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Category: Music

  • Which Canadian artists made our 2021 Spotify Wrapped?

    CanCulture team members share the Canadian artists on their year-end Spotify Wrapped (Sara Kurfeß/Unsplash) The most exciting part of the year for Spotify users all around the world is in December, when Spotify Wrapped is released. Since 2016, the streaming platform has shown listeners what their year looked like in terms of their listening habits.…

  • RedFox: More than just a folk band

    Discover the genre-bending band based out of Montreal By: Nganji Kimonyo RedFox (Courtesy of RedFox) There’s a quote by author E.L. Doctorow that compares writing to driving at night in the fog. “You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” It speaks to the uncertainty…

  • Toronto celebrates new venue with ‘block pARTy’ music event

    ArtHaus Music brought ‘block pARTy,’ a vendor market followed by a series of performances by an all-Canadian lineup, to Toronto’s west end By: Kinza Zafar Torontonians are celebrating the return of live events as COVID-19 restrictions slowly ease, starting with a never-before-used venue in the west end of the city.  “block pARTy,” the inaugural 10-hour…

  • Dreaming through music: An exclusive interview with the founder of Peach Luffe

    Peach Luffe provides fans with an escape from reality through their dreamy music. CanCulture sat down with their founder to delve into their sound, dreams and experiences. By: Teresa Valenton Peach Luffe at CBC Music (Courtesy of Jong Lee) What began as a solo act has now evolved into a quartet that has created a…

  • Concerts are back, COVID-19 or otherwise; let’s work together to make shows safe for everyone

    Masks and vaccines are surely needed, but so is a comprehensive approach to fighting harassment By: Scott Martin On Nov. 20, for the first time in a year and a half, I lined up outside a concert venue. Between a mixture of nervousness and excitement, I showed my ID, proof of vaccination and took my…

  • Independent Toronto artist NorthSideBenji shows vulnerability on new project ‘The Extravagant Collection’

    NorthSideBenji’s new album paves a new path for Toronto rappers and what it means to express vulnerability in music By: Bana Yirgalem Toronto’s hip-hop music scene is continuously developing and proving that the city is home to a cache of talented artists. NorthSideBenji is one of the latest examples, with a new album that’s letting…

  • Mac Miller’s ‘Faces’ hit streaming services on my birthday; an unbelievable gift

    The legendary mixtape and one of my favourite projects of all time arrived to streaming services on Oct. 15, seven years after its initial release  By: Isaac Fontes When I was just a 14-year-old, Mac Miller released Faces. It became available for free download on May 11, 2014, and served as the follow-up to his…

  • 5 Canadian Indigenous musicians you need in your playlist

    The Canadian Indigenous music scene is rich, varied and thriving; here are five acts you should check out By: Nganji Kimonyo Canadian Indigenous music, like Indigenous culture, is both varied and rich. Its scene is home to sounds and styles that encompass all genres, but what they all have in common is that they speak…

  • Vancouver music is now on the map thanks to Boslen’s new album, DUSK to DAWN

    With almost 9.5 million streams, Vancouver’s own Boslen has released his second studio album, DUSK to DAWN, which everyone needs to listen to By: Jillian Gonzales DUSK to DAWN album cover (Courtesy of Spotify) Boslen is a proud Canadian hip-hop artist from Vancouver. At just 22-years-old, he has already cultivated some impressive work, the latest…

  • Being a songwriter and an artist: Three female Canadians share their thoughts

    Doing both allows creatives to dip their toe in both areas to figure out what works best for them, songwriters say.  By, Sarah Tomlinson  ( CanCulture/Devon Harvey) For Elena Goddart, mainstream music was always a novelty. Growing up near Smithers, B.C., on a farm, she was homeschooled and was only permitted to listen to classical…

  • Where’s the justice in Justin Bieber’s Justice?

    His sixth album includes two MLK speeches, love songs to his wife, and missed opportunities  By, Isabella Lopes Justin Bieber’s sixth album Justice was released on March 19. Taking samples from Martin Luther King Jr. and having a couple of features from Black artists doesn’t hide the fact that Justin Bieber’s album Justice is nowhere…

  • MusicLinks by JustOverMusic: Toronto’s emerging creatives are going above and beyond music

    15 emerging producers, songwriters and artists are gaining entrepreneurial skills through MusicLinks   By Sarah Tomlinson  The latest cohort of artists and producers for MusicLinks posing in front of Lynx music studio on Nov.2, 2020. (MusicLinks /JustOverMusic)   Over the course of 21 weeks, 15 emerging Canadian artists and producers were selected to sharpen their craft by…

  • Artist Profile: Krosst Out is a rapper with a punk rock edge

    A decade into his career, the prolific Toronto and Montreal-based rapper looks at what drives him to make music. By, Manus Hopkins Krosst Out poses for a promo shoot in Montreal (by Nicolas Bondu).  Toronto and Montreal-based rap-rock artist Krosst Out never had a plan B for his career path. Real name Aaron Siebenga, He…

  • Musician Freida Mari is the voice her grandmother never had

    Surviving civil unrest, poverty, and prejudice using her grandmother’s name allow’s Mari to reclaim that piece of her that so many people tried to take away.  By, Sarah Tomlinson  Freida Mari’s artwork for her latest release “Easy”. (Courtesy/Aistis Cepinskas) When she was 14 years old, Freida Mari remembers visiting her grandmother in a nursing home…

  • The Rise of 347aidan

    The 17-year-old artist from Cambridge, Ont. has cultivated an overwhelmingly successful career from his DIY talents as a genre-bending music artist. By Isaac Fontes  If you’re active on TikTok or keep up with the latest dance trends on the app, the name 347aidan should ring a bell. His song “Dancing in My Room” had gathered…

