This week’s top three tracks are:
1) “The Life You’ve Yet To Bruise” by Pale Whale
2) “Come Down on Me” by Roy
3) “Why Don’t You Care” by Nicole Coward.
I’ve also have three new artists for you to check out:
An ex-pat of Australia, Infinite One brings collective consciousness to Hip Hop and seeks to make the world a better place with his musings. Currently residing in Toronto, his lyrics speak of a reality many of us can identify with.
From Winnipeg comes Demetra Penner, flanked by musicians Paul Bergman and Karl Redding. Her single “Arctic Sea” showcases a voice pure and innocent, while still evoking a desolate melancholy that draws the listener into Canada’s far north.
Back in Toronto, Teruko (Japanese for sunshine) is a singer/songwriter who has been collecting guitars and penning lyrics since she was thirteen. Recorded against a backdrop of gently lapping waves, “Drifting” takes you far away from the noise and chaos of whatever city you happen to live in.
If you’re a musician who is looking for a helping hand, pay close attention to the next couple of blurbs. First up is an article I wrote for a local rag, but if we could get this happening across the country, more musicians could get recorded.
1) Paying It Forward, One Song At A Time
Every musician dreams of being recorded, plugging their CD into the stereo and hearing (possibly for the first time) a professional rendition of their song(s). But the costs can be prohibitive, especially for a “starving artist”. One local recording studio is on a mission to change that.
Two Bodies of Water Productions began the Pay It Forward YEG Community Program in June 2011, and plan to continue with it as long as it’s viable. The basic idea is this: 10% of gross revenues are donated back to the music community, which helps struggling recording artists offset the cost of cutting a CD. A two-day recording session costs $800; $80 of that will be ‘forwarded’ to a project of the first person’s choosing, or can be directed to a common kitty to be distributed as needed.
Behind the controls are James Seabrook and Sukhi Sandhar. Seabrook is a graduate of the NAIT Radio and Broadcasting Program, a regular fixture on the local music scene, and founder of Despite The Blindness. Sandhar is a multi-genre composer/producer as well as performance DJ who brings his varied talents to the table as well.
For more information about this unique program, call 780-938-4414 or email twobodiesofwater@gmail.com.
2) SurgeFM (New York City)
The whole purpose behind Canadian Indie Picks is to promote Canada’s most valuable natural resource: our talent! To that end, I’m sharing an opportunity to expand your fan base.
SurgeFM is actively seeking radio quality recording by independent, unsigned artists from across the world. One of the CIP alumni has already taken them up on that opportunity, and The Shakedowns are now getting their tunes spun from The Big Apple. We’ve also shared some of the CIP reviews with our radio buddy to the south, and hopefully that pays off.
If you’re interested in sending them your CD, check out their website @ http://surgefm.com/station-info/submit-music for all the info.
3) Last but not least, I’m offering my own writing services to any band/artist who needs them. From press releases to short scripts for videos, I can save you a fortune by putting pen to paper. Generally speaking, all I ask for is a CD in return (autographed is a bonus!). Just leave me a comment with your email, and I’ll get back to you.
That’s it for this week. Rock on!
Our listeners are voting with their fingers. Here are the top three tracks on Canadian Indie Picks:
1) Keep It Chemical by Kicked Off The Farm
2) I Call “Bull Shit”! by Rene De Meulles
3) On The Corner by Kingdom of Few
Remember to give a thumbs up (or down) so we can tweak the play lists and give you more of what you want to hear.
Also, these are the top three countries tuning in:
1) Malaysia
2) Canada
3) United States
We’re also getting hits from Korea, UAE, Israel, and many other countries. Canadian music is popular around the world! Kudoos to our artists.
New this week, we have one half of a duo that’s already featured on CIP. Nicole Coward of Wild Current has branched out and begun a solo project. With a sound that’s reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon, the Toronto based singer/songwriter is currently working on a roster of songs for her first album.
