Highlighted by an artistic acumen and an amazing ability to evoke emotion, Rose-Erin Stokes’ music is demonstrative of a songwriting craftsperson at work, with music, words and vocal performances that connect to the hearts and spirits of all who hear them. What is undeniable is the deeply honest approach to her musical storytelling, a wide-open emotional tableau that is representative of the silence of the vast forests, and big open skies of the northern Ontario city of North Bay where Stokes was born and raised. 

“The Same Way” is taken from her forthcoming sophomore album, When The Sun Goes Away, produced by Jim Bryson (Kathleen Edwards, Kalle Mattson) with additional production by Andrew Sowka and set for release this August 2022. There was inadvertently a long period of time between writing “The Same Way” and getting into the studio to record the album. In becoming a little less viscerally attached to the song, it opened up space to breathe new life into it in a collaborative way which felt really special after emerging from a long period of isolation and musical disconnect.

Watch the official music video for “The Same Way” – a quirky, endearing short film of a small town fishing derby and an unexpected catch.

Excuses Excuses come armed with a lawless desire to make a true believer out of everyone – and that means everyone – in the room with their jaw-dropping intensity and melody-heavy songs. The band doesn’t rely on just their energetic spirit alone: Excuses Excuses expertly pairs their unconfined, youthful energy with a pop sensibility and a focused sense of attention to the most subtle details of meticulously catchy songwriting.

Anthemic new single, “Listen Up!,” is inspired by the struggles we all face trying to achieve the goals we set for ourselves in life. Whether that goal is to become a movie star, or simply just to get out of bed that day, we can always find the strength inside to persevere no matter how tough or daunting things may seem.

Sophia Fracassi has always turned to music to ride out life’s storms. The Canadian singer and songwriter is just 18 years old, but her voice is direct and confident, indicative of someone who has dedicated her whole life to her art. Her lyrics come from exactly where she is: in the middle of trial and error. The intensity of a first love – and the heartbreak that came with it – helped gift her the perspective she is now repurposing in her music as she broaches adulthood and chases her dreams.

Through her transparent new single “I Lied,” Sophia validates that “it’s okay not to know what to do next, it’s okay not to be sure who to trust, or if you can even fully trust yourself. This song was written from the centre of the storm, but I got out, and I want every listener to know there is always, always hope, so long as you choose it.”

By entwining her acoustic roots with gentle electronic textures, singer-songwriter Cassidy Mann finds her true voice on debut EP, If It’s Not Forever. Co-produced with Roman Clarke, Mann notes that these emotionally driven pop songs serve as a catalogue of how her early relationships ended and why – and she hopes that other people will feel seen and comforted by her stories.

While processing one particular breakup, she remembers sitting on her bed and eating the same sour candy she once shared with the person she missed. When she discovered the metaphor – “this thing that seems sweet, but also physically hurts you if you have too much,” as she describes it – the reminiscent song “Tropical Sour Candy” emerged.

Roye Trout is a Vietnamese/Chinese-Canadian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Windsor, ON. He is also a member of the bands Eraserhead, No Hands, and Lychi. 

His new song, “Dreamers,” is written with the hope that listeners can empathize with the complex feelings of frustration and fulfillment that musicians often experience. For many artists, the pursuit of their craft is seen by others as an unsustainable passion and generally a poor decision. There’s a perverse irony in the idea that an artist often earns respect not based on the merits of their creation, but on their success in growing an audience.

“‘Dreamers’ is inspired by the futility that musicians feel in the pursuit of success,” said Roye. “For most artists, the dream is to become successful in their craft. This song is about dreams not coming true and falling short of your goals. It’s about the personal sacrifices that artists often have to make in the pursuit of success and how for most of us, will gladly continue with the struggle, knowing that the dream is largely unattainable.”

The HP’s are a talent-studded Hamilton-based funk/soul collective, poised to make major moves with the upcoming release of its debut album, Gritty City Soul, Vol. 1. The group is the brainchild of drummer/bandleader ‘Parkside’ Mike Renaud, the founder/owner of noted Canadian music company Hidden Pony Records & Management. A life-long fervent fan of funk and old school soul, Parkside has assembled a crack team of musicians and vocalists dedicated to his vision of breathing vibrant new life into these classic forms.

Groovy new single, “Hope to See You Again,” was inspired by Parkside’s 40th birthday when he was charged with taking care of Sharon Jones for Hamilton’s Supercrawl festival. The two bonded quickly and the song’s title is taken from his final words to the late talent.