Ottawa Musician Heliara Shares New Single CLOAK OF FEAR

STREAM/SHARE HERE

Ottawa-based indie pop-rock musician Heliara shares her new single ‘Cloak of Fear’ out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here.

'Cloak of Fear' is a powerful pop-rock anthem about anxiety and loss of self esteem, carrying with it a message of hope and empowerment. On this track, the piano and guitar co-exist in a game between dark and light. The juxtaposition of the song’s darker themes with its uplifting melody creates an inspiring contrast, making it not just a reflection on struggle, but a celebration of resilience. 

"'Cloak of Fear' is the most honest song that I’ve ever written," says Heliara. "It is equal parts power, vulnerability and kindness, and I am honoured and humbled to share it with the world.”

Heliara is a passionate singer-songwriter and storyteller and has been writing songs for as long as she can remember. She released her debut album Starry Skies in 2022, which features piano, voice, cello and bass and touches on themes of love, friendship, exploration, motherhood and working for your fairy tale. In 2023, she released an indie folk track entitled ‘Under The Pines’ about intergenerational love and dedicated to her late grandfather. And earlier this year, she released another single ‘He’s (No) James Bond’, a dark indie pop track that takes a twist on a classic story, blending cellos, pianos, and her smooth vocals.

'Cloak of Fear' is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. 

---

---

FOLLOW HELIARA:
Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
 

MEDIA TOOLS:
STREAM/POST 'Cloak of Fear'  HERE (via YouTube)
STREAM/POST 'Cloak of Fear' HERE (via SoundCloud)
CLICK HERE for biography, high-res press photos + single art 

Vancouver Musician Dana Schindel Shares New Single YOU'LL BE ALRIGHT

WATCH/SHARE
LYRIC VIDEO HERE

Vancouver country pop musician Dana Schindel shares her new single ‘You'll Be Alright’ out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here.

'You'll Be Alright' is Dana's 2nd single, following the release of her debut single 'Keep Moving Forward' in early 2023. Striking a perfect balance between country roots and pop sensibilities, 'You'll Be Alright' showcases Dana's signature storytelling as she draws listeners in to a narrative that feels both personal and universally relatable. The track feels like an upbeat cheerleader, encouraging you to get out of your head and into real life.

“This song is for anyone thinking about taking a chance on the big brave thing their heart wants," says Dana. "If you need a little encouragement, this song is for you. Go for it! Get it out of your head and do it! It might go all right or all wrong—no matter what, you’ll be alright.”

Based in Vancouver, BC, Dana Schindel launched her career as a songwriter and country solo artist last year. Already a working actor in theatre and television, Dana is now sharing her original music with the world. Her influences range from the first triple threats she saw writing and performing their own work—Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, and Cher—and she has continued adding to this group of powerful female artists carving their own paths with artists like Shania Twain, Kelsea Ballerini, and Alanis Morissette.

'You'll Be Alright' is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more information, please visit danaschindel.com.

---

FOLLOW DANA SCHINDEL:
Website | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter 
 

MEDIA TOOLS:
WATCH/POST 'You'll Be Alright' Lyric Video HERE (via YouTube)
STREAM/POST 'You'll Be Alright' HERE (via SoundCloud)
CLICK HERE for biography, high-res press photos + single art 

Toronto Dream Pop Duo Soft Set Release New Single + Video GONE

1st SINGLE FROM NEW EP
OUT ON NOVEMBER 15th

WATCH/SHARE VIDEO HERE

Toronto dream pop duo Soft Set is back with a brand new single and video 'Gone', out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here. 

'Gone' is the lead single and title track from Soft Set's new EP (out on November 15th) and it marks a refreshing evolution in their sound. Known for their introspective lyrics and moody instrumentals, Soft Set has often navigated darker themes in their past work. However, with their new Gone EP, they venture into more uplifting territory that showcases their growth as artists.

“The one thing that really surprised us while making the Gone EP was how much lighter and more hopeful it ended up being," says Soft Set's Nathan Athay. "It started off really dark during the demo phase, but once we began layering in harmonies, it took on a more uplifting vibe, which we weren’t expecting. It was a nice surprise for us, and it made the entire process more interesting, for sure!”

Shot in Toronto, the video for 'Gone' almost didn't happen because of a last minute no show on the day of the shoot. But thanks to some quick thinking from the band and a little help from a stranger, they were able to pull everything off in the end.

Says Nathan: "When we first planned the video for 'Gone', we had invited a friend to be in it, but they didn’t show up on the day of the shoot. I ended up walking into The Local pub on Roncesvalles, where I met Alandra McKirdy and explained the situation. Alandra graciously accepted our last-minute invitation to step in, and we are incredibly thankful for her involvement. Without her, the video might not have come together the way it did."

The origin story for Soft Set begins with James Gray and Nathan Athay meeting for the first time in high school in Barrie, Ontario. It didn’t take long in their friendship for them to realize that they had a lot in common, especially when it came to their taste in music. Drawing on influences from iconic artists that have inspired them on their musical path—The Stone Roses, The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, RIDE, Slowdive, Happy Mondays, The Boo Radleys, Mercury Rev—Soft Set’s music runs the gamut from shoegaze to dream pop to 90s Brit pop all behind a hazy, layered wall of sublime sound. 

Soft Set released their debut EP Love and Dancing in 2020. RIDE’s Mark Gardener mixed the EP at his studio in Oxfordshire, UK (OX4 Sound). Their critically acclaimed debut full-length Still Life, which is mixed by Shae Brossard (Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor) and mastered by Slowdive’s Simon Scott, was released in 2022. 

