LOA

Oct 04, 2019 by FYI Staff 0
The winners of the 2019 Western Canadian Music Artistic Awards were named yesterday (Oct. 3) at the WCMAwards Reception held at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse, YT, during BreakOut West. The only double winner was Dan Mangan, honoured as Rock Artist and Songwriter of the Year. See a full list of the winners below.

The Industry Award winners will be honoured at a brunch on Saturday (Oct. 5).

BreakOut West is now in full swing. Here are some stats provided by the conference/festival:

Over 65 showcasing performers over three days

Over 80 Canadian speakers, Presenters and Mentors

Over 40 international delegates

35 conference sessions

600+ one on one meetings

18 Yukon performers

BreakOut West reached gender parity for the second year in a row – over 50% female-fronted artists and 57% with gender representation in their ensemble

A look at the list of BoW attendees reveals some heavy industry hitters from Canada, the US and beyond. They include Adam Lewis (Planetary Group), Amie Therrien (MMF), Andy Jones (Focus Wales), Brian Hetherman (Cerberus), Darryl Hurs (CD Baby), Jordan Howard (CCS Rights), Linda Bush (Cadence), Megan Jones (FACTOR), Louis Calabro (Prism Prize), Neil Haverty (Academy of Canadian Cinema and TV), Nicole Rochefort (AIM), Rebecca Webster (CMRRA), Sam Rayner ( CIMA), Stephen Carroll (Manitoba Film and Music), Stuart Johnston (CIMA), Vince Degiorgio (Cymba), and songwriter/producers Steve Bays, Stephen Kozmeniuk, and Hill Kourkoutis.

2019 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC ARTISTIC AWARD WINNERS:

Blues Artist of the Year

Ndidi O – BC

BreakOut Artist

Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC

Children’s Artist

Raffi – BC

Classical Artist / Ensemble (Sponsored by Canadian Music Centre)

Manitoba Chamber Orchestra – MB

Classical Composer

Carmen Braden – NT

Country Artist

Brett Kissel – AB

Electronic / Dance Artist

I M U R – BC

Francophone Artist (Sponsored by Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique [APCM])

Rayannah – MB

Indigenous Artist (Sponsored by APTN)

Northern Haze – NV

Instrumental Artist

Five Alarm Funk – BC

Jazz Artist

Jodi Proznick – BC

Metal / Hard Music Artist

Striker – AB

Pop Artist

Begonia – MB

Rap / Hip Hop Artist (Sponsored by Northern Touch Music Festival)

Vials – BC

Rock Artist

Dan Mangan – BC

Roots Duo / Group

Rosie & the Riveters – SK

Roots Solo Artist

Mariel Buckley – AB

Songwriter(s) (Sponsored SOCAN)

Dan Mangan, Cold In The Summer – BC

Spiritual Artist

Warren Dean Flandez – BC

Urban Artist

LOA – SK

Visual Media Composer

Jeffery Straker, The Storm Orchestral – SK

World Artist

Buckman Coe – BC - FYI Music News

Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Dan Mangan and Begonia are among the winning artists
​Here are the 2019 Western Canadian Music Awards Winners
By Sarah Murphy
Published Oct 04, 2019
The first round of Western Canadian Music Awards were handed out last night (October 3) in Whitehorse.

Among the winners were acts like Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Begonia and Dan Mangan.

See the list of winners so far below. Winners appear in bold.

In addition to the artist awards that were presented last night, industry awards will be handed out at a separate event on Saturday (October 5).

UPDATE (10/7, 9:15 a.m. EDT): The industry awards were announced on Saturday, and you can see the full list of those winners below, as well.

Both awards shows fall under the umbrella of the BreakOut West festival, which offers showcases throughout the weekend.

Find full information and ticketing details at the BreakOut West website.

WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS 2019 ARTISTIC WINNERS:

Blues Artist of the Year:

Brandon Isaak – BC
David Gogo – BC
Jack Semple – SK
James Buddy Rogers – BC
Ndidi O – BC

BreakOut Artist of the Year:

Dan Mangan – BC
Foxwarren – SK
Nuela Charles – AB
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Striker – AB

Children's Artist of the Year:

Ginalina – BC
Raffi – BC
Rattle and Strum – AB
Seanster and the Monsters – MB
The Oot n' Oots – BC

Classical Artist / Ensemble of the Year (Sponsored by Canadian Music Centre [CMC]):

Land's End Ensemble – AB
Turning Point Ensemble – BC
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra – MB
Vancouver Chamber Choir – BC
Carmen Braden – NT

Classical Composer of the Year:

Allan Gordon Bell – AB
Carmen Braden – NT
Farshid Samandari – BC
Laurie Radford – AB
Owen Underhill – BC

Country Artist of the Year:

Aaron Pritchett – BC
Brett Kissel – AB
Dan Davidson – AB
George Canyon – AB
Hunter Brothers – SK

Electronic / Dance Artist of the Year:

Dirty Radio – BC
Humans – BC
I M U R – BC
Soulier – AB
Talltale – AB

Francophone Artist of the Year (Sponsored by Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique [APCM]):

Alpha Toshineza – MB
Ponteix – SK
Rayannah – MB
Shawn Jobin – SK
Vaero – SK

Indigenous Artist of the Year:

Carsen Gray – BC
Digawolf – NT
Diyet & the Love Soldiers – YT
Hellnback – MB
Northern Haze – NV

Instrumental Artist of the Year:

Apollo Suns – MB
Five Alarm Funk – BC
Gordon Grdina's The Marrow – BC
Signs & Letters – AB
West of Mabou – SK

Jazz Artist of the Year:

Al Muirhead – SK
BC Double Quartet – BC
Hard Rubber Orchestra – BC
Jodi Proznick – BC
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra – MB

Metal / Hard Music Artist of the Year:

Hunting Giants – BC
Neck of the Woods – BC
Shooting Guns – SK
Striker – AB
tunic – MB

Pop Artist of the Year:

Begonia – MB
Jill Barber – BC
Madison Olds – BC
Royal Canoe – MB
Sarah MacDougall – YT

Rap / Hip Hop Artist of the Year:

Alpha Toshineza – MB
Bdice – BC
Merkules – BC
Snak the Ripper – BC
Vials – BC

Rock Artist of the Year (Sponsored by Stingray Music):

Dan Mangan – BC
Foxwarren – SK
Digawolf – NT
Said The Whale – BC
The Sheepdogs – SK

Roots Duo / Group of the Year:

Carmanah – BC
GhostBoy – AB
Pharis & Jason Romero – BC
Rosie & the Riveters – SK
Tri-Continental – AB / BC

Roots Solo Artist of the Year:

Belle Plaine – SK
Joe Nolan – AB
John Wort Hannam – AB
Mariel Buckley – AB
Micah Erenberg – MB

Songwriter(s) of the Year (Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada [SOCAN]):

Dan Mangan, Cold In The Summer – BC
Jill Barber and Ryan Guldemond. Girl's Gotta Do – BC
Mariel Buckley, Rose Coloured Frames – AB
Pharis Romero - Pharis & Jason Romero, Sweet Old Religion – BC
Roman Clarke, Waiting – MB

Spiritual Artist of the Year:

Chelsea Amber – BC
Kyle Church – AB
Ms.PANIK – BC
Warren Dean Flandez – BC
West of Here – AB

Urban Artist of the Year:

Hooper Turnt Sanger – BC
LOA – SK
Samurai Champs – SK
SHEA – MB
Tiny Havoc – BC

Visual Media Composer of the Year:

Brett Elliot - Church of Zombie, Welcome to the Church – YT
Burnett/Schmidt, Reawaken (Movements I-V) – AB
Jared Robinson, Canadian Mental Health Association 100 Year Anniversary – SK
Jeffery Straker, The Storm Orchestral – SK
Tim Brown, Run for Your Life – AB

World Artist of the Year:

Buckman Coe – BC
Montuno West – AB
Portiia – BC
Ryan Timoffee – AB
TANGA – BC

WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS 2019 INDUSTRY WINNERS:

Audio Engineering Award:

Ben Kaplan, Fader Mountain Sound – BC
Scott Franchuk, Riverdale Recorders – AB
Sheldon Zaharko, Zed Productions – BC
Spencer Cheyne, OCL Studios – AB
Steve Bays – BC

Community Excellence Award:

National Music Centre – AB
The Dungarees - 24 Hour Gigathon – AB
The Park Show – BC
The Village Idiots – MB
West End Cultural Centre – MB

Excellence in Visual Design:

Bronwin Parks - Feisty Creative – BC
Chris Morin – SK
Jadyn Klassen – MB
Roberta Landreth – MB
Shalom Toy - Cosmic Cavern Design – AB

Impact in Artistic Development:

Dan Mangan, Arts & Crafts Productions – BC
Jessica Marsh, JAM Music Mgmt – AB
National Music Centre – AB
Paquin Artists Agency – MB
The Feldman Agency – BC

Impact in Live Music:

Adam Oppenheim - Stampede Entertainment Inc. – AB
Dan Mangan - Arts & Crafts Productions – BC
Paquin Artists Agency – MB
West End Cultural Centre – MB
Winnipeg Folk Festival – MB

Impact in Music Marketing:

Matt Olah - Calgary Folk Fest / Soaring Eagle Records – AB
National Music Centre – AB
The Village Idiots – MB
West End Cultural Centre – MB
Winnipeg Folk Festival – MB

Producer of the Year:

Ben Kaplan, Fader Mountain Sound – BC
Madeleine Roger & Lloyd Peterson – MB
Rayannah & Mario Lepage – MB / SK
Ryan Worsley, Echoplant Sound – BC
Steve Bays – BC

Recording of the Year:

Dan Mangan – BC
Foxwarren – SK
Jill Barber – BC
Pharis & Jason Romero – BC
Sarah MacDougall – YT

Video Director of the Year:

Danie Easton - Madison Olds, Thank You – BC
Eric Peterson - Yes We Mystic, Young Evil – MB
Johnny Jansen - Said The Whale, UnAmerican – BC
Peter Ricq – Humans, Breakfast With Liz – BC
Travis Nesbitt - The Dungarees, Don't Hold Back – AB - Exclaim!

Rosie and the Riveters, LOA, Jeffery Straker victorious
CBC News · Posted: Oct 04, 2019 10:38 AM CT | Last Updated: October 4

Rosie and the Riveters were named roots duo/group of the year at the Western Canadian Music Awards in Whitehorse Thursday. (Submitted by Allyson Reigh)

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Saskatchewan artists took home three trophies at Thursday's Western Canadian Music Awards.

The winners were announced at a ceremony at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse.

Saskatoon's Rosie and the Riveters were named roots duo/group of the year.


Regina artist LOA won the award for urban artist of the year.

Regina's Jeffery Straker was named visual media composer of the year.

A total of 17 Saskatchewan artists were nominated at the event. Regina band Foxwarren led the way with three nominations.

Here's a full list of Saskatchewan artists nominated at this year's Western Canadian Music Awards:

Jack Semple - Blues artist of the year.
Foxwarren - Breakout artist of the year, recording of the year, rock artist of the year.
Hunter Brothers - Country artist of the year.
Ponteix - Francophone artist of the year.
Shawn Jobin - Francophone artist of the year.
Vaero - Francophone artist of the year.
West of Mabou - Instrumental artist of the year.
Shooting Guns - Metal/hard music artist of the year.
Rayannah & Mario Lepage - Producer of the year.
The Sheepdogs - Rock artist of the year.
Rosie & the Riveters - Roots duo/group of the year.
Belle Plaine - Roots solo artist of the year.
LOA - Urban artist of the year.
Samurai Champs - Urban artist of the year.
Jared Robinson, Canadian Mental Health Association 100 Year Anniversary - Visual media composer of the year.
Jeffery Straker, The Storm Orchestral - Visual media composer of the year.
Chris Morin - Excellence in visual design. - CBC News

Western Canadian Music Award winner Jessica Burnett explores rebirth in new LOA song Death Tastes Good. She performs in Regina on Saturday.

ASHLEY MARTIN, REGINA LEADER-POST Updated: October 18, 2019
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Hear It Live is a closer look at a song and its writer/performer. Hear “DTG” when LOA performs Saturday in Regina.

The artist
LOA (pronounced “low”) is Jessica Burnett. The Regina singer-songwriter’s relationship with music dates back “as long as I can remember. I know that sounds cliché.”

Piano and singing lessons progressed to classical and musical theatre performance.

After university, she found a community through her high school friend Marvin Chan, who recorded Burnett’s demo tape in his basement.

“I always loved R&B and urban genres, like hip hop. That was the music that I listened to in my headphones; that was the music that I was always bumping in my car. And so that was what kind of pushed me into wanting to make music that was my own, because that was the music that I enjoyed,” said Burnett, who this month won the Western Canadian Music Award for urban artist of the year.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW



Regina singer-songwriter Jessica Burnett performs as LOA. SUPPLIED PHOTO.

The song
“DTG” is a bass-heavy electro-alt pop-R&B song. (“It’s so hard to pigeonhole genres sometimes these days, especially when you’re coming from so many different influences.”)

The acronym stands for “Death Tastes Good,” and “it kind of falls in line with a lot of my other songs that I’ve written that are sort of about death of prior identities and rebirth,” said Burnett.

“This song has a bit more of a fun twist to it, where it’s lamenting something, but it’s also kind of flirting with the possibility of the future.”


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The words
Among other verses, she repeats:

This is a sendoff to myself /

I want to be somebody else /

Because baby all I see is us /

And I don’t want to give a f—

“It’s a very fun song, and the reason I was excited to talk about it is because I actually got to come and work on it with a new producer (Ferro Montanino) and a writer (Sadye Cage) out of Winnipeg that have been super, super amazing to work with,” said Burnett.

“It was just really nice to be able to bounce ideas off of them and to push the creativity further in that aspect.”

Lyrics-wise, Burnett wants “to express what would maybe otherwise be taboo in society through my art; that’s what I feel like I have to do.”

Listen now
You can’t! “DTG” is LOA’s brand new single, being released Oct. 30: You’ll have to go to her show if you want to hear it before then.

LOA’s other recordings are on Spotify, Apple Music and Soundcloud.

Hear it live
LOA is performing at The Cure on Saturday, Oct. 19, 8 p.m.

Selci, ygretz and Desiree Hobbins are also part of the show in Regina. Selci, ygretz and LOA make the trip to Saskatoon’s Black Cat Tavern for a concert on Sunday, Oct. 20.

“I’m really excited about these shows because they are all-female bills, which I think came very naturally to all of us,” said Burnett.

“I think that’s a really important thing, but it’s important because we’re not all bubble gum females. We have a lot of important messages and there’s some really amazing music that is going to be made.”

amartin@postmedia.com - Leader Post

Published Friday, October 4, 2019 3:28PM CST
Three Saskatchewan artists have taken home hardware from the Western Canadian Music Alliance Artistic Awards.

Regina's own LOA won Urban Artist of the Year. Her website describes her as “the feminine force behind the new-wave sound that is rising out from the prairies.” Her Tide EP was released in 2018.


LOA
@LOA3WITCH
Incredibly grateful for this. Thank you so very much @BreakOutWest - CTV News

2019 Western Canadian Music Awards Artistic Nominees
Blues Artist of the Year
Brandon Isaak – BC
David Gogo – BC
Jack Semple – SK
James Buddy Rogers – BC
Ndidi O – BC

BreakOut Artist of the Year
Dan Mangan – BC
Foxwarren – SK
Nuela Charles – AB
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC
Striker – AB

Children’s Artist of the Year
Ginalina – BC
Raffi – BC
Rattle and Strum – AB
Seanster and the Monsters – MB
The Oot n' Oots – BC

Classical Artist / Ensemble of the Year (Presented by Canadian Music Centre [CMC])
Land's End Ensemble – AB
Turning Point Ensemble – BC
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra – MB
Vancouver Chamber Choir – BC
Carmen Braden – NT

Classical Composer of the Year
Allan Gordon Bell – AB
Carmen Braden – NT
Farshid Samandari – BC
Laurie Radford – AB
Owen Underhill – BC


Country Artist of the Year
Aaron Pritchett – BC
Brett Kissel – AB
Dan Davidson – AB
George Canyon – AB
Hunter Brothers – SK

Electronic / Dance Artist of the Year
Dirty Radio – BC
Humans – BC
I M U R – BC
Soulier – AB
Talltale – AB

Francophone Artist of the Year (Presented by Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique [APCM])
Alpha Toshineza – MB
Ponteix – SK
Rayannah – MB
Shawn Jobin – SK
Vaero – SK

Indigenous Artist of the Year (Presented by APTN )
Carsen Gray – BC
Digawolf – NT
Diyet & the Love Soldiers – YT
Hellnback – MB
Northern Haze – NU

Instrumental Artist of the Year
Apollo Suns – MB
Five Alarm Funk – BC
Gordon Grdina's The Marrow – BC
Signs & Letters – AB
West of Mabou – SK

Jazz Artist of the Year
Al Muirhead – AB
BC Double Quartet – BC
Hard Rubber Orchestra – BC
Jodi Proznick – BC
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra – MB

Metal / Hard Music Artist of the Year
Hunting Giants – BC
Neck of the Woods – BC
Shooting Guns – SK
Striker – AB
tunic – MB

Pop Artist of the Year
Begonia – MB
Jill Barber – BC
Madison Olds – BC
Royal Canoe – MB
Sarah MacDougall – YT

Producer of the Year
Ben Kaplan, Fader Mountain Sound – BC
Madeleine Roger & Lloyd Peterson – MB
Rayannah & Mario Lepage – MB / SK
Ryan Worsley, Echoplant Sound – BC
Steve Bays – BC

Rap / Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Alpha Toshineza – MB
Bdice – BC
Merkules – BC
Snak the Ripper – BC
Vials – BC

Recording of the Year (Presented by Stingray)
Dan Mangan – BC
Foxwarren – SK
Jill Barber – BC
Pharis & Jason Romero – BC
Sarah MacDougall – YT

Rock Artist of the Year
Dan Mangan – BC
Foxwarren – SK
Digawolf – NT
Said The Whale – BC
The Sheepdogs – SK

Roots Duo / Group of the Year
Carmanah – BC
GhostBoy – AB
Pharis & Jason Romero – BC
Rosie & the Riveters – SK
Tri-Continental – AB / BC

Roots Solo Artist of the Year
Belle Plaine – SK
Joe Nolan – AB
John Wort Hannam – AB
Mariel Buckley – AB
Micah Erenberg – MB

Songwriter(s) of the Year (Presented by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada [SOCAN])
Dan Mangan, Cold In The Summer – BC
Jill Barber and Ryan Guldemond. Girl's Gotta Do – BC
Mariel Buckley, Rose Coloured Frames – AB
Pharis Romero - Pharis & Jason Romero, Sweet Old Religion – BC
Roman Clarke, Waiting – MB

Spiritual Artist of the Year
Chelsea Amber – BC
Kyle Church – AB
Ms.PANIK – BC
Warren Dean Flandez – BC
West of Here – AB

Urban Artist of the Year
Hooper Turnt Sanger – BC
LOA – SK
Samurai Champs – SK
SHEA – MB
Tiny Havoc – BC

Video Director of the Year
Danie Easton - Madison Olds, Thank You – BC
Eric Peterson - Yes We Mystic, Young Evil – MB
Johnny Jansen - Said The Whale, UnAmerican – BC
Peter Ricq – Humans, Breakfast With Liz – BC
Travis Nesbitt - The Dungarees, Don't Hold Back – AB

Visual Media Composer of the Year
Brett Elliot - Church of Zombie, Welcome to the Church – YT
Burnett/Schmidt, Reawaken (Movements I-V) – AB
Jared Robinson, Canadian Mental Health Association 100 Year Anniversary – SK
Jeffery Straker, The Storm Orchestral – SK
Tim Brown, Run for Your Life – AB

World Artist of the Year
Buckman Coe – BC
Montuno West – AB
Portiia – BC
Ryan Timoffee – AB
TANGA – BC - Breakout West

LOA is a minimalist pop artist from Saskatchewan, Canada. She’s quickly emerging on the scene and we are thrilled to premiere her new video for her track “Funeral.” The song is from LOA’s debut EP Tide, which came out not too long ago via the collective she’s part of, Trifecta YQR. LOA dropped Tide with no warning, because everyone who first heard “Funeral” in its demo form when Exclaim! premiered it in 2016 has been waiting since then for more. That’s how strong an impression she made with just one song. She’s got a freakishly devoted following overseas, especially in the UK, and she’s kept up touring pretty well there and in her native Canada. The unique imagery and black and white of the video provide a fitting visual accompaniment to the beautiful track.

LOA on the video:

“Funeral is about unveiling the characters we embody as we transcend the stages of emotional trauma. There is loss and there is longing, but mostly there is new-found strength… and sometimes vengeance. The video strikes this chord with its pointed delivery and mysterious imagery, revealing the story slowly and deliberately.” - GroundSounds

Best Sask Albums
Best Saskatchewan Albums

The Best Saskatchewan Albums of 2018
THE TOP TEN ROLLOUT
The votes are in! We're pleased to celebrate the bounty of awesome Saskatchewan music released this year, and present the top ten as determined by the voting public. We hope you find something new to enjoy here, whether it's from the Long List or from the greater list of eligible releases that came out. Support local, support live, buy an album today!

Belle Plaine - Malice Mercy Grief and Wrath

#1. Belle Plaine: Malice, Mercy, Grief & Wrath (Roots)
In achieving the #1 position, Belle Plaine is the winner of the 2018 Saskatchewan Music Award for Album of the Year
Swaying through a series of moods, a beautifully crafted and timeless recording

“Malice, Mercy, Grief & Wrath is the kind of album you’d imagine playing on the jukebox in the background of a small town bar on drizzly Friday night with just the bartender and two other patrons in the joint. Her voice makes the record tender, but its content really makes you stop and think.” (Lula 1892)

Opening with the subtle and beautiful For All Those Who I Love, MMG&W sways through a series of moods with Golden Ring, a retro-flavoured duet with Megan Nash; the steel-punctuated Squared Up; old-country tribute Taxes and Death and You; the uptempo shuffle Is it Cheating with Colter Wall contributing backups; the sultry Are We Good; Laila Sady Johnson Wasn't Beaten by No Train, a quick-step tribute to Belle’s grandma; the hauntingly beautiful and sentimental Radio Dreams; and closing out with Rock Bottom, guesting Kacy Anderson (Kacy & Clayton).

Belle’s trademark vibrato vocal is placed upon thoughtful production with the talents of producer Jason Plumb at Studio One. The primary players lending their talent to the project are Steve Leidal on drums, Elizabeth Curry and Shawn Patton on bass, Ian Cameron on pedal steel, Jeremy Sauer on keyboards, and Bryce Lewis and Blake Berglund on guitar. The songwriting – Belle wrote or co-wrote 8 of the 9 tracks on the album– is remarkable, and vivid. As told to Tidal, “I didn’t set out to specifically talk about anything, but it ended up being mostly about relationships and when they are flawed, when they are celebratory and when they are neither of those things. I wanted to preserve the honesty of those relationships through the lyrics. It’s what I strive for in my writing.” While Malice, Mercy, Grief & Wrath contemplates the ephemeral nature of life, it also manages to address themes that are persistently unfolding in our lives: forgiveness, redemption and hope.

