Search Results | thesoundtrack.ca

By: Gemma Mastroianni The Antlers have released their first new single in six years today, “Wheels Roll Home.” This is a song about looking forward to reuniting with someone after being apart for so long, which is so incredibly fitting for these times we find ourselves in. “It’s that feeling of finding home in someone, eager and impatient to build a life together. It’s the experience of waiting out tumultuous times, longing for stability someday,” singer Peter Silberman explained. This was recorded over the course of two years and completed around the beginning of quarantine. It was tracked in both a home garage studio, along with a nearby studio to utilize their grand piano. Michale and Peter tracked drums in-person pre-pandemic, and their guest Jon Natchez recorded his bass clarinet parts remotely. Not only is this the perfect track for these distant times we are living in, but also a beautiful soundtrack for these moody Fall days and nights. This could not have dropped at a better time! The last release we have heard from The Antlers was Familiars in 2014. In the meantime, Silberman has released a solo album titled Impermanence and has also been writing music under the name Spatial Relations, his new duo project. “Wheels Roll Home” was written by Peter Silberman and drummer Michael Lerner, and produced by Silberman. It was mixed by Nicholas Principe at People Teeth in Kingston, NY. The single art was designed by Zan Goodman. See my previous interview with Peter regarding the 10th anniversary of Hospice here.

By: Gemma Mastroianni The Great Hall is a very special place for me. I completed my first ever concert review at the venue in 2015, and met my future partner all in the same night. It is a place where I realized my passion for live music and met some of my closest friends today. Additionally, I’ve seen so many beautiful concerts there since such as Wild Nothing, Small Black, RY X, and the list goes on. Supporting live music venues in any way we can is so important right now if we still want them to be there after this pandemic. As mentioned previously, The Great Hall is a very important spot to me. It’s a beautiful space with friendly staff, and I think that many Torontonians who attend concerts have also shared lovely moments there. The Great Hall has partnered with Nordest to utilize the hall for live streaming and broadcasts. The venue is passionate about helping both local and international producers and organizations by offering their space to broadcast events and performances in their venue. This is open to event planners, producers, artists, etc. Not only can they offer four unique rooms to choose from but they have: – State of the art broadcast switchers – Remote mixing studios – Multi-connections – It’s very own streaming platform, NEME.TV which includes integrated ticket sales, registration, interactive chats, polling, and more. With the ability to integrate videos, graphics, remote speakers, performers, and multi-camera setups, producers can now create high-quality broadcasts and seamlessly elevate their streamable event experiences. Those looking to book an event experience can do so by emailing The Great Hall at [email protected] About The Great Hall The Great Hall is a fully restored, upscale landmark event venue destination in the heart of Toronto, featuring four distinctive venues covering over 20,000 sq ft of flexible event spaces for up to 1200 people. A perfect blend of Victorian and modern amenities making it ideal for any event. Past live-streamed events + a few photos (Jan Arden + Spotify Livestream) Jann Arden – Broadcasted  CPAC Town Hall – Live Streamed 6 Degrees Toronto – Live Streamed  Luminato Festival – Live Streamed Just for Laughs Festival – Broadcasted Country Music Television – Broadcasted Art Battle – Live Streamed Vice Town Hall w/ Justin Trudeau & Tom Mulcair – Live Streamed Vice Hologram Event – Live Streamed  Spotify – Broadcasted Fashion Week – Live Streamed If you are someone who works in the industry as an artist or producer, consider booking your event with The Great Hall. If you are simply someone interested in the arts, consider buying a ticket to the next live-streamed event at The Great Hall- keep our venues alive!

By: Amanda McMillan A lot has happened in the three years since we last heard new music from Seattle’s folk-rock royalty, Fleet Foxes, and even more has happened since we first heard their charming, emotive harmonies on their self-titled debut LP back in 2008. In all the time that has passed, the band has found a way to stay true to their sound while simultaneously giving us a healthy dose of evolution. The band doesn’t claim to be what it once was (particularly without some of its founding members, most notably Josh Tillman aka Father John Misty), but then again who wants to be exactly how they used to 12 years ago? Fleet Foxes has always been a band that managed to synthesize the world around them, bringing emotion, and often turmoil, to the forefront; angst, but make it beautiful. They certainly don’t let us down with Shore, a robust album layered with instrumentals and familiar harmonies. Previous albums have left a little more room, leaving feelings lingering behind rather than sustaining this kind of momentum. However Shore, much like 2017’s Crack Up, has a lot of energy. They seem to have fully moved away from that sleepy, folky, soothing vibe a la “Mykonos” and more into a crisp, vibrant alt. rock vibe. The vocals are still just as comforting and familiar, featuring harmonies that wrap around each other like a bow on a gift. As someone whose lifeblood is good harmony, Fleet Foxes can pretty much do no wrong there. There is a refreshing sense of newness and hopefulness throughout the album. The lyrics evoke a lot of nature imagery, which seems apt as we collectively come to terms with the state of our planet and the answers that exist out in the natural