid to be vulnerable, raw, or emotive on the latest release, the honeyed pop diva with a story to tell is back with a dreamy, up-tempo dance-floor bop that moves listeners in her catchy hooks, ear-worm melodies, and a message that resonates with us all.

“It’s about being everybody else’s rock, and putting their needs before your own,” the West Coast-based artist explains. “I wrote it at a point in my life where I felt like I was constantly balancing everyone else’s needs, and making sure everyone else was good — disregarding whether or not I was good.

“I was so burnt out and mentally/emotionally exhausted,” she continues. “I kept thinking, ‘when’s it my turn? To just completely crash and burn and have someone else worry about me instead of worrying about anybody else?’

“And I don’t know if that’s selfish, but I was just so tired of holding it all together.”

In true Alexis Lynn fashion, the song comes complete with a visual component. “I wanted the video to really showcase the chaos of feeling like you have a million different emotions and things going on and giving your energy to so many different people,” she explains. “I wanted it to showcase the feeling of losing your cool — and had a bunch of amazing cast come in for the party scene, and also to play some different emotions like anger, sadness, and euphoria.

“For the anger scene, the plan was to smash the TV with a baseball bat, but it literally bent the bat instead because the TV was so solid!”

Adding to the singer’s slew of pop heavy singles — including “Ghosts”, “Bubble,” “I Can’t Relate,” and more, and having racked up over a staggering Million+ streams and views — “Fall Apart” is another smash in her growing repertoire.

Par for the dynamic course, Alexis Lynn is never tepid when it comes to pulling punches on her trap-infused eclectic dance beats; conveying messages that resonate beyond music, it’s that relatability that continues to push her to a different dimension with her fans.

Unabashedly authentic, Alexis Lynn is a storyteller first, and foremost; citing Rihanna and Amy Winehouse among her influences, she finds solace in spinning yarns in her tunes — a quality she attributes to her family’s ties to Canada’s First Nations.

There is never a truth left untold; no subject too taboo, or prohibited… Nothing is off the table for this up and coming starlet with the powerhouse vox.

As the endemic looms, she has monster-sized plans for 2022. Having spent 2021 writing and recording her multifaceted exploration of mental health and its effects on our lives and relationships Lynn is looking forward to the future. Despite being unable to perform live last year, her tenacity to create music that moves and entices listeners to create their own dance hall — be it in their own living room, or walking down the street with headphones.

The beauty inside Alexis Lynn is not simply her staggeringly gorgeous singing voice, or her penchant for finding the beat that’ll move you. Her soundscapes set the stage for something bigger: something we can each go home with; something that says this person is singing.

Alexis Lynn? She gets us. She gets what we’re hurting, needing, wanting, feeling. And on this track, she lets us know it’s okay to “Fall Apart.”

Jazz Singer Mary Lou Sicoly Spices Up a Timeless Standard with New Release of “Blame It On My Youth”

Eric Alper
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Jazz Singer Mary Lou Sicoly Spices Up a Timeless Standard with New Release of “Blame It On My Youth”

Holding on to a slice of childhood innocence should never be ill-advised as it can enhance the sweet moments in our lives, and make the inevitable sour times easier to swallow. With that in mind, JUNO Award-nominated Canadian jazz vocalist Mary Lou Sicoly is serving up a deliciously spicy take on romantic naivete with the release of her new single, “Blame It On My Youth.”

Written by Oscar Levant and Edward Heyman in 1934 and recorded throughout the decades since by the likes of Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Nat King Cole, Connie Francis, Chet Baker, Holly Cole, Aaron Neville, and Jamie Cullum, “Blame It On My Youth” has stood the test of time as a relatable tale of guileless love.

If I expected love when we first kissed
Blame it on my youth
If only just for you I did exist
Blame it on my youth

“I fell in love with the lyrics and, of course, the gorgeous melody,” Sicoly notes as to why chose to record this classic. “Being raised in a household where a sense of humour was the recipe for keeping young at heart, I’ve always had a sense of whimsy.”