Released just this October, MMG&W reached the #2 spot on the Earshot Folk/Roots/Blues charts, and has spent seven weeks thus far on The National Top 50 (multi-genre) chart. Winning over hearts with every performance, Belle has performed across Canada and the U.S. with stops at Folk Alliance International, JUNOfest and many more notable events. Pouring her heart and soul into everything she does, we encourage you to check out a live performance and her previous albums as well. Wishing Belle continued success and big congratulations!

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Jack Semple - Can't Stop This Love

#2. Jack Semple: Can't Stop This Love! (R&B)
Semple’s 2018 release is a driving collection of powerhouse blues, funky dance grooves, and soft, soulful reflections. Jack still can’t stop this love of the music that took hold of him over two decades ago and it shows. Known as one of Canada’s premiere guitar virtuosos, Jack returns with an album that will continue his legacy as an R&B force.

Starting out playing with various Regina-based bands, Semple became well-known as a prominent member of renowned R&B band The Lincolns (Toronto), won the national Guitar Warz competition among thousands of players, and literally played the lead character in Sask-made movie Guitarman. He’s received two Western Canadian Music Awards, appeared on a JUNO-winning album, and been nominated for 2 Geminis for his soundtrack work, to highlight just a few achievements – not to mention mentoring hundreds of up-and-coming Saskatchewan guitar talents.

“Stevie Ray Vaughn meets James Brown meets Robben Ford” seems an ideal description from his own bio. Over the years, Semple has reached international audiences, winning over fans and critics alike with his songwriting, a stack of recordings, and live performances, both as a solo artist foraying into folk and instrumental sounds, and with The Jack Semple Band.

“Can’t Stop This Love!” spotlights not only Jack’s skills as a guitar great, but a masterful songwriting style. The record opens with the hot title track giving a nod to the late BB King, followed up with a selection of funky R&B tracks and smoky shuffles, and catchy refrains such as the deeply hooky “Can’t Help It.” “What if every day was a gift?” he muses, reflecting on the loss of longtime friend, musician Greg Lowe. The album concludes with two beautifully contrasting tracks: the heavy wall of groove reminiscent of SRV on “Workin’ Overtime” - a track we can all relate to about working to get ahead, and the reflective acoustic track “Walkin” that will strike a chord in your soul.

2018 has been a great year for Jack with critically acclaimed performances across North America. It’s only fitting that Saskatchewan’s bluesman rounds out the year with a career milestone record, one that will leave you with the “feel-goods.”

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Colter Wall - Songs of the Plains
#3. Colter Wall: Songs of the Plains (Country)
Hearkening back to the days of ‘country and western music,’ Wall’s latest album Songs of the Plains (Young Mary’s Record Co.) presents his one-of-a-kind baritone and employs supremely minimalist production on songs about cowboys, farming, campfires, and the road. With producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Shooter Jennings, Chris Stapleton, Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga) at the helm, authentic sounds add colour, with a bevy of A-list musicians contributing – in addition to Wall and Cobb on guitars, it’s Lloyd Green on pedal steel, Chris Powell on drums, Jason Simpson on bass, and Mickey Raphael on harmonica. Wall also invites friends and fellow artists Blake Berglund and Corb Lund onto the closing track, a cover of the classic “Tying Knots in the Devil’s Tail.”

A true lover of the traditional country sound, and keen to feed that love forward to new audiences, Wall’s album treads a retro line and somehow has made it cool again. The storytelling on this effort – mainly originals by Wall, with a few select covers – offer many themes of wandering, no doubt a reflection on his incredible success and substantial tour schedule in recent years, straight from the opening track where he sings “Forever I wander, forever I stray, The rustle of wheat fields starts callin' my name.”

While drawing comparisons to Americans Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, and Chris Stapleton, Wall here references distinctly Canadian touchstones – "Saskatchewan 1881”, “Manitoba Man,” a cover of Wilf Carter’s “Calgary Round Up”. Exclaim! writes, “On his terrific sophomore record, Wall paints a portrait of a mythic Canadiana, a western region of lonesome plains and grizzled frontiersmen, of rodeos and gunfighters, of hardscrabble existences and unlucky bounces.”

“After less than 24 years on this planet, Colter Wall and his voice carry the gravitas of an elderly Johnny Cash if he’d been buried in the soil of Wall’s Saskatchewan home” (Americana Highways).

With growing critical and fan acclaim and sold-out shows wherever he seems to pause with his guitar, it seems the new country sound of the prairie is actually a revival.

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Hook & Nail - Ghosts of Taylorton

#4 (TIE) Hook & Nail: Ghosts of Taylorton (Folk)
Hook & Nail is a folk/roots trio implementing vocal harmonies with electric and acoustic instrumentation to deliver stories. Their songwriting draws inspiration from historical stories from their region, bringing the personalities and circumstances described into the present.

Although the trio itself is relatively new, the members - Jeff D. Michel on bass, percussion, mandolin and electric guitar and vocals (Shattered, Jim Galloway, Generation ‘M’), Mike Davis on guitar and vocals (Black Tooth Grin), and Lindsay Arnold on vocals - were longtime friends who are known from several other musical projects. Each member brings a unique set of strengths that combine to give their music the storytelling of folk, the twang of country and the energy of pop/rock music. Lindsay, an accomplished visual artist, served as the primary lyricist for the majority of the songs and created the cover art. The band takes its name from a century-old farmhouse east of North Portal SK, in which everywhere you looked, there was either a hook or a nail in the wall, a prime example of practicality overruling aesthetic values until it becomes a style of its own.

This authentic and eminently listenable album weaves its way through stories such as opening track Adeline, from the point of view of a soldier leaving for war (“Kiss me, Adeline, cut a lock of hair; A piece of you to hold while I’m over there”); the upbeat tempo belying a rough life in “Ride” (“father was mean with a brutal hand, behind his eye gazed a hardened man”) and country-tinged “Locomotive Johnny,” a story of Michel's grandfather who drove a coal train. There’s also the slide-led instrumental “Eight & Sand,” the atmospheric “Drinkin’ Away” and “September 29, 1931,” rowdy “Two Tons” and toe-tapping “Boomtown Blues.” Many of their songs draw connections directly to events from the local Estevan mining area.

Our province has earned something of a reputation for growing amazing singer/songwriters, and if you appreciate a well-told story lyric, you’ll want to check out Ghosts of Taylorton. This album is a wonderful example of a traditional-in-spirit folk/roots album with a contemporary feel, blending lovely voices and skillful playing into an experience you’ll want to enjoy on repeat.

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Rosie & the Riveters - Ms. Behave
#4 (TIE) Rosie & The Riveters: Ms. Behave (Folk/Jazz)
Rosie & the Riveters' gritty, sultry, vintage-inspired folk anthems paint a portrait of a woman's voice in a man's world. Although the trio never planned to get political, they found that watching the news these days made it impossible to see the status of women around the world and stay silent.

“Like the topics on Ms. Behave, Rosie & the Riveters' latest collection of songs are just as multifarious in their sound as they are poignant. Elements of old-school rhythm and blues pervade the album which, paired with spotless folk harmonies and a real rock 'n' roll attitude, help Ms. Behave elevate itself.” (Pop Matters)

Preparing for this release, the Saskatoon trio Allyson Reigh, Alexis Normand and Farideh Olsen) took to a cabin in the woods in the dead of winter to work on songs, before traveling to Toronto to collaborate with heavy-hitting Canadian songwriters including Royal Wood and Matthew Barber. The twelve tracks that made the final cut are a collection of powerful and daring songs, reflected in song titles like “Gotta Get Paid,” “Let ‘em Talk” and “I Wanna be King.” While title single “Ms. Behave” lays down a Bill Withers-inspired groove and rejects the policing of women’s behavior, “I Believe You” sprung from the outrage and sorrow they felt after hearing the recent avalanche of stories of sexual assault. Produced by Joshua Van Tassel (Sarah Slean, Rose Cousins, Great Lake Swimmers), their sophomore album echoes Aretha Franklin’s demand for R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

No Depression praised, “(Rosie & the Riveters) look sweet as pie, gosh golly. It’s an intentional visual choice: They paint their faces with bold red lipstick. They tease their hair with big plastic curlers to build unflappable retro 'dos that complement their post-flapper vintage dresses. They rely on these post-war aesthetics to present as passive, conformist women of the Silent Generation. But sweetness and pie be damned. Rosie & the Riveters’ sophomore album Ms. Behave is a punk record masked with girl group harmonies, walking bass lines, and slinky snare brush percussion.”

Not only does the trio more than capably bring it on the album, they have earned faithful fans far and wide for their on-spot harmonies and engaging live performances at major events including AmericanaFest, Folk Alliance International, Reeperbahn, MerleFest, Folk on the Rocks, Winnipeg Folk Festival and many others, plus have garnered significant airplay on college charts and CBC Radio. If you have a chance to see them live, jump at it.

“Their purposeful lyrics and poised harmonies are meant to confront and inspire every woman” (Billboard Music)

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Marie-Veronique Bourque - une porte s'ouvre
#5. Marie-Véronique Bourque: Une porte s’ouvre (Jazz)
Bourque is a flutist who has been active on the music scene for more than 25 years. Boasting an impressive array of accolades including awards, educational achievements and symphony gigs, Une porte s’ouvre (‘A door opens’) is her debut album, produced by Tyler Hornby at OCL Studios, Calgary. Dedicated to French jazz, the album is composed of nine tracks - three original pieces mixed with an assortment of covers from artists such as Charles Aznavour, Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Legrand and Moe Koffman. The track “Excusez-Moi” (featuring Marie-Noëlle Claveau on vocals), was written in collaboration with Michelle Gregoire, and was a Semi-Finalist in the 2018 Canadian Songwriting Competition.

Marie-Véronique calls on some heavy hitters to accompany her flawless flute playing on the album, incredible musicians from Calgary, Regina and Quebec: Michelle Grégoire (piano), Jeremy Coates (double bass), Tyler Hornby (drums), Jack Semple (electric guitar), Mark DeJong (tenor sax), Marie-Noëlle Claveau (voice). This instrumental album is a treat to listen to from beginning to end, and is a welcome addition to the versatile musician’s experiences with classical, Baroque, folk, world, traditional French, cabaret and blues stylings. With such a wide array of instrumental capabilities and stylistic elements, we can’t wait to see what she does next.

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Alex Bent + the Emptiness - Vanilla Blue
#6 (TIE.) Alex Bent + the Emptiness: Vanilla Blue (Pop)
With a solid, versatile voice and style that melds introspective pop with alternative hip-hop, Bent’s Vanilla Blue is likely to catch the ears of fans of both genres. The production is ethereal at times, and vocals haunting, somehow conjuring the freshest sounds and vintage pop at the same time, boasting a darker post-modern edge that contrasts with memorable lyrics and hooks. “Inspired directly from Frank Ocean's Blonde, this EP will give you similar feelings,” states ELEVEN03, while his new label Trifecta aptly describes the artist as a “prairie Post Malone.”

Contagion Media raves, “(Bent) is the type of artist whose work of self-expression is set to inspire the best out of any listener. Hearing the passion lacing his voice throughout any track, it is evident that creating is akin to breathing for this star in the making. Growing into himself musically across his latest release, Vanilla Blue, Alex Bent dove into the emptiness stretching before him in the hopes of grasping the abyss… and he may very well do it.”

The Emptiness is Bent’s pseudonym, standing for his musical expression, stating. “Far from being a blank void, the Emptiness is vast, expansive, textured and nuanced. Intoxicated on emotion, earnestness, longing and poignancy, Alex Bent + the Emptiness are distinctive yet inseparable parts of a whole.” With pristine production and emotional performances, this is an album you’ll want to put on and get lost in, dealing with themes of love/relationships, time passing and vulnerability. This young multi-talent (vocals, drums, songwriter and more) recently worked up a killer new live show, so be sure to take any opportunity to hear him in person.

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Bears in Hazenmore - Atlas
#6 (TIE). Bears in Hazenmore: Atlas (Rock/Pop)
Atlas is the third album from Regina’s ambient alternative rock band, Bears in Hazenmore. Since that time they’ve been perfecting their thoughtful songwriting as well as a knack for shimmering, eclectic pop sounds. “We like to use a lot reverb guitars, dynamic percussion, and ethereal brass and woodwind textures. We draw strong influences from and comparisons to groups such as City and Colour, Aidan Knight, and Bon Iver.” The group consists of Brady Frank (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, trombone, French horn), Dana Rempel (bass, sax, clarinet), Darnell Stewart (guitar), Tanner Wilhelm Hale (drums, vocals), and Dalton Lam (trumpet, flugelhorn). As a point of interest, Bears also performs in a collaboration with singer-songwriter Megan Nash, and appeared in 2017’s BSA Top Ten for their work on Nash’s Seeker.

Atlas thematically features stories of people in transit: whether it be the process of accepting mental illness, moving homes, or accepting lost love, the only real constant throughout the record, as well as life, is change. The accompanying booklet contains maps drawn by artist Kelsey Chabot that depict locations significant to each song, and the idea of place and memories.

Atlas begins with “Beneath the Ice,” a swirling atmospheric opener that sets the tone for the rest of the record. The tracks continue with the dreamy “Skyline Road,” followed up with the critically-acclaimed trance-rock single “In Your Head.” The band brings thunderous percussion, airy horns, and radio-friendly hooks into a perfect package of mood and melody that lets you close your eyes and take a deep musical breath. Recorded in Regina with Justin Bender at Blue Door Recording, the album reflects the maturity of the band through the change and growth portrayed in each song. Be sure to catch the group live to fully appreciate their lovely sonic textures.

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LOA - Tide
#6 (TIE). LOA: Tide (Electronic Pop)
A new wave R&B artist from the Queen City, aka Jessica Burnett, her enchanting debut EP (on Trifecta) was produced by Walt Jeworski from world-renowned, NYC-based MSR studios. The dark R&B set boasts the handiwork of industry heavyweights such as Heights Beats (producer on Shad’s JUNO Award-winning album TSOL) and Colin Leonard, who mastered Bryson Tiller’s album True to Self (which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200), and Migos’ US Billboard Hot 100 #1 single, Bad and Boujee.

Exclaim! describes, “Carving out a niche for herself in a city primarily known for folksier fare, LOA’s latest tracks mix mysticism with moody electronic sounds and dark R&B vibes to cast an intoxicating spell over listeners.” Likened to that of other dark, electronic R&B artists such as Banks, Grimes, and Purity Ring, LOA brings her own sound to the genre, citing as influences artists such as SZA, Halsey, Sabrina Claudio, Milk & Bone, Syd, The Weeknd, 6lack, A. CHAL, and Bryson Tiller. Part of the Trifecta Collective, LOA has had an impressive year with showcases at New Skool Rules and CMW, collaborations with Crvde and HAVS and the release of a music video to accompany her track, Funeral.

With an all-too-short five tracks on Tide, we get a taste of LOA’s satiny vocals, by turns contemplative (intimately intoning “I need some space to move my heartline”) and sultry, as on the album’s noted single, Funeral. We look forward to hearing more from this rising young artist as she continues to prove she’s a force to be reckoned with..

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Untimely Demise - No Promise of Tomorrow
#7. Untimely Demise: No Promise of Tomorrow (Metal)
A bludgeoning 11 track release containing elements of thrash, speed, death, progressive and black metal, No Promise of Tomorrow delivers on the band’s reputation for ballistic speed and furiously tight riffage rippling with energy. This ambitious and adventurous album was produced by Justin Bender/Untimely Demise and includes guest solos by Bobby Koelble (Death) and Tim Roth (Into Eternity), while the band’s core is vocalist/lead guitarist Matt Cuthbertson, songwriter/bassist Murray Cuthbertson, James Burton on drums, and Adam Sweeney on guitar.

“Words can only go so far in describing a band like Untimely Demise. This is truly a group one must hear to understand their sound, as they combined unique extreme metal influences with a thrashy approach” (Skull Fracturing Metal).

More than a decade in, Untimely Demise has proven themselves to be a consistent and hard-working band, with each album building in strength. Metal Rules writes, “The album is heavy as hell, although there is a bit of a respite on the cut, ‘Live It And Breath It’, with a slower, more melodic introduction segment and a nice acoustic guitar flavoured exit piece. ‘Far From Grace’ has an acoustic intro as well, but by and large the album is full-on, heads down thrash. The guitar lines in some places are very melodic and tasteful, giving some songs a bit of breathing space, before diving back into the pit.”

The vocals cover a range of styles, predominantly black/thrash but with clean elements well-utilized, with Matt Cuthbertson doing double duty on blistering, precise guitar work. Part of the album’s magic comes from its rollercoaster song layout. Track by track, it takes you through heart attack highs and deep growl, soft lows beginning with the frantic quad attack of the opening cuts “Lethal Enforcers” and “Keep On Running”. The tracks continue to take the listener through lyrical dips and audible twists with “Sea of Disease” and “Live It And Breathe It“. Finally the closing number “Under The Gun” leaves your right cortex fired up and wanting another album run-through. If you’re a metal fan, one to add to your collection!

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Into Eternity - The Sirens
#8. Into Eternity: The Sirens (Metal)
Returning with their greatly anticipated new album “The Sirens” (M-Theory Audio), Into Eternity lives up to their iconic status in Canadian metal, with neoclassical guitar riffs and soaring melodies contrasting with solid drumwork, dual power guitars, and death vocals. The refreshed lineup includes founding member Tim Roth on guitar, bassist Troy Bleich, drummer Bryan Newbury, lead vocalist Amanda Kiernan and guitarist Matt Cuthbertson, with guest performances on the album by former vocalist Stu Block (Iced Earth), Glen Drover (ex-Megadeth), and Cam Dixon (ex-Annihilator).

The band borrows from many subgenres of heavy music to form the perfect blend of technicality, memorable songwriting, traditional heavy metal and the sheer savagery of metal's extreme genres. “The Sirens is an absolute whirlwind of guitar shredding and musicianship that fans of Dream Theater and Arch Enemy should already be listening to” (Exclaim). There is great diversity from song to song here – and within the songs themselves - with generous tracks lengths allowing room for arrangements to stretch out, evolve from start to end, and dynamically transition between segments. Two of the tracks included (Sandstorm and Fukushima) were previously released as singles.

Rekt Chords praises, “Into Eternity utilize a vast of number of different genres to immerse the listener in a trance-like experience. There is a little bit of something for every metal fan in this album. Whether you’re a fan of classic, thrash, power, death, black, or melodic, Into Eternity manages to capture those distinctive qualities from each genre and compose something that no other band has done.”

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Dayda Banks and
the Enabler - Emulator
#9. Dayda Banks & Filth the Enabler: Emulator (Hip Hop)
“Emulator” is the seven-song collaboration EP made this past summer by fellow Saskatoon hip-hop artists Dayda Banks & Filth the Enabler. Multiple producers were involved, providing beats for the MCs, with the final mix & mastering done by Saskatoon audio/video production studio DillyBat Productions. Dayda Banks began his dive into the hip-hop world back in high school, writing lyrics and messing around in a friend’s basement studio for fun. But, it was after a personal struggle and a trying experience that Dayda Banks focused in on his development as an artist/MC, channelling his hardships and experiences into lyrics. His first release in 2012, “The John Doe Sessions,” saw him teaming up with DillyBat for the first time and plugging into the growing Saskatoon hip-hop scene.

Fellow Saskatoon MC Filth the Enabler got his start with 2013 EP, “Rhymes Are Filthy, Beats Are Tantu,” which highlights his raw and grimy vocal style. Filth took a break from the hip-hop scene for a few years but has returned in this collaboration, new features, as well as hitting the stage again.

“Emulator” features a cool combination of throwback introspective lyrics along with nostalgic pop culture references,mixed with ‘90s classic hip-hop beats and more modern trap-style production. Dayda’s rapid-fire flow and deeper lyrical writing style blends well with Filth’s more laidback and grimy style delivery. The project carries an underlying concept of retro sci-fi and video games while still remaining true to Dayda's inspirational mentality and Filth's ability to speak openly about struggle and addiction. Emulator is a great example of some of the killer hip-hop coming out of Saskatchewan.

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Altars of Grief - Iris
#10. Altars of Grief - Iris (Metal)
Released early this year to widespread critical acclaim, Iris (Hypnotic Dirge Records) carries us through a dark and epic storyline, laying intense and moving lyrics over intriguing textural layers, and dynamic, soaring, symphonic-like arrangements contrasting with and complementing driving metal riffs.
The Regina-based blackened doom metal group have crafted a record “stuffed to the gills with riffs that range from quiet and contemplative to vicious and raw; vocals that shift from crooning and melodic to gut-wrenchingly violent and engrossing” (Metal Injection).

Singer Damian Smith explained, “The story of Iris is very much rooted in our prairie surroundings and deals with the struggles of addiction, sickness and religion. A father finds himself unable to connect with and care for his young daughter, Iris, who has fallen seriously ill. Spiralling deeper and deeper into his vices, and feeling rejected by Iris’ new found and unwavering faith, he gets into his car and decides to leave her behind. Somewhere along the icy road, he loses control of his vehicle and perishes. His purgatory is to watch helplessly as Iris slowly succumbs to her illness without him.’

Iris is sure to be a contender for many ‘best of’ lists this year, with Noisey praising, "Over eight tracks, the quartet melds the finer points of black and doom into a truly stirring composition."

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LOA has been nominated for the first Saskatchewan Music Awards as Electronic Artist of the Year.
Photo courtesy of athirdtime.
Regina-born artist Jessica Burnett, known as the artist LOA, has been nominated in the first ever Saskatchewan Music Awards for Electronic Artist of the Year.

“Music to me is literally my life,” LOA said. “I can’t think of a time since I was about three that I wasn’t involved . . . I was just fumbling my way through university, my mother would always be like ‘I don’t know why you aren’t just doing music, why aren’t you studying music?’ ”

LOA has performed across Western Canada, Toronto, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The Saskatchewan Music Awards will take place Nov. 25 at The Exchange in Regina’s Warehouse District.


“A lot of Saskatchewan artists are doing quite well,” said Ben Valiaho, SaskMusic Admin Assistant. “Not only in Saskatchewan but also around the world, and this is a nice way to highlight and honour them.”

Valiaho noted the importance of urban genres such as electronic and hip hop in Saskatchewan.

“Especially with the way technology has advanced for those sorts of genres, there’s a lot of ways that you can become quite a large producer or quite a large artist from a very do-it-yourself kind of attitude and studio set-up,” said Valiaho. “And those genres are quite healthy and celebrated.”

There are Artist of the Year awards for alternative, avant garde/experimental, country, electronic, hip hop, metal/loud, rock/pop, roots/folk, and Indigenous. There are also awards for Single of the Year, Breaking Borders, Industry Achievement, Venue of the Year, Producer of the Year and Best Saskatchewan Albums.