world for us to unveil and connect with. There is a story being told with each song, each one like picking up a book off of the shelf. This is not the kind of album that sinks in after just one listen, indeed it requires discovery. On “Sunblind”, there is an upbeat, almost cheery energy, including a call and response that gives it an unexpected playfulness. It gives off a bit of a 21st Century Beach Boys vibe, catchy sweet. Next, we have “Can I Believe You”, featuring lovely choral vocals off the top, and giving us catchy guitar riffs and melodies. It seems thematically relevant for 2020, with a great tempo and a bit of an anthemic spirit. On “Featherweight”, we get that epic acoustic guitar styling we know and love from the band. Unsurprisingly, there are traces of Whitney in some of the vocal stylings (or is it that Whitney has traces of Fleet Foxes?) which feels more in line with their older work. At the mid-way point is “For A Week or Two” and all it needs is one word: harmonies. Following that is “Maestranz”, an epic marching song of sorts, with scaling bass lines, pointed piano, and raucous guitar, it’s an edgy and powerful follow up to “For A Week or Two”, but seems more in the world that Fleet Foxes is heading. The album ends with the title song “Shore”, and a what a way to end an album. With melancholy, delicate piano, it’s sad and yet hopeful. The duet harmony is beautiful and ever so slightly haunting. It’s the kind of song that kind of swirls around you as you listen, pulling you in, almost hypnotically as you simultaneously experience all of it and yet focus on each piece. Lead singer Robin Pecknhold has described Shore as Crack Ups’s “friendly brother”, which feels like an apt metaphor. We could all use someone friendly right now, especially as we are whisked into a change of seasons. It has a bigger energy that I was expecting from the band, particularly after revisiting (and crying a lot to) them earlier this year. At 15 tracks, it feels longer than its 54 minute run time, but it’s a journey you don’t want to rush. Every song is not necessarily achingly beautiful or poignant, but it’s clear each one was written and chosen with intention, inviting us to take the time to unravel its layers. It’s an album to sit with, to sift through, searching for something else each time we listen. That’s the best kind of album for the Fall, one that’s patient enough to wait for us to find whatever it is that we are looking for.

By Erica Gellert Arkells released their album “Campfire Chords”, a collection of their greatest hits acoustically reimagined. In honour of that, I wrote a piece about my personal Arkells experience, which reads as one big mushy love letter. I’ve decided to embrace my passion for the Boys from the Hammer (my nickname for them, hoping it catches on) and you should too. It should be noted, this article pairs nicely with the latest stripped back album, and a beer. My sister moved away from me, and in turn, Thunder Bay, in the summer of 2011. She was moving to Ottawa for University, so we settled her into a horribly small residence and hoped for the best. Her first week was an eventful one, apparently, so many people got drunk and peed in the elevator that they had their privileges revoked for the rest of the year. She lived on the eighth floor. More importantly, she saw this really cool band at Frosh Week. She demanded I look them up, so I did. It’s wild to me that ARKELLS played at Carleton during Frosh Week. When I think of Frosh Week, I think of the time my college booked the guys from MTV’S “The Buried Life” to come “hang out” about seven years after they were popular. The bottom line, I’m not jealous of my very successful and beautiful sister often, but her Frosh Week is something I am in fact quite jealous of. I am able to set aside my jealousy, however, since I do have her to thank for introducing me to them in the first place. Since 2011, Arkells have been pretty busy. Releasing five albums, earning six Junos, performing for Team Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics- really casual and low-key stuff. (Kidding.) More than lifetime achievements, I think the thing what draws people to Arkells the most is the genuine good-ol-boys-from-the-neighbourhood vibe they exude. Don’t get me wrong, they are absolute quality musicians, but that’s just a massive plus on top of the fact that they are just good guys. We want to party with them, sing along with them, sit around, and really consider “life” with them- you get it. Circling back to the motivation behind this article- Campfire Chords. An album for the indie rock connoisseur and then some. Featuring hits such as Knocking at the Door, Years in the Making, 11:11, Leather Jacket, and their new single Quitting You- this is bound to be the soundtrack to ride out the final days of summer. After hearing Quitting You for the first time, I knew I had to announce to the world (or at least The Soundtrack) that I, as the kids say, stan, Arkells. As if a new single wasn’t enough, the “Quitting You” music video was an extra little treat. Set in a remote location on a friend’s private property, the boys got together and filmed the entire thing on an iPhone. Spoiler alert: they pull it off. Now all I want in life is to attend an Arkells Yurt show. I’ll wrap it up by mentioning something that happened which truly demonstrates how cool and committed to their fans Arkells are. There was a person travelling across Canada who tweeted at the band suggesting they cheat the release of Campfire Chords for his road trip. Well after a series of exchanges, THESE FRIGGIN GUYS (Arkells) organized a drop-off of a burned copy of the latest album and even helped buddy get a last-minute CD player. You can view the full story on the Arkells Instagram page here. Needless to say, if you give love to this band- I can guarantee they will give it right back. Campfire Chords is now available on Spotify and iTunes.

