Tag: Canada

K-Riz drops video for ‘Middle Finger U’, a track for naysayers

K-RIZ makes a quick return with a new video for track, ‘Middle Finger U,’ an ode to haters. Served over succulent beats, ‘Middle Finger U’ is one of many standouts from his highly-anticipated third full-length album, One Way Ticket, released last Friday (15th September) via Birthday Cake Records.

Directed by Sergei Subbotin and Jason WH, and featuring cameos from Edmonton hip-hop artist Moto and Mexican rapper La Tytan, the video radiates with optimism as an act of resistance, while highlighting various locations from K-Riz’s recently adopted city of Calgary.

“The video is a representation of joy and being carefree,” says K-Riz. “It’s that feeling that no matter what people say, or how they feel about it, we’ll be out here having fun in the world. It’s very unapologetic.”

Opening with the crackling of vinyl and cuts courtesy of scratch DJ Fatrok, ‘Middle Finger U’ nods to the golden era’s most rousing boom-bap rhythms. On the track, K-Riz offers a message to the naysayers who oppose the musical life path he’s chosen: “There’s no ceiling/Only space above me to occupy.” All the while, wishing cynics well in his eternal quest towards self-betterment (“Don’t Judge”), and lifting up the next generation of unsure artists (“Be Great”). Exposing the loneliness of making art when others don’t support you, he offers some words to live by to anyone aspiring for more: “They may tell you that you can’t be great/So tell them you already are great/You’re just on your way,” he raps on “Be Great.” Indeed, it’s a statement of true growth and gratitude for the gifts that life has given him, and his sense of obligation to give back to others like him.

Check out the video for ‘Middle Finger U’ Below…

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Kellie Loder unveils her beautifully honest single, ‘When It Comes To You.’

During the pandemic, KELLIE LODER reconnected with an old lover and discovered that she felt the same things for her that she felt years ago.

The reconnection evoked the Juno Nominated singer/songwriter to pen her latest single, ‘When It Comes To You’. The imitate guitar-led piece, soothed over by Kellie’s featherly heartfelt vocals, reflects that certain connections never stop offering inspiration.

Kellie Loder says of her latest release: “I intentionally took a softer approach when delivering the vocal because I wanted it to feel like I was next to her singing it to her and only her. Sometimes it’s just a little louder than a whisper in the chorus.”

A first-runner-up on Canada’s Got Talent (2022), Kellie has co-written with household names such as Alan Doyle, Steven Page, The Good Lovelies, and Grammy award-winning musician and producer, Greg Wells to name a few. Her empowering anthem, ‘Fearless’ was used as the soundtrack behind the CBC’s Tokyo Olympics coverage.

Here’s your chance to check out the emotive ‘When It Comes To You’ below…

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Song of the Day: Less Is More – K-Riz

‘Less is More,’ the latest single from Canadian hip-hop artist K-RIZ, was built out of collaboration, illuminating the effortless magic that can blossom when the right vibe is in the room. The track is the latest tune to be released from K-Riz’s upcoming collaboration-filled effort, One Way Ticket – out this Friday, 15th September on Birthday Cake Records

‘Less is More’ reveals the beautiful things that can come into focus when you’re fully present. Being mindful is a theme that One Way Ticket revels in, prompting us to find joy in every moment; expecting less and in doing so, appreciating more.

Produced over a one-day session in Junia-T’s Toronto studio, each part of the tune came together organically during a free-flowing songwriting session. K-Riz’s calming verses unfold over breathy hooks from Ice Tha One, and hypnotic production courtesy of Junia-T. It’s a head-bobbing jam where atmosphere takes precedence, striking a balance between melodic hip-hop and blissful R&B.

“This track came out so easily,” K-Riz says. “I love what other people can bring to a song; the melodies that people come up with that stretch the boundaries of what a song can be. That’s the magic part of collaborating. All of these voices just make each track what it needs to be. It lifts up the entire record.”

Check out ‘Less Is More’ below…

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Song of the Day: Sweet – JayWood

JAYWOOD – the nom de plume of Jeremy Haywood-Smith – has shared his cover of Tyler, the Creator’s ‘Sweet’, taken from his ‘The Grow On’ EP, which is out now via Captured Tracks.

The EP serves as the follow-up to JayWood’s critically acclaimed full-length, last year’s ‘Slingshot’, came the release’s lead single, ‘Dirk Gently (Know Yourself).’ The EP also includes an additional bonus track from the Slingshot sessions, and an “OG” version of the album single ‘Thank You.’

Have a listen to the buttery soulful single below…

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Arlo Maverick unveils video for track ‘Night Shift’ ahead of album

Canadian hip-hop artist ARLO MAVERICK‘s video for new single, ‘Night Shift,’ offers a portrait of a person wrestling with the increasing demands of getting by and fulfilment, and positions Maverick as a chronicler of modern day working-class woes. The tune will appear on his upcoming release, Blue Collar, set for release on 20th October.

On the track, Maverick ponders the tension between balancing making ends meet and material success, and the overwhelming sacrifices made to reap the rewards. The video, co-directed and edited by Maverick and featuring emcees KazMega and Just Moe, depicts various people – a labourer, an office worker, and a janitor – grinding through a day of work.

“We wanted the video to be an honest representation of what sacrifice sometimes looks like for people hustling to get ahead,” says Maverick. “Being able to share the fruits of that labour with family is what makes it all worthwhile.”

Through a succession of buoyant, march-like beats, the track mirrors the monotony of work, while Maverick delivers the bleary-eyed refrain, “Working that night shift/I just want to go home/I just want to go home/I just want to go home.”

“This song shows the impact of shift work on your health and happiness; how you miss important moments in your family’s lives, and how these typically dead end jobs offer no possibility for advancement,” Maverick adds. “The dilemma we face in trying to live our best lives and make our families happy is often more overtime and less time together.”

Much of the themes on Blue Collar revolve around a universal pursuit of purpose, prosperity, and happiness, from the disillusionment of the job market after graduating from college to the gratification of indulging in material things to being undervalued at a 9 to 5. It’s an album that tries to capture the seemingly endless balancing act to meet our personal needs, satisfy our wants, and get ahead in an economic environment that makes it harder and harder to do so.

‘Night Shift’ is out now, with more to come from Maverick as he preps the release of his second full-length solo album. Check out the video for the track below…

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