Month: June 2021

A topical parody or acute observation 🙂 “I want to be like Gladys Berijiklian. After watching a weekend of news, this song interrupted my sleep and awoke me. I recorded it that morning 26/6/21 and created a video. The song will is hitting streaming services in the next 24 hours and a video is available.

What the world needs now is love and unity 🌐☮️❤️‍🔥 Listen to the words Rasta Phil say…

We live in a time like no other and the world needs this song more than ever! With the world at a standstill for almost two years and civil uproar overtaking even the most advanced societies, everyone surely has learned “livin’ ain’t easy”. This track features the vocals of New Edition’s, Ralph Tresvant, and was produced by Ali Durrani–frequent musical collaborator of comedian/talk show host, Lilly Singh.

Philip Thomas, popularly known as “Rasta Phil” was the mentor, co-producer, and advisor to many famous musical groups through the ’80s and ’90s, including New Kids on the Block, New Edition, Marky Mark, and the Funky Bunch, and more. This talented Trinidadian-born musical genius started his musical career as a popular local DJ in Boston and soon became a force in the local music scene. His originality and positive lyrical content are well known internationally along with his acting and production work. Over the years Rasta Phil has successfully nurtured close ties with a broad network of famous actors, artists, producers and directors in both Hollywood and the Canadian entertainment industry.

“Livin’ Ain’t Easy (feat. Ralph Tresvant) – Radio” is available from Rasta Phil Entertainment through Slammin Media and is distributed by Believe Distribution.

Today, Lady Gaga released her special edition Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary album via Interscope Records that features the 14 original songs from the Born This Way album from 2011 in new packaging, along with six reimagined versions of songs from the album created by artists representing and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community.

In celebration of the launch, the final two surprise covers are revealed to be The Highwomen (ft. Brittney Spencer & Madeline Edwards) with their reimagined version of “Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)” and Ben Platt with his reimagined version of “Yoü and I,” accompanied by a video that he has shared in honor of covering the classic.

The Tenth Anniversary celebrations began with Lady Gaga marking the 10-year anniversary of the Born This Way album and its legacy in West Hollywood, where she received keys to the city and a proclamation naming May 23rd as “Born This Way Day”. Haus of Gaga will celebrate the album release with Paper Magazine and Club Quarantine this Saturday June 26th at 6PM PST/9PM EST. The very special night benefitting the Born This Way Foundation will feature DJ Sets and a special musical performance by Big Freedia. All details can be found HERE.

In addition, the Born This Way Foundation is working closely with New York and Youth Pride, sending goods and monetary donations along with notes of kindness to LGBTQIA+ centers across the United States to assist in their Pride celebrations. Lady Gaga and Versace have collaborated for a Pride collection in celebration of 10 years of Born This Way where a portion of sales will be donated to the Born This Way Foundation in continuation of the brand’s allyship with the LGBTQ+ community. Lady Gaga and Versace have also partnered together with Omaze to support the Born This Way Foundation to give a fan the chance to win the exact replica of the limited-edition Atelier Versace Leather jacket Lady Gaga wore on her legendary 2012 Born This Way Ball world tour. Learn more at Omaze.com/Versace.

‘Wasted Time’ was never intended to be about the current situation living with Covid, but instead a cheeky overview of how we as people “will have a go at anything” even if it is a waste of time.

“I personally had many of these moments, thinking do I really know what I am doing, but in true Aussie form keep on going until I realise it’s just one more example of a waste of time”, Tony said. “The chorus came from a mate who is also a fellow muso. He is as they say, “an ideas man”, but never seems to follow through. Then Covid came along and it seemed to fit the situation where we had so many people sitting around wasting time, including a lot of my mates in the music industry.” ‘Wasted Time’ has a catchy feel to it with a solid tempo, just a feel good song.

You could say that Tony Kennelly possesses something of an eagle eye view on the Australian music scene. For more than 45 years he has observed, been witness to, and played his own part in its ever-changing landscape. Today, 2021 Australia is the platform from which the now 63 year old country/folk singer-songwriter releases his latest single ‘Wasted Time’, taken from his forthcoming album ‘Battlegrounds’. Tony’s first single, ‘Leave The Gate Open’ was released twelve months ago. With the drought behind him but never forgotten, and then Covid-19, Tony unable to tour, decided to wait until now to release his next single. Well worth the wait.

There’s a story here. It begins way back in the Sydney suburbs of Hunters Hill in the 1970’s and from there, meanders across miles of the Australian landscape, from town to farm, acre to acre and stage to stage. The ongoing constant in Tony’s story has been the music. He comes from a long line of hearty, music-loving folk and the tales and traditions of gathering together, performing and storytelling are rife throughout his songwriting style.