By: Steven Medeiros @stevenmedeirosphotography Portraits and stories from ten different Toronto musicians regarding how the pandemic has affected them both personally and musically, and how they have been utilizing the lockdown to their advantage. Alex Southey @alexsoutheymusic I’m Alex Southey and I make indie-folk music in Toronto. I’ve been very productive during quarantine, as weird as that is to say. I had approximately half of my new album written prior to COVID, but after that is when the mixing and the rest of the writing began. I don’t always choose the best 10 or so songs I have written and created an album. I will write new songs if I feel an album as a whole is missing a certain “piece”, however abstract that may be. Writing and recording simultaneously is always odd, but at the same time, I have always written the arrangements when I was recording. Very rarely do I ever have an arrangement written as well, and then record. Ultimately, I wanted this to be a very different experience from my second LP. I have an actual outside producer – Juno and Polaris nominated producer John Critchley, and I got the very talented guys in the Water Tower band to play fiddle and other accompanying instruments. It really takes the album in another direction. The album is set to be released mid-Fall, 2020. The biggest disappointment was that my tour for mental health (a tour where all profits would be donated to CAMH) was cut short due to COVID. We were going to end the tour at the iconic Horseshoe Tavern. I am hoping to resume the tour once restrictions are lifted. Holly Clausius @hollyclausius My name is Holly Clausius, I’m a singer-songwriter and part-time music teacher in Toronto, ON. This pandemic put my career on pause for a while. I had big plans this year. Starting with my first Horseshoe Tavern show in April, my debut EP “Sunflower” in June, my first Canada wide tour (from Toronto to Vancouver), and my first LA networking/writing trip. When lockdown began, everything started to get postponed and then canceled. My student numbers began to decrease, and with little to nothing to look forward to, I had to get creative. I pulled myself out of the rut by doing a 30-day songwriting challenge in April. After April, I began planning “Holly’s Apartment Wide Tour” which is a 10-day virtual tour. Each show has two openers and we have a different location each night, for example kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, patio, etc. I also bought myself an interface and audio setup so I could record myself from home. One single “Set Me Free”, I recorded vocals and collaborated with Alex Purcell and Ben Graffam and it will be released July 3rd on all platforms. I will also be releasing my new EP at the end of August and my first single will be released on August 14th. Katasha James @katashajames My name is Katasha J. I am a singer-songwriter, pianist located in Toronto Ontario in the west end. The pandemic definitely had an effect on my music in many ways. I dropped an album and had a release party on March 7th. This was the week before basically everything had shut down in the city. I’m glad I decided on that day for my release party because if I had waited, I wouldn’t have been to celebrate with all my friends and family. I had about 5 performances lined up after my release party which I was very excited about, so I was pretty sad at the beginning of quarantine. With all the free time I had, I decided to stay creative and work on new music. I had a few online performances during quarantine and started planning video projects. The studios have opened back up now so I have been creating and writing more for various things. I have a lot of collaborations in the works and a new personal project I’m working on. I am also planning to shoot my visuals from my album “Delicate Dollhouse.” Scott Olgard @scottolgard I’m Scott and I play guitar and sing in Old Guards. The last few months have been pretty crazy; I think like most, I expected this to maybe last a few weeks. Yet here we are 4 months later with no sign of change. On a personal level, I’ve been lucky to have been able to continue my day job remotely, which has allowed for more time to be able to work on musical endeavors. However, the music scene is unrecognizable to a few months ago; Old Guards were playing regular shows around the GTA, we were locking in festivals and out of town shows for the summer, and we were halfway through recording our debut single with Tim Abraham. All of this came to a screeching halt and we were left reeling for a while there. I guess it has given us a chance to take a step back and focus on our music. We’ve written new material and fumbled our way through the home recording to get a few ‘lockdown demos’ ready for you. In the last few weeks, we’ve been able to meet up in person and start rehearsing again, and hopefully, there is a dim light at the end of this tunnel. I also realize how fortunate I am to be able to do something I love, still have a roof over my head, and have my health. If these few months have taught me anything it’s to be grateful each day for what we have. Stay safe, and thanks for the continued support. Vince @vincentisvince Being a Barbadian national and a full-time musician, I make my living traveling and playing music. I’ve worked with cruise lines for a while and the pandemic hit just as I came to Toronto to work on some original music and check out the scene here. As we all know, things came to a halt and I resorted to livestreams and recording covers then I hit a low. I can say though that after losing faith and feeling down about being off stage with no work to return to, the isolation guided me to learn how to cater to the sound that I wanted for my own music and how to achieve it. Within the past few months the amount of emotion and thought I’ve put into my writing has been based on the time I’ve spent with myself with no escaping or censoring. It was very uncomfortable, but the worst of the rain has since past and the sun is birthing new roots. All in thanks to quarantine for some needed tough love. Kunle @kunloskola My name is Kunle, a Nigerian born – Toronto based guitarist, singer, and songwriter. I could confidently say as a full-time musician, performer, and an international touring act that, the effect of COVID 19, lockdown and travel ban definitely had a heavy negative impact on finances, artistic growth, wellness, and development. However, I was also able to use the time to take stock of what truly matters to me, relationship with my core, my career, family, friends, community, and I definitely revisited old hobbies and picked up some new ones such as woodworking, video editing, and photography. Just so you know, I never stopped working particularly as a musician through online streams, online studio sessions, songwriting, music supervision, regardless of the restriction. It is definitely a tough time for me and so many other people but you know one thing is for sure, life will always throw curveballs, we can either sit and complain or reinvent and evolve. Chelle @_chellemusic I began planning for 2020 at the end of 2019, determined to make every second of every day dedicated to my career. I had two major goals set out for myself: rebrand and release new music. In order to do this in the most efficient way possible, I decided to attend Canadian Music Incubator’s Artist Entrepreneurship course in March and April. This course is held at Coalition Music and is designed to help musicians