Search Results | thesoundtrack.ca

By: Samantha D’Alessandro Recently I came across a Toronto based band called Rynheart on Instagram. The first thing that really stands out on their page is their “blast from the past” aesthetic which includes a retro 70’s rock & roll vibe in the form of band photos, videos, and posters for their most recent events. I decided to click the link in their bio and check out their Youtube channel and there I found three singles. Their most recent single is called Athena and it was released about a year ago. First off, let me say that I love the artwork this band has incorporated into their brand. It’s very colourful and psychedelic and hardcore all at the same time making it super interesting and unique. Along with the wicked artwork, their videos are all so vibey and retro bringing you straight back to that classic 70’s rock and roll lifestyle. They mix rock and roll with groovy psychedelic visuals and you can’t take your eyes or ears off of it. Aside from the obviously rad visuals, their music actually rocks! Athena starts off strong with instantly catchy guitar riffs and a wicked beat that’s easy to get right into. I’m also really into the lyrics of these songs. Although it’s a tune with a very common theme of romance gone wrong and manipulation, I find the lyrics very relatable and catchy to follow along with. This is always a good thing because if I can memorize the lyrics and relate to the song, you know I’ll be singing my heart out in front of everyone I know. The tasty guitar licks that are present through all three singles are what really keep me hooked into these tunes. Burn My Flame is probably my favourite of the three. I say this because the music and vocals compliment each other and flow so well, it’s impossible to not want to jam along with it. It also has these solos that remind me of Alice Cooper’s School’s Out. Fabulous Nobodies is the last song that I listened to and of course this one was another absolute banger. This one gave me major Struts vibes from the song, right down to the music video, and clothes. And yet again, super catchy and easy to jam out to. My favourite thing about these three singles is that they’re all their own entities and one doesn’t sound too similar to the others. They are unique and different in styles which makes them way easier to listen to. I love coming across new bands who can put out several songs that all sound different than one another, it shows their ability to play with sounds and rhythms and experiment more diverse tunes. Rynheart hasn’t released any music within the past year but they are working on some new material and will hopefully be releasing more this year. Keep your eyes and ears open for their next shows and new releases.

By: Gemma Mastroianni You asked, and I answered! During the first half of this episode, I answer all of your questions you asked me on Instagram! During the second portion, I chat with Catherine Sugrue. Catherine is a certified Holistic Nutritionist and offers her tips for staying both mentally and physically healthy during isolation. Check out her website. Catherine has also been featured/appeared in a number of online and in-person events – including the Harbourfront Hot & Spicy Food Festival, The National Women’s Show, The National Post, Live Daytime TV segments in Toronto, Peterborough, Kingston, and Ottawa, as well as numerous workshops. Some of her previous roles include: Chief Operations Officer for DoTheDaniel.com, a leading international lifestyle blog with contributors around the globe, Veeva Happiness Ambassador, Community Manager and Practitioner for Sexy Food Therapy and Nutritional Consultant for several businesses within the health and wellness industry. Check out the episode on Apple and Spotify.

By: Gemma Mastroianni Sadly a ton of shows have gotten cancelled, including The Soundtrack Live (stay tuned for a new date being announced soon). With that said, we’ve got a brand new lineup for you for every single day of this week! Live music, right on our Instagram. Check out the schedule and who is playing: Nate Robertson – Tuesday, March 24th 10:00 a.m. Canadian and multi-instrumentalist Nathan Yell is a crafter of soundscape and song. Check out his morning experimental ambient set! Mouth Breather – Tuesday, March 24th – 7:00pm Montreal based Indie Rock. Holly Clausius – Wednesday, March 25th – 7:30 p.m. Raspy vocals, acoustic melodies and playful lyrics. Slobrina – Thursday, March 26th – 8:00 p.m. Sabrina was born awhile ago and since then all she has done is forget about her fresh bananas (now they are rotten). She makes songs about overcoming feelings of inadequacy. Steep Leans – Friday, March 27th – 9:00 p.m. Steep Leans is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Jeffrey Gray Somers. Developed in late 2012 in Boston, Steep Leans now calls Philadelphia home, while spending most of the time on the road. The band has performed numerous venues throughout the US, touring with Wavves and Twin Peaks, and has been featured on Noisey, Stereogum, Adhoc, and other publications. In 2015, Steep Leans released their debut LP Grips on Heat on Nathan Williams’s Ghost Ramp label. Recorded in a windowless bunker, called The Napoleon Complex, Grips on Heat uses repetition and murky melodies to create a cavernous and haunting record that reflects those isolated conditions. Check out his latest, “Naukeag.” Jordan Paul – Saturday, March 28th – 9:00 p.m. “If Queen, Mimicking Birds, Radiohead, and Led Zeppelin had a beautiful love-child–thy name would be Jordan Paul” – Jer from Sleeping Bag Studios. Music is the fabric that ties our human emotionality together, it weaves the bond between us and lessens the distance we feel from our counterparts–for Jordan Paul it is the very essence of his communication. Paul’s debut EP ‘Night Moon’ is available now everywhere there’s music! Jordan Paul – Sunday, March 29th – 7:00 p.m. Peach Luffe draws influence from both popular and underground music like guitar playing from John Mayer and Mac Demarco, singing from Allen Stone and recent R&B, and melodies from early Coldplay. Some describe their genre as Bedroom-Pop Alternative, but even that is a misnomer. In the near future, Peach Luffe plans on releasing several singles and an EP. Tune in on our Instagram live @lesoundtrack every day!

