For the past four years, the award-winning, JUNO-nominated, SOCAN #1 bilingual Canadian songwriter, recording artist and producer Maïa Davies has been on a stubbornly unwavering mission of deep musical and self-discovery.
Born in Montreal, Davies has devoted the vast majority of her life to the craft of music. Getting her start in the Warner Music signed folk band Ladies of the Canyon, she has released two solo albums in French and penned over 12 top ten commercial radio hits for Canadian music artists, including Mother Mother and Serena Ryder.
The Lovers’ Gothic LP is a chronological storyboard of the artist’s emotional journey in song. The new full-length by Davies is a compilation of compositions that best encompass the visceral throughline of her euphoria, heartache, abuse, self-actualization and acceptance—a concept she jokingly now refers to as the stages of relationship grief. She recorded the album in 12 different studios across the country, with the help of a large cast of co-producers and star musicians including drummers Jimmy Paxson (Stevie Nicks) and Glenn Milchem (Blue Rodeo), as well as new producer collaborators Marcus Paquin (Begonia, The National) and Erin Costelo (Kaïa Kater).
After cycling through many stages of grief and mourning after a toxic relationship, Davies had a moment—whether you call it weakness or strength—of remembering and honoring the love that had been. In the focus track, “Isn’t Love Everything,” Davies honours her immense capacity to love, with her whole person, knowing that no matter how it ended, she was true to herself and giving with her heart.
Born and raised in South-Central Trinidad, John Orpheus is a multi-cultural musician, author and performance artist. Between writing two children’s books and a forthcoming debut novel called BLACK CHEROKEE, he also found the time to write and produce a new EP: GET RIGHT! It combines John Orpheus‘ playfulness, fluency and affection for the past. The EP demonstrates an evolving set of tastes in funk, punk and pop that maintains the artist’s vibe of welcoming in the whole diaspora: from dancehall to hip hop to funk to Afrobeats.
The title of his new single, “90’s Fool,” is really three titles in one: pride, hilariousness and nostalgia. It’s like:
“I came up in the 90s, you fool.”
“I came up in the 90s acting a damn fool.”
“I’m a fool for the 90s, where I came up.”
They all bring a different vibe and add up to how John feels about his adolescence and life in general. It’s a song about the 90s but don’t call it a throwback.
“There are no eras. There were no 90s or 2010s,” says John Orpheus. “We are people living lives that are much more fluid than that. So I want to make music that’s neither trying to be old school or new school but is a place where all ourselves can hang out: THE WHOLE SCHOOL.”
All Y’all Records, a new independent record label founded by Dave Hedeman of the Gone Ghosts and Nick Stroud of Heat Preacher, is set to make its debut with an exciting launch party on June 1st at Local 506. This event promises to be a significant moment for the North Carolina music scene, featuring a diverse lineup of talented artists and bands. With decades of combined experience in the local and regional music industries, Hedeman and Stroud aim to support and elevate up-and-coming musicians through their innovative approach to the music business.
A New Vision for Independent Artists
All Y’all Records was born out of a shared vision to do things differently. Hedeman and Stroud, both veterans of the North Carolina and regional music scenes, recognized the need for a label that truly supports independent artists. The music industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, often to the detriment of musicians who don’t have the backing of major labels. All Y’all Records seeks to address these challenges by providing artists with the resources, connections, and support they need to thrive.
“We’ve seen it all throughout our musical careers, and we understand how difficult it can be for independent artists to navigate the modern music landscape,” said Hedeman. “Our goal with All Y’all Records is to create a community where artists can share knowledge and experiences, helping each other succeed.”
A Celebration of Local Talent
The launch party at Local 506 will showcase a lineup of bands and musicians that exemplify the spirit and diversity of All Y’all Records. The event will feature performances by:
OLD HEAVY HANDS (Greensboro, NC) – Known for their compelling blend of heartfelt southern rock, influenced by the Muscle Shoals tradition and DIY punk rock.
LORD NELSON (Charlottesville, VA) – Drawing on a rich history of campfire sing-a-longs, barn parties, and metal thrashing, their music exudes a sense of tradition and belonging.
COUNTRY CRUEL (Chapel Hill, NC) – Inspired by legends like John Prine and Doc Watson, they deliver loud, hard country music with an honest edge.
JACK THE RADIO (Raleigh, NC) – Roots-rockers who blend rock, blues, Americana, folk, and country into a unique tapestry of swampy southern sounds.
HEAT PREACHER (Chapel Hill, NC) – Combining alternative rock, soul, and indie influences to create a modern musical experience.
REESE MCHENRY (Chatham Co, NC) – A prolific songwriter and performer whose rock songs mix humor with catchy hooks.