From North Vancouver, Slow Wave Saga packs a lot of punch for a rock trio. Erik Leonhard, with brothers Mike and Mark Slater deliver a hard driving sound. Of particular note is Mike’s prowess on the drums…definitely worth turning up the bass so you can fully appreciate his craft. The band is very polished and on the brink of commercial success.
Just across the river in Vancouver is Fishowner, a softer rock sound fronted by Kenny Faschauner. Their single “Meant To Be” is rapidly climbing charts across the internet airwaves.
The last track we’ve added is Cruel War by Devaney’s Goat of Montreal. It’s a haunting melody with a cross between Celtic and Civil War folk. To hear more of their work, visit their website @ Devaney’s Goat.
Till next time, keep supporting independent music!
~Arlie
I’m incredibly behind here at Canadian Indie Picks, so this week I’m catching up on all of our new additions to the station.
We’re gonna work our way from west to east, starting with Kicked Off The Farm in my hometown of Langley BC. The quartet of Sam Gent, Curtis Wilson, Matthew MacMartin, and Dayna Van Buskirk has rock-infused grunge feel to their music, with a healthy bass line holding it all together. Their single “Keep It Chemical” is currently spinning on the After Eight play list, but be sure to check out their other tracks.
Close by in Vancouver is The Harvest, a relatively new band that just formed in June 2010. Mark Stone, Darren Lee, and Jeremiah Johnson are fronted by the amazing Shauna Meloche, and together, their laid back, ska-influenced sound is perfect for hanging out at the beach with your favorite brand of wobbly pop.
Number #3 on our cruise through BC is City of Sparks, an indie duo hailing from Chase. Only playing together since spring of 2011, Danny Redekop and Benjamin Bermiller have begun to amass a collection of awesome tunes reminiscent of John Mellencamp.
Moving right along to Winnipeg, MB we have Mindstorm which is the brainchild of Travis Mitchell. With a very retro-80′s vibe, Travis and Mindstorm has already seen Top-10 success in Europe, as well as being picked up as a soundtrack for an Ontario Tourism commercial. It won’t be long till you hear him on your car stereo and think “hey, wasn’t he just on Canadian Indie Picks?”
We also have three different bands from Ontario. Star74 is a pop-rock quartet from Thunder Bay, with perfectly crafted melodies and thoughtfully penned lyrics.
From Omemee (the childhood home of the legendary Neil Young), NOS out to prove there is something in the water. “North of Seven” are local legends themselves, playing to appreciative fans and delivering a good time.
From Sudbury, The Velcro Kids are ‘sticking’ with good ol’ fashioned rock. One can hear a Beatles influence in their single “Wishful Hands”, but that isn’t to say that Zachary Lamothe, Alexander Lamothe, Matthew McGregor, and Spencer Jose haven’t created their own sound. Far from it. Currently in the studio working on their first CD, we can look forward to hearing more from The Velcro Kids.
I’m ending this week’s segment with a gem from Quebec. Drawing from her Quebecois and Aboriginal roots, as well as influences like Mariah Carey, Nessa is an R&B powerhouse to be reckoned with. Her single “Calling Me” is sure to be a chart-topper in the near future.
That’s it for this week. Stay tuned, and be sure to drop a line to your favorite artists. They love hearing from you!
~Arlie
It’s been a very busy couple of weeks here at Canadian Indie Picks. Not only have we added more tunes from the artists you already love, but we’ve added a whole new play list!
Running from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM every night, we’ve got everything from comedic irreverence to heavy metal, peppered with enough F-bombs to level a small city. Crank the volume, have a laugh, and mosh out in your private pit.
Here are just a few of our new artists on the After Eight show:
First up is Kingdom of Few from Calgary Alberta. Ranging from heavy rock to more commercial tracks, these guys are a band to watch. If you’re ever in the Calgary area, be sure to check out their schedule and catch one of their shows.