Written by: Michael Del Vecchio To fight the spread of Covid-19, non-essential businesses in Toronto are closing their doors. Lee’s Palace, the Horseshoe Tavern, and Sneaky Dee’s are just some of the music venues postponing events until public gatherings are deemed safe. Concert-going Torontonians are respecting their decisions by staying indoors. “I think a lot of good music will come out of this, and a lot of babies,” says Peter Turik, guitarist of Toronto-based metal band, Witchrot. Witchrot played their last show for the foreseeable future on March 7 at the Drake Underground (another venue postponing all events). “We played a good show, made some money, good thing that we did,” says Turik. Last Friday, the band released a B-side, a cover of Neil Young’s Hey Hey, My My, for their next single, Strega, on their Bandcamp page. In support of the online music community, Bandcamp waived their revenue share on all sales that same Friday, to “(rally) fans to put some money” directly into the pockets of musicians during this time. Witchrot planned to unveil a slew of newly-brewed tunes at shows over the spring. But now, until experts determine when the quarantine could be lifted, how to handle when and where to book shows is up in the air. Bands that don’t have the luxury of being able to practice in their houses turn to rehearsal spaces. But these rehearsal spaces in Toronto are communal, of course, which makes them ideal places to suck up corona droplets from previous sneezes and coughs. The decision to stay home is clear. “We’re sitting on a lot of music that we don’t just want to play, but we want to nail! I want to get together with the band and be confident in what we’re playing. But, we would have to go downtown to our jam space,” says Turik. Witchrot intended on making their American debut over the spring. The bassist, Cam, was set to join on and play a show with another band at SXSW. Other upcoming festivals like Glastonbury 2020 and Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2020 have also been cancelled or postponed. Many bands have cancelled tours, here and overseas, to return home and respect Canadian and American travel bans and social distancing guidelines. In a statement from their Facebook page, the band Reverend Horton Heat announced that “they can’t stop rock and roll,” and won’t cancel any of their upcoming shows. Musicians like RHH and Post Malone face criticism from the public for continuing to hold shows. “Have a little respect for the old people that are going to be out or people who are weak. It pisses me off. Obviously, you want to play, but think of the greater good, stop being so nihilistic,” says Turik. The guitarist says now is a good time for bands to release music because of the downtime everyone’s facing. Check witchrot.bandcamp.com for new music and to stay up to date on the album release. Consider supporting local bands, musicians, and artists in your area during this social distancing time any way you can. Follow Witchrot.

By: Gemma Mastroianni “Bitchcraft” is an experimental R&B track from Taja Nicholle. It’s sexy, spooky and maybe even a bit Billie Eilish inspired. The track is self-produced and written, and is centered around the idea of casting a spell on a loved one, but also draws in listeners in a similar way as you get captured by her sleek vocals and slow bass, and a suspenseful guitar riff. Taja Nicholle is a vocalist, musician, and producer originally from Buffalo, NY. She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. After losing her father at a young age, Nicholle began utilizing art, creative writing, and music as an escape from her reality. This began in her childhood and remains today. Nicholle’s music takes listeners through portals with an alternative, experimental, and moody tone to R&B with influences and inspiration from artists such as FKA Twigs and Aaliyah, to Evanescence and Korn. She performs regularly in Atlanta, and has upcoming events in New Orleans and Chicago in Spring 2020. Stay tuned for more singles coming, and sit back and enjoy this one. Follow Taja Nicholle here.

By: Gemma Mastroianni, Samantha D’Alessandro and Blayne Stone It’s been an eventful and tragic few weeks for the world, and things are about to ramp up in Ontario. We all hope you are doing well during this difficult time. We understand that this is a challenging time for musicians and entertainment specifically, as events with over 50 people have now been banned, meaning that all concerts have been canceled. With that said, Sweet Tooth’s Blayne Stone was kind enough to put together this resource kit specifically for creatives. #nabshelp The AFC Emergency fund for Toronto’s precarious workers. Donate Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ILostMyGigCa Come Together Government Updates Live Event Community The Canadian Live Music Association Adobe Furthermore, we (Gemma and Sam) also made some Spotify playlists to help you through this difficult time. Check em out below! COVID-19 Rock n Roll Vibes: Click here to listen to the full playlist curated by Samantha D’Alessandro Need an uplifting playlist? Check out this one for Sunny and Happy Days. Looking to support the local music scene? Click here to listen to some of Toronto’s Best! Work From Home: Click here to listen to the full playlist Stay safe, remember to breathe, consume verified media sources, and take care of yourself.

