Artist: Bree Taylor

Earlier this year, Toronto born Bree Taylor released her single “The Feeling” that will be on her upcoming EP this summer.  Bree’s voice has an amazing cadence that pierces through the electric beats underlining this song.  Sometimes with pop songs, you’ll find the singers voice can be drowned out by the instruments.  However, this is not the case for Bree.  Her alto range is incredibly strong and is a nice change of pace from the typical soprano belting pop stars that we see today.

Bree’s story telling through her music is incredibly strong and it forces you to listen and create a mental picture.  Her ability to create an interesting story and still be a captivating vocalist shows the talent that she has.  Near the end of the song, Bree has a moment where the instruments stop and the music is left with just her voice—this technique pays off as it creates anticipation, similar to a “drop” in house music.

No amateur when it comes to the music scene, in 2016 Bree released the single “Broken Dreams” with an accompanying music video.  Very different from her new single, “Broken Dreams” is a ballad about a past relationship where her partner was not supportive or present.  The personal link that Bree has with this song is what makes it so powerful.  The music video cuts back and forth between a loving couple and Bree standing alone singing.  There is some excellent imagery in this video, one in particular near the end of the song when her vocals are at the most fervent and it shows her face in a broken mirror.

In the age of social media Bree stays connected to her fans like very few other artists.  She is very active on her YouTube Channel.  Her posting has slowed down in the recent months, but she has a deep catalogue of videos for her fans to enjoy.  These include a wide range, from book reviews to make-up tutorials.  She has been incredibly smart in her branding by creating herself as a marketable personality as well as being a talented musician.  This is likely what the future of music will be: an artist that is in touch with her fans and is always producing some form of content.

Bree has just come off a sponsored tour that took her from British Columbia all the way to Quebec.  Her fans won’t have to wait long for more from her, either, as she is releasing her EP later on this summer.  Her music can be found on Spotify and information about her tour dates can be found of her website.  Bree has a long career ahead of her and I strongly suggest adding her to your summer playlist.

Artist: Todd O’Keefe

On February 5^th, Todd O’Keefe released his latest album, Salvador.  Nailing down a genre for O’Keefe is challenging.  Using experience based on a past in the music industry and the amount of talent he has worked with, Todd has created a sound all his own.  With guitar stylings similar to The Kooks and vocals as powerful as Win Butler from Arcade Fire, Todd is using his full set of skills for this album.

Salvador starts off with the song “Sentimental Love”.  It has the feeling of a 50’s dinner love song.  I can picture Danny from Grease serenading Sandy with this song.  Giving it a modern twist however, the guitar has a rougher tone that pierces through the vocals and staccato piano chords.  “Salvador”, the song that this album is named after, is second on the track list.  This song is an example of Todd’s ability to diversify his talent and make sure that every instrument is heard, including his voice.  Each part is given an opportunity to shine.  His use of metaphor in this song left me quoting it for days.

“Some say love is like a flower/coming up strong and full of power/wild like the wind that blows the petals loose,” is just one example of the powerful lyrics that Todd gives on this album.  His ability to use not just the notes, but the rests is also extremely entertaining, as right before these lyrics there is a beat of silence that has you leaning in for more.

“When My Baby Comes Home” follows the 50’s vibe but with a slower tempo.  There’s a sound of longing in Todd’s voice, perhaps explained by the name of the song.  He also knows how to keep a slower song interesting with the wavering guitar lines and catchy melody.  The next, “Please Take My Sunshine Away”, is hard change from the previous songs.  Fast tempo, energetic lyrics, and ripping guitar chords lace this song with an intensity that Todd is known for.  This song is perfectly placed in the track list as it allows for some variety.

One of my personal favourites on the album “Never Loved No One Like You” takes blues rock guitar sounds and mixes it with Todd’s experienced vocals.  The guitar is one of the focal points of this song especially the rocking solo.  “It’s Lonely Down Here” is a song like no other that I have heard from Todd before.  Imagine meandering down a dusty road in an old western movie and this song would be the soundtrack.  With the wood blocks plunking away and the low, gravely guitar, Todd sets the mood for this somber, serious song.

Todd is no stranger to The Voice Magazine and we hope to continue seeing his work in the future.  Salvador is available on the usual streaming sites such as Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon.  It can also be purchased on his website.

Mapmaker was Emily’s first professional release; her vocals and song writing are polished and well rounded.  Emily’s use of multiple musicians and instruments add a depth to this EP.  She writes her own songs, and, with this, it gives them an emotional attachment that is hard to find in the world of modern music and ghost writers.  In the song “In the City” there is a playful piano line that you can tell she is having fun singing over.  As the song progresses it adds more instruments and eventually ends with the same piano line from the start.  This ebb and flow of energy is what makes this song so entertaining.  In “Keeper” and “Flyby”, a much more somber tone is used, but she still uses her storytelling skills to paint an emotional landscape.  The string instruments in both of these songs pair beautifully with Emily’s voice.  But “Whale Song” is, by far, my favourite song on this album.  Emily’s vocals sound like she’s taking inspiration from an actual whale singing.  Never before did I think someone could vocalize a whale’s song, let alone make it into a catchy tune.

More recently, a couple weeks before the start of her tour, Emily released her single and video “Inventor”.  In this single, Emily layers her voice to create a haunting chorus that leaves you inspired and uplifted.  The gradual climb from her slow emotional singing to impassioned outro is what makes this song so powerful.  The band has found the balance between her vocals and the instruments, creating a harmony that complements her personal style.  The video for the song has an interesting moment where two-dimensional shapes that are dancing around morph into three dimensional shapes at the climax of the song.

Working her way across Canada and back made for some interesting stories posted on the bands blog.  With stories and pictures from their tour, she gives her readers an interesting take on their cross-country trip.  Being able to connect to Emily and the band on a personal level serves to strengthen her emotional connection to her audience.  You can see the parallels between her music and the band’s blog through their strong story telling skills.

All of Emily’s music can be found on her BandCamp page.  Tour dates and posts to her blog can be found on her website.  I think Emily Rockarts is a name that we will be hearing for years to come.

The processes involved in creating this album were extensive.  First, they would take recordings from the setting that the song would be based on.  Barbiero would then create a bass rhythm, and Bocci would use his skills to warp and change what Barbiero had done using his electronic artistry.  The important part about this style of music is letting the songs take you away, almost as if Barbiero and Bocci are taking you to where they recorded these public places.

The first song on this album is “Berlin Subway”.  The recordings taken from the subway platform are warped and distorted.  They really capture the feel of a lonely subway station; the feeling of a wide-open space, but one still underground, is very much at the forefront of this song.  Their description of how they went about choosing these places is brought into light with this intense opener, you almost feel as if you are standing in an anonymous subway station.  By choosing places that many people don’t have a strong connection with but pass through regularly, it can reverberate in the listeners head.  While in the subway you may not notice certain sounds and nuances, however, in this form, they play off those unnoticed sounds to create feelings.

Jumping to the last song on the album “Train to Siena”, we are greeted with a lonely harmonica playing a blues style progression.  As the song progresses, the harmonica merges with the bass and becomes slower and more methodical.  The atmosphere of this song is brought together by the bass.  The haunting and drawn out notes coming from the deep bass are what make this song so intense.   This is the talent that Barbiero and Bocci have with their style of music.  To create such a powerful piece that started out as a simple recording.

Rather than an album focused on melody and lyrics, Barbiero and Bocci have created an album that takes you on an emotional ride.  The feelings that this album instill can be intense, however letting those feelings rush over you is what this style is all about.  Barbiero and Bocci are both extremely talented individuals that came together to create a work of art.   Non-places can be picked up by digital download or physical copy.  All info about the album and the album itself can be found for free on their website.  I strongly recommend picking it up.

The self-titled song, “Off the Grid” starts off as an introduction to the rest of the album.  The line “its been awhile, yes it has, now its time for the solar eclipse” shows the spirit that Bliss n Eso have coming back to make this album.  They already knew that it would be a success.  This song bleeds confidence and showcases what this trio is best at.  The barebones drum beat with a deep horn background creates a dark and intense feel.

