Ouri, photo by Hamza Abouelouafaa
By Will McGuirk
"Despite the superficial and existential hazards, you can always find solace if you accept to dive into the present, in your own flesh, and let your brain disconnect with the help of gorgeous melodies.” - Ouri
By Will McGuirk
Vibrations, waves, across the universe, billions of years, then you appear, vibrating, making more vibrations, disrupting the flow, pushing out, pushing back at the noise of the Big Bang with your own voice. So keep going, keep voicing, keep being here, and going there.
(from PR)
In 2020, Donovan Woods released Without People via his own Meant Well label. It’s an album that ranks as Woods’ most successful release with more than 10 million streams and climbing. Due March 26, a new deluxe edition of Without People adds four bonus tracks (two new originals and two alternate mixes) and is available for pre-order now.
A new piano rendition of “Grew Apart” cuts right to the bone, and an acoustic interpretation of “Whatever Keeps You Going” pairs Woods with the pure voices of the J.P. Robarts Public School Music Project in London, Canada.
The school’s choir (consisting of grades 3-8) formerly sang with Woods in 2019 at one of his concerts in London. Woods always knew he wanted to feature the choir on a project, but during the pandemic, Woods learned that while the schools had reopened, the children were only allowed to hum during choir practice due to the nature of health and safety protocols. He then, with the help of their parents and choir director, Jane Kennedy, enlisted the children’s choir to individually submit homemade cell phone videos of themselves singing the song. All 19 students were able to share the “stage” again with Woods through this video.
Middle Kids, photo by Ellen Virgona
“I want to make music that loves its listener. Music that makes people feel seen, seen in the tiny little places that hide away in their hearts. I want people to hear our music, and feel a sense of love. And when I say love, it can be challenging, intense and tough. But it’s in the guts.” – Hannah Joy, Middle Kids
“Ciel is someone who we have watched grow and develop into a global talent at the same time embodying a local Toronto spirit. Her remix for us speaks to a Toronto that had no musical genres in clubs. It bends and weaves into an expression that is well known to the darkest clubs and most cavernous warehouses. We employ you to join in the vision of this remix in solidarity with the community and all that came to take part.” - LAL’s Nicholas Murray
“‘The Art Of Loneliness’ is a dance-pop song which sounds triumphant, but upon closer listen feels tragic.The lyrics here are the closest I get to a private monologue with me trying to convince myself that loneliness isn’t such a painful situation. I’m trying to trick myself into thinking being alone isn’t so bad and the artful way I do it." - David Johnston, Gift of Tongues
Aasiva, photo by Lisa Milosavljevic
By Will McGuirk
“This was at the very beginning of my independent artist career and I had many shows lined up. I was very excited to be an artist full time, and I just kept wondering, where will my music take me?
Also, I feel like this is a question that we often ask ourselves: ‘Where are we going? What are we going to do next?’ That was my inspiration for this song.” - Aasiva
We have the opportunity now to remake the world, to see the connection we all share, even if its just a virus attacking, even if it is just a common enemy, it is a least a commonality. But do we walk away from each other or stand together. What indeed are we going to do next?
I don’t of course have an answer, just to merely suggest we may need to look elsewhere, outside our normal. And I am buoyed by what is washing up on my shores.
Going on the journey of marriage with Tim has been profound. It is very liberating having someone see you in your entirety and stay. Tim embodies that kind of ‘stacking chairs’ love - he’s not just about the party. He’s around afterward when I’m tired and ugly and loves me in those moments.” - Hannah Joy on bandmate and hubby Tim Fitz
By Will McGuirk
Nature has been playing enough japes on us so there’s no need for the annual con on this April 1. We have a full line-up of known and new, stars and starters for the open mic. The list has Yoke Lore, Justin Wright, The Strumbellas, Close Talkers, Lydia Persaud, Tim Moxam, Jenn Grant, Radical Face, Luca Fogale, Tariq, Middle Kids on it. We are getting a lot of players as you can see and hear so we may have to add another open mic day, maybe Wednesdays. Dig in.
SHOWS
Middle Kids - Mon. May 27 @ the Phoenix, Toronto
Tim Moxam - Tues. April 9 @ The Burdock, Toronto
Lydia Persaud - Wed. June 19 @ the Drake Underground, Toronto
Jenn Grant - Sat. June 1 @ the Danforth Music Hall, Toronto