Coraline James is an alt-folk musician from Kitchener, Ontario who self-describes as a forest gremlin who emerges from the woods to make music. James’ music reflects her deep connection to nature, her background as a Baroque musician, and growing up on her mom’s Elvis and Beatles albums. She is often compared to Damien Rice for his melodic sensibilities, Kate Bush for her quirky theatricality, and Adele for her powerful vocals. James describes her artistic practice as “a commitment to examining life’s inherent delight and agony with raw candor.”
New single, “Unholy Prayer,” takes the perspective of a woman in an abusive marriage who finds respite from the darkness of her reality in the arms of her lover. The haunting track features interweaving melodies and earthy instrumentation.
As I was writing, a character emerged. She was a woman whose affair is her only respite from an abusive marriage and the loss of her child. She’s praying for forgiveness, but ultimately she does not regret her actions. – Coraline James
Renowned Canadian Celtic music group, LEAHY, is pleased to announce the release of “Joie de vivre,” the first single from their upcoming new album LEAHY Live In Concert.
The spirited accordion-led instrumental track is a medley of two original pieces composed by multi-instrumentalist Xavier Leahy, inspired by his exploration of jazz through his guitar. “I deliberately tried to write tunes outside the Irish or French boxes,” recounts the young musician, “basically trying to translate “jazz” into “Irish.”
Xavier’s aunt, Erin Leahy, influenced by pianists in the Montreal jazz scene, adds rich and intricate layers underneath Xavier’s accordion, igniting the feel with her Latin and jazz piano arrangement. In typical LEAHY form, the band’s approach takes the track in unexpected directions melodically and rhythmically, leaving the listener exhilarated and satisfied.
“Joie de vivre” was recorded during a regular live performance, filmed for a video series on which the band was working. When they listened back to the music from the show, the vibe was so dynamic that the band decided to release several tracks on an album. “Joie de vivre” is the subject of the second episode in the video series, LEAHY: From the Inside.
“Joie de vivre” is one of nine tracks on LEAHY Live In Concert which will be released on October 25th, 2024. In addition to the core band, several young Leahys are also featured on the live album, along with special guests, Canadian fiddle-player Louis Schryer, and French-Canadian accordionists, Timi Turmel and Marie-Jeanne Brousseau.
Actor and musician Eli Golden, known for his starring role in the Netflix feature film “13 The Musical, “ has released a new single just in time for Halloween, “Worst Nightmare”.
It’s a striking blend of hip-hop and pop, all wrapped up in an eerie atmosphere that perfectly complements the theme.
From the song’s beginning, listeners are drawn into a world of haunting melodies. Written in C minor, “Worst Nightmare” has only four chords in the verse, and three chords in the chorus, with the E major chord lending a creepy vibe. Eli sticks to the minor chords in both the verse and the chorus, making sure that the chorus avoids anything too bright or happy.
Golden’s voice captures the feeling of being trapped by the memory of a past lover. The lyrics explore the lingering emotional baggage following a break-up, making this song relatable to anyone who has experienced a similar heartache.
The production on this track was co-crafted with producer Matt Anthony (Shinedown, Pat Monohan, Darius Rucker, Theory of a Deadman, Halestorm, Tammany Hall NYC, JJ Appleton, and more). The eerie soundscapes create a ghostly ambiance that echoes the theme of being haunted. Combining rhythm beats and melodic hooks is the perfect backdrop for Golden’s storytelling.
One of the standout aspects of “Worst Nightmare” is how it artfully balances its darker themes with moments of brightness. The song’s structure builds tension throughout, leading to a memorable climax, which leaves a lasting impression on the listener. Golden can bring complex emotions into accessible pop music here, showing a maturity beyond his years.
Having originally written the song at 11 years old, the decision to revisit it shows just how far Eli has come. It’s a compelling single that combines haunting themes with infectious pop sensibilities.
“Worst Nightmare” will be a highlight track of the fall music scene for fans and newcomers alike.
About Eli Golden
Eli Golden, born in 2007, is a young actor and singer who made a striking debut as the lead in Netflix’s 13: The Musical.
Hailing from Westchester, New York, Eli grew up in a family deeply connected to the entertainment world. His early career included commercials and TV roles before his breakthrough on the big stage. His performance in “13: The Musical” showed his vocal and acting talents and placed him firmly in the spotlight as a rising star.
