#calgary singer-songwriter

[thelensofyashunews]

TATE MCRAE RELEASES NEW SONG AND VIDEO FOR “It’s ok I’m ok”

Today, multi-platinum pop sensation Tate McRae releases her new song “It’s ok I’m ok” alongside the official music video via RCA Records. Written and produced with hitmakers Ryan Tedder (Taylor Swift, Beyoncé), ILYA (Ariana Grande, ROSALÍA) and Savan Kotecha (The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding), “It’s ok I’m ok” marks a new chapter for the star. 

Featuring an irresistible chorus, the pop-infused offering is accompanied by a killer dance visual. Directed by Hannah Lux Davis (Doja Cat, Charlie XCX) and choreographed by Sean Bankhead (Cardi B, Lil Nas X), the high-energy music video follows an unbothered Tate strutting through city streets. Her presence is both commanding and seductive, drawing you into her world without wanting to look away.

Tate adds, “I’m so beyond excited to share “It’s ok I’m ok” with the world and this new chapter of my music. This song is a byproduct of reflecting back on past relationships to now and how much I’ve grown and learned from them. It’s a playful take on knowing your worth and the all too relatable feeling of never wanting someone back.”

“It’s ok I’m ok” is the first taste of new music from Tate following her highly anticipated 2023 sophomore album THINK LATER which debuted at #3 in Canada. Steeped in pop appeal and infectious toplines, the album features the 5x Platinum single “greedy” which earned Tate #1 on the Billboard Canadian 100 chart, Global Excl. US chart, Spotify’s Global chart, and hit #1 at CA Top 40 and CA Hot AC. 

She’s currently on her sold out global ‘THINK LATER TOUR’ spanning 59-dates throughout Europe, UK, North America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. With a handful of shows left, this tour has already seen Tate play the biggest and most iconic venues of her career. Last month, she played her first headline show at Madison Square Garden. For more information on the Asia, Australia, and New Zealand shows visit HERE. 

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Audio: Shane Ghostkeeper Shares a Loving Classic Rock-Inspired Tribute to His Late Uncle

New Audio: Shane Ghostkeeper Shares a Loving Classic Rock-Inspired Tribute to His Late Uncle @ghostkeeperband @auteurresearch @LorrieMatheson

Acclaimed Calgary-based singer/songwriter and musician Shane Ghostkeeper is best known for his namesake band Ghostkeeper, an act that combines elements of 60s girl-group melodies, country music, 90s indie rock, African pop and traditional indigenous pow wow music, and has developed a reputation for crafting some of the more thrilling and interesting music to emerge from Alberta over the past 15…

[sc0tters]

The Maple Leaf Ladies

Amelia Hughes seen in his rookie

☆ born November 12th, 2002

☆ specializes as a left winger

☆ raised in Toronto, Canada

☆ not in the same universe as Matilda Hughes

Billie Kerr seen in opposing teammates

☆ born December 15th, 2002

☆ specializes as a center

☆ raised in Calgary, Canada

☆ has a cat called pickle

Matilda Hughes seen in star

☆ born September 7th, 1998

☆ singer-songwriter

☆ has had a crush on Willy since she was sixteen

☆ just moved back to Toronto after finishing her first tour!

[bm2ab]

Arrivals & Departures 17 November 1938 – 01 May 2023 Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr.

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. CC OOnt  was a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music. He is credited with helping to define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s. He has been referred to as Canada's greatest songwriter and his songs have been recorded by some of the world's most renowned musical artists. Lightfoot's biographer Nicholas Jennings said, "His name is synonymous with timeless songs about trains and shipwrecks, rivers and highways, lovers and loneliness."

Lightfoot's songs, including "For Lovin' Me", "Early Morning Rain", "Steel Rail Blues", "Ribbon of Darkness"—a number one hit on the U.S. country chart with Marty Robbins's cover in 1965—and "Black Day in July", about the 1967 Detroit riot, brought him wide recognition in the 1960s. Canadian chart success with his own recordings began in 1962 with the No. 3 hit "(Remember Me) I'm the One", followed by recognition and charting abroad in the 1970s. He topped the US Hot 100 or Adult Contemporary (AC) chart with the hits "If You Could Read My Mind" (1970), "Sundown" (1974); "Carefree Highway" (1974), "Rainy Day People" (1975), and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (1976), and had many other hits that appeared in the top 40.

