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Beltone Debuts Latest Hearing Innovations with Beltone Envision Hearing Aids -The World’s Best Technology for Hearing in Noise & New Auracast Assistant

Eric Alper
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Beltone Debuts Latest Hearing Innovations with Beltone Envision Hearing Aids -The World’s Best Technology for Hearing in Noise & New Auracast Assistant

Beltone, one of America’s top-rated hearing care providers, proudly introduces its latest innovation: Beltone Envision™ hearing aids. Featuring the world’s best technology for hearing in noise, Beltone Envision sets a new standard in noise management and voice clarity. These hearing aids keep users connected to their surroundings while bringing important sounds, like a friend’s voice during a conversation at a busy restaurant, into clear focus.

More than half of American hearing aid wearers wish they had gotten their hearing aids sooner, with 53% citing an improved social life, and 40% citing improved mental and emotional health. Representing Beltone’s most advanced hearing technology to date, Beltone Envision hearing aids empower users to connect with family, collaborate with colleagues, and fully engage with their surroundings. These devices intelligently detect the environment, noise levels, and speech cues, automatically adjusting settings for an optimal listening experience.

Everyday noises such as air conditioning, traffic, kitchen sounds, and wind noise can be particularly distracting for those with hearing impairments. The artificial intelligence inside Beltone Envision is trained to recognize and suppress thousands of unwanted noises while highlighting the sounds and voices users want to hear, ensuring a clearer and more focused listening experience.

Available in the world’s smallest AI microRIE and new streamlined RIE (receiver-in-ear) styles, Beltone Envision offers a discreet, modern, and comfortable solution to hearing loss, along with the clearest Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio experience ever. Compatible with Auracast™ broadcast audio, the next generation of assistive listening technology, Beltone Envision helps users stay connected to news and entertainment directly through their hearing aids. Additionally, Beltone is introducing a groundbreaking feature to the highly-rated Beltone HearMax app: the Auracast Assistant. This first-of-its-kind feature simplifies the listening experience in public spaces, enabling users to connect to Auracast broadcasts with just a tap.

Beltone is also launching a new essential range of hearing aids with Beltone Commence. Suitable for individuals with mild to profound hearing loss, Beltone Commence combines innovative technology, updated designs, and future-proof connectivity, including Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast broadcast audio, offering a powerful hearing solution for all to experience.

“Our goal is to enhance the lives of individuals with hearing loss at any stage of their hearing care journey. Whether you are a new or current hearing aid user, Beltone meets you where you are. With the introduction of our latest innovations, Beltone Envision and Beltone Commence, we are excited to continue offering the most advanced hearing aids that cater to all lifestyles, budgets, and types of hearing loss, ensuring everyone has access to quality hearing care and technology.” – David Molella, President of Beltone North America.

Key Features of Beltone Envision:

  • Advanced Noise Management & Voice Clarity: Beltone Envision uses cutting-edge AI to prioritize sounds based on where the user is looking, not just how loud they are. This offers a more intuitive listening experience, seamlessly aligning with the user’s perception of their environment. It’s about intelligently enhancing the sounds that matter most, not just amplifying them.
  • New & Comfortable Designs: The microRIE style offers a discreet fit with its gently curved shape, while the updated RIE styles are smaller and ergonomically designed for all-day comfort. Available in a variety of colors, including a sleek new Navy Blue and bold Red, these designs cater to personal style preferences.
  • Effortless Streaming: Users can easily stream TV audio, music, and more directly to their Beltone Envision hearing aids for crystal-clear sound. Additionally, they can take important phone or video calls hands-free while on the go, simply by tapping their ear or device7.

Plus, Beltone Envision and Beltone Commence hearing aids are built to last with an all-over coating that makes them weatherproof and sweatproof, allowing users to enjoy their day regardless of the weather. Available in both rechargeable and replaceable battery styles, the rechargeable option provides all-day power on a single charge making these hearing aids perfect for on-the-go lifestyles.

The new Beltone Envision and Beltone Commence hearing aids will be available at Beltone locations nationwide starting on February 20, 2025. For more information, please visit www.beltone.com.

 

Dove Brings Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ to The Super Bowl In New Ad ft. H.E.R.

Eric Alper
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Dove Brings Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ to The Super Bowl In New Ad ft. H.E.R.

