Renowned as a jazz vocalist and songwriter hailing from Melbourne, Connie Lansberg stands as a paradigm of avant-garde artistry within the realm of jazz vocals. Her latest composition, the exquisite single “Free,” transcends traditional boundaries, seamlessly blending graceful strength and refined power. Lansberg’s performance can be likened to a poised connoisseur engaged in a soul-stirring arm-wrestling match—a demonstration of extraordinary musical prowess.

A labor of love a decade in the making, “Free” unveils Lansberg’s meticulous craftsmanship, safeguarded as a clandestine treasure until the fortuitous alignment of cosmic forces. A collaboration with jazz pianist Mark Fitzgibbon has yielded a delicate dynamism, evoking both comfort and compulsion. This tender ballad, a standout track on Lansberg’s self-produced album, “Alone with Bees,” was recorded in a single take, featuring the talents of Fitzgibbon on piano, Ben Hanlon on double bass, and Peter Hodges on drums—a testament to Lansberg’s exceptional songwriting and producing skills.

In this musical gem, Lansberg’s vocal finesse serves as an energy healer’s scalpel, cutting through discord to access the core of emotional depth. Positioned as a harbinger of the future of jazz, Lansberg’s “Free” is an irresistible invitation to a transformative auditory experience. The juxtaposition of gentle yet formidable forces in Lansberg’s vocals, coupled with Fitzgibbon’s nuanced piano accompaniment, explores intricate themes of happiness, freedom, and the lingering shadows of the past—a captivating journey that navigates introspection with emancipation.

Reflecting on the recording process, Lansberg shares, “Being in the studio with my three favorite musicians was such a joy. And then hearing them so completely respect the delicacy of this song, it just blew me away.” This glimpse into the behind-the-scenes underscores the profound connection and mutual respect among the talented ensemble. Connie Lansberg’s “Free” emerges as an epitome of “delicate dynamism,” offering a masterclass in musical storytelling that implores listeners to confront their past traumas. Through Lansberg’s evocative narrative and her unique fusion of jazz, classical, and country influences, “Free” asserts itself as an absolute must-listen—an immersive sonic experience that transcends conventional boundaries.

Alex Coley is a Nova Scotia-based songwriter and indie-folk musician with an affinity for novelty, big feelings and good questions. Built around his soulful, worn-in voice and wrapped in tender harmonies, Alex Coley & Afterlove explore the elemental tension between joy and pain; heartache and healing; what was and what will be.

I don’t want to talk, I just want to be with you. The ending of the relationship that inspired “Silent in my Car” felt definite, but Alex longed for the friendship they had before things were romantic. He simply missed sitting silently in her company.

His vulnerable and intimate lyrics will be sure to dredge up feelings you forgot were there – inviting you to gracefully move through melancholy. The deeply emotional, stirring song offers a clarity you can often only find when you get really quiet; at the end of a long winding road traveled alone.

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

I wrote this song at a low point during the pandemic. When I was loneliest and hadn’t touched another person for 6 weeks. So even though ending the relationship was right, I kept finding myself longing for her company That’s really what this song is about, that longing for a person. Longing for the ease you felt around a person. After our breakup, I often wished that we could just sit silently together; I just wanted to be effortlessly near her again – not debriefing our break up or fighting about who did what, just silently in her company. There’s something about this song that feels universal and simple; I just missed her.

This song feels so nostalgic to me and the lyrics are full of visual language. It’s a song that I have really clear visual associations for – sitting alone in a car, in an empty parking lot, in the dark, under the glow of a single street light. It made Silent in my Car and easy choice for a video. This is also a song the band really wanted to highlight. It captures the emotion and honesty of our music and we wanted to bring more attention to the song through a video.

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

 We really just riffed on the visual that I described above – sitting alone in a car, in an empty parking lot, in the dark, under the glow of a single street light – and we got really lucky – a big fog bank rolled in and gave the video a texture I’d hoped for. We also played with the idea of how we could bring the memory of my ex into the video. We didn’t want to use any tricks, but we tried to capture the feeling of longing, of having her on my mind, and of missing her. Really, it’s a simple song with a simple video based on a simple idea that is just shot really beautifully. 

3. What was the process of making this video?

Connor Robins, the lead guitarist in Afterlove, directed the video. He’s a long-time friend so it was easy to get creative and throw ideas around. We had explored a lot of different ideas before deciding to keep things simple. When we brought John Walsh (cinematography) and Joe Ciarrocco in to assist they brought things to life. John and Joe have such a goodeye for beautiful shots and tasteful lighting. Once we had the general flow of the video fleshed out, we borrowed my pal’s old VW, found an empty dark parking lot to get started, and then zoomed around old town Lunenburg in search of cool shots. 
Forthcoming debut album The Arc arrives at the end of this locked-down, fearful era when gazing backward was all we had, serving as a beautiful reminder of the transformative power of introspection. Alex Coley & Afterlove‘s music reminds us that the darkest, windiest days are often the days we feel deeper and love harder.