“I think Saskatchewan is often overlooked,” LOA said. “First of all they don’t know how to pronounce [it] . . . There’s not necessarily a lot of things that are going to draw attention to this province aside from the music, if anything people should pay attention to the music because there’s so many great artists here.”

The Saskatchewan Music Awards begin Saskatchewan Music Week, ending in Saskatoon with the Very Prairie: Saskatchewan Music Summit, where artists and industry professionals can connect.

“SaskMusic to me is kind of an umbrella,” LOA said. “It’s a support group and it’s done a lot for the province in terms of bringing together artists and being able to support them financially, also with advice and kind of just pushing everyone to the next level.”

Tickets to the awards are $20 in advance and there will be performances by Andino Suns, Megan
Nash, T-Rhyme and others. The awards start at 7:30 pm. - INK News- University of Regina School of Journalism

Trois artistes fransaskois et une artiste francophile figurent parmi les nommés pour les Prix de la musique de la Saskatchewan 2018 de l'organisme SaskMusic.

Ils ont été sélectionnés comme candidats au titre d'artiste de l’année dans quatre catégories différentes.

Artistes francophones nommés par catégorie
- Shawn Jobin
Catégorie Hip Hop

- Marie-Véronique Bourque
Catégorie Avant-Gardes/expérimental

- Rosie & the Riveters, dont fait partie Alexis Normand
Catégorie Roots/Folk

- LOA, de son vrai nom Jessica Burnett
Catégorie musique électronique

L’organisme Saskmusic décernera les prix aux lauréats lors d'un gala le 25 novembre à Regina. Cette activité a lieu à l'occasion de la Semaine de la musique, qui se conclut le 2 décembre. - CBC Radio- Canada

Tide is LOA’s debut EP that introduces her as a talented vocalist with a dark r&b vibe.

LOA is truly a great artist to experience live, know personally, and listen to in general. She has a unique quality to her music that I don’t hear anywhere else in my music browsing journeys and the space that she creates with her sound is deep and dark and thought-provoking. Tide was released earlier this year but still succeeds at being a very enjoyable listen. This review is overdue on our blog here but if anyone deserves any praise for the talent in their art it is definitely LOA.

LOA knows how to command an audience with her voice and “Phantom” tends to be the song to draw them in. One thing that will stay consistent throughout these songs is the grandness of the production that compliments LOA’s vocals magnificently. “Phantom” is full of sound that aims to create a sort of dissonence kind of like a spectral being. “Deeper” continues the wall of sound as we move to a s ong that to me seems to be about embracing inner beauty and expressing it in a variety of ways. Speaking deeper, with more thought and conciousness; moving with colour, making every step you take more extravagant than the last as you fill a room; and to touch with lightning, send shivers down ones spine as you truly express the grandness of your prescenece and strength. The wordless chorus in this song is very powerful and can at times be a little trance inducing with the drawn out humming and la-las. This next song is a short but sweet one that aims to express the vulnerability of love and knowing what the heart wants. In “Heartline”, LOA shows off some high pitched vocals that add a punch to the message that is being conveyed. “Funeral” is the hit single off of this project, previously being featured on Exclaim! and rightly so. LOA’s writing on this track stands out as an odd comparison between a funeral and a rebirth in character. She inviteds many to witness this spectacle as she transforms into a strange new being as opposed to the one they are used to seeing. The track is made to sound large, spiritual, and powerful with loud backing vocals in the chorus and the build up before each chorus crashing like a wave. LOA closes off the EP with a song called “Rings”. In “Rings”, LOA connects a failed relationship, that used to glow bright to some abandoned pieces of jewelery that is starting to lose it’s lustre. I believe this speaks to missed opportunities or time wasted when experiencing a new partner where it shouldn’t have been. The saying “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone” rings true in thus scenario and the rings serve as a constant reminder of what was.

This EP is quite the accomplishment for the Trifecta artist as lots of emotion flows through each and every song and deliver powerful messages all the while being enjoyable to listen too. LOA has an ear for being able to listen and feel a vibe out as she is working on her music to create the perfect backdrop for each song through her writing. If you haven’t, definitely check her music out and go give the song “Cheap Thrill” a listen to as well, it doesn’t fit well with the rest of these songs but it does have a catchy beat that I’m sure lots of people would enjoy. - ELEVEN03

FEATURE INTERVIEW:

LOA - "Funeral" Premiere

Electronic R&B/Soul

March 30, 2018 · NEW ARTIST DISCOVERY,INTRODUCING,FEATURE INTERVIEW,NEW SINGLE PREMIERE,HUMANHUMAN DISCOVERY
LOA Funeral
Introducing Canadian electronic R&B/soul singer-songwriter emerging from the “Queen City" of Regina, Saskatchewan LOA, the feminine force behind the new-wave sound rising out from the prairies. In a land primarily known for folksier fare, the Canadian songstress aims to breathe new life and substance into the prairie sound. Likened to that of other dark, electronic R&B artists such as Banks, Grimes, and Purity Ring, LOA brings her own coalescence of dark mysticism to the genre, making her better known to many as the "3 Witch.”

Within the past year alone, LOA has toured nationally, as well as internationally, performing at showcase festivals such as Canadian Music Week in Toronto, ON, Breakout West Festival in Edmonton, AB and FOCUS Wales in Wrexham, UK. Following her recent UK tour, LOA was featured by renowned UK music news site, Drowned in Sound, in their festival recap article, DiS Does FOCUS Wales 2017.

I got the chance to learn a little bit more about LOA when I was given the opportunity to interview the singer which you can read on about as follows:

MHB: Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

LOA: Ayy, I’m Jessica Burnett aka LOA, the new-wave/alternative R&B singer from the Canadian prairies.

MHB: How long has music been a part of your life and how did it come to be a part of it?

LOA: Music has always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. The first song I can recall singing was “Oh My Darling Clementine” when I was about 3 or 4 and my babysitter used to play it to me on the piano. My mother is also a singer and always encouraged my love of music. I took many lessons growing up; singing, piano, harp, music theory, and saxophone were all part of my weekly routine.

MHB: When was it that you realized your voice could be used as a special instrument and that making music was what you wanted to do?

LOA: I’d say music was always what I wanted to do. However, I only recently found my voice as LOA in 2015 when I recorded my first demo tape. That was when I really began pursuing music as a career choice.

MHB: Who were some of your biggest musical influences growing up and who are some current artists who are influencing you and your music?

LOA: Growing up I listened to a lot of 90’s hip-hop, so I was heavily influenced by Eminem. I loved memorizing lyrics and spitting them out as fast as possible. I even used to memorize TV jingles and sing them all in a run-on fashion when I got bored. I also listened to a lot of The Killers, Johnny Cash and Kanye. It wasn’t until later in life that I really fell in love with R&B and the female voice. Now, I’m heavily influenced by artists such as Banks, SZA, Halsey, Purity Ring, Sabrina Claudio, Milk & Bone, Syd, The Weeknd, 6lack, A. CHAL, Bryson Tiller, and the list goes on.

MHB: Without using any musical terms, how would you describe your sound to a new listener?

LOA: Dark, introspective, surprising.

MHB: Can you tell me a little bit about your creative process? It is typically the same or does it differ?

LOA: It’s definitely a changing process. Sometimes I’m inspired by a beat, sometimes the beat comes after the melody and is built around it. Regardless of beat or melody though, lyrics are almost always the first thing in my mind.

MHB: If you had the opportunity to collab with any artist of your choosing, who would you choose?

LOA: I have to say Kendrick. He’s been at the top of my list ever since he dropped m.A.A.d City.

MHB: Let's talk about your single 'Funeral'... How did it come together and what was the inspiration behind it?

LOA: “Funeral” really came to me all at once as I was driving around my neighborhood early one evening. I had to pull over and type the words into my notes app while I was still firmly grasping the idea. I think it came from a persona I had been suppressing… This utter deviant that arose from having suffered an extreme emotional trauma. It seems cliché, but I think she is set apart in the way she elects her own fate upon being given a choice. She then unapologetically temps her scorning lover to reconvene with her, as if to say “join me in this hell I now revel in because of you.”

MHB: What can we expect to see from you in the coming months?

LOA: I’m super excited to be doing a lot of touring for the LOA TIDE EP in the coming months. We will be playing quite a few dates across Canada this April leading up to our hometown EP release party at the Lot Club on May 4th and our showcase performance at Canadian Music Week 2018 in Toronto. From there we’ll be flying across the pond to play in the UK and Netherlands for the month of May. After tour we’ll be getting straight to work on recording our second EP this summer.

MHB: What would you like people to take away from your music?

LOA: I hope people feel a deep movement of dope energy that they can embody and take with them to the club, the streets, or just driving around with their thoughts late at night.

MHB: If you got stuck on an island and had the choice of one record to have with you, which would you choose and why?

LOA: “When the Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney because it fits the beach mood and reminds me of my family cabin in the summertime.

MHB: What would you say is your life's "theme song"?

LOA: My mom says “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees was playing on the car radio when my parents brought me home from the hospital after I was born. She says it’s been fitting of me ever since.

MHB: Can you tell me one random fact about yourself?

LOA: My guilty food pleasures are spicy ramen, salt & vinegar chips, and pizza with Caribbean jerk sauce :)

MHB: What does music mean to you?

LOA: Music is the vibe. Music is the energy. Music is the memory.

The emerging singer has shared the rematered, EP version of her first single "Funeral" from her upcoming debut EP, Tide. Produced by Walt Jeworski from the world-renowned, NYC-based MSR studios and Heights Beats (producer on Shad’s Juno Award-winning album TSOL) with mastering by Colin Leonard, mastering engineer behind Bryson Tiller’s US Billboard 200 debuted #1 album, True To Self, and Migos’ US Billboard Hot 100 #1 single, “Bad and Boujee,” the track "Funeral" speaks about the death of previous identities in exchange for finding strength in a new one. The single combines LOA’s experience in a variety of genres to develop a new-wave blend of smooth, modern R&B/soul.

Check out "Funeral" which can be heard here and be sure to watch out for LOA's debut EP, Tide dropping in spring of 2018:


Lyrics to “Funeral”
I’ve been waitin’ in my grave
Patiently since the day
You put a price on my head
Looked at me and said
I’d be dead
Dead if I stay

So won’t you come to my Funeral, come
Save the date
Tell your baby she’s not welcome
‘Cuz I’ve been hot down here
It’s the party of the year
Won’t you come to my funeral

Come to my place
Where forever more I stay
Won’t you fall to your knees
Pray to the birds and bees
Won’t you come to my funeral

Yeah ‘neath the sea is where I lay
Drinkin’ in the salty waves
So won’t you bring your bottles down
And together we can drown
Come to my funeral, come

Come to my place
Where forever more I stay
Won’t you fall to your knees
Pray to the birds and bees
Won’t you come to my funeral

Yeah everybody that you know
Is comin’ to the show
Put on your best black duds
Bring some of those good drugs
Won’t you come to my funeral

Come to my place
(Come on down)
Where forever more I stay
(You made my bed)
Won’t you fall to your knees
Pray to the birds and bees
(You did)
Won’t you come to my funeral
(Now lay your head)

‘Cuz I’ve been waitin’ in my grave
Patiently since the day
You put a price on my head
Looked at me and said
I’d be dead, if I stayed


To hear more from LOA visit her website and, be sure to follow her

on SoundCloud, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

*HumanHuman Discovery - MusicalHeARTBeat

New Skool Rules 2018
New Skool Rules 2018
New Skool Rules 2018
May 18th - 20Th 2018 - Rotterdam, NE

The biggest International Urban Music Conference and Festival

VISIT WEBSITE
3PEAT
3PEAT
3PEAT's Steve, E.GG and Dill The Giant form a triangle offence of rap styles and influences. The trio grew up in Winnipeg. With Steve’s background as a DJ, E.GG’s roots in breakdancing and Dill’s work with the Prestigious Deviants, the group naturally came together at hip hop events and became fast friends.

There is a strong sense of East Coast legends like Pete Rock and Nas felt in the production and content produced by 3PEAT, mixed with a bounce reminiscent of Southern hip hop. The group recorded a song together and quickly blossomed into writing enough music to perform a short live set. After their first show the eclectic nature of the Winnipeg music scene stepped in. From opening for rap acts like Blackalicious and T.I, to sharing the bill with hardcore bands the group began to attract an organic following. With 30+ live shows under their belt and no presence online, 3PEAT rented a studio space, bought the necessary equipment with the money saved from gigs and self-recorded their debut EP, 3PEAT. That project was debuted to a sold-out crowd at The Goodwill Social Club and earned them Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Best Hip Hop Artist.


ARTIST WEBSITE





Arlo Maverick (AB)
Arlo Maverick (AB)
Arlo Maverick is an Edmonton-based hip-hop artist that has celebrated many recent successes. Some of these accomplishments include awards and nominations (WCMA/EMA); critical acclaim from accredited music sites in Canada (Exclaim/HipHopCanada.com) and the US (Rap Reviews/Pop Matters); showcasing at Breakout West (Canada) and Zandari Festa (South Korea); headlining the 40th Annual North Country Fair’s Friday night main stage (Canada); and national campus radio chart activity that landed him at #1 on Canada’s weekly hip-hop charts and #3 on the US weekly hip-hop charts. Arlo Maverick’s sound explores Jazz, EDM, and Soul yet identifies itself as hip-hop. Writing from his personal experiences, Arlo Maverick connects with his fans one song at a time. Be it songs about the innocence of falling in love, confronting one’s inner demons, or the struggles of making ends meet, Arlo Maverick’s music is as much about moving his audience physically, as it is about moving them emotionally. Stepping away from hip-hop’s tradition of just an MC and a DJ, Arlo Maverick incorporates this hip-hop staple with his live band, HFO. With influences like K-Os, The Black Keys and The Roots, Arlo’s live show is a fun, energetic and interactive experience where the audience is freed of their inhibitions to exist in the moment. Arlo Maverick is currently preparing the release of his sophomore album, Soul Merchant in early 2018. You can catch Arlo Maverick during FOCUS Wales 2018 at:

Thursday - 10th May @ 8:05pm - Set The Bar

Friday - 11th May @ 6:00pm - Ty Pawb

ARTIST WEBSITE





Kelly Bado
Kelly Bado
Kelly Bado is a bilingual singer-songwriter who takes you on a beautiful journey with her songs. Kelly discovered her musical and artistic passions at a young age performing in local choirs in her native Ivory Coast.
Kelly ventured to Canada in December 2007, where her love of music continued to flourish. In early 2016, Kelly started to work with Chris Burke-Gaffney (who developped and managed Chantal Kreviazuk) recording few songs which led to being one of three artists chosen by Manitoba Music to journey to Los Angeles to showcase for a selected group of
music industry heavyweights. Los Angeles based Canadians, singer-songwriter-producer, Andy Stochansky, entertainment lawyer, Lisa Whynot, and grammy award winning songwriter producer, Brian West, fell immediately in love with Kelly’s soulful voice. They have spent the last year working on developing Kelly’s unique talent and writing/recording songs for a new project while Kelly continues to promote her french language EP, “Entre
Deux”, for which she received 3 nominations: Francophone Artist of the Year and World Music Artist of the Year at the 2017 Breakout West Awards and World Artist of the year at the Canadian Folk Music Award. With lyrics inspired by love, hope and social equality, and a sound that marries pop with R&B/Soul and her African background, one cannot help but get swept away into Kelly’s magical voice. She received the honor to perform in Ottawa, on Parliament Hill, as part of Canada’s 150th Celebrations along with well known artists like Alessia Cara, Serena Ryder, Walk Off the Earth and others.

ARTIST WEBSITE




LOA (SK)
LOA (SK)
LOA is the feminine force behind the new-wave sound rising out from the prairies. In a land primarily known for its country singers and acoustic guitars, the Canadian electronic R&B/soul singer-songwriter aims to breathe new life and substance into the prairie sound.

"Funeral" was exclusively premiered on Exclaim!, Canada’s leading alternative music and culture magazine. The single has since received significant press coverage, including a feature in Hillberg & Berk’s very own online lifestyle blog, H&B Life. By the end of 2016, "Funeral" was named "Favourite Regina Discovery" in Chart Attack’s yearend article, The Best Music of 2016 From Cities Around Canada.

Within the past year alone, LOA has toured nationally, as well as internationally, performing at showcase festivals such as Canadian Music Week in Toronto, ON, Breakout West in Edmonton, AB and FOCUS Wales in Wrexham, UK. Following her recent UK tour, LOA was featured by renowned UK music news site, Drowned in Sound, in their festival recap article, DiS Does FOCUS Wales 2017.

ARTIST WEBSITE





Samurai Champs (SK)
Samurai Champs (SK)
Samurai Champs is an emerging recording and performing R&B/hip-hop duo. Consisting of new-wave rapper Jeah and dark-soul/R&B singer Merv xx Gotti, the duo draw influence from their Southeast Asian heritage while taking pride in their urban-Canadian identity. Blending Jeah’s versatile rap vocal delivery with Merv xx Gotti’s emotional R&B vocals, the duo create a smooth, yet dark coalescence of modern hip-hop/R&B.

Within the past twelve months since the release of their debut EP, Crayons EP, Samurai Champs have risen as one of their province’s most prominent hip-hop/R&B artists. Recorded and mixed by former Urban Heat/Universal In-House Producer, Miguel Dey, and mastered by Colin Leonard, mastering engineer behind Bryson Tiller’s US Billboard 200 debuted #1 album, True To Self, and Migos’ US Billboard Hot 100 #1 single, “Bad and Boujee”, Crayons EP combines the contemporary Canadian hip-hop/R&B sounds of Toronto-based label, OVO Sound, with the soulful minimalism of L.A.’s future-soul collective, Soulection.

The official music video for the EP’s first single and title track, “Crayons”, exclusively premiered on VICE’s music publication, Noisey. Crayons EP itself premiered on Exclaim!, Canada’s leading alternative music & culture magazine. By the end of 2016, Crayons EP proceeded to win second place in SaskMusic’s Best Saskatchewan Albums of 2016, and was highlighted in Chart Attack’s yearend article, The Best Music of 2016 From Cities Around Canada.

Crayons EP is available on iTunes, Spotify, and all other major music platforms.

ARTIST WEBSITE





VBRTR
VBRTR
Future-R&B DJ/producer duo, hailing from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, rise from the wheat blanketed fields that are synonymous with country and folk music. They aim to spread the music they love and create to those who are not familiar with it. VBRTR finds production inspiration in artists such as; Mura Masa, Diplo and TroyBoi to name a few. As songwriters, they pull the stylistic charms that made 90’s R&B, instant classics. With this diverse combination, they bring their own feel-good touch to music.

Jonathan Cruz and Leonard Chan, have a combined experience of over 10 years of DJing. They have had residency in major nightclubs and bars in the local scene as well as gigs across Canada and internationally. Together, they use their dynamic, dual-style live show comprised of back-to-back DJ sets accompanied by vocally-driven live performances.
VBRTR have captured fans with their unique, combinatory live presence. Most recently, they provided tour support as DJ’s for LOA in Toronto, ON for Canadian Music Week and Wrexham, U.K. for FOCUS Wales. While in the U.K., they played at Birthdays in London, England (both supporting LOA and DJing for the room).

ARTIST WEBSITE - BreakOut West

LOA

Canada
R&B/ Soul
Emerging from the “Queen City”- Regina, Saskatchewan, LOA is the feminine force behind the new-wave sound rising out from the prairies. In a land primarily known for its country singers and acoustic guitars, the Canadian electronic R&B/soul singer-songwriter aims to breathe new life and substance into the prairie sound. Likened to that of dark, electronic R&B artists such as Banks, Grimes, and Purity Ring, LOA brings her own coalescence of dark mysticism to the genre, making her better known to many as the “3 Witch”.
Working with recording and mix engineer Walt Jeworski from the world-renowned, NYC-based MSR Studios, LOA premiered her first single, “Funeral”, from her upcoming debut album, Tide. Produced by Heights Beats (producer on Shad’s Juno Award-winning album TSOL) and mastered by Colin Leonard, mastering engineer behind Bryson Tiller’s US Billboard 200 debuted #1 album, True To Self, and Migos’ US Billboard Hot 100 #1 single, “Bad and Boujee”, “Funeral” speaks about the death of previous identities in exchange for finding strength in a new one. The single combines LOA’s experience in a variety of genres to develop a new-wave blend of smooth, modern R&B/soul.

Within the past year alone, LOA toured nationally and internationally, performing at international showcase festivals such as Canadian Music Week in Toronto, ON and FOCUS Wales in Wrexham, UK and Breakout West in Edmonton, AB. Following her recent UK tour, LOA was featured by renowned UK music news site, Drowned in Sound, in their festival recap article, DiS Does FOCUS Wales 2017. - Canadian Music Week

Emerging from the "Queen City"-Regina, Saskatchewan-LOA is the feminine force behind the new-wave sound rising out from the prairies. In a land primarily known for folksier fare, the Canadian alternative R&B/soul singer-songwriter aims to breathe new life and substance into the prairie sound. Likened to that of other alternative R&B artists such as Banks, Grimes, and Halsey, LOA brings her own coalescence of dark mysticism to the genre, making her better known to many as the "3 Witch."

Working with producer Walt Jeworski from the world-renowned, NYC-based MSR Studios, LOA today announces the release of her upcoming EP, TIDE, out this spring.

With industry heavyweights such as Heights Beats, producer on Shad's Juno Award-winning album TSOL, and Colin Leonard, mastering engineer behind Bryson Tiller's US Billboard 200 debuted #1 album True To Self and Migos' US Billboard Hot 100 #1 single "Bad and Boujee" also working on the project, TIDE is anticipated to make some big waves in the coming months.


In 2017 alone, LOA toured nationally, as well as internationally, performing at showcase festivals such as Canadian Music Week in Toronto, ON, Breakout West Festival in Edmonton, AB and FOCUS Wales in Wrexham, UK. Following her UK tour, LOA was featured by renowned UK music news sites, Drowned in Sound, Gigwise, and The Line of Best Fit.

LOA is currently looking forward to her hometown EP release party being held at the Lot Club in Regina on Friday, May 4th. She will then be taking off on her spring tour in support of the EP release, leading into her showcase performances at Canadian Music Week and New Skool Rules this May of 2018. - Broadway World

BreakOut West at FOCUS Wales 2017
BreakOut West at FOCUS Wales 2017
BreakOut West at FOCUS Wales 2017
FOCUS WALES 2017
FOCUS Wales is an annual multi-venue festival taking place in Wrexham, North Wales, each spring, which places the music industry spotlight firmly on the emerging talent that Wales has to offer the world.

VISIT WEBSITE
ALTAMEDA (AB)
ALTAMEDA (AB)
Edmonton-based Altameda formed out of a recording session for singer-songwriter Troy Snaterse, but quickly became a group e ort to create something new. Despite the four-piece nding their roots in various genres, they felt compelled to blend their individual styles with the Canadiana sound that shaped their younger years. During the sessions for the group’s debut LP, Dirty Rain, it was clear that the band felt a chemistry that only arrives through shared experiences.
Dirty Rain was produced and recorded by Je Kynoch at Sound Extractor studios and reached #1 on the CKUA Top 30 Charts. Songs such as ‘Queen of the Street’, ‘Dirty Rain’ and ‘Borrowed Suit, Secondhand Dress’ speak to bar-room revelers and country travelers, lovelorn troubadours and working men.

