Vancouver Indie Rockers Small Town Artillery Set To Release New EP

1st Single ‘Yellow Light' Out Today
Watch/Share Video HERE

Like most bands and musicians, Small Town Artillery had a different 2020 in mind when they started off the year. After releasing their Bright Side Bandits EP on March 6th, Small Town Artillery embarked on an epic Cross-Canada Tour that was months in the making, and were met with controversy and show cancellations on the prairies due to their political views. And just days later, after barely catching their breath from all of the social media trolling and media attention this brought, the band had to cancel their entire tour due to COVID-19. To say things aren't going according to plan this year would definitely be a understatement. 

So....cut to a brand new plan! Following the release of their Bright Side Bandits EP last month, Small Town Artillery have another EP coming out on May 7th. A Knock At The Door is the 2nd of 4 EPs that the band plan to release this year. It’s the 2nd chapter in a story of growth.The rat-tat-tat of new information. The wider view you didn’t see. Having your principles challenged, tested, tilted. Standing for what you believe in while being open to the beliefs of others. 'Work' is an ode two-fold - the long road of the touring band mirroring the long road of personal development while 'Modern Man' calls for the accountability of all men and male-identifying people, as much a reminder for the band themselves as for others. Out today, the first single 'Yellow Light’ is about the barriers preventing us from growth and self-actualization.

“After our entire Canadian Tour went down in a roaring ball of fire, I did an about face and found some work and a place to isolate through family connections on Pender Island, living in a remote cabin with a workshop," says lead vocalist Tom van Deursen.  "We had planned a music video for another song that could no longer be made given the proximity dangers with COVID-19. And with the nucleus of the band spread far apart, it became apparent that if we were going to stick with our release schedule, we’d need to improvise. This song, 'Yellow Light' is about the barriers that stand in the way of self-actualization. It all hit me at once – the H.G. Wells words “adapt or perish” - and I was thinking about the heartbreaking divide and anger we saw between ways of thinking as our shows were cancelled on the prairies earlier this year. And honestly, I needed a friend. So, I made the video in one day, in isolation. From a 7AM coffee and a scribbled storyboard on a piece of 1x8, through to a 10PM finished edit. I hope it lands where it needs to."

Originally from Kaslo, British Columbia, and now based out of Vancouver, Small Town Artillery are often described as a ‘Rock band with a horn section’. To spin up a sonic image of the group, imagine if Billy Talent and Rage Against The Machine met up with Cat Empire and Bruce Springsteen, and wrote an album about the world. Founding members and blood brothers, Tom and Derek van Deursen, have been playing together for 20 years, realizing a lifelong brotherhood dream of seeing the world through their own music. 

Small Town Artillery’s new single 'Yellow Light' is available today on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services. Their new EP will be available on all digital platforms on May 7th. For more information, please visit: smalltownartillery.com

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SMALL TOWN ARTILLERY
A KNOCK AT THE DOOR
RELEASE DATE: MAY 7th, 2020
(JumpAttack! Records)
01.  Work
02.  Yellow Light
03.  Modern Man 
04.  Trauma Below 
Download High-Res Album Art

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SMALL TOWN ARTILLERY IS:
Tom van Deursen - Guitar/Vocals
Derek van Deursen - Drums/Vocals
Carson Webber - Bass
Alex Maher - Tenor Saxophone 
Phil Austrom - Trumpet

FOLLOW SMALL TOWN ARTILLERY:
Website | iTunes | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube 

MEDIA TOOLS:
WATCH/SHARE Small Town Artillery's 'Yellow Light' video HERE
WATCH/SHARE Small Town Artillery’s 'Day As An Arrow’ video HERE
CLICK HERE for biography, album art + high-res press photos 

RIELL Announces Release Of Debut Album PARADISE

NEW SINGLE 'FIRST' OUT TODAY

WATCH/SHARE VIDEO HERE
 

There's a first for everything! And today marks the release of Canadian dance pop artist RIELL's first "real" pop song, aptly titled 'First'. Destined to be a sing out loud break-up anthem for years to come with its powerful 'I'm loving myself first' chorus, ‘First’ is the 3rd single to be released from RIELL’s debut album PARADISE which will be out on October 31st. 

