Andrea Nixon releases new single “Stronger Than The Storm”

ANDREA NIXON-Stronger Than The Storm [2019 Single] ART

As she’s proven over the past two years, Edmonton singer-songwriter Andrea Nixon is an artist who believes that one’s life and one’s music are inseparable. That was the foundation of her acclaimed debut album, Diary Of A Housewife, and those who have yet to check it out have another opportunity now with the release of its latest single, “Stronger Than The Storm.”

It’s unfortunate timing that the song arrives immediately after Hurricane Dorian, but its message of hope can offer solace to those affected, and to anyone else going through challenging times.

You can get “Stronger Than The Storm” from iTunes, and hear it at Roots Music Canada by clicking below.

RootsMusicCanada

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New Spotify playlist launching today!

Today I’m happy to announce my new Spotify playlist, “Best Batch Yet.” It will serve as a weekly roundup of new tracks by artists I’m working with, and others that have caught my ear. Check out edition #1 featuring Jerry Leger, Johnson Crook, Mariel Buckley and seven more!

Mike Boguski releases new track “December”

Mike Boguski-December [2019 Single] ART by William Boguski

Single artwork by William Boguski

Mike Boguski, keyboardist for Canadian roots rock institution Blue Rodeo, continues to explore new musical directions on his latest release, the single “December.” Produced by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies—also on guitar—and featuring a reunion of the original Blue Rodeo rhythm section, bassist Bazil Donovan and drummer Cleave Anderson, the seven-minute “December” offers brooding minimalism reminiscent of Miles Davis’s groundbreaking early forays into electric music in the late 1960s.

The project comes on the heels of Boguski’s first solo album, Blues For The Penitent, a stunning display of his improvisational skills on acoustic piano. Having spent the better part of the past two decades playing with a wide range of artists along with Blue Rodeo, Boguski is now blazing his own distinctive musical path. Just don’t call it jazz.

Get “December” by Mike Boguski HERE

mike boguski (horiz) [credit heather pollock]

Congrats to WCMA nominees!

WCMA

I am so thrilled to be working with three of the five nominees in the Roots Solo Artist of the Year category for this year’s Western Canadian Music Awards — Belle Plaine, Joe Nolan and Mariel Buckley! All well deserved — I wish they could all win, but we’ll have to wait for the awards ceremony in October. That’s plenty of time for you do discover their incredible work!

Darcy Windover premieres “Lonesome Feather” video at Great Dark Wonder

Lonesome Feather still

With under a month to go until the release of his new album Cope on April 18, Toronto singer/songwriter Darcy Windover has released a new video for the single “Lonesome Feather.” It can viewed now exclusively at Great Dark Wonder.

WATCH HERE

The majestic Americana sound of “Lonesome Feather” is indicative of Cope as a whole, Windover’s most accomplished collection of material so far in his young career. Recorded with producer John Dinsmore (Kathleen Edwards, NQ Arbuckle) and his trusted band, including co-writer and duet partner Stacey Dowswell, the album sparkles with sonic and emotional depth recalling classic Tom Petty and Blue Rodeo records, but with an immediacy that places Windover squarely in the conversation about the best up-and-coming Canadian roots rock artists.

“Lonesome Feather” follows on the heels of the first single from Cope, “How To Be Lonely,” proceeds from which Windover donated to Cam’s Kids, a non-profit charity offering support to youth struggling with anxiety. Windover had previously entered “How To Be Lonely,” in the 2017 CBC Searchlight competition where it was named a regional finalist.

With other songs on the album dealing with issues surrounding mental illness, Windover has made one of the most inspiring and uplifting albums of the year. Its title, Cope, pretty much says it all.

Cope Album Launch: Thurs. April 18 @ Dakota Tavern, Toronto (7pm-9pm) TICKETS

darcywindover.com

This Week’s Release: Tomato Tomato – Canary In A Coal Mine

Tomato Tomato-Canary In A Coal Mine COVER

The wait since last fall is over! Tomato Tomato have officially released their new album Canary In A Coal Mine today, and it’s a beauty.

It marks a significant creative step forward for the Saint John, New Brunswick-based roots rock outfit led by Lisa and John McLaggan, having been recorded at Nashville studio The Bomb Shelter (Alabama Shakes, Margo Price) with producers Jon Estes and Andrija Tokic, along with some of Music City’s finest musicians.

The result is a potent display of everything that’s made Tomato Tomato one of the most beloved groups on the Canadian folk music scene in recent years, from John’s inventive songwriting to Lisa’s unforgettable Neko Case-esque vocals.

Get it through tomatotomato.ca

Andrew Austin releases Starts And Fits!

Andrew Austin-Starts And Fits [2019] COVER

Listen to “Make My Head Go” on Spotify’s New Music Friday Canada playlist!

Or hear it at Amazon Music Canada’s Fresh Folk & Acoustic playlist!
https://music.amazon.ca/playlists/B07NRLXLGV?ref=dm_sh_f042-9133-8ad7-89d8-75101

After establishing himself as a pop-friendly troubadour with his 2013 debut While It’s Still Light Out, Starts And Fits (Believe Digital), displays Andrew Austin‘s dynamic musical evolution over the past several years. The album grew out of Austin’s work as musical director on the Disney/Family Channel show Backstage, and found Andrew collaborating with award-winning producer James Bunton (Donovan Woods, Vivek Shraya) who also mixed Starts And Fits for maximum earworm-inducing effect.

“Coming out of two years of [Backstage], I was suddenly faced with the challenge of writing for myself again,” Andrew says. “One thing I knew was that I didn’t want to play guitar at that moment, I just wanted to go into a room with a piano or a synthesizer and make sounds that way. That became the foundation for this record, trying to step away from doing things like I’d always done them with a traditional singer/songwriter mindset.”

Andrew also revelled in the ability to write from an adult perspective again, and overall Starts And Fits is the sexiest collection he’s offered thus far. Moreover, as the process unfolded and Andrew felt like he was finding a new voice, he had to keep some of his best ideas for himself while continuing to co-write with other artists like Donovan Woods, Emm Gryner, and Bobby Bazini, as evidenced by another of the album’s highlights, “Church Music.”

What it all adds up to is Andrew Austin’s emergence as one of Canada’s most dynamic singer/songwriters. While chances are that up until now you’ve heard his music in one form or another, with Starts And Fits he is ready to join the ranks of contemporary pop’s biggest names.