Long Winter is Toronto's essential all­-ages, pay-what-you-can inter-­arts series that takes place throughout our coldest season. Featuring over 200 local artists/collectives and welcoming nearly 5,000 participants from November-March, Long Winter animates multiple rooms on multiple floors, transforming spaces into immersive, collaborative environments. Events are dense and eclectic, showcasing a broad cross-section of the best in Toronto-area DIY and underground scenes.

Featured work includes performance art, theatre and dance, large-­scale sculptural installations, projections (single and dual screen videos, still images), visual installations (print, painting, photography collage) and interactive presentations including original video games by local programmers. Initially housed at the Great Hall on Queen Street West, Long Winter has programmed teeming shows at venues ranging from the Gladstone Hotel, to the Hearn Generating Station (Luminato), to the Galleria Mall. We are passionate about integrating diverse artistic communities and culture; gathering some of the most exciting, cutting-edge local talent under one roof.

Long Winter announces its fourth installment on February 21st in partnership with Workman Arts and co-curated by Venus Fest and Pleasure Dome. Featuring performances by Montreal hip-hop experimenter Hua Li, shoegaze dream pop band Tallies, Zambian-born, Montreal based trans rapper Backxwash, multi-dimensional vocalist Isla Craig and more. Canadian Poet Aisha Sasha John, video artists Sara Bonaventure and Jeffrey Langille, mixed media and 3D illustrator Melad Jajou and sculptor V Vallières join the art programming, contributing to the diverse mediums taking over the space.

For the full list of performing musicians and participating artists see below.

MUSIC:

Mil-Spec
KORYDOR
LAPS
Tallies
Isla Craig
Hua Li*
Backxwash*
Witchrot
Scorpio Rising
Lavender Bruisers*
Tongue Patrol
*Curated by Venus Fest

ART:

Ben McCarthy / Cale Weir
Aisha Sasha John*
Sara Bonaventure**
Jeffrey Langille**
Melad Jajou
Prince Johnny
Katie Kotler*
Nathan Robert Enkel
V Vallières
James Flux
Khalid Esmail

*Curated by Venus Fest
**Curated by Pleasure Dome

Date: February 21, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Location: Workman Arts, 651 Dufferin St. (Dufferin/Dundas)
Ticket link: www.ticketscene.ca/events/28351
Ticket pricing: $12 in advance (to skip the line) + Pay-What-You-Can option at the door. All ages.

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The fifth album from Ottawa-raised, Toronto-based singer/songwriter Amanda Rheaume, The Skin I'm In presents a compelling portrait of an artist fully comfortable in her own skin, personally and musically.

Produced by Colin Cripps (Blue Rodeo, Junkhouse) at The Tragically Hip's famed Bathouse Studio, it sports a full-blooded band sound, thanks to the contributions of an A-list musical supporting cast. The single “The Skin I’m In” hit number 1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown in May 2019.

Rheaume's supple and expressive vocals fit neatly in the centre of the sonic landscape, while her eloquent and well-crafted songs were written with such noted collaborators as Jason Blaine, Melanie Brulée, Jim  Bryson, Justin Glasco, and Tim Bovaconti.

One of Rheaume's great gifts as a songwriter is her ability to take the personal and make it universal, drawing upon her own experience to deliver messages with a wide resonance. She digs deep on The Skin I'm In, reflecting upon her Metis heritage, as on the profoundly moving title track and "Return To The Water," and addressing issues of identity and mental health.

Her earlier albums met with widespread critical acclaim. 2013's Keep A Fire earned her a 2014 Canadian Folk Music Award for Aboriginal Songwriter of The Year as well as a Juno Award nomination for Aboriginal Album of the Year, while 2016's Holding Patterns received a Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination.

She has long employed her music as a force for good, as shown by three trips to Afghanistan to perform for Canadian military personnel, plus visits to the Alert base in Canada's far north and the troubled Indigenous community of Attawapiskat.

Rheaume co-founded Babes4Breasts, an initiative that, through concerts and recording projects, raised money for breast cancer charities across Canada over a 10-year period.

