Monthly Archives: March 2018

NATALIE PRASS SHOUTS OUT TO HER “SISTERS” ON NEW SINGLE FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM THE FUTURE AND THE PAST OUT JUNE 1 ON ATO RECORDS

WATCH THE “SISTERS” ANIMATED ART VIDEO HERE

TORONTO, ON – March 27, 2018 – Fresh off her late night debut on CONAN last week, Natalie Prass has released the second single from her upcoming album The Future and The Past, out June 1 on ATO Records. “Sisters” premieres today with an eye-popping animated art track celebrating sisterhood in all its forms.

Watch the video here

“Sisters” is a powerful call for solidarity and strength in femininity, during uncertain times. The funky, gospel-infused track features an all-female choir chanting the refrain “Keep your sisters close/You gotta keep your sisters close to ya.”

Natalie says of “Sisters”:

This song was written right after 45 was elected. I was raised in an environment where “women can’t do this or that”. It was around me in my personal life, but was also deeply built in the culture around me. It resulted in me thinking (sadly up until recently) to be a girl meant to be weak. I was rebellious and confused on what being a woman meant for me in life. A lot of women can’t relate to my situation, and I commend you, but I know a lot of women and girls out there can relate to my story. I now know more than ever that women are a force to be reckoned with, and we can change this world for the better. I desperately needed an anthem after Nov. 6. 2016. All of my past ghosts that I thought I had overcome came back to haunt me and I was paralyzed for months. This song was my warrior cry when I was losing hope. We demand equality for all marginalized groups, we demand safety in our neighborhoods, we demand safe health care and proper family leave, we demand better public schools for all classes, we demand equal pay & safety in our place of work. There are solutions to these issues and we need to stick together to solve them. When one ship rises, we all rise. Keep your sisters close. WE ARE WORLD WIDE WORLD CLASS.

“Sisters” follows “Short Court Style,” the first single from The Future and The Past. That track has had a tremendous run with Natalie performing it for both CONAN and NPR Music; recording an episode of the popular podcast Song Exploder exploring the track, and earning praise from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Vulture, The Fader, Stereogum and more.

Watch Natalie perform “Short Court Style” on CONAN and NPR Music.

Watch the video for “Short Court Style” here.

The Future and The Past is a stunning snapshot of a musician in a state of personal rediscovery and surging femininity. The celebratory and defiant album finds Natalie tapping into deep, dancey grooves that glisten with ’80s pop and ’90s R&B, nestled alongside quivering, lushly orchestrated ballads.

Natalie just completed a run of shows with Fleet Foxes and several performances at SXSW where Rolling Stone deemed her one of the best acts of the week and said her show was “the sound of a musician hitting her stride.”

Pre-order the album here.

TRACKLIST FOR THE FUTURE AND THE PAST:

1. Oh My
2. Short Court Style
3. Interlude: Your Fire
4. The Fire
5. Hot for the Mountain
6. Lost
7. Sisters
8. Never Too Late
9. Ship Go Down
10. Nothing To Say
11. Far From You
12. Ain’t Nobody

TOUR DATES:

April 21 – Rotterdam, NL – Motel Mozaique Festival
April 22 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
April 23 – London, UK – Bush Hall
April 26 – Brighton, UK – Bau Wow
April 27 – Manchester, UK – Band on the Wall
April 28 – Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds
April 29 – Glasgow, UK – Mono
June 1 – New York, NY – Rough Trade
June 2 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
June 3 – Richmond,VA – Broadberry

* – w/Fleet Foxes

PROMO PHOTO: DOWNLOAD | ALBUM ART: DOWNLOAD

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

MEGAN BONNELL SHARES NEW SINGLE WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU

NEW ALBUM, SEPARATE ROOMS, DUE OUT APRIL 6, 2018 ON CADENCE MUSIC

LEAD SINGLE, SEPARATE ROOMS, (CO-WRITTEN WITH DONOVAN WOODS) FEATURED ON SPOTIFY’S FOLK & FRIENDS, FRESH FOLK, AND VIRAL HITS CANADA 

MORE CANADIAN TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

TORONTO, ON – MARCH 12, 2018 – Canadian singer-songwriter Megan Bonnell shares her new single, What’s Good For You, off her third full-length album, Separate Rooms, due out April 6, 2018 via Cadence Music. The single was featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist and is available everywhere at https://meganbonnell.lnk.to/whatsgoodforyou. Bonnell has added new dates on her upcoming spring tour, including stops in Barrie, Hamilton, and Edmonton; and special performances with Great Lake Swimmers. Full details can be found below and at http://meganbonnellmusic.com/tour-dates/.

