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Canada

Montreal’s Charlize Anne is massively courageous on the superbly honest Perfectly Me

Posted on 23 May 2023

After sending our hearts into a bundle of emotions on previous singles Karma and Playboy, Charlize Anne rattles a gem up for us to get over a past flame with via the why-did-you-let-me-down anthem, Perfectly Me.

Charlize Anne is a Montreal, Canada-born indie pop singer-songwriter who started life on the stage when she was just 6 years old through the school choir.

”During high school, Charlize, fronted a pop rock band. Performing alongside her twin sister (Rochelle) Charlize has sung the national anthem for hockey games as well as performing for the elderly.” ~ Charlize Anne

Taking her life back and never letting up despite the scars, Charlize Anne is on top form and leads the way in showing us what to do when the hurt bellows so deeply. Sung with precision timing and a glorious tone which is massively memorable, we are treated here to a new single with so much meaning.

Perfectly Me from Montreal, Canada-born indie pop singer-songwriter Charlize Anne is a heart-tearing single about expressing the anger behind being played by a manipulatively dangerous snake who only wants one thing.

Feeling hurt and slicing away the pain, this is a catchy pop single to nod heads with all day long.

Listen up on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

DDRMR dropped the biggest rap hit of the year with King Shit featuring GYZ

Posted on 22 May 2023

If you are looking to discover the biggest hip-hop track of 2023, there is absolutely no point in looking past the latest single unleashed by DDRMR. Created in collaboration with GYZ, King Shit, is a riot of galvanizingly layered ingenuity.

After a prelude of droning synthetics which harbinger cinematic doom, King Shit quickly becomes a multifaceted masterpiece of duality with the gospel-ESQUE backing vocals that have been amplified to the nth degree to enliven the juggernaut of a rap track with a sense of soul that you will want to savour time after time.

The Russia-born, Canada-based artist crafts his genre-fluid hits under the heavy influence of Linkin Park and Mike Shinoda, Buckethead, Kanye West, J-Cole, Hans Zimmer, Odesza and Japanese composer Yuki Kajiura. By having complete creative control over his tracks, from writing to production, he actualises his rhythmic poetry in his monolithic urban soundtracks, which always come complete with storming rap bars that are dominant enough to make your speakers shiver.

While nothing comes close to a live performance from DDRMR, watch the official music video for King Shit on YouTube until he rocks the stage at a venue near you.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ride the electromagnetic waves in Us or Aliens’ latest industrial pop-rock call into the void, Black Hole

Posted on 22 May 2023

Giving us all the dark industrial rock energy of Celldweller and Zeromancer, with a few sharp pop hooks for impaling measure, Us or Aliens’ latest cry into the void, Black Hole, is an existential tour de force.

While the hollow find it hard to find fulfilment in a disenfranchising reality where ennui is as escapable as the cosmic phenomenon which became the metaphorical focus of the single, the pensive will more than get their resonant fill from Black Hole.

Us or Aliens is the solo project from Shawn Kirkpatrick, who has been writing, composing, recording and producing for himself and other artists for the past two decades. In his impressive by any measure career, he has performed in over 500 venues and found the time to become an accomplished guitar teacher and TV composer.

Delve into Black Hole by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Classical strings meet IDM in Momento’s transcendental orchestration, Sindalah

Posted on 14 May 2023

After their intense classical upbringing, the award-winning Canadian musicians, Jonathan Chan and Jan Bislin, combined their virtuosic forces to forge the genre-fluid outfit, Momento, to unleash a brand-new wave of IDM onto the airwaves.

The electric violins against the entrancingly rhythmic loops and synthesisers in their latest single, Sindalah, will indoctrinate you into a brand-new world of aural pleasure which you will want to visit time and time again for the fantasia created between the upbeat percussive flair and the Eastern strings which carve their way through the transcendent atmosphere.

In addition to touring the globe as a violin duo supporting the likes of John Legend, James Blunt, and Tim Minchin, Momento has also shone in the ever-prevalent digital arena; so far in this phase of their career, they have amassed almost one million streams on YouTube, and counting.

Sindalah is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

THE PALE HORSES rolled with the punches in their soulfully heavy progressive blues single, Shallow Dive

Posted on 28 April 2023

THE PALE HORSES raucously reimagined blues with their latest feat of heavy progressive blues, Shallow Dive. The shimmering tones spilling from the Hammond organ remain definitively bluesy, as do the harmonised backing vocals, but everything else in the innovated hit came straight from the Toronto-hailing artist’s very own heavy rock n roll drawing board.

Even if you can take or leave blues and heavy progressive rock, there’s enough exhilarant substance in the release to affirm THE PALE HORSES are one of the most original acts on any scene. The jazz-inspired drums and vocal lines from Dane Hartsell transform this ode to 70s vintage tones into a riot of rock renovation, which may make traditionalists itch, but anyone who appreciates experimentalism will want to bask in the heat of this scorching sonically salacious release.

Shallow Dive is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

You don’t feel the Same: JXKR sends our emotions soaring on Stardust (feat. Dani)

Posted on 18 April 2023

Waiting for the moment when a 2nd epicentre connects with so naturally, JXKR wants so much more but senses that it will have to wait for another time on the stunning new single Stardust (feat. Dani).

JXKR is an Ottawa, Ontario-based indie Haitian-Canadian musician/producer who is currently working on the upcoming EP which will be released in the fall.

”My goal is to work with local artists and be a part of the R&B industry in the community.” ~ JXKR

After the underground love given to the debut single Rendez-Vous in 2022, JXKR opens up our feelings for a 2nd time and goodness me, this is special. Vocally tranquil and with unpretentious lyrics about how complicated romance can be sometimes, we find a song to hold hands with when there might not be another sweet kiss.

Stardust (feat. Dani) from Haitian-Canadian musician/producer JXKR is a tale that so many of us have sadly felt before when more is wanted, in a relationship which promised no strings at first. Layed in beauty and soaring with a revealing look into the love life which could have had it all, this is a sterling display from a single with true meaning.

Sometimes, it’s just not meant to be if another heart isn’t quite ready.

Turn this up loud on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

KASIA is spellbindingly subversive in her jazzy RnB pop single, Isn’t Love Strange

Posted on 17 April 2023
KASIA

With her hair-raising vocal lines pooling into the ethereal atmosphere of her latest indie alt-pop single that pulls in jazzy RnB motifs, KASIA is spellbinding in Isn’t Love Strange.

Love is lyrically depicted as many things, but strange is far from up there as one of the most common archetypes. Plateauing far above the tired tropes, KASIA tunes into the blurred lines of affection, alluding to how conflicting the transpiring emotions can be. Communicating how fear is often an uninvited guest on the honeymoon of new relationships, KASIA artfully illustrated how much we put on the line when we put our vulnerability in someone else’s hands.

If Isn’t Love Strange was the 1000th song the singer-songwriter had penned, you could colour us impressed; yet it was only the second song written by the natural-born songstress who effortlessly has what it takes to leave the airwaves at her command.

Isn’t Love Strange will officially release on April 17; catch it on on all major platforms.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

May I have This First Dance: LST IN HLYWD wants that desire to come true on Howl at The Moon

Posted on 15 April 2023

Lusting for a special moment to occur despite the barriers holding back a probable romance, LST IN HLYWD performs with so much radiating fire on the splendidly enticing new single Howl at The Moon.

LST IN HLYWD is a Toronto, Canada-based indie vamp rock band who are determined to fuse a whole new sound into a ravenous music scene waiting for something to munch furiously into.

”Their first ever tour (Summer 2022) “Summer Valentine Tour” They played 14 shows across Ontario playing to thousands of people. including hosting + being ranked the number one band by judges in Youth Day Global Toronto 2022 (Yonge And Dundas Square).” ~ LST IN HLYWD

With a pop-punk vibe and a classic feel to proceedings, LST IN HLYWD sends our souls into a whirlwind of emotions with something action-packed and worth many listens. Vocally stimulating and laced with an atmosphere which will get feet stomping and hands raising, this is a quality single made for music festivals and sunny says.

Howl at The Moon from Toronto, Canada-based indie vamp rock band LST IN HLYWD is an ear-piercing track which will grab the attention of many. This is a flourishing anthem which is a cinematic-like experience, which will surely pulsate the minds and souls of those who needed to hear the truth about how romance works sometimes.

Listen up on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

You Said I Put You Through: Ali Hugo feels rather lonely on All Alone

Posted on 9 April 2023

Feeling left alone in the damp corner and rather desolate in this bone-chilling world, Ali Hugo wonders if his future is bright or if the darkness is slowly looming to grab his fleeting soul away forever on All Alone.

Ali Hugo is an Ontario, Canada-based rock singer-songwriter, blogger, dancer and video producer who is signed to Mirage Records.

”Hugo started his music career at the early age of eight when he joined his family “Leo” band as the lead singer. During his teens, Hugo began the “Spin Around the Mall Tour,” gigging at various shopping malls.” ~ Ali Hugo

He is one of the true underground legends. Ali Hugo rocks out like better days and shows the kids what vigorous music sounds like. All Alone might be one of the most important songs heard yet in 2023. This is honesty at its pure core.

All Alone from Ontario, Canada-based rock multi-creative Ali Hugo is a solo-filled reminder that good quality music with verve and determination is still available. With a haunting story and so much to unwrap with fierce abandon, we feel a striking song explode right before our eyes. Made with passion and ear-splitting vocals to take many back into classic times, this is a good old-fashioned proper single to blast on full volume.

Turn this on via Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Marcosth3frog drops the heat for us to warm up inside on Tu Y Yo

Posted on 6 April 2023

Sizzling through the airwaves like a modern-day hero awaiting his claim for the top-tier echelon, Marcosth3frog gets the flow alive with ideas on the catchy new single to swim deeply into on Tu Y Yo.

Marcosth3frog is a Montreal, Canada-based indie Latino rapper who has recently evolved his sound and makes those soothing hits to be played on repeat.

Impressing from all angles and never letting us go for a second, Marcosth3frog is a majestic track with a party atmosphere and shall surge up our emotions, and get those sleepy feet tapping again.

With smooth vocals and a bustling beat to turn up a little or a lot, this is the kind of song which will cause beaming smiles to drift through the sunshine.

Tu Y Yo from Montreal, Canada-based indie Latino rapper Marcosth3frog is one of the catchiest singles available to our souls right now. There is so much to appreciate about a song with a real bounce and rhythm, which will alleviate all worries like a flick of a switch.

Listen up on SoundCloud.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen