Join Calgary-based blues/Americana/rock artist Ollee Owens as she takes you on an emotionally charged journey into the heart of a caregiver in her version of Bob Dylan’s “Lord Protect My Child.” Those holding responsibility for a vulnerable dependent know the yearning to see them safe from harm. As a mother of three daughters, one of whom has special needs, thoughts of protection and security strike deep for Ollee.

The dynamic arrangement of “Lord Protect My Child” leads with familiar tones – laying a somber foundation for an earnest delivery of angst genuinely sensed. As worry turns to hope, organ and choir unite to form a new footing to support the soaring voicing of the guitar and saxophone spurring onward the hallowed invocation. Recorded to mirror a live performance, closing one’s eyes while listening will transport you to a place away from your concern…to experience renewed faith in greater forces to undertake for those thinly held in one’s care.

We are emotional creatures. One of my goals as an artist is to create and record music that captures various elements of the human experience, holding space for all manner of emotions associated with our lives. Any song I write or choose to record will always have this element within it. – Ollee Owens

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

I’ve performed this song in my live shows for years now – and have always found others impacted by my unique arrangement of this Bob Dylan classic. As a mother of three daughters, one of whom has a cognitive delay resulting in life-long vulnerability, this song resonates deeply for me. Whenever I sing it live, I visualize each of my daughters at different points in the song and sing from a place of genuine care and concern for each.

I wanted to visualize this song to increase its’ impact for the listener.  In creating a small window into my private life – my hope was to bring-to-life the authentic nature of my feelings attached to this song.

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

We had a few storylines on the table when we started – but none really grabbed onto our long-term imaginations. In the end, we adopted a very simple concept depicting a day in my life where family and artistry converge. You will see a thread depicting my personal time alone and then with my family – and then a thread depicting a rehearsal with band members. At points the threads converge – just like the song does for me in that it straddles both of my worlds: It is something I perform and, at the same time, the nature of it is lived out in my private life. Though incredibly emotional and expressive throughout, the whole ordeal is sandwiched between me being depicted alone with a full range of emotions being felt as I think about my girls.

I also wanted to immortalize this moment in time – a time when all three of my daughters have perched themselves at the “edge of the nest” in their own development. Having them altogether for this video shoot was memorable and having them altogether in this video forever has given me a living photo album which captures wonderfully this precious moment in time.  

1. What was the process of making this video?

Most of my other music videos have been shot in a variety of spacious and scenic locations – from the Foothills and Badlands of Alberta, Canada to the Valley of Fire State Park and the city of Las Vegas in Nevada, USA. We chose to shoot this video in a quirky little studio space in Edmonton, Alberta. We did this to compress the surroundings and draw the viewer closer in – providing an opportunity to observe subtle shades of meaning and expression. 

The process in making this video was straight forward and simple – we simply set aside an afternoon where I ran through the song several times on the big pink chair by myself and then altogether with the band afterwards. All the coming and going of the band and my family were taken as everyone came and went from the shoot. The interactions captured between all were a result of us just doing what we normally do when getting together to rehearse for a show. It was truly just a depiction of an afternoon in my life doing what I do…except with a few moments of punctuated angst being captured!

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.
• CRENSHAW PENTECOSTAL (Winston Salem, NC) – Delivering dive bar arena rock.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
• Venue: Local 506, 506 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
• Doors Open: 4:00 PM
• Tickets: Presale – $15, Day of – $20
• Purchase Tickets: Local 506 Events

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’. 

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.