build their businesses and create more sustainable careers. Due to COVID-19, it was abruptly canceled after its first week. I scheduled my entire year around participating in this course, so when it was canceled, I felt completely lost. Prior to the pandemic, I was in and out of the studio working on my debut single. Once COVID-19 hit, I was no longer able to go to the studio and finish off the song. My producer, Indigo Son, gave me the idea that we should try doing Zoom sessions. He would share his screen and I was able to see everything he was doing. We finished the song in quarantine and I put myself to work over the next couple of weeks. I completed an at-home photoshoot with the help of my sister, I created my own lyric video, filmed a couple of live videos, and focused on the marketing of the single. Releasing that single forced me to use all my free time productively and I am very proud of the hours of hard work I put in. Unfortunately, I was unable to do live shows to market my single, and a major part of my income suffered. Through this pandemic, I also gained a lot of inspiration to write new music. I am currently in a long-distance relationship, and I wasn’t sure when I’d be able to see my boyfriend again. This grief gave me a lot to work with and I poured myself into making some great (although sad) songs. I think releasing these songs can help others who are going through this and send them a lot of strength through this tough time. Writing these songs helped me cope with my emotional state and strengthened me with faith and patience. Phillip Vonesh @phillipvonesh Like every artist, COVID has had a huge impact on my 2020. It started with canceling my first East Coast tour as well as a few other high profile shows, such as a Saturday night at The Cameron House in downtown Toronto. I made an effort to adjust on the fly, using the time to write and work on my craft. I released a new demo EP ‘Cold Hands / Warm Heart’ in March, launched my Patreon page, and released my latest single ‘Noa-Grayce’ on my Bandcamp. This summer I have been working on a new record with my band ‘The Spare Parts’ which is due for a Spring 2021 release. COVID and 2020 have thrown the world for a loop. I am looking forward to being able to play shows again and just trying to make the best of it. Looking forward to singing for you soon. Lindsey Tribble “TRIBBS” @tribbs_ I am a self-described whimsical jazz r&b singer/songwriter. Quarantine, if nothing else; has offered me a space to learn, create, and connect, both in my personal and musical journeys. I have learned so much about myself as an artist and as a creative in the past few months and it makes me excited to see how much further I can go if I dedicate myself to my craft. I have entered contests, applied for online open mics, and registered for distribution platforms to begin sharing my music worldwide. I have really taken this time to dedicate myself to my music and finding my true sound. In my personal life, I believe quarantine has taught me a lot about the importance of our time and how valuable it is. I’ve learned music truly makes me happy and that is what truly drives me. Music is my life, my work, and my passion. I must put in the hours, put in the care, and prove myself for that time I’m choosing to dedicate to it. Lastly, I’ve really learned the true importance and amazing feeling that comes with connecting with other artists. Music is meant to be shared, and there is a whole world that caters to the desire to connect, share, and support other musicians that I had never known the way I do now. Quarantine came with moments of beautiful inspiration, tough mental roadblocks, and many days of soul searching; and I am thankful for all of it. I’m grateful for those who support me and I’m excited to continue my journey. Markus “Aurelyus” Jackman @mjackman1212 My name is Markus Jackman, my artist name and persona is called Markus Aurelyus and I am a full-time singer/songwriter/arranger. Born and raised in Scarborough, it has been an amazing gift to be an artist doing what you love, in a city you adore and grew up in. I have been an artist for the last 7 years and actively pursuing a career in the last 3 years. I have performed all of the GTA from Oshawa to Hamilton, Markham to Downtown Toronto. I perform with hip-hop/ soul artist Quincy Morales as a background vocalist, a vocalist in the Powerhouse Fellowship Soul Choir as well as a solo artist. As the year started I was performing with bandmates and Quincy Morales for the Obama event put on by Economics Club of Canada, singing and performing with my new group Soulful Noise, which was made up of six singers from around the GTA and getting ready to perform a duet at a festival with another artist Katasha J later in the year. As the Covid-19 Pandemic set in around the world my immediate fear was my ability to continue my momentum in my career and make an income during the pandemic because most of my income derives from paid performances. The inability to interact with old and new fans, work for the stage and crowd, showcase my songs, and gain compensation for my passion and hard work really took a toll on me mentally & financially. It was my bread and butter in terms of earning money to live and pay my bills. It’s a struggle, up-and-coming R&B artists are familiar with as there aren’t many avenues or outlets made specifically to engage artists and fans of this particular genre and that’s without COVID-19 causing venues and most things related to music and performance to shut down. Going through this delicate time in our society with regards to the pandemic as well as the riots and protests being organized and led all over the world it due to severe accounts of abuse of power and police brutality by the hands of the police, I have found different ways to operate in my passions by being involved in some protests online and supporting the justice for Regis movement locally while supporting the Black Lives Matter movement in the states. I had to acclimate to the season and use new innovations and platforms to perform such as Instagram and Facebook Live as well as using remote areas and studios to record performances for others to stream. Though compensation has been very little, eventually all musicians in the city are hoping for some return to normalcy and be able to work our careers again. My writing process has also changed due to the closures of parks and the mall. I have been writing in the mall by myself for years as it has been a secret place for me to write. The white noise of the mall people walking around and the micro-transactions between people help inspire many of my lyrics and themes for songs and poetry. Even though most of my writing spots are public and easily accessible, they are also oddly private because no one is paying too much attention to what you’re writing. One thing that was hard to do was to learn to channel silence and quietness into my creative process. For a while writing at home felt like a chore due to my roommates trying to do their own work from home and other projects they are completing in a shared space. This time has been very hard for me personally and as a black artist. There is so little support for my profession at the moment that there are more than a few of my artist friends genuinely contemplating jumping to other careers. I have decided to continue to pursue my dream and survive this pandemic, being an artist apart of the new music industry born from this historic year.

