All photos by Mini’s Memories. If you’re an artist or band and need photos done for your next release, you can no wrong contacting her with your details: minismemories@hotmail.com














All photos by Mini’s Memories. If you’re an artist or band and need photos done for your next release, you can no wrong contacting her with your details: minismemories@hotmail.com














Sometimes the best things about summer are the most simple: the smell of dew in the grass, a charge in the night air, and infinite stars in a clear sky. And Nobeton, ONās singer-songwriter Matt Morson captures these modest joys, and more, with his new single āTailgate Patioā ā available now.
All about a night of jubilant dancing and partying among friends in the bed of a truck, Matt takes us along for the ride among driving electric guitars and an easy, dashboard-thumping beat. His lyrics take us down tree-lined country roads ā windows down, breeze in our hair ā to the perfect spot for a bonfire and, of course, a tailgate. The headlights illuminate your crushās smile, thereās a hint of perfume in the air, and then your favorite song comes on the radio. All in all, the perfect summer night. A singalong-ready chorus, female-backed vocal harmonies, and a wailing guitar solo make it one thatās hard to forget.
A faster, more rock-infused departure from his usual country-and-blues sound, Matt wrote āTailgate Patioā while sitting on a hill at dusk, turkey hunting. āNot the usual place to write a song,ā Matt said, ābut it seemed to produce results for me.ā All he knew when he started was that he really wanted to write a summer song. āGrowing up, I loved those summer anthems that made you want to drive with the windows down, so I thought I would try my hand at one,ā he says, adding that the resulting song is what he set out to do. āItās fun and fast and still a little rock inspired as all my music is. Itās a summer jam that I feel is still me. Still in my lane.ā
Born and raised in a small town in Ontario, Matt has always used his love of music and songwriting as a mode of self-expression. He picked up his first guitar at age 11 to master Led Zeppelinās āCommunication Breakdown,ā and it all fell into place from there. Mattās charismatic presence and ability to connect with an audience have led him to many notable performances throughout his career. Highlights include opening for Doc Walker, George Canyon, Jojo Mason, River Town Saints, Paul Brandt, and Aaron Pritchett. Most comfortable on stage, he and his band are known for a high energy and extremely passionate live show.
Not one to expect opportunities to just come looking for him, Matt spends the bulk of his free time in the studio, recording and rehearsing with his band. Heās always striving to improve his sound and hone his artistry. Hence writing a song even while turkey hunting, reaching through the dusk for that danceable summer jam.
“Tailgate Patio” is available now.
From Canadaās northern epicenter of music, straight to the nationās capital, Nunavut-based record label Hitmakerz is set to host a week-long professional development event this September.
Hitmakerz Compound will take place from September 2ā9, 2021. The songwriting and music production workshops will take place September 6, 10, and 11, 2021.
During these events, six artists from Hitmakerzās inimitable roster will be harnessing their time together for a dynamic week of creative collaboration and music making. And extending beyond their own incredibly multi-talented roster of Inuit artists, Hitmakerz will welcome industry heavy hitters āā including award-winning, Platinum-selling producers Chris Birkett and Dale Penner, as well as many other local Ottawa-based songwriters, producers, and artists.
In this project, Iqaluitās head-turning record label will transform an Ottawa-area mansion into an immersive content creation house dubbed the āHitmakerz Compound.ā Four of the artists in attendance ā Joey Nowyuk, Jacob Okatisak, Brenda Montana, and Angela Amarualik ā will write songs, record, and producer their upcoming albums, while two artists āā Aocelyn (pronounced āaw-slinā) and Shauna Seeteenak āā are slated to record music videos for upcoming single releases and demos for their next albums.
Several of the artists have had their albums come out in 2021, including Joey Nowyuk āā whose album Tumitit won an Indigenous Music Award āā Shauna Seeteenak, and Aocelyn. During Hitmakerz Compound, all of the artists will also undergo daily industry training and coaching.
According to Hitmakerz CEO Thor Simonsen, the project was born out of necessity and pragmatism. āThe idea came about since we were already flying people around the country for production,ā says Simonsen. āThen we thought: Wouldnāt it be great for all these amazing artists and producers to meet and work in the same space at the same time?
āThe project was partly inspired by the innovative concept of a TikTok content creation houseā Simonsen continues. āWe expect the Hitmakerz Compound to allow our artists to be inspired, cross-pollinating ideas in order to create new music, beautiful content, and continue developing sustainable careers in the arts.ā
The producers lined up to work with the artists are no strangers to the industry, or creative ways of producing music: Birkett has worked with the likes of Led Zeppelin, Sinead OāConnor, Sting, Quincy Jones, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. His work has won him a Grammy, JUNO Awards, and Canadaās top musical honour, the Polaris Prize.
Penner, a Platinum-selling and multi-award winning producer, engineer, and mixer, also has a chart-topping list of credits that include Nickelback, The Matthew Good Band, Econoline Crush, and more.
Simonsen, also an award-winning music producer, will be the executive producer of each project. Simonsenās credits include everyone on the labelās roster, as well as Aasiva and the late Kelly Fraser ā with whom he originally founded the company in 2016.
Legendary Nunavut speed-rapper, Hyper-T (TO BE CONFIRMED), as well as Ottawa-based music producer, Tev Bourque (TO BE CONFIRMED), will also be working with the artists as producers. Additionally, Hitmakerz COO and Performance Coach, Sarah Elaine McLay, will assist with production and training.
in order to capture the spirit of the project for a potential documentary, Joan Prowsewill direct a small team of aspiring documentary filmmakers. Joan is a JUNO Award-nominated and esteemed writer, producer, director, and video editor. The music videos will be directed by Ottawa-based filmmaker Rachel Vrecic, who will manage a small team of filmmakers.
In addition to the albums, music videos, etc., three full-day songwriting and music production workshops will be held on the campus ā taught by Birkett and Penner, respectively. Open to any Ottawa-based artists with more than two years of songwriting experience, the workshops are $248, and will serve to help artists create new material and network; all attendees must provide proof of full Covid-19 vaccination.
The songwriting workshops will offer guidance and feedback as songwriters pair off to write and record demos for three new songs each. Demos and stem audio files will be recorded for each song and sent to the songwriters. The music production workshops will offer industry-leading take on music production, as well as hands-on instruction to create and enhance productions. The workshops, which will include other presenters, will provide tips, tricks, and best practices on how to make a living as a professional songwriter and/or producer and engineer.
In each workshop, attendees will receive bonuses valued at more than $1,400, including a free PRO Single Release with CD Baby, access to Indie Weekās Music Pro Summit, a free mini-course on grant writing, free headshots or band photos, and a free vocal assessment. Attendees will also receive valuable insights from other on-site professionals, including Ottawa-based entertainment lawyer, Byron Pascoe, of Edwards Creative Law. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will also be included, as well as discounts, prizes, giveaways, and more.
āI think everyone will benefit from getting to know each other and working together,ā Simonsen says of the event. āThese intimate events will create amazing new music, friendships, and unforeseen opportunities for growthā.
āCovid-19 completely changed the world of concerts, live music, and gatherings,ā says McLay. āFor us, this in-person event is a sign of hope towards a return to normalcy.ā
Canadian women are increasingly ready to travel, says Carolyn Ray, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of JourneyWoman. And many of their top destinations are right here, between our coastlines.
The internationally renowned travel publiciationās Global Travel Trends: Womenās Travel Readiness and Once-in-a-Lifetime Travel Experiences surveys took a look at Boomer and GenX womenās travel habits, seeing who is actively planning future travel ā and where.
āIn January 2021, there was notable apprehension around how āreadyā travellers ā especially women travellers ā were feeling,ā Ray shares, noting one-third of respondents from around the world were planning to travel in 2022, and another third werenāt sure when theyād next hit the road. āOur research shows that as of July 2021, the number of women planning to travel in 2022, or sooner, rose considerably.ā
āAs key influencers in travel, Boomer and GenX women are signalling several major shifts in their future travel habits,ā Ray says. āTheyāre more likely to explore somewhere completely new, travel for longer periods of time, which is a trend called slow travel, and allocate more of their disposable income to travel ā especially since women are 73% more likely to pay a premium to feel safe.