That sense of whimsy found its way into the recording as well. Originally a ballad, Sicoly’s bright version of “Blame It On My Youth” is full of sunshine and rhythm. It’s an intriguing musical dichotomy of a lyrical lament set against a very festive soundscape. For that unexpected, bold and ear-pleasing treatment, Sicoly gives full props to her longtime musical director.

“This song was arranged by my brilliant Musical Director, John Ebata,” Sicoly shares. “In a completely different style than the original, he gives it a Latin feel — cradled in a blend of colourful percussion and driving, Cuban-style bass which makes the vocals pop.”

“Blame It On My Youth” is the first single from Lemon Meringue Pie, the 10-song debut album Sicoly and Ebata started working on pre-pandemic. For these two past JUNO nominees, it’s been a labour of love and much needed creative focus over the past two uncertain years. Lemon Meringue Pie will see its highly anticipated release on May 10th with a launch concert at Toronto’s famed Jazz Bistro. It will be as much a celebration of a great musical partnership as it will be for the music itself.

“I feel that collaborating and working with people has to begin with a mutual respect for each other’s talents as well as a genuine chemistry that allows the flow of ideas to make good music,” Sicoly says. “I am blessed to have that dynamic both with my Musical Director and the musicians with whom I work.”

Lemon Meringue Pie may be Sicoly’s debut jazz album but that’s just the latest accomplishment in a career that has seen some wonderful milestones so far for the Toronto-based singer/songwriter. She has written and recorded five children’s albums, including the JUNO nominated Chase a Rainbow. Sicoly, Ebata and Nova Scotian vocalist Mark Riley recently toured a “classic duets” album and, currently, Sicoly, Ebata and Dora Award winning multi-instrumentalist, composer and vocalist Waleed Abdulhamid are working on an equity, diversity and inclusion project called “Songs For Humanity.”

Also an esteemed music educator, Mary Lou Sicoly is a recipient of the CARAS (JUNO) Award for Music Education, a TVOntario Award for Innovation in Music Education and was the 1999 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. A presenter at several education conferences, Sicoly has also toured the Arctic with “Strings Across the Sky”, leading music camps in Tuktoyaktuk and Iqaluit.

From singing with her dad’s dance band in Sault Ste. Marie to jingles and commercial spots, to performing in various solo, ensemble and big band shows everywhere from the CNE to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Mary Lou Sicoly has years of diverse and exciting performances behind her and many more ahead of her too. A tour to support Lemon Meringue Pie is in the works for Ontario and the Maritimes later in 2022/2023.

Now, with “Blame It On My Youth”, Sicoly is offering a first bite of her upcoming album that is bursting with flavour, zing, and a lot of the ingredients found in her own personality.

“No matter what losses or challenges I’ve experienced, I’ve continued to be a hopeless romantic, someone who believes that something good is just around the corner.”

And so, it is.

Son of James Doubles Down With New “I Need You” & “Have You Been in Love” Singles

Eric Alper
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Son of James Doubles Down With New “I Need You” & “Have You Been in Love” Singles

While many romantic relationships have not survived throughout the global pandemic, many have thrived, begging the question of what’s behind love lost and found during this unprecedented time in human history. Vancouver, BC-based rock group Son of James is exploring these two sides of love from a personal perspective with back-to-back singles and videos, “I Need You” and “Have You Been in Love.”

Both “I Need You” and “Have You Been in Love” were borne out of pandemic-inspired introspection and creativity for Son of James’ lead vocalist and songwriter, Shon Wong.

A powerful, emotion-packed ballad a la Mr. Big’s “To Be With You,” “I Need You” is a result of the early days of COVID and the isolation Wong was feeling that bred self-reflection. As a fitness trainer, Wong had been suddenly shut down. Live music and the ability to perform were also off the table. So, he was feeling lonely and uncertain about the future.

“Everyone is keeping their distance; we’re at the peak of COVID; nobody is taking any chances,” remembers Wong. “In that stage, I asked myself ‘Shon, why are you alone?’ and at that moment I started to think about past girlfriends and past romances and why it didn’t work.