By: Gemma Mastroianni and Dakota Arsenault July Talk played at the Stardust Drive-In just outside of Newmarket last night. Going to shows is a pretty HUGE part of my life. Before the pandemic, you could catch me at concerts sometimes multiple times a week, my point being that it is something typically very routine for me. It’s been strange to not have that, and I avoid thinking about it because it makes me upset. When I found out July Talk was doing a drive-in show, I was in. Admittedly I’m not a big July Talk fan (not for any particular reason, I just haven’t spent enough time listening to them), but I heard they put on one hell of a show, so I was in. I bought tickets as soon as they went on sale and booked a car rental, it was happening. Getting into the venue took quite some time, as the lineup went very far down the highway. We waited for around 25 minutes, then finally once we got in it was somewhat difficult to find a spot as it was fairly dark, and packed. Luckily a friendly staff member asked some cars to make room and made a spot for us, which was very accomodating! Once the show began, everything was spectacular. There were multiple screens set up all around the property, all footage in black and white. Although we were very far from the stage it really didn’t matter because it was just such a privilege to be there, and was such an exhilarating experience no matter where you were sitting. They also had multiple cameras on and surrounding the stage, as well as drones which added some really cool production value. We really got a kick of everyone honking their horns and flashing their lights as opposed to shouting and clapping. Although it wasn’t the same as a typical show, it was certainly something I’ve never experienced before which made it really cool and somewhat unifying! As for the performance, they were amazing! The chemistry between the band is unreal, and the sound was surprisingly really good, from inside and outside the car. They played all their hits including Beck + Call, Push + Pull, Picturing Love, Guns + Ammunition, and a whole lot of new ones I’ve never heard before. See Dakota’s thoughts on the show below: “When COVID hit and everything closed down in March, I thought it would eventually return to normal. As the months have gone on, I honestly had a fear that I wouldn’t know when I would get to go to a concert again. I was a bit incredulous about a drive-in concert, but I was very wrong. It reminded me a lot like a festival, if you pay for the VIP spots, you can get up close and see a headliner but most likely you will be pretty far back and have to rely on the screens. This was like when you decide to sit further back, past the crowd pushing its way up and you relax on an open field, just enjoying the good music and the company you are in as your day winds down. It was an experience like none other, but one I was very glad to have.” I want to thank July Talk for putting on the show as I had an amazing time, and it created one of my favourite memories of the summer so far, certainly one I will never forget. If you haven’t gone to a drive-in show and you love live music, I highly encourage it. It was amazing to feel such a feeling I haven’t in months. Do it!

By: Gemma Mastroianni Toronto Pop trio, Navigate The Sky, has just dropped, “Is It Just Me?” with a lyric video to accompany the release. The mid-tempo song is perfect for these mid-summer vibes. It carries themes of rejection, confusion, and self-doubt. Through such difficult times where we have had far too much time to ourselves, this song is perfect for all of us who overthink! With that said, it’s incredibly catchy and well-produced, and most certainly a BOP. The song was written with BRDGS in the Secret Genius studio in Toronto, which is owned by Spotify. It was also produced with Gabe Galucci (Sean Mendes, Victoria Duffield.) “The song is about chasing your dreams, despite rejection, self-doubt, and the worst odds. We felt that now was a good time to continue the conversation,” Brendan [singer] comments. “It was written with a great friend of ours, BRDGS, at the Spotify-owned Secret Genius studio space in Toronto this past February. Little did we know how true our words would resonate only months later when COVID-19 took over the planet.” I love when a track can be so fun with an uplifting beat, but carry some deeper lyrics- it reminds me to relax and not take things too seriously! Not only that, but I love the bass and inclusion of synths in this track. The drums in the chorus give it a slight alternative touch, which makes it the perfect pop song for someone who is into more alternative or rock music. Follow Navigate The Sky on Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify.