This is an artist with a heart as big as her talent.

She now returns with a brand new single, all about feeling a sense of empowerment, called "The Best." Produced by Robyn Dell'Unto, the track features the incredible Kinnie Starr. Dell'Unto and Starr also co-wrote the song with Rheaume.

"This song is for anyone that has ever felt less than. Anyone that has ever had an intuitive feeling and gone against it because they were scared or manipulated or not believed. Too often we allow others to take our power. We feel we have to apologize for being ourselves… messy, empowered, insecure, confident or not. Forget that. We are human, we can work on ourselves. I want to try my best to find compassion, understanding, and forgiveness… slowly and mindfully shed any and all ideas of who or what anyone else thinks we should be doing or how we should be acting. I am still practicing this every day. Fighting those demons."

Words from the director:

"I was asked to write a treatment for this song between flights, and was fatigued from a busy week and didn't think I could find the time or brain firepower between flights, so I started writing an "I'm so sorry but I'm too tired and have no time" letter as I played the song for the first time... but I loved the song so much that I deleted the email, called my producer, and started writing some ideas down.

The song is a brilliant pop song - an undeniable, feel-good radio hit that gets lodged in your head immediately. What makes it even more fun is that it's an empowering tune about letting your own freak flag fly and emancipating your true self. I wanted the video to mirror that vibe of embracing one's authentic self and weaponizing it, so the video is about various people who are being stepped on by their significant others but bloom into beautiful monsters like an atomic bomb of flowers and otherworldly organisms."

Catch Amanda live this March in Toronto on March 19th at the Burdock, and at a hometown show in Ottawa on March 21st at the NAC Fourth Stage. Further details can be found here.

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R&B double-threat dvsn share their first new music of the decade with the gorgeous track titled  “A Muse” via OVO Sound/Warner Music.

Grammy-Award winning producer Nineteen85 and incredible singer Daniel Daley sound better than ever as “A Muse” comes on the heels of their previous track, the anti-sad vibes in the club-anthem “No Cryin” feat. Future, which has been streamed over 17 million times across platforms.

dvsn is gearing up for a monumental year and riding high on a wave of momentum they spun up in 2019 with new music and videos, including the previously released “In Between” and “Miss Me.”

Get a taste of their new era below:




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JUNO nominated singer-songwriter Bobby Bazini  shared two brand new songs, “Choose You” and “Move Away”, via Universal Music Canada. The new music is off an upcoming full-length album due later this year.

“I wanted to put out these two songs together as I think one doesn’t go without the other, which might be weird cause they are both so different in a lot of ways,” he continued. “One is about love and the other one is about wanting to get out and fulfill your dreams. But if I look back on the last 10 years these two things were always there with me all along. And even through the ups and downs there’s absolutely nothing I would change even if I could.”

The highly anticipated new music follows Bazini’s third full-length album, Summer Is Gone which was released to critical acclaim in 2016. Details on the upcoming album will soon be revealed. The Quebec native spent 2019 touring Canada sharing new, unreleased music along with fan favourites.

In 2020 with an upcoming new album, the singer-songwriter is ready to get back on the road and share the live experience with fans once again, only this time with a headlining world tour which will have Bazini performing at prestigious venues including Montreux’s Palace, The Savoy in London, Peace Hotel in Shanghai and two very special intimate shows in Toronto and Montreal.



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To much anticipation, Canadian country star Chad Brownlee, releases his deluxe album, Back In The Game, via Universal Music Canada. The deluxe album expands on Brownlee’s previously released EP, with brand new single, "Money On You" and additional tracks, "Something Real", "Lovin’ a Wild Thing", and “Rest of Your Night".

A heartfelt track with a get up and dance tune, "Money On You" was penned by Brownlee along with Todd Clark, Gavin Slate and Todd Clark. Produced by Todd Clark.

"Money On You is one of those songs that makes it hard to sit still when listening to it, A fresh vibe musically you haven’t heard from me before about betting it all on a relationship. One that you’re certain will last. I cannot wait to play this one on tour!"

