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SOCAN Celebrates 100 Years at 35th SOCAN Awards with Joni Mitchell, Drake, Boi-1da, and More

Eric Alper
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SOCAN Celebrates 100 Years at 35th SOCAN Awards with Joni Mitchell, Drake, Boi-1da, and More

On September 29, 2025, the 35th SOCAN Awards will mark SOCAN’s 100th anniversary, spotlighting Canada’s most accomplished songwriters, composers, and music publishers at Toronto’s renowned REBEL. Hosted by Arisa Cox and Andrew Phung, the event promises an evening of unforgettable performances and a celebration of the music creators ushering in the next 100 years of Canadian music.

This year’s honourees represent the breadth of talent and global influence of Canadian music.

2025 SOCAN Special Achievement Winners:

  • Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides, Now” has left an indelible mark on music and culture, inspiring generations with its timeless beauty and profound artistry. For the enduring influence of this iconic work, Joni Mitchell is receiving the SOCAN Cultural Impact Award.
  • Lowell, bülow and Nathan Ferraro took the world by storm and captured international audiences with the chart-topping hit “TEXAS HOLD ’EM.” For their outstanding success on the global stage, they are receiving the SOCAN International Achievement Award.
  • Boi-1da has collaborated with the who’s who of rap and R&B artists over the past 15 years, helping define the sound of international music and elevating Canadian talent to the world stage. For his lyrical genius and groundbreaking production work, Boi-1da is receiving the SOCAN Global Impact Award.
  • Drake’s unmatched talent for creating songs that connect with audiences around the world has cemented his status as one of music’s most defining voices. In recognition of his extraordinary impact, he is receiving his fourth SOCAN Songwriter of the Year – Performer Award.
  • Jordan Gagne has crafted some of the most unforgettable soundscapes today. His powerful scores have brought stories to life on screens around the world. For his outstanding work scoring some of today’s most popular shows like “The Rookie” and “The Recruit,” he is receiving the SOCAN Screen Composer of the Year Award.
  • Evan Blair’s songwriting shines through the voices of today’s top artists, crafting hits that connect with audiences around the world like “toxic till the end” by ROSÉ and “Beautiful Things” and “Pretty Slowly” by Benson Boone. For his outstanding artistry behind the scenes, he is receiving the SOCAN Songwriter of the Year – Non-Performer Award.
  • Ozan “OZ” Yildirim has fast become one of the most in-demand producers in rap and pop music today. With tracks like “I KNOW?” by Travis Scott, “First Person Shooter” by Drake and J. Cole, and “Lovin On Me” by Jack Harlow, his innovative production and creative vision power the success of any song he touches. In recognition of his extraordinary impact behind the boards, he is receiving the SOCAN Producer of the Year Award.
  • Erica Procunier is redefining what it means to be a modern screen composer. With a gift for weaving emotion and energy into every note, she is earning recognition for her originality across genres in film and TV. In celebration of her creative impact and rising influence, she is receiving the SOCAN Breakout Composer Award.
  • SHUBH has quickly emerged as one of Canada’s most exciting new voices in music. His distinctive sound and lyrical talent have captivated audiences worldwide, amassing billions of streams and a rapidly growing global fanbase. For his remarkable rise and impact on the music scene, he is receiving the SOCAN Breakout Songwriter Award.

SOCAN Achievement Award winners receive “The SOCAN” – the world’s first and only music industry trophy that is also a musical instrument, incorporating five custom bronze crotales, tuned this year with notes from “Both Sides, Now” by Joni Mitchell.

The full list of this year’s SOCAN Award winners will be released on the evening of September 29, 2025.