THE GONE GHOSTS (Carrboro, NC) – Creating their version of American rock with themes of love, loss, and heartache.
CHARLES LATHAM & THE BORROWED BAND (Durham, NC) – Marrying vintage psychedelic country-rock with idiosyncratic songwriting.
THE YARDARM (Chapel Hill, NC) – Offering alternative rock with a distinctly North Carolina twang.
This launch event is not just about celebrating the inception of All Y’all Records; it’s about fostering a sense of community and collaboration among North Carolina musicians. “We believe that by amplifying each other’s unique strengths, we can advance everyone’s careers,” said Stroud. “This is a chance to support local music, enjoy a wide range of musical styles, and be part of a movement that values collaboration over competition.”
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience some of the best music North Carolina has to offer and to be part of a new era in the independent music scene. Get your tickets today and join us at Local 506 for an unforgettable evening of live music and community spirit.
Hailing from Vukovar, Croatia, Sandy Hall is the fresh face with the killer vocals that the classic rock scene needed. Growing up in a house full of music, she’s been singing since a very young age leading her to travel around the world and gain once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Sandy has had the opportunity to support and open for national performers including Joan Jett and the Black Hearts in 2017, and over the years seasoned artists like Eddie Money, Heavens Edge, Kip Winger, Dan Reed, and the list goes on. Sandy spends most of her time as the “Ann Wilson” in a Heart tribute band called Kick It Out which has led her to tour up and down the east coast playing in large festivals, theaters, and casinos. In addition to that, she has written and recorded her entrancing album titled ‘Full Circle’.
Sandy shares “This album is very personal to me because I was able to express myself not only through my voice but also by co-writing the majority of the songs with John Ignatius Callaghan and Chris DeMuro. The songs are about what we all universally experience and reflect upon in our lives; love, friendship, loss, self-acceptance, disappointment, nostalgia, time and home. What makes it very special is that every person that is on this album I have known for quite a bit of time, I deeply respect, admire and consider a friend.”
Featuring 12 unique tracks, Sandy uses her silky vocals to carry listeners on a deep journey through the throes of life, love, and all the above. While she perfectly encapsulates that classic rock/pop sound, she brings in elements of her heritage with an instrumental Croatian flair on songs like “The River Calls Me Home” and “Fall From Grace”. “The River Calls Me Home” is a nostalgic tune about the Danube River in Croatia and how strongly Sandy feels pulled to it. “Fall From Grace” takes a far more introspective view on how we use admiration and unrealistic expectations to put someone on a pedestal. Then the hard realization that comes from discovering they are human and perhaps that weakness we now know is within us all.
In 2021, Sandy won the Artist of the Year Award in the rock category at the Josie Music Awards and has been nominated every year since. Her strive to keep all of her songs on a deep, personal level is what keeps us all coming back for more. Sandy claims “I hope what comes across is my “humanness”, my “realness”. In a world of AI, photo filters, social media presence that is constructed and purposefully designed to show an illusion of the perfect day, perfect life… I hope to be able to show more of the truth and reality of life.”
Sandy was recently nominated for several Josie Music Awards (Largest Independent Indie Artist Award Show) which will take place at the Grand Ole Opry on October 27, 2024 including Album of the Year for “Full Circle”
A Short Walk to Pluto has developed a tremendous social media presence through TikTok and Instagram, where they regularly debut original music and covers of well-known classics. It was through that online presence that the quartet was discovered and endorsed by Howard Stern on his SiriusXM radio show.
The quartet dives headfirst into the whirlwind of change on their new single, “Nothing to Fear.” It’s about the bittersweet dance of leaving behind what’s familiar to chase the unknown.
Though much of their success is owed to their social media engagement, it is their genre-defying original music and energetic live performances that have generated a loyal, consistent, and far reaching following.
Swaying between the punchiness of modern rock and the nostalgic tones of ’90s alternative, June Body‘s rawness and forthright lyrical delivery throws back to the likes of Death Cab for Cutie and The Weakerthans.
“Take Our Time Back” is the latest single from the trio’s third album,Last Everythings(June 7, 2024); a snow globe of the scenes before, during, and after a breakup. It is a venture into the subtle, heartbreaking domestic details of an ending.
“I ended a year-long relationship that I realized I wasn’t ready to be in from the start,” lead vocalist/guitarist Connor James elaborates about the new track. “I fell in love with a great person, but a voice in the back of my mind kept telling me it wasn’t meant to be. ‘Take Our Time Back’ is about the guilt of having to break their heart, and wondering if they’re wishing they could take back the time we had together.”
Modern Mystery 
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