“The line that inspired What’s Good For You was something a friend said to me when talking about relationships.“Sometimes we take things too far, and can’t put back the pieces that get taken away”. I was struck by that sentiment. It felt so visual,” shares Bonnell. “Good relationships between good people can end because over time you both become careless with your love and let things slip. There comes a point of no return when something’s lost that you can’t get back. Eventually, there is nothing left to do but say goodbye.”

LISTEN & BUY WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU HERE: https://meganbonnell.lnk.to/whatsgoodforyou
LISTEN & BUY SEPARATE ROOMS HERE: https://meganbonnell.lnk.to/separaterooms

Separate Rooms is a collection of 10 songs that explore not only timely themes, but is also a bold statement of a self-assured woman navigating an increasingly dark and perplexing world. Bonnell has never been easily pigeon-holed into the predictable mold of the singer-songwriter and Separate Rooms embraces this edict, turning traditional musical genres on their heads. With her hallmark honesty, she effortlessly tackles such intense subject matter as mental illness, early pregnancy loss, and the dissolution of love. But, the new album is also a contradiction – it’s a lover’s appeal for space and independence and, at the same time, a desperate yearning for young and innocent love.

Despite the personal nature of the album’s lyrics, the production of Separate Rooms was a largely collaborative process. Joining the production team of Chris Stringer and Joshua Van Tassel, Bonnell manages to meld anthemic pop appeal with the textured, layered nuances of 70’s new wave, epic alt-rock ballads of the 90’s, and traditional folk craftsmanship. Thematically, Separate Rooms treads even further into difficult emotional territory than her previous records, finding Bonnell at her most vulnerable but also her most courageous. Musically, the album is nuanced and meticulously executed; the cohesive creation of collaborators obsessed with the idea of making something original and important.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jen Squires

UPCOMING CANADIAN TOUR DATES
Saturday, April 7 – Toronto, ON – Drake Underground (Massey Hall Presents)
Sunday, April 8 – St. Catharines, ON – Warehouse Concert Hall
Tuesday, April 10 – Barrie, ON – Donaleigh’s Temple Lounge – Songwriter Circle
Thursday, April 12 – Stittsville, ON – Quitters Coffee
Friday, April 13 – Burnstown, ON – Neat Cafe
Sunday, April 15 – Wakefield, QC – Blacksheep Inn
Wednesday, April 18 – Orangeville, ON – Mill Creek Pub
Thursday, April 19 – Waterloo, ON – Starlight Social Club
Thursday, April 26 – London, ON – Aeolian Hall
Friday, May 4 – Hamilton, ON – Mills Hardware w/ Great Lake Swimmers
Saturday, May 5 – Creemore, ON – Avening Community Centre w/ Great Lake Swimmers
Wednesday, May 9 – Penticton, BC – Dream Cafe
Friday, May 11 – Canmore, AB – Communitea Cafe
Thursday, May 17 – Edmonton, AB – The Almanac
Friday, May 18 – Lloydminster, AB – The Root Community Emporium
Saturday, May 19 – Calgary, AB – Stampede City Sessions – Webber Academy Performing Arts Centre
*MORE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

TRACKLIST FOR SEPARATE ROOMS

1. Breakdown
2. Separate Rooms
3. Your Voice
4. What’s Good For You
5. Radio Silence
6. Someday I’m Gonna Kill You
7. Where Is The Love
8. Crossed My Mind
9. California
10. Can’t Be Undone

 

NICK HAKIM’S SOLO TOUR IS CROSSING THE EAST COAST WITH BIG THIEF’S ADRIANNE LENKER

DESERT DAZE CARAVAN TOUR STARTS APRIL 27 WITH ARIEL PINK, DIIV, SUUNS & JJUUJJUU

WATCH NICK HAKIM’S NPR “TINY DESK CONCERT”

“The most eclectic R&B project this side of Frank Ocean’s unpredictable Blonded radio” – Complex

“An awesome adventure in psychedelic soul and funk music.” – NPR

“Quixotic, impassioned spin on R&B” – Rolling Stone

“His genre-bending debut operates at a fever pitch” – Pitchfork

Nick Hakim’s debut album Green Twins was released last year on ATO to wide critical acclaim from Pitchfork, The New York Times, The FADER, NPR Music, The Guardian and more. Tonight, Hakim will begin on a solo tour with Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker, performing stripped down versions of Green Twinstracks at the Murmurr Theatre in Brooklyn. Headlining shows in Boston and NYC follow leading to the Desert DazeCaravan tour with Ariel Pink, DIIV, Suuns and JJUUJJUU. A full list of tour dates can be found below.

