— Today, celebrated Canadian singer, songwriter, and producer Paula Letang announces the release of her latest single, “Giving You More,” a vibrant exploration of emotional generosity that further cements her status as a premiere voice in modern soul. Produced by Letang herself and co-written with Kwanele Sifunda (Khwezi), the track arrives as a masterclass in genre-fluidity, seamlessly blending vintage grooves with a contemporary, self-assured lyricism.
“Giving You More” captures a definitive moment of artistic evolution for Letang, who drew from a subconscious well of reflection to craft the song’s narrative. Moving beyond the standard tropes of the genre, the track dives into the quiet internal dialogue of love and the delicate balance of what we choose to offer others. “My hope is that listeners hear it and see themselves in it,” Letang shares. “Especially if they’ve ever wondered what their role is in the love they’re in”.
The single’s power lies in its relatable, grounded intimacy, featuring standout lines that resonate with universal truth:
“So, I’m giving you more than I did before / Didn’t really think that I had much more / You found the key to unlock the door”.
This lyrical depth is paired with a sophisticated production that reflects Letang’s diverse musical upbringing in the Commonwealth of Dominica and Canada, where early experiences with guitar and piano helped form her signature sound.
Media interest in Letang has intensified following her consistent international chart success, including Top 30 placements on the The UK Soul Chart for “Sunshine” and “Bring it Back Around,” alongside a #1 hit on the Radio Indie Alliance Chart with “Do Me Right”. “Giving You More” represents a bold step forward in this trajectory, offering a fresh story hook through its cross-continental production – recorded between the soulful hubs of Toronto and the rhythmic influences of her heritage.
Beyond the studio, Letang remains a pillar of the cultural community as a two-time ByBlacks.com Radio Personality of the Year. As the creator and host of the All About The Funk radio show and the founder of the Toronto Funk & Soul Music Festival, she has dedicated her career to nurturing local talent and celebrating the timeless genres that inform her own work.
“Giving You More” is out now on all major platforms via Mazouk Music Productions.
Hailing from the cold streets of Ottawa, female-fronted hard rock outfit The Space Between is set to ignite the 2026 rock landscape with their visceral new single, “Weapon of Choice.” Serving as the lead catalyst for their forthcoming album, ‘Dying Sun,’ the track is a masterclass in controlled chaos, blending the band’s signature articulate riffs with a raw, in the room energy that signals a definitive turning point in their evolution.
Recorded at the legendary Noble Street Studios, “Weapon of Choice” marks a high-octane collaboration with acclaimed producer Brian Moncarz, known for his work with heavyweights like Alice Cooper and The Tea Party. The production eschews digital polish for the authentic roar of vintage tube amps and real drums, capturing a band in peak form. As James Shaheen explains, the track was born from a desire to capture their live ferocity: “We’ve struggled to find a recorded sound that properly captures our energy and I think we have finally been able to do it with ‘Weapon of Choice.’”
Lyrically, the single dives into the darker recesses of the human psyche, exploring the paralyzing grip of bad decisions. Lyricist and vocalist Maryn Pegan describes the track as a building pressure chamber, likening the internal struggle to an addiction. This tension is palpable in the song’s haunting verses: “I fight myself to stay awake / Who will I choose to disobey? / Temptation game / Just look away.” It is a song about the heavy toll of awareness—knowing the right path while being led down the wrong one by something uncontrollable.
The musicality of the track reflects a band that has found its grooviest stride to date. Drummer Tom Sergi notes that the initial inspiration for the main riff came from a rhythmic groove he was determined to play, leading guitarist James Shaheen to channel a Petrucci-style approach influenced by Dream Theater. The result is a sonic landscape where Ethan Ryan’s nasty bass lines lock in with heavy, syncopated riffs, providing a powerful foundation for Pegan’s soaring, melodic delivery.
“This song really felt—and still feels—like a new beginning for us,” says Maryn Pegan. “We’ve gone through some big changes over the past few years, and I think this marks a turning point to an actualized band. Making ‘Weapon of Choice’ brought us back together and kickstarted what we feel is our most fulfilling set of music yet.”
The single provides a window into the thematic depth of the full album, ‘Dying Sun.’ According to Pegan, the album’s lyrics tell a story of life, death, epiphany, and resurrection, moving from the stain of time in “Weapon of Choice” to the eventual freedom found in tracks like “Endlessly.” This narrative arc is supported by a production team that also included Rob Cosh and John Rosefield, who helped the band refine their unique, cohesive, and powerful sound.