Beauty brand Dove is back at the Big Game with a new ad to raise awareness of the impact negative body talk can have on girls in sports. Inspired by the findings that nearly half of girls who drop out of sports are criticized for their body type, Dove’s 30-second spot will air during the fourth quarter, with an important message about boosting body confidence in young athletes.

Created in partnership with Ogilvy UK, the ad underscores Dove’s ongoing commitment to keeping girls in sports through the Body Confident Sport program – a first-of-its-kind and scientifically-proven set of coaching tools to build body confidence in 11-17-year-old girls and encourage them to stay in sports.

“As a global leader in self-esteem education, Dove is dedicated to helping girls feel confident in sports and beyond,” said Marcela Melero, Chief Growth Officer, Dove Personal Care North America. “But this focus on appearance over ability is shattering girls’ confidence and preventing them from thriving in the sports they love. That’s why Dove is proud to return to the Big Game to inspire coaches and communities with our Body Confident Sport program. Together, we can help keep her confident – both on and off the field.”

The spot is anchored by a re-recording of Bruce Springsteen’s iconic 1975 track “Born to Run,” 50 years after its original release, with an instrumental accompaniment by GRAMMY and OSCAR award-winning singer, songwriter and producer H.E.R. The recording is intended to serve as an anthem for the next generation of young girls in sports and amplify the commitment to #KeepHerConfident.

“It’s been an honor to do a version of this iconic song, 50 years after its release.,” said H.E.R., GRAMMY and OSCAR award-winning singer, songwriter and producer. “Partnering with Dove on this project means the world to me because I feel like part of my purpose is to empower young girls to go against the grain and hold onto their confidence. I hope this movement inspires young girls to continue to love what they see in the mirror, stay in sports, and believe in themselves and realize they are truly unstoppable.”

Dove has also assembled the Body Confident Collective: an all-star squad of influential female voices in sports to support the Body Confident Sport program, and inspire young athletes to feel more confident while playing the sports they love. New and long-time partners include:

  • Billie Jean King, sports icon and equality champion
  • Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty guard
  • Venus Williams, tennis champion, entrepreneur and philanthropist
  • Kylie Kelce, field hockey athlete and coach
  • Tara Davis-Woodhall, Olympic long jump gold medalist
  • Odessa Jenkins, founder of the Women’s National Football Conference
  • Emma Navarro, American tennis star

In the run-up to the Big Game, Dove and the Dove Body Confident Collective will host a series of events across New Orleans to spotlight the pressures young girls face around body image in sports, and put lessons from the Body Confident Sport program into practice.

Dove and Nike have commissioned this survey to expose the reality of girls’ experience in sports and the impact it has on their confidence, as well as the drivers behind girls dropping out and potential solutions.

We asked 4,917 children of different ages, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds in Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and US to take part in a 15-minute online survey.

The study included 3,506 girls aged between 9-17 years old (approximately 500 from each country) and 1,391 boys aged 9-17 years old (approximately 200 from each country) who had the consent of a parent or legal guardian to take part.

Dove is the largest self-esteem education provider in the world, offering no-cost, academically validated tools to parents, teachers, mentors, and kids for nearly two decades with the Dove Self-Esteem Project. To date, Dove has reached more than 114 million young people globally across 153 countries with DSEP, with a goal of reaching 250M young lives by 2030.

Vans Debuts Premium Old Skool Music Collection

Eric Alper
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Vans Debuts Premium Old Skool Music Collection

Vans is proud to present the Premium Old Skool Music Collection, celebrating the timeless legacy and profound impact of the iconic silhouette across music and skateboarding. Fusing heritage with innovation, the Premium Old Skool Music Collection continues to inspire the next generation of cultural trailblazers, driving the evolution of style, comfort and self-expression.

First released in 1977, the Style 36—aka the Old Skool™—was the second skate shoe Vans ever made, and the first to feature the iconic Sidestripe™ that solidified Vans’ visual connector for generations to come. Designed by and for the pioneers of skateboarding, the Old Skool became an icon beyond the world of skate—particularly in underground music scenes. Today, Vans celebrates this unending connection with the Premium Old Skool Music Collection, featuring three unique capsules inspired by the Old Skool in different eras and genres of music.

