The band name Jackie and her brother aptly describes the new Toronto-based duo. Jackie and Mark Andrade make emotional, reflective music from their home studio with a DIY sound and aesthetic. 8 years apart in age, in a relationship impacted by years of familiarity and family dynamics, it was later in life that the siblings decided to work on several songs that had sat unfinished and forgotten. 

With a shared love for catchy, pop-inspired sounds that they listened to across different decades, their debut single “You’ve Changed” uses ‘80s inspired emotionally charged production to explore the fears and inevitability of growing up. Written together, this coming of age track features Jackie on vocals and synth with Mark on guitar, drums, and bass. 

Bad Buddy is the musical collaboration between Emily Bachynski (vocals, guitar), Andrea Vissia (guitar, vocals) and Geoffrey Hamdon-O’Brien (drums). The band is a genre-defying musical spectacle, casually time traveling from wartime boogie-woogie bops, to glitterball heartbreak slow dances, to eye-gushing punk bloodbaths. 

The Edmonton band which launched their career in 2016 has been described as putting on “… a totally raucous and amazing show all around: psychedelic surf, punk, pop, you name it – though above all it [feels] like something NEW” (Edmonton Journal), and the proof is in the performance. The electric energy of the live show is amplified by the exceptional songwriting ability possessed by the band. Self-identifying as “Motown-surf-punk,” the band commands attention, painting powerful, sonic pictures drawn from real-life inspirations. 

 “Cheerleader? Nah, I’m the QB,” Andi Vissia sings in “Q.B.” The quarterback is the star of the football show – the main event, baby! “Q.B.” marks the first co-write between Andi and Bad Buddy’s main songwriter, Emily Bachynski. 

Andi wrote this song during a significant period of change when she was feeling insecure about her abilities as a musician and felt judged by people who she thought were going to be supportive. 

Despite several setbacks with the music video shoot, Bad Buddy are extremely pleased with the result. The music video for “Q.B.”, conceptualized by Andi and directed by Emily, features the band members growing increasingly exasperated by other people telling them what to do. 

“I feel like I had an idea for this music video years ago – way before the song had presented itself to me,” says Andi. “One of my experiences as a woman in this industry is having people think I’m there because of a man (my partner or others), or just having people underestimate my experience and credibility.” 

The strange states we find ourselves in while growing are where Nicky MacKenzie’s soulful upcoming EP MORALS was born. Leaving behind the safe familiarity of adolescence, MORALS is an exploration of the emotional landscape the 23-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter has traversed in the years since her debut album, 2018’s Honeydew. In that time, MacKenzie has left her hometown, navigated shifting relationships, graced the stages of huge festivals, and played intimate shows. In the background, she’s worked on new collaborations and participated in prestigious songwriting workshops, constantly pushing the boundaries of her artistry. The tracks on MORALS are a record of this growth.

The EP’s title track, “Morals,” is about being a people pleaser your whole life until you decide to start saying no and walk away from situations that don’t serve or even entertain you anymore. Your moral values change when you begin to prioritize yourself. You can blame your vices on others, or you can own up to them and decide to not care. 

I wanted to create something catchy that also has a deeper cathartic meaning to it. I think it’s a feeling everyone has eventually, needing to just let go of doubt and give in to your wants. I just wanted to give it a bit of a sassy tone.

Owen Marchildon is a songwriter and guitarist who has been part of the Toronto music scene since 2002. Owen’s creative output has been prolific, producing volumes of his own music independently since 2005. Ten full length albums, one E.P and several singles under four different monikers: Purple Hill, Rough Skeletons, Marchildon! and High Wasted. 

2024 will see Owen Marchildon pulling back the veil of all his previous monikers and releasing new music under his own name. The first single, “Heavy Dreams,” is a jangle pop love letter, a musical marriage of hook driven guitars, and the silvery sentiments of Big Star. Longtime bandmates and collaborators, Jordan Bruce and Brent Hough, spread out the sound, complimenting the style, imagination and fabric of Owen’s songwriting. 