Along with the deluxe album and coming off his most successful year to date, Brownlee is gearing up to kick off the Ontario leg of his 2020 Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere Tour with Lauren Alaina and special guest, Jade Eagleson.

Beginning in London, Ontario on March 25th, this leg of the tour will hit seven Ontario cities with Brownlee’s largest and most explosive production to date. His two-song guest appearance on the record-breaking “Friends Don’t Let Friends Tour Alone Tour” gave country music fans nationwide a taste of the infectious energy, and vocal acrobatics that overflow out of Brownlee every time he hits the stage. Adding one of the best vocalists the country genre has ever seen, in Lauren Alaina, and the rich and timeless country vocal of Jade Eagleson to Brownlee’s soaring melodies, and powerhouse vocal chops is sure to leave country fans speechless.

“I don’t think I’ve enjoyed performing these songs more than I do right now, and can’t wait to get on that stage and hear all of you sing them back in 2020,” says Brownlee. “Along with Lauren Alaina and Jade Eagleson, I’m excited to finally hit the road on my own tour!! It’s going to be a show you’ve never seen before.”

Earlier this year, Brownlee released his major label debut EP, Back In The Game. The EP, produced by Todd Clark (James Barker Band, The Reklaws), includes the gold-certified #1 radio chart-topping hit, “Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere” and most recent hit single “The Way You Roll.”

“Undescribable Feeling is about pulling yourself out of a dark place. I came home after a bad day, sat at my piano and words began flowing out of me. I hope this song can help others who are feeling down in life the same way it helped me.”

“Self conflict, not feeling safe in your own body and the struggle to emerge from the void. It is the search for personal and emotional freedom.” 

Last year was life-changing for Neon Dreams. It was a year that saw the release of their debut album, Sweet Dreams till Sunbeams; tour dates with Tyler Shaw and Loud Luxury; and radio hits with “High School Dropout” and “About You.”

2019, more importantly, was the year Neon Dreams found their voice and found their purpose. They approached music with a newfound perspective – that it can heal, empower and motivate the listener. “I used to think making music was just a cool thing to do and a way to make myself feel better,” says frontman Frank Kadillac. “But then I realized just how much it affects people’s everyday lives.”

"Turn Back Now" is an extremely personal one for Frank, who last year witnessed his mother going through chemotherapy and beating cancer:

“I was amazed at how positive she remained through the entire process. It made me realize the power of positive thinking. I wanted to create a song that would help inspire others facing struggle,” says Frank. I started watching movies, reading books and listening to music from my childhood that inspired me and made me who I am. I realized they are all heroic. This phrase came up a lot: ‘we came way too far to turn back now.’  I wrote the song based on that concept. Life can be challenging. This song is important because we all need a reminder every day that it’s ok to feel sad. As long as you don’t give up you’ll make it through. Some people don’t have anyone to tell them that. I want Neon Dreams to be that band telling you it’s going to be alright.”

The duo – Frank and drummer Adrian Morris – carry on this new approach and perspective into 2020 with the release of this brand new song and the accompanying music video premiering on Billboard.


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Today, the band share ABPTD’s lead single/video, “Infinite,” featuring Aaron Gillespie of Underoath. A blistering cut of aggression and melody, “Infinite” demonstrates Silverstein's ability to seamlessly blend modern sonics with the evergreen energy of their punk roots.
While many bands would take their 20-year anniversary as an opportunity to rest on the laurels of nostalgia, Silverstein (vocalist Shane Told, guitarists Paul Marc Rousseau and Josh Bradford, bassist Billy Hamilton, and drummer Paul Koehler) see the landmark as a time to appreciate how far they’ve come, while also channeling all those years of experience into something new.

"The best way to honour the anniversary is to keep doing what got us this far.  Being adventurous has always been part of what the band does – we keep focusing on moving forward."

 YouTube Originals announced it is partnering with global superstar Justin Bieber on his first-ever docuseries, “Justin Bieber: Seasons,” to premiere on Monday, January 27 at 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT. The series will bring Justin Bieber back to YouTube, where it all started, to give fans a full circle look at his life:

“When I was getting started, YouTube provided me a platform and a community where I could share music, experiences and moments with my fans, it feels great to partner with YouTube for this original documentary series. I want my fans to be part of this journey.” 

