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Canada

Lock up your daughters; ORCHAD unveiled their X-RATED pop-hooked alt-rock earworm, SKIN

Posted on 22 November 2022

ORCHAD’s latest single, SKIN, is easily the sexiest alt-rock offering since She Wants Revenge tantalised us with Tear You Apart. Quickly becoming (in all the ways) one of the hottest acts in Montreal, ORCHAD has torn up the rock n roll rule book and is writhing in the confetti of archetypal rock flavours.

Screeching riffs resound around the dark electro beats to create a fervid platform for the dynamic vocal lines that sporadically run through heavy effects to amplify the dark salacious energy of SKIN to the nth degree.

Instead of attempting to appease the insufferable rock snobs by listing only the most revered rock gods in their influences, ORCHAD let us know exactly where their hooky pop proclivities came from by name-dropping everyone from Dua Lipa to LeBrock to Billie Eilish and by owing the heavier parts of their ever-fluid signature to the likes of Avenged Sevenfold and MCR. As someone that was very much in their emo phase in the early 00s, their partially revivalist ingenuity is far from lost on me.

SKIN is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

The Spheres packed their alt indie synth-pop debut, The City of Lights, with evocative kryptonite

Posted on 16 November 2022

If it’s been a while since a debut single has left you utterly obsessed, delve into The Spheres’ alternatively inclined amalgam of 80s synth pop, indie-rock, and dance, The City of Lights. From the suburbs of Toronto, the duo lit up the airwaves with their infectiously hook-rife account of the frontman’s complicated relationship with his city of birth, Karachi, Pakistan. “In the city of lights, you die just for dreaming”, is cuttingly efficacious in alluding to the toll it took on the singer-songwriter and producer Reza Habib.

With the vibrato in the vocals spilling evocative kryptonite across the catchy synth-pop melodies, The City of Lights will blind you with its luminous soul before the solid riffs and punchier vocals conclude the track on a raucous high that will leave you itching for more. Thankfully, that itch will be scratched as more singles from the debut album will drop before its full release in Spring 2023.

Stick The City of Lights to your synapses by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Canadian jazz project THERMO warm us up with the toasty release Betty’s Buns

Posted on 8 November 2022
Birdlike by THERMO

Lifted off their silky smooth 10-track album Birdlike to release all previous worries in the sky, THERMO displays the kind of grace and care needed to appease all nerves on the wonderfully tranquil Betty’s Buns.

THERMO is a Toronto/Ottawa, Canada-based indie jazz project which is melted together so stylishly by Mike Manny and Nathan Hiltz.

”The group was formed during the pandemic thanks to the low latency internet platform Syncspace. This allowed the group to develop, rehearse, and perform music by Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, and Oscar Peterson while 600km apart at the speed of fibre optic cable.” ~ THERMO

Reconciling us up from those pesky worries that can hurt your heart, THERMO takes into a better time when everything was slower and happier. Rich is character and showing so much poise and skill, we find ourself floating into amicable waters.

Betty’s Buns from Toronto/Ottawa, Canada-based indie jazz duo THERMO is such a calmingly delightful song which will surely ease many worries away in an instant. Smooth in nature and crowded full of punch, this is absolute delight to listen to and is one of the more mood-changing releases in 2022, without doubt.

Listen up on Bandcamp and see more vibes on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

3rd Degree: Canadian folk act Borrowed Standards return with the foot-tapping track Boombox On My Knee

Posted on 6 November 2022

With a catchy release that shall be heard all over the neighborhood, Borrowed Standards aren’t giving up easily and shall do whatever it takes to be with that special lover on Boombox On My Knee.

Borrowed Standards aka Dylan Csincsa is a Manitoba, Canada-based indie experimental folk project who formulates that joyous music to dance with all night with a few cold ones.

Transporting us back to a time when something impressive had to occur to reach the happy road, Borrowed Standards have released a sterling song to play on repeat. Drenched in honesty and soaked in so much genuineness, with passionate vocals to keep us truly inspired.

Boombox On My Knee from Manitoba, Canada-based indie experimental folk Borrowed Standards is a single laden with so much creativity it shall make many smile. Showing us that love can be saved if two hearts may mend as one, just like it should be.

When you’re in love, anything is possible.