āWomen will be more purposeful in the way they travel, choosing more eco-friendly, ethical wildlife and indigenous travel experiences,ā she continues. āPre-pandemic, most women took two or three trips per year and, while that average is on-trend to continue, I expect we will see a rise in female travellers seeking out places in need of tourism dollars, as well as more eco-friendly accommodations, and choosing to engage in more ethical animal experiences.ā
For Canadian women looking to first travel within their own borders, more than half of respondents listed a visit to British Columbia and Alberta ā a destination also at the top of Rayās itinerary. āIn July, I joined women-owned Wild Women Expeditions on a week-long, off-the-grid backcountry horseback riding trip in Banff through the Canadian Rockies,ā she shares, adding that her next trip will be to the Northern Lights in the Northwest Territories this September. āSetting your soul on fire underneath the ethereal Northern Lights ranked #1 on JourneyWomanās list of Top 7 Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences Recommended for Women, by Women.
āTravel-at-home trends show a strong interest in both of our beautiful coastlines, as well as Quebec or our most northern regions,ā she continues. āWe asked women for their Top 10 Less-Travelled Places to Get āOff the Grid,ā and three of the finalists were right here in Canada: Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Baffin Island.
āBeyond our borders, many Canadian women are looking at Europe as one of their first destinations once travel resumes safely. Boomer and GenX women travellers generally prefer a slower, more authentic approach to their travels ā and often ones that include elements of luxury, or wellness, or have some culinary, historical, art, nature, or adventure aspect to it.ā
Founded in 1994, JourneyWoman⢠is the world’s first solo female travel resource and one of the most popular and respected women’s travel brands in the world, providing advice, tips and editorial on solo travel safety to a global audience of adventurous women. Based in Toronto, Canada, JourneyWoman Publisher Carolyn Ray is a board member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC). To help women be more purposeful when they travel, JourneyWoman has created a 10-point TravelReady Checklist, and hosts virtual events on topics such as self-defense and safety, downsizing, travel insurance, and ethical animal tourism. JourneyWoman is a registered trademark of Journeywoman Enterprises Inc.
Five-time JUNO Award-winning and Gold- and Platinum-selling Canadian āFirst Lady of the Classical Guitarā Liona Boyd presents her newly minted version of the instrumental hit āPopcornā in new single, āPopcorn (Remix)ā ā available now.
A vibrant arrangement for classical guitar, complete with a retro disco feel, āPopcorn (Remix)ā is certain to get audiences up, and out of their seats dancing.
āThis version of āPopcornā has been several years in the making,ā Boyd reveals of the newly reimagined tune. āIām so happy to finally be sharing both this instrumental song, and video!ā
Filmed in Toronto, as well as Palm Beach, Florida, the playful and colourful video radiates Boydās love of life ā all while continuing to highlight her tenured career enthralling millions with her signature romantic spin on classical, folk, and world music.
āI filmed the video in a studio in Toronto with messy, colourful scribbles on the wall,ā she reveals, of the songās accompanying video. āI danced in five-inch spike-heel platform shoes, and wore a funky bell-bottom outfit I found in a little store on Yonge Street.
āAfter a quick change, I pranced around in a designer green and black evening gown ā which was first featured in my video for Vivaldiās āAllegro.ā For fun, I even painted my fingertips pink, and wore a chunky turquoise ring my late mother and I had chosen in Arizona back in the 60s, as well as some pink enamel earrings from my jet-set days in Acapulcoā¦
āLater, I filmed in various locations in Florida, and we also included some clips from my āformer lifeā in Los Angeles.ā
Itās personal details like these that weave throughout the video in its entirety, and ones that further immerse and endear Liona Boydās legion of fans even more.
āThe video is full of call-backs to my past,ā she says. āThereās a mini clip of my beloved cat, Muffin, a snippet of Venice, San Miguel del Allende, Moorish Dance, and the Bel Air shoot carrying the white parasol my mother gave me one birthdayā¦
āThe video also uses images superimposed from some of my oil paintings, as well as those of my late father,ā she details. āIt also features several guitars ā including one purchased in Istanbul in 2016.