“This song is basically me owning up to it and taking responsibility for what could’ve been some great relationships.”

Give me your hand
Give me this dance
All I need is one more chance
I Need You

Son of James explores a more hopeful side of love and relationships with their second single and video release “Have You Ever Been in Love?” Thinking and chatting with friends about how many relationships have been casualties of the pandemic prompted the question to be asked and gave Wong some introspective food for thought.

“I had to really think about that, and the answer was ‘no,’” Wong recalls. “I’m imagining being in a 10-year relationship and being asked that question, and how awful it would be if the answer was still ‘no.’”

However, “Have You Been in Love” is not so much about the absence of love as it is about the prospect of it. “To remind everyone what love sounds like, ‘Have You Been in Love’ was written with a carefree approach that electrically soars past any boundaries,” explains Wong. It’s a reminder that keeping six feet apart isn’t forever. Don’t be afraid to love.”

“Have You Been in Love” intriguingly shifts tempos and gears the same way that the pursuit of love alternates between heart-racing moments and more methodical periods of waiting. Wong shares lead vocals with Jackie Nguyen like a courtship dance built around the lyrics Wong had been hearing in his head for some time after that initial chat with friends about relationships and the pandemic.

The rest of the band wasn’t immediately on board. “To them, I was bringing a demo held together with scotch tape. But once we got Jackie to sing the chorus, people started to see what I was cooking up. Then once we got the pianist, cellist, and synth strings to help disguise the tempo changes, the scotch tape started to turn to glue, and the song started taking shape.”

Much like the two sides of love that the songs reside on, the videos for each have their own distinct moods and directions and both are available now to watch on YouTube.

An empty warehouse with an open staircase is the main location for “I Need You” conveying a broken down, lonely and rundown feeling. “It was perfect!” says Wong. “I thought it would be cool to have different musicians at the top of the stairs while I was singing at the bottom. In editing, we could flicker between different musicians while I sang. To do this, I had to shoot myself performing with each musician individually, so we had consistency.”

The video for “Have You Been in Love” is revved up in more ways than one. Wong and his creative team wanted to echo the song’s classic rock vibe in the video. “I dusted off my Top Gun Jacket, jumped into my red 1985 Honda Prelude, and cruised the streets of Vancouver,” says Wong. “We also incorporated a retro sound wave graphic for the female vocals. The video is intimate, raw, retro, sexy, and fast. All the ingredients of a classic rock love song!”

Son of James, self-described as a “Vancouver Chinatown rock band that blends the soulful sounds of rock and funk with the mystical sounds of Chinese instrumentation”, is proving to be both a cultural and musical force in the Lower Mainland and beyond with their brand of “Chynatruckerfunk”. In addition to hosting gala Chinese New Year’s events since 2018, the band collaborated with the Vancouver Cantonese Opera and Heart of the City Festival to pen and then perform their original hybrid Chinese Rock Opera “Tale of the Eastside Lantern” in front of a sold-out crowd at Vancouver’s CBC Studio 700. The band made the cover of The Georgia Strait for their efforts. Their music has also taken Son of James to stages in San Francisco, Nashville, Memphis, and Europe.

Alongside frontman and key songwriter Shon Wong, Son of James features an interchangeable line up of Michelle Kwan on cello and Guzheng (Chinese Harp), Jonathan Reichart on lead guitar, Adam Richards on guitar, bass, and vocals, Alan Ruiz on bass, Reuben Avery on piano, Jason Overy on drums, Eric Tsang on sax, and the Jackie Nguyen on vocals.

As we move ahead in 2022 with live music returning and venues welcoming guests back to enjoy it, Son of James will take full advantage of the momentum that two new, pandemic-borne singles are bound to provide.

