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.
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 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 HEREto 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 SMAwebsite. The website links to events and social media, and you can sign up for monthly updates on all events and programs throughout the year.
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!”
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
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.”
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.
Renowned Canadian / International vocalist Holly Cole released her 13th studio album, Dark Moon, on January 24, 2025 and it immediately stormed up the charts, ending the week as the #1 Jazz Album in Canada on both the Soundscan and iTunes Charts.
Teaming up with her long-time live performance partners, along with additional musicians to create rich harmonies and layers, this album is a true ensemble project that highlights her signature style. Dark Moon is available via Rumpus Room/Universal Music Canada.
“I really wanted this album to embrace the spirit of spontaneity. At the same time a quintessential part of the sound of my music is in the arrangements. So, we did very little rehearsal in advance, and the songs were incredibly fresh for us while we were in the studio. The musicians that I play with contribute greatly to the arranging of the songs, and I wanted to hear the sound of when the light goes on for each one of us and many of the arrangements fell together as we played them. What we end up hearing on this record is the moment when we discover what we love about the song, and what its essence is for me.” – said Cole.
Holly Cole isn’t one of those artists who falls into any one category. Her smoky voice is sultry, her arrangements smart and sexy and all the while she and her musicians very uniquely reshape traditional Jazz, Pop and Country standards this time particularly from the New American Songbook writers including Marty Balin, Peggy Lee, Hal David, Burt Bacharach and Johnny Mercer.
The ensemble that Holly has brought together to help create and perform on Dark Moon includes long time live performance / recording mates, Aaron Davis (piano), George Koller (bass), Davide Direnzo (drums) and John Johnson (saxophone). Add to that the brilliance of sometime accompanist’s including guitar master and provocateur Kevin Breit and on harmonica two-time Grammy winner and original member of Bella Fleck and the Flecktones, Howard Levy and finally the wonderful three-part 1950’s Nashville style harmonies of the Good Lovelies. Together they define the absolute best in “ensemble playing”!
The first featured single is ‘No Moon At All’ is an up-tempo, sexy version of the track originally recorded by Peggy Lee that features a wonderful Howard Levy (2-time Grammy winner, friend, and original member of the Flecktones) harmonica solo.
Dark Moon was released on January 24, 2025 via Rumpus Room/Universal Music Canada on CD, 180-gram black vinyl, standard, Hi-Res digital + ATMOS.
Holly Cole is a renowned Canadian / International jazz singer who began her career in 1989 with the release of her 4-song EP ‘Christmas Blues’ under indie label Alert Music, followed by her debut album ‘Girl Talk’ in 1990.
In 1992, she signed with Blue Note’s Manhattan imprint and released ‘Blame It on My Youth’ which achieved Platinum + sales in Canada, over 200,000 copies internationally, and based on the success of the single “Calling You”, a number 1 charted single and album in Japan. The next album based on her hit rendition of Johnny Nash’s, “I Can See Clearly Now” and its accompanying video cemented her success internationally setting up her following release, the critically acclaimed, Temptation, an album made up of material exclusively written by Tom Waits, one of Holly favourite songwriters.
With 12 previous albums to her name, Cole has achieved multi-platinum sales and received numerous awards, including 2 Juno Awards (out of 8 nominations) and 2 Gemini Awards. She has also won two Japanese Grand Prix Gold Disc Awards and the prestigious Ella Fitzgerald Award from the Montreal Jazz Festival, joining the ranks of Aretha Franklin, Diana Krall and Etta James. In 2014, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Queen’s University.
In 2019, Holly Cole reunited the original Holly Cole Trio, with David Pitch on bass and Aaron Davis on piano, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal. They performed at the cabaret Lion d’Or in Montreal, and these special shows were recorded and became the 2021 album ‘Montreal’.
For Christmas 2022, Cole released a remastered compilation combining her holiday releases from 1989 and 2001, titled anew ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside and I Have the Christmas Blues’.
Upcoming Tour Dates
March 7, 8, 10, 11, – Tokyo, Japan – Blue Note
April 27 – Peterborough – Market Hall Performance Art Centre
July 2 – Montreal, QC – Theatre Jean Duceppe – Place des Arts
Canadian Summer Festival appearances announcements coming soon
Germany / US / Western Canada Late Summer / Fall 2025
Theatre Aquarius and The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre are proud to present a new production of Nick Green’s critically acclaimed play Casey and Diana. Initially commissioned by the Stratford Festival of Canada, Casey and Diana is inspired by Princess Diana’s historic visit to Toronto’s Casey House in 1991. The original production played to sold-out houses at The Stratford Festival and Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto, garnering rave reviews and winning the Toronto Theatre Critics Choice Award 2024 for Best New Canadian Play.
This potent and moving drama by Nick Green vividly captures a moment when a rebel Princess, alongside less famous caregivers and advocates, reshaped the course of the AIDS pandemic—and how those stricken by the virus found hard-won dignity, community and love in the face of astonishing hardship.
Casey and Diana stars Gregory Prest as Thomas (The Bidding War at Crow’s Theatre, A Streetcar Named Desire at Soulpepper, The Inheritance at Canadian Stage, and Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Mirvish) and Catherine Wreford as Diana (Winner of CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada; 42nd Street, Oklahoma on Broadway; 42nd Street, Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway Tour). In 2013, Catherine was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and was given 2-6 years to live. Undeterred, Catherine defied the odds and embraced her true calling as a performer. Her triumph on Season 8 of The Amazing Race Canada, alongside her best friend Craig Ramsay, amplified her mission to find a cure for brain cancer. She is a living testament to the indomitable human spirit, an unwavering advocate for life, and an empowering voice encouraging us all to “run your own amazing race.”
Casey and Diana at Theatre Aquarius and The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre welcomes the director of the original production, Andrew Kushnir, who returns to direct a new production with Joshua Quinlan designing the set and costumes, Logan Cracknel designing the lights and Ashley Au designing the sound and composing the music.
Casey and Diana – 2025 Performances
Theatre Aquarius
February 19 – March 8, 2025
Tickets: www.theatreaquarius.org
Box Office: 905-522-7529
The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
March 19 – April 12, 2025
Tickets: www.royalmtc.ca
Box Office: 204-942-6537
Casey and Diana by Nick Green CAST
Alicia Johnston as Pauline
Noah Beemer as Andre
Sharon Bajer as Marjorie
Gloria Mampuya as Vera
Catherine Wreford as Diana
CREATIVE TEAM
Andrew Kushnir (Director)
Nick Green (Playwright)
Joshua Quinlan (Set & Costume Designer)
Logan Cracknell (Lighting Designer)
Ashley Au (Composer & Sound Designer)
Tara Rosling (Assistant Director)
Geoff Scovell (Fight Director)
Rebecca Cuthbertson (Dialect Coach)
Michael Hart (Stage Manager)
Samantha Desiree (Assistant Stage Manager)
Brianna Unger (Apprentice Stage Manager)
Reminiscing about the past can be a blast, particularly if the one you were with back then is still the same partner you’re looking back with now. For Calgary-based blues and Americana singer Ollee Owens, that reflection is captured perfectly in her fantastic new music video for “Shivers and Butterflies.”
The song, from her 2024 chart-topping album Nowhere To Hide, was inspired by Owens and her “guy” for the past 25 years discussing the early days of their relationship. From reflecting on the nerves or jitters both had before their first date to the “silly things we did to impress each other back then.”
The video, directed by Travis Nesbitt (who’s directed videos for Royal Tusk, Brett Kissel, and Dallas Smith, among others), was culled from footage of Owens and her other half making the most of a summer day in and around Victoria, British Columbia. Nesbitt, who previously worked with Owens on a music video for “Some Days” and a short film for “O Holy Night,” records Owens initially singing portions of “Shivers and Butterflies” in a Silver Streak camper. From there, the couple is captured sauntering around Victoria’s Fisherman’s Wharf, taking in the sights and eats. After riding on a bicycle built for two and visiting a petting zoo, the duo ends the fun-filled day cuddled up in front of a cozy fire on the shoreline.
“Our goal was to capture a lighthearted, fun day out together by the ocean,” Owens says of the “Shivers and Butterflies” video. “I hope it brings a smile to your face as you watch — it sure does to mine! After all these years — and the wild ride it’s been — these same feelings still flit and flutter to the surface from time to time…and this song holds relevance today in middle age as it did when we were young.”
“Shivers and Butterflies,” co-written by Owens and Kornelius Colyn, was recorded at Nashville’s Sweetbriar Studio and produced by Bobby Blazier (who plays drums on the track). Aside from Owens on lead vocals, the song features guitarist Chris Rodriguez, bassist Tommy Sims, keyboardist De Marco Johnson, and backing vocalists Gene Miller and Joey Richey.
The video for “Shivers and Butterflies” is the latest highlight in what has been a mammoth and momentous few months for Owens and Nowhere To Hide. The album has spent 13 consecutive weeks in the Roots Music Report Canadian Chart’s Top 10, including three weeks topping the chart. Nowhere To Hide also has cracked the Top 10 on RMR’s Top 50 Blues Album Chart (#8) and Top 50 Soul Blues Album Chart (#2).
Raised in the small farming community of New Bothwell, Manitoba, Owens started writing songs when she was eight and was playing guitar four years later. Inspired by a myriad of influences, including Elvis, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Mahalia Jackson, among others, Owens put her musical career on hold and took a hiatus to raise her three daughters, one of whom has a cognitive disability. She returned to music a decade ago, releasing Cannot Be Unheard in 2022.
Owens’ music has been heard internationally on radio stations in Brazil, Australia, and Europe. And she’s shared billing with Dawn Tyler Watson and Matt Andersen at the Roots Blues and BBQ Festival in Drumheller, Alberta. Recently, Owens has received critical acclaim in outlets such as British publication Blues Matters, Blues Music Magazine, and Americana Highways, which described Nowhere To Hide as “one of the strongest surprises of 2024.” In January 2025, Owens performed at the iconic B.B. King’s Blues Club in Memphis.
Now with an honest and engaging music video for “Shivers and Butterflies,” Ollee Owens is keeping the home fires burning while continuing to burn up the charts.
