Zoplo is a blind hip-hop inspired vocalist and songwriter from Toronto building a reputation for honest and vulnerable songwriting. They started writing music while involuntarily committed throughout their adolescent and teenage years in lockdown psychiatric facilities across North America. Since their discharge, Zoplo has opened for Yung Lean, Tech N9ne, Odd Future, Riff Raff, Rittz, Madchild, and D12.
Zoplo tells the story of two people who feel equally wronged by the other person on their indulgent new track, “I feel sorry for u” ft. Ray Mourning. “Sometimes, it’s okay to look at yourself and know that you weren’t the problem in a relationship,” they share. Empowering in a tongue in cheek way, the duo was inspired by the line between vulnerability and discomfort.
The Chad Sipes Stereo have dropped their new album “Thoughts and Prayers”, which has been described as “alternative rock with grunge hooks, tired hands and dirty looks.”
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania based, this four man group have been together since 2010. This new album was written and recorded between 2019 and 2021, with significant delays in the recording dates and rehearsals largely due to the Covid pandemic. Availability of the band also factored in for their final 2022 release.
The album is a collection of songs that has a definite grunge rock vibe, an album which lead singer Chad says will ¨resonate not only for thematic material, but for the impossibly catchy hooks. It is the album I´ve always wanted to make, and I´d really like for it to be heard.”
The opening track “Every Single Kid” is a good example of the band´s grunge rock style, with ethereal backdrop sounds and synths. The songs “New Prescription” and “Therapy” have a more catchy melody and chorus, with a sound similar to R.E.M and Weezer.
Songs like “Relapse” has a darker side and “Pill for That” shows their more fun side, with a brighter sound similar to Green Day. Overall, there is a mysterious element to this band.
About the Album, The Chad Sipes Stereo say:
“Thoughts and Prayers is about America’s relationship with pills. There is a storyline that weaves through the album, loosely focusing on one character. It was very important to me as I wrote this album that I didn’t come off as preachy or judgmental. My core message is, no matter who you are or what your background is, we are all going to end up on pills at some time in our life. But there is a hard truth. There are doctors, insurance companies, and CEOs out there that have so much skin in the game, and I wanted to address that side of it too.”
Listen here:
Stay current with The Chad Sipes Audio on their website and social media channels, Facebook and Instagram.
Natalie Fideler is the front-person of her self-titled power trio currently based in Minneapolis, MN. Having performed in several different ensembles over the years, the release of her debut album “Steak & Eggs” marks the beginning of her solo career. Her band consists of herself as the songwriter on guitar, keyboards, and lead vocals, Hailey Jacobsen on bass, and Leigh Underwood on drums.
The trio just released their newest single, “Three Man Army,” the title track of their next album of the same name. While their previous single, “Judas,” had more of an alternative rock sound and contemplated the Christian Religion and what that means to Natalie, “Three Man Army” is more fun. The song has a funk and blues element to it and is carried by Natalie’s vocals which are beautiful and passionate, giving off a softer Demi Lovato or a Hayley Williams vibe.
“Three Man Army” utilizes the trumpet, giving the melody a catchy sound that makes you want to get up and dance. The song is the first one Natalie had ever written, way back when she was 14 years old. It’s Natalie speaking to a dear friend she had just had a falling out with (and herself in a symbolic way) trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be. She sings “There’s plenty of people out there just like me/messed up, broken, incomplete,” giving a sense of empowerment and inner conflict.
“I eventually retired the song when I was in college thinking it ‘sounded too young’ and I was sick of it,” shares Natalie. “But one day many years later, I was doing a pandemic livestream concert from my living room and my fiance/drummer Leigh heard me play the song for the first time. Once I had finished the tune she said to me (verbatim because the stream is archived), ‘Question. Is there a reason that we’re not playing that one full band?! What’s wrong with you?! It’s a great song, it’s funky. Why aren’t we doing it full band?!’ I thankfully decided to bring the song back.”
Randie O’Neil, the Americana and Country-Folk singer/songwriter is all about raw truth and honesty, both in her personal life and in her music. Her music comes from a personal place as she puts her whole self into her writing and performances, using sincere and witty lyrics about heartache and strength, paired with beyond catchy melodies. She conveys understanding in her songs that you won’t find in any other artist, providing courage for us all to face our problems, no matter how big or small.
Randie doesn’t have the best relationship with her stepfather or her mother, both alcoholics, who sold all of her guitars. As she sat on the curb, she vowed to herself that they couldn’t take her voice, that she will find a way to sing. It took Randie some time to find her voice, but throughout the years, she came to understand herself better. In the 80’s, she had a band called AMA (Against Medical Advice), she left music for a while to peruse her PhD in Psychology and currently specializes in adolescents with anxiety.
She just released her newest country rock single, “Daddy’s Pride,” from her upcoming album Full Moon Rising. The song showcases her Bonnie Rait style vocals and her Joni Mitchell meets James Taylor songwriting. Inspired by a personal event in her life, she sings about her own growth as a human and how she had to do that by herself. She takes inspiration for the lyrics from her own experience and as a phychologist.
“‘Daddy’s Pride’ I wrote completely in 2o minutes, they only song my producer didn’t change a note,” shares Randie. “It’s my parents selling my guitars. The biggest failure is for a parent not to teach a child to be proud and support them. I had the strength to stand up and find it on my own. I know many don’t and stay lost and insecure.”
The Johnnys are an Ontario-based rock’n’roll band founded by spouses Veronica Johnny (lead vocals/ manager/ producer/ writer) and Dave Johnny (drums/ producer/ writer). The duo’s early recordings were more punk-influenced, characterized by fun, up-tempo songs while later releases have a classic-rock feel.
The Johnnys are known to deliver rowdy, high-energy, humour-filled performances. They’ve played across Canada, been featured on TV and film and shared stages with such luminaries as Geordie Johnson, Bif Naked, Stevie Salas, Bruce Cockburn, Keith Secola & Crystal Shawanda.
New single Butterfly (Salas/Gutierrez Remix),” was inspired by The Butterfly teaching taught to Veronica by Indigenous Elder Joanne Dallaire.
“You cannot hide from what’s inside” is an excellent analogy for the butterfly transformation and the pandemic induced self-isolation. If you weren’t distracting yourself with streaming film/TV and you took the time to do some self-reflection, chances are you emerged a different being.
Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist and arranger, Les Cooper, is sharing “Best Of You,” the latest single taken from his debut solo album, Noise, out on May 20th.
Conceived in a parking lot ahead of a therapy session, “Best Of You” is a somber and searching piece of downtempo indie which weaves layers of keys, vocals, and guitars amid a desire to feel secure: “And the world pulls you ‘round, and the sky holds you down to the ground.”
“I think that getting advice from people that you are close with can be a tricky thing to navigate. It’s tempting to steer toward what feels safe or comfortable. An objective point of view from someone who isn’t emotionally invested is invaluable,” Cooper explains of the song’s inspiration.
Modern Mystery 
You must be logged in to post a comment.