London Power Alternative Duo Joel X Eleanor Map the Full Terrain of Love on Double Single “Garden Plot / Something Strange”
Two songs, two emotional worlds, one completely distinctive voice. London-based power alternative duo Joel X Eleanor have released “Garden Plot / Something Strange,” a double single that moves between obsession and tenderness with the kind of precision that defines everything they do. Both autistic and intensely detail-driven, the pair approach songwriting where every lyric, melody, and sound must earn its place.
“Garden Plot” opens with apparent warmth and slowly reveals something darker underneath. Eleanor wrote the song after Joel asked her for flowers, the idea being to plant a garden that blooms year after year rather than offer cut flowers that die. Joel’s brooding production reframes that sweetness into fixation, transforming domestic imagery into something quietly unsettling. Recorded partly at Joel’s grandmother’s house in Birkenhead and an AirBnB in Derby, the track even incorporates a Christmas tree made from aluminium cones as percussion, and carries a whispered line from Hungarian poet Attila József. The video, filmed on the streets of Camden and Walthamstow, brings that tension to life with full commitment.
“Something Strange” moves in the opposite direction. Softer and more vulnerable, the track captures the disorienting adjustment of sharing your life with someone for the first time, that moment when solitude becomes companionship. Eleanor’s layered contralto vocals guide the emotional weight while Joel’s production holds space rather than fills it.
The pair cut their teeth between 2022 and 2025 as London underground rock band Sweet Anna before stepping forward as Joel X Eleanor. Their sonic reference points run from Radiohead and Muse to The Smashing Pumpkins and the harmonic richness of London’s modern jazz scene. Mixed and mastered by Julie Bartley at Rolling Audio in Newcastle, both tracks sit heavy, melodic, and unmistakably their own.
Live Dates:
June 6 – Canterbury, UK – HMV
September 12 – Matlock, UK – Spectrum Festival
Toronto Rapper Casper TNG Signs With Universal Music Canada as “The Market” Goes Gold
Toronto has been paying attention to Casper TNG for years. Now the rest of the country is catching up. Universal Music Canada has officially signed the Toronto rapper alongside the Gold certification of his breakout single “The Market” featuring 100Bandplan, confirming what the numbers have been saying for months.
Those numbers are hard to ignore. “The Market” has surpassed 8 million global streams, climbed to number 61 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, and sits at number one as a TikTok Sound in Canada with over 58.9 million views. The official video has reached 2.5 million YouTube views after peaking at number one on the platform’s Trending chart. Playlist placements include Spotify’s Rap Life, Viral Hits, Hip-Hop Central, and Hot Hits Canada.
The record’s reach extends well beyond streaming. The campaign has included digital out-of-home placements at Sankofa Square and national broadcast integration through Raptors coverage. “The Market” has moved through cultural spaces the way only genuinely resonant records do.
“‘The Market’ has been stuck in my head since first listen,” said Julie Adam, President and CEO of Universal Music Canada. “After spending any time with Casper, it’s clear how seriously he approaches his craft and the artistic vision he’s building.”
Casper TNG spent over a decade building a loyal following in Toronto’s underground scene, growing up between Alexandra Park and Regent Park, and developing a style that pairs melodic, emotionally direct rap with dark atmospheric production. “The Market” comes from his 2025 EP ‘One Helluvalife’. The signing formalizes a relationship that has been developing since late 2025 and positions one of Canada’s most compelling new hip-hop voices for serious long-term growth.
Brett Kissel, Chase Rice and a Stacked Canadian Lineup Head to Hamilton for the Inaugural Route 905 Country Festival
Hamilton is getting its own country festival, and the first edition arrives with serious credentials. The Route 905 Country Festival has announced its full lineup for July 24 and 25, 2026 at the historic Ancaster Fairgrounds. Two days, two headliners, and a bill stacked with Canadian talent and international draws. Tickets are on sale now at Route905.ca, with general admission starting at $85 CAD before fees.