By: Dakota Arsenault Back on June 15th, the Polaris Music Prize announced the thirty albums that were in contention for the year’s top album prize. On July 15th they narrowed it down to the final ten that would be competing. The organization has already announced that there won’t be a gala this year due to COVID-19 safety concerns and instead they will host a web show asking filmmakers to apply to make short films based on the nominees. For those not in the now, the Polaris Music Prize awards a $50,000 prize to the winner of the best Canadian album from the past year regardless of sales or genre intending to do away with politics of who’s turn it is to win and what name will earn the most press. The award began in 2006 and has been won by such artists as Arcade Fire, Feist, Fucked Up, Jeremy Dutcher, and last year’s winner Haviah Mighty. I’m going to go over the high-level details of this year’s crop of nominees. Backxwash – God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It Ashanti Mutinta who records under the name Backxwash is a rapper based out of Montreal but originally from Zambia who makes deeply personal music that deals with her experiences being a black trans woman. She has two previous albums including DEVIANCY, which was also longlisted this year. This is Backxwash’s first shortlisted nomination. Caribou – Suddenly Dan Snaith is the frontman and architect of Caribou but has other projects included Daphne and Manitoba. His electronic dance music covers a wide variety of styles but by using live instrumentation it has a more natural feel to beats. Caribou won the Polaris Prize back in 2008 for Andorra and has also been shortlisted twice before for Swim and Our Love. Jessie Reyez – Before Love Came to Kill Us Brampton’s own Jessie Reyez was shortlisted last year for her EP Being Human in Public and had her last album, Kiddo, longlisted back in 2017. Reyez honest RnB attracted stars like Eminem and 6lack to guest star on her record. Junia-T – Studio Monk Speaking of Jessie Reyez, Junia-T from Mississauga is a good friend and tour DJ of the singer. He is a rapper and producer that spreads his ambition as wide as he dabbles in different genres. This is Junia-T’s first nomination and his debut album. Kaytranada – Bubba Montreal’s Kaytranada is the second previous winner of this year’s group having won back in 2016 for 99.9% making him the first black artist to win and first artist who made music adjacent to hip-hop. His electronic dance music is Obama approved and his features are just as diverse, including Kali Uchis, Estelle, SiR, Charlotte Day Wilson and Pharrell Williams. Lido Pimienta – Miss Colombia Colombian born London, Ontario based Lido Pimienta is the third and final previous winner to be nominated this year. She previously won for La Papessa back in 2017. Her Spanish lyrics soar over her sparse danacable beats that are rooted in as much on her Colombian roots as they are in North American music. nêhiyawak – nipiy The trio that comes from amiskwaciy (in English known as Edmonton) calls their music moccasingaze, a term that blends shoegaze with indigenous inspirations. This is the band’s first nomination and second album. This is the year’s only “rock” based album to make the cut. Pantayo – Pantayo This is the debut album from the group that mostly was born in the Philippines but met in Toronto. The foursome is all queer and their songs blend Tagalog with English as they also mix pop with RnB while infusing traditional influences and instruments in their music. U.S. Girls – Heavy Light Meg Remy aka U.S. Girls was born in Chicago (hence the name) but has made Canada her home her entire career. Her last two albums Half Free and In a Poem Unlimited were both shortlisted when they came out making U.S. Girls one of the more prolific nominees that have never won. Remy blends soul, pop, RnB, and jazz to make a unique and powerful sound. Witch Prophet – DNA Activation Ayo Leilani who performs under the name Witch Prophet was born in Kenya with an Ethiopian and Eritrean background and is based in Toronto. She makes delicate RnB fused with soul as she sings in multiple languages and incorporates many influences in her work. This is her second album and first nomination. We here at The Soundtrack are very excited about this year’s Polaris Prize and we are putting together our own jury and will name our own winner along with coverage of the actual ceremony. Who do you think will win this year’s prize? Let us know on social media!

I think it’s safe to say that many of us have been indulging a bit more throughout quarantine. Perhaps you’ve been snacking on more treats, drinking more alcohol, online shopping, or even smoking more cannabis. I think we are living in very difficult times and it’s totally cool to give a bit more into things that bring us pleasure, but too much of anything can eventually be not so good for a variety of different reasons. In terms of Cannabis specifically, it has so many wonderful benefits for many people ranging from pain and anxiety relief, to just adding some fun to a good night with friends. With that said, I think during times like these where we have so much time on our hands, perhaps you have found yourself going through your stash a little quicker (which is totally fine), but maybe the effects of cannabis are becoming a little less strong. I have a solution for you, and that is Ouid. I discovered Ouid on Instagram during my quarantine journey. Ouid is a Toronto based female and black-owned business for all your cannabis micro-dosing needs. They have created a variety of different herbal smoking blends (there is no cannabis in these) that you can add to your cannabis to minimize the intensity of the weed while adding other benefits as well. Add your preferred herbal mixture to your smoking accessory, and go ahead! Here are the different blends: Uplift Need a lift? Awaken your senses with this revitalizing blend. Featuring tulsi, peppermint, and gotu kola, these powerhouse herbs are known for their ability to spark and support energy and creativity. Stimulating without being too overwhelming, it’s the perfect pick-me-up. Bouquet: fresh, cool, bright Tasting notes: hints of pepper and clove, slight minty sweetness, lingering menthol tingle Terpenes: pinene, limonene Uplift Ingredients:mullein, gotu kola, uva ursi, red raspberry leaf, tulsi, peppermint. Recommended activities: Hike, biking, or swimming. Shop the Ouid Uplift Blend Arouse Set the mood with this sensual blend. Embrace pleasure with the support of herbs like lavender, red raspberry and damiana, known for their ability to promote circulation and improve sensitivity. Use anytime you want to connect. Bouquet: floral, woodsy, warm Tasting notes: smooth, mildly spicy, hints of malt and smokey citrus Terpenes: limonene, linalool Arouse ingredients red raspberry leaf, damiana, lavender, catnip, calendula, lady’s mantle, passionflower. Recommended activities: Cuddling, bathing, or sitting by the campfire. Shop The Ouid Arouse Blend Relax Chill out with this soothing and nurturing blend. Calm your body, ease your mind, and unwind with the support of mellow herbs such as catnip and chamomile, known for their ability to support relaxation. Perfect for anytime you need to wind down. Bouquet: earthy, herbaceous, slightly sweet Tasting notes: soothing taste of chamomile, hints of citrus and mint Terpenes: linalool, myrcene Relax Ingredients catnip, marshmallow, mugwort, skullcap, lemon balm, chamomile, hops Recommended activities: Mediation, watching a movie, or right before bed. Shop the Ouid Relax Blend I have tried all of these and can say that they are all lovely and actually add a really nice floral flavour to my experience. This is also really great for people who may have never tried cannabis before as the effects will not be nearly as strong! I highly recommend it. It is also perfect if you are trying to cut back on your consumption of cannabis because you can essentially half the amount that you typically smoke while experiencing brand new effects- and the sizes are perfect! They will last quite a while. You totally get a bang for your buck! If you want to look even cooler while having your sesh, be sure to pick up some of their chic accessories. Support local, and support black-owned. Check out Ouid!

Rigour & Whimsy is a BC winery located in Okanagan Falls. It is owned by husband and wife team Costa & Jody Gavaris, and their son Stratis. They currently focus on amber or orange wines as well as Gamay. Costa & Jody’s approach to wine growing is centered in regenerative farming, which means increasing biodiversity, enriching soils, improving watersheds, and enhancing ecosystem resilience. They believe that responsible agriculture involves building topsoil and minimizing external inputs and disturbances to the rich microbiome of the soil. I was grateful to try the Rigour and Whimsy 2019 Hyperdrive, and the 2019 Gamay Noir. If you know me, I have a history of being more of a craft beer kind of girl. I still love craft beer, but have recently taken an interest in exploring different types of wine, and I am so excited that I could begin my journey with Rigour & Whimsy. I am certainly not a wine connoisseur just yet, but I will give you my thoughts on each bottle. The 2019 Hyperdrive was very unique, unlike any other white wine I have ever tried. For some white wines, I find the after taste to be quite potent or way too sweet, but this was smooth and fruity in a way that was not overwhelming. It’s perfect for sitting outside in the sun paired with some fruit, or even making a sangria. I really enjoyed this wine, and cannot wait to order more. As for the 2019 Gamay Noir, I was so surprised by this one. I have never tasted a red wine like this in my life! I actually find red wine also to be sometimes a bit overwhelming with the taste as it can be very strong, but again, this one was light to the taste! It is fruity and light, and also is great in a sangria form (I mixed it with blueberries, sprite, and a bit of Greenhouse Farma-C.) I’m obsessed with this one. Right now, it is more important than ever to be supporting local businesses across our country. I am so happy I could begin my new journey with wine with Rigour and Whimsy, and I can’t wait to try more. I encourage you to try these wines, along with some others from their online store which you can access here. I have also created a playlist inspired by my experience and moods while enjoying these wines, so I encourage you to try them and vibe out to these tunes. The name Rigour & Whimsy is an homage to their shared commitment to seeking balance in themselves, in their relationships, and in the natural world. Like yin and yang, Rigour and Whimsy are seemingly contrary attitudes that are actually complementary and interdependent. Both are necessary to find harmony. Follow them on Instagram.