Hailing from Washington, D.C., Hakim grew up in a musical household—his older brother introduced him to bands like Bad Brains and Nirvana, and his parents exposed him to Nueva canción—while he set out on his own to discover the DC music scene. He didn’t take an interest in learning an instrument until high school, when he taught himself to play the keys. After graduation, he moved to Boston to continue his study of music. In the time since moving to Brooklyn and setting to work for three years on Green Twins, he embraced the live circuit, both as a solo musician and with his band, whom he’s brought together from within his community in Boston and New York.

Nick Hakim Tour Dates:
Mar 6 – Brooklyn, NY @ Murmurr Theatre *
Mar 7 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas *
Mar 8 – Washington, DC @ Miracle Theatre *
Mar 9 – Durham, NC @ Motorco *
Mar 10 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern *
Apr 23 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair #
Apr 25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl #
Apr 27 – Austin, TX @ Levitation (Empire Control Room) ^
Apr 28 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall Upstairs #
Apr 29 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger #
May 01 – Dallas, TX @ Canton Hall **
May 03 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall **
May 04 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf **
May 05 – Phoenix, AZ @ Van Buren **
May 06 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues **
May 08 – San Francisco, CA @ Warfield **
May 10 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom **
May 11 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune **
May 12 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom **
May 15 – Santa Barbara, CA @ SoHo **
May 16 – Tijuana, MX @ Black Box **
May 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern **
May 18 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ Fremont Theater &
May 19 – Santa Cruz CA @ The Catalyst &
* Nick Hakim solo with Adrianne Lenker
^ with L.A. Witch
& without SUUNS

 

TAYLOR KNOX JOINS THE BEACHES UPCOMING NATIONAL SPRING TOUR

“Love’s overall sentiment and vibe can be boiled down to the line ‘With you, it’s always summer’ from ‘Running Into Love,’ and the record as a whole generally proceeds accordingly; it’s as bright and immediate and easy to get with as those words imply.” – The Toronto Star

“Knox’s latest single “Running Into Love” provides a glimpse into the singer/songwriter’s upcoming record, bringing forth a sound that has a refreshing effortlessness to it. The track is fun, light, and best listened to on an August afternoon.” – Indie88

“It’s fuzzy, toe-tapping, summery Canadiana.” – NOW Magazine

TORONTO, ON – March 5, 2018  –  Taylor Knox will join fellow Toronto rock group The Beaches on their upcoming national tour this spring. Kicking off in Vancouver on April 21st – the 16 date run will end with a big hometown show at The Opera House on May 11. See below for full list of tour dates.

Taylor will be playing tunes from his latest full-length LOVE that received critical acclaim across the country. 2017 saw Taylor play top notch festivals Reeperbahn, Ottawa Blues Fest, Halifax Pop Explosion, among a string of headlining dates and most recently wrapped up a tour alongside Rich Aucoin. Check out his recent live performance videos, for “Saturday” and “Didn’t Even Try”, directed by Peter Dreimanis of July Talk. Check them out here.

WATCH: “Saturday”

WATCH: “Didn’t Even Try”

His 2015 debut EP, Lines, marked the arrival of a rare breed of singer/songwriter, one whose instincts are naturally attuned to the power pop principles of crunchy guitars, smooth harmonies.  On his debut full-length LOVE, Knox worked alongside his old friend Afie Jurvanen (aka Bahamas) to produce a few tracks alongside co-producer Josh Korody and mixing team of Gus Can Go and Werner F. Jurvanen contributes some of his trademark guitar stylings as well, but as on the EP, Knox handles most of the instrumentation himself. The album also has good friend, Molly Rankin (of Alvvays), contributing background vocals on several tracks including “Running Into Love”.  While so much of LOVE sounds as effortless , it’s the direct result of the wealth of experience he’s gained over the past decade through playing with a host of Canada’s most acclaimed artists, including Owen Pallett, Rich Aucoin, Luke Doucet, Hayden, Jason Collett, and Alvvays.