Americana Artist Kelly Pardekooper Documents Heartbreak in Swaggering “Someday Someone”

Eric Alper
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Americana Artist Kelly Pardekooper Documents Heartbreak in Swaggering “Someday Someone”

We’ve all known — at one point, in some way — a heartbreaker in a one-horse town. And now, Americana crooner Kelly Pardekooper pays tribute with an infectious mix of sincerity and swagger to the one knockin’ all those local boys down in his new single “Someday Someone,” from his new EP, Autumn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIVQH9uZWoY

“Someday Someone” is a galloping guitar-driven romp along a dusty, dirt-road trail of broken hearts. “A trail of tears to the county line/ Someday, someone/ Is gonna do you like you’ve never been done,” Pardekooper sings with a voice like velvet.

The narrator isn’t bitter, however, and seems to ultimately regard the heartbreaker’s game-playing as a challenge; the song ends with “Someday someone/ Gonna love you like it’s never been done/ Gonna win you like you’ve never been won.”

Based in Las Vegas, Pardekooper’s voice and songs have been used in a wide variety of films and TV shows including Sons of Anarchy, True Blood, Virgin River, Longmire, Justified, and countless others. To say that he’s prolific is a bit of an understatement; however, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pardekooper wasn’t inspired to create new music at all — and didn’t touch his guitar during that entire year.

It wasn’t until his wife accepted a job in Las Vegas, and the couple sold their house in Indianapolis to move across the country to Sin City that saw the change of scenery do wonders for Pardekooper’s inspiration. “Renting a small apartment, I wrote these seven new songs staring out the window at the mountains a lot,” he shares. “And it was wonderful to reconnect with my old friend Teddy Morgan and record this new music with him in Nashville. There’s something very special and unspoken that happens when working with trusted music friends.

“I’m grateful the songs keep coming.”

In addition to the inclusion of Teddy Morgan, who Pardekooper refers to as his “partner in vibe,” the new album Autumn also features Pat Sansone of Wilco on organ and piano.

The EP includes the moody, whispery, understated “Dejamos” with an Elliott Smith vibe; “Forever Broken Hearted,” a mellow rock-infused ballad about trying to let go of a long-lost love that was over before it even began; “Tried To Let Go” is a sparse, spare lament with the vocals as the focus — also about lost love, with this particular wound being much more fresh. “I’m Leaving” is a pounding, resounding rocker about setting some boundaries and getting the hell out; the titular track, “Autumn,” evokes the warm glow of the season and of an old flame; “Sleep Tight” is a shimmery, silky lullaby – “You’re not alone/ We’ll be all right/ You’re not alone/ My darlin’ sleep tight.”

The single “Someday Someone” and the Autumn EP are available now.

NITE Releases Dark Wave Thrash Metal “Good Boy” Single

Eric Alper
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NITE Releases Dark Wave Thrash Metal “Good Boy” Single

From burgeoning rock that rolls into a thrashing metal anthem surging with the fire of enough 80s synth to power 100 suns, Dallas-based dark wavers NITE take the day with the release of their new single, “Good Boy.”

“Good Boy,” the band — aka the twin mastermind duo of Kyle and Myles Mendes — says is an anthem about saying no to addiction and unhealthy relationships.

“Since the instrumentation set up the song to be more grungy, we wanted the lyrics to be playful — almost vindictive,” NITE explains. “Twisted Sister’s ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’” was a reference for how we wanted the chorus to sound; we wanted to repeat a strong and spiteful message.

“We paced in circles writing the lyrics, while Myles’ black cat knocked everything he could off the table at our feet,” they continue. “He may have inspired the title and chorus — and he is featured in the ‘Good Boy’ music video.”

The visual component is a dark testament to the resounding emblematic “Good Boy” lyrics. NITE doesn’t intend to hide in the shade, but rather embrace the blackness of shadow from the song itself.

“We were influenced to delve into the horror drama by playing the video game, ‘Dead By Daylight,’ with our friends. This is a horror/survivor game featuring killers like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Ghost Face.

“We also researched classic horror films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, and Saw, which inspired us to create our own Killer. We chose our Too Spooky mascot to be the Killer: a black cat with a wicked, red smile.

“Dressed in all black and wielding a knife, we think he fits the archetype perfectly.”

The fusion of the new song came together in NITE’s own home studio, where their creativity was able to thrive in their own developed spaces.

