Based in Victoria, BC, Jesse Roper is a blues/Americana artist with a penchant for writing modern indie-infused blues music and delivering bombastic live performances buoyed by his virtuosic guitar playing. His innate and impressive musical talent has served him well, giving him the flexibility to play with soul icon Booker T. Jones, rock veteran Colin James, blues belter Beth Hart, and Canadian legend Burton Cummings.
“Way Down In The Valley” is a song about the house that Jesse lives in. It started out as a classic rock song and evolved into a funky, soulful tune with the help of JUNO-nominated producer, Gus van Go (Metric, Arkells, Sam Roberts, Whitehorse).
“I’ve wanted to live in this valley since I was a little kid,” says Jesse Roper. “I still can’t believe I actually live here. The ground grows tasty vegetables. The deer, wolves, bears, cougars and even the odd elk roam the surrounding hills. There’s old growth trees and the smell of the ocean freshens it up around here year round. I’m truly lucky to call this place my home.”
Solo artist and singer-songwriter Tataetanoannounces the release of his debut full-length album “MaloKhali Rising.”
Hailing from the Bay Area in California, Tataetano is the stage name of Antonio Palazzo. This new album of songs features a blend of Indie and Adult Alternative music.
The concept of “Malokhali Rising” revolves around the theme of awakening and inspiration:
“I wanted the concept of this album to have a recurring theme of some version of an awakening or an inspiration to achieve something with new possibilities. I decided to name the album “Malokhali Rising.” Khali means space, silence, or empty, as used in Northern Indian music philosophy to describe the pause between two beats. It’s the moment of space (the khali) where rhythm is born. Malo in Tongan means “thank you.” MaloKhali to me, means finding and embracing the empty space between when one part of life (usually negative) ends and another one (positive) begins and being grateful for that. So, Malokhali Rising is the state of mind in which this occurs.”
Most of the tracks on the album have hints of this concept, but the second track on the album, titled “Down Here,” is the most prominent:
A great wide darkness swallows me
There’s a trillion stars above every tree
I’m not yet tame, but I am small
The voice I lost shouts “fuck” em all
A strange new breath I feel
Down here
A sunrise spills light on the night
A spirit’s shook by a thunder strike
Above the ocean of oxygen
Lives worlds our minds have never been
In the first verse, the song depicts a person overwhelmed by the pressures of modern society. They glimpse the awe-inspiring “trillion stars above every tree,” igniting a desire to leave behind their known world in search of something deeper.
The second verse describes the realization of this search, celebrating nature’s beauty with lines like “sunrise spills light on the night” and the awakening of a spirit “shook by a thunder strike.” It ends with recognizing the vast, unexplored realms of existence, expressed in “above the ocean of oxygen, live worlds our minds have never seen.” The chorus reflects a sense of wonder and renewal, presenting a breath of fresh air that feels entirely new to them.
Throughout all of the tracks, Tataetano brings together a delectable blend of alternative rock elements, synths, and electronica. He stands out for his pleasing melodies and thoughtful lyrics, which together create a unique California sound.
Tracks “You Are My Friend” and “A Day In Harmony” carry a more mellow electronica sound, while “The Pain I Take” is punchier, with rock beats and percussion.
“The Joy Will Be Restored” is a standout track on this album for its vocal harmonies, strong rhythms, and catchy refrains.
The album’s overall instrumentation blends modern electronic sounds with organic hand drums and sometimes ancient percussive instruments, creating a really unique sound.
Alongside the album, Tataetano has also released a book of poems titled “Borrowed Eden.” The book echoes the themes of his music’s emotional richness, and the album and poetry work together to show artistic versatility and talent for combining different creative expressions.
Malokhali Track List:
The Next Thousand Thumps
Down Here
Let the Sky Cry
You Are My Friend
Peter Pan Parable
The Pain I Take
Santa Monica
A Day in Harmony
Blossom of Desire
The Joy will be Restored
Wild Freedom
Tataetano wrote and arranged all the songs and lyrics, working with producer Tal Ariel, an incredible musician who helped develop the songs and ensured they sounded their best!
Introducing Riley Michaels, a rising star in the world of pop/rock. Drawing inspiration from iconic artists such as John Mayer and Prince, Riley Michaels has developed a unique sound that blends the emotional depth of Pop with the infectious energy of Rock. A two-time Niagara Music Awards winner, his music strikes a chord with listeners, touching their hearts and moving their souls.
His song “Doctor, Doctor!” is largely about that person that you know is bad for you to love, but you do it anyway, because you just can’t get over them – no matter how bad they are for you. It’s like drinking coffee – you know it’s not the best thing you can do for yourself, but it’s just too good and you can’t get enough of it. Your body, your soul craves it and you need it to function.
Though Riley is known for his sappy and emotional love songs, he wanted to make this one a real “rock ‘n roll” groove. This song was a collaboration between Riley and Ryan Guay from the band, Street Pharmacy.
Custie is an emerging alternative pop artist hailing from London, Ontario. His distinct sound explores pop music as it intersects with singer-songwriter, R&B and alternative music.
His song “ON E, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN” deals with themes related to addiction. Although he hasn’t personally struggled with addiction, it has affected the lives of people close to him. E stands for ecstasy in the broadest sense, and also energy. There’s been this uptick in songs about energy, the cosmic pull of stars and planets, and attributing behaviours and interactions to continuums beyond our capability of understanding. Though Custie doesn’t believe in astrology, he always seems to write romantic things that bring the possibility of it to light.
“‘E’ is an attempt to stylize and leave much of the song up to listener interpretation,” says Custie. “By giving things concrete names, it makes everything very topical. I always like to find a way to have my listeners move with me by presenting a song with a certain kind of allure in mystery. Hence the ‘E’ – it stands for anything you’d like.”
shn shn (she/they) is an electronic experimental pop artist who ventures into the realm of production and soundscapes, immersing herself in the exploration of sonic textures and emotional landscapes. Their music sounds like a blend of lush vocals, meditative beats, and swelling pads, to craft cinematic-inspired music that transcends conventional boundaries. Creating from a space of curiosity, contemplation and care, they question the nature of existence in this bizarre, absurd and exciting world.
Glimmers are not always loud and boisterous and in your face, sometimes they are subtle. shn shn’s song “Glimmer” represents moments of joy, hope and possibility; which are themes that they explore in their upcoming album.
“Glimmer” aims to take listeners on a journey that twists and turns as the music unfolds into its different parts. The frosty bells fold over themselves, the whispered vocal delivery invites you in, and the apex where the music beat and bass create a completely different vibe suddenly return you back to the bells from the beginning, always moving in cycles. This song is for fans of Björk’s album, Vespertine.
Nominated for the 2024 ECMA’s Rock Recording of the Year for debut album Joy State of Mind, singer-songwriter Elyse Aeryn is known for her fiery and rebellious rock and roll. Her bluesy melodies paired with her bold, warm voice make for an authentic and ageless sound.
The winner of Music Nova Scotia’s 2023 Country Recording of the Year and The Coast’s Best of Halifax Readers’ Choice Award for Best New Artist has a fierce new single, “Cowboy.”
“I was imagining what it would be like to live so boldly,” Elyse offers. “As the chorus started flowing, it hit me that I am stepping into that energy. I don’t want or need anyone to save me. I am the cowboy.”
Hard knocks, dead ends, new beginnings – Elyse writes with heart about the stuff of life. You can practically taste the inner strength and resilience in her rich voice, soulful lyrics, and charismatic guitar riffs.
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