“Tear the Roof Off” showcases the incredible timing and rhyme scheme that this hip hop trio is known for.  With the addition of Watsky, a rapper that has an incredible talent of fast rapping, Bliss n Eso take to the challenge and lay down some incredible fast lines.  Watsky is best known for his video Pale Kid Raps Fast, which got him interviewed on Ellen.  Keeping up with Watsky could prove challenging, but MC Bliss and MC Eso each get a long verse to demonstrate their speed.  DJ Izm gets his time to shine in “Whatever Happened to the DJ”.  Izm adds his scratching skills to this song almost working as a third vocalist.  The song focuses on the importance of having a solid DJ, and  references how they have seen many rappers in their travels, most of which don’t have a DJ.  Izm’s scratching plays very well with the vocals of Bliss n Eso.

Having a large following in Australia, Bliss n Eso have gained much success, even holding a record for the largest hip hop tour with 55,000 fans.  Touring in Canada means that they can showcase their skills to a new audience.  A month prior to dropping Off the Grid they dropped their single “Moments”, which features Gavin James and has been streamed over thirteen million times on Spotify at this writing.  The timing was perfect, creating some hype for the drop of their album.  “Moments” is a song that illuminates Bliss n Eso’s range.  Slower than most songs on their album, it lets Bliss n Eso reminisce on their past and examine their own personal journey.  Gavin James voice adds to the emotional connection on this song.

All the band’s music can be found on their website.  Off The Grid can be found on all of the typical streaming sites as well as their site.  I strongly recommend adding this to your hip hop playlist.

On September 29, Bad Mary are dropping their new EP, Glitter Bomb. Based out of Long Island, New York, this four-piece punk band has given us a treat with their new EP. Bad Mary consists of Amanda Mac on vocals, Mike Staub on bass and vocals, Bill Mac on drums, and David Henderson on guitar. No stranger to the punk scene, Bad Mary has realised multiple EP’s and have played at festivals such as the Warped Tour and the Liberty Music Festival. Glitter Bomb has some pretty amazing album art. The pictures depict an old timey black bomb with a fuse (similar to coyote and the road runner) all decked out in glitter and pony tails. This band is clearly having fun with their style and wants to show it off.

The first song on the EP, “Motor Mouth”, is a high energy, vocally powerful song. In some punk bands the lead vocalist can get drowned out by the aggressive instruments; this is not the case for Amanda. The vocals rip through the intense drum beat and heavy guitar lines, raising the energy levels of this already powerful sing. There is a part after the guitar solo where underneath the vocals there is a demonic sounding voice repeating the lines. It truly sounds like a motor mouth.

“Will You Still Love Me” is an interesting take on a love song. Rather than reminiscing about old loves, Amanda tells a story about breaking off a love and “walking out the door”. This is a refreshing take on a love song as it isn’t a lament, but rather a cathartic experience. Glitter Bomb sounds as if it has taken inspiration from No Doubt and The Ramones. The great thing about Bad Mary is that they can take inspiration from other artists but still put their own style into the song.

The group also gives us a special treat with the cover of “Hybrid Moments” originally done by The Misfits. Mike takes the reins on the vocals and he does an excellent job emulating Glenn Danzig’s voice while still adding his own flare. Rounding off the EP is “Japan”. Amanda gives us an electrifying end to this EP with her fast lyrics and strong vocals. The off beats of the drums and the break downs by the guitar create a spirted song that showcases the band’s strong points. This song has a sense of finality, which makes it a perfect closing song. It is an amazing feat that a band can have an EP full of bold, enthusiastic songs and still keep you hooked.

Bad Mary is a band that is transcending what people think of punk music. Taking styling from 70’s rock while still maintaining their modern punk is a refreshing take on this music scene. If you can’t catch them live, their YouTube channel is full of live content. If you would like to pre-order Glitter Bomb you can do so on their website or on iTunes.

Drew Kolohon is an avid music fan who is finishing up his Bachelor’s degree in English.

The Sylvia Platters, a four-piece, shoegaze/power pop band from BC, dropped their five song EP, Melt on June 23rd. The Sylvia Platters consist of Nick Ubels on vocals/guitar and Tim Ubels on drums/vocals. With the addition of Alex Kerc-Murchison on guitar and Scott Wagner on bass, this slacker rock band wrote songs and played shows around BC before recording Melt. This EP is a definite change from their first album, Make Glad the Day. Where their first album had an indie rock vibe, Melt is slower paced and focuses more on the feel of the songs than the melody. The addition of two new members mirrors the change that this EP is showing off. Melt is a perfect example of growth and change within a band. Rather than staying the course and playing it safe, The Sylvia Platters took their experiences from the last album and created something new and exciting.