'Gone' is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide.

---

---

FOLLOW SOFT SET:
 Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

MEDIA TOOLS:
WATCH/POST Soft Set's 'Gone' video HERE (via YouTube)
STREAM/POST Soft Set - 'Gone' HERE (via SoundCloud)
CLICK HERE for biography, single art + high-res press photos 

Yukon Indie-Folk Band The August Arrival Share New Album HILLSIDES

STREAM/SHARE FEATURE SINGLE
 'FLEETING AND FOREVER' HERE

the august arrival · Fleeting And Forever

Yukon indie-folk band The August Arrival share their third release and first full-length album, Hillsides, out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here. The August Arrival is also featuring 'Fleeting and Forever' as the 3rd single from the album, following previous singles 'Camped Out' and 'Whisper'.

Led by Yukon songwriter and vocalist Sara MacDonald, The August Arrival is a solo project supported by friends, incorporating live and recording contributions from an array of musicians who slide in and out of the lineup. Their latest single 'Fleeting and Forever' is a poignant exploration of the transient nature of love.

"'Fleeting and Forever' is, in many ways, symbolic of the entire album," says Sara. "It’s a song that explores themes of challenge, impermanence, and acceptance. Even though it was written during a difficult time, creating it was a healing process because it gave voice to the feelings that were shaping my life then — that life is fleeting, but it’s still meaningful. The song helped me find a more hopeful perspective, reminding me that there’s always some beauty somewhere, even when things aren’t great, and to embrace the constant change of this existence."
 
The August Arrival’s new album, Hillsides, will resonate deeply with fans of intimate indie folk-rock, drawing inspiration from Postdata, Blind Pilot, and Manchester Orchestra. The music’s driving melodies, poetic lyrics, and atmospheric instrumentation create an emotionally charged journey that lingers long after the final notes fade. Written during what Sara describes as a “growth phase,” Hillsides reminds us that strength and beauty emerge from life’s most difficult moments. 

Says Sara: "Challenging events, including the journey leading to my son's Autism diagnosis, an unexpected health scare, and the loss of a loved one, deeply impacted me while writing this album. These experiences made me reflect on how life constantly pushes us to grow, remain humble, and accept change. The songs on Hillsides were born from contemplating the fleeting nature of life and how, maybe, the growth and understanding we gain from challenges can leave a meaningful, lasting impact."

Hillsides is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more information, please visit theaugustarrival.com.

---

Tracklisting: 
The August Arrival - Hillsides
(Independent)
01. Camped Out
02. Fleeting and Forever
03. Keep Driving 
04. Let It Go
05. Last Known Bird
06. Lifting Again
07. Whisper
08. Hillsides

---

FOLLOW THE AUGUST ARRIVAL:
WEBSITE | SPOTIFY | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK 

MEDIA TOOLS:
STREAM/POST 'Fleeting and Forever' HERE (via YouTube)
STREAM/POST 'Fleeting and Forever' HERE (via SoundCloud)
CLICK HERE for biography, high-res press photos + album art 

Ryland Moranz Shares New Single + Video THE HELL OF THIS TOWN

2nd SINGLE FROM NEW
ALBUM BETTER/WORSE

STREAM/SHARE VIDEO HERE

Alberta musician Ryland Moranz shares his single and video 'The Hell Of This Town' out now on all digital streaming platforms via Tonic Records. Listen here.

A folk/bluegrass multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter from Lethbridge, Ryland’s highly anticipated new album, Better/Worse, will be released on November 15th. Blending traditional country instrumentation with a modern edge,'The Hell Of This Town' is the 2nd single to be released from Better/Worse following lead single 'When I'm Gone'. And although the title may be misleading, Ryland actually wrote the track as a love song for his wife. 

Says Ryland: “For as far back as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a touring musician. Not only that, I wanted to be the kind of musician that slept on people’s couches and was never in any place too long. Not a great life plan, but a romantic notion. I really think that’s me in a nutshell. A terminal romantic. When I started touring full time, I found to my surprise that whenever I was on the road, I wanted to be home; and inversely, whenever I was home, I wanted to be on the road. It was a complicated reconciliation. ‘The Hell of This Town’ is my coming to terms with the present. The immediacy of longing and the entropy of the cosmos. It’s a love song to my wife. It’s a lament for the old things. A remembrance of joy. A promise to spend my days exactly where I am, no matter where that is.”   

Recorded by John Raham at Barnhouse Studios in Qualicum, BC, and produced by Ryland and Leeroy Stagger, Better/Worse, takes an earnest snapshot of a world emerging from the brink, or rather, from one brink to another. A spiritual successor to Ryland’s acclaimed 2021 offering XO, 1945, Better/Worse turns the focus from where we have been to where we may be going.

'The Hell Of This Town' is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. For more information, please visit: rylandmoranz.com.

---

Tracklisting:
Ryland Moranz- Better/Worse
(Tonic Records)
01. New Civil War
02.  Goodbye To All That
03.  When I'm Gone
04.  The Hell Of This Town
05.  Storm On The Ocean
06.  Do You Need Me
07.  I've Been Calling
08.  Nobody's Going To Heaven
09.  Never
10. You Can't Stop Love

---

FOLLOW RYLAND MORANZ:
WEBSITE | SPOTIFY | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

 MEDIA TOOLS:
WATCH/POST 'The Hell Of This Town' video HERE (via YouTube)
CLICK HERE for biography + high-res press photos