Sep 28, 2023

๐ŸŽ™️ ifitbeyourwill Ep. 6: Great Lake Swimmers


Canadiana singer songwriter Tony Dekker of the Great Lake Swimmers joins us on the eve of his big tour across Canada, USA and Europe for a quick chat about the long road through Covid shut down, his first recordings, the Canadian music scene and the life of a musician in the 21st century. Tony is a soft spoken, reflective man that has been making records for two  decades, winning Favourite Folk/Roots Artist/Group from Canadian Indie Awards in 2010. His newest LP, was recorded over a four year period, called Uncertain Country. It’s a beauty! Stay tune for the title track at the end of the podcast. ๐Ÿ 




This celebration, 11-songs long, follows a prolonged period of collective anxiety. Though recorded in different locales — and with a variety of musicians — a theme of questioning runs throughout. Even before the world turned upside down, singer-songwriter Tony Dekker felt mired in uncertainty: From the climate crisis and the ever-changing political landscape to deep shifts within the music industry. The “uncertain country” Dekker chose as the album’s theme is not a specific place. Rather, it’s a territory we, as humans, inhabit in the 21st century — a world that, more often than not, is confusing, unfamiliar and unsettling. tinnitist



Sep 27, 2023

Steven van Betten • Surrounded By All These Beautiful People I Love • 2023



Today, the LA-based singer-songwriter, Steven van Betten, unveils a glimpse of his anticipated debut, 'Friends & Family' (10/27), with the vibrant single "Surrounded By All These Beautiful People I Love." Echoing a vibe reminiscent of The Magnetic Fields, this track is a heartfelt ode to friendship and remains an album standout.

On this release, Steven reflects, "This song is a tribute to my dear friend Logan Hone. His music has been my beacon, especially during moments of solitude, radiating immense love and joy." The video for the track was in return shot and directed by Logan.

rustbelt • "you got nowhere to go but you're going there tonight” • 2023


Ambition exists at the edge of a hopeful cliff, acknowledging the possibility of failure without falling all the way into the abyss. Rustbelt’s John Chiaverina knows about this dance of endurance, and his new EP, You Got Nowhere To Go But You’re Going There Tonight, out January 19 from Dangerbird Records, encompasses the variety of perspectives he’s experienced along the way.

“All your hopes and all your dreams / they never really die,” Chiaverina sings on the title track. He’s been working on the song for over 10 years, which means it’s been sitting on his hard drive as he continued to write and perform as Juiceboxxx, but this song kept pulling him back in somehow. “With Rustbelt, I’m trying to give myself room to move outside of my narrative a tiny bit,” he says. “These songs are like alternate timelines for myself.”

Sep 25, 2023

๐ŸŽ™️ ifitbeyourwill Ep. 5: Jay Wood


Do I ever have an inspiring story for you! Singer Songwriter Jay Wood has just released her first ever EP entitled Respire this past week, the journey is nothing less than unbelievable. Jay suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car crash years ago, but the result was a loss of memory among other massive challenges that she overcame. Jay joked that she had to write the songs twice on her EP, once before the accident and again after, and that each song took almost a year to finish. Her story of grit and determination left me in awe. Plus her songwriting is solid, witty, and touches the soul. 

Enjoy the listen, and be sure to listen to the jovial single “Oh Well” at the end of our chat.



Sep 24, 2023

POSTDATA • Look To The Stars • 2023




"The melody and chorus lyrics for this song started as a lullaby for my son. I still sing for him a lot but there were times where it was like 30 minutes of singing and he wouldn’t be sleeping… you sing the same songs a lot but there are points where that’s just boring or there’s just a nice feeling in the room and you just venture into writing mode, I guess.


"Irresistibly bouncy"
Backseat Mafia

"The track offers a breath of lightness with hints of joy and love within the driving pop sounds. GEM."
Austin Town Hall

"The gigantic Indie pop of 'Inside Out' sounding like Arcade Fire on galloping uppers [...] Proof that inventive, envelope-pushing indie rock hasn't disappeared off the map just yet" ****
- MOJO

"This album is a triumph – intimate, irresistible, bright, and hopeful, with songs that spellbind you from the first listen." 9/10
God Is In The TV

"An album that is never quite content occupying the middle-ground, bouncing between life-affirming zeal and ruminative numbers; a contemplative yet gleefully escapist spirit that feels at once incongruous but befitting an anarchic state of catharsis" 8/10
Line Of Best Fit

Sep 22, 2023

Neptune's Core • Bunga • 2023

"Their age belies the sophistication of the songwriting and instrumentation...classic alternative era with delicate fragile quiet moments exploding into loud dynamics."
"[On 'Called Upon'], The songs have a kind of ineffable delicacy, and when each of them builds, as they almost always do, into a powerful climax, none of the parts get lost or seem inessential."
"The EP’s measured performances focus the frenzy of Neptune’s Core’s earlier work without sacrificing its charm—they’ve advanced dramatically in their handling of pacing and dynamics, making this their most accomplished release yet."
"A triumph..best described as a cross-between alt-rock and singer-songwriter tunes with strong harmonies…like a mix of Soccer Mommy, Fiona Apple, The Bangles, and Vivian Girls with smart arrangements and terrific lead vocals. Powerful indie rock that transcends their youth…echoes the sound of great women’s rock like Courtney Barnett…such a pleasant surprise.” 


