20-year-old Billboard charting singer/songwriter Avery Raquel has been entertaining audiences professionally for over 10 years. Her impressive list of accomplishments ranges from television; onto the likes of Spielberg, DreamWorks, and Disney; voice-over work, commercials and radio; as well as a number of professional stage productions across Canada.
Following three critically acclaimed albums, she preps her self-titled fourth for 2022. This new collection of Alternative RnB/Soul is reminiscent of music of the past mixed with Pop and a contemporary style. First up is the playful ballad “Helpless” about a relationship coming to its end. Even when you know this person isn’t meant for you, it can be hard to let go.
Based in Toronto ON, Alt-Punk four-piece Napoleon has been attracting attention from fans and media alike since they formed in early 2018. Their latest EP is Enemy Within, produced by Scott Middleton of Cancer Bats, and featuring a guest vocalist spot from Corbin Giroux of Rarity.
Watch and share the brand new video for “Carve Another Scar” (feat. Corbin Giroux) on YouTube. Staged like a news broadcast, the theme fits the current climate in which it can be difficult to separate what you truly believe versus what you’re being told to believe. We are entitled to our own opinions and should be open-minded too.
13-year-old Mia Baron began pursuing music a few years ago by recording covers of her favourite songs and posting them on social media. The Toronto based emerging singer-songwriter has spent the past year working on and releasing original music.
Mia’s brand new single, “Runaway,” was triggered by the anxiety of the pandemic. She yearned to escape all of the craziness that was happening around her – to disappear in hopes of getting rid of the stress and bad energy.
Life’s short, and if you clearly have something for someone, it’s only a disservice to not give things a try. This is the ethos that inspired Alexander Wesley to write “FIVE/SEVEN,” his new laidback pop and r&b infused single.
It’s a song that stems from those moments before a relationship begins, where you’re everything to that person other than having the title of ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend.’
Wesley evokes the feelings of that in-between period, a tough area where one party usually isn’t ready to, or doesn’t want to commit fully yet, leaving the other hanging on.
Shaun Johnson’s brand new album “Made For Her” is released on October 12th, and is inspired by all the women in his life.
“I’m surrounded by influential women in my life. My mom has four sisters – I have two – & growing up I enjoyed three great aunts who were like grandparents to me. Two, I started the Big Band Experience with an incomparable ally, Michelle, who has worked tirelessly by my side. Okay, actually I am usually running to catch up with her. And now, I am lucky to be surrounded by three daughters & a beautiful partner in my wife, Mary. She not only supports me at hundreds of shows (with three girls in tow and a career of her own), but also creates videos & brainstorms the next great ideas with me. She even designed the album you now hold in your hands.”
Clearly, Johnson is very much connected to the women in his life through his music and his family life is what gives him so much meaning:
“The Thread that clearly connects each song is HER.”
Included in the album is his most recent single release, “All Because of You” which is a song all about Johnson’s wife. This song is similar to his last single release, but is more of a ballad style, with upbeat rhythms and a catchy chorus. The lyrics are particularly noteworthy and the string arrangement adds an extra richness than heard on previous songs.
“I finally wrote a love song that I didn’t throw in the proverbial trash. When my wife
first heard the demo, she cried. And hopefully that’s a good sign,”
“This Old Man” is another stand out track on the album, dedicated to his daughters. Written as a lullaby, with Johnson’s smooth jazz vocals and string arrangement, this is a nostalgic song. “Please, never grow up … one more lullaby.”
“Losing You” is the song Johnson wrote for his older sister whose husband sadly died. His sister, numb in grief, called him one evening to say she was driving, and froze at a green light. She couldn’t go on. This song is written for her.
Shaun’s original songs, arrangements and albums have won numerous awards for best pop album, gospel song and Christmas original and have been featured on television and in movies. In the Big Band Experience, Johnson sings with the likes of Aaron Moe (alto saxophone), Jeff Carver (trumpet), Theo Brown (on piano), Jim Bierma (Bass), David Stanoch (percussion), Ronny Leow (Tenor Saxophone) and Conrad Miska (Tenor Saxophone).
Johnson left the successful quartet “Tonic Sol-fa”, who sold close to 2 million records, to create his own contemporary group to honor Frank Sinatra, and added a touch of Michael Bublé for a unique sound.
“Made For Her” is an original sophomore release. We are looking forward to watching and listening the Shaun Johnson Big Band Experience on tour this autumn/winter following the album release.
“Dreaming of Giants” is a bold, loud and powerful ballad from Mary Jennings’ latest album entitled “Matriarch.”
This artistically produced monochrome VIDEO to accompany the single features Mary herself, caught up in a dream that she just cannot forget.
“Have you ever woken up from a dream that you just can’t shake? You know … those dreams that stick with you all day and follow you around only to cause you anxiety right before you fall asleep the next night? Well, I have those … often … and sometimes about giants.”
The juxtaposing images of hands reaching out and trying to grab hold of Mary, many beating hearts and a sea full of eyes, creates a sense of immense restlessness and a never ending ocean of emotions and dreams, dreams possibly never realized.
This music video was produced with Friedanimation together with Whitney Wolanin. It is definitely unique, experimental and demonstrates Jenning’s ability to bring her music to life on screen as well as in the studio.
More recently, and since the pandemic, Jennings has been all about revealing herself to her fans and showing the real her. This is refreshing and real.
A unique artist, Mary has performed at a number of tours over the years and several of her songs have featured on Lifetime’s TV show “Dance Moms” as well as the film “Devil Seed.”
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