“Justin Bieber’s courage as an artist is truly admirable and we are grateful he continues to share his inspiring story on YouTube,” said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content for YouTube. “As we aim to spotlight authentic struggles and real-life triumphs in our YouTube Originals, we are thrilled to add this special project to our 2020 slate.”

“Justin Bieber: Seasons” is an all-access, 10-episode original documentary series chronicling the making of Justin Bieber’s first album in four years. The show is a raw, powerful and intimate look at Bieber's process of creating new music and the motivation for this new album told through the lens of his closest confidants, friends, collaborators and Bieber himself.  The series will also feature a behind-the-scenes look at Bieber's private life, including never-before-seen footage of his wedding to Hailey Bieber and his day-to-day alongside those in his inner circle. With brand new music scoring the episodes, Justin reflects on the highs and lows of growing up in the public eye as he invites his fans on the journey leading up to the release of the highly-anticipated and most personal album of his career. “Justin Bieber: Seasons” will premiere on Monday, January 27 at 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT, with new episodes premiering free with ads each Monday and Wednesday at noon ET. Fans can sign up for YouTube Premium to get early access to new episodes and watch the series ad-free.

“Justin Bieber: Seasons” is directed and executive produced by OBB Pictures’ Michael D. Ratner with photographer Joe Termini set to direct additional episodes.  The documentary is produced by Bieber Time Films, SB Projects and OBB Pictures. Justin Bieber will serve as an executive producer. Scooter Braun, Allison Kaye and Scott Manson will serve as executive producers for SB Projects and Michael D. Ratner, Scott Ratner and Kfir Goldberg will serve as executive producers for OBB Pictures.

Susanne Daniels is Global Head of Original Content for YouTube. Alex Piper, Head of Unscripted, YouTube Originals and Cara Casey, Development Lead, YouTube Originals will oversee “Justin Bieber: Seasons” for the global platform.

The YouTube Originals docuseries will serve as a homecoming for Justin Bieber, who skyrocketed to fame in 2007 after he was discovered on the global platform. He is currently the most subscribed artist on YouTube (47.8 million subscribers), appears in six videos with over one billion views and has over 19 billion views on his Official Artist Channel.

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As Canadians across the country countdown in anticipation to the start of the 2020 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, the CCMA Award-winning duo, The Reklaws, have released a brand new video for their anthemic hit song “Roots”. The song will serve as the official TSN World Juniors Song and will be featured throughout TSN’s live coverage of the tournament for a second consecutive year after becoming a crowd favourite, both on and off the ice, in 2018. Watch the new video, which will make its broadcast premiere during the highly anticipated Team Canada vs. Team USA game on December 26th at 12 noon EST on TSN.

“Roots” was written by Jenna and Stuart Walker (The Reklaws), with Jenson Vaughan (First Time, This is What It Feels Like and Massimo Alonzi), released via Universal Music Canada.

“We come from a hockey family and we’ve grown up watching and playing the sport. To have ‘Roots’ be named the TSN World Juniors song for the second year in a row is a dream come true,” said Jenna Walker. “It’s such a special and meaningful song to us, so for Canadians across the country to have embraced like they have, is surreal. The message behind ‘Roots’ reminds each of us that no matter how far you get or how many lucky breaks you have in this life, always be thankful and reminded of what got you there in the first place.”

Raised on their family farm in rural Ontario, Jenna and Stuart Walker, signed their first major record deal with Universal Music in 2017. Their second single “Long Live the Night” kicked off what would become a massive 2018. Beyond rapidly achieving platinum-certification, the single would become the most-streamed domestic song of all Canadian country artists released in 2018, win the 2019 CCMA for top-selling Canadian single of the year and it was selected as the theme song for the Canadian Football League’s (“CFL”) Thursday Night Football for the 2018 & 2019 seasons. 