The first drop in this capsule collection features a bold leopard print and standout solids that represent the original colorways first adopted by early punk and hardcore musicians in the ’70s and ’80s. The second capsule inspired by the Warped Tour pops with classic Checkerboard, two tones and flame prints rekindling Y2K spirit. The last drop features vibrant colorways on gum soles that call back to when underground hip hop took the Old Skool to new places. Each capsule is designed to honor non-conformity and the spirit of pushing boundaries that has defined the Old Skool since its inception.

Reconsidered by way of refined materials and modern construction, the Vans Premium Old Skool Build evolves the icon with enhanced cushioning, improved fit and archival design details. The updated silhouette has a more seamless fit and 30% biobased Sola Foam ADC insoles for all-day cushioning and improved comfort. The Premium Build also includes glossy sidewalls, higher foxing tape and throwback branding, sharing many design details of ’90s-era Vans footwear.

For the collection, Vans tapped into musicians who embody raw emotion and passion through music, including The Paranoyds, Voice of Baceprot, Little Simz and  Hi-Tech. These crews shape cultural narratives through their creative endeavors and uplift the “Off The Wall” mindset with the Old Skool on their feet.

The Premium Old Skool Music Collection will drop monthly beginning February 6 at Vans retail locations and at Vans.com.

Roc Nation and the NFL Unveil First-Ever Super Bowl Capsule Collection

Eric Alper
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Roc Nation and the NFL Unveil First-Ever Super Bowl Capsule Collection

Roc Nation and the National Football League announce today the launch of the exclusive “Roc Nation x Super Bowl LIX” capsule collection, celebrating Roc Nation’s dynamic partnership with the NFL, and executive producing the multi-Emmy-winning Super Bowl Halftime Show. The limited-edition five-piece collection merges music, style, and sport, paying tribute to the energy of New Orleans and the champions who define the game.

In collaboration with the NFL’s partners, Mitchell & Ness, New Era, and Starter, Roc Nation brings its signature influence to the fashion world on one of the biggest stages in sports. The collection will be available Fri. Jan. 31 at Store.Rocnation.com, MitchellandNess.com, paperplane.shop/, fanatics.com/rocnation,  NFLShop.com/rocnation, Neweracap.com, and an exclusive Starter pop-up store beginning Mon. Feb. 3 located at 333 Canal Street.

The Roc Nation Super Bowl LIX Collection

Each piece in the collection channels the bold, undeniable essence of Super Bowl LIX and signature design details.

Roc Nation x NFL Starter Breaker Jacket
A statement piece with the official Super Bowl LIX logo on the chest and Roc Nation branding across the back.

Roc Nation x NFL Starter Hoodie (Black)
Featuring the Super Bowl LIX logo, Roc Nation branding, and NFL Shield embroidery

Roc Nation x NFL Starter Hoodie (Oat)
Showcasing bold “Super Bowl LIX” print on the chest with Roc Nation and NFL branding.

Roc Nation x Mitchell & Ness Legacy Jersey
A tribute to Roc Nation’s founding year (’08) with “Legendary” emblazoned across the back, along with Roc Nation, Super Bowl LIX, and NFL Shield logos.

Roc Nation x New Era Cap
This limited edition 9Fifty A-Frame Super Bowl snapback features embroidered black, white, and gold Paper Plane art on front, gold undervisor, official NFL pin, woven jacquard Super Bowl patch on side, and satin stitched embroidered NOLA art on the back to commemorate the day.

Forever Young! Alan Walker Drops JETOUR Theme Song

Eric Alper
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Forever Young! Alan Walker Drops JETOUR Theme Song

Recently, JETOUR announced its collaboration with renowned electronic music artist Alan Walker. Titled “Forever Young”, the brand theme song was released on January 17, blending JETOUR’s “Travel+” philosophy with Alan Walker’s unique musical style.

The collaboration between Alan Walker and JETOUR seems like a natural fit. From the perspective of global impact, Alan Walker’s globally acclaimed electronic music has amassed billions of streams. His best-known song “Faded” achieved an international influence that spans diverse audiences. This also aligns with JETOUR’s remarkable strides in the global market. Its growth is evident from its extensive global footprint, as it presents in 65 countries with over 2,000 sales and service networks, which showcases its strong international standing.

Furthermore, their commonalities are not limited to their shared international influence. The spirit of exploration and the encouragement of a positive attitude towards life make their temperaments highly compatible. It’s no wonder that their collaboration came about so smoothly.