Monday June 15th, marked the beginning of the best time of the year for Canadian music fans. The long awaited Polaris Music Prize long list was released to the public. In past years the organization would host a live event to announce the nominees, but this year due to COVID-19 and people being mostly quarantined they decided to do something different. New Executive Director Claire Dagenais, who took over from Steve Jordan who stepped down after last year’s gala, introduced the new format on YouTube before a series of forty Canadian artists, who have previously been nominated for the Polaris Music Prize, including PUP, Partner, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Milk & Bone and last year’s winner Haviah Mighty, announced one album each. Today begins a process that will take until September 21st to unveil the ultimate winner. Almost two hundred jurors consisting of members of the media and music industry made their picks to receive a long list nomination. Of these forty albums, the jurors will then whittle them down to a short list consisting of ten albums to be revealed in one month, on July 15th. From there a panel of eleven judges will be tasked with picking the winner live during the September 21st gala (assuming a gala occurs) in a locked room while the nominees perform, before the winner is announced after deliberations. Past winners include Toronto rapper Haviah Mighty for 13th Floor, folk singer Feist for Metals, indie superstars Arcade Fire for The Suburbs and punk group Fucked Up for The Chemistry of Common Life. The winner gets $50,000 and each of the other nine nominees get $3,000 all courtesy of Slaight Music. This year’s long listed group has some familiar names, plenty of newcomers and a lot more diversity than years past. Previous winners Lido Pimienta for Miss Colombia, Kaytranda for BUBBA, Louis-Jean Cormier (lead singer of past winner Karkwa) for Quand la nuit tombe, Caribou for Suddenly and Owen Pallett (who won under the name Final Fantasy) for Island all made the list. Other artists who have found themselves on previous short lists include Daniel Caesar for CASE STUDY 01, Sarah Harmer for Are You Gone, Joel Plaskett for 44, Jessie Reyez for Before Love Came to Kill Us, Andy Shauf for The Neon Skyline, U.S. Girls for Heavy Light, Leif Vollebekk for New Ways and The Weeknd for After Hours. Other high profile names that made the cut include Allie X for Cape God, Badge Époque Ensemble for Badge Époque Ensemble, Begonia for Fear, dvsn for A Muse in Her Feelings and Riit for ataataga. There are plenty of artists that are new to me and I’m plenty excited to dive deeper into these releases. The Soundtrack will have lots of Polaris Music Prize coverage including thoughts on the final ten nominees and a full review from this year’s gala announcement in the fall. We will also be putting together a mock jury to award to pick our own winner of the final shortlisted nominees. Here are all of the long listed artists and albums: Allie X – Cape God Anachnid – Dreamweaver Aquakultre – Legacy Marie-Pierre Arthur – Des feux pour voir Backxwash – God Has Nothing to Do with This Leave Him Out Of It Badge Époque Ensemble – Badge Époque Ensemble Begonia – Fear P’tit Belliveau – Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Caribou – Suddenly Daniel Caesar – CASE STUDY 01 Chocolat – Jazz engagé Louis-Jean Cormier – Quand la nuit tombe Corridor – Junior dvsn – A Muse in Her Feelings Jacques Greene – Dawn Chorus Sarah Harmer – Are You Gone Ice Cream – FED UP Junia-T – Studio Monk Kaytranada – BUBBA Flore Laurentienne – Volume 1 Cindy Lee – What’s Tonight to Eternity? Men I Trust – Oncle Jazz nêhiyawak – nipiy OBUXUM – Re-Birth Owen Pallett – Island Pantayo – Pantayo Lido Pimienta – Miss Colombia Joel Plaskett – 44 William Prince – Reliever Jessie Reyez – Before Love Came to Kill Us Riit – ataataga Andy Shauf – The Neon Skyline Super Duty Tough Work – Studies in Grey U.S. Girls – Heavy Light Leif Vollebekk – New Ways Wares – Survival The Weeknd – After Hours WHOOP-Szo – Warrior Down Witch Prophet – DNA Activation Zen Bamboo – GLU

By: Gemma Mastroianni Kenopsia is the second release from Ryley Patrick, an alternative rock band based out of Toronto and Whitby. This EP was recorded in the band’s home studio, and vocals were done in a cabin in Northern Ontario. It incorporates a whole new set of musical themes with the addition of synthesizers, and some heavier tones in comparison to their debut album, “The Disaster Plan.” With that said, lyrically, it is centered around similar themes of failed and hopeless romanticism and friendly relationships. Vocally, there are some new vibes such as no screams, some belts, and even a guest appearance from Sarah Walsh. “This is also the first time I’ve collaborated with my live band, The Roundabouts, during the songwriting process for feedback and new musical ideas and inspirations. My bass player Max Ross and I produced the record together, while he maintained all roles in the mixing process. Things came full circle when the album was mastered in Berlin, The city which Ryley Patrick began (First drafts of Disaster Plan were written there in 2018), and it was mastered by Mike Grinser at Man Made Mastering Berlin, who is a pretty highly renowned electronic mastering engineer.” As for my thoughts on Kenopsia, it really blew my expectations out of the water. I loved all of the tracks on the first album, my favourite being “Eleanora,” but from a production standpoint, it could have used some work. This is a whole new vibe for Ryley Patrick not only from a quality standpoint but thematically as well. There is a certain maturity that comes with this set of tracks. It feels like a collection of music that should be listened to from start to finish. I love how “Chasing Rabbits” transitions into “Bruno’s Table,” it feels like it is one song. The utilization of synthesizers adds some great texture to all of these songs. The style of this EP reminds of something apocalyptic and futuristic. I like that this is a bit more aggressive and rough, but gets smoothened out with all of the finer details such as the synthesizers, guest feature Sarah Walsh, and the pace in each song. “Brunos Table” is an epic track that keeps you on your toes. It takes you on a trip with the amount of instrumental detail, and the guitar solo from Jared Burke that creates an excellent segway to the ending of the song featuring Sarah Walsh. “Catalonia” gives me total Radiohead vibes, with an edgier touch. The washed-out vocals were incredibly well done and I really appreciate the echo on those, and it flows so well into the heavy chorus. Again, I am so beyond impressed at the progress that has been made from the first album to this EP. It is evident how much thought has been put into the production (which is near flawless), organizing the tracks, lyricism, and defining a theme and style for all of these tracks to fall under. I feel as though it is the perfect album for those who love alternative rock and metal, as it marries the two. There is a clear new direction here, and I’m excited to see what is next because it can truly only be up from here. Listen to the EP. Follow Ryley Patrick.