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.

Snez is the artist name of Ezra Mendel, a hip hop artist from the Annapolis Valley, NS. Snez‘s versatile fusion of elements from rock and pop with hip hop and rap are key aspects of his style. As a young teen, he dropped his first two singles which immediately garnered attention in his home town and would be asked to freestyle at parties, leading to being referred to as the “Jewish kid who can actually rap.” He is currently building his local and online audience and working on his first full-length release.

Snez exudes a chameleon-type prowess of musical artistry, showcasing many different styles of hip-hop that heavily emphasizes lyrical ability, cadence and delivery. He strives to combine elements from different genres like rock, pop-punk and country. Snez shares similarities with SonReal, Mac Miller, Logic and Futuristic. Versatility is a key factor to his craft and this encapsulates his identity as a creative.

The inspiration for new single, “Never Enough,” comes from Snez‘s regular inner back-and-forth dialogue about his struggle with substance abuse, pride, overthinking and self-worth. He also opted out of working with a professional producer to record, mix and master the track themselves to add a personal and unpolished feel to the raw lyrics.

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

I have been working on this song as sort of a back-burner project for about a year now, but recently got the inspiration to finish it after a careless mistake led me to fall back into an old routine. 

I believe that the self-questioning nature of the lyrics could be validating to someone struggling with substance abuse, pride, overthinking or self-worth. While writing the lyrics for Never Enough I felt that this inner dialogue could be visually represented in a cool way, so I knew there had to be a video to go with it. 

Self-questioning nature of the lyrics

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

For quite some time I struggled with substance abuse issues, and I found it interesting that even when I got sober I had these two conflicting instincts, or personalities around whether I could stay clean or keep using. I wanted this video to visually represent that fight for control, and how easy it is to fall back into old patterns. 

3. What was the process of making this video?

I was planning a single release a few years ago while in high school and I heard from a friend that there was a kid at school who had video editing skills, so I hit him up and we made a music video. I looked super awkward on camera, neither of us had any idea what we were doing while filming, and the whole video was shot behind a local Canadian Tire, but the editing was fantastic. Shoutout to Josh Cummins (@jc_inc__ on Instagram). When I decided I wanted to shoot a video for the new single Never Enough I knew that I wanted Josh to edit the video. I learned after contacting him that he was in film school and had been working on his skills, so I figured what the hell, he killed it with the last one, so why not have him shoot, direct, and edit?

After talking with Josh about the sentiments around the lyrics for the song, he came up with the idea to have me turn blue to represent the fight for control, and I was sold. It fits the vibe of the song, and a line in the hook is “I’m feeling blue again,” so it just made sense. 

We shot the whole video in a day (which was more than enough time spent covered in blue paint, thank you very much) with the help of my girlfriend who stars in the video as the black-eyed demon lady, and my friends, who starred in a couple 

Louis Armstrong was once asked what his favorite kind of music was, and his response was simple; “good music.” Petunia & the Vipers‘ sound may not sit comfortably in one certain genre, but “good music” describes it well. Hank Williams on acid… Tom Waits meets Elvis at Woody Guthrie’s Hobo junction… Avant-Country night club scene music… One of the best bands in the world today, of any kind… A new music that springboards off of music of the past and jumps into the present day, left with only echoes of the past… Something in between 1920’s and steampunk. It’s good for your mind… These are just a few of the words uttered by folks around the globe trying to pin down a description of all that is Petunia & the Vipers.

Inspired by reading a book on Billy the Kid, an American outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West who is alleged to have killed 21 men before he was shot and killed at the age of 21, Petunia & the Vipers‘ new single, “Billy the Kid,” is written to portray Billy in a good light, as an underdog. Punching with horns, and a train steady tempo, the single transports you to a wild era.

Hey Melissa, hope you enjoy the long weekend ahead!

Louis Armstrong was once asked what his favorite kind of music was, and his response was simple; “good music.” Petunia & the Vipers‘ sound may not sit comfortably in one certain genre, but “good music” describes it well. Hank Williams on acid… Tom Waits meets Elvis at Woody Guthrie’s Hobo junction… Avant-Country night club scene music… One of the best bands in the world today, of any kind… A new music that springboards off of music of the past and jumps into the present day, left with only echoes of the past… Something in between 1920’s and steampunk. It’s good for your mind… These are just a few of the words uttered by folks around the globe trying to pin down a description of all that is Petunia & the Vipers.

Inspired by reading a book on Billy the Kid, an American outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West who is alleged to have killed 21 men before he was shot and killed at the age of 21, Petunia & the Vipers‘ new single, “Billy the Kid,” is written to portray Billy in a good light, as an underdog. Punching with horns, and a train steady tempo, the single transports you to a wild era.

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

The story of the song follows the storyline, historically speaking, of the famous outlaw known as Billy the Kid. The story of making the video is one of just doing it off the cuff (see below).

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

The visuals were inspired from the campground setting (see below). The video storyline basically follows the song lyrics chronologically. The “ghost” visuals were a result of the trench coat and cowboy hat that I generally have with me wherever and whenever I go camping.

3. What was the process of making this video?

Candice Roberts made the video. Her and I were camping out at the Goldpan campground in the high desert around Lytton, BC, Canada (the town that later burnt down in the extreme heat of the summer while a spark from a passing train purportedly started the fire that burned the town right to the ground).

The Thompson river flows right by the campground (pictured in the video), and not much further along, joins up with the mighty Fraser river.

This setting in and of itself, inspired the shooting of the video which was very lucky at the time. The campground has since flooded, the groundwater there and the grounds poisoned (lead poisoning I think). The campground is now permanently closed. So had we not shot the video on the spur of the moment, when we did, it would not have later been possible.

Canadian instrumental band, Nok Novum, are embracing their diverse range of influences and dynamism as a progressive metal group on their long awaited sophomore album, II. Recorded over several years, II finds the band leaning into the production value of their 2015 singles, while reflecting the creativity of the writing seen in their 2012 debut, a fusion of 70s progressive rock, jazz-fusion, and heavy metal.

II features the sinister and wide ranging focus track, “Ominous Kyle,” which is energizing as much as it is unnerving.

This is a good one to head bang to if you’re into that! “Ominous Kyle” is that frightening figure that plays a recurring role in your nightmares. He’s haunting, morbid, terrifying, and you just can’t shake him out. The track was written as a stream of energetic passages punctuated with a motif that’s hammering nature draws you in early in the track and repeats throughout. Tonally, this track has an eerie, nightmarish quality.  – Brady Mason, drummer and co-founder of Nok Novum