Owen explains the intimate story behind his first single under his own name: “There was a time in my life when nothing was more beautiful to me than a Big Star song. You could say I was very much alone with music. Maybe not the healthiest choice. That all changed when I met Kaitlin. I had finally found my sounding board, my purveyor of all things positive. This is a love song for my best friend. Written after our wedding day, all the moments leading up to it, and knowing that I was no longer alone.”

Formed in 2018, Scott Y Los Pelmazos is an alternative hip-hop band hailing from Puente Alto and La Florida, Chile. They present themselves as an alternative to traditional hip-hop, drawing from modern influences, unafraid of experimentation and rejecting confinement to a particular style.

The group has released a self-titled compilation of previous records for Analog Machine Records that’s mostly composed of tracks taken from their Scotty Tape 01. It features the somber single “Naftalina (2022),” a track inspired by social claustrophobia and feeling lost in life.

Scotty Tape 01 taught us that we work better when we allow for ideas from all the band members. Everyone came with their own demo, and then the rest of us would add to it, so the project never resolved around one person. We also learned more about how the music business works since we had to release the project on our own. We had no label or media outlets to help us, and had to secure our own distribution. – member Claudio Vasquez

Singer-songwriter Cory Singer has just released his latest single and music video, “Long Time Coming.” The single, which combines elements of indie and feel-good music, promises to uplift audiences with its inspiring lyrics and catchy melody.

Known for his captivating performances and exceptional songwriting skills, the promising talent penned “Long Time Coming” as a testament to his perseverance and triumph.  Reflecting on the songwriting process, he shared:  “I wrote this song back in 2019. I felt very dissatisfied musically at the moment, so I wanted to write an uplifting song. I just picked up my guitar and started finger-picking the chord progression on the guitar. The lyrics literally came to me right away, and the song was finished in a half hour. The idea was a song about finally making it. Ironically, I am so passionate about this song; it was recorded from my first take in the vocal studio.”

Drawing inspiration from iconic artists like Frank Sinatra, the track blossoms with elements of gospel and piano, coupled with his vocal prowess, aiming for an epic and soul-stirring sound. “I was very fixated on Frank Sinatra at that time, and the two songs that inspired me were “That’s Life” and ‘My Way.” I knew that this song was gonna be epic. Plus, I wanted to showcase my vocals and show people what I could do. I also want to inspire others to never abandon their dreams.” Singer remarked.

“Long Time Coming” exudes a powerful message of hope and determination that transcends borders, taking listeners on an immersive journey led by an emotive delivery and poignant verses. From the pulsating energy of the chorus to each poetic line, Singer leaves a lasting impression on listeners, ensuring the song’s impact lingers long after the final note fades away.

For Singer, “Long Time Coming” marks another milestone in his illustrious career. A versatile performer, Singer has graced arenas nationwide and starred in BRAVO TV‘s singing competition, The Kandi Factory, where he emerged as the grand winner. In addition to his musical endeavors, he has been recognized and celebrated for his advocacy work for individuals on the autism spectrum, using his platform to spread positivity and promote awareness. He truly has become a well-recognized social influencer. He loves that he can use his music and social platform to inspire and help others, he also stated that, “I want to be recognized for my music, songwriting and craft. Not because I am autistic and talented, but because you like my music.” – Cory Singer

Singer’s philanthropic endeavors extend to his roles on the board of directors for the I Am Able Foundation. Esteemed publications such as PEOPLE, Hollywood Life, Rolling Stone, and more have recognized his influence and music. Despite his growing prominence, with over half a million followers across his platforms, Singer remains focused on his passion for music and songwriting. Singer has also been featured on Good Morning America, has performed the National Anthem for several major national sporting events, and has even shared the stage with none other than DJ Khaled at the Best Buddies Gala in Miami, FL.

“Long Time Coming” is now available on all digital streaming platforms.