“Both of us have our own home recording studios where we track our instruments and vocals,” the band shares. “The bass riff was the first instrument we tracked for ‘Good Boy.’ It set the tone for a dark, gritty dance anthem.

“After the instrumental was completed, we tracked our drummer, Phil Helms, in our rehearsal space. We hope that we captured the intense energy we express on stage in the recording.”

As an electronica-infused dream-rock band dominating musical and lyrical soundscapes with swooping industrial undertones and electric guitar overtones, NITE has already garnished bigwig accolades, and praise. Having shared stages alongside Small Black, The New Division, DREAMERS, The Griswolds, Clean Bandit, Midge Ure, Modern English, and more, their Sleepless album dropped in 2020 (Cleopatra), followed by the album’s remix in 2021. Their dark wave cover of Alice in Chains’ “Would?” foreshadows what they call a new darker direction for the band’s intended musical journey to come.

And as we wait for NITE to come with a dream-packed punch of dark, hard, industrial rock, we’re able to dance, groove, and embody this latest single.

Like a “Good Boy.”

Veeps Launches New Exclusive Concert Streams From Galantis, Indigo Girls, Kaleo, LP, And Poppy

Eric Alper
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Today, the experience of streaming concerts gets even better as premium streaming platform, Veeps, released a suite of consumer apps that allows fans to enjoy live music shows from popular artists directly from the homescreen of their TV or mobile device. The apps go live with an incredible array of upcoming concerts including global dance superstar GALANTIS at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, the enduring folk rock music duo of INDIGO GIRLS, GRAMMY-nominated Icelandic blues-rock band KALEO (also live from Red Rocks), KINGS OF LEON’S upcoming sold out O2 Arena show in London, singer/songwriter LP at the Fillmore Philadelphia, GRAMMY-nominated artist POPPY from House of Blues San Diego, and a beautiful capture of SLASH Ft. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS – Live From Boston show.

The multi-platform release marks the most robust app coverage of all concert streaming services, with Veeps apps available for free download on Apple TV, Roku, iOS, and Android. While Veeps has always made live and on-demand concerts available via veeps.com, today’s release puts premium quality live music directly into a viewer’s TV without having to cast from a phone, screen-share or deal with annoying cables. And for those that love to watch shows from anywhere, the phone and tablet experience has been upgraded to the native app quality consumers expect from premium entertainment services. Concerts are available on a pay-per-view basis from directly within the apps.

With COVID heavily impacting live, in-person concerts over the last two years, consuming music livestreams has become firmly established fan behavior that is showing little signs of slowing down. A survey conducted in late 2021 indicated that as in-person concerts return fully, four out of five people planned to continue watching music livestreams. Over 90% of people also responded saying that they would purchase a livestream of a concert they wanted to see in person but couldn’t attend — a key insight as artists look to expand their live audiences beyond physical tour stops. Analysis of Veeps ticket buyers of hybrid shows showed that around 90% of concert stream watchers were not in the local market of the in-person concert, indicating that streaming provides fans with greater access to their favorite artists.

Today’s app release is yet another move from Veeps to guarantee that the world’s best live music appears wherever people are consuming content all around the world. In March, Veeps was announced as the only concert streaming platform to be included in Verizon’s new concert and entertainment hub, +play. This follows an announcement last year to install top-of-the-line camera equipment that enables turnkey livestreaming in a number of music venues across the U.S. — including House of Blues Chicago and New Orleans, The Fillmore in Philadelphia, Irving Plaza in New York, The Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington, and Dos Equis Pavillion in Dallas, TX. — in partnership with Live Nation.

Fans can access the Veeps apps for iPhone, iPad, or Android in the iOS or Android app stores, or on their TV by searching “Veeps” in the Apple TV or Roku app stores.

