Folk femme fatale singer and theatre actress Sarah Segal-Lazar has been making music since before she could talk. Folks say she took her first steps in ¾ time. 

She wrote “Even Miami Is Cold” after a trip to spend time with her long-distance boyfriend, but within two days she realised it was like a romcom gone wrong. 

The line that started it all – “Baby when I’m with you even Miami is cold” – feels like something Katharine Hepburn would fire back at Cary Grant. It’s a good reminder that even the most specific and personal stories can still live in poetry.

“I was so stressed that I spent a good chunk of the trip shivering, even though it was 30 degrees out,” Sarah explains. “Needless to say, by the last night, we had called it quits. I flew back to Montreal, half heartbroken and half bewildered.”

In the music industry, Chin Injeti has had a decorated career songwriting and producing with/for many household names. He’s made music with and for the likes of Dr. Dre, Eminem, Drake, Pink, Aloe Blacc, The Clipse, Lecrae, K’naan and more. Chin has recently re-ignited his own artist career and is releasing new music under his name.

Passionate new single, “Expensive” (feat. Jarrel the Young), was inspired by all things David Bowie and elicits the over-the-top vibe of ‘80s pop culture. 

A reminder that Bowie is timeless and that his influence on art will never disappear.

Today Julian Cross has just launched his new track ‘All I Need’ together with AFROJACK, the first song for Julian’s debut album Stories of The Nebula, which is anticipated to be released later this summer. Futuristic and fresh describe Julian Cross’s sound, who incorporates his clear vision for his music into all aspects of his work, including artwork and performances. Born in the Netherlands and raised in Belgium, Julian Cross has been working as a DJ and producer for many years. He is one of the biggest developments within WALL Recordings, the record label of DJ/producer AFROJACK, who is also Julian’s mentor and co-producer on this beautiful track.

Julian Cross proudly announces the release of his latest hit track, ‘All I Need.’ It’s a fantastic ‘feel-good’ song with catchy and uplifting vocals from Tonino Speciale, the singer who co-wrote the hit ‘Anywhere With You’ with AFROJACK. ‘All I Need’ is the perfect song to start the summer with and will undoubtedly conquer headphones and dance floors throughout the coming year.

Julian Cross is no stranger to the dance scene. With over 4 million plays on Spotify and impressive performances at Tomorrowland the Gathering and during Ultra Miami, the name ‘Julian Cross’ is becoming increasingly familiar to the general public. His previous track, ‘Antidote,’ was also played frequently during Ultra. Julian draws most of his inspiration for his music mainly from his environment to keep his songs close to himself. Knowing where you came from is a big part of his life, which he incorporates into his music. He has also received support from big names in the industry such as Martin Garrix and of course AFROJACK.

The other Dutchman on this track needs little introduction. The world-famous DJ and Grammy-award-winning producer AFROJACK has been one of the biggest names in the EDM scene for over a decade. With his focus on developing new talent, the superstar provides advice to the producers of the future. This track ‘All I Need’ is, therefore, a testament to the developments behind WALL. Proud mentor of Julian Cross and also one of the founders of the EDM scene, AFROJACK will continue to break boundaries wherever he goes.

With its catchy vocals and melody, ‘All I Need’ is a track you’ll have on repeat. Within seconds, the song sticks in your head, and you’ll be singing it all summer long. Now that the single is out, you can listen to it from the comfort of your own sound system in addition to festival sets around the world. ‘All I Need’ is this track, all summer long!

Toronto’s Ekelle rhymes about what she knows best: her real-life experience! Money, sex, drama, and identity stir together to create a style she calls Hood Pop – popular music with a street edge. Currently, Ekelle is an artist in the RBC Launchpad Music Entrepreneurship Program, guided by her instincts and a passion for music, pop culture and fashion.

She’s back with a new ‘bad bitch anthem’ titled “Flo” which she remarks is her preferred song style. “We’re finally in a place where the music scene, especially in Canada where we are embracing Female rappers, allows us to exist independently without putting us all in a box.” It’s a sexy track perfect for a night out.

We caught up with Ekelle below!

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

The story of ‘Flo’ is one of bold self-confidence and embracing your sensual energy. The track has parts that are sexier and softer and others that are aggressive and in your face. I wanted the visual to have a sassy, playful theme with a little dangerous, vibe. This is also my first release of 2023 so I wanted this visual to be different, to really capture an aesthetic.