Melt starts with the song “Eclipse”. This song is drastically different then their previous work. Though the melody is dark and dissonant, the vocals have a haunting quality that draws you in. It can be difficult to create a catchy song that has a slower pace, but The Sylvia Platters nailed their new style with this opener. Picking up the tempo, the next song, “Faith Healer”, has an uplifting ambience which is helped by the tinkling of the xylophone. The vocals on this track are more prominent then then “Eclipse”, however they both have similar tones.

Taking the role of the ballad on the EP, “Tangerine” uses moving guitar lines and staccato drum beats to create an emotional experience. Ballads can get lost in their own sentiment but “Tangerine” keeps you engaged by ending the song with an electrifying outro. “Utrecht”, the forth song on the EP, seems to take its styling from The Cure and Death Cab for Cutie while still maintaining the shoegaze feel. Melt may be a slower, more methodical EP but that does not mean that it is any less memorable. The final song on the EP, “Sunkissed”, shows off the dedication the band has to creating an emotional soundscape rather than a typical rhythm. This is showcased in the outro with off-beat synth work that creates a chaotic yet measured close to this amazing EP.

The Sylvia Platters have put a lot of work into this EP. Produced by A.J. Buckly in a snow swept February, this band has put their all into this project. A style change for a band can prove challenging, however The Sylvia Platters not only did it well, but took their listeners along for the journey. Melt can be found on their Bandcamp as well as on all of the popular streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music. This is an excellent EP and I strongly recommend checking both it and their past work out.

Drew Kolohon is an avid music fan who is finishing up his Bachelor’s degree in English.

Bat House starts off with their song “Patterns”. Using a sonar like sound from the synthesizer, Bat House stands up to their name in the start of this song. After the sonar sounds subside the song uses off beats and interesting guitar lines to keep you listening. “Patterns” is my personal favorite on the album as it encompasses what this band is truly about, creating unique sounds while maintaining an excellent rock song. “Yarn”, the second song on the album, seems to take guitar inspiration from Steely Dan. Bat House again shows off its versatility using many styles. The band released a music video for “Yarn” that compliments not only the music but the rest of the album, using animation and abstract art to accompany the song. As the video progresses the art becomes more and more abstract. The video is on point with the theme the group is going for, as it uses complementing colours and styles to the CD itself.

While on some albums song order isn’t that important, Bat House has planned out their song list perfectly. Sliding smoothly into the third song, “Alright, Spaceboy”, the album takes a new turn. Compared to the first two songs this plays more into their rock style. The guitar intro is played in a staccato line while the drums are played in an off beat, creating celestial feel. The vocals are mixed and distorted to add to this space themed song. It also has a music video that you can find on their YouTube channel.

The interlude “Minnesota” blends into the next song “Woods”, which in turn moves into the “Final boss stage”. These songs are both up and down in their tempos, starting off quiet and ending very fast and strong. “Viridian City” ends the album with a loud send off. This song showcases the bands many different genres and sounds as if they are pushing their instruments to the limit.

Bat House is an excellent album. You can follow the antics of Pompy, Shane, Ally, and Emmet on their Instagram @bathouseband and on their twitter of the same username. The digital download and physical album can be purchased at their BandCamp. A full list of their live shows can be found on their website. Bat House will definitely be on my summer playlist.

Drew Kolohon is an avid music fan who is finishing up his Bachelor’s degree in English.

Ontario based rock band, The Sole Pursuit, pours their heart and soul into their album Flower City After Dusk. Written by Kyle Dawe, the lead vocalist, it focuses on the experience that he had living in the suburbs of Brampton. Kyle isn’t the only creative force on this album however, the lead guitarist A.J. Perry has left his mark, making this dynamic rock duo create an album that is not just rock, but something more. Kyle and A.J. are not the sole musicians on this album, however. Drummer Tony Nesbitt-Larking and bassist Dylan Burrett round out this four-piece rock band. This album is like nothing I have heard before, a mix of rock and metal vocals intertwined with unique musical timing to create an emotional recounting of life in the suburbs.

