Brazilian music superstar and philanthropist Alok, known globally for chart-topping collaborations with John Legend, Jason Derulo, Tove Lo, Ellie Goulding, and many more, has joined forces with UK-based dance music duo Solardo to release their new club single, “Over Again.” The high-energy dance track will undoubtedly get the dancefloor moving all Summer long and is available now on all DSPs and streaming services via SONY International HERE.

“Over Again” is an electrifying fusion of Alok’s signature sound and Solardo’s tech-house style, resulting in a unique and unforgettable dancefloor experience. The song is extremely captivating with its catchy vocal hook and infectious beat that is sure to get audiences moving. It showcases the exceptional production skills of both Alok and Solardo, with its intricate layers, complex rhythms, and atmospheric sound design. The track has a timeless feel to it, and it will definitely be a favorite among club-goers and electronic music fans alike.

“Working with Solardo on “Over Again” has been a great experience. I feel we really blended our sounds together nicely and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!” – ALOK

“Over Again” is Brazilian superstar Alok’s second single of 2023, following January’s groovy disco-inspired single, “Work With My Love,” with English singer/songwriter James Arthur. 2022 ended with a slew of releases to cap a highly successful year, which was highlighted by Alok being crowned No. 1 DJ in Latin America and No. 4 in the world by DJ Mag and the launch of his “The Future Is Ancestral” philanthropic event series. The remarkable inaugural event brought his climate change initiatives and partnership to the United Nations’ Global Compact. It helped kick off New York’s Climate Change Week with a series of panels and a historic, first-ever performance on the rooftop of the United Nations headquarters. Alok’s musical successes in 2022 were also unmatched, with “Deep Down” staying at #1 on Billboard’s Dance charts for weeks while his dance-pop anthem “All By Myself” with Ellie Goulding and Sigala flooded radio waves around the world. With a remarkable 70 million social media followers, the music producer and philanthropist continues to build on his legendary catalog, which already includes global hit singles like “Hear Me Now” and his chart-topping remix of MEDUZA’s “Piece of Your Heart,” for which he won “Best Remix” at the 2020 International Dance Music Awards.

The extremely versatile and creative duo from the UK, Solardo, complement Alok’s style well to bring listeners a truly unique audio-sensory experience on “Over Again.” The duo’s dedication and love for the club scene is palpable on the track with their recognizable elements of techno, house, and trance. From 2019’s revision of Marshall Jefferson’s timeless “Move Your Body” to their hit “XTC” with Eli Brown becoming one of the biggest tracks in Ibiza in its year of release, it’s clear that Solardo can simply do no wrong. The UK duo has already been off to a strong start in 2023 with their most recent release “Big Talk,” which saw them hit the studio for a huge collaboration with English actor and DJ Idris Elba.

“When Alok approached us about working together we knew we had an amazing opportunity. He is a huge international artist who has reached millions of people with his music. We wanted this track to have an underground DNA in its beats and bass, and the vocals needed to connect with the masses.” – Solardo

Renowned Canadian singer-songwriter, Tara MacLean, wrote “Let Her Feel the Rain” following a breakup at the age of 19 which was deeply affecting.

“I noticed that I felt numb, and I went and laid outside on the grass at night in the rain, and just let it fall on me. I just needed to feel it, to feel the pain, and then let the rain wash it away. And it did. I wrote this song when I came inside, still wet and muddy. This was the song that made me realize that music was going to save my life,” explains MacLean.

Decades later, MacLean has reimagined the song with layered background vocals and strings evocative of the lush environment which she calls home in the Pacific Northwest.

“In so many ways the song is about rebirth,” says MacLean. When it came time to shoot the video for “Let Her Feel the Rain,” MacLean returned to her ‘nest’ on Salt Spring Island to perform the song, complete with hair and makeup done by her children.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Tara as she dives into her new video, below!

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically?

Lay Here in the Dark is a song I wrote when I was deep into a break up with my partner of 16 years.  It was the death of the dream, and I felt this incomparable loneliness and was grieving hard.  The world was shut down at the time and it felt like my loneliness was compounded by the collective experience at the time.  The song saved me that night. So I wanted to make a video that illustrated the experience of just laying in the dark, waiting for the light. It symbolized the discomfort and emptiness of those times, but it also shows how beautifully we can emerge.

2. What was the inspiration behind this video(visuals, storyline, etc.)?

The video was filmed at the Broadview Hotel in Toronto in the winter.  I wanted to work with one of my favourite directors, Nathan Sizemore. All we had was a camera and an iphone light. It was simple and intimate, just like the song.  I love how the video turned out. Unglamorous and unpretentious, but still elegant. It feels more like a French film.

3. What was the process of making this video?

Nathan and his son, Xan, who came to assist, set up the camera and most of the time Nathan just stood over me while Xan held the light. We turned the main light off and just played around in the darkness for a few hours. It was really sweet that I could film a whole video laying in bed! However, I think Nathan’s back must have been hurting standing over me filming downward!  Then Nathan took it away and edited it, and when I saw it, it was exactly what I had envisioned. It really plays with the idea of the shadow self, and how we must face that.  I love the video.

Canadian rock artist Grant Boyer’s debut single to radio, “Alarm Bells,” hit #37 on Canada’s Active Rock radio chart upon release last August. Now, he’s sharing his first solo EP of the same name. Produced by Braeden Kozy, each song on Alarm Bells brings its own story to the table.

“As We Wait,” the EP’s latest single, comes from a memory Grant has with his daughter when she was a toddler in her high chair. Singing nonsense and dancing around to make her laugh, he began to hum what is now the chorus melody of “As We Wait.” 

This EP taught me that patience is important. Some of these songs have been ready to go for a while. I was excited to release them as they reached completion, but I’ve learned it’s important to get all your ducks in a row before putting out new material. A metaphor about a young bull at the top of a hill with an old bull comes to mind… but I’m not gonna go there.

Ryan Hicks is an alt-pop, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Regina, Saskatchewan. Throughout his career he has released three full length albums, and now, he releases his fourth record, Experience.

The LP was recorded over a five day span with producer/engineer Jonathan Anderson at Protection Island in Vancouver, BC. Experience is a deeply personal and cinematic record that reflects the ups and downs of three years throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The titular focus track, “Experience,” is a love letter to live music and experiencing it with others, inspired by his own experience at a Father John Misty, Jason Isabel and Jade Bird concert in Minneapolis. After that show, he made a promise to himself that if he was able to play live music and go to shows again he would never take them for granted. 

“The last few years have been challenging,” says Hicks. “In that time, I had time to look at myself and what I want for a future. I want to be a part of a world where we care for each other and where all are welcome. I also realized how important live music is to me. This song is looking forward to new experiences and not taking them or anyone for granted.”

Towering at 6’9”, Brayden King is larger than life and makes music that is the perfect mix of rock n roll and country. Hailing from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, King has spent most of his time relentlessly touring across the Canadian Prairies since bursting onto the scene as a solo artist in 2021. 

His new single, “Livin’ The Dream,” was inspired by a hangover. After waking up one morning, after a series of weekends going out to clubs, King realized he was having no fun. Every night was a repeat of the last – the same kinds of people, being rejected by girls, drinking too much, losing things, and spending way too much money. The song’s title is ironic as it’s the only positive thing about the number.

Starpainter is a folk rock band from Lethbridge, Alberta, consisting of band members Joel Stretch, Colby Stolson, Mickey Hayward, and Joel Gray. They wear their influences on their sleeves, showcasing strong songwriting and an affinity for gently psychedelic alt-country tones. 

Their song, “Low-Hanging Fruit,” is a love letter to small-timer musicians, writers, and artists of all kinds. Our lives are touched week in and week out by beautiful books, songs, paintings, poems, movies, photos – most of it created by folks who work other jobs to make ends meet. “Low-Hanging Fruit” is a tribute to those people honing their craft and digging deep to do their very best work. 

“Low-Hanging Fruit” comes from their forthcoming album, Rattlesnake Dream (out June 2nd), which exists in a small-town universe that has become a defining feature of Starpainter’s body of work. Themes of family, aging, and personal loss are explored across the album’s 10 tracks. The record is their strongest yet, exploring new sonic territory and further developing a signature sound built on old-school songwriting craftsmanship and imaginative, guitar-heavy arrangements.