Brett Kissel opens the festival Friday night. The numbers speak for themselves: 23 CCMA Awards, three JUNO Awards, over 170 million career streams, and a catalogue loaded with Platinum and Gold-certified hits including “Airwaves,” “Anthem,” and “Drink About Me.” Joining him on Friday are CCMA Male Artist of the Year Jade Eagleson, Platinum-certified songwriter Madeline Merlo, rising star Ryan Langdon, and the winner of the Route 905 Emerging Artist Showcase presented in partnership with 93.9 Hot Country.
Chase Rice closes Saturday with the full weight of 2.9 billion global streams and three number one country radio hits behind him. Rice is also co-writer of “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line, a Diamond-certified single and one of the defining songs of modern country music. Saturday also features American Idol Season 19 winner Chayce Beckham, whose breakout single “23” hit number one on Country Airplay charts in both the US and Canada, alongside Tyler Braden, Angelica Appelman, and Andy Colonico. Both days include a special off-stage acoustic set from Cam Brown.
“Hamilton is home, and we want this festival to reflect that,” said Jovan Popovic, President and CEO of Break First Entertainment. “Our goal is to bring world-class country artists to the Golden Horseshoe while also giving Canadian and local talent the stage they deserve.”
Beyond the music, Route 905 is building a full festival environment with food trucks, vendors, and fan experiences including line dancing lessons. Meet-and-greet packages for select artists will be announced separately. KX 94.7 serves as the festival’s official radio partner.
Route 905 Country Festival 2026:
Friday, July 24 – Ancaster Fairgrounds, Hamilton, ON
Brett Kissel, Jade Eagleson, Madeline Merlo, Ryan Langdon, Route 905 Emerging Artist Showcase Winner
Saturday, July 25 – Ancaster Fairgrounds, Hamilton, ON
Chase Rice, Chayce Beckham, Tyler Braden, Angelica Appelman, Andy Colonico
Both days: Cam Brown (acoustic off-stage set)
Fallsview Food and Drink Fest Returns June 5-7 With Gabe Bertaccini, Maneet Chauhan, Michael Smith and Craig Wong
The fourth Fallsview Food and Drink Fest has a lineup worth clearing your calendar for. Fallsview Casino Resort announces the return of its sold-out culinary event, running June 5 through 7, 2026, set against the backdrop of Niagara Falls. Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster on Friday, March 27 at 10am, and include parking.
Two new additions headline this year’s roster. Gabe Bertaccini, co-host of Food Network’s Ciao House alongside Alex Guarnaschelli and a regular face on Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay, makes his Fallsview debut. Michael Smith, celebrated Canadian chef, bestselling author, and Prince Edward Island’s Food Ambassador, joins for all three days, capping the weekend with Brunch with Michael Smith on Sunday, June 7 at 21 Club Steak and Seafood.
Returning favourites Maneet Chauhan and Craig Wong round out the celebrity chef lineup. Chauhan, a James Beard Award recipient and Chopped judge, brings her signature blend of Indian heritage and global culinary influence. Wong, host of Cook Like A Chef and a MasterChef Canada judge, brings soulful, flavour-packed cooking to every plate. Comedian and Food Network personality John Catucci returns as festival host across Friday and Saturday.
The weekend kicks off Friday, June 5 with the Celebrity Chef Dine About in The Grand Hall, featuring food and drink pairings, chef interaction, and live music from DJ JustGeorge. Saturday brings Fallsview Food Con, an all-inclusive eating event with live demonstrations from celebrity chefs and local vendors alike.
The Fallsview Food and Drink Fest sold out last year. With this lineup, it will again.
Fallsview Food and Drink Fest 2026:
Friday, June 5 – Celebrity Chef Dine About, The Grand Hall, 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Saturday, June 6 – Fallsview Food Con, The Grand Hall, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Sunday, June 7 – Brunch with Michael Smith presented by Egg Farmers of Ontario, 21 Club Steak and Seafood, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Norwegian Dark Electronic Pioneer MORTIIS Announces ‘Ghosts of Europa’ for June 26
Six years in the making, ‘Ghosts of Europa’ is the most expansive and unguarded work of MORTIIS’ career. The Norwegian electronic rock visionary, born Håvard Ellefsen, has announced the album for June 26 via Prophecy Productions. Eight tracks, recorded across a thousand sessions between 2020 and 2026, built without genre constraints and shaped by bleak, desolate, and genuinely alien sonic landscapes.