The momentum continued to build with the release of their debut EP, Feels Like That, which was awarded the 2019 CCMA for Album of the year. The title single, “Feels Like That” was also the Reklaws first #1 at Canadian Country Radio and is certified Gold in Canada.

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Electro-pop duo FEATURETTE are bringing honesty and grit into pop music with the release of their sophomore album Dream Riot on January 17th via all streaming platforms. Following a whirlwind year sharing stages with Alessia Cara, Scott Helman, and Walk Off The Earth, FEATURETTE have emerged from the studio with a polished, dark pop sound that is uniquely their own.

Teaming up with original producer Marc Koecher, who worked on the duo’s debut album Crave, and new producer Pillsbury, FEATURETTE return with an elevated sound. With tracks mixed by Ryan Worsley (Dear Rouge, MONOWHALES), and some co-written by JUNO nominated Tyler Shaw, Dream Riot is the product of FEATURETTE’s aspirations and visions, perfectly wrapped in a nine-song collection.

The album invites you to meet FEATURETTE in their purest form, to dive into their dreams, and enter the world they’ve created. With the release of Dream Riot, FEATURETTE does not shy away from the power of their own voice.

“We’ve never been prouder of anything we’ve created, this record speaks to who we are as people, it speaks to our drive and our passion, it speaks to our obsession, our musical tastes, our aspirations, all of it. It’s where we’re from, and where we’re going, and it’s unapologetically honest and true.”

Their most compelling work yet, Dream Riot features dark stories sugar-coated-in bubble gum beats that speak truths about the society we’ve created and the problems we face within it daily.

In addition to never before heard material, Dream Riot includes FEATURETTE’s single ‘Million Things’, a commentary on the aesthetic and material obsessions of a society overrun by social media. “It dissects our social media-driven world, where we put only our best self forward, no matter what emptiness we face on the inside,” says Lexie. The video for the single pulls viewers into a realm imagined by FEATURETTE, with characters inspired by Lexie’s actual dreams.

With a formal education in opera from the University of Toronto, Lexie had been independently songwriting for years while Jon was creating music on Logic on his computer. The duo found the perfect writing partnership, combining their talents into crafting mature pop hits. Their work ethic and skill did not go unnoticed as they’ve received a number of accolades, including COCA’s pick for Emerging Artist of the Year, and a Top 10 Finalist for Allan Slaight’s JUNO Masterclass.
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Elusive pop artist ASHS continues to explore the depths of a dark reality with the release of her latest single “Paranoid” through Wax Records/Republic Records/Polydor Records/Universal Music Canada. The track is released alongside a suspenseful music video that ultimately reveals award winning, multi-platinum selling artist Alyssa Reid who has kept her identity hidden for over a year.

On the single, ASHS notes:

"Paranoid perfectly introduces the next phase of my project. I wanted to experiment with hitting a little harder both musically and lyrically. Paranoid gives an audible sneak peek into my subconscious, encapsulating the feelings of anxiety and mistrust in the people around me.

It’s easy to write about pain and hurt, and that’s typically what I gravitate towards. But, I want to make sure I leave room for me to enjoy this by creating space to build relationships with people that I’d never get to in everyday life. Am I bettering the lives of the people around me, or am I making it worse? I want to be someone who makes other people like their lives a little bit more."

ASHS is on a slow-burning soul-searching mission. Slipping onto the scene in 2018, releasing two EPs through a veiled and anonymous moniker, ASHS crafted an ecosystem of smart, genre-amorphous pop, with a lushly opaque backdrop. Utilizing dark and impossibly mesmerizing synths, punctuated with euphoric instrumental flourishes, each track is bound together with lyrics that embrace her jagged edges through bold, intimate reckonings.

Pulling back the curtain, Juno award nominated, multi-platinum selling artist Alyssa Reid reveals her identity and artistic versatility. ASHS was created as an exploration into a new sonic territory. Over the past few years, the 26-year-old artist has been honing her craft; becoming the go-to songwriter for artists like Bulow (“Not A Love Song”) and Virginia to Vegas (“Selfish”), now recasting her signature smoky vocals to form the foundation of her most ambitious project to date. ASHS newest music (“Paranoid”) is both an exploration and a revelation.