āThis was a fun little number to arrange and memorize, and I hope everyone enjoys it!ā
Recipient of both the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, Liona Boyd is the winner of five JUNO Awards, five Guitar Player Magazineās Classical Guitar Musician of the Year awards, Vanier Award, Women Who Make a Difference award, Prix āEsprit du CiĆØcle, and Artist of the Year and Honorary Mayor of San Antonio, Texas ā plus four Honorary Doctorate of Law degrees and an Honorary Doctorate of Music degree. She has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National GUITAR Museum, joining the accoladeās ranks among fellow peers B.B. King, Glen Campbell, Bonnie Raitt, and more, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Competition, and inducted into Guitar Player Magazineās Gallery of Greats.
Since the beginning of her career in 1974, Boyd has released 28 albums ā many of which have been Gold- and Platinum-selling. She has upwards of 16 Million streams across platforms, and rising, and her Holiday special, A Winter Fantasy, continues to be televised nationally via PBS and CBC across the United States and Canada, respectively.
Liona Boyd has appeared in countless outlets around the world, and collaborated with the likes of Sir Andrew Davis, Yo Yo Ma, Eric Clapton, Gordon Lightfoot, Tracy Chapman, Ronnie Hawkins, and Olivia Newton-John, to name a few. The author of two books, No Remedy for Love and In My Own Key, Boyd is also a dedicated philanthropist and activist for a lengthy selection of charities close to her heart.
āPopcorn (Remix)ā is available now.
Multi-award nominated Canadian tour de force velours has lifted the curtain on her newest single, āWhatever That Meansā ā available now.
A follow-up to her breakthrough debut EP, Identity, the bilingual Canadian songstress with velvety vox strikes the chord between progressive rock and alternative pop ā all the while, her lyricism sparked with emotion, laced with authenticity and emphatically raw in its delivery.
For velours, the effort to seek refuge through empathy captivates and fascinates audiences alike. She doesnāt shy away from sharing ā from lining the walls of her lyrics with the truth. In fact, she fashions her artistry from laying it all to bear ā for better or worse; and the resolve that comes from being truly vulnerable.
Enlisting JUNO Award-winning powerhouse producer Ryan Stewart, (Carly Rae Jepson, Biff Naked), velours has welcomed early success in her newly found space inside Canadaās far and expansive musical soundscape. Her interest in pursuing song writing professionally came from being inspired during her brief stint living on the west coastās Vancouver. Shortly after, she penned her smash debut single, āTell Meā (2019) with Stewart handling the production. The song would score big with listeners, earning velours more than a staggering three thousand spins on the first day of its release; instantaneously creating her a solid fanbase and triggering her decision to pursue music and songwriting as a career.
veloursā tremendous follow-up arrived in the Identity EP ā featuring critically acclaimed singles āSummer Hazeā (2020), āYour Sweaterā (2021), and more. The strength of her vocal agility and lyrical prowess has garnished critical praise for her work, including a host of notable gigs. veloursā music isnāt simply relegated to an audio experience; her thought-provoking accompanying music videos pack a visceral punch for fans of the indie darling.
Early nominations for her debut effort include nominations at the Saskatchewan Music Awards for Rock/Pop Artist and Best Music Video, plus a variety of industry spins on radio, television and written reviews.
velours has also found herself able to showcase and spotlight her wide variety of talents, including acting, performing, impressionism, and covering industry divas by the likes of Adele and Britney Spears. She shines on her Identity EP; her rich vocals and intricate melodies blush starry eyed across each track. One after the other, velours takes hold of every note, and finds her place along the hook. Danceable, emotive; dark and moody, bright and controlled.
In less than two years, velours has written the book on taking talent to an enchanting level by honing in on pure authenticity, and being unafraid to take chances and risks to see your dreams through. With eager fans holding their breath for her next release, velours is taking in the reality around her with plans to continue to write, produce and perform music for live shows and concerts.
From the young, inspired budding songstress jamming along to her motherās radio, to blossoming into one of Canadaās hottest new starlets to take the mic and own the alternative pop soundverse, velours is at the beginning of a very big career ā and global pop dominance.
āWhatever That Meansā is available now.
A great panel has been announced by MusicOntario, and well worth your time, and itās free online.