The album’s origins trace back to a planned collaboration with Stephan Groth of APOPTYGMA BERZERK, rooted in a shared obsession with the old German school of electronic music, particularly TANGERINE DREAM and Klaus Schulze. When that fell apart, MORTIIS pushed forward alone, transforming the early material into something far stranger and more personal. Thorsten Quaeschning of TANGERINE DREAM still appears, contributing additional synths and sequencers to the opening track.
The guest list is extraordinary. Sarah Jezebel Deva (THE KOVENANT, CRADLE OF FILTH) appears across five tracks. Christopher Amott of ARCH ENEMY delivers a guitar solo on “Tribes of Dystopia.” Matthew Setzer of SKINNY PUPPY contributes throat singing. Emil Nikolaisen of SERENA MANEESH and the BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE adds fuzz and noise guitars. The album was mixed by Sean Beavan at The Grey Room in Crestline, California, and mastered by Jules Seifert at Epic Audio Media in London.
MORTIIS built his foundation as bass player during the formation of legendary Norwegian black metal band EMPEROR in 1991 and 1992, then spent the decades that followed redefining what his sound could be. ‘Ghosts of Europa’ is cinematic, visionary, and darkly dystopian, arriving with the full weight of that history and none of its limitations.
Pre-orders are live now at mortiiswebstore.com. Available formats include a 60-page hardcover 2CD artbook with an 8-track bonus CD, limited gatefold vinyl, and Digipak CD.
Tracklist:
- Ghosts of Europa
- Return to the Old Fields
- The Faith That Fades Away
- Violent Silence
- Transcending Morpheus
- Tundra, Heart of Hell
- Tribes of Dystopia
- Farewell Romero
Finnish Metalcore Force Beyond Awareness Drop Debut Album ‘Reflections’ Date and Final Single “TAKEMEBACKTOHELL”
Beyond Awareness are ready. The Finnish four-piece melodic metalcore group has announced their debut album ‘Reflections’, arriving May 8, and dropped the final pre-release single “TAKEMEBACKTOHELL” featuring Cyan Kicks. The 10-track record blends modern metalcore, experimental electronic production, and raw metal into what the band describes as one tight, cohesive whole.
“This album has been in the works and eagerly awaited for some years now, so we are incredibly excited to finally release this emotional outpouring,” the band says. “Creating the record has been a valuable journey, during which we have grown both as a band and as musicians.”
“TAKEMEBACKTOHELL” earns its title. The collaborative single merges Beyond Awareness’ metallic edge with Cyan Kicks’ sleek alternative pop-rock sensibility, landing somewhere fast, high-octane, and genuinely fun. The band cops to a Bring Me The Horizon influence baked right into the title, but the track carves its own path entirely. A music video is out now.
Beyond Awareness hit the live stage this spring with a run of Finnish dates, opening the stretch at the legendary Tavastia Club in Helsinki on May 7 as support for Hokka, the new project from Joel Hokka of Blind Channel. The album release show follows the next night in Kotka.
‘Reflections’ drops May 8. This band has been building toward something real.
2026 Tour Dates:
May 7 – Helsinki, Finland – Tavastia Club (w/ Hokka)
May 8 – Kotka, Finland – The Van
May 9 – Tampere, Finland – Olympia (album release show w/ LASTOUT)
May 13 – Kouvola, Finland – House of Rock
May 14 – Kuopio, Finland – Sawohouse Underground
May 22 – Turku, Finland – Apollo
Brighton Pop Auteur Kaia Fincher Transforms Desire Into Myth With “Take My Love” Video
Kaia Fincher builds worlds. The Brighton-based artist, producer, and composer has released the official video for “Take My Love,” a cinematic queer vampire love story that moves between mythology, intimacy, and contemporary desire. Directed by Oleh Teteriatnyk, the video transforms a vintage studio casting session into something charged and mythic, shot by cinematographer Ilya Maksymenko in frames that feel nocturnal and suspended.