Following the release of ‘Stubborn' and 'Control of Me', the ‘First’ video is the 3rd in a series of 5 connected videos that will be released ahead of RIELL's debut album. The music video concept is about growing from past mistakes, as shown in the ‘Stubborn' and 'Control of Me' videos prefacing it, and ending up somewhere better because of it.

"I wrote ‘First' at the end of summer, one week after moving to England for a semester abroad, in my tiny dorm room on an old, beat up guitar that I bought at a second hand store for 10 pounds,” says RIELL. "I was changing everything about my environment, so I was inspired to think about altering my perspective on past and future relationships. Instead of asking if I was good enough for somebody, I wondered what it would be like to ask if they were good enough for me. The video jumps from flashback clips from the past 2 videos, as well as foreshadowing clips from an upcoming video, to shots of some of the most beautiful places I could think of: an altering of perspective.”

RIELL is an internationally touring and Top 40 charting dance pop artist, songwriter, and topliner from Canada (Edmonton, AB). She shares her obsession with raw experience and adventures from around the globe, creating an innovative mix with comparisons to artists like Halsey and Anne-Marie. This October, RIELL will release her 7-track debut album, PARADISE. Produced by Robbie Townsend, Biometrix and featuring M.I.M.E., the album revolves around themes of self-exploration, an obsession with hardship and the impact of perspective on reality.

A highly sought after topliner and vocalist in the EDM scene, RIELL is currently working with popular EDM producers such as Egzod, Besomorph, and Unknown Brain (1.5 million monthly listeners). In the past year, her feature work has accumulated over 25+ million streams, 75+ million views, landed spots on prominent Spotify curated playlists, and been supported by prominent DJ’s such as The Chainsmokers and Martin Garrix. RIELL has charted over 100 times across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa with her top track hitting #1 in Taiwan on the Electronic charts for her collaboration, 'Take It', with Unknown Brain and ThatBehavior. 

RIELL's new single 'First' is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services. For more information, please visit: iamriell.com

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RIELL - PARADISE 
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 31st, 2020
(Independent)
01.  Stubborn
02.  Over The Edge (ft. Conch)
03.  Control Of Me
04.  In The Morning 
05.  Paradise (ft. M.I.M.E.)
06.  Somewhere New
07.  First
Download High-Res Album Art

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FOLLOW RIELL:
Website | iTunes | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube 
 

MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/POST RIELL's 'First' video HERE 
WATCH/POST RIELL's 'Control of Me' video HERE
CLICK HERE for biography + high-res press photos 
 

BC Singer-Songwriter WiL Announces Release of Live Album on May 1st

VIDEO VERSION OF THE ALBUM ALSO AVAILABLE ON MAY 1st

FIRST SINGLE 'BOBCAYGEON' OUT TODAY
WATCH THE LIVE VIDEO HERE

Vancouver Island based musician WiL has always been known for his incredible guitar-string-breaking live performances and was planning to spend much of 2020 on the road across Canada doing what he does best. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, WiL had to postpone all of his upcoming spring tour dates but to make up for it he's releasing a new live album, Live at the Blue Frog, on May 1st. In addition to the release of the album, he'll also have the matching video concert footage available to stream via his website on the same day. Get a concert preview with the video for the first single 'Bobcaygeon' here. 

In October 2019, WiL performed a concert at Blue Frog Studios, a live music venue and recording studio in White Rock, BC, with his drummer Keith Gallant and guest musician, Shaun Verreault (Wide Mouth Mason). As you can imagine, some shows are just better than others. But on that night in October the stars aligned to make it one of those unforgettable performances, and it just so happened that the awesome crew at the Blue Frog had recorded it. When they sent over the footage the next day, it was an instant 'no brainer' decision to create a second live album out of what started as ‘‘just a live concert play with pal Shaun Verreault”.