The album art work is an interesting cartoon depiction of the suburbs with an evil mountain coughing smoke in the background. This reflects the meaning of this album, the darkness behind the mundane. Not to say that living in the suburbs is always boring, something clearly shown in The Sole PursuIt’s music. Smashing Pumpkins and Coheed and Cambria are some of Kyle’s influences that can be heard on this album.

Opening the album, the song “Ashes” showcases how the music and the vocals play off of each other. Kyle deftly switches from metal to rock vocals, making for an always interesting sound. Most albums ease you into the style of the artists, but “Ashes” showcases the power that comes form Kyle’s voice and the instruments behind him. That’s not to say that Kyle gets all the spot light however. The next song “Culling Season” has some amazing guitar break downs from A.J. that almost make it like the guitar is singing a verse.

What I believe to be the most powerful song on the album, “Get Fed”, is a song written about a friend of Kyle’s that developed a drug problem. “Get Fed” has a music video that is an experience to watch. The song itself is stellar, and nails all of the strong points this band can hit. However, when listening and watching the video, a sense of numbness over comes you. Kyle himself says that “he deliberately wanted the song to sound a little dissonant and disjointed” which I think hits the theme of this song perfectly. With an interesting style change “Hate Enslaves” has an eastern European vibe that keeps the album fresh and unique. This song is an excellent change of pace even if it does have a heavy message. My personal favourite on the album “Snapping Back” has a strong pump up intro that leads into Kyle’s amazing vocals. The fact that Kyle can mix his rock vocals and also push out those metal raspy screams is staggering; I do not envy his throat after a night of performing but That’s what sets this band apart.

Growing up not far from Brampton I may be a tad biased, but I can not say enough good things about this band. Not only do they create awesome music but they also have a ton of extra content on their twitter and Facebook page. Flower City After Dusk can be picked up on Spotify as well as Band Camp. This is an album that I would definitely pick up to rock out to over the summer.

Drew Kolohon is an avid music fan who is finishing up his Bachelor’s degree in English.

The music scene in London has a lot to take in after Foxpalmer’s release of their debut mini album, Locked in Memory. Fronted by Fern McNulty, Foxpalmer’s style is difficult to nail down. Folk, pop, and rock are but a mere few of the many styles that grace this album. Fern uses this mix of styles to her advantage, showing off her wide range and unique tone that set this album to thrive in the busy London music scene. A strong comparison can be made between Fleetwood Mac and Foxpalmer, sharing in their haunting vocals and catchy guitar lines.

Starting the album strong with “End”, this song shows Fern’s strong points, her voice and guitar skills. The catchy and intricate guitar patterns explode out of the gate and are only made better by Fern’s passionate vocals. “End” is a perfect choice to start this album as it exemplifies her strong points while at the same time being a pleasure to listen to. Slowing things down, Fern gives us “Where Do You Sleep Tonight”. Even though this song has a slower pace it is not any less entertaining. With this song, we get to take a deeper look into the theme of this album. Passion and struggle are heavy undertones though-out this album, but particularly in this song. This message leads perfectly into the next song “Alone”.

The title would lead someone to believe that this song would be a lament, but Fern gives it much more meaning. Through her voice, Fern makes “Alone” a song about feeling incredibly sad. But she also shows how, out of such hardship, can come strength. The power that emanates from this song makes an interesting contrast between the title and the feeling, which is echoed with the entire album.

One of the final songs on the album, “In My Head”, holds on to the theme of the album while at the same time giving us a powerful finish. This song has a much deeper rock vibe than the folk and pop that we have heard in the songs before. Fern has a definite understanding of how to put an album together; the flow from song to song is perfect. It tells a story of sadness but, also, understanding. Strength can come from sadness, and Fern, though her music, brings truth to this. A pleasant surprise at the end of this album are acoustic versions of “Alone” and “Fault”. This is a nice touch as it gives us a sample of Fern without her accompaniment, which is a perfect end for this already outstanding album.

The album cover is a perfect look into what you are getting from Foxpalmer, Fern, and her guitar, as well as an intense personal journey. If Locked In Memory is a hint at what we can expect from Fern McNulty then London has a lot coming. The album is available in all of the typically digital media formats as well as on Bandcamp. I strongly recommend getting this album.

Drew Kolohon is an avid music fan who is finishing up his Bachelor’s degree in English.