Growing up in Sydney’s affluent suburbs as the son of less well-off parents, Tony learnt how to carve his way through school and the inevitable challenges of youth. His peers were the children of wealthy Sydney folk, who didn’t immediately take to Tony’s place in their neighborhood, but surrounded by a family that celebrated love, song and gathering together for regular social events, Tony found solace in the music and turned naturally to songwriting.

By the age of 16 Tony had begun to come together with other musicians to create their own early original ‘garage bands’. His cousin played a large role in Tony’s early musical endeavors, being a full time musician and having numerous connections within the industry. One early band Karma played several gigs with some success, including a 1974 ‘National Pepsi Pop Poll’ concert at the Sydney Opera House to 2800 people. A later band The Mongrels / The Idle Poor, carved out a solid fan base around the Sydney region and Tony’s part in the music scene at that time meant that he witnessed firsthand the birth of numerous iconic Australian rock bands including Midnight Oil, ACDC, Cold Chisel and more.

Tony’s musical journey continued for a time with a brief solo career performing around the Sydney music scene, and his love for alt country forming the major basis for his sets. Over time, with six nights a week spent on the stage and a fulltime job in construction taking up his days, Tony settled into a simpler life, marrying his beloved wife Pauline, starting a family and continuing with his construction business and in the latter of the years, moved to a cattle property on the NSW tablelands. Living and surviving through years of drought, Tony and his wife decided to sell their property and stock for a somewhat easier life and moved to the mid north coast of NSW, still with a few acres and room to move. Twelve weeks after moving into their new home Tony and his wife found themselves in the middle of the worst flood ever and were surrounded by water. From one extreme to the other!

Tony’s time away from the music industry as a cattle and sheep farmer and ‘man of the land’ has brought him back around to his song writing. With his own children now grown, his focus shifted to the country music scene once more. Meeting other like-minded musicians whilst playing at some of the country’s most iconic pathways and events, including the Tamworth Country Music Festival, led Tony into several years of writing and recording. His friends and fellow comrades in the industry include numerous performers such as Shane Nicholson, who has helped produce Tony’s latest material at Sound Hole Studios.

Tony’s latest album ‘Battlegrounds’ is not his first. His debut ‘Hittin’ The Wall’ was written back in 2016, but never saw the light of day, with one natural disaster after another taking its toll on Tony’s farm and livelihood. With numerous fights against the droughts of recent years, combined with his active role as one of the nation’s firefighters, Tony’s experiences have left him with a solid understanding of the power of our natural and volatile landscape.

At this stage in his career, Tony possesses a sense of musicianship and songwriting that is the envy of those who have age and experience yet to gain. He’s been there, done that, and seen the whole story unfold. His ethos behind the music is based in a pure love for the songs and with an appreciation for the old folk tradition, there’s a real story and message behind his work. It’s something of an honour to listen to him talk about where it all comes from and ultimately where it is heading. As he reflects on the basic message behind it all “What we all strive for is to be happy, loving, not wanting for much, having enough money to be able to do what we would like, give back to the community and country, care for all, don’t be judgmental, never stop loving your family and friends and keep writing wonderful songs!”

And who can argue with that?

In follow up to her highly successful #1 iTunes Country Chart release ‘Cheers Y’all’, Cassidy-Rae returns with a new track that deviates slightly from previous releases. ‘Dose of You’ delivers sultry tones and sublime vocals in this feel-good song.

Dose Of You is desire personified. The song shares the aching, yearning, hunger for more, in any facet of life . Every lyric filling the appetite yet leaves you longing for another dose. Wandering songstress, Cassidy-Rae, inspired from her US tours pre COVID-19, drew on intimate memories of life and love to create this infectious country-pop sound, that will have you wanting more of Cassidy-Rae. The track was written by Cassidy-Rae and was produced by Sydney’s Love HZ Studios by renowned producer Michael Carpenter.

As a graduate of the Country Music Academy of Australia, Cassidy-Rae is a powerhouse to be reckoned with, appearing at major events such as Tamworth Country Music Festival, Blue Water Country Music Festival, Ballina Country Music Festival, Sydney Blues and Roots Festival, and more.

With over 80,000 followers across social media, Cassidy-Rae continues to connect with fans worldwide over Covid, performing and sharing her life through two Facebook Live Streams – Sunday Sit Down and Live Music Sessions every week.

Past releases from this talented songstress include ‘I’m on Vacation’ ‘Throwback’ and the heartfelt ballad ‘More’ which have all sustained solid airplay on Australian Radio, airplay on CMC/CMT, streams over 231,000 on Spotify, and over 400,000 views on YouTube. Previous single ‘Cheers Y’all reached #28 on the major Music Network Charts, additions to Spotify’s ‘Fresh Country’ and Apple Music’s ‘Aussie Country’ playlists, and the music clip was also officially added to CMT.

