Grizzly Coast (Alannah Kavanagh) has been sharpening her songwriting, growing her loyal following, and tightening her live show in Toronto’s vibrant live music scene, supporting acts like Fast Romantics and Begonia. Her music successfully blends dreamy guitar rock sensibilities with a trademark thoughtful lyricism.

New single, “Washed,” is a powerful rallying cry against indifference and stagnancy, urging listeners to take control of their lives and reject passivity. Born from a spontaneous and collaborative jam session between Alannah and her husband, Kyle, the track captures the essence of embracing action. The song’s message is a reminder to confront apathy and take control of your life.

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

The moment Washed was written, I knew there had to be a video for the track. I chose to make it because I felt the song was strong and I wanted to build a visual world to accompany it in the hopes that it would help the song reach more listeners.

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

First and foremost, we aimed to create a video that would be easy to shoot. To keep it engaging, we decided to use a variety of fun props. Inspired by a nautical color palette with primary colors and preppy outfits, we built the video’s visual narrative around this theme. We wanted to create a specific vibe using classic props like a yellow ladder, mirror, gymnastics ribbons, and balloons to enhance the performance.

3.What was the process of making this video?

We started with a moodboard. My director, Hailey Uens, and I were drawn to imagery from Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic—and we included a homage to the ladder found in the film. Hailey, a stylist, and I had a lot of fun deciding what outfits I should wear. We chose classic and familiar clothes to match the primary color palette of the video, ensuring the outfits aligned with the timeless vibe of the video. Ditto for props.

From there I reached out to the usual suspects to come on board and help us film the thing. We did a location scout and landed on filming at the R.C. Harris Water Treatment plant in the east end. It’s a sprawling piece of land with beach access that remains relatively quiet for the city. We shot the video in one day and had a lot of fun doing so! I made a behind the scenes video to share additional details about the shoot that you can watch here!

Grizzly Coast‘s upcoming LP, Staying Power, – due in the fall of 2024 – is an album that captures the essence of commitment, uncertainty, and the challenges of transition. Written between January 2020 and spring 2023, these songs reflect the pivotal period of Alannah‘s life from ages 25 to 28, a time filled with crucial decisions and transformative experiences. This collection of tracks delves into the journey of taking leaps of faith, developing self-trust, and embracing commitment, all while navigating the uncertainties that come with it.

K O D A E’s blend of alternative R&B is both Bow Valley and Modern Metropolis. Combining their mutual love for modern groove with their connection to nature and mysticism, this group of intergenerational musicians weave songs that strut like breakbeats but flow and warm the heart like a valley stream at sunset. With their different backgrounds, each member brings a unique flavour to the table: Owen Mcpherson’s gospel roots on the deep five, Seyoung Lee’s lush jazz textures on the keys, Curtis Sauer’s ambitious groove on the drums and Eric Osborne’s fluid harmonies on the guitar.

New single, “Daydreamer,” is a joint release with Calgary’s TAYLR; a self proclaimed softy and singer-songwriter who is no stranger to self reflection and deep internal exploration that bold, technicolor songwriting is born from. The hopeful song offers permission to re-invest in your inner creative, inner artist, inner child while really touching on the importance of play and nurturing an imagination without limits.

K O D A E has always been rooted in mysticism and the romantic ponderings of the universe. A lot of our songs come from a place of wanting to understand our world and ourselves a little bit deeper. We feel connected to nature and the cycles that dance within it and you can find a lot of themes about growth, embracing simplicity, accepting change and settling into our roles in this big vast, magical world! 

– TAYLR (they/them)

For Rena Kozak, writing music is a compulsion which is brought to life through her musical project, Child Actress. It’s a cathartic swell that offers a sanctuary to the overbearing nature of our emotions, crafting a liminal space where the feelings we can’t explain are expressed with limitless reverie. “Fruit Flies” is the first single from forthcoming EP, Just Fine Never Better, anticipated on September 27th.

“Fruit Flies” came to her three years after her partner died in his sleep next to her. It was during this phase when she felt like a widow but was beginning to experience an evolution in her philosophies around life and death – reconciling what it could mean to be dead but to still be able to have power, energy, maybe even awareness – considering the ways that her partner still seemed to have so much power, energy, and interaction with her.

Kozak’s mind was also toying with the concept of reincarnation – she had trapped some fruit flies on some sticky tape in her kitchen and as she watched them wiggle and become more entrapped, she found herself wondering who they might have been in their lives before this and who they would be next, and did they know what they were now? 

Balladeer and actor John Gogo hails from a musical family in Snuneymuxw (a.k.a. Nanaimo) on Vancouver Island. Best known for writing and performing his folk songs about the people and places, the true and tall tales of the West Coast, John produced his sixth full-length album, Western Balladeer.

The wistful “Cougar Annie” was inspired by Western Canadian legendary pioneer Ada Annie Rae-Arthur. The homesteader carved out a five-acre garden in the wilderness, ran a successful nursery, post office and general store while raising 11 children. She became known as Cougar Annie after word got around about her shooting around 70 cougars and countless bears that had threatened her kids and garden. 

One of the aspects of Ada Annie’s life that intrigues me was that she outlived four husbands. My story of her is sung in the form of a letter written from the perspective of a potential suitor. With just vocal, guitar and Appalachian dulcimer, along with my daughters Jena and Jeri’s background vocals, I tried to give the song a reclusive intimacy. Recorded at my home on Protection Island, the dulcimer track was played by my friend and neighbour Rick Scott, of the legendary West Coast band Pied Pumkin. On that very day, a cougar made its way over to the island!  – John Gogo