Listen up to this new single on Spotify and see more on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Circonflex Interview: taking us back to our core with monumental new release Lorem ipsong

Posted on 2 November 2022

With their likeable charm and groovy treats to keep our hungry stomachs filled, we were blessed to speak to Circonflex about their excellent new release called Lorem ipsong. There are delightfully vibrant energies inside their music, so A&R Factory sat down and found out more about this dynamic outfit.

Hello Circonflex. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. To start, please let everyone know where you’re from and based currently?

Hello! I am based in Montreal, Canada! But Circonflex also has offices in Toronto and Paris (France!). We speak French, English, and….a bit of Latin!

When you close your eyes and imagine the vision of your new project called Lorem ipsong, what do you see?

We actually wrote this during the pandemic. Our vision was to put a smile on people’s faces during such a difficult time. We thought, music IS a universal language, and these lorem ipsum lyrics are non-specific, so everyone can dance!
Also, I like to imagine songwriters starting to use the Lorem Ipsum lyrics to help them to find a new topline. It helps designers to structure their graphic design, so why can’t these lyrics help composers structure their melodies?

Have you found the live music scene in your local area feels back to normal again?

Pretty much! It’s so great to see people getting together again. I can’t wait to walk into a venue where a band is actually playing a Lorem Ipsong cover!

How would you describe your sound to a complete stranger?
Our sound can vary quite a bit – really it is anything YOU want. We pride ourselves in writing orginal (bespoke) music that resonates. We also do audio branding: so we are known to discover the sound you’ve been searching for.

Your new song is super funky and certainly gets my feet tapping. Do you love making tracks that get the party started?
Absolutely! Have you tried memorizing the rap part? Challenge accepted?

Which musicians in the world inspire you the most?
You know, there are so many great musicians! It’s hard answer this question honestly. But these days, my favorite songwriter is Cicero – who actually wrote the lyrics of Lorem Ipsong in 45 BC!

Do you have anything lined up gig-wise in 2023 and where can we find you?
Hopefully writing more tracks that people love! We made Lorem Ipsum sound amazing – imagine what else we can do!
Which makes me think – maybe we should try and remix the song? Or is there anyone out there who’d like to give it a try?
The stems are available right here: www.circonflex.com/lorem!

–

Find this facinating outfit on Spotify.

View their website for more.

Interview by Llewelyn Screen

Montreal travellers Nöyze knows that the light is required for that true contentness on Guide Me

Posted on 24 October 2022

Showing us what it’s like to be on the road via the expedition to the next festival, Nöyze asks for that bright light to be shone colorfully so that wonderful love may be reunited again on Guide Me.

Nöyze is a Montreal, Canada-based indie 4-piece band who has played all over the world and continues to develop their sound throughout their life experiences.

”The band’s initial influences include groups such as Pink Floyd, Kings of Leon, the Beatles, etc. With these influences as a starting point, Nöyze has created a sound which is very much its own.” ~ Nöyze

Presenting their harmonious melodies with a relaxing effect that might take you to a time and place that you recall so vividly, Nöyze are in a reflective mood on Guide Me and the Canadian band are in full flight with a marvelously serene single made from the heart.

”They have once again taken the old continent by storm in the summer of 2018, playing 27 shows (festivals, theatres and clubs) in 50 days. This 15,000 km cross-country tour took them to France, Germany, England, Scotland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.” ~ Nöyze

Guide Me from Montreal, Canada-based indie 4-piece band Nöyze is one of those songs that stops you in your tracks. This is a peaceful single that will take you profoundly into their mentality that is only focused on that genuine love. Performed by a self-aware outfit who sounds in contemplative form and guide us to that better place, this is a track that you can’t help but truly appreciate.

Sometimes you just need to know that the light is available, so that you may be reconnected to that beautiful soul.

Hear this top song on Spotify and check out the IG page for more.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Been A While: Sadbxylee x Eryn Nicole drifts through on that self-love journey while Rain Falls

Posted on 11 October 2022

Seeing that cloudy outlook even if you want to actually be happy, Sadbxylee x Eryn Nicole pours through and helps us see what is actually important on Rain Falls.

Sadbxylee is a Long Island, USA-based Lo-Fi artist/music producer/audio engineer who is joined by Canadian-based Lo-Fi hip hop producer/composer/songwriter Eryn Nicole.