The Mommyheads Announce 17th Album ‘No Quietus,’ A Vibrant Meditation on Mortality and Hope

Eric Alper
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The Mommyheads Announce 17th Album ‘No Quietus,’ A Vibrant Meditation on Mortality and Hope

The Mommyheads will release their 17th album, No Quietus, on Friday, November 7, 2025. The title, Latin for “No Death,” sets the stage for a record that doesn’t lean on cliche character narratives or overblown rock operatics, yet carries a unifying theme that pulses through every rhythm and strum. Death is the unlikely protagonist of this sonic journey-though the music is far more inviting than one might expect. At its heart, No Quietus shows how deceptively simple songs can be both captivating and endlessly listenable: subtly mind-bending, yet irresistibly hummable in true Mommyheads fashion. The first single from the album is its title track, “No Quietus.” An official music video created by band frontman Adam Elk is streaming now.

“The video for ‘No Quietus’ captures the core message of the new album: the fear of losing the most important person in your life, and the relentless role of time in that struggle,” says Elk. “Clocks appear in nearly every scene, underscoring the helplessness we feel when a loved one’s life hangs in the balance. Each fleeting minute becomes both a torment and a reminder of how desperately we search for control – and for solace – in the face of something that feels so unstoppable.”

“Triumph and Crash” barrels in like an epic funeral march, reflecting on the empire’s collapse through the eyes of a fly. In “Black Veins,” the frailty of the narrator comes into sharp relief: “Take these black veins and turn them blue, I gave all my oxygen to you” – a piercing observation of the co-dependency woven into love. The title track marks a turning point, as the protagonist faces the possible loss of the most important person in his life. “I’m Your Apocalypse” finds the band at their most rebellious, layering jagged synths over a propulsive 7/8 groove. “Always Reaching” contrasts philosophical lyrics with danceable energy, perfectly balanced within its 4:40 runtime. Side one closes on a lush, late-’70s Bee Gees-inspired groove, inviting us to imagine how religion fits into this sweeping story.

Side two deepens the meditation with songs like “Finally Free,” “Strong,” and “It’s Only Life.” Here, the band confronts the universal struggle with mortality, offering a musical document that examines death from many angles- society, loved ones, ego, relationships, faith, and personal identity. Much like a prizefighter probing for weakness, No Quietus explores each facet with precision and compassion.

The result is a vibrant, genre-blending collage that feels both timeless and urgent. Paradoxically, this record about death may be the Mommyheads’ most hopeful work yet. In their long and fruitful career, they’ve never made an album about life’s end feel so alive.

3Quency and Soulidified Launch First-Ever ‘Bandemonium’ Tour 2025 After Viral TV Breakthrough

Eric Alper
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3Quency and Soulidified Launch First-Ever ‘Bandemonium’ Tour 2025 After Viral TV Breakthrough

Millions of fans watched as 3Quency and Soulidified emerged as breakout stars on viral show “Building The Band”, the hit series where 50 solo artists, sight unseen, came together to form bands and battle it out for the spotlight. Now, two of the show’s most beloved acts, winning group 3Quency and third-place fan favorite Soulidified, are hitting the road for their first-ever run: Bandemonium Tour 2025.

Kicking off October 30 in Lake Buena Vista, FL, the Bandemonium Tour will bring high-energy performances, soaring vocals, and undeniable chemistry to major cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and more, before wrapping November 28 at House of Blues Las Vegas. Fans can expect the bands to perform the same show-stopping covers that catapulted them both into the top 3 of “Building The Band”, along with their recently released singles.

The announcement comes as both bands continue to ride the wave of momentum. 3Quency dropped their debut single “Top Down” on Friday, September 5 via RECORDS/Columbia Records, while Soulidified’s latest track, “One & Only,” released August 19, is already gaining traction on streaming platforms.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with Citi presale (details below) beginning Wednesday, September 10. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, September 12 at 10am local time.

PRESALE: Citi is the official card of the Bandemonium Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Wednesday, September 10 at 10am local time until Thursday, September 11 at 10pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program.