“Altameda’s ‘Dirty Rain’ is the perfect summer soundtrack” - Exclaim!
“...Altameda is a modern-day throwback to some of the greatest musical sounds ever recorded.” - Canadian Beats
“I was immediately swept away by the classic Americana feel of Altameda’s
‘Dirty Rain’.
It’s alt-country poetry in the highest form.” - MilkCrater.com
“As soon as I heard their rst song, I knew I had a new band-crush. They manage to sound classic
and new at the same time, like Blue Rodeo crossed with War On Drugs.” - Gus Van Go (Producer)

VISIT WEBSITE




FAKE SHARK (BC)
FAKE SHARK (BC)
As well as a streamlining of the band’s name (dropping the “Real Zombie” part of their previous moniker), there’s been a conscious effort to tighten up Fake Shark’s musical centre. While the new music may have settled into a groove-heavy indie rock vibe, it still crackles with the touchstones and foundation of their musical catalogue - original concepts, cutting lyrics, and a plethora of interesting voices. The band has just finished recording a new LP which is due out in mid-2017.

VISIT WEBSITE




LAB COAST (AB
LAB COAST (AB
Lab Coast began in late 2008. The Calgary-based band revolves around the tunes recorded by founders David Laing and Chris Dadge (Chad VanGaalen, Alvvays, Samantha Savage Smith) in various basements around the city. The songs are compact, tightly-wound strings of melody and bustling rhythms, the seeds of which are conjured up by Laing as he wanders around various city parks and neighbourhoods, at night and in the daylight. Their latest album, Remember The Moon, is out now on Wyatt Records, and features the single “Bored Again”, which the Toronto Star called “a brisk blast of fizzy/fuzzy wonderfulness”.

VISIT WEBSITE





LOA (SK)
LOA (SK)
Emerging from the “Queen City”- Regina, Saskatchewan, LOA is the feminine force behind the new-wave sound that is rising out from the prairies. In a land primarily known for its country singers and acoustic guitars, the Canadian electronic R&B/soul singer-songwriter aims to breathe new life and substance into the prairie sound. Likened to that of dark, electronic R&B artists such as Banks, Grimes, and Purity Ring, LOA brings her own coalescence of dark mysticism to the genre, making her better known to many as the "3 Witch”.

Working with recording and mix engineer Walt Jeworski from the world-renowned, NYC-based MSR Studios, LOA premieres her first single, Funeral, from her upcoming debut album, Tide. Produced by Heights Beats (producer on Shad’s Juno Award-winning album TSOL) and mastered by Colin Leonard, mastering engineer behind Bryson Tiller’s critically acclaimed, certified-platinum debut album, T R A P S O U L, Funeral speaks about the death of previous identities in exchange for finding strength in a new one. The single combines LOA’s experience in a variety of genres to develop a new-wave blend of smooth, modern R&B/soul.

Funeral was exclusively premiered on Exclaim!, Canada’s leading alternative music and culture magazine. The single has since received significant press coverage, including a feature in Hillberg & Berk’s very own online lifestyle blog, H&B Life. By the end of 2016, Funeral was named Favourite Regina Discovery in Chart Attack’s yearend article, The Best Music of 2016 From Cities Around Canada.

Funeral is currently available for streaming and purchase on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and all other major music platforms.

LOA has performed across Canada, touring through Ontario during Trifecta’s #Thre3InThe6ix Tour this past May, as well as opened for notable SK-based hip-hop and R&B acts such as DGS Samurai Champs, Queen City Stoop Kids, and Mikey Dubz. Her music has also been paired with highly esteemed SK-based fashion designers such as Hillberg & Berk and Empire Nomad. LOA is currently preparing for her upcoming Canada and UK tours this spring. These tours will be surrounding her showcase performances at this year’s Canadian Music Week in Toronto, ON, as well as FOCUS Wales Festival in Wrexham, Wales.

VISIT WEBSITE




POOR NAMELESS BOY (SK)
POOR NAMELESS BOY (SK)
As Poor Nameless Boy, Regina, Saskatchewan-based indie folk artist Joel Henderson leaves a piece of himself on stage every time he performs. His mellow sound is personal, speaking honestly about love, life, and our changing hearts in a busy world. He has been described as a lighter version of John Mayer with the wispy sounds of Gregory Alan Isakov. The release of his third album “Bravery” has already turned industry and music lovers’ heads, debuting nationally at #2 on Canadian folk charts. Listen carefully and take note of the passionate range of vocals and songs with stories, sung from the soul.

Additional Show: 5:30, 11 May 11 @Old No. & Bar

VISIT WEBSITE





SLOW LEAVES (MB)
SLOW LEAVES (MB)
Slow Leaves is the project of Winnipeg, Canada's Grant Davidson. His music calls to mind a 1970s California country-folk record newly discovered in your parent's attic. Known for his easy delivery of sincere, poetic lyrics and lilting melodies, Slow Leaves’ songs linger in the timeless spaces where heart and humility endure.

Enough About Me (Fall 2017) is the most personal album Davidson has yet crafted. Self-produced and born of the demos Davidson had recorded in his Winnipeg basement, these ten songs represent a true distillation of his influences while acknowledging, as the self-referential title suggests, that no man (or record) is an island. The album’s instrumentation is fleshed out by frequent bandmates and collaborators Jason Tait (Bahamas, Weakerthans), Rusty Matyas (Imaginary Cities, Sheepdogs), and Julie Penner (Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think), among others.

Davidson began making records under his own name with the sparse Tired Limbs for Ashes in 2009 followed by Dust and Violets in 2011, drawing heavily from the sounds of 70s Nashville. In 2014, Davidson, under the new name Slow Leaves, released the critically acclaimed full-length Beauty is so Common which reached #1 on the Canadian !earshot National Folk/Roots chart and was a CBC radio 2 favourite with it’s lead single “Life of a Better Man”. His music has also been featured on CBC's Definitely Not The Opera, The Vinyl Cafe, and The Next Chapter. Slow Leaves garnered further attention in 2015 for his selection in the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class. With the upcoming album, Enough About Me, Slow Leaves continues to spare nothing in creating vivid images and heartfelt connections: the culmination of where he’s been and where he’s going.

VISIT WEBSITE




YOUNGBLOOD (BC)
YOUNGBLOOD (BC)
Youngblood is a case study in the power of contrasts. The creative outlet of Vancouver’s Alexis Young, the music of Youngblood is dreamy but insistent, a feather-soft pillow of lush sound anchored by electronic grooves. The siren-like voice at the centre of it all is fierce and sultry in equal measure—a bit Grace Jones, perhaps a trace of Nancy Sinatra, but always pure Youngblood.

Inspired by the French electronic retro-futurist duo Air, Young has described her music as “what the ’60s thought the future would sound like”, and that’s as apt a description as any of songs that fuse timeless melodies with an aesthetic rooted firmly in the here and now. You could say Youngblood has an old soul. This is dream-pop to be sure, but a close listen reveals that Young is singing songs of obsession, self-destruction, and romantic catastrophe.

Youngblood’s debut EP, Feel Alright, (released September 23rd, 2016) features five sweet pop confections with hearts of darkness, concocted by Young in collaboration with co-writer Parker Bossley (of Gay Nineties, Mounties, and Fur Trade) and produced and engineered by Juno-nominated DJ, producer and Diplo collaborator Sleepy Tom (Fool’s Gold Records).

Two of those songs have already made waves. The first, “Easy Nothing”—produced by Kevvy Mental (Fake Shark, Carly Rae Jepsen)—was released as an online single in May of 2015. The following single, “Feel Alright”, premiered this past March on Vancouver’s modern-rock station, 102.7 the Peak FM, and reached the No. 6 spot on the Spotify Viral Chart, having racked up 300,000+ plays to date.

To bring these songs to life on-stage, Young has recruited a killer band, featuring members of Vancouver’s Gay Nineties and Fake Shark. In a live setting, the material takes on a powerful new dynamic, with the fiery frontwoman a crackling live wire bewitching the audience. This world-class wrecking crew, which has shared bills with Chromeo, Timber Timbre, and Black Mountain, was named a must-see band at Canadian Music Week and BreakOut West 2016.

The band will be hitting the road for Spring 2017, so discerning indie-pop fans across Canada and Europe will have a chance to get a taste of all of Youngblood’s delicious contrasts. - BreakOut West

In Tune 2017
2017 In Tune

NEW “IN TUNE 2017” PROMOTES SASKATCHEWAN'S EXPORT-LEVEL MUSIC
The latest issue includes 40 solid tracks
SaskMusic is proud to launch our newest asset to promote Saskatchewan music across the globe. In Tune 2017, a 40 track, double album set features tracks by some of Saskatchewan’s top current musical exports. In Tune is a project created for promotion and distribution to music industry professionals around the world, including media, talent buyers, music supervisors and labels. It will be travelling with SaskMusic and our artists to national and international market events such as Reeperbahn (Hamburg), BreakOut West (Kelowna), Americana Music Conference (Nashville), SXSW (Austin), Canadian Music Week (Toronto), The Great Escape (Brighton), and many other events that SaskMusic will have a presence at in 2018. It will be available as a stream to the public, and to the music industry as digital downloads and a physical release.

The 40 tracks include representation from a diverse assortment of musical styles, with sides titled ‘Ebb’ and ‘Flow’, moody artwork by Saskatoon’s Stephanie Kuse, and mastering by Ryan Anderson of the Recording Arts Institute of Saskatoon (Saskatchewan's Audio Engineering and Film school). Song selection was conducted by a music industry jury, following a general call for submissions across Saskatchewan.

The In Tune series first began in 2007 and has seen Saskatchewan music from all genres travelling the world, as the global profile of our artists continues to rise.

The majority of tracks included on this compilation can be found on recent album releases by the respective artist.

InTune 2017 tracks are:

EBB
One Bad Son Raging Bull / Saskatoon (rock)
The Pistolwhips Coastline / Saskatoon (alternative)
Shooting Guns French Safe / Saskatoon (instrumental heavy psych)
Autopilot Hurricane / Saskatoon (indie-alternative)
Andy Shauf Magician / Regina (alt pop)
LOA Funeral / Regina (pop/R&B)
VBRTR Something Gūd / Saskatoon (future R&B)
PONTEIX Chasing the Sun / St. Denis (pop/electro/psych)
Grim Black Friday / Regina (alt rock)
Meghan Bowman O My Heart / Guernsey (alt pop)
Tenille Arts What He's Into / Weyburn (country)
Alex Runions Heartland / Regina (country)
Amy Nelson Hey Love / Regina (country)
Chris Henderson My Regret / Wilcox (country)
Brock Andrews Collide / Saskatoon (country)
Val Halla Not Enough / Regina (rock)
The Karpinka Brothers You're Worth It / Saskatoon (folk)
Rosie & the Riveters Ms. Behave / Saskatoon (folk)
Kara Golemba Box Labelled 'You' / Indian Head (roots)
The Johner Boys Stories / Saskatoon (pop/rock)

FLOW
Vinze Feat. Poor Nameless Boy Damage / Regina - Poor Nameless Boy (EDM)
DGS Samurai Champs Zone / Regina (electronic hip-hop/R&B)
Def3 El Fin Del Mundo / Regina (hip hop)
Megan Nash Bad Poetry / Moose Jaw (roots/pop)
Close Talker Reptiles / Saskatoon (alt rock)
Friends of Foes 4Walls / Saskatoon (alternative)
Ava Wild White Toothed Bastard / Regina (folk)
Gunner & Smith The Barrens / Saskatoon (folk-rock)
The Steves New Train / Regina (garage rock/punk)
The Johnny McCuaig Band Here We Go / Regina (rock)
The Wolfe Dumb Dog / Prince Albert (indie pop)
Anna Klein Innocence / Saskatoon (ambient/ alternative)
The Garrys Healing Waters / Saskatoon (doom-wop garage pop)
Jeffery Straker Thousand Miles Away / Regina (folk/roots)
Eliza Doyle Nothin' To Lose / Swift Current (folk/bluegrass)
The Dead South Every Man Needs a Chew / Regina (roots/bluegrass)
West of Mabou Temperance Reel/Devil's Dream / Regina (world/Celtic)
Eli Barsi Screamin' Jimmy / Moosomin (Western roots swing)
Jen Lane Never Try To Love You / Saskatoon (folk)
Minor Matter Barren Ground / Saskatoon (orchestral folk)

This project was made possible through the support of Creative Saskatchewan.

Creative Sask logo

Music Industry Professionals and Media, if you'd like to receive a physical CD copy or access to a download of In Tune 2017, please click here.

SaskMusic Radio Stream: Click to play
Spotify Stream: (note, not all tracks are available on Spotify)




Inside artwork

Back cover

EBB
One Bad Son
One Bad Son
www.onebadson.com

The spectrum of modern rock is typically split into two camps, with slick commercial chart-toppers on one side and flavour-of-the-month indie acts on the other. And then there's One Bad Son: An honest-to-goodness rock 'n' roll band that occupies a world of its own, cutting through with cranked up amps and a resolutely DIY approach to music making. Their latest album was produced by Gavin Brown, with the first single, “Raging Bull” hitting #1 on Canadian radio.


The Pistolwhips
www.thepistolwhips.com

Hailing from Saskatoon, The Pistolwhips have worked tirelessly to bring listeners out of the daily grind and into a series of life-changing moments. Blending an incredible mix of indie rock hooks with monster rock choruses, this is a band that leaves it all on the table. In mid-2016 the band began work with legendary Canadian producer Eric Ratz (Monster Truck, Billy Talent, The Arkells). In fall 2016 they released their album's first single, “Voices”, which managed to land the band a spot in the Top 40 of Canadian Active Rock. During this successful first single push, the song received 150,000 streams, and caught the attention of Steve Nightingale of record label Cadence/Fontana North. The band’s new album was released through Fontana North in May 2017.

Shooting Guns
Shooting Guns
www.shootingguns.ca

Shooting Guns have toured over 60,000 miles across Canada over the past seven years. Their sophomore LP, Brotherhood of the Ram (released in 2013 through RidingEasy Records) was nominated for a 2015 JUNO for Metal/Hard Album of the Year, as well as the Polaris Music Prize. Their debut LP, Born To Deal in Magic: 1952-1976, was also nominated for the Polaris Music Prize in 2012. Their latest release, Flavour Country, is the first album recorded by the band themselves at their own Pre-Rock Studios in Saskatoon.

Autopilot
Autopilot
www.autopilottheband.com

Autopilot is an indie alternative rock band from Saskatoon. Their 2016 fall release, Hurricane / Crooked Lines, were the first two tracks from a full-length album released in 2017. Hurricane was recorded and produced by S.J. Kardash at Full Color Studios in Saskatoon, and mastered by Sterling Sound in New York City. These new songs highlight Autopilot’s creative songwriting skills and include spacey tones and unique touches such as a bow used on the guitar, as well as dynamic drum beats and solid bass lines to keep the listener captivated. The band is continuing to build off the success of their 2015 release, Desert Dreams, which debuted on the National Top 50 Earshot charts, was well received by CMJ reporting stations across the USA, and received heavy rotation on Sirius XM’s Iceberg Radio and the Verge.

Andy Shauf
Andy Shauf
www.andyshauf.com

The Party is the Arts & Crafts full-length debut for this Canadian songwriter, who grew up in small-town Saskatchewan.

LOA
LOA
www.loaflomusic.com

LOA’s experience with many different genres has led her to develop a unique blend of new wave, indie R&B music that will keep you in a smooth vibe for days. Likened to that of dark, electronic R&B artists such as Banks, Grimes, and Purity Ring, LOA brings her own coalescence of dark mysticism to the genre.

VBRTR
VBRTR (pron. Vibrator)
www.vbrtrmusic.com

Saskatoon’s future-R&B DJ/producer duo VBRTR has a combined DJ experience of over 10 years. The duo has held residency in major nightclubs and bars in the local scene, as well as gigged across Canada and internationally. The two use their dynamic, dual-style live show comprised of back-to-back DJ sets accompanied by vocally-driven live performances. Most recently, they provided tour support as DJs for fellow Sask. artist LOA at Canadian Music Week (2017) in Toronto ON, and in the UK for FOCUS Wales.

Ponteix
Ponteix
www.ponteixmusic.net

Saskatoon trio Ponteix delivers electro pop gems, shaped with psychedelic surges. Born from multi-instrumentist Mario Lepage's trial and errors, Ponteix's songs exist beyond time and space. Linguistic and geographical boundaries do not exist within the band, who borrowed their name from a French village in the middle of their home province. After leaving strong impressions at heavyweight French music contests Festival de la Chanson de Granby (2014) and Les Francouvertes (2016), Ponteix released their debut EP, J'Orage.

Grim
Grim
https://grimbandsk.bandcamp.com

Regina-based alt-rock group Grim started as a love letter between reconciliation and creation. Lead with female fire and siren-strength, Grim’s sound stitches wound into battle cry. Their debut EP, Monsters, was released in June 2017. With surges of sound that move from blues notes to flamenco swells, from waltz steps to rock pits, Monsters’ rhythms traverse the alternative genre.

Meghan Bowman
Meghan Bowman
www. meghanbowman.com

Meghan was born and raised in the heart of Saskatchewan and began performing with piano and vocals at age 5; later, she expanded her instrument repertoire, adding guitar, drums and cello. She found it difficult to express what she was feeling in words, so often she would sit down at a piano and play how she was feeling. Music got Meghan through this difficult time of her life, which sparked her interest in pursuing music therapy as a career. Meghan's latest release, The Watchmen, is another work involving therapeutic elements; it reached #5 in the Best Saskatchewan Albums of 2016 fan-voted poll. Megan's been invited to tour on the "Songs and Whispers" tour in Germany and "The Amazing Creature" Tour across Canada.

Tenille Arts
Tenille Arts
www.tenillearts.com

When exceptional talent and hard work meet perfect timing, huge things can happen. Tenille signed a publishing deal with Nobile Vision Music Group Nashville, was selected for the CCMA Discovery Program (2016), and released her self-titled debut EP (19th & Grand Records), produced by Matt Rovey, to the delight of a rapidly growing fan base. "I grew up listening to real music played by real musicians, and I wanted to stay true to that when I started to record. I wanted it to have a timeless sound and feel organic, but fresh and new." Tenille's EP is a perfect mixture of sweetness and angst. Her songs are written with the youthful honesty of a confident, mature 20-something. Her vocals shine as a beautiful blend of power, soul, and vulnerability. Her EP debuted at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart on iTunes Canada, and cracked the top 100 on the U.S. Country Albums chart, with Pandora naming her a “2017 Country Artist to Watch.”

Alex Runions
Alex Runions
www.alexrunions.com

As the 2016 Saskatchewan Country Music Association “Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year”and “Male Vocalist of the Year”, Saskatoon's Alex Runions continues to grow his successful career with a list of accomplishments, which include opening for major artists, main stage festival performances and acclaimed success in prestigious songwriting competitions.

Amy Nelson
Amy Nelson
www.amynelson.ca

This high school music teacher-turned-country singer has performed at events across Canada such as the Calgary Stampede, Craven Country Jamboree, and opened for country stars such as Terri Clark and George Canyon. She has also performed on stages internationally in the United States, UK, Mexico, Thailand, and Australia, recently signing with Social Family Records (Universal Australia) for her upcoming latest release. Amy combines her love of traveling with her love of performing and is always planning her next adventure.

Chris Henderson music artist country singer
Chris Henderson
www.chrishendersonmusic.com

Chris' blend of modern country sound with strong traditional roots has helped him become among Canada’s busiest country recording artists. Since his debut album release in 2008, he has been touring the prairies and Canada relentlessly, and has released 11 singles nationally. He has been nominated for 20 Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, appeared on stages such as the Craven Country Jamboree, Big Valley Jamboree, Boots & Hearts, Gateway Festival, and showcased at the CCMAs, the WCMAs, and represented Saskatchewan in national 2015 CCMA Fanfest Competition. The veteran singer-songwriter released his third studio album in March 2017.

Brock Andrews country artist
Brock Andrews
www.brockandrews.com

Brock received 6 nominations at the 2017 Sask. Country Music Awards, and was honoured as a CBC Future 40 award winner for the province. Brock was also chosen by Olé Publishing as one of the top ten best new songwriters in Canada and performed during the "On the Spot" showcase at the CCMA 2016 awards weekend. His new album Eight debuted on the Canadian Country iTunes charts at #15, with first single "Collide" spending seven weeks in the BDS Top 100. After several summer festival stops, he toured Western Canada in support of his newest single to hit the Canadian Top 100, "Beer In Heaven." Brock will be hitting the studio winter 2017/2018 with new music hitting the airwaves in 2018.

Val Halla
Val Halla
www.valhallaonline.com

Born and raised in Regina, Val has followed her passion for music to Vancouver and Nashville in the last 16 years, which has led to playing hundreds of shows across the U.S. and Canada. Sharing the stage with legendary artists like Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Burton Cummings, Streetheart, and Eric Burdon of the Animals, she has been recognized by her elders as “carrying the torch” and has worked hard to develop a unique guitar style all her own with a hard focus on songwriting. She has been featured in both Guitar Player and Guitar World Magazines, and has released five studio albums and one live album.

The Karpinka Brothers
Karpinka Brothers
www.k-bros.ca

The Karpinka Brothers' nostalgic and pastiche songwriting lands the Saskatchewan folk group in a genre all their own. Joel Plaskett once described their sound as “Buddy Holly boogie meets Crowded House.” Their fourth album, Talk Is Cheap, was released in fall 2017. Produced and recorded by Grammy nominee Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Leonard Cohen, Vic Chestnutt) at his legendary Hotel2Tango in Montréal, Talk Is Cheap is the most realized and expansive Karpinka Brothers album to date.

Rosie & The Riveters
Rosie & The Riveters
www.rosieandtheriveters.com

Rosie & the Riveters are fiercely talented and sassy dames from Saskatoon who perform uplifting folk music with a vintage 1940s flair! Their original songs feature sophisticated harmonies, body percussion, humour and just enough ooh-la la to keep your toes tapping long after the show is over. The band’s take on vintage folk garnered much national attention for their debut album, Good Clean Fun! Released in 2015, it peaked at #9 on Earshot Magazine’s National Folk/Roots chart and their single, “Ain’t Gonna Bother,” reached #5 on the CBC Radio 2 Top 20. In 2016, they won a Saskatchewan Arts Award (Emerging Artist Category) and also picked up nominations for a Canadian Folk Music Award (Vocal Group of the Year) and a Western Canadian Music Award (Roots Duo/Group of the Year).

Kara Golemba
Kara Golemba
www.karagolemba.com

Kara digs deep to draw strength from her roots. Having grown up and lived in cities across Western Canada, it took moving to small town Saskatchewan to find her voice and be able to succinctly portray her unique perspective on life and love.
Her debut EP, Every Little Light, was produced by Jason Plumb (The Waltons). Every Little Light is a down-to-earth mix of country, folk, and roots music. Golemba spins her songs from the threads of her daily experiences, relationships, natural environment, and ancestral heritage. Her voice can be a sweet mixture of warm honey with a little grit, or she can raise it up to rattle the teacups.

