Exploding out of their hometown of Toronto, JUNO Award-winning band MONOWHALES have been putting a new lease on the alt rock genre. They recently completed a Canada-wide tour as direct support to grandson, leading into their headline tour of the USA and Canada this fall.

“When I’m on tour, I get to surround myself with the most accepting and welcoming people on earth,” vocalist Sally Shaar explains. “I feel so heard, so supported. ‘Hear Me Out‘ explores how difficult it is for me to live without that outlet.” Their new single is “classic MONOWHALES evolved,” guitarist Zach Zanardo adds. “Emotional, proud, explosive.”

2022 was a landmark year for the band, with highlights including winning a JUNO Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year, supporting Mother Mother on their Canadian tour, playing some of the country’s biggest festivals (including Osheaga, Festival d’ete de Quebec, Hillside, and more), releasing their album Tunnel Vision and headlining their own tour across the country to cap off the year.

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

This song is about two sides to my lifestyle. The one that travels, meets people, connects with our community, and enjoys all the highs, and the complete opposite of the lows when I am at home festering in my own head. I pretty much wait out the next fix of being out on the road again. It was only fitting the video be a glimpse into what our touring life looks like. And why we enjoy it so much.

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

We brought out our photographer and friend Ryan Brough and pretty much asked him to listen to the song, and then document the journey of the tour we just had. He did an incredible job grabbing all those really special moments we have both on and off stage. The video is 100% real-life on tour including all the performances.

3.What was the process of making this video?

Like I said, we gave Ryan free rein. We just wanted raw authentic footage of what it looks like to be on tour with us. We hope our fans feel a part of our journey. We wouldn’t exist without their support. Answered by Sally Shaar

Vancouver-based rock singer Charlie PS has a sound that can be described as a sonic melting pot. Inspired by a wide variety of rock and blues from legends of the 20th century such as Stevie Nicks and Ann Wilson, to modern rock artists that include Grace Potter and ZZ Ward, Charlie borrows elements of strong vocals and energetic riffs and uses them to create her own blended sound rooted in modern-rock.

Her latest single “Even If It Kills Me” takes its dynamic chorus, layered with an ensemble of vocals and live horns and its modern rock inspired instrumentation and calls out to the risk takers and the secretly insecure, reminding them that sometimes it’s okay to just be you. “Even If It Kills Me” is the second of three singles to be released this year from her five song EP, also titled Even If It Kills Me, later in November.

“Even If It Kills Me” is inspired by Charlie’s journey through COVID after much self-work and going from a chronic overthinker to being in a much more peaceful and carefree head space, as well as the notion of persevering through things that you love to do, even if they aren’t always easy – for Charlie, this situation is about the music industry and being a musician. 

“I feel that a lot of people agonize over their flaws and insecurities or just care too much and want to change into a version of themselves they think will make them happier,” says Charlie. “But I hope that ‘Even If It Kills Me’ will help remind people that being the realest version of yourself and showing the world the good, the bad and the ugly is a much more freeing place to be in.”

Moh Flow‘s musical journey began as a rapper, but he soon realized that his true calling lay in exploring the depths of his soul through singing and songwriting. This artistic shift proved to be a turning point, as he found his voice and began crafting a sound that seamlessly blends elements of hip-hop, soul, and R&B. The result is a sonic tapestry that resonates with listeners on a profound level, transcending language and cultural barriers. This multi-talented artist has captivated audiences with his lyrical prowess and distinctive sound, firmly establishing himself as one of the Middle East’s most promising talents.

His song “Reckless” is a moment of brutal honesty. Moh Flow addresses people who are no longer in his life by confronting them in these verses. However betrayed he felt by those people, he still recognizes that he had a part to play in those relationships too. After some soul searching, he’s retired the meaning of the word “reckless” as in being difficult. The new Moh Flow is reckless in a whole ‘nother way – reckless as in how hard he’s going to go to achieve his dreams. 

The Reckless album is a collection of nine original songs and two remixes created during a period of creative and personal shift for Moh Flow. If you listen to the entire album, you will feel the wave of disruptive energy and experience the shifts he was going through.

“I created music that felt like the soundtrack to life at the moment; I vented on these records,” says Moh Flow. “I flexed, cried, reflected, confessed…all of it. The inspiration is so personal that a few people will hear these records and know exactly what I’m talking about. It was all on display, and then I spoke on it.”

Ontario indie rock act Pacific Estate was formed in 2013 by a few bright-eyed high school kids looking to jam. Unafraid of pushing the envelope, their willingness to blur the lines of genre while staying true to their hook-driven roots catalyzes a fresh yet familiar take on modern rock. Now, they teamed up with Alexisonfire’s Wade MacNeil and Julius Butty (who’s notably behind AOF records) to produce their new single.

Inspired by the nostalgia of playing a concert, “King of the Bar” was born during the pandemic, reminiscing over the euphoria of putting on a live show. In particular, it pays homage to the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, one of their favourite venues. “But this horseshoe’s luck just might have set me free from it all…” Pacific Estate explains, “This lyric describes what being in a band is all about, and that is the feeling we get when we are on stage together, putting our day jobs aside for night and getting to live our dream as musicians.”

Multi-talented artist Amber Liu is back with a pleasantly familiar sound. Returning to her 2022 EP trilogy, bridged from a series of tracks guaranteed to fit everyone’s taste, Amber’s goal this time around is to satisfy any fans she may have missed. Released as the title track of “Z!”, “EASIER,” featuring international sensation Jackson Wang, takes on a new identity with the help of electronic artist YULTRON with HARDER (feat. Jackson Wang and YULTRON) that is now available on all streaming platforms.

No stranger to collabs, Amber has worked with Peniel of BTOB, MaSiWei of Higher Brothers, Jackson Wang, and DJ YULTRON for her own single. After releasing the successful EP trilogy series “X”, “y?” and “Z!,” Amber has taken a step back in time to revisit her hit track “EASIER.” The R&B mixed with rock single features Amber’s laid back raps, Jackson’s husky vocals, and harmonies that brilliantly showcase the pair’s excellent musical compatibility. YULTRON’s danceable electronic addition to the tune blows it out of the water and reshapes the already addicting single.

Originally adorning R&B, soul, and rock influences, “EASIER” followed a heartfelt dialogue between Amber and Jackson as they sang about pushing for something meaningful, even if it might not be the easier thing to do. YULTRON, with his background in classical music and guitar, fully understood this initial, earnest plot of the story, and was able to fully transform it into an electronic track while keeping its core message still intact. Now, with the added future bass sound and synth embellishments, “HARDER” dons a new wardrobe as one of the hardest, electronic dance beats to grace this summer.

In 2014, Jackson Wang debuted as a member of JYP entertainment’s K-pop group GOT7 in Korea. In 2017, he founded TEAM WANG then in 2021, he left JYP entertainment coming back to TEAM WANG in China to start releasing his solo music. Most recently, Jackson headlined the League Of Legends 2022 Worlds Championship Opening Ceremony with a performance of his latest single, “Fire to the Fuse,” a Riot Games Music written track that peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Trending Song Chart. Jackson has collaborated with multiple global brands over the years. As a globally acclaimed artist, Jackson’s goal is to showcase a Chinese-influenced sound on the international music stage and highlight Chinese and Asian culture worldwide. In his ascent, Jackson has amassed over 93 million followers across socials.

Los Angeles-based DJ/Producer, YULTRON has established himself as a prominent figure in the music industry. With a dynamic range of collaborations spanning various genres, he has worked alongside esteemed artists such as Marshmello, Ookay, Kayzo, Jay Park, Snoop Dogg, Rezz, Kellin Quinn, DJ Snake, Zeds Dead, Illenium, and even a previous single with Amber Liu. With an unwavering passion for music and an unyielding drive to push boundaries, YULTRON continues to captivate audiences and make a lasting impact on the music industry. His electrifying performances have graced renowned festivals including Lollapalooza, EDC Vegas, Hard Summer, Countdown, and others.

This summer is all about Amber Liu. Starting in May, she released various singles including “ILY,” “No More Sad Songs,” and “Can’t Go Yet.” This year is all about being your authentic self and revealing who you are through your art. In the midst of all the news on Amber, she will be going on tour in the beginning of 2024 for No More Sad Songs visiting 9 cities across Canada, United States and London. For more information on tour dates and tickets, please visit Amber Liu’s social media channels. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, August 26 at 10am local time.

2024 No More Sad Songs World Tour Dates:

All dates and cities below are subject to change.

Jan. 17  Seattle, WA

Jan. 19 San Francisco, CA

Jan. 20 Los Angeles, CA

Jan. 21 San Diego, CA

Jan. 23 Chicago, IL

Jan. 24 Toronto, ON

Jan. 26 New York, NY

Jan. 28 Washington, DC

Jan. 30 London, UK