Emerging from the bright, wide skies of Canada’s west coast, Sam Weber has spent the last decade variously honing his craft as a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Now based in Los Angeles, he is set to release a new collection of solo work with Clear and Plain, a group of simple and beautiful folk and jazz inflected songs which lean into sensory experiences and underscore Weber’s values.

Clear and Plain features the focus track, “Tamarindo Sunsets,” what Weber calls a “social media song.” “Tamarindo Sunsets” couples Weber’s gentle vocals with warm upright bass, searching piano, and understated acoustic guitar playing. “If I stay at home, can I still get free? If there’s something new, can you text it to me? ‘Cause I’m going offline, I’m going offline, I’m going offline until the end of time,” he asserts.

[It’s] about staring into the digital abyss and being confronted with greener and greener grass. Reckoning with what it means to find that beauty, peace, satisfaction in your heart.
– Sam Weber

Havelin, also known as Alex Zaichkowski, is an acclaimed (unofficially) singer-songwriter (allegedly) whose passion for music began at a young age and will continue until his untimely demise (which will likely come at the hands of some great warrior or foul beast…or, more likely, slipping on a banana peel). 

Five to six years of getting kicked around by life’s ups and downs culminated in Havelin almost hanging up his hat as a songwriter, until a fortuitous spark of creativity struck him while driving by a rodeo grounds in his home province of Alberta. 

That moment birthed “Rodeo Clown,” a forlorn and melodic reflection on toxic relationships in all their forms: business, platonic, and romantic. Its plaintive organ, guitar, and piano provide the backdrop to an earnest song that speaks of Havelin’s inner turmoil when feeling the need to perform a role within these unhealthy dynamics.

This song’s definitely cathartic for me. It brings up a lot of the emotional baggage and exhaustion that I’ve felt trying to get my music out there over the last decade… but at the same time, it also gets me really excited. It represents the start of something new. Something more honest, more sincere – a record that really feels like me. – Havelin

Piano pop songwriter Mike Evin is sharing an earnest and hopeful new album by the name of Something Stirs When You Sing, featuring a collection of songs whose characters long to find joy and feel alive. Working with producer Chris Stringer (Rose Cousins, Abigail Lapell), Evin and Stringer prioritized emotion and vibe over precision and perfection, handpicking from a batch of about 120 songs, mostly written during the early pandemic years.

The album’s focus track, “Outside With A Guitar,” was inspired by the community of musicians that Evin was a part of led by Ken Whiteley who performed on Toronto’s Roxton Road during that time. Every night for almost two years, they made music outside. The jovial song took root one night after seeing the abandon with which one of the street’s couples sang a song. It alludes to difficult times but is ultimately about the catharsis of making music.

This song is noteworthy also because the album title comes from one of the lyrics, “something stirs when you sing.” It encapsulates my raison d’etre for making music, and it ties in with a theme that is in a lot of my work – the search for joy and connection through music. This was the first song we recorded for the album, and it’s fitting that it’s also the opening track on the album. I feel it sets the tone nicely – joyous, yet also hinting at dark times (“now that seems like a dream”) and the need to uplift ourselves to a more lively state of being. – Mike Evin

4x JUNO nominee Julian Taylor has teamed up with Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, Allison Russell, for a stately new ballad entitled “Pathways,” taken from Taylor’s upcoming record of the same name out on September 27th.

“Pathways” was written by Taylor with Toronto songwriters Robert Priest and Rosanne Baker Thornley, created to be a duet with Russell. Its understated Americana production provides the bedrock for Russell and Taylor’s rich vocal harmonies.

The journey of life puts us all on our own respective pathways to find out who we are and how we can strive to overcome any of the inner doubts and struggles we all experience. This song is meant to be a letter from a person who has gone through many trivial experiences and who is trying to be there for someone younger like their child and protect them and guide them through the hard points in life. When we wrote the song, each writer felt as if they were speaking to their children. – Julian Taylor

Alternative folk singer-songwriter Rory Taillon is sharing his fourth full-length album Now It’s Quiet on Tuesday August 20th, 2024. The album features the two previously released singles, “Hatchet” and “Wish You Would Stay.” The record’s main theme centres on loss, “whether it is the loss of someone you love, the loss of a friendship, loss of an ideal, or the loss of contempt towards something that hurt you,” explains Taillon. He will be touring Canada in support of the record through the end of the summer and the fall.  

This song is about trying to make sense of one’s own grief while watching others grieve the same person in their own ways. I lost a really close friend of mine who I had been friends with since childhood. At his wake there were a number of people that I hadn’t seen since high school. Another friend of mine made a joke saying, “This is the worst reunion I’ve ever been to,” and I thought that was really dark and profound and decided to run with that thought. – Rory Taillon

RecoHavoc has transformed the trials of his Southwest Philadelphia upbringing into a distinct and compelling voice in hip-hop. From an early age, he found solace in music and dance, but life threw him off course. At 16, a robbery charge landed him in a juvenile correctional facility, where he faced the heartbreaking loss of his mother. With his father battling addiction and legal issues, RecoHavoc had no choice but to navigate life’s harsh realities on his own.

Instead of letting these hardships define him, RecoHavoc turned his pain into power, channeling his raw experiences into music that resonates with authenticity. He began releasing self-produced songs and viral videos, quickly making a name for himself in his community. His breakthrough came in 2016 with the viral hit “Lucas,” which amassed millions of views and put him on the map as an artist to watch. This momentum, paired with his mixtape One Way Out, caught the attention of radio stations and record labels, ultimately leading to a deal with Atlantic Records in 2017.

RecoHavoc’s rise continued with his 2018 DJ Drama-hosted mixtape Started, which further showcased his gritty storytelling and unique delivery. Collaborations with industry heavyweights like PnB Rock and Lil Uzi Vert, a four-time GRAMMY® nominee, solidified his presence in the hip-hop scene. RecoHavoc’s ability to transform personal pain into poignant lyrics has earned him a dedicated following and a growing reputation.

Now, with his new single “Circles,” featuring Reese Youngn and DJ Crazy, RecoHavoc is preparing for the next phase of his career. The track highlights his evolution and sets the stage for his upcoming project, slated for release in late 2024. As RecoHavoc continues to rise, his journey remains a testament to resilience, using his art to turn adversity into triumph while captivating listeners with the depth of his storytelling.

These experiences didn’t break him, but rather shaped his music, adding depth and authenticity to his sound. RecoHavoc began to release self-produced tracks and viral videos, quickly gaining attention in his community and beyond. His breakthrough came with the track “Lucas” in 2016, which rapidly garnered millions of views and solidified his place as a rising star. The momentum from “Lucas” and his mixtape One Way Out attracted interest from local radio stations and record labels, leading to a major milestone in 2017—a deal with Atlantic Records.

RecoHavoc’s career reached new heights with the release of his DJ Drama-hosted mixtape Started in 2018. Known for his distinctive delivery and raw storytelling, Reco captured the attention of prominent artists, including PnB Rock and four-time GRAMMY® nominee Lil Uzi Vert. His ability to channel personal pain into lyrical storytelling set him apart in the industry, as he continued to evolve his sound and build a loyal fan base.

Now, RecoHavoc is gearing up for the next chapter of his career with his latest single “Circles,” featuring Reese Youngn and DJ Crazy. The track showcases his continued growth and hints at what’s to come from his highly anticipated project, set to drop in late 2024. As he continues to climb the ranks of the hip-hop world, RecoHavoc remains a testament to resilience, turning adversity into art and building a career that’s as compelling as the stories he tells.