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 
 

Vancouver Indie Funk Rockers Raincity Release CRAZY Video Ahead Of International Women's Day

VIDEO PREMIERING NOW @ AESTHETIC MAGAZINE
WATCH/SHARE HERE

 Vancouver indie funk rock group Raincity are pleased to announce the release of their 'Crazy' video, premiering exclusively on Aesthetic Magazine today. 

‘Crazy’ is a track from Raincity's self-titled EP which was released in June 2019. The ‘Crazy’ video was directed by Wayne Chung and Bailey Wood, who also did their 'Give This Up'  video, and features artwork by Vancouver artist, Taka Sudo, who created the cover of Raincity’s latest EP.

'Crazy' is a song with a strong feminist message, so Raincity wanted the release of the video to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8th. 

“‘Crazy' is a song about betrayal and gaslighting," says Raincity vocalist Clare Twiddy. "It talks about a relationship where the other person is hiding information from you and making you feel crazy for looking into it. We wanted to portray the same feeling by showing ourselves on display in an art museum and having the critics look through us as if they weren’t hearing us. The stark contrast of lighting in the video and the shots where the critics are missing, allude to the experience of thinking 'it’s all in my head' which are the last lines of the song.”

Raincity (formerly known as Raincity Blue) recorded their debut album Stuck on Replay in 2017 and released the album to a sold-out audience at Vancouver’s Wise Hall in January 2018. Throughout 2018, the band progressed to the Top 100 of CBC Searchlight, performed at a number of festivals (including Victoria’s Rifflandia and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival), and won contests including: the Hard Rock Casino's Rock the Mic, Music Heals Covers for the Cause, and The Roxy Launch Project. 

The band recently won the Best in Vancouver band contest and opened for Vancouver funk legends Five Alarm Funk at The Commodore Ballroom in December 2019. Raincity plan to spend much of 2020 on the road and will be releasing a brand new single this summer. 

Raincity's self-titled EP is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services. For more information, please visit: thatbandraincity.com


UPCOMING RAINCITY SHOWS
March 12 - Campbell River, BC - Tidemark Theatre
March 13 - Nanaimo, BC - The Corner Lounge
March 14 - Victoria, BC - The Capital Ballroom
April 4 - Point Roberts, WA - Breakwaters
April 11 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret 
April 25 - Vancouver, BC - Fox Cabaret 

 

RAINCITY IS:
Vocals - Clare Twiddy
Saxophone - Kaylar Chan
Guitar - Ryley Kirkpatrick
Drums - Sheldon D’Eith
Bass - Ginger Chen

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

 
MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/POST Raincity's 'Crazy' video HERE
WATCH/POST Raincity's 'Give This Up' video HERE
CLICK HERE for biography + high-res press photos 
 

Krystle Dos Santos' New Album BLOOM / BURN is out today!

Vancouver blues, jazz and soul singer Krystle Dos Santos is excited to announce the release of her new album Bloom / Burn out today on all digital music platforms.

Bloom / Burn is the 4th studio release from award winning musician Krystle Dos Santos. The two-sided album explores the darkness and light that life offers and features a mix of everything from sweet soul ballads to rock anthems, including singles 'Buried Alive' and 'Worthy'. It's music for all of life's up and downs.

 “We are constantly in an ebb and flow of renewal, always one leading into the next, and I wanted to write an album about how when something blooms in my life, something usually also burns away," says Krystle. "Neither is positive nor negative, but necessary to each other and being open to whatever each brings.”

Krystle Dos Santos grew up in Edmonton and her roots are Guyanese. She celebrated the release Bloom / Burn with an early album release show in Vancouver last week, and will follow that with hometown release shows in Edmonton on March 28th and 29th. See below for all upcoming tour dates. 

In addition to performing, Dos Santos is an actor and has starred in The Vancouver Arts Club musical 'Dream Girls', 'The Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen' at The Firehall Arts Centre, and created a show called ‘BLAK, exploring Canada’s Black History'. She loves performing for young audiences to share the 'History of Motown' in schools and is currently working on a cabaret style musical, 'Hey Viola!' about Viola Desmond with award winning producer/writer Tracey Power that premiere this September. 

Krystle Dos Santos' new album Bloom / Burn  is available NOW on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services. For more information, please visit: krystledossantos.com

 
KRYSTLE DOS SANTOS >> UPCOMING TOUR DATES
March 28 + 29 - Edmonton, AB - Spotlight Cabaret (Album Release Shows) 
April 7 - Vancouver, BC - Guilt & Company 
April 16 - Cranbrook, BC - Key City Theatre

KRYSTLE DOS SANTOS - BLOOM / BURN
RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 28th, 2020
(Independent)
01.  Bloom
02.  Better
03.  Worthy
04.  Here 4 U
05.  Walk On Through
06.  Burn 
07.  Crazy Down
08.  I Cry
09.  Tired Of Love
10. Buried Alive
Download High-Res Album Art

FOLLOW KRYSTLE DOS SANTOS:
Website | iTunes | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube 

