Darryl Kissick is a songwriter from Regina, Saskatchewan. Along with releasing music under his own name, he plays in the group Foxwarren. Beyond music, Kissick is a father, husband, and high school English teacher. 

His latest solo release, “Let It Burn,” is about how things aren’t working. “Eat the rich, burn it down, let’s try again,” he contextualizes.

The elevating new single from Regina rockers, Dead Levee, “Nothing Good Comes Easy” is a redemption rock song about overcoming any and all obstacles that may come between you and your dream. Recorded on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, British Columbia with legendary producer, Garth Richardson, at The Farm Studios, this song brings nature and rock n roll together in perfect harmony. 

The band was inspired to write this song when they were driving by the ocean on Sunshine Coast, BC in their 1989 Ford Econoline, and realized that this song they had been writing for the past 2 years was missing a perfect hook to tie everything together. “Nothing Good Comes Easy” is a reminder that in order to see the best views or experiences, you have to keep pushing ahead through the peaks and valleys of life.

“The message we want people to take away from this record is that most things in life can be difficult,” said songwriter Dane Von Hagen. “You just have to pick yourself up and keep working your way through the tough times and we promise that you’ll see the brighter days ahead.”

Newfoundland-born, Halifax-based songwriter Don Brownrigg evades simple definitions or easy categorization. 

His music is both intimate and acutely observational; he’s a classically trained pianist through The Royal Conservatory but learned to really play during the musical east coast kitchen parties his family threw when he was growing up; and as a frequent and prolific collaborator, he’s able to shift styles and moods as the music demands or he sees fit. 

Don is about to share a new single entitled “The Same Time,” somewhat of an existential exploration of the ‘next step’ in a relationship.

Strong vocal harmonies, accompanied by guitar and keys explore themes of relationship lag, drag, and confusion. In Brownrigg’s words, “The Same Time” captures “the duality of struggling in love while being in love and having to be so many things at [once].”.

Chrome Daphne is a Toronto-based duo comprised of producer/multi-instrumentalists Chris da Silva and Jay Cherr. Futuristic dance grooves coalesce with moody R&B, as this distinctive pair weave rich synthetic textures into the warmth of analog instrumentation.   

“There” was inspired by a short-lived romance that left Jay Cherr wanting more in terms of intimacy, and when that relationship ended, it led him to a state of mindfulness.

“Out of all the things in the world, all the things we can experience and feel as humans – why do we feel this need to rush? What is there to rush, honestly? Aren’t we just “there” to feel as close and as amazing as we can?” said Jay Cherr. “Let’s just put aside all of these worries and insecurities for these few moments that we’re in bed together. If it feels this good, let’s make it last for as long as we can.”

Poet and songwriter Jenny Berkel’s forthcoming new album, These Are the Sounds Left from Leaving is set for release on May 13th via Outside Music. Each song is set in the micro-world of a keen feeling observer, trying to parse a mindful moment in a setting where it feels impossible to drop a truth anchor – a post-Trump, heavily gaslit world where perceptions of reality remain distorted.

“Kaleidoscope,” the first single from the album, is a dissonant and poetic consideration of the importance of care and precision in language, both in the broader political landscape and in intimate emotional ways. From the heart-wrenching confusion of interpersonal manipulation, it extrapolates a collectively felt disorientation at the kaleidoscopic swirling of disinformation and misinformation.

Toronto-based singer-songwriter, Mia Baron, is a 14-year-old emerging artist ready to make waves in the music industry.

Her sixth original single, “Rules Are Mine,” was written out of frustration when someone close to Mia was putting her second (while she always put them first) at a time when she really needed them to have her back. There was a turning point where Mia made a decision to put herself first and distanced herself from negative behaviour. That’s when she started to care less about what others do and more about how she expects to be treated – something that evoked confidence and power.