With a strong sense of his roots and a passion for performing, Eli Golden is poised for an exciting future in film and theater.
Toronto-based pop singer-songwriter Tara Van’s work gives glimpses of her internal world. She is generous in her self-disclosure. As a textbook ADHD oversharer, you can feel her weather report: sun-soaked, overcast, stormy etc. She lets herself express the mess. Her approach is as gutsy and bold as it is tender and vulnerable. She’s inviting you in. Listen to her diary with care. It’s best enjoyed by an open heart.
Tara’s brand new single, “Glow,” embodies the feeling of vibrancy and joy that you feel when you are living as your most authentic and unguarded self. Though the motivational song seems like it might be talking about someone else bringing out that glow in you, the truth of the song is actually that you are bringing out that glow in yourself and admiring how far you have come and how free you feel after dismantling your walls.
I write a bunch of different stuff but I have really been focusing on feel-good, motivational and empowering music in the past year. I don’t want to sugarcoat the troubles of our times, of which there are many, but my goal is to hammer in imported messages about inclusivity, collectivism, self-love, mindfulness, respect, environmentalism, empathy, living reflectively, deep listening, communicating effectively, etc., in hopes that incremental changes to people’s mindsets and mental wellbeing will positively impact individuals who then affect communities who then affect countries who then affect continents and so on and so forth. Love, joyfulness and hope are all completely infectious but so are hate, sadness and negativity. Though I write sad songs as well, and I believe there is complete merit in songs that allow you to tap into and process any emotion, I personally would like to fill the world with as much love as I can in the short time that I have here. – Tara Van
The music of Toronto based band Good Group Thanks For Coming is a dynamic blend of its member’s diverse influences. It’s a music of everything, lovingly curated to share with everyone. They make musical sandwiches, music soup, music pizza; all your favourite music simmered in an indie rock rue and served on a platter from your local dive bar.
“It’s a Game,” the band’s latest single, is a hard-luck sing-along layered with metaphors and dualistic intentions. An ode to gaming, internet humor and learning to cope, the song likens life to playing games and even has a few little games written into the song itself.
I think this song is bittersweet! It’s, basically, a song about accepting disappointments. It’s a song about self-soothing – but there are whimsical elements in it that are silly and fun too. It captures a kind of duality that I’m proud of. It has a certain innocence about it but it also has a certain helplessness about it. There’s, ultimately, maybe a little more sad than happy in it but without a bit of both it wouldn’t be nearly as poetic. – Justin Sullivan (Songwriter/Vocals/Guitar)
Burgeoning New Brunswick-based singer-songwriter Kylie Fox is happy to be sharing her second studio full-length, Sequoia, that was made with the support of ArtsNB, Music New Brunswick and Canada Council for the Arts. Sequoia has come to life as an 11-track album, developed with her band and six-time ECMA-winning producer, Daniel Ledwell (Jenn Grant, Fortunate Ones, The Good Lovelies).
Sequoia is deeply rooted in folk-Canadiana elements that have characterized Fox’s career, while also exploring folk-rock and jazz-pop fusion. The album could be described as 70s Sesame Street meets Sharon Van Etten. “The 11 songs that make up Sequoia are reflections on gratitude in relation to the women in my life, my environment, my relationships, and myself.” says Fox. The title Sequoia refers to the source of inspiration for the project which struck upon a news story that told of firefighters working throughout the night to prevent a Sequoia tree from burning in a forest fire. “It resonated with me how severely nature and time have been taken for granted.” concludes Fox. Like Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi,” the collection of songs on Sequoia acknowledge moments when something was taken for granted, while also functioning as pieces of gratitude in and of themselves in how they uplift and celebrate love and life.
The record’s title track features an epic, circus chaos climax at the end, that feels like a life montage. In the song, Fox draws comparisons to how nature is neglected to how she sometimes takes the most important people in her life for granted – something that is pretty honest and can be scary to say out loud.
We recorded Sequoia at Daniel Ledwell’s studio on Lake Echo, Nova Scotia during Thanksgiving weekend. I made a turkey, and chili, and the leaves changed. We watched a horror movie that we still reference. It was very collaborative, creative and cozy and Dan made us feel at home. “Sequoia” was a fun one to work through because I wanted it to build to a chaotic circus climax, so Kelly (Waterhouse) and Dan went wild with their horns and we recorded gong sounds. It was energetic. – Kylie Fox
Modern Mystery 