From party anthems to heartfelt ballads, Sydney-based Cassidy-Rae is a talented and versatile rising star. Her vibrant, confident, and authentic performances from her guitar and keyboard, have proven why she has amassed such a loyal following. Her mesmerizing vocals, and larger-than-life stage presence ensures she is an artist with a huge future and one to watch.

Surrey-based Asad Khan (aka Khanvict) is an escape artist. His love for lush strings, cinematic swells, and a West Coast bass music punch instantly transport the listener – conjuring visions of desert expanses and dense jungle paradises. The inspiration behind ‘Escape’, Khanvict’s second EP, originated early in the pandemic. Deep in lockdown in Surrey, BC, Asad began a series of weekly livestreams on Twitch which he titled ‘Escape’. These free flowing sessions, attracting up to 2,500 viewers on Friday nights, spoke to the collective need for an escape. An escape from the lockdown. An escape from the fear and uncertainty. An escape into a feeling of freedom through music.

In that, ‘Escape’ is the most personal and sophisticated Khanvict effort to date. The pandemic was a time of intense creativity and gestation for him, and that is evidenced in the attention to detail paid to production, arrangement, and song writing. Impedance, featuring celebrated violinist Raaginder (LA), brings to mind the minimal desert soundscapes of Zhu. While ‘Heavy’, the first single on the album, is reminiscent of the bass driven wobble of Clozee or Troyboi.

This year has been a big year for Khanvict, hiting his first million streams on Spotify. His recent release, the politically charged ‘Closer’, has racked up 500K plays on YouTube and garnered global press from Rolling Stone to Times of India to The Hindu. The short film supporting the song was a collaboration involving filmmaker Anjali Nayar, model / activist Seema Hari and a hauntingly beautiful exploration of issues of colorism, casteism and misogyny in South Asian culture. His first EP on Vancouver-based label Snakes x Ladders, Kahani, saw great traction and led to an opportunity to release 2 official remixes of legendary Bollywood composer AR Rahman of Slumdog Millionaire fame. Recent singles have received support from Bobby Friction (BBC), Spotify, and Sony Music India.

Courtney Keil has firmly established herself as one of the brightest up-and-comers in the Australian country music scene. She’s already secured two #1 spots on the Australian iTunes Country Singles chart with her previous releases `I Just Wanna Hold You’ and ‘Hummingbird’. This chart-topping songstress today releases her third single and video ‘Where Does All The Love Go’, a dreamy and enchanting ballad dedicated to the essentialism of love.

“Ballads have always been really important to me” muses Keil, “and for my third single, I wanted to release a song that is deeply personal and in contrast to my previous singles. ‘Where Does All The Love Go’ reveals a different side of me and also my musicality. I wanted to bring a story to my audience that I really connect to.”

Produced by multi-award winning Rod McCormack (Gina Jeffreys, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole ) at Music Cellar Studios, ‘Where Does All The Love Go’ is a highly anticipated release for Keil. “We worked to incorporate iconic sounds as an ode to some of my favourite classic 90’s country love ballads, inspired by heroes Faith Hill and Trisha Yearwood, to create a passionate, nostalgic track.” A heartfelt ballad, devoted to unlocking the nature of love, Keil explains “As I began writing this song with Rod McCormack, Gina Jeffreys, Sam Gay and Templeton Thompson, we quickly fell in love with the spirit of the message. The inherent theme is questioning ‘how can anyone live without love?’ giving hope to love lost, which we all may experience at some time throughout our life.”

The accompanying video was filmed in a pine forest on the NSW Central Coast and was directed by Duncan Toombs of The Filmery. As Keil states “I wanted a video that would go hand-in-hand with my song. Something beautiful and simple with lots of space and warm glowing sunlight”. The video features Keil at an upright piano singing and calling on the power of love, surrounded by natural elements that compliment her captivating vocals.

Connecting to her audience is something that comes easy to Keil. She was handpicked to perform the national anthem acapella at Bathurst for the opening round of the 2021 Supercars Championship, off the back of her singles. Her debut single ‘I Just Wanna Hold You’, released in August 2020, reached #1 on the iTunes Country Singles chart, peaking at #15 on The Music Network Country Hot 50 airplay charts. Keil’s sophomore single ‘Hummingbird’ debuted at #1 on the iTunes Country Singles chart and #2 on the AIR 100% Independent Singles chart.

It is no surprise that Beat Magazine hailed Keil as “one of the most exciting talents in Australian country music.” She was recently invited to perform as June Carter Cash in the Johnny Cash The Concert tour, alongside Daniel Thompson. Keil delighted audiences so much, she was invited to continue her role as June for the remainder of the national tour throughout 2021.

With two singles that have already raced to the top of the charts, Courtney Keil has already secured herself in the heart and mind of the Australian country music scene. Her latest ballad ‘Where Does All the Love Go’ not only demonstrates her range as a songwriter but as the breakout star of 2021.

New single from rising artist and record producer ELYAZ! 100% self-made, with a delicate touch for Sound Design, Mixing and Mastering he achieves total creative control and freedom, combined with his guitar playing, piano and voice. Extra: Official Video written and directed by the artist!

The artist has received over 2 million streams on Spotify and 1.5 million streams on YouTube.

The Place Where We Belong – The Story

The pages of an old book tell the tale of a lost seadog on a quest to find a faraway emotion. A hidden treasure map and a long-forgotten spyglass will guide him on a journey to rediscover the strength and beauty of a lost love. At the foot of a waterfall, a mysterious woman comes forth with a pyramid in her hands bringing a message held among the memories of an ancient library.

Bio:

Gifted music producer, singer and musician ELYAZ (Mauro Elias Morone) has always lent a unique sensibility and feeling to his compositions and arrangements, which all comes from a burning musical passion inside.
He puts everything of himself into his work, taking a global approach to music production. With a delicate touch for Sound Design, Mixing and Mastering, he achieves total creative control and freedom, combined with his guitar playing, piano and voice. Earning high numbers on the most famous music platforms, ELYAZ presents his tracks mainly as a DJ. His projects explore concepts and tell evocative stories, taking the listener to faraway places. With his drive and ambition there are no more boundaries.

After releasing their first full length album “Flashbacks” in January, Canadian country trio Petric are releasing “White Lyin'” as their next single to Canadian and Australian country radio. An instant fan favourite, “White Lyin'” captures the raw emotion of a relationship gone wrong. The poetic lyrics, and powerful vocals makes it easy to hear why it has quickly become a favourite with Petric fans.

“Country music doesn’t’t have as many stories in songs as there use to be. White Lyin’ is a story. A story about a boy who gets caught up with girl and mixed up with a world full of emotions. In the heat of the moment, he leads her on and says words that he felt were the right things to say at the time, even though he may not have actually felt what he had said. On one hand, you feel really bad for this girl whose heart got broken, but, on the other hand, you sympathize for the guy who regrets that he couldn’t’t figure out how to love her properly.” – Petric

Petric recently released a heart tugging music video featuring the bands lead singer, Tom Petric and his fiancé é Denarah Bayrak. With regards to acting in this video, Tom say, “Too be honest, when the band asked if I would be the lead actor in this video, I told them no. I’d never done it, and had no ambition to take on that role in a video. As the video and plan came together, Jason presented the idea and asked if Denarah would consider playing the female role in the video. At the point, I became much more excited to tackle this project, and acting role. Denarah looked amazing, and played the role perfectly. This was her favourite song on the album from day one, so it was great being able to include her in this project, and have her light up the camera for us.”

Produced by Grammy nominated, Canadian producer Chris Baseford (Meghan Patrick, Avril Lavigne, Nickelback), “White Lyin'” follows the bands earlier release “Kids”. “Flashbacks” has already accumulated over 2,000,000 online streams.

Forming in 2015, Petric was discovered by JUNO Award winner Dallas Smith while showcasing at Country Music Week. Since then, Manitoba brothers Jason and Tom Petric and longtime friend Jordan Day have racked up over twelve million streams, 315K+ views on YouTube, three Top 20 singles on Canadian country radio, and eight Manitoba Country Music Awards. The trio have also performed on some of the country’s biggest festival stages such as Boots & Hearts, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, The Calgary Stampede and The Big Valley Jamboree. Receiving praises from country tastemakers such as The Boot, Complete Country and Top Country.

“Soulful catchy vocals and beautiful instrumentals” – Top Country

“Seasoned chops and a strong pop sensibility” – Winnipeg Free Press

“The songs radiate seemingly intoxicating top-lines that diffuse pure poignancy after swooning listeners with immediately adhesive melodies, infatuating coos joined by soulful slide guitars and their notoriously healthy landing choruses” –
Buzz Music LA

Australian-born and Alberta-raised, Gord Bamford stands as one of the most decorated artists in Canadian country music with an impressive 26 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) awards, multi JUNO nominations and the only two-time winner out of Nashville’s Country Music Association (CMA) receiving the 2013 & 2015 CMA Global Country Artist award.

But it is his distinctive sound and song writing ability that defines Gord Bamford as one of country music’s best neo-traditional artists and like so many others that have come before him; Bamford is not an overnight success. He has spent the better part of the last 20 years honing his craft, working to get where he is today.

Bamford has just released his 9th studio album which will feature the singles #REDNEK, Just Let Go, Diamonds in a Whiskey Glass and Heaven On Dirt. Marry Me Again, the latest single to drop, was given exclusively to Ray Hadley to premiere in advance of the new album release.

Bamford’s eighth studio album Neon Smoke was released in early 2018 containing the smash #1chart topper ‘Dive Bar’ and follows his Tin Roof album, winner of the 2016 CCMA ‘Album of The Year’.