Being in a band with family is not always easy; a relationship impacted by years of familiarity and family dynamics. The duo, aptly named Jackie and her brother, decided to work on several songs that remained unfinished and forgotten. The result is a new project from Jackie and Mark Andrade. The name, Jackie and her brother, is a simple way to describe their dynamic and their shared love for catchy, pop-inspired bands that they listened to across different decades as they grew up.

We often wonder, and reflect on our life. It’s a healthy part of being human. We’re also told to stay in the present and live for the future. This dichotomy pulses at the centre of their second single, “Best Days,” where Jackie and her brother turn the focus backward wondering if our best days are already gone.

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

I wrote these lyrics during a dark time in life when I truly considered that all my best days had already happened. In the two years to come, I realized that things were only getting better and better everyday. Whenever my brother and I talk about life and where we came from, its nice for us to remember our childhood days and how our parents brought us up. 

We’re a weird and creative family so it only felt fitting that we highlight the two people that made us. 

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

This song is about memories of the past and that voice inside your head wondering if the best days have already passed you by. 

Our parents are celebrating their 50th anniversary this summer and they’re taking a trip down memory lane. We’ve been reflecting on their best days as a family lately and, well, they are ultimately responsible for the creation of this band/sibling music project. So this visualizer is a bit of a thank you to them and also a showcase of the two people we came from. 

3. What was the process of making this video?

I somehow convinced my parents to have a dance party in their yard. They’re both goofy and fun and weird like my brother and I, so it was an easy ask. After I saved the recording, my talented friend Steve Niilo edited and effected the clips using his magic computer skills. My brother and I like to collaborate with friends and local artists as much as possible and we will continue this trend into our next release- coming very soon!
“The ending has samples of our younger family members laughing and shouting ‘best days’ with their entire life ahead of them,” explains Jackie Andrade. “The addition of these samples adds another interesting layer to the song. When were your best days? Childhood? Or are they happening right now?”

Out of the ashes of seclusion and addiction, Mike Repic rises up through desperation to bring a unique, honest and modern sound. Blending pop and rock sensibilities, while not shying away from acoustic, electronic and orchestral nuances, Repic’s songs spark a modern, yet classic approach into the medium. 

Creating dark, thoughtful, sensitive, but ultimately hopeful music with an optimistic narrative, “Alive” is Repic’s triumphant new release. “It’s about walking through hell, only to come out the other side and realize you’re still living in fear. After getting off of drugs I’ve had to give my head a shake and tell myself ‘look at what you’ve gone through in your life, this shouldn’t scare you.’ It’s ultimately an uplifting song to give myself a kick in the ass to not be afraid to go after the things I want in life.”

For 10 years, singer/songwriter/guitarist Mike Repic was frontman of acclaimed Canadian rock band 40 Sons. Now venturing on his own, he is tapping into new sounds, with a new spirit, and a new range of musical ideas while maintaining his focus on recovery and enlightenment. 

Originally from Uxbridge, Ontario, Tom Hanley began his musical journey as the singer/guitarist in a slew of pop punk bands with “terrible names,” performing at high school parties. It was there he fell in love with playing in bands and writing music. In college, he started a six-piece funk band, JUICE, recording and touring for eight years. After years of deliberation, countless wedding band gigs, and 60 songs written later, he’s ready to go off on his own and release music as a solo artist. 

Tom teamed up with songwriter and producer, Nixon Boyd (Hollerado, Dizzy), and wrote the song “Take It Away” over Zoom together.

“Take It Away” is about the rising cost of living in Toronto and in Canada in general, and how tough it has been for our generation to get a foothold. With rent, gas and housing prices skyrocketing, countless artists, families, venues and businesses have been forced to close or leave Toronto to seek more affordable alternatives. In Tom’s opinion, this has been a major contributing factor to the erosion of Toronto’s artistic community and has taken a serious toll on the mental health of young people today. 

“This song makes me want to go out and do something to change how our country is being run,” says Tom Hanley. “To change the narrative we are telling the next generation. What they should work towards and the path they should take because it’s not leading to the same results that it did even ten years ago.”

A tough-sensitive singer-songwriter from northern Ontario, Ray Henderson combines the darkness of Johnny Cash, the storytelling of Kris Kristofferson with the gravitas of John Prine. Equal parts country, roots rock, blues and gospel, Henderson’s debut full-length album captures his lightning in a bottle.

Broke Down in Bala emerged from Toronto’s open mic scene where Henderson is a regular. Back in the ‘90s, he would drive down to the Free Times Cafe in Toronto every Monday from Muskoka. Returning in 2022, he met musician and producer Loren Davie who agreed to produce Broke Down in Bala, the first release on the Toronto-based epijam label. Now the world can hear Henderson’s music, poignant at times and raucous at others. 

The focus track “Voice” came to Henderson in a dream. “I saw my lady across the water,” he explains. “She was looking for me and calling my name but couldn’t hear my reply. My voice was gone because…I guess I just didn’t fit in with the real musicians and naysayers… my own underconfidence. Then I met the positive lady in the song, so it was her belief in me that gave me strength and just kept me writing.”

Broke Down in Bala is the resurrection of 11 songs, inspired by lessons learned on the ride of life. Many were written up to 25 years ago, but Henderson had put them aside, not feeling confident in them. Then, in the summer of 2023, as he sat in the park with friends from the open mic scene, he dusted off some of his older material, and, encouraged by them, decided to give it another shot. 

Introducing Hearsing, the brainchild of Avery Murphy and Jordan Taylor, a musical project deeply rooted in their shared journey from high school to professional stardom. Their musical odyssey began within the confines of high school corridors, where they co-founded the surf punk ensemble SUBPAR alongside Lukas Henderson and Austin Corona. Since then, these talented individuals have embarked on their own notable ventures in the music scene, spanning projects like LILACS, Jean Dawson, and Lizzy McAlpine. Their new single “Silicon Prairie,” the second release off of their upcoming album “Pastoral,” debuts a haunting and harmonious nostalgic indie sound from the group. 

In March of 2021, Hearsing unveiled their inaugural offering—a self-titled collection of home-recorded tracks that served as a precursor to their burgeoning musical expedition. However, it is in the year 2024 that they truly come into their own, as they unleash their debut professional studio EP, aptly titled “Pastoral.” Recorded under the meticulous guidance of producer and singer-songwriter Henry Chadwick, whose impressive repertoire includes collaborations with esteemed acts like Jesse Daniel and Coffis Brothers, “Pastoral” encapsulates the essence of Hearsing‘s artistic evolution. Additionally, the EP features the deft drumming of Ellington Peet, known for his work with bands like Runnner and Babehoven, adding a layer of dynamism to the sonic landscape.What sets “Pastoral” apart is not just its impeccable production or the pedigree of its collaborators, but the sheer depth of emotion and creativity that permeates each track. From the wistful nostalgia of “Montauk” to the infectious energy of “Hearsing,” the EP traverses a diverse sonic terrain, seamlessly blending elements of surf punk, indie rock, and Americana to create a sound that is both timeless and refreshing.As Hearsing prepares to embark on the next phase of their musical journey, their sights set on conquering new horizons and captivating audiences around the globe, they invite listeners to join them on this exhilarating ride. With “Montauk” serving as the harbinger of their sonic expedition, Hearsing is poised to make an indelible mark on the musical landscape, one soul-stirring melody at a time.

This Mad Desire is Mackenzie Kristjon’s rock and roll brand, specializing in indie rock that has been described as “like Neil Young on David Bowie drugs.” Kristjon is Icelandic-Canadian songwriter and author who operates in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton area. 

“Ready For The Weekend” is a collaboration between Kristjon and Marcus Manderson a.k.a. Da Fingaz. The two met at an online music industry event and discussed a collaboration. Manderson provided instrumentals for a real swinging R&B/disco vibe so Kristjon wanted to accentuate that party atmosphere. To get there, he added a dreamlike, almost psychedelic bridge where we could hear our various participants musing about their future weekend plans before we launch into the final choruses. He also added some really upfront, funky bass to increase the “Shake Your Booty” quotient.

The collaboration goes further, connecting musicians all over North America. Dan Konopka from OK Go played drums for this track in Hollywood, Kristen Prince played sax in Toronto, and the background singers come from the following cities: Calgary, Guelph, Hamilton, and Toronto in Canada; Detroit, Oakland, Philadelphia, and more in the USA. Their voices are featured in the bridge; Kristjon encouraged everyone to say a line describing what they were going to do for their dream weekend whether that be “going to the beach” or “holding a seance.” The goal was to make it seem like the listener was dropped into a party of dreamers, eavesdropping on their conversations.

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

I wrote Ready For The Weekend here in Toronto in collaboration with my friend Marcus Manderson aka Da Fingaz in Washington, DC. He had sent me an instrumental titled Ready For The Weekend. I thought, “Hey! Great title!” and ran with it. The lyrics are about having fun and enjoying new experiences. Let your mind go and let the body groove!

By the time, I added my own instrumental parts and had Dan Konopka from OK Go play drums and my friend Kristen Prince play sax and all sorts of other cool people across Canada and the USA contribute backing vocals and spoken bits, I knew we had something fun that would lend itself to an exciting visual treatment.

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

First of all, I make videos for most of my releases and this current cycle of songs has all been animations. Second, I work with Dan Konopka whose mothership band OK Go is (cough cough, ahem) pretty well-known for their videos so there’s a certain level of Quality Control in my brain from the outset!

There are several scenes and each uses a real image from my home (or the single cover for the first scene) as a starting point.

Verse one shows workers at an amusement park beyond happy it’s the weekend. Prechorus one starts with a painting by Canadian artist Arthur Horsfall and takes us into a fantasy in the mountains. The first chorus then starts with a collage I made during the pandemic but with a movement towards Fellini and Italy.

In verse two, we go back to work and this is represented by finance people in New York (nose to the grindstone but with a glass of wine thinking about the weekend). The second prechorus starts with another painting by Arthur Horsfall depicting a lady on the beach and takes us into a surreal beach scene.

One thing I have always liked about Arthur Horsfall’s work is that every painting has one element that is philosophically or perspectively jarring. In this case, the ship in the distance overlaps part of the lady’s leg. When I was little, I used to sit in my Afi’s study and stare at this painting for long periods trying to make sense of it!

That leads us into a chorus starting image of me, my brother, and my dad all dressed up for an epic party on the lake (that also included dozens of women dressed in pink flooding the dock to the sound of the Pink Panther theme over loudspeakers), but I digress…

The breakdown section where we hear all the secret dreams of what people want to do for their weekend starts with a painting of a shoe amidst pebbles painted by my mother Kristin Olafson-Jenkyns (author of The Cuinary Saga of New Iceland and the Mermaids …For Real!! books) and quickly takes us to 1920s Paris (which also ties in with my twin songs Paris of Love and Paris Amoureux). Dreamy and elegant!

And then we bring it back to a real party in New York. Wild! Abstract! Picasso meets Andy Warhol on acid. This final section starts with Club Barella, an image by my father Mark Jenkyns, which includes a diverse crew of characters who are definitely Ready For The Weekend!

3. What was the process of making this video?

As mentioned, I’ve been making animations for this cycle of songs from forthcoming full-length Passing Lanes of Fate. The main AI tool I use I actually learned about from my friend Jessica Magoch in Philly. She’s a frequent collaborator and actually won the PHL Live! Music Award for Jazz just pre-pandemic. Definitely check her out!

The general process is I divide the song into its various musical sections and then find imagery that fits or takes the viewer/listener somewhere new and interesting.

Afterwards, I make various AI animations using personally curated images as starting points for the AI, and then I edit and sequence everything.

Using AI in some ways is like how I work with the musicians. I give them some direction (just like the AI tools via “prompts”) but ultimately what comes back is always surprising and additive (and occasionally addictive)!

That’s part of the magic. I do a lot of work in the film industry in various capacities but one thing that’s true about film and music is you’re looking for that special unexpected something that happens in the work. Could be a casual glance, a lighting effect that’s slightly unexpected, or almost anything.

It’s the pursuit of going somewhere you’ve never been and seeing something you’ve never seen, as we sing in the song, that drives us all to get Ready For The Weekend!