If you’ve been listening carefully, this Alyssa Reid has been hiding in plain sight. Now, she’s requesting your full attention.

Iconic Canadian rock group Billy Talent released a new song today.  The track, “Forgiveness I + II” was produced by Juno Award nominee (Producer of the Year) and Billy Talent guitarist Ian D’Sa in the group’s Toronto studio. “Forgiveness I + II” marks the first new original Billy Talent recording since their highly successful Afraid of Heights album which featured the chart-topping title track.

The release, which came as a complete surprise to fans, marks the beginning of what is expected to be a very active period for the band, who will be making another exciting announcement.

Billy Talent are one of Canada’s most successful bands. They have sold nearly one million albums in Canada alone and nearly 3 million albums internationally.  They have won 7 Juno Awards and have been nominated 23 times, including three nods for Afraid of Heights (Group of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, and Ian D’Sa for Producer of the Year).

The band have also been nominated for 32 MMVA Awards – taking home the prize 10 times.  In 2018 the group was honoured with a special Legends of Live Special Achievement Award, presented by Canadian Music Week.  Most recently, Billy Talent have launched the Billy Talent Charity Trust to give more back to the organizations that the band believes in.

Award winning and multi-platinum selling artist bülow unveils the official music video for “Boys Will Be Boys” from her latest body of work, an EP titled, The Contender via Wax Records /Republic Records/Universal Music Canada.

"I love creating with people that have a unique eye.” bülow comments on the making of the video. “The process needs to be fun, so being inspired by each other’s work is important, and I found that with James [director James DeFina].”

“Boys Will Be Boys” is the first single off The Contender EP, written by the JUNO Award winning artist and produced by Michael Wise [Ellie Goulding, James Blunt]. The brand new EP follows Crystalline released earlier this year.

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When she was sixteen, Alice was a runner-up on Global’s reality television show Popstars. Dissimilar to the typical popstar path, Alice is vocal about valuing authenticity over popularity and is more focused on honest storytelling rather than validation seeking. Over numerous years into her career, her long-awaited debut release comes as a representation of Alice's personal and professional growth while showcasing her unsurpressed truth and talent behind her music and lyrics.

"I just started feeling this weight of all the beautiful work I never got to share. Honestly, I started suffering with some pretty bad panic attacks and sleepless nights for weeks on end. Why would I be motivated to keep writing when so much of my music wasn’t even being released? I felt so lost. My body broke down and looking back now I am so grateful for that. It was speaking to me. It was telling me to make a change."

How Dare You. was released via AWAL Recordings – a branch of Kobalt Music that offers artists an alternative to the traditional record label. Alice was aching for creative control and ownership of her work, that she felt she lacked with a major label:

"I actually signed my next deal with AWAL for another EP but I decided, fuck it, I’m gonna put more songs on and make it a full length. I am so inspired again. I don’t even care how it does because I’ve never felt so proud of my growth and courage. That’s success to me."

Her debut full-length is the follow-up to her 2018 debut EP Little Devil – which featured platinum hit “Jackpot” and gold-certified singles “Feels Right” and “Bound to You."

Three years in the making, How Dare You. is a celebration of strength. vulnerability, independence and of course, overcoming. Alice's brilliant musicianship shines through on the album's eleven genre-blending tracks, which she enables herself to tap into painful experiences and turn them into beautiful ballads:

“I never would be able to emote the way I do or connect with an audience if I hadn’t gone through those things."

Q: You first started out on the reality show Popstars when you were sixteen and went on to have a fruitful career. How do you maintain longevity in the music world?

I think it’s so important for you to know what REALLY matters to you as an artist. For me, artistic freedom has always been number one. I have always had a very close eye on every single thing I’m writing and recording. I didn’t release my first single until I was 30 very intentionally. I knew that I wasn’t ready for this insanely discouraging industry until I was a little older. So in the meantime, I played in a few bands and probably played close to 500 shows while I was working in the studio writing for film and commercials. When I did that long enough to feel really confident on my own, nothing could stop me. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my first single went platinum and my first album has almost 100 million streams. I’ve worked my 10,000 hours probably three times over now. I’m ready, and I’m also mature enough to never take this for granted. Everyone's path as an artist is really different, but for me, honing my craft in private before I present it to the world has always been how I work.