Several of Lightfoot's albums achieved gold and multi-platinum status internationally. His songs have been recorded by many notable artists. The Guess Who recorded a song called "Lightfoot" on their 1968 album Wheatfield Soul; the lyrics contain many Lightfoot song titles.

Robbie Robertson of the Band described Lightfoot as "a national treasure". Bob Dylan, also a Lightfoot fan, called him one of his favourite songwriters and said, "I can't think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don't like. Every time I hear a song of his, it's like I wish it would last forever.... Lightfoot became a mentor for a long time. I think he probably still is to this day". Lightfoot was a featured musical performer at the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta and has received numerous honours and awards.

[slrmagazine]

Kip Moore Announces The Canadian Leg Of His Solitary Tracks World Tour

Kip Moore Announces The Canadian Leg Of His Solitary Tracks World Tour. #kipmoore @KipMooreMusic

Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Kip Moore is set to hit the road for the Canadian leg of his highly anticipated Solitary Tracks World Tour this spring. Kicking off in Vancouver, BC on April 4th, the 12-date run will take Moore across the country, including stops in Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, London, and Toronto, before wrapping the tour in Montreal, QC on April 25th.  A full list of…

[smn-artistagency]

X/O

x/o is Veron Xio (they/them) a Vietnamese-Canadian electronic music producer and multidisciplinary artist based in Vancouver.

Interested in disrupting gender binaries and transgressing codes of identity, x/o uses hyper-masculine and hyper-feminine tropes to build new worlds; an audiovisual exploration of duality and cyclical emotions.

In 2017, x/o released their debut project Cocoon Egg on the experimental UK label Quantum Natives. The EP was described by The Wire as having “…a complex, compelling affect hardly heard in digital music.”

This was followed by their full-length album Chaos Butterfly, released in 2022 on the Berlin / London based label Precious Metals. The project is an epic tale of catarsis and self-actualization explored through metamorphosis. It is a free-falling kaleidoscopic journey into a beautiful nightmare, both cataclysmic and tender.

Critics have praised the album with descriptions such as:

“...nu-metal and trip-hop influenced, experimental-leaning sounds within...haunting Evanescence-style vocals and jungle-influenced percussion…This is a multi-dimensional release.” – Resident Advisor

“...the breakthrough of hard-hitting and ethereal.” – Still Listening

“...end-of-level boss energy.” – Loud & Quiet

“A criss-cross of glitchy textures, grungy 90’s trip-hop beats and heavy metal grit, the production factor is huge on an x/o track.” – Sonduke Magazine

In 2023, x/o served as executive producer on Egyptian-Canadian singer-songwriter Almaazz’s EP Sot Wa Sada. The project combines avant-garde sound design and contemporary club rhythms with Almaazz’s traditional Arabic songwriting to spectacular effect. It was featured on Resident Advisor, named Bandcamp’s Album of the Day, and received airplay on both BBC Radio 3 and 6 Music.

They have presented work internationally, including Phoenix Central Park (Sydney), Palais de Tokyo (Paris), ICA Institute of Contemporary Arts (London), Festival She Makes Noise (Madrid), Berghain (Berlin), and HeK House of Electronic Arts (Basel).

In 2019, they were selected for the MUTEK Amplify residency at Somerset House Studios UK and Red Bull Bass Camp Calgary at the National Music Centre.

They have previously released a string of singles, remixes, and collaborations, working with various artists including Animistic Beliefs, Oli XL, ZAH, Rui Ho, City, and Team Rockit.

PROJECT

Their show is available in diferent formats;

Audiovisual Performance: An immersive multimedia experience combining live music with visuals crafted by x/o or in collaboration with visual artists. This format amplifies the storytelling elements of x/o’s music, integrating themes of metamorphosis, duality, and emotional cycles with synchronized visuals.

Ideal for festivals, gallery spaces, and multimedia showcases, the audiovisual performance creates a transformative environment for audiences.

Live Show (Music Only): A standalone live performance highlighting x/o’s music with a focus on vocal delivery and electronic production. This format strips back the visuals to center the music with lighting, providing a direct, powerful connection with the audience.

It is well-suited for clubs, music venues, and intimate performance spaces.

DJ Set: A high-energy DJ set showcasing x/o’s curation of experimental club music, including their own productions, remixes, and influences.

This format is adaptable to a variety of contexts, from club nights to art events, and brings x/o’s genre-defying sound to the forefront.

x/o :: Web :: Bandcamp :: IG ::

Stills :: download here ::

Photos by Katrin Braga and Tomas Z

x/o es el aka de Veron Xio (elle), productore vietnamita-canadiense de música electrónica y artista multidisciplinar con base en Vancouver. Interesade en transgredir el género binario y los códigos de identidad, x/o subvierte todo lo identificado con lo “hipermasculino” e “hiperfemenino” para construir nuevos mundos; una exploración audiovisual de la dualidad y las emociones cíclicas.

En 2017, x/o publicó su proyecto debut, Cocoon Egg en el sello experimental británico Quantum Natives. El EP fue descrito por The Wire como poseedor de «...un afecto complejo y convincente apenas escuchado en la música digital.»

Le siguió su álbum de larga duración, Chaos Butterfly, publicado en 2022 por el sello berlinés / londinense, Precious Metals. El proyecto es una historia épica de catarsis y autorrealización explorada a través de la metamorfosis. Un viaje caleidoscópico en caída libre hacia una hermosa pesadilla, a la vez catárquica y tierna.

La crítica especializada ha descrito el el álbum como:

«...nu-metal y trip-hop influenciados, sonidos de tendencia experimental con influencias de nu-metal y trip-hop, sonidos experimentales... voces inquietantes al estilo de Evanescence y percusión con influencias de jungle... Percusión influenciada por el jungle... Este es un lanzamiento multidimensional» - Resident Advisor

«...la ruptura entre lo contundente y lo etéreo». - Still Listening

«...energía de jefe de final de nivel» - Loud & Quiet

«Un cruce de texturas glitch, ritmos grunge de trip-hop de los 90 y heavy metal» - Sonduke Magazine

PROYECTO

Su espectáculo está disponible en diferentes formatos:

Concierto audiovisual: Una experiencia multimedia inmersiva que combina música en directo con visuales creados por x/o o en colaboración con otras artistas visuales.

Este formato amplifica los elementos narrativos de la música de x/o, integrando temas de metamorfosis, dualidad y ciclos emocionales con visuales sincronizados creados ex profeso.

Directo (sólo música): Una actuación en directo independiente que destaca la música de x/o con un enfoque en la entrega vocal y la producción electrónica. Este formato elimina los efectos visuales para centrarse en la música con iluminación, proporcionando una conexión directa y poderosa con el público.

Set de DJ: Un DJ set lleno de energía que muestra la selección de música de club experimental de x/o, que incluye incluyendo sus propias producciones, remezclas e influencias.

x/o :: Web :: Bandcamp :: IG ::

Imágenes :: descargar aquí ::

Foto de Orrin Pavone

[independentartistbuzz]

Alternative Singer-Songwriter Stonehocker Finds Peace Through Acceptance on “Take Everything”

Through honest writing of individual personal memoirs, Stonehocker crafts songs that explore and express the pain and joys of life. In a society where mental health issues have become even more prevalent, his goal is to be open, honest and inspire people to have the courage for self-discovery. The musical journey began in a small northern Alberta town and can be traced through the lyrics of the four full-length albums that have been released. Today, the music finds life through Stonehocker’s sparse Calgary home studio that has slowly come to be.

Latest offering, “Take Everything,” is a purposefully sparse song that allows the emotional vocals and lyrics to take focus. It continues the songwriter’s vein of self discovery and acceptance of what you find. “When I wrote those words, ‘Take Everything,’ it’s like a weight being lifted,” Stonehocker explains. “My burdens broke me. It was inevitable, yet I’m still here to sing this song; because I surrendered.”

This song is about surrender. It begins with the recognition of struggle and turmoil; it acknowledges the lack of control over one’s life. Yet, it leads to surrender, giving over control, allowing for help. I think a lot of people are carrying a weight around, loads of guilt or bitterness or angst. We’re walking alone, despite being surrounded by people, bearing our burdens. – Stonehocker

[rockzone]

Marcus Trummer - From The Start

Release Date: 15 Nov 2024

Photo Credit Heather Saitz

Tomorrow, the Canadian blues, soul, and rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Marcus Trummer releases his highly anticipated studio album 'From The Start'.

Produced and mixed by The Commoners’ guitarist Ross Hayes Citrullo and Renan Yildizdogan, the album features Silas Trummer on drums and Stacey Shopsowitz on bass. There are additional contributions from two members of The Commoners, a band that made a significant impact in the UK and Europe this year, namely Miles Evans-Branagh (keyboards), and Adam Cannon (drums).

'From The Start' is Marcus Trummer’s debut record. Young blood with an old soul, he marries modern sensibilities with tradition in his distinctive style that encompasses blues, soul, and rock.

This Calgary-born artist is already earning critical acclaim and recognition. In 2022, he won “Blues Recording of the Year” at Calgary’s YYC Music Awards and also received a nomination for “New Artist of the Year” at the Maple Blues Awards in Toronto. The following year, he travelled to Colorado to perform as a finalist in the 2023 Telluride Blues Challenge, which he would go on to win.

Marcus Trummer’s music draws inspiration from the timeless sounds of the 60s and 70s. With his warm and emotive vocals, he pays respect to classic soul singers like Bill Withers and Al Green.

His expressive guitar work channels the impassioned approach of players like B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix. Packed with raw emotion and honesty, Marcus’s songwriting is not to be overlooked. His thoughtful lyrics examine universal subjects of love and coming of age, unpacking experiences that resonate with all listeners.

[yorkcalling]

EP Review: Joseph Tennant - Every Fabric, Every Seam

Joseph Tennant is a Calgary, Canada-based singer songwriter who has just come to my attention through the release of his new EP. Very much a winter record, it straddles the line between hope and melancholy, reflecting on themes such as young love and the end of life. Continue reading EP Review: Joseph Tennant – Every Fabric, Every Seam

[thelensofyashunews]

TATE MCRAE’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED THIRD ALBUM So Close To What RELEASING FEBRUARY 21ST; NEW SONG AND VIDEO FOR “Sports car” OUT NOW

Multi-platinum pop sensation Tate McRae is set to release her highly anticipated third album So Close To What on February 21st via RCA Records. Through unfiltered lyricism and raw emotions, So Close To What represents the journey of growing up when the road ahead feels infinite and the destination increasingly elusive. It’s an introspective exploration of self-discovery, love, and searching for balance in moments of uncertainty. Pre-save HERE. 

Today, Tate releases her irresistible new song “Sports car” alongside the official music video. It’s written and produced with hitmakers Ryan Tedder (Taylor Swift, Beyoncé), Grant Boutin (Meghan Trainor, One Republic) and Julia Michaels (Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa). 

The provocative video is directed by Bardia Zeinali (Sabrina Carpenter, Troye Sivan) and styled by Brett Alan Nelson (Doja Cat, Karol G). It follows Tate as a viewer into her own dynamic world intertwined with high fashion moments and different characters. In a society that is constantly watching and judging, Tate becomes the observer and takes back control. Through her perspective, we are immersed in a powerful interplay of style and identity, where fashion becomes more than just clothing— it’s the canvas for her evolving identity. Each look tells a story, reflecting a different persona she embodies.

“Sports car” follows “2 hands” and “It’s ok I’m ok” which hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart and earned the star her highest-debuting song of her career on the Billboard Hot 100.  

In March, Tate will embark on her world ‘Miss Possessive Tour’ spanning South America, Europe, UK, and North America. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on March 18th in Mexico City at Pepsi Centre, with shows in São Paulo, London, Amsterdam, Prague, New York, Nashville, and many more before wrapping up in Los Angeles at the Kia Forum on September 26th. Benee will be joining as support on all Europe and UK dates while Zara Larsson will join Tate across all US and Canada dates.