Sep 21, 2023

Pony Girl • Highways • 2023


Ottawa-Hull-based indie-rock band Pony Girl are masters of art pop, invigorating stages with a prismatic sound that’s all their own. After last year's release of their debut LP with Paper Bag Records (and third LP in general), Enny One Wil Love You, now, Pony Girl is sharing another new record, Laff It Off, on 10/27 via Paper Bag Records.


PONY GIRL LIVE

Sep 15 - Radio-Hull Festival
Nov 2 - Hamilton @ The Casbah
Nov 3 - Toronto @ Monarch Tavern
Nov 4 - Sudbury @ The Townehouse
Nov 9 - Montreal @ The Diving Bell Social Club
Nov 10 - Ottawa @ Club SAW
Nov 11 - Kingston @ The Broom Factory
PONY GIRL LINKS
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Sep 20, 2023

๐ŸŽ™️ ifitbeyourwill Ep. 4: Jill Andrews

What a treat I have for all you lovers of music! The great singer-songwriter Jill Andrews joined me for a wonderful conversation about life, music and family. With a new record in hand entitled Modern Age released this past August, Jill shared stories about her first beginnings in music, the amazing collaborators that inspired her career, a look back over her catalogue, and what the future holds. Jill is an inspiring person, with amazing thoughts on her career and some solid advice for beginning musicians. Be sure to check her out on the road in the US and Europe in the near future. As always listen to the end, as Jill chose the single 80s Baby that plays right after our chat. 
Enjoy ๐ŸŽ™️ 





Sep 16, 2023

Sarah Mary Chadwick • Messages To God • 2023




"... a mighty impactful portrait of grief, recovery and vulnerability. Alternately bruising, funny and thought-provoking, it is a testament to one of the 21st century’s most powerful songwriters."
The Line of Best Fit

"…few other singer-songwriters currently working can write with such gut-wrenching clarity."
- The Guardian

"...Sarah Mary Chadwick has a voice unlike anyone else. Her lyricism is brutal and raw, and her records are a wholly consuming affair. Chadwick is just as spellbinding live – it’s hard to look away."
The Sydney Morning Herald

Sep 14, 2023

San Fermin • Arms • 2023




Since the band’s beginnings in 2013, San Fermin’s ambitious scope has taken them across a variety of genres, attracting an eclectic group of collaborators that reflect Ludwig-Leone’s own wide-ranging musical background. Prominent indie musicians (Wye Oak, The Districts), notable featured vocalists (Lucius, Samia), contemporary classical luminaries (Nico Muhly, Attacca Quartet), and folk artists (Sam Amidon) have lent their efforts to the breadth of San Fermin’s studio albums, belying Ludwig-Leone’s restless musical imagination and desire for constant reinvention and collaboration.

Sep 13, 2023

Fences • Werewolf Palm (Directors Cut) • 2023



Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter/guitarist Christopher Mansfield, who records under the Fences moniker, has unveiled his long-awaited new album 'Bright Soil' on Enci Records.

Stream the new album 'Bright Soil' on DSPs: https://onerpm.link/BrightSoil

'Bright Soil' spotlights not only a time of monumental changes in Mansfield's life, but is perhaps his most cohesive album to date.

Sep 12, 2023

Great Lake Swimmers • "Promise Of Spring” • 2023




Great Lake Swimmers release another video from their newest album, Uncertain Country (Harbour Songs / Fontana), with “Promise Of Spring.”  The video, “was shot at the Silver Spire church in St. Catharines, Ontario, and is a peak behind the curtain at the recording sessions that took place in early December 2020.   Although the song itself would take a few major twists and turns, the bed tracks were done live-off-the-floor, wearing masks and practicing social distancing in the middle stages of the pandemic, which at that point still had no end in sight.  I love how you can really feel the room in this song,” says lead singer and songwriter, Tony Dekker.

Sep 10, 2023

corner club • when i die • 2023




"Casual bits of sound make their way into corner club’s field-like, ambience-heavy repository...Moving with the spontaneity and vicissitudes of life, corner club’s music is of an autobiographical quality...'little love lullabies,' like so, speaks with earnestness."

"Emotive and ethereal single “dreaming (ๆขฆไธญ),” featuring a stripped-down soundscape of layered vocals and acoustic guitars...the track is melancholic and heartfelt as it draws from personal experiences to deliver a comforting listen."

"They're definitely ones to watch in 2023..The moody bedroom pop track ['whenever you're ready'] features whimsical vocals and a soft coolness that contrasts with the hilarious and somewhat petty lyrics."


Metric • Who Would You Be For Me • 2023




The song “Who Would You Be For Me” is a throwback lullaby set in NYC in 2002. All the action takes place in Tompkins Square Park, in a subway car, and at the cafรฉ on St. Marks Place where I worked as a waitress when we were getting our start. Automatic behaviors and patterns are often fairly easy to flag in others but can be a riddle to spot in yourself. In life and in love, all the emphasis in your mind can default to being what someone else wants until it dawns on you to consider your own desire. I could be the girl for you, but who would you be for me? 

Sep 8, 2023

๐ŸŽ™️ ifitbeyourwill Ep. 3: Gold Connections


Indie Rock/Power Pop outfit Gold Connections joined me from their homes in New Orleans to chat about their musical journey and their 2nd full-length record coming out in 2024. As well, Will Marsh and cousin Frazer discussed their influences, the guts of the new record, and finally we parted with some amazing words of wisdom for fellow DYI artists. Can’t wait for the new record to drop in the new year. Stay tune at the end of our chat for the featured single, “Confession.” Enjoy.

Bandcamp
Instagram




“There’s something undeniably catchy about the music of Gold Connections.” 
- NPR 

Sep 6, 2023

POSTDATA • Run Wild • 2023


"I’m someone who really tries to help and please people around me as much as I can. I think there’s alot to be learned from that. And it’s just important. But if it becomes this default position it can come at a cost... maybe there’s space to not be that person all the time... maybe its okay to sometimes allow yourself the freedom to make space for yourself and live in that. I think Behind You from he last record sort of starts the thought and this expands on it somewhat..."


"'Run Wild' is an escape into a new world of colorful sounds that will make your ordinary day feel extraordinary."
Fame Magazine

"'Try,' reflects the palpable sense of magic, possibility and light that Murphy has infused into his upcoming record, which wraps encouragement and self-discovery within a vibrant indie rock odyssey."
EARMILK

"Irresistibly bouncy"
Backseat Mafia

"The track offers a breath of lightness with hints of joy and love within the driving pop sounds. GEM."
Austin Town Hall

Ursa Major Revelation • Big Baby • 2023



"['Big Baby' is ] a glowing mix of memorable sounds that mesh well over Rose’s breathtaking vocal performance"
CHORUS.FM

"Opening with layered beats and melodic instrumentation that cushion haunting vocal lines, the track unfolds as a story about falling in love with someone who is trying to escape their decade long heroin addiction [...] Celebrating the uplifting idea that everyone deserves love, the track makes for a soulful and hypnotic listen."
EARMILK

Sep 5, 2023

Vicky von Vicky • Not The Man • 2023




Originating in the late 1990s, the band took a hiatus in 2001. Now, after almost two decades, Vicky von Vicky has regrouped with a renewed focus on songwriting and collaboration. They delve into themes of love, loss, and life experiences, expressing themselves with candidness, vulnerability and a big serving of humour.

The Velvet Hands • Meet Me In The City • 2023




The band released their second album ‘Sucker Punch’ earlier this year to widespread praise. Delivering coming-of-age tales with slacker-rock sensibilities, the album combined the punchy guitar licks of The Strokes or Parquet Courts with rousing punk choruses reminiscent of The Clash or The Vaccines. The ten-track LP was recorded by John Logan at The Cube Studios in Cornwall, produced and mixed by John Logan and JamX Jules at Par Studios and mastered by the legendary John Cornfield (The Stone Roses, Supergrass, Muse).

Sep 3, 2023

๐ŸŽ™️ ifitbeyourwill Ep. 2 • Nicholas Krgovich


 

Canadian singer-songwriter Nicholas Krgovich joined me from vacationing in Croatia with his beloved family to catch up with us on his process, his journey and his future. Nick’s music tugs at the heart, connecting you to forgotten memories as he continually discovers the endless possibilities of pop music. His previous bands, P:ano, No Kids and Gigi plus a mountain of collaborations makes Nick one of Canada’s most prolific artists with a massive musical catalogue dating back to his teenage years. Though music is not his day job, he stays on top of his craft by making it his routine rather than a vocation. Check out Nick’s latest record, Ducks, a contemplative series of songs reflecting his self-awareness and confidence in what he does. Enjoy ๐ŸŽ™️