Next, we’ve got Emcubed’s hilarious take on rap. To get more of his views on life in Winnipeg (and the rest of the world), tune into his podcast Return To Sender.
Also adding to the hip/hop jocularity is Andrew “Nastybeats” Nast from Casselman ON. With tracks like “Porno Girl On My TV” and “Shawty Got Crabs”, this guy is too funny (and the melodies ain’t half bad either).
If you prefer the taste of metal in your mouth, we’ve got two entries from Ontario for you to sink your chops into.
Snuff SamsoN of Sudbury has 20 years of solid guitar playing behind him, and it shows in his ass-kicking instrumentals (hey, ya don’t always need lyrics messing up tunes).
From Hearst On, Wineblood cranks out progressive metal like nobody’s business. The band is still in the process of filling positions, so if metal’s your bend AND you can play/sing, shoot them an email.
That’s it for this entry. We’ve added even more artists than this list, but that’ll have to wait till next week. Till then, keep on rocking!
~Arlie
Yes folks, it’s a new week with new artists at Canadian Indie Picks.
Starting in the West with Rocky Mountain Rebel Music from Victoria BC, this 10 piece band brings a funk-flavoured rock that is impossible to pigeon-hole into any one genre. Ya just have to listen and enjoy!
Next, from Calgary AB comes Welcome Sound with thoughtful, image stirring folk songs. Kick back, close your eyes, and listen to their stories.
Moving right along, across the country, we’ve got three new additions from Ontario.
From Brantford, we have Tyler Freeman (aka Paradox Five80) mixing beats and weaving loops to keep you hoppin’ in the clubs.
In Toronto, Adam Rave, Ethan Pounds, Matt Fox, and Tom Piso are the talent behind Roads to Rosetta, a rock band that’s well on its way to commercial success with catchy tunes like “Until You Come Home”. Roads to Rosetta has ambitious plans to tour the country and work on their 1st CD this year, so hopefully we’ll hear more from this entertaining, eclectic group.
Also from Toronto, we’ve captured the unique diversity that is Canada with Dead Shyre who records not only in English, but also in Urdu/Hindi. It doesn’t matter if you speak the language…music is universal, and Dead Shyre’s melodies & vocals transcend any linguistic barriers.
Until next week, keep rocking it out! Canadian Indie Picks is still climbing charts and becoming a force to be reckoned with in the radio world.
It’s a new week with new tunes here at Canadian Indie Picks.
First on the radio roster is Greg Arcade from Toronto, ON with his eclectic mix of soul-infused rock, with a handful of sand and surf tossed into the mix, as evidenced by his single “Hawaii Electric”. His mission in life is to save Rock ‘n Roll from mediocrity, and he’s well on his way to accomplishing that.
From the other side of the country in Nanoose Bay, BC comes Rob Perry, whose lyrics explore the funnier side of life and keep you laughing at it.
Finally, we’ve added some solid rock with You Handsome Devil, a trio from Toronto ON. Alex Campbell, Jeremy Sachedina, & Steve “Z” McCarthy are serious contenders on the Canadian rock scene, and pushing Nickelback into early retirement.
That’s it for this week. Keep tuning in!
Yes, that’s right. We had so many new artists come on board over the last couple of weeks, we had to break up the blog entry into two parts to make it easier to digest.
Originally from St. Albert, Alberta, Almost A Few were lucky enough to escape the snow and ice by moving to Kelowna BC. The duo of Sean Perdue and Dean Hanenberg is focused on the craft of finger-picking their guitars and turning out beautiful melodies.
Aeron’s Wake is another instrumental group, this time from Windsor Ontario with a unique fusion of Celtic Rock that will bring out the Braveheart in you and make you want to charge into battle.
On the softer side of life, David John Zelko of Essex Ontario is the creator of This Man Tells Stories, and that he does, very well. Each song is gently crafted to reflect the lives around him.