James Shaheen views the record as a necessary byproduct of the band’s collective struggle. “This was not an easy album to make… occasionally the sun goes away for a while, and it’s just dark and pouring down rain,” Shaheen admits. “But we can’t have the light without the dark, and I think the collective struggle has created a really special collection of music.” This grit is what defines The Space Between – a band unafraid to blend heavy guitar work with emotional intensity.
Since their formation in 2022, The Space Between has rapidly climbed the ranks of the Canadian rock scene. Following their 2023 self-titled EP and standout tracks like “Your Excuses,” the band has earned four separate nominations at the Capital Music Awards and garnered praise from legendary critics like Alan Cross. “Weapon of Choice” is the culmination of that momentum, showcasing a band that has finally bridged the gap between their polished recordings and their high-energy, sold-out live performances.
Choose your weapon. The band have already chosen theirs.
Emerging from rural Ontario’s underground, Asthma Kids are officially declaring war on late-stage capitalism with their latest single, “Davos”. Featuring the politically hardcore Irish/Welsh punk outfit Craic Killers, the track is a high-velocity strike against wealth inequality and the psychopathic imbalance of power. Set to drop on February 1, 2026, “Davos” is a raw, unfiltered manifesto that refuses to stay within the lines of traditional punk or rock.
The song serves as a scathing thought experiment, written from the first-person vantage point of a billionaire attending the titular summit. Built on a foundation of urgency and anger, the lyrics pull no punches in their critique of the global elite: “I’m going to Davos / With my billionaire friends / I’m taking my jet plane / To f the poor again”. It is a deliberate narrative framework designed to highlight a firm belief held by both bands: that billionaires should be taxed out of existence.
Journalists and industry insiders will find a compelling story in this cross-continental collaboration, which was born after both bands appeared on a Dammit Records (UK) compilation. Despite the distance between Ontario and the UK/Wales, the track was written and recorded in just four days, fueled by a shared commitment to issue-based art. Produced by Trevor Hutchinson at Jack Cade Studios and mixed at The Reverie Recording Studio, the sonic grit of the track was polished to a sharp edge by mastering engineer Alex Wharton at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
Asthma Kids, comprised of Trevor W. Hutchinson and JP Gill, have built a reputation for being genre-agnostic, famously stating that they leave labels for soup cans. Asthma Kids have never heard a genre of music that they won’t gleefully subvert, repurpose, enhance, destroy and rebuild. They are adjacent to punk/freak folk/country/power pop/rock and roll, but they’re something else altogether. They are seemingly nice neighbours, living next door to musical convention…until they burn down all the houses on the street. (sonically speaking – arson is bad.)
The single arrives on the heels of their 2025 EP, ‘The Meek Are Getting Ready’, which was chosen by PunkNews.org as one of the best EPs of 2025, via Dammit Distro (EU/UK) and 2 Bar Town Records (North America). “Davos” is more than a song; it is a rallying cry for the misfits and the marginalized to push back against the structures that shape their lives. By addressing global crises and the burning planet directly, Asthma Kids insist on making art with real-world consequence.
Following the February 1 release, the band is set to take their high-octane energy to the road with summer tour dates to be announced shortly. In an era of digital noise, Asthma Kids and Craic Killers are offering something authentic and urgent—a soundtrack for the co-conspirators ready to blame the system rather than each other. “Davos” is available now on Spotify and Bandcamp, marking the next explosive chapter in their movement.
After more than two decades of rockin’ it right across Ontario, The Swingin’ Blackjacks roar back with “Misery Train,” a runaway rockabilly bopper that captures everything the veteran trio does best. The single serves as the electrifying lead track from their forthcoming full-length album ‘Never Tire, Never Stop’, out now.
Featuring the powerhouse lineup of bandleader Matt Allen on guitar and lead vocals, Canadian blues nobility Gary Kendall on bass and vocals, and jazz-trained percussion master Adam David on drums and vocals, the band delivers their signature blend of rockabilly and jumpin’ blues with an economical three-piece punch that hits with maximum impact. The album title perfectly sums up the band’s dogged determination to perform rock ‘n’ roll and blues their own way for as long as they can—a mantra that has driven them through nearly six decades of combined experience and countless stages from Toronto’s Cadillac Lounge to festivals across the province.