By: Gemma Mastroianni DJ Waves joins us to discuss her journey becoming a DJ, and how she has gotten some of the biggest and best gigs in the city. She also discusses how COVID-19 will affect the industry. Check it out on Spotify and Apple Music. Follow DJ Waves

By: Dakota Arsenault Colorado-based musician Nathaniel Rateliff returned to Toronto to play a two-night stand at the beautiful Roy Thompson Hall, a unique spot for an artist like Rateliff, but one that worked beautifully. The show opened with Courtney Marie Andrews who hails from Phoenix, Arizona and played a starkly intimate set of just her alone on stage with her acoustic guitar and a single spot light. Her delicate, yet strong voice filled the venue. Nathaniel Rateliff, who just released his newest album, And It’s Still Alright, without his Night Sweats band that accompanied him on recent years. He has gone back to his solo folk style opposed to his more soul and blues band records. On night one he filled his set consisting mostly of his new album but also from music throughout his career.

By: Amanda McMillan The Districts have maintained a kind of under the radar appeal despite having made four albums in five years. Their breakout debut A Flourish and a Spoil remains one of my personal favourites, and a baseline for the band’s overall sound. One part distortion, one part reverb, and just the right amount of angst manages to keep the band hovering above any one genre. With each album, there is a clear tweaking and adjusting to their sound and maturing, growing slowly rather than all at once. By the time we get to their newest release, You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere, there is an undeniable polish that’s been added, not just in the overall production but piece by piece. The instrumentation is slick, vocals have been dialed back ever so slightly to feel less punk-inspired and more the early aughts. It’s a refreshing direction from the band that settles in quite nicely for a new decade of alt-rock. The album opens with “My Only Ghost,” which is aptly haunting. The echoed and faded vocals add a familiar melancholy that we’re used to from the bad, but its dialed down the angst in favour of something a little deeper. The first single off the album, “Hey Jo” is equal parts plucky and melodic, with catchy little guitar riffs and fuzzy vocals and a thumping bass line. There is an energetic burst around the 1:30 mark that brings the song to a new level, keeping it from getting too repetitive. “Cheap Regrets” has what might be one of my favourite bass lines from them yet, smooth and vibey, complemented by synth and guitar that sound like they’re being played underwater. Then we have “Velour and Velcro” which is the closest to New Wave I’ve ever heard from the band. The use of synth mixed with twangy guitar and echo-y vocals leaves it feeling like the lovechild of an Interpol song and a song by The Cure. As we get the end of the album, the track “Dancer” really surprised me. Is that a sax I hear? It’s not something I would have expected to hear on this album, but it feels authentic to the band, especially when followed up by “Sidecar,” which feels like the most “Districts” song on the whole album. Closing out the album is “4th of July,” which is a nod to change and transcendence. It’s mellow, and soothing, a fitting end to an otherwise quite energetic and exploratory album. The band’s lead singer Rob Grote has noted that in creating this record, the group experienced a total transformation: “We had to reset each other as individuals today rather than who we were in the friendships we started when we were sixteen. It was definitely hard.” That change and reframing of themselves as individual members as well as a band is evident song by song. There’s a newness to this album that feels unique in their discography to date. It’s older, more mature, the output of, quite simply, having grown up. None of us are who we were at sixteen, and letting go of that idea of yourself, especially when surrounded by people who knew you then, is a process in and of itself. Being able to change and evolve together is a beautiful thing, and as an album, You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere is a nice reflection of that truth.

By: Gemma Mastroianni Adult Programming dropped this wild video just under a month ago, and it’s quite the trip. This alt-rock fast-paced track is paired with an eventful and jaw-dropping video. The piece won Best Music Video, Best Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects at the Hollywood Sun Awards Film Festival. In all honesty, this is one of the best videos I’ve seen from an Indie artist in quite some time. The style reminds me a bit of the video for”Nothing Special” from Ill Scarlett. The song itself isn’t quite as aggressive, but the fast-paced film style and chaos are similar, and I’m very very impressed. There are a variety of different settings and special effects that make the video so eventful and upbeat. This project is the fast-paced confessional archive of AJ Ruiz, who is a Miami based musician and actor. Ruiz is dead set on freeing himself from the constraints of responsibility through his work. Influenced by Interpol, Talking Heads, and of Montreal, AP delivers post-punk and new wave aesthetics with a fresh sense of humor. Follow Adult Programming on Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify.

Coachella will potentially be postponed until October. The festival is currently scheduled for the weekends of April 10 and April 17. Organizers are reportedly planning to re-schedule the festival in Indio, California, to the weekend of Oct. 9 and Oct. 16 as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, according to high-level sources. Although this is not confirmed, an official announcement and confirmation should be announced within the next 48 hours. If they are not able to re-schedule, the 2020 rendition of the festival will likely be canceled. Thousands attend Coachella annually, making it one of the biggest and best music festivals in the world.

By: Gemma Mastroianni Wavy episode 10 is here! My friend James Dallimore joins me to discuss albums that got us through our angsty years, mosh-pit etiquette, how the coronavirus is affecting the music scene, and the Ticketmaster algorithm. Listen on Spotify or Apple.