Toronto Indie Pop Musician Steve Benjamins Releases Brand New Single Surrender

Watch 'Surrender' Lyric Video Here:

"....like Justin Vernon and Michael Stipe" - Indie Shuffle

"...a massive, massive voice that will leave you stunned."  - Fecking Deadly

"Part James Blunt, part Patrick Watson, part Mutual Benefit, and fully unique." - The New LoFi

(Toronto, ON) - Toronto indie pop musician Steve Benjamins is excited to announce the release of his brand new single 'Surrender'. The song is the 5th song to be independently released by Benjamins in 2016 and it follows the release of the incredible track 'The Politics of Me and You', released back in May. 

Steve Benjamins has been making his particular brand of hook-laden, downtempo indie pop since 2013, when he released 2 EPs in one year - Dizzying Heights and Disorientation Man. He followed those up with another EP in 2015 entitled Sightlines, and then in 2016 he decided to scrap the EPs and made the switch to releasing a new single every 2-3 months. His new track 'Surrender' is the 5th song that he's released this year and he plans to keep releasing music this way in 2017.

"I plan to release five or six more tracks in 2017," Benjamin said.  "I like it because it lets people follow along— they can hear the music as it’s finished. That just feels like more of a natural cycle." 

Steve Benjamins plays almost all of the instruments in his music (piano, guitar, synths, drums, bass) and is the sole songwriter. He loves the process of making and releasing one song at a time, sharing his music so quickly after it's made and getting immediate feedback from the listener. And with attention spans at an all-time low, Benjamins doesn't think he'll be making another full album or EP anytime soon. 

"I read once that 200,000 single tracks are uploaded to Spotify each day. That’s a lot of music that people could be listening to other than my music! So if I’m going to ask people to listen to my music, I want to be realistic. A 4-minute single seems like a much more humble and reasonable request than a full-length album." 

Be sure to listen to and share Steve Benjamins' new single 'Surrender'. The song is available today on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers/streaming services. Steve Benjamins doesn't have any live performances coming up this year but he is also the lead singer of Toronto band BamBoo, and they play plenty of live shows!  For more info, please visit: stevebenjamins.com

FOR MORE INFO: www.stevebenjamins.com
Twitter: @stevebenjamins
Instagram: @stevebenjamins
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stevebenjamins

MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/POST Steve Benjamins - 'Surrender' lyric video here (via YouTube)
STREAM/POST Steve Benjamins - 'Surrender' here (via SoundCloud)
CLICK HERE for Album Art + High-Res Photos (Photo Credit: Dylan Dejong)

Twin Rains' Debut Album Automatic Hand is out this Friday, November 18th

Listen To Album Premiere @ Spill Magazine

 "..splices motivational melodies and despair, creating a sublime mindscape for the listener." - Beatroute

"...feels like the kind of music a Torontonian might play—or listen to—if they suddenly slowed down." - Grayowl Point

..."very modern sounding, skipping over the complete ‘80s fetishization that many other modern dream pop bands rely on, and instead mixing those flavors with something very new..." -Bank Robber Music

(Toronto, ON) - Toronto-based dream pop duo Twin Rains' debut album Automatic Hand won't be released until this Friday, November 18th, but you can listen to the exclusive album premiere now via Spill Magazine. The duo just wrapped up the western portion of their tour last week, which included a packed release show in Vancouver, and are now heading back home for shows in Guelph, Toronto and Peterborough. See below for full tour listings. 

Twin Rains is Jay Merrow and Christine Stoesser. The pair met as roommates in 2009 and within weeks were making music together. Their debut album, Automatic Hand, is full of slow to mid-tempo grooves (or 'west coast dance music', as they like to call it), ethereal soundscapes and penetrating poetry. Automatic Hand is about love, but more essentially it's a reflection on the idea that sometimes our hands act faster than our brains and hearts, especially with today's communication technology. Recorded almost entirely by Jay, a self-taught engineer and producer, and produced by Twin Rains, Automatic Hand is the spellbinding result of the duo’s longstanding musical collaboration amidst years of change and introspection.

Automatic Hand isn't even out yet and things are already off to a good start for Twin Rains. After releasing their first single 'Flash Burn' in October, they were added to Rough Trade's publishing roster and the early reviews for Automatic Hand have been nothing short of glowing. 

"We're excited by the reception of the album so far," says Christine. "We took our time making Automatic Hand and it was a bit of an insular process, so it's such a relief to see people connecting with the music. It feels really great to finally release it and let everyone hear what we've been working on!"