“Misery Train” finds frontman Matt Allen channeling the rebel attitude of early rock ‘n’ roll with a dose of punk energy, singing about hopping a train and never looking back, trying to ease the pain and get “that cheatin’ woman outta my mind.” Written by Allen and brought to life with the band’s driving guitar sound and tireless rhythm section, the track conjures up memories as varied as a rockin’ juke-joint on a Saturday night or a lonesome train whistle in the distance. Allen, who currently does triple duty fronting The Swingin’ Blackjacks, The Tex-Styles, and performing as a solo artist, provides most of the band’s original material while drawing inspiration from guitar heroes including Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, T-Bone Walker, Hubert Sumlin, and Link Wray. The result is a sound that honors rockabilly and blues traditions while maintaining a contemporary edge that keeps audiences engaged across generations.
The self-financed and independently released ‘Never Tire, Never Stop’ represents the culmination of a decades-long dream for Allen. Recorded over three weeks in May/June 2025 at Loud Mouse Studios in Etobicoke with engineering wizard L. Stu Young at the controls, and with Kendall and Allen co-producing the sessions, the album showcases the band’s diverse range across eleven tracks. The collection includes eight original songs by Allen, a Tex-Styles era collaboration with the late J. Ryan Wilson, a Gary Kendall original, and one carefully selected cover—The Yardbirds’ “Heart Full of Soul,” reimagined as if the Staples Singers or CCR had tackled it first. Strongly influenced by early rock ‘n’ roll, jump blues, and hillbilly boogie sounds, the album offers everything from dusty drives through west Texas oil country to celebrations of BBQ cooking and the kind of love that gets you through hard times.
The trio’s journey to this moment has been marked by resilience and determination. Recipients of the 2018 Amy Louie Grossman’s Music Scholarship, which financed the release of their EP ‘Four Hot Tracks!!,’ The Swingin’ Blackjacks faced setbacks including health issues for two band members and the COVID pandemic. Yet as soon as it was possible to get back to work, they returned with vigor, appearing regularly at clubs and festivals throughout Ontario. During the first pandemic lockdown, they even managed to produce and release an original video for “Never Go Out to Play” with the help of talented family members within their social bubbles. Their career highlights span from backing rockabilly pioneer Janis Martin at the Cadillac Lounge in 2006 to recent appearances at the Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle Blues & Jazz Festival, Toronto Bluesfest, and the Haliburton Blues Festival.
The band’s secret weapon remains Gary Kendall, whose career spanning nearly six decades includes numerous awards and time with The Downchild Blues Band. As bassist, bandleader, booker, songwriter, statesman, and mentor, Kendall provides the bottom end that few can equal—tireless, tuneful, and tasteful. Drummer Adam David brings jazz training and professional experience dating back to his teens, having performed with greats including Ray Charles, Charles Brown, Ronnie Hawkins, Manhattan Transfer, Michelle Wright, and Vince Gill. A triple threat, David regularly augments school music programs, teaches privately, and appears onscreen in film and television roles. Together, the three create a sound that Allen describes as conjuring “memories as varied as a rockin’ juke-joint on a Saturday night, a chill breeze off the bayou, or a lonesome train whistle in the distance.”
The Swingin’ Blackjacks hit the road in support of ‘Never Tire, Never Stop’ with a series of Ontario dates beginning in February, including appearances at Winterfolk XXIV at Toronto’s Tranzac Club (February 13), Noonan’s on the Danforth (February 14), and venues in Aylmer, St. Catharines, and Collingwood through spring. With hi-octane performances and a genuine love for the music they play, The Swingin’ Blackjacks continue to prove that great rockabilly and blues never go out of style—they just keep rolling down the track, gathering momentum with every mile.
TOUR DATES:
Fri, Feb 13 @ 7:00PM – Winterfolk XXIV, Tranzac Club, Toronto ON
Sat, Feb 14 @ 9:00PM – Noonan’s, Toronto ON
Fri, Feb 27 @ 7:30PM – Old Town Hall, Aylmer ON
Sat, Mar 14 @ 2:30PM – SomePlace Else, St. Catharines ON
Sun, Mar 22 @ 3:00PM – Smokeshow BBQ & Brew, Toronto ON
Fri, Mar 27 @ 7:30PM – Simcoe Street Theatre, Collingwood ON
Sat, Apr 4 @ 9:00PM – Noonan’s, Toronto ON
Sun, May 24 @ 3:00PM – Smokeshow BBQ & Brew, Toronto ON
Hunter Hayes announces his new independent album ‘Evergreen,’ arriving March 6, alongside details of his 2026 headlining Evergreen Tour. The run begins March 25 in Hopewell, VA, with Blü Eyes and Franklin Jonas & The Byzantines joining as special guests for a nationwide trek.