  • “Red Envelope”: Reminiscing through Music on Lunar New Year

    Canadian band Soy Sunrise merges traditional Chinese instruments with lo-fi hip hop in their New Year song “Red Envelope.” By Alya Stationwala Bandmates Jake Parkinson, Adam Enriquez, Jasmine Lim and Ryland Moon together with their instruments at Western University. (Courtesy Lauren Kell) Lunar New Year is usually a celebration of new beginnings, bringing in the…

  • Q&A with Vancouver’s Lila Gray on her new album Not What I Was Promised

    By exploring more genres and drawing from external inspiration, Gray opened ears to what modern music can be.  By, Sarah Tomlinson  View this post on Instagram A post shared by lila gray (@lilagraymusic) Vancouver Indie-Pop artist Lila Gray is breaking down music barriers with her new eclectic multi-genre album Not What I Was Promised.  Born…

  • Is TikTok a good place to promote an artist’s music?

    With TikTok offering a large audience to market to, musicians and artists must use the features effectively.  By Didhiti Kandel  It’s no secret that 2020 has been the year for TikTok. Launching first in 2016, TikTok has become one of the fastest-growing entertainment apps worldwide.  With music integration being one of its main features, billions…

  • Rebecca Mattina: a Canadian Music Journalist

    She combined her long-standing passion for writing and music and gained experience in the field.  By Sarah Tomlinson Rebecca Mattina at Canada’s Boots and Hearts country music festival in August 2019 (Rebecca Mattina]  Five years into her career in music journalism, Rebecca Mattina has seen many successes. While working for various organizations like Canadian Beats…

  • The Best Websites to Promote your Music

    Here are five Canadian websites that support independent artists in Canada By, Didhiti Kandel Image by Becca Clark (Pixabay)  Equally as important as the music itself, promotion is essential for artists to share their work with audiences. However, as the prices of conventional resources for advertising and branding become more and more exorbitant, visibility has…

  • How Artwork and Music Intertwine

    Design communicates the music’s message visually and contributes to the artist’s branding.  Written by Madison Kelly  Jud Haynes album cover design for Chris Hadfield album in Canada, on Oct. 9, 2015.  When shuffling through music apps or going to a vintage record store, we search through dozens of album covers, unaware of the effect they…

  • How M1rza’s identity shaped his music

    After having been exposed to traditional Pakistani and Toronto culture, M1rza established his brand and musical style as an RnB artist.  By Sarah Tomlinson M1rza posing wearing a keffiyeh on July.23,2018. (Photo by, M1rza,Taha Muharuma)  M1rza’s eclectic new single “Jump” is a testament to the influence of his East Asian heritage on his Canadian upbringing. …

  • How Independent Artists Can Get Funding For Their Music

    Various Canadian organizations offer grants and programs tailored towards the development, marketing and overall production of music for independent artists. Written by Isaac Fontes An at-home setup for the recording of music. Photo taken by Bru-nO on Pixabay.com. In one way or another, the ongoing global pandemic has taken a toll worldwide. According to the…

  • Via Barcelonia will whisk you away with their new album Wonderland

    With catchy melodies, 32 layers of harmonies and world music influences, the album is sure to be stuck in your head for a while.  By: Sarah Tomlinson Andrew Allen and Taylor McKnight jumping in an alleyway (Via Barcelonia/ LMW Photos) Via Barcelonia’s new album is a fusion of alternative pop world music that will take…

  • How to Create a Home Recording Studio on a Budget

    Here are some tips on how you can lay down some tracks without having to break the bank By Manus Hopkins Home recording is totally in right now. Not only can it be a great lockdown activity for smaller-scale artists, but there are home-recorded albums out there topping charts and raking at the Grammy Awards.…

  • Canadian musicians are finding ways to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has impacted the music industry.

    It’s been 10 months since the beginning of the pandemic. In a year filled with uncertainty and adaptation, the pandemic has changed the music industry..  By, Megan Ebreo A time of stagnancy has been putting strain on artists and it’s affecting their well-being and their craft. For Toronto-based DJ artist, singer-songwriter Martina Kiridzija, commonly known…

  • Ramy Zhang: Growing Pains

    For her debut EP, a composite Ramy Zhang sings about a closed chapter; leaving high school behind as she enters a pre-adult world of boundless energy and sudden longing. By, Eduard Tatomir Courtesy Ramy Zhang RAMY said that it all started when she joined the choir at just eight-years-old. She said she discovered her love…

  • How Ryerson University’s Vocalist Society is surviving COVID-19

    Photo by, Sarah Tomlinson Online has benefits, but members miss the in-person sense of community  By, Sarah Tomlinson View this post on Instagram Starting tomorrow, our members will be taking over our IG stories! Stay tuned for our day-to-day rehearsals, HELL WEEK, family dinners, and of course ICCAs! #roadtoicca #ryecca #acappella #ryerson A post shared…

  • Canada’s top music video directors

    The creators of your favourite visuals  Photo: Jakob Owens/Unsplash By Will Lofsky Since the creation of YouTube, music videos have made artists’ careers. Canada has played a pivotal role in the rapidly changing mainstream visual marketplace. Here is a list of some of the top music video directors in Canada.  One of Toronto’s most famous…

  • RUSSELL! claims his spot in Toronto’s hip hop scene with ‘boy lonely’

    A consistent presence in Toronto, RUSSELL! shows his versatility with his newest album By Severina Chu With the release of boy lonely, RUSSELL! is cementing his place in Toronto’s hip hop scene. View this post on Instagram “boy lonely” OFFICIAL ALBUM ART – DROP A 👦🏻 IF UR EXCITED. THE ALBUM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR…