Ryan Bourne Reveals “Black Hole”

Calgary based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Bourne is about to share a condensed satire with the world by the name of “Black Hole,” what he calls a “dystopian banger” for these times.

Love is to be found within “Black Hole” too, which blends curious synth lines with dreamy guitar-led pop. The song is sung from the persepctive of a “kind of sexy non-binary spiriutual illumination realizing itself in spite of the trouble we appear to be in.”

“Post-apocalyptic anxiety, pandemic isolation, climate change and nuclear threat, social media’s information saturation overwhelm, the vapidity and materiality and vacuum of much of technified modernity… Yet human contact [is] being made nonetheless,” Bourne explains.

Nurdjana Reveals “What if I love you”

Nurdjana is a Canadian vocalist who was born and raised in the Netherlands. She’s been immersed in music ever since as a little girl she tagged along with her dad Rob de Rijcke. He was a singer/songwriter and guitarist, so when Nurdjana started singing it was only natural to start making music together.

Rob was a composer of dreamy songs full of love and sadness. Nurdjana is a true advocate of her father’s music and after taking a break from singing when he passed away, she is back full force; determined to put her dad’s music back in the spotlight. Her sound has been described as delicate, yet soulful and jazzy. Her first EP, Coming Home, will be released on May 10th. All songs are written either by Rob or by the duo of father and daughter, some completed by Nurdjana after he passed away. 

“What if I love you” is available now, a moving song about the back and forth in a relationship. “You’re one foot out the door but you keep trying because you know that if you can make it work, it will feel weightless, like the best thing you’ve ever experienced,” Nurdjana explains.

Doc Landry Unveils “Paris State of Mind”

A physicist turned folk-pop artist, Doc Landry’s music is inspired by universal and timeless themes. After discovering his voice and a passion for songwriting in his late 30s, Doc turned to producer Les Cooper (Craig Cardiff, Jill Barber, Meaghan Smith, David Myles) who most recently recorded his forthcoming EP, Axiom

Inspired by Erich Fromm’s The Art of Loving, Axiom will feature five songs each exploring a different perspective on love: romantic, self, parental, brotherly and spiritual. The first of which is “Paris State of Mind,” inspired by a trip taken with his wife to the City of Light, capturing the essence of Parisian romance.

The lyrics begin by reminiscing about well-known experiences, but slowly evolve as the song progresses to undress the listener by becoming more seductive and sultry. The violin and accordion highlights elicit the feeling of taking an evening stroll through the cobblestone streets of Paris with your lover. 

Rose Ranger Unveils “Confession”

Hailing from Vancouver’s North Shore, Rose Ranger’s creative process is inextricably linked with the ocean and mountains that are stone’s throw away from her front door. Combined with her love of all musical genres and her utmost appreciation for all the creative arts – the blend creates a dynamic vibrancy in her songwriting process. Now with six albums under her belt (including a Christmas album and an array of singles), the multi-talented artist is thrilled to be releasing new music into the world. 

New single “Confession” draws on a mix of musical influences from the 1990’s but with a current 2022 era production feel. It’s a musical love letter to someone from the past who you’ve had an undeniable chemistry and connection with but couldn’t make it work. At some point in our lives, we don’t feel ready for something because we need more time to get to know ourselves better and figure out what we want. In the process of doing that, we might confuse or hurt people around us when we can’t express what we’re feeling because we don’t entirely know either.

Dear Rouge Comes Alive on “Small Talk”

Vancouver alt-rock duo Dear Rouge have unveiled the details of Spirit, their third full-length album due out April 22, 2022. The band stated “Spirit is the most vulnerable and raw side of Danielle’s inner thoughts, and the line being thrown from these questions and deep reckonings within oneself, urging you to grab hold and hang on for dear life.” 

Along with revealing the album’s name and artwork, the band is sharing another new track – the infectious ear worm “Small Talk.” On the track the band said, “’Small Talk’” asserts how the reality of the world right now has changed our needs, as we are all aching for authentic connection. We don’t have the time or space for “cheap love””.

The band recorded Spirit secluded away from busy cityscapes. Drew and Danielle took up residence in a lakeside cabin shortly after the release of PHASES, their sophomore record. The duo found themselves spending their days alone together, and Spirit began to take form over the winter months. “I had this epiphany,” Danielle shared, “that we needed to come back to ourselves and the joy and comfort we found in each other when we began writing music together”. Her epiphany meant a return to vulnerability, honesty, the enjoyment of their own art and an authenticity in working with what’s true for you. Instead of seeking out high brow co-writers and listening to too many outside voices, Danielle felt compelled to hear those already closest to her. 

James McLeod Readies New Release

James McLeod is a singer-songwriter from Toronto. While his primary focus was instrumental lofi hip-hop production under the name LaFlamme, James yearned to be his own artist with his own voice. His debut full-length album, Is This How Memories Work?, runs the gamut of folktronic, lofi, bedroom pop and indie sounds, exploring the distortion of memories over time. 

Slated for release on March 29th, the LP kicks off with the haunting single “Parkdale” about a night in this neighbourhood recounted as a dream. “All of the seemingly friendly strangers I’d met in my 20s, on closer reflection, more resembled monsters in my 30s.” James summarizes, “‘Parkdale’ is about leaning into your vices even when they no longer serve you merely because it’s convenient to.”