Recorded with Alex Flagstad, ‘Evergreen’ blends pop, country, R&B, and indie rock textures while exploring growth, connection, and joy. Recent releases including “Around The Sun,” “Every Piece,” and “Wait” highlight Hayes’ evolving songwriting and expansive sonic palette.
“Evergreen started as a series of letters from my future self,” Hayes shares. “It’s full of hope, optimism, light and love. It’s an escape from reality as well as a new way to appreciate the good things in our everyday life.” The album embraces renewal and self-discovery, guided by his mantra, “Be good to yourself and the world around you.”
Hunter Hayes 2026 Evergreen Tour Dates: Mar 25 – Hopewell, VA @ Beacon Theatre Mar 27 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre Mar 28 – Ardmore, PA @ Ardmore Music Hall Mar 29 – Newton, NJ @ Newton Theatre Mar 31 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair Apr 2 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre Apr 3 – Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony Apr 4 – Portland, ME @ Aura Apr 7 – Cleveland, OH @ HOB Apr 9 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrews Hall Apr 10 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Elevation Apr 11 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues Apr 12 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Apr 14 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue Apr 16 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre Apr 17 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom Apr 18 – Huntingdon, TN @ The Dixie Carter PAC Apr 19 – Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre Apr 22 – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage Theater Apr 23 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl Apr 24 – Cornelius, NC @ Cain Center for the Arts Apr 26 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall
Yes unveil the 2026 remastered single edit of “The Remembering (High the Memory)” from the forthcoming ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans (Super Deluxe Edition),’ arriving February 6 via Rhino Records. The track forms part of the album’s original four-part epic, first conceived by Jon Anderson after reading a footnote in Paramahansa Yogananda’s ‘Autobiography of a Yogi.’
The expansive Super Deluxe Edition spans 12 CDs, 2 LPs, and a Blu-ray, featuring a newly remastered version of the original double album, rare material, previously unreleased studio and live recordings, and new mixes by Steven Wilson, including a Dolby Atmos presentation. It offers a comprehensive look at one of progressive rock’s most ambitious statements.
Originally recorded at London’s Morgan Studios with producer Eddy Offord using Britain’s first 24-track console, the album featured Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, and Alan White. Upon release, it topped the U.K. album chart and reached No. 6 in the U.S., earning Gold certification.
The set also includes in-progress versions of all four side-long compositions and live recordings from Zürich, Manchester, and Cardiff during the original tour, alongside performances of “And You And I” and “Close To The Edge.” The result is a sweeping archival portrait of a landmark era.
Ahead of the 25th Anniversary Edition of their landmark debut ‘Wisconsin Death Trip,’ industrial metal heavyweights Static-X unveil a new visualizer for bonus track “Down.” The piece fuses lyric-video elements with motion graphics built from never-before-seen images by original band photographer Exum, alongside footage filmed during the 1998 album photoshoot.
“We’ve always known there were gems buried in the Wisconsin Death Trip archives, but seeing Exum’s images come to life in this new visualizer feels like stepping back into 1998,” the band share. “‘Down’ was a track we always loved and giving it this new visual energy is our way of celebrating Wayne, the album, and the fans who have kept this music alive for 25 years.”
Originally released in 1999, ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’ introduced the classic lineup of Wayne Static, Koichi Fukuda, Tony Campos, and Ken Jay, delivering staples like “Push It,” “I’m With Stupid,” and “Bled for Days.” The anniversary Corrosive Edition features remastered audio by original producer Ulrich Wild and an expanded second disc of demos and rarities, alongside immersive packaging built from hundreds of rediscovered archival images.
Ahead of her fourth studio album ‘Unclouded,’ arriving this Friday, Melody’s Echo Chamber shares the sweeping new single “The House That Doesn’t Exist.” Built on swooping strings and luminous production, the track rises with vertiginous elegance before settling into a warm lower register, capturing the dynamic interplay between Melody Prochet and co-producer Sven Wunder.