We’ve also got two additions from Quebec. First up is The Chanteclers from Montreal with their classic rock sound. The songs are fun, and the lyrics are uncomplicated and unoffensive. Perfect for beer-drinking!
Also from Montreal is Bright September, a duo comprised of Esther Spiegelman and Stephane Lorello. Having only been together since September 2010, they are expanding into a full-fledged band and eagerly anticipating the release of their first EP this summer. With exquisite harmonies and vocals, Bright September has a bright future in front of them.
That’s it for now folks! Remember to support your favorite artists by checking out their websites and letting them know that their music is appreciated.
We’ve got a mixed bag for you this week. Lots of new artists, with every genre imaginable!
Who doesn’t love free music? Pass of Era from Sherwood Park, AB is giving away copies of their new EP ‘Scripted Dream’. Of course, the digital tracks are available now, but if you want a hard copy, simply visit their website @ http://www.thescripteddream.com/, sign up on their mailing list, and wait for the mail to arrive. While you’re waiting, give their tunes a spin here:
Right next door in Edmonton, we have Brad Proulx joining the CIP family. His laid-back, easy-listening style is perfect for sunny summer afternoons on the back porch (assuming of course, that we WILL get a summer this year).
A little further north in Fort McMurray is Comah, our first Hip Hop/Rap addition at Canadian Indie Picks. Already having opened for Classified and taking 3rd in an Edmonton Elimination, Comah is well on his way to going places.
Next up, we have a solo project from band already featured on CIP. Ryan Roy of The War Next Door has struck out on his own with a completely different sound than we’re used to hearing. Instead of the hard-hitting rock that has been the norm until now, the Victoria-based Roy is strumming softer folk and acoustic tunes.
The last artist in this installment of the CIP blog is Chad Beloin. This Wunderkind from North Battleford Saskatchewan could give Usher a serious run for his money. Already on his 4th album ‘Won’t Back Down’, the R&B/Hip Hop artist is destined for a Top 40 chart near you.
That’s it for today. We’ve had so many new additions in the last week, we’ll be putting together another installment of CIP for ya in the next couple of days. Enjoy!
Greetings fellow audiophiles!
This week, we’ve pulled in artists from all 4 corners of Canada, and a few in between.
From the frozen North, we’ve unearthed a couple of gems. Currently residing in Yellowknife NT, Natasha Duchene’s voice pulls like a Siren with her hauntingly beautiful melodies. From Whitehorse YK, Louis Rosenthal’s ‘Stray Dog’ has an old-time quality that takes you back to the Gold Rush.
Formerly from Calgary Alberta, The War Next Door moved to Victoria BC, thawed out, and extended the heat to their music. No gimmicks or auto-tuners…just good ol’ fashioned rock.
On the other side of our fair land in St.John’s NL is Andrew Rodgers, with toe-tapping folk songs like ‘Sunny Days’, or mesmerizing ballads like ‘Fall To Blue’.
Smack dab in the middle from Winnipeg MB, we have two very different artists. On My Sleeve is actually a solo act named Kevin Jones who is frequently joined by his equally talented friends. Check out his very poignant “For You (Leave The Light On).
Kicking it up a notch is Justin Waterman. “Kiss Your Crown” has a definite Stones influence, while ‘Conjugal Visit’ has a distinct insanity reminiscent of Frank Zappa.
Hayley Stark is a dynamic duo from Toronto ON. Perfectly woven harmonies, complex melodies, and hormonally-charged lyrics are all in a day’s work for Monica Julie and Jennifer Bryan.
Last, but not least is Angel Edwards from Vancouver BC, whose pop-rock reminds me of smokey taverns with patrons grasping at that last chance for romance (just before the ugly lights go on). The tunes aren’t pretentious, just good fun.
That’s it for now. If you haven’t already noticed, another page has been added to support video feeds for all of our artists. Be sure to check it out on a regular basis cause we’re adding to it all the time.
Till next week,
~Arlie
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Arlie Johnson
Hello! welcome to my blog.