Twin Rains' debut album Automatic Hand will be available on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers/streaming services on Friday, November 18th. For more info and the most up to date tour listings, please visit: www.twinrains.com

TWIN RAINS // UPCOMING CANADIAN TOUR DATES
November 23 - Guelph, ON - DSTRCT Lounge
November 25 - Toronto, ON - ROM (Friday Night Live)
November 26 - Peterborough, ON - The Garnet

TWIN RAINS - AUTOMATIC HAND TRACK LISTING
RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 18th, 2016 (Independent)
1. Before
2.  A Swim
3.  Pons
4.  Flash Burn
5.  Ghost Bird
6.  Automatic Hand
7.  Evergreen
8.  Flood
9.  Break The Crown
10. Green Screen
11. After  

FOR MORE INFO: www.twinrains.com
Twitter: @TwinRains
 FB: Facebook.com/TwinRains

The Funk Hunters Hit The Road With Funk The Halls Tour Starting On December 8th!

Watch Funk The Halls 2016 Promo Video:

(Vancouver, BC) - The biggest party of the holiday season is hitting the road for 2016! After selling out 2 Funk The Halls shows at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver in 2015, Vancouver DJ's The Funk Hunters are taking their festive Funk The Halls show on tour across Western Canada this December with support from Dirty Radio, Russ Liquid, Astrocolor, Pigeon Hole and special guest Chali 2na on select dates. The tour starts on Vancouver Island on December 8th and will close out with 2 epic shows in Vancouver on December 21st and 22nd. See below for all tour dates and a complete list of support for each show. Click here for ticket info. 

The Funk The Halls tour closes out a record year for The Funk Hunters (Nick Middleton and Duncan Smith). The DJs spent most of the year on the road with many highlights including, making their Coachella debut in April and playing killer sets at the Pemberton Festival, Shambhala and Burning Man this summer. And it was at Burning Man that they debuted their current single with Jurassic 5 founding member Chali 2na, 'Get Involved', and threw down their now infamous Daft Punk set.   

Their latest track 'Get Involved' is the second single from The Funk Hunters and Chali 2na's ILLectric EP released on October 14th. The first single 'Word To Spread' was released in July. Both singles have gained plenty of online traction for The Funk Hunters with 'Get Involved' at over 50K video views on Facebook and YouTube and 'Word To Spread' at over 300K combined views/streams across all platforms. All of this without any radio airplay. A huge feat. 

Armed with four turntables, The Funk Hunters deliver a one-of-a-kind audiovisual experience. Combining their love of true DJ culture, they effortlessly weave in and out of hip hop, funk, soul, and electronic bass music, all paired with their stunning custom-curated visuals. Spend an evening with this charismatic duo and you'll see that their lifestyle is as relaxed as the west coast, but their sound is global and booming.

Don't miss out on your chance to get your funk on this holiday season! Check out The Funk Hunters as they Funk The Halls across Western Canada this December! For more information, please visit:  www.thefunkhunters.com

FUNK THE HALLS w/ THE FUNK HUNTERS >> 2016 TOUR DATES
Dec 8 - Cumberland, BC - The Waverly w/ Dirty Radio, Astrocolor (DJ SET)
Dec 9 - Victoria, BC - Sugar Nightclub w/ Dirty Radio, Astrocolor (DJ SET)
Dec 10 - Victoria, BC - Sugar Nightclubw/ Astrocolor (DJ SET), Pigeon Hole
Dec 14 - Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre w/ Dirty Radio, Klassik
Dec 15 - Saskatoon, SK - O'Brians Event Centre w/ Dirty Radio, Charly Hustle, 
Dec 16 - Calgary, AB - Flames Central w/ Dirty Radio, plus special guest Chali 2na
Dec 17 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room w/ Dirty Radio, plus special guest Chali 2na
Dec 21 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom w/ Dirty Radio, Russ Liquid,  plus special guest Chali 2na
Dec 22 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom w/ Pigeon Hole, Russ Liquid, plus special guest Chali 2na

FOR MORE INFO: www.thefunkhunters.com
Twitter: @thefunkhunters
Instagram: @thefunkhunters
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefunkhunters

MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/POST Funk The Halls 2016 promo video here
WATCH/POST The Funk Hunters + Chali 2na - 'Get Involved' video here
WATCH/POST The Funk Hunters + Chali2na - 'Word 2 Spread' video here
CLICK HERE for Album Art + High-Res Photos (Photo Credit: Mark Brennan)

Grey Saturn Releases Second Single Neonlites

Watch 'Neonlites' Video Premiere @ Live in Limbo

(Vancouver, BC) - Vancouver DJ/Producer Grey Saturn is excited to reveal the video for ‘Neonlites’, the second single from his forthcoming debut album The Encounter, with the exclusive premiere on Live in Limbo. 'Neonlites' is also available for streaming and free download via Soundcloud.  

'Neonlites' follows the success of Grey Saturn's first single/video, the nu-jazz/electro-swing track 'The Beatzeria' released in September. The incredible animated video for 'The Beatzeria' has over 17,000 views on YouTube to date and its release marked the start of a busy autumn for the DJ/Producer with shows at New York, Paris and LA Fashion Weeks in September and October. Grey Saturn was also recently nominated for an Independent Music Award for 'Short Form Video of The Year' for 'The Beatzeria' and was up for 'Electronic Artist of The Year' at the 2016 Western Canadian Music Awards on October 13th. 

The throwback vibe of 'Neonlites' continues Grey Saturn's signature Electro-80s sound which can be heard throughout his debut album The Encounter, set to be released in early 2017. 'Neonlites' is the first live action video for Grey Saturn and it feels like a mysterious short film/mini movie, leaving the viewer wanting more. The video captures the retro/neon feel of the song and is part of a bigger story that will be continued in the storylines of the next few videos, coming in 2017. 

"It's a cinematic adaptation or translation of the road I have traveled up until this point, where I have Encountered a new chapter in my life," explains Grey Saturn. "The storyline can be summed up as a preparation of big things to come. The whole journey of Grey Saturn becoming Grey Saturn can really be interpreted in many different ways, but ultimately, I really just wanted to leave it up to the viewers own imagination."  

'Neonlites' is available now at Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and all other digital retailers and streaming services. Tour dates will be announced soon, please visit greysaturn.com for more information and the most up to date tour listings. 

FOR MORE INFO: www.greysaturn.com
Twitter: @greysaturn
Instagram: @greysaturn
Facebook:  Facebook.com/GreySaturn

MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/POST Grey Saturn - 'Neonlites' here (via YouTube)
STREAM/POST Grey Saturn - 'Neonlites' here (via Soundcloud)
WATCH/POST Grey Saturn - 'The Beatzeria' here (via YouTube)
CLICK HERE for album art + high-res press photos (Photo Credit: Ryan West Photography)

Twin Rains To Release Debut Album On November 18th

Listen to 'Flash Burn' Premiere @ Live in Limbo

Vancouver, BC - It's been a long time coming but the day has finally arrived! Toronto-based dream pop duo Twin Rains are excited to announce the release of their debut album Automatic Hand on November 18th and today you can listen to the Premiere of the first single 'Flash Burn' exclusively on Live in Limbo. Twin Rains will also be touring in support of Automatic Hand and will kick off a string of Canadian tour dates starting on November 3rd in Victoria, BC. See below for full tour listings.

Twin Rains is Jay Merrow and Christine Stoesser. The pair met as roommates in 2009 and within weeks were making music together. They were founding members of Make Me Young, a Toronto indie band that released a critically acclaimed album in 2010, and licensed music to Degrassi: The Next Generation. Make Me Young disbanded not long after the release of the album, but Jay and Christine continued writing music together for film and television. They talked endlessly about making another album, but they couldn’t seem to find the inspiration. So, in 2012 they packed up and flew to Vancouver, bringing only two suitcases and an assortment of instruments with the intention of spending a year on the west coast. One year stretched into four, and somewhere between teaching music (Jay guitar, Christine piano) and exploring a newfound passion for spending time in nature, Twin Rains was born.

Twin Rains' debut album, Automatic Hand, is full of slow to mid-tempo grooves (or 'west coast dance music', as they like to call it), ethereal soundscapes and penetrating poetry. Automatic Hand is about love, but more essentially it's a reflection on the idea that sometimes our hands act faster than our brains and hearts, especially with today's communication technology. Recorded almost entirely by Jay, a self-taught engineer and producer, and produced entirely by Twin Rains, Automatic Hand is the spellbinding result of the duo’s longstanding musical collaboration amidst years of change and introspection. The first release from the album is the haunting and unforgettable 'Flash Burn'', a song that leaves the listener wanting more. 

"'Flash Burn' is a sad party song about the fear of being burned in love or friendship," Christine explains. "I wrote and recorded the first rough version after hearing some bad news about a friend, as a way to work through my emotions. The song has been through several different incarnations, but that opening synth line has been there since day one."

Twin Rains' debut album Automatic Hand will be available on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers/streaming services on Friday, November 18th. Please visit Facebook.com/TwinRains for more information and the most up to date tour listings. 

TWIN RAINS // UPCOMING CANADIAN TOUR DATES
November 3 - Victoria, BC - Copper Owl
November 4 - Nanaimo, BC - The Vault
November 6 - Duncan, BC - Duncan Showroom
November 11 - Vancouver, BC - LanaLou's
November 23 - Guelph, ON - DSTRCT Lounge
November 25 - Toronto, ON - ROM (Friday Night Live)
November 26 - Peterborough, ON - The Garnet

*More dates to be announced soon!

TWIN RAINS - AUTOMATIC HAND TRACK LISTING
RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 18th, 2016 (Independent)
1. Before
2.  A Swim
3.  Pons
4.  Flash Burn
5.  The Ground
6.  Ghost Bird
7.  Automatic Hand
8.  Evergreen
9.  Flood
10.  Break The Crown
11. Green Screen
12. After  

FOR MORE INFO: www.twinrains.com
Twitter: @TwinRains
FB: Facebook.com/TwinRains

MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/POST Twin Rains - 'Flash Burn'  video here (via YouTube)
STREAM/POST Twin Rains - 'Flash Burn' here (via SoundCloud)
CLICK HERE for album art + high-res press photos