As a world-renowned EDM artist, Alan Walker pointed out that JETOUR’s “Travel+” philosophy plays the role of the wellspring of inspiration when he composes “Forever Young”. And the scenery he encounters during travels has highlighted the profound impact of travel on his creative process: “Born on the journey, feeling the wind outside the window, I see the rhythm in motions. Every journey is a conversation with myself. Every piece of scenery during the journey has become my musical inspiration. ”

Musically, “Forever Young” has the typical Walker beats, which can always create an energetic and engaging atmosphere, intertwining with the evocative lyrics, and enhancing the sense of exploration that JETOUR represents.

JETOUR hopes that “Forever Young” serve as the perfect soundtrack for JETOUR users’ life adventures. Each note, each lyric, and each beat are designed to inspire, to uplift, and to remind users of the joy of the open road. Moreover, JETOUR’s attention to customers doesn’t stop at vehicle provision. Instead, it aims to build a lasting link with travelers. They introduced the “Traveler” community to global users to share experiences and enjoying exclusive benefits.

The partnership between JETOUR and Alan Walker represents another milestone. It helps to ensure that every trip turns into a memorable adventure. As JETOUR continues on this path, it not only enriches the travel experiences of its customers but also cements its position as a leader in the “Travel+” automotive market.

Stax Music Academy Celebrates 25th Anniversary with the release of Soul of America Virtual Production and Study Guide

Eric Alper
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Stax Music Academy Celebrates 25th Anniversary with the release of Soul of America Virtual Production and Study Guide

Stax Music Academy celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025, focusing on youth, education, and the ongoing legacy of soul music. As part of its milestone year, SMA announces the release of SOUL OF AMERICA, its annual virtual performance production, and a companion study guide for educators.

Educators, students, youth-serving organizations, music lovers, and media can register HERE to download Soul of America, an engaging virtual production that connects music, history, and social change.

“This year’s program connects lived experiences through music while uplifting the ongoing legacy of American Soul Music,” says Bria Saulsberry, SMA’s Director of Education & Youth Development.

“Our ultimate desire is to help students connect with the power of community and inspire them to create art relevant to their current experiences,” Saulsberry continues. “The virtual production’s companion study guide empowers youth to explore their creative agency, recognize their values, and determine how to serve their communities.”

That goal is realized each year as students write, help direct, and star in the production. “One of the most important lessons SMA has taught me is balance – life, school, work – you must choose your path, and music is such a gamble,” describes Pasley Thompson, a senior at SMA who will continue her music studies in college this fall.

“I never thought I’d be a singer, and really didn’t know I could write a script, but I used lessons SMA taught me to translate my own idea into something that resonated with other people, the same way music does.”

More than 150,000 people viewed last year’s show, thanks to educators around the country as well as the generosity of Ryan Seacrest, whose foundation created Seacrest Studios, state-of-the-art broadcast media centers located in select pediatric hospitals across the nation, including Memphis’ own Lebonheur, which plays the program for patients multiple times throughout the month.

“Seacrest Studios at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital is thrilled to partner again this year with Stax Music Academy to bring the transformative power of music to patients and families. Our missions align to inspire and uplift children – to help them heal – whether through medicine, the power of music, or, in this case, the combination of the two,” says Chris Luther, Seacrest Studios Lead at Le Bonheur.

In addition to its annual Black History Month digital production and study guide, SMA will honor its 25-year legacy and impact on soul music through a year’s worth of exciting events, the centerpiece of which will be a live performance on February 21st in downtown Memphis.

Stax Music Academy will also host 12 months of Soul programming, a series of free pop-up concerts throughout the year that blend gospel, blues, and R&B to celebrate the enduring power of soul music.

SMA students will also embark on a national Summer concert tour that includes performances in Washington, D.C., New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville, and the Mississippi Delta. The tour begins with an appearance at the prestigious Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Rooted in the rich history of Stax Records, where young dreamers transformed the corner of College and McLemore into a beacon of creativity, Stax Music Academy continues to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of artists.

Notable alumni include songwriting legend David Porter, Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White, J. Blackfoot of The Soul Children, Booker T. Jones of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, the original Bar-Kays, The Mad Lads, Rufus Thomas, William Bell, and many more. Today, SMA offers rigorous music education and youth development for students aged 12-18, ensuring the soul of Memphis continues to evolve for future generations.

Soul of America, a virtual production and study guide, is designed for use by students, teachers, schools, youth groups, YMCAs, YWCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, and organizations, particularly those with limited access to the arts. These free resources will be available to all audiences in February 2025.

The SMA Soul of America digital show and companion study guide will be available for download HERE on February 3rd, 2025.

The Stax Music Academy is a premier afterschool and summer music institute located adjacent to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music at the original site of Stax Records in the Memphis community known as Soulsville, USA. It provides industry-centric music education combined with holistic youth development programming to create leaders and artists of the future. It also provides professional mental wellness counseling to its families.

It is the only music institute in the world that focuses on the music created at Stax in the 1960s and 70s. Here, middle school and high school students study Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Sam & Dave, and Rufus and Carla Thomas, and perform around the world in places like Italy, Australia, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

For more information about Stax Music Academy’s 25th Anniversary events, visit the SMA website. The website links to events and social media, and you can sign up for monthly updates on all events and programs throughout the year.

Folk-Pop Songwriter Tonia Evans Cianciulli Turns Plane Turbulence Into Triumph With ‘Bravery’

Eric Alper
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Folk-Pop Songwriter Tonia Evans Cianciulli Turns Plane Turbulence Into Triumph With ‘Bravery’

Not everyone can say they documented a personal epiphany on a sickness bag. Yet that’s exactly what happened to Newfoundland-born, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Tonia Evans Cianciulli, who got the inspiration for her moving ballad “Bravery” while on a fateful flight to Vancouver.

At over 30,000 feet in the air, stuck in her seat for five hours between her two young children, Cianciulli found herself bedeviled by thoughts of worry—for her own safety and security, and for theirs.

“I’ve been no stranger to the feelings of being lost and alone in life, despite being surrounded by family and friends who loved me,” she says. “That day, my mind was particularly turbulent. I could also see my daughter, a tween at the time, struggling with her own heavy emotions. It was then that the realization hit: I had to be brave—not only for myself, but for my children too.”

So she grabbed the air-sickness bag that was in front of her and began to write. The song that poured out of her, “Bravery,” is a delicate but clear-eyed expression of protectiveness, as we can tell from its very first lines: “Bravery is coming/ She doesn’t see it yet.” While our narrator waits patiently for her offspring to outgrow the training wheels of parental concern, she herself pledges to remain a steadying influence, even if it means summoning all the courage she can muster.

Holding out my arms to you
I’ll be right there to see you through
I’m standing here for you

In its recorded form, the song makes good on its author’s every therapeutic intention, with Cianciulli enunciating her thoughts carefully over an acoustic guitar that’s plucked with equal and affecting precision. The track has since taken pride of place in her four-album repertoire of motivational hymns like “Thousand Cries,” “Red Carpet,” “Hold His Heart” and “Always Her Home,” all of which resonate with themes of mental health and inner forgiveness.

Just as important, writing “Bravery” proved the impetus for Cianciulli to pursue a parallel career in counseling psychology. These days, she’s a registered psychotherapist (qualifying) with a master’s from Yorkville University. That’s not to mention her certification as a Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner and a teacher with the Institute of HeartMath. She’s also a registered doula/birth coach and the homeschooling mother of the aforementioned two children, now teenagers. Her goal in all of it: to help other mothers find their way, just as she’s had to find hers.

In 2023, Cianciulli compiled her accrued wisdom in a book, Flick Your Heart-Light On, Let Your Fears Be Gone! Helping Children Connect to Their Heart to Soothe Their Mind. A powerful resource for both children and their caregivers, the book includes exercises that help kids tap into the power of their heart to process difficult feelings like anxiety, fear, anger and sadness. Interspersed thought the pages are colourful and compassionate illustrations by Cianciulli’s daughter, Sophia Josephine.

So no, there’s no danger Cianciulli will lose her focus while she readies her next album, the forthcoming Love Me ’Til I’m Me Again. Especially since she hasn’t forgotten the metaphoric importance of that transformative plane trip.

“An airplane’s journey is rarely a straight line, but it still reaches its desired destination, no matter how many times it has to adjust for turbulence,” she says. “I realized I too could weather life’s storms and uncertainties—as long as I stayed brave, willing to do the hard work of healing my past, and of mothering both myself and my children with love.

“I am really not a big fan of flying,” she reflects. “But their sickness bag sure did come in handy!”

Bif Naked Kicks Off 2025 with Release of Three Singles + Announces Ontario Tour

Eric Alper
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Bif Naked Kicks Off 2025 with Release of Three Singles + Announces Ontario Tour

Canada’s iconic music artist, Bif Naked, is starting 2025 with a bang, simultaneously releasing three singles in three distinct formats. These tracks showcase the breadth of her talent and her ongoing influence in the music industry.

The first single, Champion, serves as the title track of her current album and has been distributed to rock radio across Canada and international tastemakers. This epic track has already garnered strong reactions, setting the tone for a high-energy year. Bif is launching the single with renewed enthusiasm, aligning with multiple shows planned for 2025.

The second single, Sweet Pea, is a beautiful and emotional ballad also from the Champion album. Promoted to AC radio in Canada, the song explores themes of rescue and emotional connection, reminiscent of Bif Naked’s iconic chart-topping hit, Spaceman.

The third release, I Broke Into Your Car, offers a darker, edgy perspective on the pursuit of love. This track is aimed at CHR radio in Canada, expanding Bif Naked’s reach to a broader audience.

All three singles will also be marketed globally to tastemakers, as well as university, college, co-op, and indie radio stations.

Since founding Her Royal Majesty’s Records with her manager, Peter Karroll, in 1995, Bif Naked has maintained full creative control over her music. The label has released every album in her extensive discography, collaborating with major and independent distributors to reach audiences worldwide.

Stay tuned for an exciting year of music and performances from Bif Naked as she continues to inspire and captivate fans around the globe.

Bif Naked Tour Dates
February 28, 2025, Algonquin Theatre, Huntsville, ON
March 5, 2025, Sanderson Centre, Brantford, ON
March 6, 2025, Shenkman Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON
March 7, 2025, Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, ON
March 8, 2025, Rose Theatre, Brampton, ON

Yafania Captures the Heartache of the ‘Situationship’ in Dreamy New Single “Don’t You Wanna Be With Me?”

Eric Alper
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Yafania Captures the Heartache of the ‘Situationship’ in Dreamy New Single “Don’t You Wanna Be With Me?”

We’ve all been there before: the dreaded “situationship,” that frustrating limbo zone that isn’t quite friendship but isn’t quite romance either. Yafania, Vancouver’s newly minted queen of dream romance pop, takes us on a guided tour of that misbegotten territory on “Don’t You Wanna Be With Me?,” a poignant exploration of unspoken love that perfectly captures the frustration and longing that come from being caught between what you have and what you want.

Through striking visuals, the song’s frustration and longing comes to life with Yafania embodying both the intensity and fragility of her emotions as an angelic figure. The track finds our narrator wanting more than the agonizing uncertainty of waiting for her guarded, hesitating crush to make the first move. Yafania, dressed as an angel, represents the intensity and fragility of her emotions. Reaching her breaking point, she finally addresses the unspoken tension: “Am I really just another friend, or am I the girl you’d call your own?”

The track’s dramatic urgency is driven by Yafania’s bold vision, seamlessly blending rock influences with rich, layered instrumentation. Backed by the dynamic sounds of Eddie Lam (electric guitar and keys), Flavio Cirillo (drums), and Darren Parris (bass), the song evokes the nostalgic feel of a late-2000s romcom while providing the perfect backdrop for her soaring, emotionally charged and complex lyrics.

It’s a project of remarkable depth and maturity, especially when you consider that this songstress hasn’t yet hit 20.

“When I first wrote the song, I was a teenager. I was full of dreams of that ideal love, with the youthful hope of “Could this be the beginning of something real?” she recalls. “But the reality, when it came to relationships, was often much more complicated. I was frustrated with the silence, the waiting game, and finally decided to confront it head-on. That frustration and uncertainty are vividly captured in the music video, where the tension between longing and hesitation takes center stage. It’s part of a larger story that I’m telling across my music in chapters.”

Returning to the screen with Disney’s Pearce Joza (ZOMBIES, Mech-X4, Lab Rats), “Don’t You Want to Be With Me?” places viewers in the middle of the love story, into Yafania’s world of longing and frustration as the pair struggle to leap from friends to lovers. With cinematic flair, Yafania delivers the next chapter of the narrative introduced in “The Right Guy,” which has already amassed 500k YouTube views and 160k Spotify streams, following the success of “Don’t You,” which has garnered 200k YouTube views and 90k Spotify streams. Blending surreal and real elements, the video weaves a tale where memories and desires collide. Unlike standalone music videos, Yafania’s music video saga unfolds as a connected narrative, offering fans a serialized experience.