Q: You’re an important feminist voice. What advice would you give to women who are navigating the music industry?

That means a lot to me. Don’t be afraid to feel angry about how incredibly unfair and skewed this industry is. You’re not imagining that. But use your anger to fuel your art and the other artists around you. Just keep going. If you’re in the industry for the love of what you do, the rest is just details and bullshit. Focus on what really matters, which for me is being honest in my music and working with people that are there to support that.

Q: How does it feel to finally put out your debut full length album? Why is now the time?

I’ve wanted to drop this for years. It’s a big reason I decided to leave Sony. We had a really cool run together, but they just weren’t releasing enough of my music, especially when I tend to write like 3 songs a day. I just started feeling this weight of all the beautiful work I never got to share. Honestly.. I started suffering some pretty bad panic attacks and sleepless nights for weeks on end. Why would I be motivated to keep writing when so much of my music wasn’t even being released? I felt so lost. My body broke down and looking back now I am so grateful for that. It was speaking to me. It was telling me to make a change. I actually signed my next deal with AWAL for another EP but I decided, fuck it, I’m gonna put more songs on and make it a full length. I am so inspired again. I don’t even care how it does because I’ve never felt so proud of my growth and courage. That’s success to me.

Q: What can you tell us about How Dare You? Inspirations? Themes? Collaborations?

I literally called up all my best friends and asked them to be on the album. Hahahaha. Marshall from Walk Off The Earth has a hand in almost half the tracks. He’s my main go to guy and my entire creative life changed when I met him. I finally had the perfect combination of support and freedom and speed. I like to work fast. I’m also SO excited to be working with Tep No again. He just had his first radio hit with our last song "Never Been Hurt Before" and it’s always such an honour to work with him. I’m a huge fan. And of course, the artist that started my entire career with Jackpot, Hello Moth. My world is finally gonna get to hear his stunning voice. The album is a total mash up of everything. Hip hop, Reggae, dance, ballads, r&b. You can’t make me choose a genre. My voice isn't the genre.

Q: You possess exceptional musicianship, what’s the secret behind crafting a great record?

It is so nice to be acknowledged for that. Thank you. Honestly… I always tell other artists that ask me this that I’ve probably written thousands of songs. I’ve spent 13 straight years writing almost every day. If you don’t have that kind of obsession with it, good luck. It’s incredibly hard to write a good, simple song that will still be good in 20 years. That’s what I‘m trying to do. Writing in LA almost killed my spirit. So many people that live here are chasing the hits. I’ve never cared about that. I care about the song. I don’t listen to a lot of music. I don’t care about what's current anymore. I just want to make music that sounds like my soul. For me, in order to do that, I’ve realized I need to be working with people that I really love and trust and respect. Find your team. Find the people that will support and challenge you.

Q: I know every track holds a special part of you, but is there one that stands out above the rest?

Right now my favourite song on the whole album is "Chit Chat" featuring Marshall. Funny story, it wasn’t going to be on it because it was actually Marshall's song and I had already finalized my track list. But I fought hard to, first, steal his song hahahahah, and then get to put in on my album. It’s a ballad, which are always my favourite. It always really captures my LA journey of feeling so alone I wanted to pull my eyelashes out.

Q: You’re always supportive of other artists, which fellow Canadian musicians do you connect with?

SO many! You wouldn’t believe how close we all are. Ria Mae and I might have a collab coming. Mathew V as well. I’m obsessed with "Too Close" right now By Ria Mae & Dan Talevski.

Q: What’s next for Jocelyn Alice?

I’m really passionate about taking all of this songwriting and singing knowledge and getting to pour it into other artists. Watch out for Myles Erlick. I’m lucky enough to get to write lots of songs with him and he’s gonna be pretty massive one day. I’ll also be recording my own music until the day I die. Right when I think I’ve said what I need to say everything changes again. I am so lucky.


