Big Strong Man is the new single out by Courtney Cotter King and it is a playful tribute to masculinity. This song creates a lovely backdrop for femininity. “Light as a feather, when we’re together” is how she feels against his “gentle giant, nice grizzly bear” frame. Syncopated percussion, flirty echos and horns resembling early Fiona Apple, set the scene for Courtney’s vocal personality to come through in this jazzy number. Ultimately written for her tall, handsome husband; Courtney hopes it can boost a lot of guys out there and promote brands that serve the individual strengths of women and men.
The song keeps the same tone throughout which provides a whimsical feel of being next to this “big strong man” with a fireplace roaring in the background while sipping wine.
Courtney was born with the piano as an appendage, and is inevitably attached to the keys. Her artistry drives her blue-eyed soul, singer-songwriter genre. Courtney is a mom of 3 under the age of 5. She hopes to inspire moms that creativity doesn’t have to stop when kids are created. She humorously balances gigging with nursing and finger painting with songwriting. “Marriage and motherhood has opened me to songs I could have never written without these sweet souls in my life.”
We look forward to more inspiration from this indie artist.
In equal measures of melodic color and rhythmic flair, Christian’s dazzling collection of songs have been warming the hearts of listeners over the past 3 and a half decades. By pivoting his lyricism around emotion, tension, and hope, Parker has carved out a sound that constantly keeps the listener craving more, with songs that elegantly weave through a tapestry of pensive acoustic and chiming electric guitars with unforgettable hooks. Acting as a musically minded watchman on the wall, Christian Parker centers the themes and stories of his productions around the events and stories of others, while also honing in his wordplay around the human condition. He speaks to the trials, tribulations and victories we encounter in everyday life, and to the complexities of relationships, whether in the form of loss or appreciation.
Recently releasing his new single “Cast a Line,” this is the first in a series of releases for the artist this year,
In recent years he has worked with producer Louie Hurwitz; Woodstock Records who most notably performed in The Band with Levon Helm. Christian’s efforts as lead guitarist in the Waydown Wailers helped take their 2018 release of Backland Blues to number 42 on The Roots Music Report. The band has been a supporting act for Lady A, Charlie Daniels, Jarrod Niemann, and The New Riders of the Purple Sage – to name a few. Now an artist on SubCat Records, Christian is co-producing with engineer Ron Keck on his newest project Every Passing Mile and Best Kept Secret, a collection of previously unreleased material spanning the last two decades.
Temagami, Ontario’s The Electric Petals have returned with the second single from their upcoming album, Wild At Heart. “Cherry Red” is a laid back sax and bass driven ode to Iggy Pop which channels late 70s David Bowie.
As you listen, imagine finding a dingy alleyway door lit up with red light. Once stepping through the door, you feel energized and free, dancing in a dark room where you can only make out others’ silhouettes.
It’s an experience that is few and far between at the moment, so The Electric Petals wanted to bring that back: the exotic feeling of exploring an unknown city alone and stumbling into a hole in the wall that turns into a classic night. We had the honor of catching up with the group for an exclusive Video Voyageur below!
Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically?
‘Cherry Red’ began as a feeling from a bass line that kept coming back, and I knew there was something in there that we could develop into a song to make its way onto the album. The bass gives me a dreamlike feeling of dark and mysterious nostalgia: an underground bar that feels dangerous and not entirely legal, where live music is playing and the band and other people moving around the dark space are silhouetted and you can’t make out their faces. I think we all agreed to make a video for Cherry Red because of that feeling. We always fall into writing songs that have a cinematic feel to them. There’s a bizarre feeling to the sound in Cherry Red that none of us can really put our finger on. There’s definitely a cinematic element to it, but it also sounds like it could have been recorded in several different decades. That element in itself sets it apart from the other songs on the album, and I think it’s what led us to make a video for it.
What was the inspiration behind this video(visuals, storyline, etc.)?
We wanted to shoot something that has an 80s or 90s music video aesthetic. We also wanted to focus on the band and not formulate a short story idea to express a specific meaning behind the song. I love music videos that only show the band, because it leaves the imagination of the song meaning up to the audience. Sometimes that’s all a music video needs to be, and sometimes you just want to check the band out, and that allows you to put a face to the music. A lot of music videos are the interpretation of what a hired filmmaker feels when listening to a song, or what the song’s lyrics mean to a director or the band specifically. It’s like when you read a book, and go see the movie adaptation… The movie never amounts to what you created inside your head while reading the written word, and sometimes you feel like you would have been better off with your own interpretation.
