It’s been about two years since I last revived this round-up review series, so I decided it was high time to revisit it again! As you might have guessed, all the bands and artists listed here are either from Canada or based in Canada, giving a greater glimpse into the nation’s current musical scene. Who knows – maybe you’ll find your new favourite band!
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo of Keanu Ienco
Keanu Ienco – Playful Love
It’s pretty hard to characterise Playful Love by genre, as the tune features elements of jazz and prog rock, whilst still being its very own thing. It’s a real testament to Keanu Ienco’s skills, as he’s managed to create an instrumental tune with buckets of emotion and passion, provided by the gorgeous guitar solos and riffs that run through the music. The rhythm section is pretty good though, chugging away in the background as the guitar acts almost like a vocal line, standing out as the focal point of the track.
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Gretch’N – A mi manera
Now we have something completely different from Gretch’N – A mi manera is a Latin-infused song, seeing this wonderful vocalist take inspiration from a number of different South/Central American music styles. It’s a pop song by and large, but the fast-paced drums and brass instrumentation really make it sound unique. It’s an infectious tune, giving you the urge to dance along on the first listen – just try and see if you can resist! Gretch’N has a fantastic voice too, drifting through the catchy music in a strong and sultry manner.
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Heather Ferguson – Fly to Me
It’s pretty rare that we get to share much jazz with our readers, so I’m delighted to be able to unveil Heather Ferguson and her new track, Fly to Me. It’s actually a Mexican-inspired tune, although it also has elements of the classic jazz-pop scene, making for a track with wide appeal. The piano and brass instruments are an absolute delight to behold, as Heather croons along to the music in a captivating manner. There’s a lovely little saxophone solo later on too – it doesn’t sound too complicated, but it works really well with the sound on offer here.
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Michael Zuzek – The Man Who’s Never Found
Canadian pop-rock singer-songwriter sensation Michael Zuzek has recently released his tune The Man Who’s Never Found, taken from his upcoming album, Everest. It’s a pop song but it never sounds too mainstream, which is a good thing for me! The main melody comes from a nice piano motif that pretty much repeats over and over again here, against the drums and bass. Despite the fact that the music stays fairly similar throughout, it’s still an amazing piece of work, seeing this artist sing along in time with a raw, soulful quality.
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Joanna DeGrâce – Time Drifts Away (feat. the jinny joes)
Joanna DeGrâce is a Montreal-based nurse and singer-songwriter, teaming up with the jinny joes on her new release, Time Drifts Away. It’s a nice change of pace in this review, with Time Drifts Away being a nice folk song with more than a hint of the country, bluegrass and Americana genres. The guitarwork is absolutely stunning here – it’s beautiful, yet also manages to be rather technically significant, rising up into the haunting chorus. Joanna sings with complete ease and joy here, making for another must listen piece from me!
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Meredith Louise – Take Our Time
Meredith Louise is also a registered music therapist, showing her to be an extremely talented musician across the board! Take Our Time is a funky, jazz-inspired pop tune, mixing different scenes and genres together effortlessly here. The track simply oozes cool throughout – just check out how awesome those horns sound at the forefront of the mix! The guitars and bass are nice and prominent too, without taking over too much from Meredith’s smooth vocal delivery, which is another high point of this banging piece of music!
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Carmen Braden – Voice in the Dark
Our final track is the fabulous Voice in the Dark, created by Carmen Braden, an award-winning singer-songwriter and producer. The track sounds quite simple at first, opening with a faint synth melody that repeats through much of the track. Carmen’s vocals sound a little monotone at first, but they really suit the style she’s trying to convey here, weaving in and out of the music as it progresses. More and more elements are added over time, including an upbeat drum beat, making for one of the most unique songs I’ve shared here for a while! It won’t be for everyone, but give it a go if you like your music on the more experimental side of things.
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Made In Canada – playlist by York Calling | Spotify