Song of the Day: 444 – Ghalia

GHALIA can immediately draw in a crowd with her single, ‘444’ thanks to its intimate soulful punch packed with incredible vocals and harmonies.

Set in the often dark, lonely, and quiet time of day at 4:44AM, the track follows a melodious conversation between Ghalia and vocalist Rehana who plays the role of the ‘angel.’ Calling out to this figure through dreamy vocal layers and lyrical pleas, Ghalia asks for the angel’s presence and guidance to help her through sleepless nights, give her signs to keep persevering, and above all, provide reassurance that she should keep her faith in the ‘angel.’

With an undeniably ethereal sonic quality, Ghalia flawlessly delivers emotional lyrics that tell the story of the give and take in relationships, the importance of mutual faith and trust, and the risk we all take when we open ourselves up to someone. Following Ghalia and Rehana’s captivating conversation with one another, the track builds to a sharp and emotionally electrifying guitar solo, which perfectly contrasts against the mellow and soothing quality of the rest of the song. Describing ‘444’ as her “most vulnerable song yet,” Ghalia combines her seasoned storytelling skills and relatable lyrics with catchy and dynamic R&B production to perfectly encapsulate the complicated relationship between herself and the angel.

Following her signature formula for creating new music by starting with a beat and simple melody, ‘444’ initially started out as a solo project, but quickly became a duet and collaboration with Toronto-based vocalist Rehana when the two connected via social media during the pandemic lockdowns. The two talented artists then came up with the idea to turn the one-sided track into a dichotomous conversation between the pair in which they both express their desire to be needed and desired by one another. Although the two have never met in person, after sending various melodies, verses, and mixes back and forth, ‘444’ has truly become a collaborative sonic forum where Ghalia and Rehana have bared their deepest insecurities and emotions with one another.

Inspired by a diverse group of talent that ranges from The Weeknd to Kehlani to Justin Bieber, Ghalia has used their work as a launching pad for her own – weaving melancholy lyrics with invigorating R&B style beats to craft her own unique sound.

Ghalia’s ability to capture the attention of listeners with specially-selected beats, complex drops and arrangements have set her apart from the rest. Her new single ‘444’ will be sure to delight her current and future fans, alike. Check it out below…

Song of the Day: Maniac – Shawn Desman

After headlining Drake’s OVO homecoming kick-off, Canadian icon SHAWN DESMAN marks an unprecedented return to the limelight for one of Canada’s biggest musical success stories. This top charting, multi-platinum selling, award-winning artist has created some of the most recognized songs of the past two decades.

Desman comes from a groundbreaking era of Canadian music that paved the way for the next generation of artists we see today. With a deep history of success, he exploded onto the scene, making waves across the country with his signature sound and style. Making his mark on an entire generation of Canadians, Desman achieved incredible accolades including five Platinum selling singles, a Platinum selling album, multiple chart-topping radio hits, and a plethora of awards including a JUNO Award for R&B Sound Recording of the Year, three MMVA’s, and multiple SOCAN Awards for his songwriting.

His latest single, ‘Maniac’, is exactly where he wants to be artistically and musically. Infectious, fun, feel good & nostalgic. Check it out below…

Song of the Day: Need to Know – Jordana of Earth

Toronto-based Electro-pop R&B music sensation JORDANA OF EARTH transports listeners with melancholy romance and light smoky vocals to tell a vulnerable tale of distance and its effect on love with the ethereal single ‘Need To Know’. Fueled by her own lived experiences, Jordana of Earth’s 3rd single from her expertly crafted debut EP ’10k,’ a deeply personal voyage that sonically soothes the soul. “Each track off the EP hits different moments and feelings within a relationship running its course,” she explains.

‘Need To Know’ is a seduction of the senses with a slower tempo and harmonic textures to get under the skin. “The song is a pleading ballad about wanting to stay close from a distance, with someone who is away for lengths of time.” Jordana of Earth gives a transcendent performance with richly layered vocals and a deliberate message.

Jordana of Earth is a singer/songwriter/producer from Toronto with a distinct voice that weaves R&B, Pop, and Trip-Hop influences to create something entirely new. A fearless, multi-disciplined artist inspired to start from a young age, Jordana found instant success with her debut single, ‘Leave the Light On’ (produced by Jeff Crake, DVSN).

With the support of her city behind her and several features across multiple Spotify playlists and radio stations across Canada, there is no stopping the momentum of this modern renaissance artist.

Watch the video for ‘Need To Know’ below…

Song of the Day: Leaving – Lee Paradise

Champion by the likes of Under the Radar Magazine, FLOOD, Exclaim, CBC Radio 3, Toronto’s Dan Lee, aka LEE PARADISE‘s ‘Leaving,’ finds him flipping the shadowy nihilism of his 2020 release, The Fink (supported at Pitchfork, Electronic Sound, FLOOD, Exclaim and more) upward into a sort of cybernetic universality. This is Dan Lee in producer mode, veering away from the pursuit of a singular musical direction rooted in personal vision, towards a process rich in collaboration, emotional expansion and tonal exploration.

Lee’s music is typically widescreen, indebted to polyrhythmic psychedelia that melts, bubbles, whirrs and clanks. ‘Leaving’ dials into this aesthetic once more welding clunky percussion with laser gun synths and a buoyant bed of electro-pop running underneath. His self-described cyborg-funk is on fine display once again as he muses, “Sunday comes so easy / Monday I just stay in bed” in a meditative, self-reflective manner before kicking into the gooey 80s-pop indebted chorus.

‘Leaving’ is lifted from Lee’s highly-collaborative album, Lee Paradise & Co. now out via Telephone Explosion Records.

Listen to Teon Gibbs’ Single, ‘Easy’, Inspired by True Love.

Hip hop artist TEON GIBBS is quickly becoming one of the most well known voices coming out of Canada. His second soulful single from his own label (100 Collective Records) ‘Easy,’ is inspired by new love – one that has successfully moved from friends to lovers. For Teon, the relationship snapped into place and felt easy.

Teon says of his memerising offering:“‘Easy’ is meant to feel like floating, kind of embodying the joy of a new relationship with someone and trying to hold on to those moments of new love. I developed the drum pattern and then brought in an A-list Team. Falcxne, JT, Jaspa, Jub and Nate from Potatohead People and I created this song off of pure synergy. This genre-bending single feels like a milestone moment in my career growth, and sound exploration. Feel like it gives people a taste of what’s to come next.”

Originally from Botswana, Teon has lived in the UK, South Africa and Angola before settling in Vancouver, Canada. He’s currently working with 3 x Grammy Award winning producer Chin Injeti (whose Grammy wins include: Eminem’s Recovery, Marshall Mathers LP 2 and Lecrae’s Gravity) to perfect his genre-bending soulful trademark – a sound that’s already praised by the likes of Exclaim! and Complex UK.

Why not check out the lyric video for ‘Easy’ below…