 

TOUR DATES
Apr. 21 – Vancouver, BC @ Venue*
Apr. 22 – Victoria, BC @ Capital Ballroom*
Apr 23 – Kamloops, BC @ The Blue Grotto*
Apr. 25 – Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite*
Apr. 26 – Red Deer, AB @ Bo’S Bar & Grill*
Apr. 27 – Calgary, AB @ Commonwealth*
Apr. 28  – Saskatoon, SK @ Capitol Music Club*
Apr. 30 – Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Centre*
May 01 – Thunder Bay, ON @ Crocks*
May 03 – St. Catherines, ON  @ Warehouse*
May 04 – Ottawa, ON @ The 27 Club*
May 06 – Quebec City, QC @ l’Anti*
May 07 – Fredericton, NB @ Capital Bar*
May 08 – Halifax, NS @ Seahorse Tavern*
May 10 – Kingston, ON @ The Mansion*
May 11 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House*

*w/ The Beaches

LISTEN/BUY LOVE HERE

Artist Bio: DOWNLOAD | Promo Photo: DOWNLOAD | Album Art: DOWNLOAD

 WEBSITE | FACEBOOK| TWITTER | YOUTUBE

 

NATALIE PRASS TO RELEASE THE FUTURE AND THE PAST JUNE 1 ON ATO RECORDS

Photo Credit: Tonje Thilesen

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “SHORT COURT STYLE” HERE

TOURING WITH FLEET FOXES AND SXSW IN MARCH 

TORONTO, ON – February 26, 2018 – Natalie Prass had her new album written, her band ready, the recording studio booked.  Then the 2016 election happened, and out of her despair and disappointment in those results came an impulse she could not ignore: she rewrote the album to reflect these swirling emotions.  The result is The Future and The Past (ATO Records/June 1), a stunning snapshot of a musician in a state of personal rediscovery and surging femininity. The celebratory and defiant The Future and The Past also signals a significant artistic leap for Prass on the heels of her 2015 breakthrough debut album.  It finds Prass tapping into deep, dancey grooves that glisten with 80s pop and 90s R&B, nestled alongside quivering, lushly orchestrated ballads.

Watch the video for “Short Court Style” here.

It was directed by Natalie Prass and Erica Price with Jethro Waters as Director of Photography (Angel Olsen’s ‘Shut Up and Kiss Me video).

“The record was ready to go, and then the election happened,” explains Prass. “I was devastated. It made me question what it means to be a woman in America, whether any of the things I thought were getting better were actually improving, who I am and what I believe in. I knew I would be so upset with myself if I didn’t take the opportunity to say some of the things that meant so much to me, so I decided to rewrite the record. I needed to make an album that was going to get me out of my funk, one that would hopefully lift other people out of theirs, too, because that’s what music is all about.”

Like her debut album, Prass made The Future and The Past in Richmond, VA with long-time friend and collaborator Matthew E. White at his Spacebomb Studios.  She added some new collaborations to the mix as well: Blue (Solange’s ‘A Seat At The Table,’ Blood Orange, Carly Rae Jepsen) and Michael Brauer (Elle King and James Bay). ‘Future’ is ripe with string orchestrations and piano flourishes, snaking synth lines and fuzzed out guitars.

The Future And The Past is bursting with a myriad of grooves and Natalie’s vocals float on top, light as a feather and tough as nails.  “Short Court Style” dials the tempo into 90s R&B territory – punctuated by handclaps, sampled “woos,” and a Dr. Dre-esque whistling synth line.  Lyrically she wields a sharp knife as well.  The love torn “Lost” begins with: “Turn up the fader, its like a lightning bolt / we can’t be saved, so now I’m listening on my own / Once there was a time when you had me hypnotized / you realized that your finger prints were on my bones.”  Funky feminist anthem “Sisters” is an empowering rallying cry: “I want to say it loud / for all the ones held down / we gotta change the plan.”

Natalie’s 2015 self-titled debut earned raves from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork (Best New Music), The New Yorker, NPR, and more. She played Bonnaroo, toured with Fleet Foxes and War on Drugs, and appeared on HBO’s Vinyl (as Karen Carpenter), Jools Holland and CBS Saturday.