The concept pulls from a long tradition in queer culture, where the vampire represents forbidden desire and identities that exist outside conventional norms. Fincher’s version strips away the horror entirely. “What interested me was this idea that desire can feel like power,” she says. “When you fall for someone, there’s this hunger in it. You want all of them. That’s where the vampire image came in for me, not as horror, but as intimacy pushed to an extreme.”
The track itself is exactly that. Synth-driven, hypnotic, and emotionally precise, “Take My Love” moves with the kind of quiet intensity that pulls you in before you realize it. Fincher’s vocals sit between fragile and fearless, and the production holds that tension all the way through.
Styling by Anastasiia Velehura, who also stars as the muse, leans into warm 70s glamour without irony or nostalgia. Every wardrobe choice carries narrative weight. The visual language here is deliberate, layered, and entirely Fincher’s own. Released on February 13, the single received its first airplay on BBC Radio, introducing her cinematic pop sound to a wider UK audience.
For Fincher, each release functions as a chapter in a broader emotional and visual language, shaped by gender play, radical self-possession, and the conviction that softness carries its own kind of force. “Take My Love” proves that case persuasively.
Billboard-Charting Singer Miist Builds a Global Movement With “Love Will Show Us Our Way”
Miist has turned her audience into collaborators. The Billboard-charting singer-songwriter has released “Love Will Show Us Our Way,” a new single and music video built entirely from fan-submitted footage capturing everyday acts of kindness. Clips arrived from multiple continents and cultures, forming the visual backbone of the video while Miist kept her own presence minimal, letting the contributions speak for themselves.
The release marks the launch of The Love Project, her 2026 creative initiative centered on human connection through small, deliberate gestures. The song was co-written with Mauro Malavasi, the Italian composer and producer whose work with Andrea Bocelli helped define modern classical crossover. That pedigree comes through. The track carries genuine emotional weight, warm and reflective without leaning into sentiment.
The Love Project builds directly on the momentum of Miist’s 2025 Smile Project, which began with “Could You Lend Me a Smile,” inspired by a real-life tragedy involving a young man in Tokyo who died alone. That song eventually appeared in 16 language versions, involved artists connected to more than 60 GRAMMY wins and nominations, generated millions of views, and earned several world records.
Throughout 2026, Miist plans to release additional songs exploring courage, forgiveness, gratitude, and resilience. Her work extends well beyond the studio. She hosts Make Me Smile with Miist, a podcast ranking among the Top 10 mental health podcasts in the United States, and founded the nonprofit World Smile Initiative, which develops tools to address loneliness and social isolation, including the Kindness Kube, a prompt device encouraging daily expressions of gratitude.
Taco Bell’s Feed The Beat Turns 20 and Wants to Buy Touring Musicians Dinner
Feed The Beat just hit a milestone worth paying attention to. Taco Bell’s long-running artist support program is celebrating 20 years of feeding touring musicians on the road, and submissions for the Class of 2026 are open now through April 1 at FeedTheBeat.com. One hundred new artists will be selected, continuing a legacy that has backed more than 2,000 acts since 2006.
The program works simply and effectively. Selected artists receive $500 in Taco Bell gift cards to fuel their time on tour. Beyond that, Feed The Beat amplifies chosen artists across Taco Bell’s content and social platforms, offering real exposure at a stage in a career when it counts most.
The alumni list tells the story. Magdalena Bay, Turnstile, Imagine Dragons, Portugal. The Man, Neck Deep, and The Beaches all came through Feed The Beat in their earlier years. That track record gives the program genuine credibility, not just corporate goodwill.
To mark the anniversary, Taco Bell is dropping the fourth edition of the Feed The Beat Record Club today through the Taco Bell app. Three hundred Taco Bell Rewards members can win a vinyl box featuring albums from 54 Ultra, Hemlocke Springs, or Hot Mulligan, plus a Camp Snap digital camera. The drop goes live at 5pm ET/2pm PT, exclusively in the app.
Artists ready to apply have until April 1. Full details and submissions are live at FeedTheBeat.com.
Feed The Beat is 20 years deep and still one of the most artist-forward programs in the industry. That matters.