Published Apr 29, 2021
8Joseph Shabason has spent much of his career in service to others. Whether it s through his work as a member of synthpop group DIANA, sideman in Destroyer or session musician, the Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist Shabason is an ace at helping others realize their artistic vision. So it should come as no surprise that for his solo career Shabason tends to dig deep into his personal life for inspiration. 2018 s
The Fellowship, this time digging into his own upbringing in a dual-faith household in suburban Toronto. Though raised in traditional Jewish households, his parents adopted spiritual Islam in their 20s and raised Shabason and his sister with both religions. His childhood, he says, was pretty wonked.
His next project,
This Spring, is again unconventional: a collection of songs written and first released by the art rock musician Veda Hille, one of Krgovich s earliest mentors and now closest friends. The latest single from the record, premiering below alongside a video directed by Derek Janzen, is âLuckLucky,â which originally appeared as the first song on Hille s 2008 LP
This Riot Life. Hille s original was a lively anti-folk track, triumphant and defiant and punctuated by a regal trumpet. Krgovich, true to form, applies a softer filter to the track, making Hille s bold key changes sound dreamlike and meditative. âIâve always loved it,â Krgovich said of the song in a statement. âI love the looking back and the looking forward simultaneously. Kind of like she zeroâd in on the exuberant âwell, how did I get here?â from Talking Headsâ âOnce In A Lifetimeâ and centred a whole song around it. Veda
Sam Roberts, k-os, DJ Shub, Bad Waitress and more model their best music tees
Published Apr 14, 2021 Stop wearing T-shirts of bands you don t listen to, some asshole wrote on a cardboard sign and then got 1.5 million likes on Instagram.
People are, of course, free to wear whatever the hell they want, since band T-shirts can serve many functions. Buying music tees puts money in artists pockets, supports local retailers, and functions as the very bedrock of the concert industry. And, perhaps most importantly, they look cool as hell.
We asked an array of Canadian artists to take photos wearing their favourite band shirts, and they responded by shouting out key influences, waxing nostalgic about memorable live shows, and promoting friends and collaborators. Regardless of the stories behind the shirts, they all share one common denominator they look awesome.
Bernice s Subverted Pop Shines Brilliantly on Eau de Bonjourno
Published Mar 01, 2021
9Bernice s entrancing music holds no bounds the Toronto-based group are keen to throw genre expectations to the wind, and ultimately for the best. Keeping things unexpected and askew are what Bernice excel at, and with their second LP,
Eau de Bonjourno, the follow-up to 2018 s acclaimed
The brainchild of songwriter and musician Robin Dann, Bernice are rooted in expansive experimental pop that weaves elements of jazz, electro, R&B and soul into something simultaneously complex and playful, and utterly unique. Dann wrote Eau de Bonjourno with long-time collaborators Daniel Fortin (bass), Felicity Williams (vocals), Thom Gill (keys/guitar), and Philippe Melanson (e-percussion/drums), at a Toronto Islands artist centre. Between them, they ve performed with Bahamas, Andy Shauf, Lido Pimienta, Beverly Glenn-Copeland and others, and their extensive CVs are apparent from the first song. Adding
NOW Magazine
NOW’s favourite Toronto music of February 2021
Check out some of our favourite new releases, including a Black History covers compilation, Luna Li s new Jams EP and much more By Richard Trapunski and Kelsey Adams
Feb 5, 2021
Warner Music has put out a Black History Month covers compilation dedicated to Jacksoul s Haydain Neale (pictured here).
We’re deep in quarantine winter doldrums, but great new Toronto music continues to drop. Today is Bandcamp Friday, so give a listen to some of our favourite new release albums, singles and virtual live performances and pick up what you can on Bandcamp wherever you can to send your money straight to the artists or their chosen charities.