The Johner Boys
The Johner Boys
www.thejohnerboys.com

The Johner Boys began their music career in 2011 and have since performed over 400 concerts on their own as well as with their father, JUNO nominee and multiple Canadian Country Music Award winner, Brad Johner. In Janurary 2014, they released their first EP of cover songs and have recently released their debut album, Stories, which features 11 original tracks. Continuing to tour Western Canada, The Johner Boys are beginning to write and record for future projects and aren’t slowing down anytime soon.



FLOW

Poor Nameless Boy
Vinze feat. Poor Nameless Boy
www.poornamelessboy.com

As Poor Nameless Boy, Regina-based indie folk artist Joel Henderson leaves a piece of himself on stage every time he performs. His mellow sound is personal, speaking honestly about love, life, and our changing hearts in a busy world. He has been described as a lighter version of Noah Gunderson with the wispy sounds of Gregory Alan Isakov. Following the release of his acclaimed sophomore album, Bravery (2016) he has showcased at Reeperbahn, Australian Music Week, Folk Alliance International, Canadian Country Music Week, BreakOut West, and the Sask Sampler. Large stage appearances include Gateway Festival, Ness Cress Music Festival, and the Cathedral Arts Festival.

DGS Samurai Champs
DGS Samurai Champs
www.samuraichamps.com

Hailing from two Canadian prairie cities - the “Bridge City”, Saskatoon, and the “Queen City”, Regina, Samurai Champs is a recording and performing R&B/hip-hop duo. They draw influence from their Southeast Asian heritage, while taking pride in their urban-Canadian identity. In the twelve months since the release of their debut, Crayons EP, Samurai Champs have risen as one of their province’s most prominent hip-hop/R&B artists. They have toured across Canada, as well as internationally, sharing the stage with international hip-hop heavyweights such as T.I., Flatbush Zombies, and k-os. They have also showcased in international music festivals such as Canadian Music Week, Reeperbahn Festival, The Great Escape Festival, New Skool Rules, and Liverpool Sound City. In 2017 Samurai Champs were nominated for Urban Artist of the Year in the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMAs).

Def3
Def3
www.def3.ca

Danny Fernandez, better known by his stage name ​Def3, ​is a Canadian hip-hop artist, DJ, and visual artist from Regina. Def3 has gained international notoriety through his highly active touring schedule, performing official showcases at major festivals such as MIDEM, Project Pabst, SXSW, Shambhala, JUNOFest, POP Montreal, NXNE, CMW, BreakOut west, Prairie Scene, and headlining the Saskatchewan pavilion for the opening ceremonies at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. In his career thus far, he has shared the same stage and toured with some of hip hop's biggest names including Nas, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Masta Ace, Blackalicious, and many more.

Close Talker by Rachel Pick
Close Talker
www.closetalker.ca

Formed in 2012, Close Talker has made great strides in a short period of time: Three releases, numerous tours throughout North America, Europe, and the UK, and international attention from revered and critically acclaimed blogs and publications. Close Talker released Lens in April 2017. The 10-song LP showcases the band’s maturity and poise, while entering new realms of pop sensibility. Produced by Matt Peters (Royal Canoe, Waking Eyes) and mixed by Marcus Paquin (The National, Arcade Fire, Local Natives), Lens unleashes musical talent and precision without sacrificing the raw energy, homegrown feel, and vulnerability of the band’s acclaimed live show. (photo: Rachel Pick)

Megan Nash by Ali Lauren Creative Services
Megan Nash
www.megannash.ca

Calling her upcoming album Seeker was a natural choice for Megan, as she admits to being on a quest for spiritual meaning for some time now. Finding it on her own terms seems to have only intensified in the past few years and she channeled those thoughts into Seeker’s 10 songs, particularly the title track. On it, the native of rural Saskatchewan lyrically draws from several recent life-changing experiences while venturing into new, anthemic sonic territory. (photo: Ali Lauren Creative Services)

Friends of Foes
Friends of Foes
www.friendsoffoes.com

Hailing from the heart of the Saskatchewan prairies, Friends of Foes hits listeners with a roaring wall of sonic talent. From soft, gentle melodies to full on audio assaults, the heavy drum lines and harmony-laden choruses are anything but subtle. Having already shared the stage with Canadian heavy-weights We Are The City, Royal Canoe, Rah Rah, and Zerbin, Friends of Foes has the stage presence to back up their boisterous sound. Their last studio EP, Faults was released in February 2016. The band is currently working hard on finishing the writing process for a new full-length album.

Ava Wild
Ava Wild
www.avawildmusic.com

Ava draws influence primarily in the genres of folk roots and acoustic pop; her writing style is spiced up with embellishments of jazz and classic country. Within her lyrics are original ideas about land, love and life. With a honey sweet voice laced in a red shoe attitude, Wild dances with crowns and grasps her audience's attention with her authentic storytelling. In 2016, Ava released her debut EP Bare. Recording it live-off-floor, the listener is introduced to her reckless perfection and truths that speak to where she has comes from, where she is, and where she plans on going.

Gunner & Smith
Gunner & Smith
www.gunnerandsmith.com

Hope and redemption. Philosophy and folklore. The music of Gunner & Smith has always been a collection of fiery elements, blending searing guitars, brawny rhythms and distinct folk-family vocals to produce tightly-knit rock anthems. But on Byzantium (2017), the group’s second full-length album, the songs simmer and seethe with a newfound brooding energy that looks at the darker sides of love, loss and humanity. Anchored by the stolid songwriting of frontman Geoff Smith, the ever-shifting nature of the band has once again undergone another evolution, with a talented cadre of musicians joining the frontman at the helm. Featuring an ever-expanding sound that combines indie rock, alt-country and sizzling psych-Americana, Byzantium is borne from a deeper, darker place than the group’s previous material.

The Steves
The Steves
https://thestevesss.bandcamp.com

Regina garage-punk band The Steves play simple pop songs with uncomfortable urgency. With straight forward pounding rhythms and loud guitars, they take their cues from bands such as The Modern Lovers and Jay Reatard. Since their formation, the band has released two double videos and an EP. Their debut album, Weak Man was recorded with Chris Dimas (Surf Dads) and released on Sweety Pie Records/Grind Central Records in September 2017. It's their most visceral and accurate portrayal to date. The Steves have been steadily growing a following across the prairie provinces and are excited to begin touring elsewhere across the country in the coming year.

The Johnny McCuaig Band
The Johnny McCuaig Band
www.thejohnnymccuaigband.com

The Johnny McCuaig Band draws on Canada’s rich cultural mosaic to create an original mix of musical genres. A blend of hard rock, pop, new wave, folk, and blues combined with their not-so-secret weapon: bagpipes. TJMB released their 2015 album Hold Fast, produced by JUNO Award winner Jason Plumb (The Waltons) at Studio One Recording in their home base of Regina SK. Their new album, Lions As Ravens is to be released in early 2018.

The Wolfe
The Wolfe
www.thewolfeband.com

Formed in 2012, it’s hard to believe that this all-girl trio from Saskatchewan are all aged 18. Canada's Top 4 Finalist for CBC Searchlight in 2017, The Wolfe touches on relatable subjects that are expressed through their risk-taking, sometimes cheeky, yet stuck-in-your-head catchy tunes. Soft yet powerful vocals are contrasted with an underlay of delayed guitar, gritty bass lines and engaging beats. The Wolfe’s music is something that should not only be heard, but seen. Their high-energy show has graced the stages and captivated the crowds of the Regina Folk Fest, Gateway, Ness Creek, Electric Love, Borealis, and the Waskesiu Lakeside Music Festivals.

Anna Klein
Anna Klein
https://www.reverbnation.com/annaklein

Anna is a 19-year-old artist from Saskatoon. She has been writing music since the age of nine, and released her first self-produced EP in December 2016. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Arcade Fire, Bon Iver and Mac DeMarco, Anna's music features a unique ambient, indie-pop feel.

The Garrys
The Garrys
https://thegarrys.bandcamp.com

The Garrys are a trio of sisters from Saskatoon who play garage surf pop doowop. Their harmonies are dreamy and precise, and their instrumentation stays true to the likes of Dick Dale and early Beatles. Formed in the spring of 2015, they pull a strong influence from early reverb rock'n'roll and 1950s-era vocal harmonies. The Garrys released their sophomore album, Surf Manitou, in May 2017 with Saskatoon label Grey Records. Notable performances include M for Montreal, Sled Island, SaskTel Jazz Festival, Ness Creek Music Festival, Gateway Music Festival, and Regina Folk Festival.

Jeffery Straker
Jeffery Straker
www.jeffstraker.com

This singer-songwriter-pianist performs over 100 shows a year across Canada. He has recorded for CBC Radio’s ‘Canada Live’, had a music video chart in the Top 10 on MuchMusic, and has toured internationally as far as Peru, Chile and Mexico. His tour stops range from intimate house concerts to club & theatre shows, folk & jazz festivals & recent sold-out concerts (capacity 2000) with several Canadian symphony orchestras. He has been invited to showcase at major events including Canadian Music Week, NXNE, Western Canadian Music Awards, and JUNOFest as well as countless folk and jazz festivals. He’s licensed songs for TV, film and theatrical use and has appeared on television several times. Jeffery’s latest collection of songs, Dirt Road Confessional, released in May 2017 (Acronym/ Universal Canada) puts a folk-roots stamp on his singer-songwriter-piano sound with dobro, banjo, and steel guitar entering the mix. National tour dates and European dates have been booked to support the new work, which debuted at #5 on the iTunes Canada Singer-Songwriter charts.

Eliza Doyle
Eliza Doyle
www.elizamarydoyle.com

Eliza has had a 15-year career in groups, as a solo artist, and as a professional session musician, playing banjo, singing, and performing with instruments like dobro or mandolin. Whether creating a driving rhythm to hold a track together or shucking and plucking some leads to jump to the front of a song, Doyle has the versatility to go from beautiful and melodious songs to a full blast bootstompin’ hoedown. Her strong, but wonderfully frayed voice belts out captivating tunes and harmonies. Everything about Doyle’s music rings of an authenticity that takes you straight to the beating heart of folk and bluegrass music.

The Dead South
The Dead South
www.thedeadsouth.com

The Dead South have been described as outlaws, modern hillbillies and 'Mumford and Sons’ evil twins,' but the best way to describe the Regina-based band is fearless. They’re a rare musical commodity - a band that’s equally compelling on record as they are on stage. While The Dead South’s signature blend of bluegrass and classic folk is familiar, it’s also eminently fresh; fueled by the kind of energy and ethic you’d associate with a punk band. Since the release of their second acclaimed record, Illusion & Doubt (Curve Music/Entertainment One) in late 2016, The Dead South have proven themselves a force to be reckoned with on international stages.

West of Mabou
West of Mabou
www.westofmabou.ca

West of Mabou performs lively dance music steeped in the rich traditions of Scottish and Cape Breton fiddle and pipe tunes. Their debut 2016 release has received international airplay on four continents, and rave reviews in media around the world. Each of the band members is an experienced performer in their own right, having performed at venues around the world, including the World Pipe Band Championships, Western Canadian Music Awards, BreakOut West Festival, JUNOFest, Canada Cup of Curling, and Ford World Men’s Curling Championships. With Canadian and American tour dates in 2017, West of Mabou continue to charm audiences with their impossible-to-sit-still tempos and their ability to fold Celtic sounds with modern inflections into a recipe for dance.

Eli Barsi
Eli Barsi
www.elibarsi.com

Eli is an original farm girl from the prairies of southeastern Saskatchewan. This traditional-minded artist has spent many years in the entertainment business as a diverse entertainer, musician, songwriter, producer, yodeler, TV host, landscape artist, master craftswomen, and award winner. Her accolades are many, and span over three decades. In that time she has written and recorded a large body of work, performed full time internationally, celebrated independent success on USA, Canadian and European radio as well been honoured with the coveted Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Her ‘Carter Scratch ‘ style of lead acoustic guitar playing and crystal clear voice are well displayed at her live shows, which includes a mix of well-crafted originals and standards in the styles of western, bluegrass, gospel, country & Canadiana folk.

Jen Lane

Jen Lane
www.jenlane.com

Jen has found a harmonious place in the world of country, roots, folk and Americana music. Her fifth studio album, the Western Canadian Music Award-nominated This Life of Mine is a strong statement by an artist who is now comfortable in her own creative skin and able to honestly, and with great passion and depth, sing about the ups and downs of life – and in the process attract music lovers who appreciate heartfelt emotion, beautiful songs and words that inspire and affirm.

Minor Matter
Minor Matter
www.minormatter.ca

When it comes to musical experiences, Minor Matter prefers to take the listener down the path less traveled. With influences as diverse as the instruments they bring along for the ride, this orchestral folk quintet charts a course brimming with scenic detours and unsuspecting surprises. Drawing on a well-stocked musical toolbox that includes everything from the bassoon and clarinet to glockenspiel and ukulele, the group fuses classical, folk, country, jazz and psychedelic rock. As they continue to promote their 2016 debut release, they’re also hard at work writing new material for their forthcoming album. - Sask Music

Now in its seventh year, Focus Wales goes from strength to strength establishing itself as one of the world's leading music showcase events. With delegates and artists travelling from places as far and wide as Canada and Korea, what started as a celebration of Welsh music has become an all-encompassing festival of music, comedy, and art showcasing some of the finest acts from around the globe.

Once again, the festival takes place in the town of Wrexham, a place diminished three decades ago by high unemployment largely caused by pit closures and a declining infrastructure around it. With a supportive government and arts council willing to invest so much time and money into revitalising the town, the economic benefit of Focus Wales has been vital to the local community since its inaugural event in 2011.

Having increased the number of participating venues to eighteen this year (with even more in the pipeline for 2018 so we're told), playing host to over 100 acts, the 2017 edition could arguably be considered its finest yet. Interactive sessions and panels ranging from "Meet The Booking Agencies" and "What's In A Song?" to opportunities for musicians in the games industry attract large audiences to fill the daytime slots while live music dominates the evening.

First on our agenda is Sera Owen, an artist DiS first came across at last year's event. Having encountered a number of technical problems in Saith Seren back then, her set in the ornate surroundings of St Giles' Church works perfectly. Fusing traditional folk with occasional pop leanings, her set is both heartwarming and soothing in equal measures. Meanwhile, over in Rewind, Canadian four-piece Lab Coast play indiepop as it was originally intended to sound back in the mid to late 1980s. Which is fine by us even, though very few people are there to see it.





Back in the church, local outfit Golden Fable have enlisted the services of NEW Sinfonia and their collaborative, largely orchestral set also hits the spot with those sat sedately in the pews. Next up is a double helping of Canadian electronic pop courtesy of Youngblood and LOA. While the former channels the spirit of Lana Del Rey or Lorde backed by a three-piece band whose sonic persuasion ranges from M83-style soundscapes to the deft arrangements of Phoenix, the latter takes on a colder, more industrialised version. Fronted by one Jessica Burnett, her onstage demeanour mixed with the surrounding sonic palette reminds us of Gwen Stefani fronting The xx, which when all's said and done is no bad thing.

Sandwiched in between, Georgia Ruth's inimitable experiments in sound and vocals prove captivating, fully demonstrating why she's been held in such high regard since winning the Welsh Music Prize back in 2013. Despite attaining headline status, Astroid Boys are a bit of a strange phenomenon, their odd mixture of grime, hip hop, and metal having more in common with Goldie Lookin' Chain than Stormzy or Rage Against The Machine. Nevertheless, they attract a large audience and judging by the pandemonium out front on the Central Station dancefloor, will be around for a while yet.

However, it's left to Chester's CaStLeS to own the first day and emerge as its true headliners in the process. Last year's debut LP Foresteering might have gone unnoticed having been released in late November around the time of the Christmas rush, but their live show has come on a treat since DiS first witnessed them in the very same venue almost a year to the day. Psych and math rock nuances interact and collide while a whole room throws all kinds of shapes in response. Although it's still only early days in the band's fledgling career, CaStLeS' potential is enormous. Today North Wales, tomorrow the world!

The next day, Edinburgh label Song. By Toad provides a double whammy of heartfelt folk and fuzzy lo-fi to set us up for the evening. Playing a solo show here, Meursault's Neil Pennycook is both captivating and menacing, at one point leaving The Rock Suite as recent album title track 'I Will Kill Again' reaches its ferocious climax. Fellow Scots Lush Purr take a more subtle approach, albeit in a slacker vein, their grunge-infected guitar pop similar to the likes of Teenage Fanclub or The Pastels.





Campfire Social also delight with their charming mixture of melodic folk and scattergun punk pop while Austrian shoegazers Molly offer an ethereal and occasionally angelic diversion. More North Wales goodness arrives in the shape of Mowbird, whose good time lo-fi pop sets the scene impeccably for Winter Coat's dreamy polemics. This evening's headliners Cabbage open with a new song that follows the ramshackle yet industrious nature of most of their output and while their stage presence has clearly been affected by the online allegations stemming from last month's show in Kentish Town, they manage to attract a healthy sized crowd, most of whom sing the words back to every song the band subsequently play.

New Orleans artist-cum-producer AF The Naysayer's heavy beat-laden hip hop takes us into the early hours. His diverse fusion of sonics and samples proving both intense and educational while reminding us of MF Doom or Dälek in the process.

With Saturday comes an inimitable blast of sunshine, and Wrexham duo The Contact High deliver a soundtrack to match. Elements of krautrock mix and match with errant psychedelia and driving post-punk that makes their instrumental aural assault insatiable as a result. Nottingham trio Eyre Llew are also a revelation having overcome technical issues at the start of their set. Once in their stride, 'Atelo' and new song 'Bloc' highlight just why they're one of the most heavily tipped outfits on the showcase circuit this summer, while closing number 'ECDA' is sure to become a festival anthem for years to come.

Fellow East Midlanders Crosa Rosa also unleash a set of incendiary poise and vigour that channels the spirit of Sub Pop legends Mudhoney and present day psychedelic grunge outfit The Wytches. Around the corner in Central Station, Seazoo's gallant post-punk paves the way for headliners British Sea Power, and the Brighton-via-Kendal sextet return the favour by delivering one of their finest hours in many a year. Playing a career spanning set that peaks on a now rare run through of early single 'Spirit Of St Louis', they're a delight to watch on this form reinforcing their status as national treasures in the bargain.

Islet's set in former Sports Direct warehouse Un Deg Un also takes some beating, their psychedelic meanderings both dancefloor friendly yet equally as suited to a rock arena too. Ultimately, their energetic performance provides a fitting finale to a weekend of festivities that can only bode well for the future. - Drowned In Sound

Hailing from Regina, LOA blends new wave-tinged electro and R&B into her own scintillatingly smooth brand of pop music. Her debut album Tide is slated for release next year, but in anticipation of its arrival, Exclaim! is giving you an exclusive first listen to her brand new single "Funeral."

Carving out a niche for herself in a city primarily known for folksier fare, LOA's latest track mixes mysticism with moody electronic sounds and dark R&B vibes to cast an intoxicating spell over listeners. "Funeral" was produced by Heights Beats, but the message behind it is all about LOA finding her own identity.

"'Funeral' speaks to putting past identities to rest, and from it, emerges a stronger individual," LOA tells Exclaim! "This killing off of past selves forces a new identity to be born who is unafraid and unapologetic to the world. This new perspective empowers her, enabling her to become a temptress, as if inviting past demons to haunt her again. Only this time, knowing that she has already experienced and overcome the pain before, she welcomes the demons with open arms. Her newly found self cannot by fooled by the same demon twice."

You can hear her inner temptress get exposed by giving "Funeral" an inaugural spin in the player below. It officially hits digital streaming services on November 12. - Exclaim!

Tuesday 5th September 2017 by Josh Gonzales CONTRIBUTOR | Photos by athirdtime.com
YEARNING FOR COMMUNITY IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING SKIES
How a music collective called Trifecta produced a city soundscape in the Canadian prairies

Trifecta Saskatchewan scene report Regina

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Photo: athirdtime.com
Canada is well known for its cultural diversity, but that variety doesn’t thrive in every part of the country. Take my province of Saskatchewan for example. Also known as the land of the living skies, Saskatchewan (or Sask for short) is situated right in the middle of Canada’s vast landscape. When you look down one of our gravel roads, you’re a hundred times more likely to see a palette of clouds pulled straight from a da Vinci painting than you are to see a two-story building (unless you count granaries and barns. We definitely have London beat in that category). In the southern half of the province, where most people live, never ending wheat fields stretch across the horizon. People joke that you can see your dog run away for days. It’s only a slight exaggeration. The skyline is a flat expanse allowing the breeze to steadily rush truckers to their next destination.

Unfortunately, for a long time the lack of geographic diversity was also reflected in the music scene. Known for its farming and agriculture, Saskatchewan is, not surprisingly, recognized for its country, folk, and rock artists. What more would you expect from the center of “Canada’s bible belt”? Sask’s alternative music communities have always been strong here, but for the most part they’ve been self-reliant individual niches. Hip-hop heads and hardcore kids barely talked. The punk bands existed sans the electronic DJs.

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Founded mainly by first and second-generation immigrants, Trifecta was created to bring these communities together. They understood what it meant to be different, to always feel like they were on the outside looking in. The southeast Asians were discriminated against in high school by teens who claimed “Asians can’t rap” and that “chinks can’t sing R&B”. The females were overlooked and objectified by the male dominated scene. Building a community that accepted people without prejudice was not just a stance being taken by social justice warriors. Creating Trifecta was helping to fulfill a fundamental human need for the artists.



While major folk and country artists thrived in Saskatchewan’s overarching monoculture, artists in most other genres were left to fend for themselves. Trifecta wanted to create a platform for all of these voices to be heard. In 2014, these instigators brought Saskatchewan’s alt-music communities together in Regina, Saskatchewan’s queen city capital, with a free outdoor multi-genre arts and culture festival. Not only did the festival boast a variety of artists with divergent musical styles, but it also brought other visual and physical artists into the fold. The festival showcased artwork from vendors across the province and featured slacklining and yoga during festival hours. Audiences were exposed to artists they’d never seen before, or probably even considered seeing.

Personally, coming from Sask’s folk scene, I’d never seen any Saskatchewan hip-hop before. It opened me up to a whole other world, one I was eager to immerse myself in. People embraced Trifecta because, compared to most major city centers, there isn’t a ton to do here. Our province’s two major cities each have essentially the same population as York and we don’t enjoy nearly the same level of connectedness to other hubs as people do in densely populated areas of the world. The nearest city with over a million people is a seven-hour drive away. A flight to Toronto is two and a half hours and is five times more expensive than a flight from London to Berlin. Also, there aren't any scheduled trains getting us anywhere either, so you better crank up the tunes and hope to God you don’t fall asleep (although, if you do doze off, the roads are so straight you might make it to your destination safely anyway. Just kidding. Kind of. A 700km drive in the Canadian prairies typically consists of more “slight bends” then actual turns).