Knowing now that time flies and the smiles will be hidden until you learn to love yourself, Sadbxylee and Eryn Nicole are quite splendid together and send through a scent that is rather incredible to witness. Forging through with so much introspection, this is a lovely effort that has been clearly made with care.

Rain Falls from the incredible Lo-Fi wizards Sadbxylee x Eryn Nicole is a rather terrific song that will send you into a whole new galaxy altogether. With serene vocals and a breathtaking soundtrack to get your veins ready for more, this is a stunning release, which is exactly what our thrilled bodies had been waiting for. There is a pulsating power at play here which will get your eyes alert and ready for finding that content place we are all seeking.

Listen up to this fine single on Spotify and see more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

GIFTED rocks Afropop with hip hop in his latest single, Mr. Oh No

Posted on 6 October 2022

Afropop rocks with hip hop in the up-and-coming artist GIFTED’s latest single, Mr. Oh No, which brings the best out of his trademark lyrical hook, which any of the Canadian artist’s fans will know to be “oh no, oh no”.

It sounds simple, but with the soul that GIFTED pours into his vocal delivery, it is an efficaciously ensnaring feat of vocal melodicism that proves why the young luminary hasn’t failed to rack up in excess of 50k streams with some of his releases that are all about the warm melodic loops and the vibes which prove that conviction doesn’t need to be synonymous with aggression.

Mr. Oh No officially dropped on September 22nd; check it out on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

I Am Free Now: Oceans of Tears shows us the real picture on JE SUIS LIBRE- I AM FREE

Posted on 2 October 2022

Taken from the well-received rock musical BULLET IN A GUN – DROWNED IN A SEA OF TEARS, Oceans of Tears returns with a deep story that is filled with sadness and true life in a nutshell on JE SUIS LIBRE- I AM FREE.

Oceans of Tears is a Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based indie pop/rock project from artist Steve W. Boily who fearlessly develops popular rock and children’s musicals, songs and videos.

”A semi-autobiographical socially relevant, thought-provoking musical which deals with sometimes “heavy” and often “provocative” themes. In this song, performed by a great vocalist, JOHANNE GAGNON-DEMERS, with music by Jim Crighton and Michael Sadler from the amazing and under appreciated rock band SAGA; the lyrics written by Steve W. Boily & his music collective “Oceans of Tears/ Océans de Pleurs” speak about a teen who is admitted in an insane institution due to her recent suicide attempt, to get away from the physical & emotional abuse she has received from her alcoholic parents.” ~ Oceans of Tears

After the sea-bending experience on October 2021 release Drowned In A Sea Of Tears Remix (feat. Nick Preymay Jr), Oceans of Tears joins forces yet again with Les productions ALASKA Productions and the results are quite scintillating.

JE SUIS LIBRE- I AM FREE from Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based indie pop/rock project Oceans of Tears is one of the most honest songs you are likely to hear in 2022. Soaked with an unmistakable rawness that takes us into the mind of someone who has had to deal with too much too young, showing us where society needs to be better rather quickly.

Being free is what all kind souls deserve, after all.

See more on YouTube and see the progression continue on Steve’s IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

 

Secret: Alick Mac takes time to get into the place he feels is best on Therapy

Posted on 1 October 2022

Feeling his way back into this world after a much-needed respite to reimagine everything, Alick Mac leads us into his whole new mindset while also looking to the future on the reborn soundtrack to a fresh new start with Therapy.

Alick Mac aka Lachlan Macpherson is a Kingston, Ontario-based indie hip hop artist and 4th year student at Queen’s University.

With that whole engaged attitude that keeps him alert to what is needed to succeed, Alick Mac shows us that Zen garden that is smartly away from all those distractions which have the power to break your core spirit.

”The message behind the song is about me using music as a therapeutic release, as it helps me to sort through my problems and gain clarity.” ~ Lachlan Macpherson speaking about this fine single

Therapy from Kingston, Ontario-based indie hip hop artist Alick Mac, is a reminder that anything is possible if you’re in the right frame of mind. Looking for that way to defeat that weakness is the mission, as the path to dependance is absolutely worth the self-enlightened expedition.

Feeling renewed after time to reflect can be useful after all, if you make use of the time you have left.

Hear this deep track come to life on YouTube and follow the vibes on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen