Yearly Archives: 2022

02.02.22
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Aspen Jacobsen is the Rising Folk and Americana Artist to Watch For

Aspen Jacobsen is the rising Americana-Folk singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who’s connection with her guitar and lyrics marry to make her stories tangible. “When I write a song, I start with a feeling—my main goal is to have a strong emotional exchange with the audience through my music,” she shares. The award-winning artist is an empathic and thought-provoking lyricist with a flair for many time-honored roots music traditions, while also out to make these sounds more palatable and resonant for her generation.

She just released her newest single “Shouldn’t Give A Damn,” a country inspired folk song reminiscent of Kacey Musgraves. In this song, she tackles the topic of toxic relationships, singing “And you don’t even know who I am/You just take and take everything that you can/And I shouldn’t give a damn.” The song starting out with a slow fade in mirrors the way a toxic relationship is at first, not terribly noticeable yet you eventually notice as it becomes louder. Aspen’s lyrics are thought-provoking and honest. You can hear her relationship with her music, her guitar almost being an extension of her psyche.

Listen to “Shouldn’t Give a Damn” here:

She learned how traditional art forms can be used as tools to strengthen intuition and self-understanding after years of performing at festivals and learning from the other experienced musicians. She became more self-aware, that her songwriting can be more than a personal coping mechanism but also can strengthen social empathy and help people better understand each other’s emotions. “I wish to help traditional arts live on through my music, thus making an impact on the generations who follow,” says Aspen. “I recognize how small impacts made through music, storytelling, conversations, art, and even the sharing of a smile can make big changes.”

You can find Aspen Jacobsen via:
Website // Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Spotify // Soundcloud

02.01.22
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The Lagoons Debut Transcendent Single “Long Road To Nowhere”

The Lagoons are the independent musical project of Los Angeles-raised multi-instrumentalist brothers Ryan and Joey Selan. The songwriting duo produced and recorded their new sophomore album Daybreak (Jan 7) out of their home studio following the 2020 release of debut album, Midnight Afternoon, which notched millions of streams alongside praise from fans and tastemakers alike. Influenced by the state of the world over the last couple of years, the main themes of Daybreak are love, resolution, hope, and desire on a hero’s journey to look forward rather than be stuck in the past. 

The lyrics of transcendent single “Long Road To Nowhere” reflect an emotional build-up resolving itself with a more cheerful message as the song goes on. Best summed up in the positive line “heartbeats come alive, as the darkness turns to light, I’m finally on a long road to somewhere,” instilling hope that through hard times, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

02.01.22
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Mia Baron Emerges with “Miss Emotionless”

Toronto-based singer-songwriter, Mia Baron, is a 14-year-old emerging artist ready to make waves in the music industry.

Her fifth original single, “Miss Emotionless,” sends the message to stay true to who you are. You don’t have to act the way others expect if it’s something that is unnatural to you. It’s okay to be different – just accept it and be yourself.

02.01.22
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Kodiak Arcade Unveils “Why Pretend”

Kodiak Arcade is a passion project where lifelong television composer, Graeme Cornies, is reversing the usual process. Instead of writing music for pictures, he is creating visual art posted to Instagram, Twitter and YouTube depicting the feelings and mental states of his music. 

His latest single “Why Pretend” is about the moment we acknowledge when a relationship is coming to a conclusion instead of pretending everything is fine, so that both people can begin a new chapter on separate paths. Graeme adds, “Sometimes we grow in different directions. Sometimes we get caught in a loop of wondering “if I had just… would they have… could it have all turned out differently?” and other unanswerable questions.” 

Visually, this project is a means of exploring the forefront of AI / human collaboration with generative art. Musically, he engages new musical palette ideas and expands on orchestration ideas, often with his network of talented instrumental collaborators. 

02.01.22
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Gentle Party Kick of 2022 with “God Complex”

Chamber pop trio, Gentle Party, have been described as “lush and somewhat mischievous, yet shimmering with melancholy” (Dave O Rama, BC Musician Magazine). The group has a new single to share with the world, entitled “God Complex,” which meditates on the question, ‘Can you separate the art from the artist?’

Written on a tiny Reface CS synthesizer at the LEÑA artist residency on British Columbia’s Galiano Island, “God Complex” is an inquisitive and melodic embodiment of a misogynistic individual who is celebrated in Gentle Party’s artistic community.

“Please forgive me for my god complex, please forgive me while you pray at my feet.” The band explains that “so many times people’s ‘apologies’ for their bad behavior are simply spineless virtue signaling, without integrity, values, or behavior change to back it up.”

02.01.22
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Tara Novak’s New Epic Pop Single “A Place Called Purpose” Takes Inspiration From Her Classical Training

Tara Novak, the classically trained violinist and composer turned pop artist, just released her new pop epic single, “A Place Called Purpose.” The song is a narrative like those of old Irish tales, Beowulf, or Hrolf Kraki, using music and lyrics in tandem to paint a picture of a tale about a brave female captain of a ship, with only her knowledge, intuition, and courage to guide her on the open seas as she races against time to her destination. She faces outward storms and inner doubts and ultimately comes out renewed in her belief herself. She is a true heroine, like all of us who face the many battles in life.

Musically speaking, she uses minor chords in the verses to symbolize the dramatic elements of the story, of the heroine facing challenges on her journey. The only major chords we hear are in the chorus, symbolizing the underlying message of hope, bravery, and courage. The use of the soft violin and ambient sounds in the beginning of the song gives a ghost-like feeling to the story, setting the scene and a melodic atmosphere.

Her classical training influenced the music for “A Place Called Purpose,” giving a unique touch to the pop genre that you won’t hear anywhere else. But she was also inspired by time. “Tick, tick, tick… the sound of a clock on the wall, always counting, always moving forward,” says Tara, talking about how clocks inspired the story. “But clocks used to measure more than just the passing of time: ancient mariners used a combination of a clock and the stars to calculate their position on the ocean. This song is an epic story of a girl alone with her ship, racing against time to find ‘A Place Called Purpose’ before the sun rises and once again hides the stars. Clocks tick and the orchestra sweeps the listener on their own journey, a perfect reflective soundtrack for the start of a new year.”

Listen here:

When you get a chance, listen to “A Place Called Purpose.” It’s a strong song with a powerful message of a heroine finding her own bravery and courage within herself.

You can find Tara Novak via:
Website // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // Spotify // Soundcloud