“The House That Doesn’t Exist turns the impossible perspective of a joyful human life in today’s world into reality, evoking a new sense of faith,” says Melody. The song arrives with a haunting visual directed by longtime collaborator Diane Sagnier, extending its dreamlike atmosphere into striking imagery.
‘Unclouded’ features collaborators including Sven Wunder, Josefin Runsteen, Daniel Ögen, Love Orsan, Malcolm Catto, Reine Fiske, Leon Michels, and mixer Jens Jungkurth. Melody describes her music as inhabiting a liminal zone between realism and fables, shaped by a deeper love for living and a renewed sense of harmony.
Live Dates:
25th February – Bonjour Minuit, Saint-Brieuc, FR 26th February – Hydrophone, Lorient, FR
14th April – Lido, Berlin, DE 15th April – VEGA, Copenhagen, DK 17th April – Botanique, Orangerie, Brussels, BE 18th April – Gebäude 9, Cologne, DE 19th April – Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam, NL 21st April – Electric Ballroom, London, UK 22nd April – L’Aéronef, Lille, FR 23rd April – Le Trianon, Paris, FR 24th April – Stereolux, Nantes, FR 25th April – Le 106, Rouen, FR 9th May – TBA, Austin, US 11th May – Thalia Hall, Chicago, US 12th May – Black Cat, Washington DC, US 13th May – Union Transfer, Philadelphia, US 14th May – Royale, Boston, US 15th May – Webster Hall, New York, US 17th May – Kilby Block Party, Salt Lake City, US 19th May – Belasco, Los Angeles, US 20th May – Bimbo’s 365, San Francisco, US 22nd May – Revolution Hall, Portland, US 23rd May – The Crocodile, Seattle, US
The Wave Pictures return with their new album ‘Gained / Lost,’ arriving February 27 via Bella Union, and share second single “Sure And Steady.” Following “Alice,” the new track leans into memory and melody, capturing the band’s blend of 60s garage rock, 70s classic rock, and 90s American indie through a lived-in DIY lens.
“Sure and Steady is like Lou Reed if he’d grown up in the East Midlands,” the band explain. “This song is a memory song, rather than a dream song… Like Proust with his Madeleines, this is a song about flapjacks… This song is like a photograph.” The result feels intimate and vivid, with details that turn everyday moments into lasting images.
Recorded live over seven days at Ranscombe Studios with Jim Riley, ‘Gained / Lost’ showcases the chemistry between David Tattersall, Franic Rozycki, and Jonny Helm. Tattersall’s guitar playing moves from melodic and lyrical to sharp and angular, always serving the song. The album will be available on vinyl, CD, and digital formats.
The Wave Pictures Live Dates: 25th February – Leeds – Brudenell Social Club 26th February – Newcastle – Cluny 2 27th February – Glasgow – Stereo 28th February – Nottingham – Old Cold Store 1st March – Oxford – Jericho Tavern 3rd March – Bristol – Strange Brew 4th March – Cardiff – Clwb Ifor Bach 5th March – Manchester – YES 6th March – Brighton – Dust
Alternative pop artist Celeste Corsano returns with “Shellfish,” the fifth in a run of striking singles released via Magic Door Record Label. Based in Milford, Pennsylvania, Corsano delivers a Kate Bush-inspired sound wrapped in analogue warmth, with cover artwork by her brother Chris Corsano.
Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording Studio in Montclair, the track features James Mastro on electric guitar, David Nagler on bass and acoustic guitar, and Ketchem on drums and percussion. The layered instrumentation gives “Shellfish” a fluid, immersive feel that pulses with emotional tension and sonic detail.
“This is a break up song with a little fun put in… some cute, but pissed-off lyrics,” says Corsano. “What better than to have a little bit of a tongue twister to illustrate an almost childlike awe at how another person could bring so much hurt with their selfish actions?” She also praises Mastro’s “spot-on use and timing of the wah peddle” for adding an underwater texture that mirrors the song’s mood.
Following earlier singles “Stuck,” “Nightbird,” “Sunlight Gazing,” and “XS,” Corsano continues to blend introspective writing with bold arrangements and multilayered vocals. Her singular voice and fearless storytelling place her firmly among today’s most compelling alternative pop artists.