FEATURED SHOWS AVAILABLE IN THE VEEPS APPS NOW —

KINGS OF LEON LIVE FROM O2 ARENA LONDON ON JULY 2

Just announced: Kings of Leon head back to where it all began with a global livestream event at the O2 Arena London on Saturday, July 2, 2022. The When You See Yourself tour returns the family band to the UK for the first time in over four years. Since their debut in 2003, Kings of Leon (Caleb (guitar/vocals), Nathan (drums), Jared (bass) and Matthew Followill (guitar)) have released seven albums (Youth & Young Manhood (2003), Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004), Because of the Times (2007), Only by the Night (2008), Come Around Sundown (2010), Mechanical Bull (2013), WALLS (2016), sold over 20 million albums and nearly 40 million singles worldwide. The multi-platinum selling band has had five singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, all seven of their studio albums on Billboard’s Top 200 list and two singles that reached #1 on Modern Rock radio. With the release of WALLS, the band garnered their first-ever number one album debut on the Billboard Top 200. In addition, they have had nine GRAMMY Nominations, three GRAMMY Award wins, three NME Awards, two Brit Awards, and one Juno Award. They have toured all over the world, playing at top venues and headlining major festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Glastonbury. Kings of Leon most recently released their eighth studio album When You See Yourself on March 5th to critical and fan acclaim, with their lead single “The Bandit” receiving a GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Song in 2022. Tickets for “Kings of Leon Live from O2 Arena London” are on sale now at Veeps; the show will be available for viewing for three days after the event airs.

TICKETS HERE.

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SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, LIVE FROM BOSTON ON APRIL 15

Announced to the world on March 25, SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS will celebrate the release of their new album by sharing it with fans around the world via a global streaming event to be held Friday, April 15, 2022, at 12 PM PT. The show will wrap up their nationwide  “The River Is Rising” U.S. tour of sold-out shows and release of their new single “April Fool” HERE off their new album 4, which is available everywhere now via Gibson Records (in partnership with BMG), HERE, and in limited-edition bundles HERE. “Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – Live From Boston, shot on location in March during the group’s sold out House of Blues show, the full production, multi-camera streaming concert event will give fans around the globe the chance to see SMKC’s electrifying live show which The Chicago Sun-Times heralded “a rock-solid powerhouse” and “a curated, 21-song salute to some of their own best material” adding, “As long as Slash is still standing, rock music will always be alive and well” (3/3/22). The set list will include classic favorites, as well as brand new songs from their new album 4, released last month on Gibson Records/BMG. Tickets for “Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – Live From Boston” are on sale now at Veeps; the show will be available for viewing for 48 hours after the event airs.

TICKETS HERE.

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KALEO LIVE AT RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE ON MAY 16

Following a series of sold-out shows on the North American leg of their Fight Or Flight Tour, GRAMMY-nominated Icelandic blues-rock band KALEO make their triumphant return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Monday, May 16, 2022 with an exclusive livestream of their sold-out show via Veeps. After amassing over 1 Billion global streams, 39 international certifications and countless sold-out headlining shows spanning from London to Moscow, KALEO has proven to be a worldwide phenomenon. Led by front man/songwriter JJ Julius Son, the band released their sophomore full-length Surface Sounds in 2021, introducing the record with a pair of lead singles: “I Want More” and “Break My Baby,” both of which reached the Top 6 at Triple A radio. 2016’s RIAA Gold-certified breakthrough A/B spawned three hit singles – the GRAMMY-nominated “No Good,” the RIAA Gold-certified “All The Pretty Girls” and the chart-topping, two-time RIAA Platinum-certified “Way Down We Go” which was used in over two dozen television shows from “Grey’s Anatomy” to “Riverdale,” leading the No. 1 single to top The Hollywood Reporter‘s Top TV Songs chart. KALEO completely sold out their first U.S. headline tour and was a standout at Coachella, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo and were hand-picked to open stadium dates for the Rolling Stones. Tickets for “KALEO – Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre” are on sale now on Veeps; the show will be available for viewing for three days after the event airs. Opening acts Bones Owen and The Glorious Sons will be featured during the livestream, however their performances will not be available on demand.

TICKETS HERE.

