Dave Gunning’s two decade long career has led the folk singer-songwriter to develop a reputation as a great storyteller and engaging performer across Canada. The Juno-nominated artist has a new album to share written over the last couple years, entitled The Same Storm. 

It charts the highs and lows which we have weathered together, finding Gunning taking a freer and braver approach than to his previous recordings. The album includes “Middle Ground,” a hopeful and Americana-tinged reflection on the divide within the world.

“It seems with the misinformation that abounds, the middle ground on so many issues has shrunk to a thin line that’s almost impossible to stand on,” explains Gunning.

Listen to “Middle Ground” via SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/soundboxmusiccanada/2-middle-ground

Stream The Same Storm in full: https://soundcloud.com/soundboxmusiccanada/sets/dave-gunning-the-same-storm

https://lnk.to/TheSameStorm

From their inception, The Lad Classic have always pulled from the familiar and added their own flavour to create something unique. Evolving from rock origins the band has created something deeper, adding in their combined influences ranging from soul to pop, gospel to funk. 

Setting the pace for an exciting fall and year ahead, the band have completed tracks with world-renowned producer Dave Schiffman (The Strumbellas, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Audioslave, Adele, Rage Against the Machine) and Mixing Engineer Jay Van Poederooyen (Mother Mother, Chris Cornell) at Dreamhouse and Genesis Sound studios in Toronto.

Their first offering from these sessions, “Oh Me,” is a song written about the moment when you break through the chaos of the mind and limitations, self imposed or otherwise. It is a story of determination and staying truthful to one’s path in life. 

https://bfan.link/oh-me-1

In 2020, Shay Esposito rebranded as VENNA in order to further commit to the vision and style of what she wanted her brand and her music to be. She continues to grow as a musician and writer while she focuses on her dream and plans for her promising future in music. Her new Sugar Venom EP is an honest look into the heart of toxic power dynamics.

The five songs revolve around the idea of toxic, aggressive love. Drawing from the metaphysical motif of discovery and conquest – in this case, regarding the nature of people to seek dominance and power even in such a calm joy as love – Sugar Venom attempts to delve into the heart of toxic power dynamics and the desperate desire to control the ones we love in order to remain invulnerable to abandonment and betrayal.

Same as the others, focus track “V.” was inspired by toxic relationship dynamics. As the final track (or the first, if you’re looking at the track list) of Sugar Venom, “V.” combines each of the other four songs and becomes introspective, even apologetic, though it’s clear the apology is not a promise of change, and the cycle will continue.

Cree hip hop artist Joey Stylez credits his success to faith, family and commitment. He overcame the struggles common to North American Indigenous youth and his journey serves as an inspiration to many.

His new song, “Thru The Ceiling” is a powerful sentiment that taught everyone involved with the project what a huge responsibility we have to send the right message with music. Listeners will feel the power that the drum and Indigenous culture has to heal lives and hearts in the spirit of reconciliation.

It is part of a Canada Council project (Indigenous Youth Sharing the Heart of Turtle Island) that includes an epic soon-to-be-released video, which was filmed in Saskatchewan and Haida Gwaii, BC. It tells the story of Indigenous youth overcoming bullying. The stunning visuals show how the drum and Indigenous culture lead our youth to a world of self-confidence. 

https://music.joeystylez.com/thrutheceiling

“This single is near and dear to my heart as it tells a story about Indigenous youth overcoming adversity by using our culture,” says Joey. “You could say that I lived it.”

An American citizen raised in the heart of the Canadian prairies, award-winning roots/Americana singer-songwriter Noah Derksen writes with the groundedness of harsh Manitoba winters mixed with the failed optimism of the American Dream. He currently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

His new song, “Fuck You and Fuck Your Friends Too,” find humour in the disastrous end of a relationship. They settled on a bouncy, old-timey country groove, kinda like in an old silent slapstick film. It’s the sarcastic idea that everything can go wrong, while still being light and funny. 

“I was dumped twice during the 18 months of the pandemic, and by the same person, no less,” explains Noah. “With all the dust swirling round, my world caving in on itself yet again, all I could really do was laugh at the situation. And in a comedic and desperate attempt at vindication, the only insult I could find to ease my heart was the title of this song, ‘Fuck You and Fuck Your Friends too.’”

Award-winning hip-hop performer and music promoter Vivek Mehmi has faced incredible adversity to get to where he is today. Just as his music career was starting to take off, in 2009 he faced debilitating medical issues that would put his whole life on pause. By 2015, he had embarked on a transformative journey of healing which led to the reinvigoration of his music career. 

There was no use in waiting – all engines were set to go. He performed wherever he could, from festivals to café open mic nights, to the legendary Toronto $5 Dollar Rap Show, and busking on street corners. Vivek’s debut album, Right as Rain, was released October 11th, 2019. Right as Rain included a collection of personal, introspective tracks inspired by his life and the challenges he faced. 

Now, he’s back with “Fulfill You,” from his EP, Relation⛵️Ships, which will be released in stages. The song was inspired by many of his relationships, where he was trying to satisfy someone and put their needs before his own. It touches upon feelings of uneasiness, frustration, and heartbreak. Also, a yearning to be complete, to be rid of emptiness and loneliness. 

https://go.vivekmehmi.com/fulfillyou

“This whole EP has pushed me out of my comfort zone, and has been exploratory, compared to my previous work making hip hop music,” says Vivek. “This song dives further down the genre mash-up rabbit hole. But I really wanted to try something new, specifically vocally. I think my listeners and fans are starting to realize that I don’t like to be boxed into one specific genre or classified as just ‘a rapper.’ I am becoming more versatile with each song that I produce.”