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Video: Child Actress Shares Woozy and Achingly Bittersweet "Just Fine Never Better"

New Video: Child Actress Shares Woozy and Achingly Bittersweet "Just Fine Never Better" @childactress @auteurresearch

Canadian singer/songwriter and musician Rena Kozak is the creative mastermind the solo recording project Child Actress. Initially starting her career in Calgary, Kozak relocated to Montréal in 2017, where she firmly solidified herself as a must-see performer and songwriter, as well as a highly sought-after producer and mixing engineer. On the heels of last year’s Ancestor Worship, the…

[zonetrente-trois]

"The single navigates the complexities of unrequited love, hinting at a glimmer of hope in a mid-song bridge."

[independentartistbuzz]

Singer-Songwriter Billie Zizi of Edmonton Shares Levitate LP featuring Earnest and Uplifting Rocker, “Midnight Sun”

Singer-songwriter Billie Zizi of Edmonton, Alberta, is unveiling her long awaited new record, Levitate. The collection of dreamy songs, which range from earnest folk rock to eerie singer-songwriter, capture the artist’s experience of navigating life through her tight knit hometown community.

From the gas station love affairs of pitbull-walking, rhinestone adorned Edmontonians to the spiritual levity of transcendence, this album is a glimpse into my strange mind and the life I’ve lived. Loss, radiant love, transience, delirium and indefatigable hope are some of the themes. I dreamed this record into being over many years. It's a love letter to Edmonton, to delighting in the simple things like hot dogs and friendship and the prairie sky and the absurdity of it all. To all the Dirt City angels, the big dreamers, the lovers, and the dancers, this is for you: I hope you like it. – Billie Zizi

“Midnight Sun” was born out of a writing prompt to reference a natural phenomenon. Zizi ran with the concept of the midnight sun, one where we are “soaked in the luminous 24 hour sun,” and in turn, the “gardens of our love would proliferate wildly and we would be intoxicated by the honeyed light.” Yet inevitably, the winter would come and with it the love would wither and die. Co-produced with album collaborator Austin Parachoniak, “Midnight Sun” has an inherent groove to it with an arrangement meant to translate perfectly to a live setting, gradually deepening in intensity and heart as Zizi’s vocals and guitar lines grow around each other.

BILLIE ZIZI TOUR DATES:

Friday November 8th @ The Royal – Nelson, BC (TICKETS)

Saturday November 9th @ The Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club – Calgary, AB (TICKETS)

Sunday November 10th @ Ye Olde Jar Bar – Medicine Hat, AB (TICKETS)

Monday November 11th @ House Concert – Red Deer, AB

Thursday November 14th @ The Bassment – Saskatoon, SK (TICKETS)

Friday November 15th @ Artesian – Regina, SK (TICKETS)

Saturday November 16th @ The Handsome Daughter – Winnipeg, MB

Tuesday November 19th @ Mills Hardware – Hamilton, ON (TICKETS)

Thursday November 21st @ The Toucan – Kingston, ON

Friday November 22nd @ Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, ON (TICKETS)

Saturday November 23rd @ The Mill Restaurant and Inn – Tillsonburg, ON (TICKETS)

[jeannekwong]

Ellen Braun Photo credit: Rachel Boekel Photography

Each & Every Song at DIY Theatre Date posted: Wednesday, May 17, 2023

After over 20 years as singer and songwriter, Ellen Braun is turning to a new chapter in her career. Starting Thursday night with Each & Every Song, she brings a new one-woman 90-minute theatrical production to Calgary audiences. With music incorporated throughout the set, there is bound to be a good time out.

“I have always been a songwriter. I started calling myself one in my 20s. Now I am in my late 40s,” Braun says. “It is a journey I’ve been on my whole life.”

Ellen Braun is a Canmore-based singer and songwriter who performs as a solo act as well as in the band Trundled.

Braun did not have a goal of ever writing a play. According to her, it just happened.  “One day I felt compelled to write a one-woman show. I sat down over a weekend and wrote it,” she says.

She had always enjoyed seeing musicals and theatre.

The music and monologue put together for the piece are a way of accessing and a way to connect to the audience.

“The play is based on my life,” Braun says. “They are in snippets and follow a trajectory from knowing my purpose to losing slightly of it. It is about having obstacles get in the way, and living with purpose for what we’re meant to do.”

Each & Every Song is presented by DIY Theatre in Calgary and will be performed May 18 to May 21 at the Work Nicer Railroad Yard location at 1206 20 Ave SE. For tickets and more information, visit www.diytheatre.org