Tune Up Toronto: Beyond the Binary – An Intersectional Guide for Working with Trans and Nonbinary Communities
Facilitated by Ronnie Ali, R.P. (they, them, their) from Leaves on a Stream
Session 1: August 30, 2021 @ 5:30-6:30PM ET via ZOOM
Session 2: September 27, 2021 @ 5:30-6:30PM ET via ZOOM
You can register for free here.
Beyond the Binary invites industry peers to join us over two workshops, the first of which will review basic terms and concepts related to trans and nonbinary experiences, including an analysis of ‘gender’ based in intersectional anti-oppression, anti-racist, and decolonial perspectives. Participants will also learn about the impact of privilege and oppression while exploring best practices of meaningful accountability and harm reduction when working with trans and nonbinary communities. This is a valuable step in beginning to support trans and nonbinary creatives and voices in Ontarioās music sector.
For the second session, we invite participants to return with questions they might have after sitting with what they learned and experienced during the first session, once again facilitated by Ronnie Ali.
Ronnie (they/them/their) is a psychotherapist and consultant serving intersectional communities in and around Tkaronto since 2010. Last year, they founded Leaves on a Stream, a consulting practice that is built on radical empathy, ethical process, mindfulness, and collective healing. Through Leaves on a Stream, they offer clinical consultation, trauma-informed coaching, and social programming. Ronnie identifies as an immigrant-settler, trans femme, non-binary, queer, able-bodied, person of colour.
Contagious and hard-hitting as a dancehall track, new single āWhine Mastaā ā available now ā is inspired by talented and boundary-defying Toronto-based dancehall and R&B artist Omega Mightyās Jamaican / Bajan heritage.
And with plenty of electronic strings, deep punching bass, and an infectious melody, āWhine Mastaā is sure to get audiences on their feet and feeling good.
The deliciously fantastic new single was conceptualized after Omega Mighty found herself drawn to creating a song that would promote confidence and sensuality. With that idea fresh in her mind, Omega Mighty recalls she āreally wanted to push the boundaries with the beauty looks.
āAs a beauty professional,ā she continues, āI always want to incorporate clean beauty elements with non-traditional elementsā¦ā
That crossover has come together in more ways than one; āWhine Mastaā is poised to work with beauty supplier, ClorĆ© Beauty, for the next few weeks as shoppers and fans will have the opportunity to both save while shopping, and win by participating in the āWhine Mastaā dance challenge.
An eclectic female singer, songwriter and performance artist poised for greatness, Omega Mightyās distinct lower register in which she sings gives her a unique edge. Coupled with her raw and edgy fashion sense, Omega Mighty is sure to give you something to think about long after youāre done listening to āWhine Masta.ā
Watching the music video for āWhine Mastaā is like a blast from the past after the last year of quarantine and the not so clear future ahead. Featuring a barnyard dance party, Omega Mighty was focused on showcasing a new and exciting dance after putting together a concept for āWhine Mastaās music video.
āThe choreography features a newly created dance by Toronto Dancehall choreographer, Jonna Abrams, known as the āMega Whine,āā Omega Mighty explains. āNamed after myself, the simple dance is a sensual yet majestic whine that mirrors the songās aesthetic.ā
Reflecting back on how Omega Mighty wanted to include the dance break, she recounts that āthe song had been complete for a year but, as I was writing the video treatment, I saw the opportunity for a dance break.
āI went back to producer Taabu, and he came up with something epicā¦ā
If youāve been following Omega Mightyās exciting career and itās development, youāll know already that Taabu (Spencer Heaslip) has done a lot of production and collaboration with Omega Mighty ā including Haviah Mightyās award-winning album, 13th Floor, and Taabuās recently released album, Bellows.
āWhine Mastaā is available now.
Recognizing the cultural division in not just his home country, but all over the world, Americana-centric musician Jordan Page has released his latest track, āHour of Changeā ā available now.
Crafted for āall people of all nations,ā the soulful, electric-acoustic ballad is very much on-brand for the Northport, Washington-based artist. An advocate for equal human rights and general liberty ā in not just a musical sense, but in morality too ā the inspiring single not only offers a gorgeous variety of chord progressions and soothing vocal melody sure to make arm hairs stand on end, but reflects on current times, celebrating unity in an era plagued by fear and division, too.
This concept is echoed in the songās touching music video which accompanies it; there, the viewer is met with a montage of shocking news broadcasts, struggling people in poverty, protesters, and frontline healthcare workers who all come together as one, in unity, against corruption and darkness which has shrouded the world for the last few years.
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the song, however, the thought-provoking video kicks off with a passage from 2 Corinthians 4:8 that reads: āWe are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.ā
Page was inspired to write āHour of Changeā after hearing a powerful sermon held in a church in small-town Montana during which the pastor declared to the congregation that he was āready to bear witness to a lost and dying world.ā Page heard those words, and the floodgates opened.
According to the established singer-songwriter, the message ātook root in his heart and became an anthem for unity and brotherhoodā ā just as the hit-single did upon release. The song was recorded between Pageās home state of Washington, and the worldās much-beloved music city, Nashville, TN.
In his 13+ year-spanning solo music career, Jordan Page has released seven singles, two full-length studio albums, and his debut, six-track EP ā 2008ās Revolution EP. Though āHour of Changeā was released in June of 2020, the self-proclaimed āliberty musicianā notes its continued relevance, given the ongoing news cycle, reeling in more than 275,000+ watches on YouTube alone.
The extremely humble Page has been in the music business for more than two decades overall, and has toured all over the world performing for tens of thousands of fans. Heās a dynamic performer, known for his passionate baritone voice, poetic lyrics, and his vigorous guitar skills.
With his work frequently featured in film, TV and radio, his hit single “Liberty” was also recently featured in the explosive documentary film, Non-Compliant.
On top of this, he serves as a voice of conscience and truth in a general time of turmoil and deceit. The reason he writes songs like āHour of Change is to help open the hearts and minds of people all around him,ā he shares.
In short, he wants to change the world through positive means.
āHour of Changeā is available now.
Two months after the release of their debut studio album, Daydreaming, Simsbury, Connecticut-based pop/rock duo View19 are celebrating the summer with a brand-new single, āBig Night Outā ā available now.
Just as its name implies, āBig Night Outā is an upbeat track about going out on the town and having fun. Whether thatās dancing to music, hitting a patio, or being out with your family, friends, or dearly-loved ones, View19 just wants their fans to celebrate the (hopefully) soon-to-be forgotten COVID-19 pandemic.
To help relay that message, the listener is met with a consistently groovy pop bassline which calls back to the mid-1970s disco era. Along the way, youāre met with a multitude of different keyboard and synth sounds which perfectly complement the soothing backup vocals of View19 songwriters and co-founders, Sean Lorden and Lorenzo Biscotto.
One of the best parts, however, is the leading vocal track that comes from an uncredited female singer. With a voice that transcends genres and leaves you in the mood for pop, disco and funk, all at once, her delivery on this stunning, four-minute track is truly something fresh for the avid music listener.
āAlthough View19 is a duo, we owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the many people in our spheres of influence,ā the pair says, āincluding all the artists, engineers and, frankly, people from all walks of life that provide us with assistance, inspiration and opportunities for collaboration.ā
āBig Night Outā serves as the twosomeās twelfth overall single, and the lead track from their aforementioned, brand-new record, Daydreaming. Daydreaming was released on March 5th, and includes 12 original tracks from the pair.
Since having access to his grandmotherās reliced Baldwin piano as a kid, Sean has been continuously improvising riffs and songs. Lorenzo, on the other hand, has been filling notebooks and journals with lyrics and poetry for decades. After years of friendship, they began making music together, and 2019 seemed like the right time to form View19.
Their entry to the music scene was immortalized with the release of their popular, debut single, āFace to Face in the Dark.ā
āSince then, weāve never really stopped creating new music,ā they say. āItās a labour of love.ā
On their musical influences, View19 really struggled to narrow it down, however decided that a blend of the rock, pop and alternative genres are what theyāre trying to concoct in the studio. āWe have a ton of musical and artistic influences that span a wide range of time, and our music doesnāt tend to fall into any one particular category. If there is one thing we typically strive for, it would be to create songs that are heartfelt and insightful.
āMaybe thatās two things,ā they laugh.
āBig Night Outā and Daydreaming are available now.