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INDIGO GIRLS CONCERT SPECIAL ON MAY 8

Indigo Girls unite with members of their renowned backing band and special guests from across the globe for Look Long: Together, a career-spanning concert special on Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 6 PM PT featuring hits, rarities, and for the first time, full-band live renditions of songs from 2020’s Look Long album. Woven between multi-cam performances, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray discuss songwriting and reveal the inspiration behind signature songs in a series of intimate home movie segments. Look Long: Together is your evening with the Indigo Girls: a one-of-a-kind celebration of nearly four-decades of music and community. Tickets are on sale now at Veeps; the show will be available for viewing for seven days after the event airs.

TICKETS HERE.

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GALANTIS LIVE FROM RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE ON APRIL 22

Internationally-acclaimed collaborative project Galantis has announced an exclusive livestream concert event, broadcasting live from its sold-out April 22nd show at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. One of the most dynamic live acts in dance music, Galantis boasts an innovative show that incorporates a three-tiered stage equipped with cymbals, drum pads, and 5 full-size kick drums. Since debuting in 2009, Galantis has sold out countless venues around the world on their headline tours and has thrilled crowds across the global festival circuit. The past few months have seen a series of massive genre-bending collaborations for Galantis, most recently including “What It Feels Like” with Navos & You, “Good Luck” with Mabel & Jax Jones, “Run” with Becky Hill, “Sweet Talker” with Years & Years and a remix of Coldplay & BTS’ #1 single “My Universe.” Galantis also reunited with Little Mix for a remix of their single “No,” marking the second collaboration this year with the superstar group after their 2021 global smash hit “Heartbreak Anthem” alongside David Guetta. Tickets for “Galantis: Live from Red Rocks Amphitheatre” are on sale now at Veeps; the show will be available for viewing for three days after the event airs.

TICKETS HERE.

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LP LIVE FROM THE FILLMORE PHILADELPHIA ON MAY 1

LP recently announced the global livestream from their tour stop at the Fillmore Philadelphia on Sunday, May 1, 2022. This show marks LP’s fourth livestream performance on Veeps and will also feature an opening set from Nick Leng. LP rose to international fame with 2017’s Lost On You. The album’s hit title track reached #1 in 18 countries and recently surpassed one billion streams. In 2018, LP released Heart to Mouth featuring the singles “Girls Go Wild” (Italy’s most-played radio hit in 2019) and “Recovery”. In 2021, LP released their latest album Churches, and are currently in the midst of their North American tour to support the release. Tickets for their livestream from the Fillmore Philadelphia are on sale now on Veeps; the show will be available for viewing for two days after the event airs.

TICKETS HERE.

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POPPY LIVE FROM HOUSE OF BLUES SAN DIEGO ON MAY 26

Just announced: Post-genre art and music visionary Poppy will be livestreaming from her Never Find My Place Tour stop at House of Blues San Diego on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Poppy has quickly risen to center-stage as an unassuming paragon of high culture, high fashion and high art. Embodying “alternative” in the truest sense of the word, she bleeds the boundaries between pop, progressive, and electronic underpinned by unpredictable time signatures shifts and heavy edge on her third full-length, I Disagree. I Disagree was a decisive document of her progression from internet phenomenon to musician of unparalleled aplomb, yielding critical acclaim in the form of cover stories for NME, Revolver, Kerrang!, Upset, TUSH and inclusion on several best of 2020 lists (#1 Upset, #12 Revolver, #19 Popbuzz, #23 Kerrang, etc.), as well as a GRAMMY nomination for Best Metal Performance (BLOODMONEY), making her the first solo female artist ever nominated in the category. Poppy premiered the title track from EAT (NXT Soundtrack) in an iconic performance for the GRAMMYs that left fans begging for more until the EP’s surprise release as part of a major televised event in partnership with WWE. She followed the EAT EP with the single Her to much acclaim for both the song and its innovative music video. Flux came next, accompanied by its own imaginative video directed by Poppy and the announcement of a new album of the same name. So Mean followed with an additional self-directed video – ahead of the full album drop on September 24, 2021. Tickets for Poppy’s livestream from House of Blues San Diego are on sale now on Veeps.

TICKETS HERE.

