Apryll Aileen is a classically trained pianist with a touch of science and spirituality; an alt-pop soulful vocalist, guitarist and songwriter from Atlantic Canada. Sultry vocals and an alluring stage presence make Apryll a fan favourite at music festivals worldwide. She transcends genres, creating her own undefinable sound with influences coming from pop, rock, electronic, folk and R&B. She doesn’t imitate – she creates.

Her new song, “Wicked Ways,” is a reflection about human nature and our propensity to act out and get angry at others. It’s an introspective examination about why she gets angry and says hurtful things sometimes, as well as how we judge and perceive the actions of others. Through this, we may be creating our own narratives (which are often untrue) and it’s only through walking in someone else’s shoes that we truly understand what caused their actions and words.

We caught up with Apryll for an exclusive interview below!

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

 I was in Los Angeles when I started writing “Wicked Ways”. At that time, I was working on film scripts with some pretty heavy subject matter around addictions and violence. Too often, we condemn people and turn them into monsters which makes it hard for them to become better if we don’t give them a chance to believe they can behave differently. Forgiveness is truly an act of grace for it is one of the most difficult things we can do.

All of us are capable of wicked things: all of us get angry, yell, say things we don’t mean and even wish ill will on others. But with that darkness, we also have so much light, love and peace within us. The song is meant to expose the vulnerabilities of the shadow and put them on full display.

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

Benjamin Edwards filmed and edited the music video during our trip to SXSW in Austin, Texas. We wanted to highlight artistic areas in the city, with cool street art and feature lots of night time shots with the city and traffic lights, creating the juxtaposition of being alone in one’s inner contemplation, and yet surrounded by millions of people at the same time. We also filmed in iconic locations like castles and The Driskill Hotel on 6th street. We would film during the day en route to different conference events, and try to film in between shows – the week went by in a whirlwind but was one of the best trips I’ve ever had and I can’t wait to visit and play in Austin, Texas!

3. What was the process of making this video?

Like most of my artistic collaborations, it all started over a meeting on the Halifax waterfront, discussing ways to showcase the themes of wickedness, forgiveness and hope with a backdrop of a city that was new to both of us. When I was on tour to California a few years ago, from Atlantic Canada, I stopped in Austin, Texas but only for one night. I visited the Driskill Hotel and was in awe of the architecture and beauty of the hotel. I knew I wanted to feature that as a primary location.

A business colleague and friend of mine, hosted a concert at his castle and graciously allowed us to film some scenes there as well. It was spectacular really because the timing couldn’t have worked out any better: upon arrival at the gate, the skies were filled with lightening so we actually filmed the opening shots to the music video right then and there before going inside. The lightening is all real – no special effects!

Hilariously enough, the other shot we really wanted but didn’t get, would’ve been the bats flying out from under the bridge. We had a hard time working around our SXSW conference schedule to get to the bridge and finally on the last day, while in an Uber en route to a concert, we found out that the bats aren’t even around in March – they fly down south and sip on margaritas (apparently according to Mr. Driver). HA!

Either way, it was a magical process without a lot of planning. A lot of the nighttime city shots were filmed off the cuff and usually involved us walking around the city pointing at different artistic murals and buildings saying “let’s grab a shot here – that’s so beautiful”. I would love for you to watch it, leave a comment and subscribe to my channel if you enjoy the video because more is on the way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJcmuIzjGNo

All of us are capable of wicked things – all of us get angry, yell, say things we don’t mean and even wish ill will on others. But with that darkness, we also have so much light, love and peace within us. The song is meant to expose the vulnerabilities of the shadow and put them on full display.

Alex Exists is the new solo project of Alex Pulec, frontman of The Nursery (awarded Best Independent Rock/Pop Band in Canada at Indie88’s 2018 Indie Awards). His music is inspired by absurdism, hyper surrealism and optimistic nihilism with an acid tongue firmly planted in his cheek. He is fascinated by pop culture and ego. The signature of Alex’s creative work is his unique sonic touches, drum heavy rhythms and classic “pop through a blender” melodies. 

Alex wrote the song “Mindful Madness” in the heat of worldwide lockdowns. The lyrics touch on themes of self-reflection, questioning reality, and describe a sense of widespread confusion and a desire for clarity. Overall, this is a song that explores themes of self-discovery, rebellion, and societal disillusionment. It encourages embracing individuality, questioning the status quo, and finding solace in the chaos of life.

Everybody’s Famous is an album that encourages listeners to navigate the chaos and complexity of life with a mindful and critical perspective, to resist being controlled or deceived, and to find solace and empowerment in embracing their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The album artwork is a satirical take on the “Best Pop/Rock Album of all time” but instead it’s filled up with the heroes, villains and most infamous people of our time, showcasing how absurd life has evolved since then.

“Long Shadow” is the latest single from If Only For The Night, the new and third album from Toronto’s Philip Vonesh. Philip, as a songwriter, crafts his music to be vulnerable and evocative with a penchant for mixing folk with rock hooks.

Ruminating on a quote he had heard about the duality of love and pain; Phillip found inspiration for “Long Shadow” both in lyrics and instrumentation. “The rhythm is driving, there’s tension in the muted minor chords. It is a verbatim retelling of the last goodbye of a relationship. My goal was to be painfully honest.”

The single is part of a deliberate collection of music that weaves together on If Only For The Night.  Originally intended to be a concept album, Side A about falling in love Side B falling out of it.  Coming to the realization that his strongest work was on Side B, the album became dedicated to breaking up. “It is nostalgic, melancholic, and just plain sad. Sometimes love doesn’t work out, and it’s no one’s fault.”

Kalila Badali is a unique and captivating songwriter/alt-folk artist emerging from Toronto. As a licensed Psychotherapist and personally neurodivergent person her music is both outwardly and inwardly cathartic. Kalila has started a unique and vibrant psychotherapy practice working with neurodivergent, LGBTQ2SIA+, and arts workers providing Music-Integrated Psychotherapy. This has led to offering workshops to emerging artists on musician’s mental health.  

“Helpless” is an ethereal, galloping single with a triumphantly manic pacing driven from its lyrical meaning. “Helpless is a guilt ridden, anxiety induced dance track lamenting the slow process of changing unhelpful behaviours.”  “Helpless” is the deliberate start track from her cohesive upcoming EP, Panaceas. “Realizing you don’t really know how to change is a great way to spur the search for Panaceas (A.K.A a cure all).” 

Decades spanning Toronto outfit Vicky von Vicky’s unique sound is a blend of punk, grunge, and classic rock – think Neil Young meets REM meets Modest Mouse, with occasional elements of funk thrown in. But their music is more than just melodies mixed with noise and chaos. They tackle themes like love, loss, and self-discovery with honesty & vulnerability. It’s this combination of raw emotion & raw power coupled with lyrical quirkiness that sets them apart.On “Jealousy” they deliver a body-moving jangly track that was written from the perspective that the end of a relationship is not the end of you.  “I hope that this song can serve as a source of empowerment for those who may be going through a tough breakup, and remind them that they are not alone and that brighter days are ahead.” – Michael Wynn (Vox/Guitar)

Originating from Red Deer, Alberta, Harehound is the rebrand of the alt rock trio previously performing under the name “Rebecca Raabis.” The band consists of members Rebecca Raabis (lead vocals, bass) Colin Langstraat (drums, backing vocals), and Craig Gomez (guitar) – who are no strangers to the music scene.

Their mix of alt pop and punk rock influences makes for a hard hitting, catchy sonic attack that is sure to make you proudly dance your night away. 

The term “Devil May Care” suggests the willingness to take risks and the lack of concern for what others may think or how things may turn out. The term also implies a sense of adventure and daring, as well as a willingness to embrace uncertainty and to live in the moment. That’s what frontwoman Rebecca Raabis wanted to convey with their song “Devil May Care” – she strives to reach her own goals and to do what makes her happy in spite of the scrutiny and opinions of others.

“The inspiration for this album comes from a deeply personal and introspective place. I was and still am going through a period of growth and self-discovery, where I am learning to set healthy boundaries and prioritize my well-being,” explains Raabis. “Overall, this EP is a powerful and transformative work of art that can hopefully inspire listeners to prioritize their own well-being and inner strength. It could be a testament to the importance of setting boundaries and cultivating self-love, and a reminder that we are all worthy of love and respect, both from ourselves and others.”