The first chapter, “The Right Guy,” introduced audiences to the highs and lows of high-school love. Directed by Said Khallaf and Yafania, “Don’t You Want to Be With Me?” carries the same striking aesthetic as “The Right Guy”, weaving emotion and stunning cinematography into a thoughtfully crafted sequel. With more chapters to unfold, fans eagerly await to discover if the pair will ever recognize the spark of romance between them, or if the chance for love will slip away once again.

Taken together, the two songs and their companion videos show why Yafania is already such a trailblazer in her chosen genre, one who uses her signature gift for storytelling to craft unforgettably immersive musical experiences. Her ferocious drive and unrelenting passion may convey romantic idealism, but they also portray an emotional depth that sets her apart from her peers.

Those qualities are evident in her latest work, with the new double single offering a tantalizing preview of her records to come “Don’t You Want to Be with Me” stands out, setting the stage with its themes of longing and self-discovery that will continue to resonate throughout her music.

“Ultimately, everything I do is about making people feel seen,” she says. “I want listeners to connect with the emotions in my songs and feel empowered to speak their truth.”

The Cooper Brothers’ Pro-Canada Anthem ‘That’s What Makes Us Great’ Hits 130,000 Views in A Week Amid U.S. Tariff Debate

Eric Alper
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The Cooper Brothers’ Pro-Canada Anthem ‘That’s What Makes Us Great’ Hits 130,000 Views in A Week Amid U.S. Tariff Debate

Internationally acclaimed, Ottawa, ON-based country-rockers The Cooper Brothers are joining the fight against the threat of U.S. tariffs and Canadians are responding, with over 130,000 views of the video in a week on Facebook.

With the possibility of 25% tariffs being levied by new U.S. President Donald Trump on all Canadian goods as early as this month, The Cooper Brothers are re-releasing their song “That’s What Makes Us Great”.

The 51tst State? Take off, eh! The Cooper Brothers are back with a song that’s as Canadian as a double-double, a frozen pond, and a game-winning goal in overtime.

“That’s What Makes Us Great!” is a love letter to the True North, strong and free, celebrating the spirit, resilience, and unshakable pride that defines this country.

Inspired by a chance encounter with young soldiers returning from Afghanistan, Richard Cooper channeled their passion, dedication, and unwavering belief in making a difference into lyrics that remind us of what it means to be Canadian. “We never seem to toot our own horn,” Cooper reflects, “but we have so much to be thankful for.”

From universal healthcare to Tim Horton’s, from beavertails and poutine to the coldest beer and the hottest women, “That’s What Makes Us Great!” captures the essence of a country that doesn’t brag—but has every reason to.

Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Colin Linden, this track is infused with the classic Cooper Brothers sound: heartfelt storytelling, undeniable energy, and a chorus made for singing at the top of your lungs—whether you’re in a packed hockey arena or a campfire up north.

The Cooper Brothers first gained international attention when they signed with Capricorn Records (famous for producing several of the most popular southern-rock acts of the time including The Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker) in Macon, Georgia. Over the next few years, the Cooper Brothers released two albums under the Capricorn label, the eponymous Cooper Brothers and Pitfalls of the Ballroom. Subsequent singles “The Dream Never Dies”, “Rock and Roll Cowboys” and “I’ll Know Her When I See Her” all charted on The Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.

Among their many accolades, The Cooper Brothers were voted Best New Group in 1978, Best MOR Group in 1979 and Best Overall Group in 1980 by Canadian Contemporary Music Programmers. In 1980, “The Dream Never Dies” also earned an A.S.C.A.P Award as one of the most played songs on U.S radio.

At the height of their career, the band toured extensively with such diverse artists as The Doobie Brothers, Joe Cocker, Charlie Daniels and the Atlanta Rhythm Section garnering stellar reviews.

The Cooper Brothers continue to perform and have released a number of critically acclaimed new albums including In From The Cold (produced by Grammy nominee Colin Linden in Nashville/featuring special guests Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), Delbert McClinton and Chuck Leavell (The Rolling Stones)), Southbound (recorded at the Tragically Hip’s studio/produced by Colin Cripps (Blues Rodeo) and their latest album Radio Silence.

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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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