TOUR DATES:
Thu, Oct 30 | Lake Buena Vista, FL | House of Blues – Lake Buena Vista
Sun, Nov 02 | Baltimore, MD | Baltimore Soundstage
Mon, Nov 03 | Boston, MA | The Paradise Rock Club
Tue, Nov 04 | Philadelphia, PA | Theatre of Living Arts
Wed, Nov 05 | New York, NY | Irving Plaza
Fri, Nov 07 | St. Louis, MO | Delmar Hall
Mon, Nov 10 | Atlanta, GA | Buckhead Theatre
Wed, Nov 12 | Detroit, MI | The Fillmore Detroit
Fri, Nov 14 | Chicago, IL | House of Blues – Chicago
Sun, Nov 16 | Nashville, TN | Brooklyn Bowl*
Mon, Nov 17 | Kansas City, MO | Uptown Theater
Wed, Nov 19 | Denver, CO | Summit
Thu, Nov 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | The Depot
Sat, Nov 22 | San Diego, CA | The Observatory North Park
Mon, Nov 24 | Los Angeles, CA | The Belasco
Tue, Nov 25 | San Francisco, CA | The Fillmore
Wed, Nov 26 | Anaheim, CA | House of Blues – Anaheim
Fri, Nov 28 | Las Vegas, NV | House of Blues – Las Vegas
*This date is not part of the Citi Presale.

Amerie and Backyard Band Bring Go-Go Grooves and Summer Soul to NPR’s Tiny Desk

Eric Alper
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Amerie and Backyard Band Bring Go-Go Grooves and Summer Soul to NPR’s Tiny Desk

When Amerie walked into the Tiny Desk, her smile alone set the stage for a summer celebration. Backed by go-go pioneers Backyard Band, she delivered a set blending old favorites like “Talkin’ to Me” and “Why Don’t We Fall in Love” with new gems like “Mine.” Surrounded by Warren Jones, Michael Dunklin, Eric Britt, Bobby Terry, Eugene Chapman, Nathaniel Fields, Paul Edwards, Keith Robinson, Tanesia Mack, Tonaee’ Burgess, and Zay’Marie, the performance pulsed with rhythm and heart. By the time “1 Thing” closed the show, Amerie had turned the Desk into a dance floor of endless possibilities.



God Alone Announce New Album ‘The Beep Test’ and Share Frenetic Single ‘Pink Himalayan’

Eric Alper
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God Alone Announce New Album ‘The Beep Test’ and Share Frenetic Single ‘Pink Himalayan’

“Pink Himalayan” is the latest single from Ireland-based dance-infused math/noise rock outfit God Alone. The track comes off of the band’s forthcoming new full-length, The Beep Test, set for release on October 10th via Prosthetic Records.

With “Pink Himalayan,” God Alone has composed a true dance/mosh classic that fuses the beautiful chaos of The Armed and Black Midi. The track captivates with an instantly chantable chorus, which seesaws on an axis of flickering and flashing guitar and swaggering drums. It climaxes on the proclamation, “We’re going out tonight; it’s party time.”

The Beep Test Track Listing:

  1. The Beep Test
  2. Sir Laplage
  3. Tony Gawk
  4. Pink Himalayan
  5. Hold Tight
  6. Bluesine
  7. Rinser
  8. Rubber Hands
  9. Yupasaid

Wolf Alice Release Video for ‘Just Two Girls’ Celebrating Friendship and Connection

Eric Alper
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Wolf Alice Release Video for ‘Just Two Girls’ Celebrating Friendship and Connection

Wolf Alice have shared the official music video for their latest single ‘Just Two Girls.’ The video, directed by Colin Solal Cardo and choreographed by Ryan Heffington (also responsible for ‘Bloom Baby Bloom’), stars actor Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Politician) and finds the two girls catching up over some drinks in a bar before causing some gentle mayhem throughout the restaurant in the name of frivolity. A snapshot into the connection between two friends without a care in the world, enjoying each other’s company and hoping others come along for the ride.