What was the process of making this video?
We always have a camera laying around for behind-the-scenes footage while recording and other shenanigans. For this project we went to Mosha’s garage studio here in Toronto and shot in there for a day. He had these huge mirrors in there from a film set he worked on so that became a part of the backdrop, then we finished off the shoot in my living room. All of the footage is captured in-camera using my Red Komodo and a set of old vintage Baltar lenses. They were used for a lot of movies back in the 1930s like Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’ and Orson Welles’ ‘Magnificent Ambersons.’ With that setup we got our hands on a bunch of shaped glass that you can use to place in front of the camera lens to get the distorted kaleidoscope effect that you see in the video. I think the best part was getting Nico and May playing sax together for the duelling solos. They’re both class acts and the one insert shot of Nico stroking his thigh mid-sax solo is just one of those beautiful miracles in cinema that don’t happen everyday. It’s always much more fun producing videos like this, literally in-house, with the band where we’re all contributing and getting involved throughout the process from start to finish. Once you get a big music video budget together you begin to simply throw money at the issues that arise instead of solving them creatively with the resources you have at your disposal. As of now we’ve produced 4 music videos for the debut album and haven’t spent a dime. We like to keep it run-n-gun and lots of fun.
Post-Modern Connection is an indie-band that defies norms. By constantly showcasing eclectic inspirations, the band keeps you anticipating what’s next.
Their soundscape varies, the music paired with thoughtful and carefully crafted songwriting. Soulful R&B infused vocals meet catchy indie-pop riffs – electronic synths pair with classical violin – Post-Modern Connection’s ability to play with dynamics is apparent. They describe their sound best as Indie-rock meets Neo-Soul & Jazz. The Strokes meets Leon Bridges. Inspiration comes from artists like King Krule, The Strokes, Alabama Shakes, Early Eyes, Hiatus Kaiyote, Hyukoh, and Hippocampus.
PMC draws on their diverse backgrounds and unique experiences, personal histories and upbringing to create their emotionally charged music, captivating listeners.
Guitar-driven, dream pop/psych act, HotKid, is the work of Canadian producer, songwriter, and lead guitarist, Shiloh Harrison. Her soothing vocal delivery and ability to write enduring pop songs has helped nurture a cult fan base around the globe.
The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves… is it the truth or are we the deceiver?
New album Truth or Deceiver fosters resilience and self-love, with reflective track “Mirror Mirror” reminding us that life is short. Give love to whatever is holding you back and keeping you in a dark place. Get past any fear you’re facing and seize the moment.
“The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves… is it the truth or are we the deceiver? The new HotKid album Truth or Deceiver is out now and I’m excited to share it with you
The album’s title comes from the track “Mirror Mirror” – think big beats, rhythmic vocals and rippin’ guitars.
This song is about reconciling with ourselves..refusing to listen to those destructive voices, take that pain and love it and bring it to life in a new way.
Check out the video for Mirror Mirror on YouTube – perfect for spooky season, we shot it at night against a backdrop of gravestones and fall fair lights.
Now available viaFortune Stellar Records,Truth or Deceiver moves from a full live band sound, to bedroom pop and then winds back through a psychedelic soundscape. This record was born out of the need to process becoming a new mother, losing a family member and ultimately a determination to celebrate joy and love in this life.
My hope is that you find something in these songs that connects, brings you some joy, fun, relief, catharsis – any of those things.”
Coast to Coast, The Sun Harmonic’s fifth studio album, captures the importance of travel and the experience that comes with it. There’s an adventure in chasing the dedication and love that you have for a project, which the Canadian folk-rock band embodies through their new release.
“Under The Weather,” the album’s focus track, is an equal parts grand and subtle guitar laden folk tune, reflecting on the seasons’ changes around us in Canada, which can sometimes catch us off guard.
Playful and observant, this song speaks to the tenacity of being an independent musician traversing the country amidst feelings of anticipation and uncertainty.
Modern Mystery 