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Photo by: Mariah Hamilton

Following the success of her debut single "Trouble" back in 2015 and signing to 604 Records, RALPH began shaping her self-titled debut release.

RALPH – like her debut full-length A Good Girl, came as a refreshing fusion of dance, disco, R&B and pop music – unique and unassigned to one particular genre. With inspiration from Stevie Nicks, Donna Summer, Cher and Sade, she creates a truly captivating concoction of sounds – old and new, paired with lyrics that spawn from life experiences.

With her third collective release, RALPH returns with a heightened sense of confidence and craftsmanship. Her old school influences still echo throughout the six tracks on her sophomore EP Flashbacks & Fantasies.

Flashbacks & Fantasies is full of certified dance-floor bops, bouncing beats, vulnerable lyricism and a unifying throwback aesthetic to deliver a variety of sounds and stories surrounding love, lust and life.

The leading song "Gravity" is a 90s synth smash mixed with a touch of house about wanting to "let go" and "lose control" by giving into temptation with an overpowering feeling of infatuation – asking the question "Would you catch me if I float?" This addition to her discography is quite possibly her best single to-date.

"I really wanted to have fun with this EP and wanted to play with the idea of “pop” being a flexible term. Sometimes I’d enter the studio with a concrete idea and I’d sit down and be like “ok here’s the plan”, like with ‘Gravity’, and other days I would go in and be like “hey, I can’t stop thinking about this license plate that I love”, which was the instigator behind ‘Looking For You’. I liked the idea of experimenting and surprising people, like writing a fast dance song that felt unexpected from a mid-tempo banger girl, but I also didn’t want to feel constricted by guidelines or rules that I had followed in the past. Instead of being scared to try new things, like having a jarring rhythm or singing about sexy moments, I embraced them. And because of that, I have 6 songs that all feel diverse but feel really, truly ME. I think as I continue to feel more confident and comfortable in my artistry and sound, the songs and writing reflect that maturity." 

     
“No Muss, No Fuss” tells a tale of turning down a former flame who can’t move on. Verses go into detail about stalker-like behaviour from an ex, who she wants to distance herself from, RALPH sings "I keep on seeing you every goddamn day. No I don't miss you, don't wanna kiss you. We'll never be us again."

Indulging in flashbacks, "Last Time" is a song about a familiar cyclic relationship, a confessional about a magnetic connection in the midst of a breakup because "heartbreak's hard enough without your ex still in your bed."      

A highlight on the record is "Headphone Season" which sharply conveys an important message about not seeking validation from men nor society.

Ralph explains:

"It’s about when a stranger asks me to give them a smile or to smile more. I hate that because it’s someone telling me what to do with my face or body. At the end of the song you hear me saying, ‘Here’s an idea. How about you never tell women what to do with their own bodies?’”

A hazy-sounding ballad about finding the perfect partner, "Looking For You" aligns with the fantasy aspect of the EP, followed by "Sunday Girl." Seemingly a page ripped out from RALPH's diary, the closing disco funk track is about longing to be in a domestic relationship.

RALPH's Flashbacks & Fantasies exudes an undeniable presentation of growth and artistry. She continues to connect deeply on each and every track as her story-telling abilities attest to that. Sonically, she has proven –  again, to be a brilliantly diverse force in an era when so many songs sound so much the same.

What genuinely makes this EP stand out is it's outstanding artistic direction. There is a distinct aesthetic that flows throughout the music, lyrics, videos and artwork that create a cleverly consolidated vibe that perfectly personifies the album's title.

RALPH is on the rise and ready to conquer the ever-evolving pop realm, her way.

Grammy Award-nominated artist Tory Lanez officially releases the first single and video, “Jerry Sprunger” off of his highly anticipated album ​Chixtape 5​. The Toronto native takes us on a walk down memory lane while recruiting T-Pain for the track and guest star video appearance.

Lanez recently announced the November 15 release date for ​Chixtape 5,​ which will feature more samples from the era’s most popular chart topping songs. Fans can now pre-order the ​Chixtape 5​ album HERE.