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While we don’t have a nightlife that would make city dwellers envious, there’s a strong emphasis on community building. The collaborative idealism was always there, it just wasn’t focused on every genre of music. Trifecta gave those of us who felt like arts outsiders a flag to rally around. The ball started rolling and it’s been pretty hard to stop.

The Trifecta Music Festival was born in 2014 and it continued yearly in 2015 and 2016. It’s since expanded into a year-round concert series. It’s not uncommon for a solo folk acoustic act to open for a hip-hop group at one of these events. This inclusive subculture infected artists, breeding the type of collaboration that eventually grew into what the Trifecta artist collective is now.

Since the most recent festival in 2016, Trifecta has focused most of its efforts on developing and exporting artists from within the collective. This past year, hip-hop/R&B duo DGS Samurai Champs and electro-soul singer LOA began staking their claims internationally. Everywhere they went crowds were amazed at these energetic urban artists, wondering how the hell these entertainers came from the same small scene that produced artists like folk troubadour Colter Wall and country powerhouse Jess Moskaluke. Trifecta is also growing a number of artists back home with the ultimate goal of getting the entire collective on an international stage.



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Right now, Trifecta is mainly composed of artists in urban genres. This was less intentional and more a product of the musical landscape; the developmental infrastructure and mentoring these niche artists needed simply wasn’t readily available in Saskatchewan. Trifecta’s founders looked at urban hotbeds like Toronto and Atlanta and were inspired by the community based approach (because the internet). These artists didn’t listen to the naysayers heckling them at their own uni bar for being “FOBs” (a derogatory acronym used against immigrants meaning “fresh off the boat”). They didn’t back down when ridiculed for not adhering to gender norms. They didn’t care about gaining recognition once they had “proved” themselves as “female” or “Asian” artists. Even given their various heritages and upbringings, the original Trifecta hustlers were united to build something that suited their tastes and proclivities instead of giving in to bullies who tried to shove them down. Troglodytes could sneer and mumble demeaning comments at them for not knowing the time of “the game”. They’d decided to play a different sport altogether.

To be honest, I’m still not entirely sure if being born in Saskatchewan was good or bad for Trifecta. On the one hand, being as far away as humanly possible from Canada’s hotbeds of Vancouver and Toronto while still existing in the same country made the initial growth period difficult, to say the least. Without YouTube and Soundcloud it would have been pseudo impossible.



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But for any creative endeavour you need time and space with your own thoughts, and I don’t think Trifecta grows into what it’s become if it originated in a large urban centre. Who’s to say the artists in the collective would have the same voices if they couldn’t take a ten-minute drive and be completely lost in the stars? Does a kid bathed in city sounds dream the same as one washed in the wind? And as terrible as it sounds, does someone who’s never experienced discrimination hold the same resilience as someone who has? Saskatchewan showed everyone involved with Trifecta the value of creating meaningful relationships, but it’s lack of variety also drove these ambitious kids to craft a new creative space. It’s impossible to create a false dichotomy; growing up in the prairies was both a blessing and a curse.

No matter what happens next, being involved with Trifecta has taught me this: even if you literally live in the middle of nowhere, seemingly isolated from the world, you never know who you might connect with. You just have to build something beautiful for the world and then have the bravery to share it. Trifecta did this and broke the mold in a place known for its uniformity. The Saskatchewan horizon may be as flat as ever, but the living skies are on the rise.

Discover more about Trifecta below:

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter - Gigwise

Words: Ro Cemm / 16 DECEMBER 2017, 20:50 GMT

“There are some records you can only listen to at this time of year,” sings Richard Laviolette on his track “Florence and Delilah”. As Christmas quickly approaches, hearing the same songs that have been playing on repeat since November starts to get pretty old, good as they may be. Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada sets out to change that, each year challenging some of our favourite Canadian artists to produce a new seasonally inspired track.

From Sackville, New Brunswick to Vancouver, BC over the last few weeks and months songs have been crafted for your enjoyment this holiday season - taking on everything from global warming, egg nog, and visiting Santa to the simple act of surviving the long winter. Many of the tracks were exclusively recorded for this compilation, while we have handpicked some other favourites that were too good not to include.

Once again a huge thanks to everyone who made this years Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada possible, to all of you for listening and downloading and to all those who offered support over the year. Big thanks to Jonas Bonetta for his photograph of Fogo Island, Newfoundland which forms this year's cover, and to Clover Grey (Jon Neher) for his patience and assistance in making everything run smoothly.

All of these songs have been given free for your listening pleasure. We hope you enjoy them and have a fantastic festive season. At this time of year especially there are hundreds of good causes all seeking your help-we hope that, in keeping with the spirit of giving, if you enjoy this compilation you might consider giving a donation to one of them.

Download Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada 9
"Christmas Time Is Here" by Nick Cobham
1. "Christmas Time Is Here" by Nick Cobham


According to his bandmates in The Olympic Symphonium, no one loves the festive season more than Nick Cobham. Each December he dedicates himself to listening to nothing but Christmas music. While he plays guitar, keys and sings on the bands forthcoming fifth album Beauty In The Tension, which is due in February next year, for Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada he got together with himself to create a Barbershop Nicktet for a run through of the timeless “Christmastime is Here” by Vince Guaraldi.

Check out Nick Cobham on Bandcamp.

"Coconut" by The Pack A.D
2. "Coconut" by The Pack A.D


This year The Pack A.D celebrated 10 years since the release of their debut album Tintype the only way they know how - by heading out on the road with their furious garage rock show across Canada and Europe. In October they released fifth album Dollshouse, which they will bring back to Europe in the Spring.

To celebrate the season they suggest a simple Pack A.D cocktail: egg nog and a coconut.

Check out The Pack A.D on Bandcamp.

"Santa Is Real (Live From The House Oof Strombo)" by Partner
3. "Santa Is Real (Live From The House Oof Strombo)" by Partner


Earlier this year we referred to Partner as New Brunswick’s answer to Wyld Stallyns. For their contribution to Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada they take their pop-rock hooks on an excellent adventure to the North Pole to confirm Santa’s existence. On receiving confirmation from the man himself, they celebrate with a wailing guitar solo, as is only proper. "Santa Is Real" was recorded at The House Of Strombo as part of his always excellent Christmas Special.

Check out Partner on Bandcamp.

"The River (Never Freezes Anymore)" by The Burning Hell
4. "The River (Never Freezes Anymore)" by The Burning Hell


As well as touring pretty much every day for five months, The Burning Hell also managed to put out a new album this year in the shape of Revival Beach. Thematically the record looks at the various ways the apocalypse could come. “The River (Never Freezes Anymore)” points to the damaging effects of global warming to winter nostalgia, while also name-checking Canadian Figure skating legend Kurt Browning. The end of the world never seemed so joyful.

Check out The Burning Hell on Bandcamp.

"It's Cold" by Energy Slime
5. "It's Cold" by Energy Slime


Energy Slime is a side project of Vancouver’s Jay Arner. It's an offshoot that allows he and partner-in-crime Jessica Delisile an outlet for some of the more 'out there' ideas that don’t work for the Jay Arner project. They take lyrical snippets and work them up into short weird-pop nuggets. Their debut was a 10 track, 13-minute 7" single, released through Mint Records. For their comeback release the band managed a comparatively epic one minute and 57 seconds. The track was released as a limited edition flexi-disc Christmas card at the brilliantly named 'Mint Records’ Ridiculously Early Christmas Party'.

Check out Jay Arner and Energy Slime on Bandcamp.

"Another Year (Santa's Tired) by Cascade Falls
6. "Another Year (Santa's Tired) by Cascade Falls


Vancouver’s Devin Miller released his debut album as Cascade Falls on Kathryn Calder’s Oscar Street Records in May this year - a record he described as a series of "hazy marmalade jams". The piano-led "Another Year (Santa’s Tired)" looks back at the lows and highs of a year gone by, adding generous helpings of jingle bells for good measure.

Check out Cascade Falls on Bandcamp.

"Childhood" by Omhouse
7. "Childhood" by Omhouse


Toronto’s Steven Foster has been putting out records under the Omhouse name since 2012, between stints of playing with the likes of Doldrums, Moon King, and Snowblink amongst others. This year saw him re-group the band to record a new album, Eye To Eye. On the strength of the relentlessly shifting first two singles "Nursery" and "Aurock", released earlier this year, we can safely say it is one of our most anticipated Canadian releases of 2018. Luckily we won’t have too long to wait, as it is scheduled for release on 26 January.

Check out Omhouse on Bandcamp.

"Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It)" by Peach Pit
8. "Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It)" by Peach Pit


Vancouver bubblegum-poppers Peach Pit cover Sufjan Stevens on this year's Kingfisher Bluez Christmas Single. Each year the Vancouver label puts out a limited edition 7” in aid of the 1-800-Suicide and Crisis Centre of BC. Collect all the 7"s and they build into a special hand-painted Christmas Village. The single features a stripped-down demo version of the track as it appears here. A good cause if ever there was one.

Check out Peach Pit on Bandcamp.

"Houses Shake" by Klarka Weinwurm
9. "Houses Shake" by Klarka Weinwurm


Klarka Weinwurm first came to our attention with the brilliantly named “Deathrow Tull”, a prime slice of Maritime art-rock that appeared on her Huddle EP back in 2015. A fixture in the Sackville scene, this year has seen the band touring Atlantic Canada as well as shows at Kazoo fest, Newfoundland’s amazing Lawnya Vawnya and Sappyfest for good measure. While there is no news of a new album, we are pleased to say we were able to get Klarka agreed to record a track for us this year.

Check out Klarka Weinwurm on Bandcamp.

"Christmas Darling" by Beaver Sheppard
10. "Christmas Darling" by Beaver Sheppard


Painter, singer/songwriter, chef, frontman. Montrealer Beaver Sheppard is all of these things and more. As the front-person of CO/NTRY, Beaver released a twisting post-punk and electro record earlier this year. His solo project is a decidedly more strippe- down, lo-fi affair - simply Beaver, his guitar, and any pieces of drum kit he finds lying around the apartment.

A full new solo album is due next year, while a series of remixes of his work by Chilean Techno veteran Ricardo Villalobos was released in November.

Check out Beaver Sheppard on Bandcamp.

"Florence and Delilah" by Richard Laviolette
11. "Florence and Delilah" by Richard Laviolette


Richard Laviolette released his fourth album Taking The Long Way Home via You’ve Changed Records in March this year. An exploration of old memories, family, and home, it’s a warm and loving tribute to the power of music to cross generations, and contains the brilliantly titled “My Grandma’s More Punk (Than Most Punks I Know)”.

"Florence and Delilah" is about surviving winter, and takes its name from two goats owned by Richard’s friends who would leave their pen and fill the winter air with piercing human-like bleats, a sound which Laviolette describes as “The sound of loneliness”.

Check out Richard Laviolette on Bandcamp.

"Then It Snowed" by Gabrielle Papillon
12. "Then It Snowed" by Gabrielle Papillon


Halifax’s Gabrielle Papillon returned for her sixth album Keep The Fire recently - while it is still underpinned by her sweet, distinctive voice, it marked a distinct departure from her previous, more rootsy sound and into a series of string and horn-laden epics that are strident, confident, and powerful. Collaborating with producers Daniel Ledwell and Corey LaRue has bought different textures and a more electronic “art-pop progression” but no matter the production Papillon’s observations and songwriting shine through.

Find out more about Gabrielle Papillon.

"You Make Me Wait" by Nick Faye & The Deputies
13. "You Make Me Wait" by Nick Faye & The Deputies


Nick Faye & The Deputies grew up in the city of Regina in the heart of the Canadian Prairies, alongside the likes of Andy Shauf and Colter Wall. With a new album, Stumbling Distance, due for release in April, Faye could well be set to follow their lead in 2018. Focusing Prairie longing and feeding it through a classic countrified rock filter, the record was given a pop sheen by Michael Wojewoda (Bare Naked Ladies, Buffy Saint Marie). Whirling organs, honking horns, swooning pedal steel, and choruses as big as the Saskatchewan skies are very much the order of the day. They also make their way onto “You Make Me Wait”, a wintery tale of almost being stood up for a date at the local ice rink.

Check out Nick Faye & The Deputies on Bandcamp.

"Timezone" by Blue J
14. "Timezone" by Blue J


Blue J is the latest project of former Ruby Coast man Justice McLellan. Their first single, “Early Show”, dealt lyrically with the difficulties of starting a new band, and ends with his agent's advice not to do anything silly like putting it out for free, which of course is exactly what they did. They’ve repeated the trick with the wonderful winter-time wooziness of “Timezone", so grab it while you can, before Brendan finds out.

Check out Blue J on Bandcamp.

"Cold Outside" by LOA & Revilla
15. "Cold Outside" by LOA & Revilla


While Saskatchewan might be known for its folk and singer/songwriters, LOA and Revilla are part of the Trifecta Artists Collective that bring together a lot of the best electronic, dark R&B, and urban music in the province. A festival, a label, and a hard working community, their sound is starting to be heard outside of their respective home cities - with the likes of LOA and Samurai Champs touring across Europe in 2017. This collab, recorded specially for us, teams LOA’s frosty vocals with a verse by Revilla, the electro R&B alter ego of singer/songwriter Josh Gonzales.

Find out more about LOA and Revilla.

"Silent Night" by VBRTR & Xana
16. "Silent Night" by VBRTR & Xana


VBRTR are Lee Chan and Jono Cruz - DJs and producers and another vital part of the Trifecta Artist Collective out of Saskatchewan. They can often be found DJing across the province, or performing and producing for other artists in the collective, including LOA and Jeah of Samurai Champs, amongst others. This time they Partner with Xana, who released her self-titled debut EP earlier this year, taking a slick contemporary electro-pop template and filling it with a palpable sense of millennial anxiety.

Check out VBRTR on Bandcamp and Xana via her website.

"Winter Started Yesterday (Song For October 10th) by Clover Grey
17. "Winter Started Yesterday (Song For October 10th) by Clover Grey


Multi-instrumentalist Jon Neher is a busy man. Lending his keyboard talents to numerous projects, including Nick Faye and The Deputies, Oiseaux, and Orphan Mothers. His latest project, Clover Grey, sees him take his bedroom productions out into the club. His track was inspired by the first snows of winter in his hometown (which, as you may have guessed, happened on 10 October). Skittering beats and insistent loops fuse with minimal piano to craft a chilly downtempo gem.

Check out Clover Grey on Bandcamp.

"Snowfall" by Chad Munson
18. "Snowfall" by Chad Munson


Saskatoon’s Chad Munson has been releasing experimental, electronic music since 2003. Playing with ideas of organic versus synthetic, his ambient soundscapes have a very natural quality to them. He’s also behind the Magnetic Domain Tapes label and Sounds Like Festival, an annual festival focused on art and improvisational music, drawing together sound-artists from around the world.

On “Snowfall” his aim was to “capture the feeling of those really calm heavy snowfalls. The ones that seem to cause the acoustics of the landscape to become really soft and pillowy.” In doing so he’s created a thing of quiet meditative beauty - an oasis of calm in the rush of the festive season.

Check out Chad Munson on Bandcamp.

Still not enough festive sounds for you? Take a listen to ast year's compilation. - The Line of Best Fit

Posted On: Sep 26, 2017

55 Hours at BreakOut West​​
BreakOut West 2017 through the eyes of Jonathan Chan, a live music/portrait photographer from Regina, SK.



I would be lying if I said that photographing Breakout West was a routine job. Prior to the event, I was given a media pass and instructions to show the festival from ‘the photographer’s perspective’. With so much happening in a single weekend, I am certain that there was so much more that I could have covered. After 55 hours and 3201 images, I am still struggling to choose one aspect of BOW that was the most interesting to photograph.



Performances were the first thing that comes to mind, and there were many great ones to see. Breakout West was memorable in its willingness to facilitate an honest performance. Each venue was unique and the lighting wasn’t always great. On a given night, the audience could be a handful of dedicated fans or a large crowd of dancing strangers. But when the lineup is as diverse as this one, it wasn’t hard to find a good performance. I saw electronic artists in the hotel lobby and hip-hop shows in a wedding hall. Artists came from all over Canada to play their unique brands of music, and I often found myself watching performances from genres that I would normally never think of listening to. These artists deserve more recognition for their ability to stand on any stage and hand the audience their heart.


The creative environment of the BOW conference was something that I’ve never seen before. As a non-musician, attending the conference portion of Breakout West taught me how much work that these musicians put in. Artists of every genre and background came to share their story and connect with their industry. Performers who I was used to seeing on a stage were crowding into conference rooms to learn about things like branding and grant applications. Everyone contributed to an atmosphere where creativity and music was praised and applauded. It is not often to be surrounded by so many artists with the common goal of improving their craft, and it is definitely an atmosphere that no creative could get tired of.



At the end of the day, festivals like this are memorable in bonding with the people that you came with. I was lucky enough to stay with fellow Trifecta artists from Saskatchewan. Over 25 people came together to support their friends at their showcase performances. Our Airbnb became a dorm building for creative types; Hip-hop duo DGS Samurai Champs were staying upstairs, while new-wave/R&B artist LOA was rooming with the BOW ambassador XANA. Spread around the house was the rest of us with our roles to play: DJs, live musicians, photographers, and anyone who could bring a good vibe. Everyone had something to contribute for the performances and everyone was invited for 4am pizza afterwards. Breakout West may have been primarily about the artists, but that doesn’t mean that everyone involved didn’t have a part in making it memorable.



Breakout West was far from the most extravagant of music festivals; I don’t think it ever needed to be. Whether it was meeting the artists at a venue or a conference panel, the festival brought together the people wanting to learn and experience what these talented artists do best. I personally found the weekend to be special in the little moments that it provided: hearing tour stories at the conference, seeing bands from opposite genres drinking together, and sleeping on the floor between sound gear and camera lenses. When so many interesting people come together for a common purpose, moments like these are all someone needs to tell a good story.



See you in Kelowna.

Jonathan Chan is a live music/portrait photographer from Regina, SK. His work can be found at athirdtime.com Instagram Twitter Facebook - Breakout West

As part of our ongoing strategy to help Saskatchewan artists succeed in worldwide markets, SaskMusic is set to undertake a series of overseas events. We are pleased to be participating in a new export mission this year, to Wrexham, Wales for the Focus Wales festival. Continuing our longstanding partnership with Alberta Music, Manitoba Music, and Music BC, our associations will co-present a showcase under the BreakOut West brand at Undegun on May 12, and Rewind on May 13. This year’s BreakOut West showcase includes three Saskatchewan artists: Nick Faye, LOA, and Poor Nameless Boy, all of whom received official showcase invitations from Focus Wales festival organizers.

Following Focus Wales, SaskMusic will be in London UK to participate in business-to-business meetings, networking receptions, and a sync summit presented by the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA). We will co-present a ‘Made in Canada’ networking reception in London, followed by a pre-The Great Escape showcase at The Slaughtered Lamb on May 16. This showcase, co-presented by BreakOut West, Manitoba Music, Music BC, and Music Nova Scotia, will feature Poor Nameless Boy alongside YoungBlood (BC), William Prince (MB), and Port Cities (NS).

We then head to Brighton UK for The Great Escape Festival, where we will revisit our successful partnership with Alberta Music, Manitoba Music, and Music BC to co-present a showcase under the BreakOut West brand at The Green Door Store on May 19-20. Poor Nameless Boy, DGS Samurai Champs, Colter Wall, and The Avulsions were selected to perform by The Great Escape festival organizers.

Following The Great Escape, SaskMusic will undertake our first export mission to the New Skool Rules festival in Rotterdam NL as part of a Canadian Blast initiative, with partners CIMA and Music BC. DGS Samurai Champs was selected by NSR festival organizers, and will perform on May 21 at De Unie. SaskMusic representatives will attend the conference, networking receptions, and partake in business-to-business meetings.

SaskMusic will then make its way back to the UK to once again attend the annual Liverpool Sound City festival, partaking in the industry conference and meetings. DGS Samurai Champs and Poor Nameless Boy were selected to perform at the event by Sound City organizers. - SaskMusic

Personal Views is a ground-level tour through music scenes from around Canada guided by those who make them move. To close out 2016, we bring you the best of the year from seven different cities,

Every publication tries to make their best of the year list the be-all and end-all of music, but as the long tail of the internet somehow focuses everyone's attention on the same handful of albums the more interesting picks can often be found perched on the DIY merch tables and the "local releases" shelves at record stores.

We know that Frank Ocean and Beyoncé put out good albums this year, but what were people listening to in Regina's hip-hop scene or the "no jerk policy" attics of Victoria? Who was capturing ears in Montreal on both sides of the language divide? How are communities from Toronto to Calgary evolving beyond "safe havens for white dudes" and what does that sound like?

To find out, we contacted members from seven music cities across the country and asked them to shine a spotlight on their local scene from ground-level. It's a scrapbook of POVs and Bandcamp embeds taken from across Canada in 2016, uncovering gems that you, like us, probably missed if you weren't looking close enough. (That said, do listen to our Best Canadian Songs of 2016 and Best Canadian Music Videos of 2016.)

Hit play on just about anything and your playlist will be refreshed until at least the new year.

Montreal View
Safia Nolin
Safia Nolin

Photo by: Raphaël Ouellet

Safia Nolin is a Quebec City-born, Montreal-based singer/songwriter. The charming, tear-inducing artist recently released Reprises Vol. 1, a stripped-down set of Quebecois classics. Now, she gives us her view of Montreal in 2016, one in which "music has no language."

Favourite Montreal Releases of 2016
Pandaléon, Atone



Fred Fortin, Ultramarr



Laura Sauvage, EXTRAORDINORMAL



Favourite Montreal Discovery of 2016
Brown



What defined Montreal's music scene in 2016?
Safia Nolin: I think the music scene in Montreal is awesome. Every year, I’m amazed by the amount of really good music that is released from both languages through the months. Speaking of languages, I think bilingualism in music (mostly in rap) seems to be an issue for some people. To me, music has no language. Actually, music itself should be considered a language and I wish the music industry and people in general would be more open to this way of seeing music. Languages are evolving, so is music and it’s okay. It’s more than okay, it’s actually fucking cool.

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Regina View
Queen City Stoop Kids
Queen City Stoop Kids

Queen City Stoop Kids are a gang of hellions and pranksters making prairie rap wavier than a wheat field. Regina's own Odd Future or Cool Kids. Kav the Bruce helped us open the door on Saskatchewan's hip-hop scene and some other local favourites this year.

Favourite Regina Releases of 2016
Surf Dads, Summer Vacation



DGS Samurai Champs, Crayons



Voodoo Doll, OKM and Deadkeys, OMM TAPE VOL 1



Favourite Regina Discovery of 2016
LOA



Kav the Bruce: Trifecta Team's LOA dropped her track "Funeral" and we're stoked to see how far she goes. A lot of potential and a great contributor to the scene locally.

What defined Regina's music scene in 2016?
Kav the Bruce: 2016 saw a lot of local acts taking major stages across the world and then back at home for BreakOut West to cap it off. But when we're back in Sask, we soldier on with a local scene that has always challenged its acts to be something extra.

The Trifecta Team in Regina had an amazing finale to their Trifecta Festival, and hopefully their success putting on events locally will inspire others. Nothing better than free festivals put on by locals to refresh the weary mega-fest attendees who might be getting sick of that grind. Who knows?

As Sask groups begin to climb that ladder, the questions start to turn to: "where do we go from here?" The ceiling in the unique environment of the Canadian music industry is always hard to define. Uncertainty and lack of a clear path do colour the chatter around the water cooler, perhaps ironically encouraged in some way by Saskmusic's (amazing) support helping acts experience those larger stages and venues worldwide. Locals have had a taste and now we want the whole damn thing!

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Personal Views - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
PERSONAL VIEWS: The ideas, sounds and issues at the heart of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Victoria View
Jons
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Victoria psych pop quartet Jons returned to our headphones last month with their feel-good collection of lo-fi, krauty grooves, At Work On Several Things. Now, the band's guitarist and vocalist Patrick Rendell redirects some of that shine to illuminate what else happened in Victoria in 2016.

Favourite Victoria Releases of 2016
Sister Blanche, Nightmares & Daydreams



Pinner, Demo #3



Iceberg Ferg, In the Valley of the Purple Prince



Favourite Victoria Discovery of 2016
PPPD

pppd

Photo via Holy Smokes

Patrick Rendell: There are lots of sweet new things emerging constantly in Victoria, but our favourite would have to be a band called PPPD. They're some of our really good friends and they're one of the tightest live bands this town has ever seen. They have some recordings coming out soon that are sounding incredible so keep your ears to the ground for that one.

What defined Victoria's music scene in 2016?
Patrick Rendell: Something really cool which is being discussed way more openly and more often than before is the need for everyone to feel safe at shows, and that a big part of the onus is on the organizer of a show to ensure that they’re creating a show that everyone can feel like they can come to and feel safe and respected at. It’s still an ongoing process that needs work as it does in other places, but people who put on shows in Victoria are pretty good lately with implementing a “no jerk policy.” Shows in Victoria are often incredibly friendly environments. Like recently, there were nanaimo bars being handed out.

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Calgary View
Femme Wave
Femme Wave Personal Views Michael Grondin

Photo by: Michael Grondin

Femme Wave is a feminist arts festival that began in Calgary in 2015 with the mission to "create an integrated, encouraging arts scene with opportunities for women and non-binary artists." Co-founders Hayley Muir and Kaely Cormack share a bit about their Calgary in 2016.

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Favourite Calgary Releases of 2016
FOONYAP, Palimpsest



Lab Coast, Remember The Moon



Dream Whip, Dream Whip



Favourite Calgary Discovery of 2016
Aurora Boring Alice



Hayley Muir and Kaely Cormack: They’re a teenage grunge band in Calgary that applied to play Femme Wave and blew our minds. The lead singer is maybe 16 years old and she’s one of the greatest singers we’ve seen perform in a long time. They just blew us all away and it will be great to watch them grow and progress their music.

What defined Calgary's music scene in 2016?
Hayley Muir and Kaely Cormack: Social awareness has been a big topic in our music community lately, especially this past year. Topics surrounding racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and ableism have all been at the forefront and some people in the community are having really important and meaningful conversations. We’ve seen organizations and venues standup against bands with problematic names (the Black Pussy show being dropped from venues was definitely a big one), while some venues and festivals are accepting accountability for their spaces and implementing policies and staff training to create safer spaces for their patrons.

Through Femme Wave, we implemented a safer spaces policy at the music venues we were working with and that was a fairly new concept for our community, but it was very well received and I think will be more commonplace moving forward. People are really talking about ways to make the community more inclusive and not just a safe haven for white dudes that have been populating these spaces for years.

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Peterborough View
Lonely Parade
Lonely Parade Peterborough Personal Views

Peterborough art punks Lonely Parade released No Shade, the trio's second full-length album, through their own Sleepwalk Tapes in September, supported by a month-long trip to the East Coast and back. The band got together to talk about Peterborough's little but lively DIY scene.

Favourite Peterborough Releases of 2016
Prime Junk, Sunnyvale



Garbageface, NØ FUTUR(E)



Jesse Foster, EP



Favourite Peterborough Discovery of 2016


Lonely Parade: Fat Plant Presents is a group from Peterborough who put on shows of alternative genres, mostly on the noise and experimental spectrum, and are always safe spaces. They've been doing shows where musicians in Peterborough that we all know play sets of music they make on their own - Perkolator was formed after one of these shows, Augusta played one late last year, and Charlotte just played one this week. It's a really cool way to hear music that will likely only be played once, to see someone you know do something new and out of their comfort zone. It's representational of what goes on in Peterborough behind the scenes and are very much like snapshots of certain periods in our scene.

What defined Peterborough's music scene in 2016?
Lonely Parade: Peterborough's scene this year has been full of ups and downs, which makes a lot of sense because of its size of under 100,000 people, there isn't much to level out the playing field. There are only so many people in Peterborough going to shows, and fewer yet people playing in bands and creating. Everything is DIY in Peterborough regardless of whether the aesthetic is intentional. A single breakup can mean a complete division of our entire scene! Which is kinda funny in a warped way if you think about it.

We've had a bunch of new developments this year in Peterborough, new albums, new bands, songs, and press. Conversations about safe spaces, weird music, and a few breakups. Peterborough lost around 5 bands this year which kind of punched everyone in the gut. But from the ashes came some fresh perspectives and a bunch of cool new bands (Deathsticks, Prime Junk, Puberty Hands, Perkolator, Meowlinda, Kitty Pit) and also some great re-workings, (Faux Cults-now defunct but they had a good year, Beef Boys and Nick Ferrio).



This year in review would not be complete without recognizing the contributions of our own arts and culture magazine Electric City, which re-launched in a new print format and has really been a great cohesive fire under everyone's asses, uniting our city under one newspaper roof and giving people a professional platform to review others and read about all the great stuff happening in our small city! The difference a solid press platform can make is enormous and we'd recommend you definitely check out Electric City online if you want to know more about Peterborough's scene.

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Fredericton View
Motherhood
motherhood band

Photo by: Brody LeBlanc

Fredericton-based art-rock trio Motherhood released their quirky and explosive sludge-o-rama, Baby Teeth this past summer. The band's Penelope Stevens tells us a bit about the New Brunswick capital's "obnoxiously supportive" music community.

Favourite Fredericton Releases of 2016
Jane Blanchard, Narcissus


Penelope Stevens: This is Jane's first release and hoooooo it is a doozy. It's only 3 songs, short and sweet, but it's got the weight of so much more; you feel like you are peering directly into a bleeding, aching, twenty-something heart. It's so honest it hurts.

The Waking Night, Bad Anatomy


Penelope Stevens: The Waking Night is like..... psych-drone-country-rock. Bad Anatomy really showcases songwriter Matt Legere's nearly deranged vocal approach, and although it's heavy hitting, there's some really tense, vulnerable moments. It's Neil Young all coked out backed by a mushroom trip rock-and-roll band. This album is not hip or on-trend, it's pushing against the currents of CanCon in a really meaningful way.

Right Shitty, Bachelor of Arts


Penelope Stevens: If we're being technical, Right Shitty is from Saint John, about an hour away from Fredericton, but they play here all the time and I wish they would move here. Anyway, Bachelor of Arts is grungy post-punk done so so perfectly right. Lead singer Stephen Rickett's got such a bonkers screamy, desperate voice that they could have made this album an a capella performance and it still would have ruled so hard. Honestly they're four of the strangest people I've ever met, and I think it shows in their ability to give no fucks and make a completely relentless album.

Favourite Fredericton Discovery of 2016
Jane Blanchard

jane blanchard

Penelope Stevens: Jane has spent many years (although not that many, she's only like 22) behind the scenes, playing supportive keyboard roles in bands since high school. When she announced that she had a solo project, I don't think anybody had any idea what to expect. I remember her first performance; she was visibly shaking and I was mentally preparing for a condolence speech afterward. But when she began to play, the whole audience went completely silent. Tears were shed, hugs were extended across the room, it was a breakthrough moment. Her voice is so heart-wrenching and her songwriting so scarily honest, I avoid her shows unless I'm prepared to cry for all the lovers I've lost and all the mistakes I've made. I think she knows the power she holds, which is why she still shakes when she steps on stage; it's not fear, it's reverence.

What defined Fredericton's music scene in 2016?
Penelope Stevens: 2016 was a tough year for everyone, and Fredericton didn't quite escape the trend. We saw a lot of bands break up, venues close, festivals end, and key community advocates move away. Fortunately, we've always had an obnoxiously supportive community, and one that cares so deeply that it's a relatively safe space for those on the in. What Fredericton is looking for now are ways to extend the fold beyond our shrinking borders - hopes are high that out of desperation will come innovation. There are murmurs of new projects starting over the winter, so we'll see where 2017 takes us. Fingers crossed it will result in a new punk scene, something that hasn't existed here since the early '90s.

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Toronto View
RPM Records' Jarrett Martineau
Jarrett Martineau RPM Records Personal Views Toronto

2016 marked a cultural revolution for Indigenous artists in Canada. Their work counted amongst the richest, the most urgent and vital — and finally, some part of the mainstream seems to have been paying attention. Jarrett Martineau began RPM Records this year, a label highlighting the music of emerging and established Indigenous, First Nations, Aboriginal, Inuit, and Métis musicians. Here's what he had to say about 2016 in Toronto.

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NOW HEAR THIS: Ziibiwan’s Time Limits kicks off a new label dedicated to Indigenous music

Favourite Toronto Releases of 2016
BADBADNOTGOOD, IV



Jarrett Martineau: After making waves through their various collabs with MCs and vocalists, IV, arrived fully-formed, flawless, and showing the band at the height of their powers. The album is both meticulously arranged and casually improvisatory, but its incandescence comes in no small part from its pairing of BBNG with a string of stellar features from Mick Jenkins, Kaytranada, Sam Herring, and Charlotte Day Wilson. The whole album has been on repeat since the summer.

Charlotte Day Wilson, CDW (EP)



Jarrett Martineau: I did a double take when I first heard BBNG's "In Your Eyes." That smoldering slice of vintage 1970s soul by way of 21st century Toronto was my introduction to the softly compelling sounds of rising Toronto singer Charlotte Day Wilson. I immediately googled all of her other music and, after finding a few tracks on SoundCloud to hold me over, I was hypnotized by the release of Wilson's eponymous acronymic debut EP, CDW— 6 songs of honey-golden soul that are still keeping me warm as the winter hours set in.

Adria Kain, Reverse Psychology (EP)



Jarrett Martineau: I don't know where Adria Kain came from, but discovering her heartfelt, personal take on R&B felt vital and necessary this year. Reverse Psychology offers just a small taste of an immense talent, who will be making major waves in 2K17. Keeping a close eye on this one.

RUNNER UP: Zaki Ibrahim, ORBIT: A Postcoital Prequel (EP)



Jarrett Martineau: Does a cross-continental, multi-city, collab project begun in Capetown and concluded in Toronto, count as a local release? If it does, then my vote goes to frequent Torontonian Zaki Ibrahim's exceptional, futurist EP, ORBIT, as one of the most interesting releases of the year. The EP is, as Zaki describes it, "a spiral body of music that tells a love story of twin stars"—and I was fortunate enough to catch its debut at a local planetarium listening session, where the music was brought to life in visual form through an array of projected star motion, galaxies, nebulae, and colliding stars that traced the album's sonic flows in some otherworldly, interstellar magic. A galactic vision of things to come.

Favourite Toronto Discovery of 2016


Jarrett Martineau: Other than emerging Anishinaabe artist, Ziibiwan, whose ambient/experimental beat-making I loved so much that his Time Limits EP became the first release on RPM Records, I recently discovered The Build—an up-and-coming Toronto artist/music collective that is quietly assembling an under-the-radar roster of dope producers, beatmakers, DJs, and vocalists.

The Build ep.09 feat CY at Cosmos Records West
Their local, Boiler Room-style series of low-key producer showcase nights at Cosmos Records are a great introduction to the crew, led by Astro Mega, Gillian Mapp, and Meredith Jay—and featuring a rotating cast of musicians including: Anzola, CY, Nyiam, TooM, Josh Grant, and more. Beats for days and good vibes only.

Catch the latest on YouTube.

What defined Toronto's music scene in 2016?
Jarrett Martineau: In the many communities I'm a part of in Tkaronto, and through my work with the Indigenous music project and label Revolutions Per Minute, I've found myself in a lot of conversations this year talking about how best to bring more Indigenous artists into all aspects of the local music scene—but in ways that aren't tokenizing or box-checking.

What does the era of so-called "reconciliation" mean for Indigenous art and music? How can Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities better collaborate across genres, scenes, and communities? And do we support not just more of these conversations happening, but more active engagement by all Canadians to amplify Indigenous presence across all aspects of music?

We started a lot of those conversations and attempts this year in Tkaronto. Hopefully next year there will be even more of us implementing them. - Chart Attack

LOA, also known as Jessica Burnett, is a powerhouse female redefining what it means to be a woman in the music industry.
(Photo)
She is a prominent recording and performing artist out of Saskatchewan who is well known as the singing voice of our Hillberg & Berk campaigns.
It is her feminine mysticism, however, that really sets her apart and establishes her as a leading female musician.
(Photo)
As our very own H&B girl, LOA has embraced the true power of being a woman through her latest single, Funeral.
“Funeral speaks to putting past identities to rest, and from it emerges a stronger individual” - LOA
(Photo)
In celebration of her new single release, LOA shares with us her favourite #GirlBoss moment:
“I realized that I do have the power to influence and better the world around me. I will continue to be unafraid and unapologetic in my pursuit of changing society’s connotations surrounding femininity”.
(Photo)
You can hear LOA’s new single “Funeral” (prod. Heights Beats & Walter Jeworski) now on Exclaim!

The single is available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify and all other music platforms.

Stay tuned for LOA’s debut album, “Tide”, scheduled for release in 2017. - Hillberg & Berk

Now that I’ve already gone ahead and shed some light on the Regina millennials that made an difference in 2016, it’s only fair to give some praise to those who are about to make some serious waves in 2017. From musicians to athletes to community leaders, there’s a lot of young talent out there that proves that our generation is full of hustlers and grinders.

Although this is just a small glimpse of Regina’s talent, each of these individuals are creating their own path to success and pursuing their dreams with a positive mind and a heart of determination. Here’s a look into their world and why they’re on our radar as influential millennials to watch in 2017.

Note: This list was created in no particular order.

Jessica Burnett a.k.a LOA


Known for: Her sweet sultry vocals and bad ass feminine mystique

Why she’s on our radar: As the first female artist to sign on with Trifecta, LOA has become a prominent voice for the Queen City music scene. On a mission to redefine feminity through music, LOA is breaking down the walls of tradition and making way for a new generation of women who won’t back down for anything or anyone. LOA will be releasing her first full-length album this year but in the meantime tune into her debut single, Funeral.


Daniel Gunther

Known for: Being of Regina’s favorite baristas and bringing new life to the local coffee scene

Why he’s on our radar: If you hung out at one of Brewed Awakening’s locations across the city, there’s a good chance you’ve seen this friendly face. As the general manager and leading barista at Brewed Dewdney, Daniel has been making moves to bring a fresh take to Regina’s coffee scene by introducing music, improv, and comedy events to Brewed’s trendy new space. Keep up-to-date on the next event here.


Leticia Mukendi

Known for: Her lifestyle blog, Beauty Talks Beauty, and starting a conversation on female empowerment.

Why she’s on our radar: Leticia is a powerhouse. Her impeccable style and willingness to support and empower women are worthy of recognition. With the recent relaunch of her lifestyle blog, Beauty Talks Beauty, Leticia has her sights set on major things this year. Follow along and join in on the conversation,


Dan Bartake a.k.a Flatland Funk

Known for: Bringing the EDM scene to the Queen City and spinning some serious beats under the alias Flatland Funk.

Why he’s on our radar: Dan has spent countless hours promoting and supporting the EDM music scene both locally and nationally. Last year, he made his first debut at Calgary’s Chasing Summer Music Festival. This year, he’s putting in serious work behind the scenes to prepare for a Western Canadian Tour and the new release of a DJ booking app called AGNT. You’re gonna want to add Flatland Funk to your playlist.


Alex Barabe a.k.a XANA

Known for: Her dreamy alt-pop vocals and hilarious Snapchat stories.

Why she’s on our radar: As a new breakout artist to the local music scene, Alex is fired up and ready to show the world what she is made of. With a powerful voice in comparison to that of Halsey and Ellie Goulding, she is making moves to become everyone’s favorite local pop star. Her first album as XANA is set to release this year and she hits the stage for her first Trifecta debut at Ohan’s this Friday.


Blake Lamontagne

Known for: Overcoming life’s greatest adversities to pursue his love of sport.

Why he’s on our radar: After a severe car accident caused him to become paralyzed from the waist down, Blake was faced with the reality of not being able to walk again. He has always been a lover of sport and this year his dreams of becoming a para-athlete are coming true in a big way. In February, Blake is taking off overseas to Brisbane, Austrailia to train in adaptive water skiing and then in April he will represent Canada at the 2017 World Championships in Myuna Bay, Austrailia.


Amanda Ruller

Known her: Her contagious positive energy, speed, and strength.

Why she’s on our radar: Amanda is unstoppable. With a lengthy list of notable achievements in the world of fitness, she has worked her butt off to garner influential status as a fitness professional. When she’s not competing in the Legends Football League in the states, you can find her hanging out in the Queen City showing up all the boys at Regina CrossFit.

andrew

Andrew Craig

Known for: Being the titan of community relations for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Why he’s on our radar: Andrew is a man who wears many hats when it comes to launching community initiatives in Regina. Last year, Andrew had the opportunity to travel to Nunavut to spread awareness about anti-bullying and was the recipient of the CFL Award for his work with the Red Cross Imagine No Bullying program. This year, Andrew is helping to lead Project YANA, a non-profit organization that spreads awareness about mental health.


Julia Buckingham & Lucas Besth

Known for: Their creative perspective on the celebrations of love.

Why they’re on our radar: After honing their photography skills out west in Vancouver, Julia and Lucas moved back to Regina to launch their photography business JL Photo. Since then, they have been exploring the vast terrain of Saskatchewan to capture a world of beauty and love on the prairies. Keep an eye out for them in 2017, they’ve got big things in store. - Narcity

Happiness for the earbuds.

23 Regina Musicians You Need To Add To Your Summer Playlist featured image
@loaflomusic


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Ashley Kilback · April 28, 2017
Summer is an invitation for happiness. The sun is shining, the air is warm, and the days are filled with heavy doses of good vibes. The kind of good vibes we feel when we're spending time with the people we love listening to music that makes us want to lose ourselves in the moment and revel in the sweet goodness that is life.

READ ALSO: 6 Music Festivals You Need To Go To In Saskatchewan This Summer

Speaking of sweet goodness, there's been a lot of that going around in the local music scene as of late. From the hauntingly beautiful vocals of Megan Nash to the high-energy hype of DGS Samurai Champs, the Regina music scene is riding on a high note and it doesn't look like it's about to come down anytime soon.

So get those good vibes rolling and add these 23 Regina musicians to your summer playlist:


via @megannashmusic

Megan Nash // @megannashmusic

Genre: Indie Folk


via @andyshauf

Andy Shauf // @andyshauf

Genre: Folk with sophisticated pop



via @dgsamuraichamps
DGS Samurai Champs // @dgsamuraichamps

Genre: R&B/Hip-Hop



via @avaiswild
Ava Wild // @avaiswild

Genre: Folk/Acoustic Pop



via @thedeadsouth
The Dead South // @thedeadsouth


Genre: Bluegrass


via @loaflomusic
LOA // @loaflomusic


Genre: New Wave/R&B


via @poornamelessboy

Poor Nameless Boy // @poornamelessboy

Genre: Indie Folk


via @andinosuns
Andino Suns // @andinosuns

Genre: Latin/World


via @dangolliver
Danny Olliver // @dangolliver

Genre: Folk/Pop


via @thisisxana
Xana // @thisisxana

Genre: Electro Pop


via @surfdadsband
Surf Dads // @surfdadsband

Genre: Indie Rock


via @amynelsonmusic
Amy Nelson // @amynelsonmusic

Genre: Country


via @nickfaye
Nick Faye & The Deputies // @nickfaye

Genre: Indie Rock


via @kaelidane
Kaeli Dane // @kaelidane

Genre: Folk/Pop


via @blackpowderbelle
Belle Plaine // @blackpowderbelle

Genre: Roots/Vintage Blues


via @sonhowler
Son Howler // @sonhowler

Genre: Heavy Blues/Rock


via @keiffermclean
Keiffer Mclean & The Curiosity Club // @keiffermclean

Genre: Contemporary Folk


via @pda87
Queen City Stoop Kids

Genre: Rap/Hip-hop


via @beautykilledthebeast306
Beauty Killed The Beast // @beautykilledthebeast306

Genre: Rock


via @definitelyjosh
Josh Gonzales // @definitelyjosh

Genre: Americana/R&B


via @desertislandclassic
Desert Island Classic // @desertislandclassic

Genre: Rock


via @rahrahband
Rah Rah // @rahrahband

Genre: Rock/Alternative


via @scottrichmondmusic
Scott Richmond //@scottrichmondmusic

Genre: Americana/Country - Narcity

LOA and Jeah take the stage together to get you in the mood to kick off your shoes and drink some boogie ass champagne down by the river.

CheapThrills_artwork.jpg
"Cheap Thrills" bangs down the door as LOA prepares for the release of her anticipated debut album titled, Tide. Right away we get drawn into a loose and care-free track about taking on the world without caring about money for the moment. LOA' s melody and lyrics get a little playful with the production, displaying a sense of just having fun with the vibe. Jeah comes in, clean as always, to add a little late night troublemaker flavour to what is already a flavourful piece. As the final chorus plays out I keep reaching for that replay button because damn, this is a great song, and LOA's vocals give it the extra umph it deserves. Super talented artists on a hell of a beat makes up for my cheap thrill of the night.

Collage1.jpg

LOA is currently preparing for her showcase performances in this year’s Breakout West Festival, being held September 13-17 in Edmonton, AB, leading up to the release of her debut full-length album, Tide.

Jeah (and Merv xx Gotti) are also performing in the same festival under the DGS Samurai Champs duo. Be sure to check out both of the sets from these two artists if you are around!

Posters for both artists are below.



Credits:
Lyrics and composition by: LOA + Jeah
Music by: Heights Beats
Mixed and Engineered by: Walter Jeworski
Produced by: Walter Jeworski + LOA
Artwork by: Tefrondon

DGS BOW Poster.png
LOA BOW Poster.png
unnamed.jpg - Eleven03

TRIFECTA X LITUATION FEB 22, 2017

A couple of weeks ago on a Wednesday night, Regina's own DGS Samurai Champs and local DJ TEFRONDON hosted the first event in the Trifecta X Lituations series at Flint Saloon. Trifecta is a a Regina and Saskatoon based project helping to promote independent arts & culture in Saskatchewan through their music festival and concert series.


Some might say that the live hip-hop scene in Saskatoon is either too small or non-existant. After witnessing the Trifecta X Lituations show at Flint Saloon I can comfortably say that it is alive and growing thanks to some amazing individuals putting in the work to get things poppin'. The event itself brought in a large crowd and really showcased the talent that is present in our community.

The night started off with TEFRONDON (host DJ) putting out some great vibes to get the bar grooving. RON has become quite the staple for quality hip-hop events throughout downtown Saskatoon playing at venues like The Grazing Goat and Spadina Freehouse before it shut its doors. Local artist VBND followed the initial set with his own mix of energetic tracks as people started to pour through the doors. Although the crowd was growing in this cramped venue, everyone continued to enjoy the atmosphere.
Regina based artist LOA performing her enticing R&B tracks.
Regina based artist LOA performing her enticing R&B tracks.


Regina based artist LOA took to the "stage" to amaze everyone with the dark production and intense vocals of her setlist. In the small space she had she was able to kill it leaving everybody wanting more after each track. It was cool to hear a remix that LOA and VBRTR (local R&B artist/producer) worked on together to the excitement of the crowd. It goes to show that to keep this movement going forward we have to continue to work together to get shit done.

The WrongKrowd came in heavy after LOA's set with their smooth mix of technical rap and melodic hooks. At this point, the crowd had swallowed up what was left of Flint's floor space leaving the hip-hop duo surrounded by many bumping along to their songs.


The WrongKrowd delivering their high energy set at Flint Saloon.
The WrongKrowd delivering their high energy set at Flint Saloon.


The night closed off with both TEFRONDON and VBND trading sets full of big rap and dance hits to get the crowd going wild.

It was amazing to see a group of people get together on a Wednesday night to support some local artists displaying their talent. The people were many, the music was awesome, the community is tight.


VBND (left) and TEFRONDON (right) closing out the night.
VBND (left) and TEFRONDON (right) closing out the night.
Looking forward to the next event in the Trifecta X Lituations series on March 29 at Flint Saloon.

Check out the featured artists below.

TEFRONDON https://soundcloud.com/tefrondon IG: @tefrondon1

LOA https://soundcloud.com/loaflomusic IG: @loaflomusic

VBND https://soundcloud.com/vbnd IG: @vbndmoney

THE WRONGKROWD https://soundcloud.com/thewrongkrowd IG: @thewrongkrowd

TRIFECTA https://www.facebook.com/TrifectaYQR/ IG: @trifectayqr - Eleven0Three

As a twenty-something-year-old in Saskatoon, sometimes it’s difficult to figure out what to do recreationally after the sun goes down. I mean: even the local go-to spots around town tend to fall victim to complacency. So when an event like Trifecta partners with Lituations and takes over Flint — twice in the span of a month, no less — you know it’s going to be a good time.

But first, what is Trifecta? And what about Lituations?

Banner 1 (Trifecta Concert Series)
Banner 2 (Trifecta Concert Series)
Banner 3 (Trifecta Concert Series)
Banner 4 (Trifecta Concert Series)
Banner 5 (Lituations)
Banner 6 (Lituations)
Banner 7 (Lituations)
Banner 8 (Lituations)


Trifecta is a Regina-based arts and music festival created to promote and market the burgeoning creative culture here in Saskatchewan. While Trifecta started as a festival, it has since evolved into the Trifecta Artist Collective wherein events like the Concert Series can connect Saskatoon and Regina’s arts and music communities quite seamlessly.

Lituations is a DJ night hosted by Saskatoon’s very own, TEFRONDON (Ron Baldoza), who spins every last Wednesday of the month at Flint on 2nd Avenue. The event itself is self-described as a place for: “modern rap, classic hip-hop, R&B, future bounce, alternative rock, funk and soul” — in essence, it’s proverbially lit.

Merv xx Gotti standing on a stool (Lituations x Trifecta Concert Series)
Man wearing an OVO Jacket in a Crowd
The WrongKrowd Performs
Boys dancing at Lituations
Patrons of Flint enjoying themselves
Crowd gathers outside Flint
The crowd intensifies.
WrongKrowd performs
The crowd inside of Flint is massive.
Images courtesy of TEFRONDON

So without a doubt, it really is special when these two components come together in the form of Trifecta’s Concert Series. It really shines a light on the crazy amount of talented individuals we have in Saskatoon, Regina and Saskatchewan altogether.

What’s more: everything has been getting documented by local photographers, Athirdtime (Jon Chan) and Taylor Ross-Robinson. Check out their interview with Jordan Baraniecki of One to Ten here.

FEBRUARY 22ND — Unfortunately, I missed this one. However, the first show of the series featured singer, LOA; rappers, The WrongKrowd; and DJs, TEFRONDON and vbnd. Testimonies from those in attendance later explained to me that it was packed. The music was on point and the crowd was positive and receptive to everyone who performed. TEFRONDON never misses a beat and always puts on a great set with a variety of contemporary sounds; while WrongKrowd’s lyricism and energy really are contagious and fun. It’s no surprise the crowd turned into a mosh pit. My failure to attend is a little disappointing considering I managed to — once again — miss LOA’s performance and producer/DJ vbnd’s set. I’ve always heard good things but I really messed up by missing out. Given the chance, check them out if you can. Here’s why:







MARCH 29TH — Fortunately, I managed to attend the second show that featured hip-hop groups WEARELABRATS and DGS Samurai Champs. TEFRONDON opened and closed the night with a DJ set again. Playing anything from rap, grunge, electronic to dancehall and much more — anyone can thoroughly enjoy one of his sets.



Similar to the WrongKrowd, I haven’t heard too much of WEARELABRATS but they really got the crowd moving. Their raps are technically dexterous and the relationship between the two is captivating. They released an album back in January and have been growing off that ever since.



And last but not least: DGS Samurai Champs. Consisting of Merv xx Gotti and Jeah, they’re another group that have been on the come up in every sense of the word. Whether it be traveling to Hamburg to participate in the Reeperbahn Festival, heading to Canadian Music Week in Toronto, opening for T.I., performing at Trifecta, or being featured in Noisey and Exclaim, DGS Samurai Champs have been making moves. Their live show is indicative of all of these things as well. That’s because their recorded music translates beautifully into a live environment and their recent EP Crayons has received a great response from friends, fans and critics alike. If you were at any of these past shows, you would have seen the riot these two often times create.



All in all, it’s amazing to see how much love and support these acts from Saskatchewan are getting. So the next time you find yourself indecisive and unsure of where to go, check and see if anyone’s performing. Maybe we’ll see you at the next show.

Connect:

TEFRONDON – Facebook / Instagram / Soundcloud
DGS Samurai Champs – Facebook / Instagram / Soundcloud
LOA – Facebook / Instagram / Soundcloud
The WrongKrowd – Facebook / Instagram / Soundcloud
WEARELABRATS – Facebook / Instagram / Soundcloud
vbnd – Facebook / Instagram / Soundcloud
VBRTR – Facebook / Instagram / Soundcloud

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ps. Special shout-out to DGS Samurai Champs and LOA who are currently on tour with support from TEFRONDON, VBRTR, vbnd and Walt J!





TAGS: ATHIRDTIME, CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK, CREATIVE SASKATCHEWAN, DGS SAMURAI CHAMPS, FLINT SALOON, LITUATIONS, LOA, REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, SASKATOON, TAYLOR ROSS-ROBINSON, TEFRONDON, THE WRONGKROWD, TRIFECTA, TRIFECTA ARTIST COLLECTIVE, TRIFECTA CONCERT SERIES, TRIFECTA MUSIC FESTIVAL, TRIFECTAYQR, TRIFECTAYXE, VBND, VBRTR, WEARELABRATS - Saskatooning

Emerging singer-songwriter from Regina, SK, LOA is the feminine force behind the new-wave music that’s rising out of the prairie soil. With an ambient and alluring sound, the electronic R&B/soul artist will have you lured into the darkness, begging for more. Premiering her first single Funeral she speaks about the death of previous identities in exchange for finding strength in a new one. With her own coalescence of dark mysticism to the genre, she is known by many as the "3 Witch". Performing across Canada and preparing for a Canadian and UK tour this Spring, she has been noticed by Regina Discovery Chart Attack’s yearend article The Best Music of 2016 From Cities Around Canada.

Does ambiguity play a role in the way you present yourself ?

I like to flirt with the line between ambiguity and definitive. On one hand, I can be very explicit through my lyricism and movement on stage. However, my overtness is not meant to impose any singular notion. My intention is to evoke the sensuality I reveal within the listener. In order to achieve this, I perform a balancing act both on and off stage. I reveal enough of myself to challenge the norm, but conceal enough of myself to enable the listener to connect with me through the manifestation of his or her own desires.

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If your style was summed up into three words, what would they be?

Dark, Low-key, Vibey.

What characteristics do you have to possess to follow an artistic career path?

I believe that in order to pursue an uncertain career path, one must possess a fearlessness that comes from already having lived through the full extent of one’s own self-doubt. In other words, once one has seen the worst in humanity, one truly has no reason to restrict their creative practice. Another characteristic every artist must possess is a weighing amount of introspection. In order to be perpetually creating, it is necessary to feel and reflect on things on a deeper level than the common individual. This is the only way to stay continually inspired.

Take me through one of your most creative days.

I find that most of my inspiration comes to me when it’s dark outside, so I will take you through one of my creative evenings. Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of space to myself, so I would often spend a lot of time in my car thinking and writing. This practice carried on through the years, even after I moved into my own apartment. My Hyundai was my home. A creatively productive evening for me would usually start after a late dinner, followed by a long night of driving until the early hours of the dawn. Lapping familiar streets, smoking, I would occasionally pull over, typing lyrics into my notes app. This is my creative practice in songwriting.

Where did you get your start?

My mother always loved music. She gave me my start in music by enrolling me in voice lessons through a local church with a man named Hart Godden. I grew to adore singing. Hart fostered this adoration from when I was 5 until I reached adulthood. All of my technical vocal ability and passion for music came from him.

Then came Marvin Chan. I began posting cover videos online as another musical outlet for myself. Marvin found me through these videos. He sent me a message out of the blue asking, “do you want to record something sometime?” I replied “absolutely”, and this was when we starting working on my Key EP together. Everything I’ve accomplished in my professional creative career so far I owe to Marvin, the Trifecta crew, and my amazing producer Walter Jeworski.

To hear her new single Funeral, check it out right here and on Soundcloud and Spotify
To hear more about LOA, visit her website
Follow LOA @loaflomusic and Facebook Tags: #LOAtide #3Witch #Funeral
To keep in the loop with Trifecta artists and events follow @trifectayqr and check out their Facebook Tags: #TrifectaYQR #TrifectaYXE
Photography rights to Insomniak Media, athirdtime Photography, and Taylor Ross-Robinson Photography ©
Tags: artist, regina, saskatchewan, saskatchewanmusic, chartattack, LOA, 3Witch, canadainmusic, r&b, soul, electronic, newwave, dark, low-key, vibey, marvinchan, trifecta, trifectaYQR, trifectamusicfestival, insomniakmedia, athirdtime, taylorross-robinson, funeral
February 20, 2017 - Jordan Baraniecki 1-10

LOA, also known as Jessica Burnett, is a powerhouse female redefining what it means to be a woman in the music industry. Her experience with many different genres has lead her to develop a unique blend of new wave, indie R&B music that will keep you in a smooth vibe for days. She is a prominent recording artist in Regina, SK collaborating with notable acts such as DGS Samurai Champs, Queen City Stoop Kids & Hoodoo but her stage presence is what sets her apart and establishes her as a leading female musician.

The main focus of 'The Divine Feminine' is to bring awareness to the feminine power all women posses. LOA's confidence is bold, her style encourages women to have the confidence to live authentically and is what attracted us into featuring her as the main artist in our SS17 performance piece 'The Divine Feminine'. More information about the event can be found on our events page or by clicking the link below. - NO/MAD EMPIRE

We had the very talented LOA on our podcast this past weekend to discuss her musical influences and classical music training, her first spotlight in the Canadian Music Conference, and cool places to kick it in Regina like the golden mile.

Hosts - Julian, Jayden, and Ryan - Eleven03

We're getting a swag bag full of awesomeness from our Ambassador handlers - AKA Tourism Regina. Before that, though, we gotta enjoy crazy November weather, head out on the Boosted Board, check out a killer new track from LOA, and solve the mystery of Teddy Roastevelt.

http://exclaim.ca/music/article/loa-f...
https://shop.spreadshirt.com/justinreves

My vlogging rig if you're curious:

Panasonic Lumix G7: http://amzn.to/2bFzh8G
Panasonic 7-14mm f/4: http://amzn.to/2bFzh8t
Rode VideoMic GO: http://amzn.to/2bPyhyk - Justin Reves

This year was awesome in terms of new arists and big albums. Also, N.E.R.D. released an album and that is substantial enough to mention it here. This post is dedicated to all the new friends (and old) that we enjoyed working with this year and hope to continue working with in the future. So according to them, these are the greatest albums, songs, and artists of 2017.

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KIDALGO | DJ
Top Albums of 2017 (no order):
Yesterday's Gone - Loyle Carner
Drunk - Thundercat
4:44 - Jay Z

Artist:
Smino

Song:
EBT Boi - Deezy Hollow

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RYAN MACK | OLÉ DENIM AND FANCY
Top Albums of 2017:
No_One Ever Really Dies - N.E.R.D.
Freudian - Daniel Caesar
Ctrl - SZA

Artist:
Kendrick Lamar

Song:
Passionfruit - Drake

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BRAD KIMBALL | CREATURE LEATHER
Top Albums of 2017:
More Life - Drake
DAMN - Kendrick Lamar
Flower Boy - Tyler, the Creator

Artist:
Drake

Song:
Gyalchester - Drake

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JONO CRUZ | VBRTR/DJ
Top Albums of 2017:
Mura Masa - Mura Masa
HNDRXX - Future
Gossip Columns - Marc E Bassy

Artist:
Aminé

Song:
1 Night (feat. Charli XCX) - Mura Masa

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LEE CHAN | VBRTR/DJ
Top Albums of 2017 (no order):
Freudian - Daniel Caesar
Mura Masa - Mura Masa
DAMN - Kendrick Lamar

Artist:
Daniel Caesar

Song:
Slide (feat. Migos and Frank Ocean) - Calvin Harris

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LOA | R&B ARTIST
Top Albums of 2017:
Ctrl - SZA
True to Self - Bryson Tiller
Fin - Syd

Artist:
6lack

Song:
Love Galore - SZA

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BROC $TEEZY | HIP-HOP ARTIST
Top Albums of 2017:
17 - XXXTentacion
Without Warning - 21 Savage, Offset, & Metro Boomin
Project Baby 2 - Kodak Black

Artist:
Cameronazi

Song:
LAMES (feat. $ubjectz and babybehr) - Cameronazi

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JEAH | SAMURAI CHAMPS
Top Albums of 2017:
669 - Anders
Ctrl - SZA
Still Striving - A$AP FERG

Artist:
SZA

Song:
Diamonds - Anders

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MERV XX GOTTI | SAMURAI CHAMPS
Top Albums of 2017:
Freudian - Daniel Caesar
S/T - Cigarettes After Sex
The Spaces Between - Majid Jordan

Artist:
Charlotte Day Wilson

Song:
Myself - NAV

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9D1 | PRODUCER/WEARELABRATS
Top Albums of 2017:
We Go On, Infinitely - VBND
I Love U, Don't Worry - Pryde
Small World - Def3

Artist:
Russell aka Pryde

Song:
Droptop Breakup - Pryde

INTERVIEWS
DECEMBER 30, 2017 - Eleven03

Two new Christmas songs from our good friends at Trifecta featured on the Line of Best Fit! Now these are Christmas jams I can jive with.

Now what is Christmas without spreading some Christmas cheer? Well to get you guys ready for the break these wonderful artists from Trifecta wrap up two awesome songs and stuff them in your stockings. The first being "Silent Night" a VBRTR produced and performed with XANA on the main vocals. "Cold Outside" was also produced by the VBRTR (a couple of hustlers if you ask me) and performed by Revilla and LOA. Both songs are special in their own way and I really think all you readers should be blasting this during family supper. There is no way that they won't dance along.

"SILENT NIGHT" - VBRTR & XANA [prod. by VBRTR]

"Silent Night" is spicy! A sultry track in the vein of VBRTR's and LOA's "Tie You Up" that was released earlier this year. Saskatchewan's new queen of contemporary electro-pop Xana delivers a stunning performance in this song. Lyrically this track leaves you with many visuals that are sure to keep you coming back for more. The production is groovy as hell, without surprise thanks to the talented guys of VBRTR. Lee's undertones drape across the background of the track adding the perfect amount of flavour.


"COLD OUTSIDE" - LOA & REVILLA [prod. by VBRTR]

"Cold Outside" calls out to all of our natural desires to be loved and held in the winter but winter comes and goes and spring brings new life and new love. LOA's chilling vocals beckon you into the warmth by the fireside and of course you oblige. Revilla's strong verse over the wintery and moody production bring fire and desire to the scene and compliments LOA's verse quite well. These two together have a really fanatastic sound going and I'd love to hear more from them.

Check out the full article on The Line of Best Fit here! - Eleven03

My Music
WITH LOA
LOA is a new wave R&B singer-songwriter who’s out to shake up a prairie scene that’s known mostly for folksier/rootsier fare. This spring the Queen City-based musician released her debut EP Tide along with a music video for the lead single “Funeral”. You can find her on social media at @LOA3WITCH, and all streaming services. Here are six of her favourite songs. /Gregory Beatty

“Money Trees”
Kendrick Lamar | Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012)

I jammed this CD in my old Santa Fe way more times than I care to admit. Kendrick’s flow on this record is just undeniable, and it made me completely fall in love with him as an artist.

“Hey Mami”
Sylvan Esso | Self-titled (2014)

This track takes me back to Koh Tao Island, Thailand. I spent an amazing summer travelling with friends, and this song will always remind me of the one we lost. This one’s for you H.

“A Boy Named Sue”
Johnny Cash | At San Quentin (1969)

Johnny was a favourite around my household growing up. My grandpa was a big fan, and so all of us kids grew up singing the lyrics to this song.

“Often”
The Weeknd | Beauty Behind the Madness (2015)

This song came to me through one of the emotionally hardest, yet most fun summers I’ve ever had. It’s so badass, and always reminds me of house boating on the Shuswaps. I even performed it as a cover for a few of my first shows.

“California Dreamin’”
The Mamas & The Papas | If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (1966)

A car ride classic. This song reminds me of long hot summer drives to family reunions with my mom and brother, no A/C, just The Mamas & The Papas.

“This Is What It Feels Like”
Banks | Goddess (2014)

The first time I saw/heard Banks was at Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal in 2015. She changed the course of my life with her incredible sound and style. I draw a lot of influence from her in my music. - Prairie Dog Magazine

(Won't copy page, click on link) - CBC Radio- Canada

LOA is a minimalist pop artist from Saskatchewan, Canada. She’s quickly emerging on the scene and we are thrilled to premiere her new video for her track “Funeral.” The song is from LOA’s debut EP Tide, which came out not too long ago via the collective she’s part of, Trifecta YQR. LOA dropped Tide with no warning, because everyone who first heard “Funeral” in its demo form when Exclaim! premiered it in 2016 has been waiting since then for more. That’s how strong an impression she made with just one song. She’s got a freakishly devoted following overseas, especially in the UK, and she’s kept up touring pretty well there and in her native Canada. The unique imagery and black and white of the video provide a fitting visual accompaniment to the beautiful track.

LOA on the video:

“Funeral is about unveiling the characters we embody as we transcend the stages of emotional trauma. There is loss and there is longing, but mostly there is new-found strength… and sometimes vengeance. The video strikes this chord with its pointed delivery and mysterious imagery, revealing the story slowly and deliberately.” - GroundSounds

Toronto, ON – Thursday, October 3, 2019 – The winners of the 2019 Western Canadian Music Artistic Awards have been revealed! Announced today at the WCMAwards Reception held at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse, YT, during BreakOut West, the awards celebrate the best artistic talent in western Canada. See below for the full list of Artistic Award winners.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter, Susan Aglukark, was on hand at the Awards ceremony, as she was inducted into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Aglukark’s decorated career has seen her recognized as the first Inuk artist to win a JUNO Award (3), earned her a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement, and named her an officer of the Order of Canada.

The Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre will again play host on Saturday, October 5th where the Industry Awards will be announced at the Industry Awards Brunch. Honourees include Heritage Award winner, Hank Karr, and the Kevin Walters Industry Builder Award recipient, Duncan Sinclair.

BreakOut West festival showcases get underway tonight, with the Kick-Off Concert taking place at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, featuring performances by The Dakhká Khwáan Dancers, Sarah MacDougall, and Del Barber. Over 50 of western Canada’s best emerging and established artists, from all genres, will showcase at multiple venues throughout Whitehorse from October 3–5. A full schedule of festival performances can be found here.

Festival wristbands are still available and can be purchased here. Festival-goers can redeem their online purchases of wristbands at festival venues, one hour before the first act hits the stage.

More information about the festival and conference can be found at breakoutwest.ca and on the BreakOut West 2019 mobile event app, powered by CrowdCompass. Available at Apple and Google Play, the app is the place to get the most up-to-date information, and connect with other festival-goers throughout the weekend. Search BreakOut West 2019 to download the free app and get the latest updates and sneak peeks.



2019 WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC ARTISTIC AWARD WINNERS:

Blues Artist of the Year

Ndidi O – BC

BreakOut Artist of the Year

Snotty Nose Rez Kids – BC

Children’s Artist of the Year

Raffi – BC

Classical Artist / Ensemble of the Year (Sponsored by Canadian Music Centre [CMC])

Manitoba Chamber Orchestra – MB

Classical Composer of the Year

Carmen Braden – NT

Country Artist of the Year

Brett Kissel – AB

Electronic / Dance Artist of the Year

I M U R – BC

Francophone Artist of the Year (Sponsored by Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique [APCM])

Rayannah – MB

Indigenous Artist of the Year (Sponsored by APTN)

Northern Haze – NV

Instrumental Artist of the Year

Five Alarm Funk – BC

Jazz Artist of the Year

Jodi Proznick – BC

Metal / Hard Music Artist of the Year

Striker – AB

Pop Artist of the Year

Begonia – MB

Rap / Hip Hop Artist of the Year (Sponsored by Northern Touch Music Festival)

Vials – BC

Rock Artist of the Year

Dan Mangan – BC

Roots Duo / Group of the Year

Rosie & the Riveters – SK

Roots Solo Artist of the Year

Mariel Buckley – AB

Songwriter(s) of the Year (Sponsored by The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada [SOCAN])

Dan Mangan, Cold In The Summer – BC

Spiritual Artist of the Year

Warren Dean Flandez – BC

Urban Artist of the Year

LOA – SK

Visual Media Composer of the Year

Jeffery Straker, The Storm Orchestral – SK

World Artist of the Year

Buckman Coe – BC . - Breakout West