MEDIA TOOLS:
WATCH//POST Krystle Dos Santos' video 'Buried Alive' HERE
STREAM Krystle Dos Santos' new album Bloom / Burn HERE 
CLICK HERE for biography, album art + high-res press photos 
 

Vancouver Indie Rockers Small Town Artillery Announce New EP + Cross-Canada Tour

1st Single ‘Day As An Arrow’ Out Today
Watch/Share Video HERE

 After premiering their new single and video ‘Day As An Arrow’ yesterday, Vancouver indie rock band Small Town Artillery are excited to announce the release of a brand new EP on March 6th. Entitled Bright Side Bandits, the surprise release of the 4-song EP comes just as the band is about to kick-off their 2.5 month Cross-Canada Tour which starts in Vancouver on March 6th at the Rickshaw Theatre. See below for complete tour listings. 

The Bright Side Bandits EP is the 4th studio release from Small Town Artillery, following their 3rd album Don’t Talk Away The Magic which was released in 2018. The video for the politically charged 1st single ‘Day As An Arrow’ features Amar Mangat, a teacher at Queer ASL Vancouver, and Vancouver-based dancer/performer Monica Gutierrez. 

“‘Day As An Arrow’ was born on the banks of the Xingu River in the heart of the Amazon 7 years ago after seeing the heartbreaking displacement of Indigenous peoples as a direct result of industry,” says lead vocalist Tom van Deursen. “In its final form, the song pulls taught the question of where you’d fly if you could move much faster than the frustrating snail’s pace of politics and reconciliation. It is dedicated to the Wet’suwet’en people of northern BC, who are relentlessly fighting as you read this for their voices to be heard.”

Small Town Artillery’s upcoming Cross-Canada Tour will see the band on the road for 2.5 months with 2 vehicles - a tour van and a 24 foot RV. The majority of the tour focuses on smaller markets off the beaten path with the band collaborating with local bands/artists and community programs where they can. While on tour, the band will also be filming a documentary about rural Canada and the people who keep art and music alive in each town, interviewing locals and capturing a band learning on the road. They also plan to raise awareness of the issues they hold close: Indigenous rights, climate, and the importance of live music.

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. 

In 2019, Small Town Artillery played more than 60 shows, including highlights such as: headlining Edge Of The World Festival on Haida Gwaii, the Holland stage at Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival, and organizing, hosting and headlining their own festival in Vancouver called the East Van Block Party.  They also completed their first tour in Ontario, opening up for critically acclaimed Canadian funk band Five Alarm Funk in September. The year ended with a Boxing Day show at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver with Five Alarm Funk, proving that Small Town Artillery is ready to energize larger and larger audiences. 

Small Town Artillery’s new single 'Day As An Arrow' 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 March 6th. For more information and the most up-to-date tour listings, please visit: smalltownartillery.com

SMALL TOWN ARTILLERY >> UPCOMING TOUR DATES
March 6 - Vancouver, BC -  Rickshaw Theatre
March 7 - Victoria, BC - Lucky Bar
March 19 - Port McNeill, BC - Gatehouse Theatre
March 20 - Duncan, BC - Red Arrow Brewing Block Party
March 21 - Powell River, BC  - Evergreen Theatre 
March 25 - Penticton, BC - Slackwater Brewery
March 26 - Revelstoke, BC - Traverse Nightclub
March 27 - Golden, BC - Rockwater Bar & Grill
March 28 - Creston, BC - Casey’s Community House
March 30 - Kaslo, BC - JVH Lighthouse Theatre
April 2 - Camrose, AB - Bailey Theatre
April 4 - Edmonton, AB - Station On Jasper
April 7 & 8 - Meadow Lake, SK - TBA
April 10 - North Battleford, SK - Freebird Collective
April 11 - Nipawin, SK - Street Party (hosted by The Dam Smokehouse)
April 16 - Onanole, MB - House Party
April 17 - Winnipeg, MB - Times Change(d)
April 18 - Kenora, ON - Lake Of The Woods Brewing
April 20 - Dryden, ON - Midtown Stage
April 22 - Sioux Lookout, ON - Legion
April 23 - Fort Frances, ON - Little Beaver Community Centre
April 24 - Thunder Bay ON - Black Pirates Pub
April 25 - Wawa, ON - TBA
April 29 - Sudbury, ON - The Asylum
April 30 - Owen Sound, ON - Heartwood Cafe (Upstairs)
May 1 & 2 - Belleville, ON - Signal Brewery
May 6 - Fredericton, NB - Grimross Brewery
May 7 - Halifax, NS - Seahorse Tavern
May 8 - Charlottetown, PEI - Baba’s Lounge
May 9 - Saint John, NB - Pepper’s Pub
May 14 - Sherbrooke, QC - TBA
May 15 - Burnstown, ON - Neat Cafe
May 16 - Montreal, QC - La Vitrola
May 19-23 - Toronto, ON - Canadian Music Week 
 

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 'Day As An Arrow’ video HERE
CLICK HERE for biography, album art + high-res press photos