In The Spotlight

The Strumbellas – “Salvation”

Formed back in 2008, this Toronto-based Canadian sextet concocted a lively fusion of folk, pop and indie-rock, which they refer to as Folk Popgrass. They dropped their debut EP in 2009. In 2011, their inaugral full-length album “My Father And The Hunter” earned them a Juno nomination, ultimately winning Album Of The Year for their next album “We Still Move On Dance Floors” in 2014.

Pouring a sense of positivity into a musical cauldron filled with equal measures of folk, country, pop and a generous dollop of infectious joie de vivre, their latest single brews a rejuvenating, thirst-quenching tonic. With a boisterous, foot-stompin’ beat, acoustic guitar strums and multi-layered vocals, it’s the sheer optimism and lively folk-pop melody which makes this a tasty treat of pure joyous fun.

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In The Spotlight

Deidre & The Dark – “Bad Day”

Fueled by a love for all things 50s and 60s, Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Deidre Muro started this mid-century infused, technicolored project. Fusing 60s Pop, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Soul with a contemporary production, she debuted in 2011 with the EP “Curious Parcel”. She’s also a partner in record label YouTooCanWoo and composes for varied musical projects.

With the invigorating, flower-powerful intro of her latest single, she dives into the brightly lit swinging sixties with style. Decked out with a bouncy rhythm, sprightly flute and vivacious organ, which blend the groovy Pop sound with a touch of Jazz into a far out auditory experience, the addition of her hip, vintage-dipped vocals add a jumpin’ cinematic flamboyancy to Shimmy and Boogie to.

From her upcoming album “Variety Hour”, to be released on 5 February 2019:

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In The Spotlight

Taylor Janzen – “New Mercies”

This young, inspirational singer and songwriter grew up just outside Winnipeg, Canada in a very religious family. Having had an emotionally tough upbringing, she turned to songwriting as an outlet. Released in June 2018, she wrote her debut single “Stations” about the isolation caused by psychological abuse. She wraps her honest lyricism in intricate pop melodies with vivid folk accents.

Exploring the remnants of her religious upbringing and her spiritual self, her latest single is a personal quest to find the route towards reuniting the two. The full orchestral support gives it a feverish energy and with the fiery percussion and the folky strings setting the scene, it’s her authentic, emotionally-laden vocal prowess which gives deeply intimate feelings an intensely positive vibe.

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In The Spotlight

d’Z – “Clean Slate”

Born as Hans-Peter de Zeeuw in Rotterdam, the life of this Dutch drummer and composer changed when he first sat down behind a drum kit aged nine. Having studied pop, jazz and world music and having explored a multitude of genres, he became a sought-after drummer. Inspired by Jazz-Funk legends such as Steely Dan, Brand New Heavies and Tower Of Power, he started composing his own music.

Taken from his debut EP “Connected” and enlisting the vocal talents of Adriana Romijn, his latest single fuses every funky note into a vitalizing musical spectacular. While the polished percussion, sleek strings and creamy keys effortlessly merge together to give the tune a jazzy orchestral smoothness, the bustling brass and the suave, multi-harmonic vocals fill it with vigorous Jazz-Funk zeal.

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In The Spotlight

Alexi Blue – “No Good love”

Born and raised in Los Angeles, this young, multi-talented artist is not just a skilled singer and songwriter, but also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar and drums. She kicked off her career by posting popular cover songs on YouTube, but evolved to creating artfully crafted original songs with poignant lyrics and catchy melodies. She released her debut solo R&B single “Royalty” in 2015.

Chronicling two stories about her past relationships, which became too stressful to continue, gives her latest single a lyrically intimate ambience, while the simple, acoustic piano adds an intrinsic warmth. Enriched with the beat of peppy handclaps and a driving rhythm, it’s her passionate, R&B-laced vocals which will make you feel only good love for this beautifully constructed pop tune.

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In The Spotlight

Emarosa – “Givin’ Up”

The line-up of this rock quartet from Lexington, Kentucky has seen many changes since forming as Corsets Are Cages in 2006, with lead guitarist ER White as the last remaining founding member. After a name-change, they released their debut EP “This Is Your Way Out” in 2007, followed by four albums and two further EP’s, changing their heavy-metal sound for a more classic rock groove along the way.

This first taster of their upcoming fifth album “Peach Club”, which is due to drop on the 8th of February 2019, certainly delivers on sheer rock deliciousness. The highly infectious melody, perky guitar strums and a vivacious rhythm blend together into a flavorful bowl of rock stew. Infused with some retro pungency, it cooks up a very danceable dish, full of zest, you just don’t want to give up.

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