A love letter penned for female friendships, it’s a song celebrating the power of connection and unadulterated adoration for your best friend, your soul mate, your wife for life. To the ones who get you, know you, understand your hang ups, passions and inner thoughts – sometimes even before you do. The ones who can help you navigate life and make some sense of the world, one date at a time.
Ellie explains: “I was inspired by going for dinner with my friends – a couple of friends, at different times, just one-on-one. I noticed how much I was saying Oh my god yeah you’re so right! And I thought it was so nice to see how validating these conversations with my girlfriends are, how much I’m learning in these chats. I think I’ve been trying to figure out a lot of things, like getting older. I feel it’s really been a strange time of thinking about appearance. And these are things you hash out with your girlfriends and suddenly you don’t feel so sh*t about them again. I just felt like there deserved to be a song about that.”

Following a packed summer of historical festival slots at Primavera Sound, Radio 1’s Big Weekend and Glastonbury, the band will celebrate The Clearing with a sold-out tour across North America, which starts on September 10 in Atlanta, GA

Blink-182, Twenty One Pilots, and Mumford & Sons to Headline 2026 Innings Festival in Tempe

Eric Alper
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Blink-182, Twenty One Pilots, and Mumford & Sons to Headline 2026 Innings Festival in Tempe

Blink-182, Twenty One Pilots and Mumford & Sons will headline the eighth edition of Innings Festival, returning to Arizona’s Tempe Beach Park & Arts Park, February 20-22, 2026.

Expanding to three days in 2026, the festival brings together more than 25 artists across three stages for no overlapping sets including performances from heavy hitters Cage The Elephant, Sublime, Lord Huron, Goo Goo Dolls, Myles Smith, Public Enemy, Dashboard Confessional, Grouplove, Big Boi, Peach Pit, OK Go and more.

Fans can look forward to interactive baseball activities and appearances by Major League Baseball legends Torii Hunter, Brandon Crawford, Jason Kipnis, Jake Peavy, among many others, plus Olympic medalist and ESPN analyst Jessica Mendoza.

Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster will return with live interviews and special performances from surprise guests including artists from the festival lineup.

Fans may sign up now for the festival SMS list at InningsFestival.com/Innings to receive an access code for the presale that will begin Thursday, September 11 at 10AM PT. Any remaining tickets will go on sale to the public following the presale.

Steven Rings Explores the Sonic World of Bob Dylan in Forthcoming Book ‘What Did You Hear?’

Eric Alper
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Steven Rings Explores the Sonic World of Bob Dylan in Forthcoming Book ‘What Did You Hear?’

Discover a new side of the songs of Bob Dylan by exploring the virtues of rough sounds, peculiar intonation, and a raspy voice.
 
Folk troubadour, rock star, country crooner—for a musician who adopted so many personas, Bob Dylan always sounds like himself. While he’s written many of the most iconic and impactful lyrics of the past sixty years, Dylan’s music has also reshaped our sonic imagination with his ragged voice, wailing harmonica, and rough-hewn guitar.
 
Music theorist Steven Rings argues that such sonic imperfections are central to understanding Dylan’s songs and their appeal. These blemishes can invoke authenticity or persona, signal his social commitments, and betray his political shortcomings. Rings begins—where else?—with Dylan’s voice, exploring its changeability, its unmistakable features, and its ability to inhabit characters, including the female narrator of “House of the Rising Sun.” Rings then turns to Dylan as an instrumentalist, examining his infamous adoption of the electric guitar in 1965, as well as his stylistically varied acoustic playing, which borrows sounds and techniques from Black blues musicians, among other influences. Rings charts the histories audible in Dylan’s harmonica as well as piano, which has been central to his music making since his earliest days of imitating Little Richard in his hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota. Finally, Rings guides readers through one of Dylan’s most famous songs, “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall,” analyzing its musical sources as well as variations in live performances. A companion website of audio and video examples helps readers notice the nuances and idiosyncrasies inherent in Dylan’s work and, even more importantly, their effects.
 
A close look at an underdiscussed but essential aspect of Dylan’s oeuvre, What Did You Hear? offers a fresh understanding of a singular performer, his musical choices, and the meanings that we can hear in his imperfect sounds. 

BettySoo Returns With New Single ‘What Do You Want From Me Now?’ and Fall Tour

Eric Alper
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BettySoo Returns With New Single ‘What Do You Want From Me Now?’ and Fall Tour

“There was no big epiphany, and honestly, the recording just flowed easily from years of playing it live,” explains beloved Austin-based singer/songwriter BettySoo about her new single “WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME NOW?,” a gorgeous anthem that carries a bounty of angst and an even larger haul of melody, bringing a lush groove, layered harmonies, and the unmistakable warmth of her band’s chemistry. Originally written by acclaimed songwriter Ralston Bowles, it is a crowd favorite that she has played live for years and is out now from her album, If You Never Go Away.

“‘What Do You Want From Me Now?’ kicks off with a swagger, but underneath that rhythm is someone asking, ‘Will you accept me for who I am?’ That tension— of confidence and insecurity— felt like the right way in,” she says, adding that she got a thumbs up from Bowles himself. “I just loved it and thought it would be fun to play at shows with my band. Part of my joy in playing covers is spreading word about music written by people I like, especially if the writers don’t tour much. And part of it is just playing a song that feels good.”

Marking a much-anticipated return to the studio, “What Do You Want From Me Now?” is a taster for more music to come from the revered artist (her last studio offering, When We’re Gone was released in 2014). A buzzworthy standout in the Americana and Folk worlds (MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow is among her many fans), BettySoo has garnered fawning praise from the likes of Austin Chronicle, Austin American Statesman, Cowboys & Indians, and No Depression. Affectionately coined as “The Queen of the Bummer Jams,” her ability to marry melancholia with hyper-immediate melodies is a well-documented gift. Austin’s KUTX calls her music, “beautiful, heart-wrenching songwriting that is also edgy and unwavering,” while Acoustic Guitar praises, “BettySoo may well have the most gorgeous voice in Texas …if not in all contemporary folk – its purity and strength can be downright devastating.”

Occupying the space in between studio albums with live shows (she is a frequent touring companion for icons James McMurtry and Chris Smither), BettySoo’s in-between-song screeds are stuff of legend. Balancing her “bummer jams” with hilarious and often self-deprecating humor, her live performances and songs often trace the arc from love to heartbreak — yet she remains one of the most magnetic and entertaining performers onstage. “I’ve always been drawn to broken and sad things because they make me feel less alone in my own brokenness,” she laughs, “But I’m not intentionally balancing sadness with humor — it’s just part of being human.”

With more music to come this Summer, BettySoo is ready to step back into the spotlight, but with no expectations. “A lot of people told me that the danger of releasing an album after a long gap is that no one remembers who you are,” she admits. Her upbringing found her living in a traditional Asian-American multigenerational home (“We often had as many as twelve people living under one roof at a time!”), so attention-grabbing wasn’t an inborn trait. “As the third of four daughters – the lesser of the middle children, I didn’t grow up expecting anyone to remember who I was or even to take notice of me. I was neither born nor raised with a rockstar mindset,” she says, self-effacingly. With all the powerful moments encoded in her upcoming album If You Never Go Away, BettySoo is in for a rude awakening.

TOUR DATES:


Sep 11 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theatre
Sep 12 Cincinnati, OH Woodward Theater
Sep 13 Columbus, OH The Athenaeum Theatre
Sep 14 Ferndale, MI Magic Bag
Sep 16 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
Sep 18 Alexandria, VA Birchmere
Sep 19 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
Sep 20 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge
Sep 23 Charleston Heights, SC Charleston Pour House
Sep 24 Macon, GA Capitol Theatre
Sep 27 New Orleans, LA Chickie Wah Wah
Oct 2 Austin, TX 04 Center

Photo Gallery: Alabama Shakes and Bahamas at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage on September 6, 2025

Eric Alper
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Photo Gallery: Alabama Shakes and Bahamas at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage on September 6, 2025

All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or X.

Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes
Bahamas
Bahamas
Bahamas
Bahamas
Bahamas

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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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