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

I was actually trying to find creative ways to have my more modest friends be involved. They want to support me, but may not be as comfortable as I am with certain levels of explicity. I love the imagery of a ski mask baddie, and the factor of anonymity can be very sexy so I built the concept around that. I definitely got some inspiration from Destiny’s Child, 90’s hip hop, and just rap culture in general. I also wanted to go with a less is more philosophy, it’s a simple video but I think it allowed us to get more creative.

3. What was the process of making this video?

The process of making the video was fun. I usually start with a mood board so I can show the videographer my ideas, themes, and inspiration. I like to collaborate with different videographers and I was wanting to work with Prince Beatz Media for a while so I was excited to have a concept to bring to him. I showed him the mood board and he really got it down to a T. He even added the effects and shots I was looking for without even having to tell him. It was a great experience. I shot the video at That Toronto Studio.

Making a name as the biggest breakthrough artists on the international Americana scene in 2021 with their debut album, Go By Feel, Canadian country/roots collective The Hello Darlins are some of Canada’s most in-demand session musicians who came together to forge a distinct hybrid of country, gospel and blues. Led by Romani-Canadian musician Candace Lacina and world-renowned keyboardist Mike Little, the group released In the Sunset this past March and are now sharing an official music video for the EP’s “What Is a Broken Heart For?“

A playful and upbeat song reminiscent of Linda Ronstadt, with classic harmonies of the Eagles, “What Is a Broken Heart For?” poses a lighthearted question that we may have all asked at some point during a time of heartache – what’s the point of love if only to experience a broken heart? The visuals were filmed on a chilly spring day in the Alberta Foothills and directed by The Hello Darlins‘ friends James and Libertee May with Lacina‘s 1971 VW van as the storyline’s main set.

We caught up with The Hello Darlins below!

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

It was meant to be a playful, upbeat song reminiscent of Linda Ronstadt, with classic harmonies of the Eagles. It’s a lighthearted question that we may have all asked at some point during a time of heartache – what’s the point of love – only to experience a broken heart? We love to write songs that are emotional, melancholy and heartfelt but sometimes it feels good to just have a fun song that is just lighthearted and has a playful groove and melody!  

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

We brainstormed a few different ideas for locations, but the van is really meaningful to Mike. It also captures such a classic visual from the era – and we thought the red van against the white snow looked cool. We also thought it would be a funny storyline to add characters who, in their own way, represent the meaning of the song. At some point, most people have had the experience of meeting someone new,  thinking it was going to work out perfectly, or happily ever after…only to be disappointed – or – even, left in the dust! 

3. What was the process of making this video?

We filmed it on a chilly spring day in Alberta Foothills! We had a framework of the basic storyline, and our friends James and Libertee May filmed and directed the shoot. We used our 1971 VW van as a main ‘set’ for the storyline – and the members of the band played a role. My favourite characters are Brett – as a vacuum salesman, and Kyle as a bad Elvis. As a band, we have a lot of fun and laugh a lot. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, so we decided to release a video that captured some of that.

Best known as drummer and co-founder of JUNO Award-winning rock bruisers The Sheepdogs, Sam Corbett conceived of his solo project NUTANA in 2018 while undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. At age 34. While his wife Ashley was pregnant for the first time. Talk about harrowing.

And yet his towering debut album, named for the neighbourhood in Saskatoon where Corbett grew up, isn’t doom and gloom. Far from it. Rather, the 10 dazzling original songs and two captivating covers (Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tame Impala) on NUTANA hit all the retro, loose-limbed, and melodic notes one expects from a Sheepdog, albeit with lyrics that frequently deliver a wallop. 

Self-produced, it features a marquee roster of guests including Jim Bowskill (Blue Rodeo) and Chris Mason (The Deep Dark Woods) on “Ave H Blue”—alongside Clayton Linthicum (Kacy and Clayton), Shamus Currie (The Sheepdogs, BROS), and former Sheepdogs guitarist Leot Hanson, among others.

“Ave H Blue is the street I live on. When I was diagnosed in summer 2018, we had to cancel a couple of shows so I could have surgery,” Corbett says candidly. “I had some follow-up tests, and the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. I had to back out of a couple of Sheepdogs tours to get the treatment. That was a very hard decision because I’ve been in the band from the beginning in 2004. I’d never not played a Sheepdogs show. The radiation treatments made me very sick and weak; I couldn’t even play the drums. But I could play the piano, and I started writing a bunch of melodies and songs that later became this album. It’s what I worked on when the guys were on tour, and I was recovering at home.”