"I knew going into it, that the Blue Frog show was being recorded and streamed live," says WiL. "I was unconcerned with that part of it; what I was excited about was having a rare chance to perform with Shaun. We’ve done a number of co-headline shows in the past and we even wrote a song together, 'If You Want Me Too' (Track 8). He’s so good at what he does that he can just come in unrehearsed and just slay." 

The first single to be released from the live album is a cover of The Tragically Hip's 'Bobcaygeon'. The track is available across all digital platforms today. 

"‘Bobcaygeon’ was one of the tracks I used to play in Calgary back in my cover days in the 90's," says WiL. "I had revisited it in my studio with the intent of playing it live and then Gord Downie passed away and it felt wrong to play it in front of people. But then I was singing it at a soundcheck last year and the venue owner said, 'you gotta play that tonight'. And so I did."

WiL's new album Live at the Blue Frog  will be available on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services on May 1st. For more information, please visit: ibreakstrings.com 

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WiL - LIVE AT THE BLUE FROG
RELEASE DATE: MAY 1st, 2020
(Independent)
01.  Wedding Dress
02.  You Know I Do
03.  My Friend 
04.  A Long While
05.  Both Hands
06.  Dance With The Devil (Broke A String Version)
07.  Big Life 
08.  If You Want Me Too
09.  Seasons
10. Bobcaygeon
11. Honey Pie
12. Look Around
Download High-Res Album Art

FOLLOW WiL:
Website | iTunes | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter |  YouTube

MEDIA TOOLS:
WATCH/SHARE WiL's 'Bobcaygeon' live video HERE
CLICK HERE for biography, album art + high-res press photos 
 

Sufi Hip-Hop Project Jhalaak Release 2nd Single MUSTT MUSTT

Jhalaak's Debut Album Set For Release on May 8th via Bandcamp + Everywhere Else on May 22nd

Watch/Share 'Mustt Mustt'  Video HERE 

'Mustt Mustt' (Enrapture) the new single from Vancouver artist Ruby Singh's  pan-cultural Sufi Hip-Hop project Jhalaak, is out today on all digital platforms. 

In a time when Muslims are being persecuted at an alarming rate in India, Jhalaak's second single, 'Mustt Mustt', turns towards India's pluralistic roots and celebration of the incredible Sufi culture, which is woven into the very fabric of India.  This song was made popular by the late great Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Massive Attack. Here, Jhalaak has created a contemporary version that brings together a Muslim family (Chugge, Salim and Khette Khan); Canadian born Sikh rapper Ruby Singh, who delivers thoughtful rap interpretations/translations of the Urdu lyrics; and Hindu master drummer of the Nagara, Solanki Nathu Lal. 

"The song celebrates Sufi saints and the intoxication their poetry and teachings bring to us," says Ruby Singh. “We shot the video in Rajasthan, India and used the mandalic form to symbolize the interconnectedness between us all.”

Spanning two continents, Jhalaak brings together the powerful sounds of Qawaali (devotional Sufi music from Pakistan and India), Hip-Hop, and EDM. Jhalaak met in Vancouver in 2014 at the Indian Summer Festival when a group of Indian musicians found a kindred spirit in Canadian born Desi Hip-Hop artist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Ruby Singh. And there was also a bit of serendipity involved in the meeting. The Indian musicians are all brothers from the same family, 19th century musicians from a caste called Manganiyars, and are from the same city where Ruby Singh's ancestors migrated from 300 years ago. 

'Mustt Mustt' is the second track to be released from Jhalaak's self-titled debut album. Their first single 'Main Naraye Mastana'  was released earlier this year. The album will be released on May 8th through Bandcamp and will be available on all other digital platforms on May 22nd. 

"In these times where musician's revenue has been decimated, we've made the decision to release the album on Bandcamp only for the first 2 weeks as a fundraiser for the Khan family in Jaisalmere, Rajasthan, where they support a community of 50+ artists through their performances," says Singh.  "With India on lockdown, they are trying desperately to raise funds for their community for basic necessities." 

Jhalaak's new single 'Mustt Mustt' is available NOW on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services. For more information, please visit: Jhalaak

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JHALAAK - JHALAAK
RELEASE DATE: MAY 8th + 22nd, 2020
(Apparatus)
01.  Akhiyan : No Peace In My Sight 
02.  Mustt Mustt : Enrapture
03.  Jhalaak : Spark 
04.  Woh Hata Rahe Hain Parda : Lift The Veils
05.  Challa : The Beloved Wanderer
06.  Maki Madni : The Last Prophet 
07.  Kise Da Yaar Na Vichre : The Lost Beloved
08.  Sanu Ek Pal Chain Na Ave : No Sliver Of Peace
09.  Main Naraye Mastana : Herald Of The Ecstatic 
Download High-Res Album Art

JHALAAK IS: 
Ruby Singh: Vocals, Production 
Salim Khan: Vocals, Algozay, Harmonium 
Chugge Khan: Vocals, Kartaal, Bapang, Morchung
Khete Khan: Vocals, Percussion
Adham Shaikh: Production

FOLLOW JHALAAK:
Website | Bandcamp |  iTunes | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram 


 

MEDIA TOOLS:
WATCH/SHARE Jhalaak's 'Mustt Mustt' video HERE
WATCH/SHARE Jhalaak's 'Main Naraye Mastana' video HERE
CLICK HERE for biography, album art + high-res press photos 
 

Edmonton Musician RIELL Releases New Single CONTROL OF ME

WATCH/SHARE VIDEO HERE

‘Control of Me', the new single from Top 40 charting dance pop artist RIELL, is out today on all digital music platforms, along with the spellbindingly dark and gritty video. Watch here. 

Following the release of 'Stubborn' earlier this year, Control of Me’ is the 2nd track to be released from RIELL’s debut album PARADISE which will be out in October 2020. And as the title suggests, the song is all about control and the power dynamics at play within relationships. 

‘"Control of Me' is a heavy, groove driven track inspired by a relationship with a moth-to-flame dynamic," says RIELL. "Even with the relationship being monopolized by this dynamic, the song acknowledges the fact that people only have as much power over you as you give them. In this song, it happens to be someone I gave a lot of control over me and I liked and went along with it. At the end of the day though, I knew they only had control of me for as long as I gave it to them as that is how that power always works.”

The 'Control of Me' video is the 2nd in a series of 5 connected videos filmed in Toronto that will be released ahead of RIELL's debut album, PARADISE, later this year. The project was written and developed over a period of two years while touring around the world, coming to fruition in places like England, Costa Rica, India and Canada. Produced by Robbie Townsend, Biometrix and featuring M.I.M.E., the album revolves around themes of self-exploration, an obsession with hardship and the impact of perspective on reality.

In addition to being an internationally touring and Top 40 charting dance pop artist and songwriter, RIELL is a highly sought after topliner and vocalist in the EDM scene. She is currently working with popular EDM producers such as Egzod, Besomorph, and Unknown Brain (1.5 million monthly listeners). In the past year, her feature work has accumulated over 15+ million streams, 25+ million views, landed spots on prominent Spotify curated playlists, been supported by prominent DJ’s such as The Chainsmokers and Martin Garrix,and has been a part of notable compilation albums such as NCS: ELEVATE (2019).

RIELL's new track 'Control of Me' is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services. For more information, please visit: iamriell.com

 FOLLOW RIELL:
Website | iTunes | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube 
 

MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/POST RIELL's 'Control of Me' video HERE
WATCH/POST RIELL's 'Stubborn' video HERE
CLICK HERE for biography + high-res press photos