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ALL SHOWS:

  • Ludo on April 22, 2022 live from House of Blues Chicago
  • Apocalyptica on April 27, 2022 live from House of Blues Chicago
  • Dorothy on April 30, 2022 live from House of Blues Chicago
  • Car Seat Headrest on April 30, 2022 live from The Wiltern in Los Angeles
  • Better Than Ezra on May 6, 2022 live from House of Blues New Orleans

Carole Bayer Sager And Mike Stoller To Be Honored As BMI Icons

Eric Alper
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Carole Bayer Sager And Mike Stoller To Be Honored As BMI Icons

BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) is thrilled to celebrate the best in songwriting at the 70TH Annual BMI Pop Awards. Legendary music creators Carole Bayer Sager and Mike Stoller will be honored as BMI Icons, celebrating their indelible and timeless contributions to the art of songwriting. BMI’s Pop Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year and BMI’s top 50 most-performed pop songs in the U.S. of the previous year will also be named.

“BMI is thrilled to be honoring two iconic songwriters, Carole Bayer Sager and Mike Stoller, alongside the creators of some of today’s most-performed songs,” said Cane. “As we commemorate BMI’s 70th Pop Awards, we pay homage to the craft of these two musical legends and their timeless contributions to BMI and the great American songbook. We’re proud to present them with the BMI Icon Award for their lasting impression on fans worldwide and on the songwriters following the path they’ve laid out to musical greatness, which is second to none.”

With a career spanning over five decades, GRAMMY and Academy Award-winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager is responsible for lyrics to some of the most popular songs of our time, including “Nobody Does It Better,” “A Groovy Kind of Love,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” and the Oscar-winning theme from the movie Arthur, “Best That You Can Do.” She’s written more than 400 songs that transcend generations and has worked with some of the biggest stars in music, such as Ray Charles, Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Melissa Manchester, Reba McEntire, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand and many more.

Sager has received many accolades and honors throughout her illustrious career, including 26 BMI Awards, and she was named BMI’s Pop Songwriter of the Year in 1977. She’s also received an Oscar, two Golden Globe Awards, a GRAMMY win for Song of the Year for “That What Friends Are For,” and a combined 15 nominations. Adding to her collection of prestigious awards, Sager has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2019, she was the recipient of the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

World-renowned songwriter Mike Stoller is one-half of the legendary team of Leiber & Stoller, whose iconic partnership spanned decades with countless chart-topping songs among their hugely successful repertoire. Together, they wrote over 20 songs for Elvis Presley, including “Hound Dog,” “Love Me,” and “Jailhouse Rock,” and wrote and produced all the hit songs performed by The Coasters, such as “Searchin’,” “Yakety Yak,” “Charlie Brown,” and “Poison Ivy” to name a few. Other timeless classics written by the pair include “Love Potion Number 9,” “I’m A Woman,” and “Is That All There Is?” as well as “On Broadway” co-written with Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and “Stand by Me” co-written with Ben E. King. The hit musical Smokey Joe’s Cafe: The Songs of Leiber & Stoller won a GRAMMY Award in 1995, was nominated for seven Tony Awards and is the longest-running musical revue in Broadway history.

Other accolades for Stoller include being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1985) and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1987). He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1994) and his handprints are embedded at the Hollywood RockWalk on Sunset Boulevard (1994). Over his acclaimed career, Stoller has also been honored with a Trustee GRAMMY Award (1999), Johnny Mercer Award by the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame (2000), an Ivor Novello International Songwriters Award (2000) and an impressive 57 BMI Awards, among others.

As the newest BMI Icon honorees, Carole Bayer Sager and Mike Stoller join an elite group of songwriters who have received BMI’s highest honor for their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Previous recipients include Barry Manilow, The Bee Gees, Brian Wilson, Carlos Santana, Carole King, Crosby, Stills & Nash, David Foster, Dolly Parton, the Jacksons, John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, Mann & Weil, Merle Haggard, Nile Rodgers, Paul Simon, Stevie Nicks, Sting and Willie Nelson, among others.

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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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