Recognized by CBC as one of the top 25 Canadian rappers of all time, chart-topping Cree hip-hop artist Joey Stylez credits his success to faith, family, and commitment after overcoming the struggles common to North American Indigenous youth. With many awards and accolades under his belt, he cites that the greatest award he has ever received is knowing that his strong work ethic has inspired others to succeed.

On his new self-produced single “The Wild,” Joey calls back to the hip-hop basics that his fans appreciate. “As Native Americans, we pride ourselves in being land protectors and social rights activists, but on this one, we just wanted to create a mood that could lift people from their problems.”

His song “Indian Girl Driving Me Crazy” picked up the Pop Music Video award at the 2022 Native American Music Awards. Now, he’s partnered with director/producer Aurelien Offner again for “The Wild” music video.

Creating unique music with his multi-genre flair, the JUNO-nominated artist was recently featured on the popular Reservation Dogs TV show as well as on Mayor of Kingstown. Over the past couple of years, the hit sensation Yellowstone series starring Kevin Costner featured the song “Save Your Soul.” With online streaming in the tens of millions and collaborations with big names such as Dragonette, Bun B & Ty Dolla $ign, he has opened for artists such as Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Billy Ray Cyrus.

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically? “Wild” has many meanings and I think I understand all of them. 

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

I grew up wild as a latchkey kid in the city and had opportunities to visit the wild hills and woods where my parents were raised. Now, “wild” could be visiting the places I dreamed of as a child, and sharing them with my family. 

3.What was the process of making this video? 

I got together with The Offners for this video because they have the creativity and vision to run with my ideas. 

The Rumble Wagon is an electrifying Americana, Roots, Folk, and Soul band hailing from Hamilton, Ontario. Known for their infectious melodies and captivating performances, The Rumble Wagon draws inspiration from a diverse range of influences, including the legendary Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, and Cake, along with the modern stylings of Counting Crows.

The band’s unique sound is a testament to their eclectic musical tastes, which also incorporate unexpected sources such as old telephones, TV static, underwater cop dramas, and broken lenses. This fusion of traditional and experimental elements creates an immersive sonic experience that is truly one-of-a-kind.

“Overall the themes are more hopeful, reverent that we are mired in some regards, but music and art will provide some solace,” the band says. “The Rumble Wagon will be a shaky ride but she’ll get you there.”

Once hailed by Paste Magazine as “a band to watch,” Jiants is a three piece indie-pop band from Toronto lead by the songwriting of ex-professional skateboarder Jesse Landen. Their fourth LP, Tall Tales, was engineered and produced by Gavin Gardiner (The Wooden Sky).

“The Hard Way” is basically a classic “get your girl back” song. It’s about realizing you have a special bond with someone and deciding whether to step forward with them or leave each other behind forever, with the knowledge that if you attempt this relationship again it’s either going to be the best decision you ever made or destroy you both completely. 

Tall Tales is Jiants’ most straightforward pop album to date. It was written with very little expectation of people even hearing it – being able to maintain that mindset of artistic freedom was what made this record such a gem. 

“I definitely was uncertain about a few of these songs at first but kind of made the decision to try to let go of the personal hang ups and just make a shameless pop record that would be a little more accessible than our previous releases,” explains lead songwriter and vocalist, Jesse Landen. 

Drawing influence from a diverse spectrum of artists, Toronto-based SWiiMS blends elements of ‘80s new wave, ‘90s shoegaze, indie rock, brit pop and dream pop together to arrive at a sound that is all their own. Singer Mai Diaz Langou and guitarist Colin Thompson started writing songs together in late 2018, uniting her elegant poetry, textured melodies and languid voice with his fuzzy, jangly, swirling guitar tones. Bassist Cian O’Ruanaidh joined shortly after, bringing a fresh voice, unique influences and hooky bass lines to the group.

Love, loss, loneliness, self-isolation, beauty, joy, nostalgia and remembrance: Into The Blue Night, was inspired by bits of all of these emotions and how they intersected during the pandemic. Produced by Josh Korody, this is their first full-length LP.“In Puzzles” is the first track, serving as an uplifting introduction, encapsulating the sense of freedom, lightness and excitement in a blossoming romance. “In Puzzles” is optimistic, with the euphoric guitar riff hitting you right in the heart, the verses wrapping you in a cozy blanket and the chorus feeling like levitation. Stefan Loebus was enlisted as the drummer, offering a blast of energy.