MacKenzie Bourg @bourgmackenzie Returns with “Impossible Things”

 

MACKENZIE BOURG, “Impossible Things”

We hadn’t heard from 21 year old Louisiana-born L.A.-based MacKenzie Bourg for a hot moment since last year’s heart-warming single “Everyone’s Got A Story”.  The singer/songwriter who dazzled us with his unique underdog take on Foster The People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” in 2012 on “The Voice” has been busy working on new songs.  So to whet our appetite for what’s to come, MacKenzie unleashed “Impossible Things” online.  It’s a fine, empowering song about not being browbeaten and striving for the impossible.  Hardly surprising considering MacKenzie battled congestive heart disease shortly before his appearance on “The Voice” – he is an inspiration.  Not sure who the other artist was that recorded “Impossible Things”, but MacKenzie’s own version to me is pretty hard to beat and I hope it gets official release.  Listen above.

New @TylerShawMusic x 2: “It Happens All The Time” and “Showtime” (for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014)

tylershaw2

TYLER SHAW, “It Happens All The Time” and “Showtime” (official song for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014)

British Columbia native Tyler Shaw is on a roll with two songs worthy of your attention.  Of course by now you will have heard the jaunty melody of  the good-natured”It Happens All The Time” on the radio, receiving national Canadian airplay that such a strong and catchy song deserves.  I’m glad to hear Tyler rock out a more on “Showtime”, which has been selected as the official song for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada.  It’s a fine companion to Eric Saade’s “Winning Ground” from last year (written for Sweden’s UEFA Women’s Euro) and let’s hope it becomes a staple at other sporting events.  I’ve seen the Juno Award-nominated Tyler numerous times in concert.  I’ve enjoyed his performances ever since he won the MUCH covers contest a few years back.  He’s a talented singer/songwriter who beckons international exposure, and now that time seems to be coming.  Listen to “It Happens All The Time” below and download “Showtime” from the Soundcloud link at FIFA’s website for free 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone Else’s Hell: “Losing You” by @JaneBadler

janebadler5

JANE BADLER, “Losing You”

While Jane Badler is better known as an actress whose characters you love to hate – raise your hands if you love Diana from “V” –  she is developing another career as a singer of unpredictable alternative pop.  From her forthcoming album Opus, the USA-born, Australia-based Jane brings us “Losing You”, a Latin-influenced smoky-jazz pop tune which may contain the best vocal yet that I’ve heard from her – and I’m a big fan of her “Yesterday’s Tomorrows” from a few years back.  You could put “Losing You” somewhere between Eartha Kitt and Amy Winehouse, and like those two singers it’s largely because Jane’s voice doesn’t bring another particular singer’s voice to mind… so I’d love to have her duet with Rufus Wainwright!  But I digress.  The video for the song is a treat.  While we’ve seen other videos use the door-to-door imagery many times before, the director draws us in regardless of how unsympathetic Jane’s character is.  Does she get what she deserves in the end of her own personal hell?  You decide!  Beautiful costumes, unique makeup and characterizations, and a convincing story all make it work.  Watch below and get “Losing You” on iTunes on August 11.

Back In Fine Form: @Erasureinfo with “Elevation”, @DaveAude & @AndyBell_info “Aftermath (Here We Go)”

https://soundcloud.com/erasureinfo/elevation-radio-edit

 

ERASURE, “Elevation”

DAVE AUDE featuring ANDY BELL, “Aftermath (Here We Go)”

I was thrilled to find out this summer that Erasure is back not only on record with The Violet Flame in September, but shortly after its release, they will be touring and making a stop in my city *tickets bought*… I first saw them in 1986 and last (of five times, I think) in 2011!!  So first on deck we have “Elevation” (ab0ve), a sparkling mid-tempo song which takes us back to their mid-90’s songs such as “Always” courtesy of glistening Richard X production.  It’s going to sound great in concert!  Next up is a US club #1 for “Aftermath (Here We Go)” (below), and if this was a radio era like 20 years ago, you’d be hearing it to death everywhere.  Truly, this song has HIT written all over it and shouldn’t be overlooked.  Dave Audé clearly put his Erasure inspiration hat on and gives us one of Andy’s best recent vocals (and Andy’s looking wonderfully fit in the video as ever).  At times it sounds so much like Erasure that even hardcore Erasure fans wouldn’t know!  The last quarter of 2014 looks to bring us great music and shows from Erasure and maybe even more songs from Andy given the success of “Aftermath”.  

Why @Smallpools’ New Song “Killer Whales” Isn’t About Killer Whales!

 

SMALLPOOLS, “Killer Whales”

I must say that it was with “Killer Whales” that Smallpools caught my attention when they opened for Neon Trees last month in Toronto, so I’m glad to see it appear so soon after.  Very clever these guys, incorporating an unlikely phrase as not only lyrics in their song but as the title!  Smallpools is led by singer/songwriter Sean Scanlon, and “Killer Whales” is really a bright and shiny alt.pop song about trying to figure out a relationship where the girl keeps disappearing only to of course reappear.  It’s the lead song from the tight and personable L.A.-based quartet’s upcoming second release, and you can get it for free by subscribing to their email list using the link below the song above.  Smallpools is keeping busy on another mid-west/west USA/Canada tour with Magic Man and Panama Wedding, so make sure you get out to see them.

More Dazzling New Music From @SVEmusic with “Riot”

 

SVE, “Riot”

“Riot” is a complete change of pace from SVE’s previous single, the powerful and languid dark ballad “Talking To The Walls” (which reached #18 on my personal chart earlier in the year).  This talented NYC-based singer shows here that she can compete with women on the commercial pop spectrum such as Sia, Kesha and Katy Perry!  Beautifully produced, it zeroes in on how strong SVE’s natural and high-ranging can sound in an EDM-flavoured uptempo setting while incorporating many melodic changes to shake up the mix and keep you listening.  It’s not going to take long for the music world to recognize that SVE should be heading places.  Oh, and I hope a dance mix might be forthcoming! 🙂

Get To Know The @AutumnPortrait with “My Brother”

THE AUTUMN PORTRAIT, “My Brother”

There’s always a hopeful side to situations involving loss, and The Autumn Project’s latest single “My Brother” is about just that.  The accompanying video, beautifully shot by Ryan Nolan, shows carefree distractions through the eyes of children, and to me the underlying message is why adults can’t deal with loss in a similar way.  Unfortunately we’re too bound with responsibility and concern for others, and children deal with it differently, making you want to go back to that time when we didn’t understand so much.  The kids in the video do a fabulous job, and it thoroughly compliments the gentle acoustic song and its message from The Autumn Project (aka Toronto-based Freddie Mojallal).  “My Brother” is available as a single or as a part of Freddie’s album Tired Love on iTunes.

It Takes One Word: “Just Say Hello” by @LyonnUS

LYONN, “Just Say Hello”

I tipped you off to the joyous and sincere folk-oriented pop sounds of Knoxsville TN based Lyonn (aka singer/songwriter Tyler Gelrud) about a month ago, when I wrote about his EP Promenade.  The video for “Just Say Hello” was about to be shot, and has now arrived!  I must say that this absolutely adorable video pulls off probably everything that it wanted, especially for an independent effort.  It’s just a great, winning story about a guy trying every which way to catch the attention of a girl sitting and reading under a tree in a park in the centre of town.  Even with the help of his wingman and others, of course, it’s to no avail, until the magic answer of the story is revealed.  And even though we’ve known all along what that is, sometimes it’s how you get through the story that’s most interesting!  I guarantee you will smile and get caught up in “Just Say Hello”. Major score for Tyler and his Lyonn team 🙂  Promenade and “Just Say Hello” can be found for purchase on iTunes.

For The Lover In You: “Before I’m Yours” by @ColePlante featuring @BrianLoganDales and Brix

COLE PLANTE featuring BRIAN LOGAN DALES & BRIX, “Before I’m Yours”

From a forthcoming debut album for Cole Plante, the 17 year old American producer/DJ who’s been touring across North America and is prominently featured on the show “Wolf Watch” (seen right after “Teen Wolf”) comes a summery slice of bliss for your car stereo, “Before I’m Yours”.  This one skews Katy Perry-styled pop more than a harder Avicii-styled dance record, so it’s also clearly aimed at radio play.  But the pairing of The Summer Set’s Brian Logan Dales and new singer Brix makes “Before I’m Yours” stand out in the crowd, giving the song a bright, romantic vibe.  It’s a great lead in for an album, and in these days of younger and younger EDM performers like Martin Garrix, I expect it to get significant notice from North American dance clubs, which is great news for Cole Plante.  “Before I’m Yours” is a fine companion to songs like Afrojack’s “Ten Feet Tall” or Zedd’s “Find You”.

Hot Fuss: “Show You” by @ShawnMendes

SHAWN MENDES, “Show You”

So I hadn’t yet figured out the deal about 15 year old Shawn Mendes and how his initial single “Life Of The Party” bounded onto Billboard’s Hot 100 into the Top 25.  It only appeared for a week but that was enough.  Shawn Mendes is from Pickering, Ontario, where I once lived.  In fact up to this past school year anyway, he went to my son’s girlfriend’s high school.  At some point she was talking about him but without naming names.  Then my daughter told me that was him.  And I suppose when you get almost a million and a half followers on Twitter and a record deal with Island, something must be up.  It’s more than “Life Of The Party” too.  From his new self-titled EP comes “Show You”, and this is as good a dose of teenage empowerment as it gets.  He’s got a great voice and seamlessly pulls off a song that has to be sung-rapped quickly.  The rapped break at the 2/3 point is the only low point, it’s been done too many times and adds nothing to the song.  But Shawn will get the love of the lasses and also nods from the guys with “Show You”.  Be prepared to hear Shawn Mendes and “Show You”, well, just about everywhere, for the rest of 2014.  And Austin Mahone had better watch out on tour – our boy could steal the stage from you.