She will be touring through 2018 including a March run with Fleet Foxes before headlining shows in Los Angeles, New York and a hometown show in Richmond, VA.

Pre-order the album here.

TRACKLIST FOR THE FUTURE AND THE PAST:

1. Oh My
2. Short Court Style
3. Interlude: Your Fire
4. The Fire
5. Hot for the Mountain
6. Lost
7. Sisters
8. Never Too Late
9. Ship Go Down
10. Nothing To Say
11. Far From You
12. Ain’t Nobody

TOUR DATES:
March 1 – Tampa, FL – Ritz Ybor *
March 2 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre*
March 3 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues *
March 4 – Miami Beach, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach @ Jackie Gleason Theater
March 6 – Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center *
March 7 – Charlotte, NC – Fillmore Charlotte *
March 9 – Jackson, MS – Thalia Mara Hall *
March 10 – Memphis, TN – Cannon Center for Performing Arts *
March 11 – Mobile, AL – Soul Kitchen *
March 12 – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater *
March 14-16 – Austin, TX – SXSW
March 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Moroccan Lounge
April 21 – Rotterdam, NL – Motel Mozaique Festival
April 22 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
April 23 – London, UK – Bush Hall
April 26 – Brighton, UK – Bau Wow
April 27 – Manchester, UK – Band on the Wall
April 28 – Birmingham, UK – Hare & Hounds
April 29 – Glasgow, UK – MonoJune 1 – New York, NY – Rough Trade
June 2 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
June 3 – Richmond,VA – Broadberry
* – w/Fleet Foxes

PROMO PHOTO: DOWNLOAD | ALBUM ART: DOWNLOAD

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

 

FELIX CARTAL SENDS A MEANINGFUL MESSAGE WITH “RUNAWAY” FT. REGN

Photo Credit: Trevor Brady

CELEBRATING TWO JUNO NOMINATIONS AND SINGLE “GET WHAT YOU GIVE” GOING GOLD

TORONTO, ON – February 23,108 – Felix Cartal teamed up with vocalist REGN for his stunning new track “Runaway” on Physical Presents, and it will resonate deeply with listeners on and off the dancefloor. “Runaway” carries power in REGN’s passionate voice and angsty lyrics that are perfectly complemented by Cartal’s moody piano melodies and deep, groovy basslines; it delivers a message that is rebellious but also encouraging in its authenticity. The single will appear on his forthcoming full-length album due later this year. Listen to “Runaway” here.

2017 proved to be a monumental year for the producer, who is currently nominated for two JUNOS including Jack Richardson Producer of the Year and Dance Recording Of The Year for his single “Get What You Give”. The single recently certified Gold in Canada, has well over 19 million streams globally. “Get What You Give”  was also included, in Billboards”50 Best Dance/Electronic Songs of 2017″  and Cartal was included in their “13 Dance Artists Who Dominated 2017” feature. “Based on the producer’s newfound sound and vision for the project (…) it looks like Cartal is now leading the charge and owning it,” quoted the renowned music publication. There has never been a better time for Cartal, and “Runaway” further proves that he is truly stepping into his own.

With his dreamy, melodic and yet dance-floor friendly sound, Cartal has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in modern dance music. His Spotify channel has garnered over 75 million streams, and his track “Killing Time” with R3hab has reached 10 million streams to date. Felix’s appeal lies in his ability to convey complex emotions through his music, like the hopeful angst of his release “Get What You Give,” leaving listeners with a positive emotional catharsis. To this effect, “Get What You Give” has soared to the #1 spot on Sirius XM Chill and the Hype Machine and rapidly climbed the US and international charts; it is currently #3 on the pop radio charts and a certified Gold Record in Canada. Shortly after, Felix released “Hold Tight,” the swoon-worthy B side track to “Get What You Give,” which also received support from Billboard and experienced similar success. With such immense recent successes, we can’t wait to see what’s next for Cartal. Catch him live during his new residency at the famed Drai’s Beach Club in Las Vegas, which kicks off on April 8th!

LISTEN TO “RUNAWAY” HERE
www.felixcartal.com
soundcloud.com/felixcartal
twitter.com/felixcartal
www.instagram.com/felixcartal
www.facebook.com/felixcartal

soundcloud.com/physicalpresents
www.facebook.com/physicalpresents
twitter.com/physicalpres