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Canada

Dream Baby Dream with Cati Landry’s indie pop installation of etherealism, Mind’s Eye

With vocal lines that hypnotise as they harmonise, Cati Landry’s indie dream pop single, Mind’s Eye, will instantly put you under its ethereal spell. As the lead guitars bend licks of Americana into the notes, the rhythm guitars keep the 90s indie dream alive in their steady spills of instrumental romanticism.

The Canadian singer-songwriter set to create the ultimate anthem for the diehard romantics who find themselves consistently contending with the juxtaposition between dreams and reality; given that she made romantic expectations all the more unrealistic with her butterfly-releasing release, it is safe to say she succeeded in her enchanting record, which deserves to be just as revered as Swift’s latest LP. I highly recommend investing in Cati Landry’s promising career before you have to take out a second mortgage for her gig tickets too.

Mind’s Eye was officially released on July 14; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The world humbled me: Othello pulls away from the darkness on SZA 4 NGAZ

On a steamy track to heat up fragile windows, Othello is in no mood for loneliness and performs with a stunning brilliance which will certainly heal all sad hearts on SZA 4 NGAZ.

Othello is a well-travelled New York City-based RnB/neo-soul artist who was born in Montreal with Congolese heritage deep in his veins and shows us his inspiring determination on each track.

Moving away from those previously harsh tough times which threatened to sway him into the darkness of gloom, Othello is in top form and sings with so much love and rides the wave inside a whirlpool of the confusing romantic world we find ourselves in.

Fueled with his gospel energy and featuring terrific lyrics to lather deeper into, we are treated to a rising musician who sings from the heart.

SZA 4 NGAZ from New York City-based RnB/neo-soul artist Othello is a rather special ear-tingling experience to turn up on full volume. There is much to be thrilled about no matter what genre you’re usually into, as our emotions are taken on a breathless voyage to that happy place.

Listen up deeper on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Bring The Party: ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE drops from the sky to sends us into a new galaxy with an enlightning interview

Teaching us much about the music scene, fearless self-taught artist/sound engineer ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE tells us all about his hot new party-all-night new single Earthquake and about life as a Canadian musician plus an in-depth look into what his ideal Maserati looks like while kindly letting us ride shotgun with him.

Llewelyn: Thanks so much for joining us ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE as we appreciate you taking the time. Firstly, what is your ideal night out and who is joining you?

ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE: Hi, thank you very much for having me. It’s an honor to have a chance to be interviewed by such a respected music blog as yourselves. My ideal night out would definitely have to be hitting a club or bar downtown with my people and having many drinks. I love seeing where the night takes us and being able to create great memories to inspire future music. If I’m not going out, I love spending long nights in the studio creating music. That’s where I truly find inner peace.

Llewelyn: Let’s chat about your latest sizzler. Earthquake might have stunned our speakers awake and we like it a lot. What was the vision behind the track and please tell us who was involved in the creation.

ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE: Very glad to hear that you guys loved it. I appreciate the kind words. When talking about the vision of this song, it starts with me and my brother from Nigeria, Pupa Tee. Now with this being our third release together, we knew we had to make it as good as our first two. I had asked him if he wanted to try something smoother this time since our last two were party songs. However, he insisted that we should keep the party going even stronger. That’s when I knew that I had to make something harder than we ever have so far. This is what inspired me to write the first two lines of the song as soon as I heard the beat; “So they say they wanna party, so you know I’ll bring the party,” & the rest of it kind of just followed effortlessly.

I am fortunate to be able to work alongside such a talented artist as Pupa Tee because he’s always able to match my energy on whatever curve ball I throw his way. I had asked him to find another artist that would be able to do the same cause I figured this song needed a third artist to make it even more compelling. This is when he brought on his friend Rhaffy who usually sticks to his producing / sound engineering side. However this time, Rhaffy clearly demonstrated how effortless it is for him to sing and flow just as well. This is how it all came together and we genuinely hope it can light up the summer for everyone.

Llewelyn: What is your favourite kind of Maserati and what colour is it? Also, would you let us ride shotgun with you (even for a little while)?

ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE: Hahaha, I’d definitely let you guys ride shotgun any time you’d like. If I’m lucky maybe our next interview can take place inside a Maserati. The funny part of the Maserati lyric in the song, is that Maserati isn’t even my favourite sports car. A Rolls Royce would probably have to be. The lyric was supposed to represent that as two girls are fighting over me, like the historic battles between Ford and Ferrari, that I had already moved on to another girl. I’m not a fan of drama. However, if I was fortunate enough to own a Maserati, I would definitely black out the entire car and rims.

Llewelyn: Montreal, Canada is your home. What is the local music scene like at the moment and where are the best spots to find the next great artists who are on the rise?

ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE: Montreal is actually so culturally diverse, which is one of my favourite parts of living here. You have food, music & art from all around the world at your disposal at any time. There are so many talented artists in the city, many of which I’m lucky to call friends. If you’re looking to find upcoming artists, the best way is to go downtown and there are many bars and clubs that host live shows and you’ll surely find some dope artists that are still under the radar.

Llewelyn: You love making midnight songs. Is that who you make music for? Those who love to live a little and get away from real life for a few hours?

ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE: Yes, I describe my sound as midnight music. The reason behind the name is because every chance I get, I’m usually awake till 5-6 am in the studio. It’s when the world is the quietest and I can feel the most. I like to keep my music as realistic as possible & I believe the listener can tell if you’re faking it. So if I’m trying to make music for those who love the nightlife then I have to ensure that I’m making music at night time. I believe my sound carries a darkness to it and I can credit the smooth feelings I feel at night as the reason behind it.

Llewelyn: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in life and has there been a specific moment when you went..wow…that is actually so true?

ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE: Wow, that’s a tough question. I have definitely been fortunate enough to have many mentors outside of the music industry and trying to narrow one down isn’t easy. Off the top of my head, I remember hearing that being grateful is the key to happiness and long-term success. The more I stopped looking at what I don’t have and started appreciating what I do have, each day became easier to live. I truly believe that if you take the time to be grateful each day, for even the smallest things, it helps you stay grounded and allows you to focus on moving towards a positive direction instead of dwelling on the things that aren’t going as well. We all are struggling, some worse than others, but instead of looking at things we can’t control, we can take a step forward each day to focus on bettering ourselves and our surroundings through the things that we actually have control of, such as being grateful.

Llewelyn: Last question. What is the end goal? Where do you want to be in 5 years and do you see your sound changing at all?

ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE: My true end goal is to find happiness. I believe that is what we are all searching for. Making music every day truly allows me to feel inner peace and takes me one step closer to that goal every day. I truly just want to make enough money off of my music to be able to do it for a living. I also want to touch as many people around the globe as possible and allow them to feel the feelings I feel while creating the music. My sound is always growing since I started making music and whichever direction my sound takes me in the future, my goal is just to stay true to myself and maintain that ACTHEKIDFROMSPACE sound that I’ve always had.

Turn up this up louder on Spotify and get the party started.

Follow the vibes and upcoming show news on IG.

Interviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Spotlight Feature: Ella Rossi negated adorated anxiety in her ethereal indie soul pop sophomore single, Linen

Ella Rossi

After finding her voice as a jazz singer, the LA-born, Montreal-based artist Ella Rossi has flourished as one of the most seminal RnB Pop singers of her generation. With a vocal timbre as rich as the staccato guitar chords, few ethereal indie RnB Pop soundscapes spill as much tonal sanctity as her sophomore single, Linen, which explores the sensual highs and the tormenting lows of a relationship you can’t leave in the rearview mirror, despite never knowing where you stand in it, or how the severe the wounds will be when time finally closes on it.

With a vocal range so luxe and rich it would make Elon Musk feel inferior, Ella Rossi is a diamond in the rough; it is only a matter of time before major record labels want to mine her. Her capacity to captivate with her honeyed harmonies and so-radiant-they-glow soundscapes is second to none. Rossi is the ultimate proof that if you stay in your own creative lane, there will be no one out of your expressive league.

Ella Rossi said:

“Linen is about a passionate but complicated relationship and being unable to resist the attraction, despite the potential consequences. The lyric, “wrapped in this linen”, represents a sense of comfort and intimacy while alluding to a feeling of entrapment in a dynamic where there is no longer a clear view of how the other person feels.”

Linen will release ahead of Ella Rossi’s debut EP; stream it via Spotify and SoundCloud from June 16th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shift your perceptions in a brighter direction with ORCHAD’s riotously synthy call to arms, DAMAGED GOODS

‘DAMAGED GOODS’ is the latest hyper-cosmic feat of synth-driven alt-rock from Montreal’s most monolithic powerhouse, ORCHAD.

With pinches of pop-punk making the hooks even sharper, this riotous call to arms to everyone who knows how it feels to disregard themselves as broken and too idiosyncratic to love is enough to shift self-perception in a far brighter direction.

The riffs that will make you reminisce about Dragonforce are just a fraction of the hard-hitting impact of DAMAGED GOODS. With an entire generation at risk of being lost to entropy and apathy, ORCHAD delivered an upbeat anthem, fierce enough in its exhilaration to affirm that it is society that is royally fucked, not the people living through the fallout.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if the Black Parade was written today, you will get an idea of the heart-in-throat resonance you will sink your teeth into when you hit play.

“The song is about the struggles and challenges of life and mental illness, including the pressure to conform and fit in with societal norms. It encourages the listener to let go of the expectations that society places on them and to accept themselves for who they are, flaws and all.

We should all focus instead on finding solace through healthy forms of self-expression. Everyone is going through their own struggles and we really are all “damaged goods.” If we focus on loving ourselves first and “dance in the rain” you might just be able to ease the pain.”

DAMAGED GOODS will hit the airwaves on June 9th. Hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dedicated to all our serving military friends: Teku Syndrom leaps towards the light at the end of The Path

Taken from their spectacular 5-track EP to consume with utter satisfaction, Teku Syndrom sees the target in sight and drops a soldier-filled single for all those who wonder why they’re involved in such destruction on The Path.

Teku Syndrom is an Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada-based indie rock band who are 5-member strong and rattle the fences nearby with an exhilarating blend of powerfully designed music to start up all slow heartbeats.

The band’s debut single “Help Me Grow” was released in May 2022 and quickly worked its way up numerous online charts as well onto Australian radio. The powerful ballad captures the emotions surrounding Raz’s daughter’s gender transition, delving into how she reached out to her family for support throughout her life-changing/altering/awakening and inspirational journey.” ~ Teku Syndrom

Goodness gracious me, this is precisely what our warn-torn world needed. A proper song with a meaning many will truly feel. Teku Syndrom is rather brilliant on The Path and projects a real story that others chose to hide away from, instead of embracing.

The Path from New Brunswick, Canada-based indie rock band Teku Syndrom is a drum-packed experience featuring ear-healing vocals to show us inside the mindset of those brave warriors who carry on despite the emotional and long-lasting trauma.

Showing us deep inside real life and honouring those who put their life on the line each day, to pulsate our souls and make us all respect those who fight with the inner emotions of slaying other humans when called upon.

See this dynamically charged music on YouTube.

Find out more and see where they’re playing live next on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Propter Hawk stoked the fires of a rock n roll revival in Clean Old-Fashioned Hate

Propter Hawk

With demurely electrifying vocal lines in the same vein of She Drew the Gun and Black Honey fused with cruising kaleidoscopic guitars which angularly nestle into the middle ground between Pavement and The Beatles, Toronto’s premier rock outfit, Propter Hawk, knocked it out of the sonic ballpark with their latest release, Clean Old-Fashioned Hate.

The feel-good rock n roll rhythmics were the perfect way to address our contemporary appetite for division and hatred while throwing you right back to the simpler times when we could believe what we read and tribalism wasn’t excessively weaponised.

Armed with their vintage gear and an MO to stoke the fires of a new era of refreshingly relatable rock n roll, the raconteur powerhouse is unreckonable; join forces while you still can.

Clean Old-Fashioned Hate will be available to stream on all major platforms from June 2. Head over to their website for more info.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Strange Things became the heirs to sonic obscurity with their vintage psych rock tour de force, Witness to the Apathy Gospel / Approaching Mindfulness

With the same fuzzy psychedelic alchemy that would be tasted in the notes of a cocktail of The Zombies, Sonic Youth, and Wire, the standout single, Witness to the Apathy Gospel / Approaching Mindfulness from Strange Things’ LP, In That Light of Fading Day will leave you intoxicated from the first time you savour the vintage tones.

The melting pot of psych, shoegaze and experimental noise, influenced by the likes of The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Telescopes and The Stooges, ensured that the LP from the Canadian connoisseurs of sonic obscurity was far from the ordinary lockdown-born albums that proliferated the airwaves when amateur hour seemed to stretch out in perpetuity.

Beneath the sludgy swathes of effects are some serious songwriting chops, written in the way the progressions immerse you even deeper in the vintage psych outpour of grief for the victims of the Uvalde County shooting.

Closing the single on headily distorted Eastern rhythms was the cherry on the sonic dissonance cake. Stream Witness to the Apathy Gospel / Approaching Mindfulness for yourselves via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Be a passenger to the alchemic Avant-Garde experimentalism in SEAKIN’s alt-indie single, Men of Heart

Montreal’s most Avant Garde alt-indie outfit, SEAKIN, went into experimental overdrive with their ravishingly alluring amalgam of post-punk, psych and ethereal desert rock, Men of Heart. The angularly funky guitar chops around the diaphanous siren-ESQUE vocal lines provided by the author, composer, and performer Natalie Talbot is a combination that will stir the senses of any innovation seekers out there looking to fill their playlists with originated material.

If you could imagine what Blondie, Jim Morrison, Bowie, Siouxsie and the Banshees would sound like in an aural melting pot, Men of Heart can give you a phantasmally beguiling idea. We can’t wait to hear what SEAKIN put out next after Men of Heart gave us a serious taste for their darkly scintillating spin on post-punk.

Men of Heart will hit the airwaves on May 25. Hear it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

For Mom: Martin Mayer makes a special song for his biggest fan on HEART OF AN ANGEL

Sending us into a mesmerizing vortex of wonder, Martin Mayer’s HEART OF AN ANGEL is surely one of the sweetest singles so far in 2023 no matter the genre and is refined in delivery to warm all cold veins.

Martin Mayer is a Czech-born Canada-based piano master who is known as one of the best at his craft no matter who is in the room.

Gracing us with a splendidly memorable embrace, Martin Mayer is at his best with a delightful soundtrack to marvel at for its loving nature. In a world with so much hate and confusion, this is the impactful reminder humanity has needed for years.

HEART OF AN ANGEL from Czech-born Canada-based piano legend Martin Mayer is a top-quality instrumental experience made for his caring Mother. There is care and love involved which requires us to merely listen, and take in each second on a special day caressed with exquisite and endearing excellence.

If your tastes head for the best, this is it.

Listen up on YouTube.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen