Brian John Harwoodis no stranger to the world of Canadian country music. He has made a name for himself as both a solo artist and as one half of the duoKansas Stone.
BJHhas released his latest single “Nothing More Country Than That” featuringJason Blaine. This song takes a refreshing look at what it means to be “country” and the importance of staying true to those roots of real family values and real friendships along the way.
‘’'Nothing More Country Than That' is sure to be the next hit for one of my favorite artists,Brian John Harwood,'' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief forNOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host of the InternationalMusic's Journey Show. ‘’I love the message in this catchy, toe-tapping song that is going to rent some space in your mind. Instilling values into our lives, the kind of values that run deep for Harwood that you can hear in the lyrics of this song. This one is something special.''
BJHandJason Blaine remind listeners that being “country” is not just about owning a pickup truck or wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat …
It’s about the values and traditions that we stand for that define who we are as individuals and who we choose to be as a society. A society that cares about one another.
The song celebrates the importance of staying connected to our roots, whether we grew up on a farm, in a small town, or in the city. It’s about having pride in our last names, being respectful to others, and keeping our word.
‘’It's in a handshake and it's in your last name, it's in the way that you were raised going as deep as your roots, from the blue on your collar, down to the dirt on your boots, it's how you treat that girl when she is holding your hand, you meet her kin, it's all yes, sir and thank you, mam, nothing more country than that.''
It’s about embracing kindness, giving back, polite gestures just because, lending a neighbor a hand, instilling morals that were taught to us since childhood, such as saying “please” and “thank you” caring about the consequences of our actions, and choosing to do the right thing instead even when no one is watching.
Harwood and Blaine’s collaboration is perfect in its timing. Harwood had the idea of this song but it just didn't seem like the right time or project to release it. Well, it doesn't get any more perfect than right now. Delivering a timely message and reminder that in today’s fast-paced world, it's easy to forget where we come from and the values that make us who we are today. “Nothing More Country Than That” urges us to strive to stand for these qualities every day of the year.
BJHbelieves the path to success in the music business is paved with hard work and songs that come from an honest place. You can get to know Brian by listening to his songs and watching his music videos "All That I Was Missing", "Dad", "Good Boy", and “First” to name a few. He believes in sharing who he is and what he values through his writing.
Along with his successful singles as a solo artist,BJHis known for being 1/2 of the country duoKansas Stonealong withMatt Davey.
There were lots to talk about with Brian including the latest update on his adorable 17-month-old twin girls, the ceremony celebration for their wedding in Costa Rica, the never-ending changes in the music industry, this amazing new chapter in his life, and his new music.
There are some cool fun facts that you might not know that you don't want to miss in my interview withBJH.
There's no slowing Harwood down from living a life full of family & constant new music set to release that keeps taking his career to a new level.
Canadian artistAV (Ann Vriend) is an internationally recognizedsinger-songwriter, musician, and producer, whose effortlessblend of Blues, Roots, and Soulhas recentlylanded her a nomination in the Keyboardist of the Year category at the 2023 Maple Blues Awards at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre in January. Her latest album,"Everybody Matters", has sold thousands of units worldwide to date, ranked #28 on Alberta's CKUA Radio Network's Top 100 Albums of 2022, and reached #20 on the Earshot National Chart.
AV performedat the event that took place at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre Theatre on Monday, January 30th, 2023. AV has twice been the recipient of the Cobalt Music Prize at the Maple Blues Awards, an annual event celebrating Blues music across the country and honouring outstanding achievements in the field.
With radio play around the world and on commercial radio in Germany, currently sitting at #2 on VHR's "International Hits", AV's soulful, socially focused project is continuing to have an impact across the globe. The two-time "Cobalt Music Prize" winner at the Maple Blues Awards has also taken home the "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" Award at the Edmonton Music Awards, and has played some of the world's most coveted music festivals, including SXSW and Reeperbhan, along with having her music featured in Elle Magazine, CBC Radio, CTV, and Global News.
AsAVprepared to take the stage at the 2023 Maple Blues Awards in Torontoat the end of January, she had just released a brand new video for "If You Were Here" from "Everybody Matters" - a soulful and haunting ballad that features AV's powerful, longing vocals alongside the rich and rough-edged voice and bass playing of well-known Calgary artist Jory Kinjo. Kinjo has toured with B.B. King anda long stream of other legendaryBlues artists, as well as many well-known Ska and Reggae groups.
“If You Were Here”, is a lonely, haunting, Blues duet based on a wordless chorus sung in harmony about longing, wandering, and what keeps people in relationships. Originally released in 2012, the song was co-written with Canadian singer-songwriter Matt Epp while at a Folk Alliance conference in Memphis. The tune was initially penned in dedication to Jeff Buckley, who drowned in the arm of the Mississippi River AV and Epp could view from the conference hotel. The stand-out, somber harmonies for the track were crafted in the hotel stairwell, where the natural reverb and constant stream of musicians chiming in as they went past was the initial musical inspiration for the song's vocal hook; a long stream of people wandering in hope of finding something more.
From AV: "My first tour since the pandemic was in Western Europe, and many audience members told me it was their first outing and concert in more than 2 years. You could see the toll that being apart from other people had taken, but also a new-found appreciation and joy of being together socially again. Many refugees were in the audience, being billeted with families who'd taken them in due to the war in the Ukraine. Many of the refugees were teenagers and young adults, away from their parents and families, and though they were grateful for the hospitality, the stress of the war and being apart from people they loved was very evident. People really seemed to connect then to this haunting duet about being apart.
For me the song mirrored what I felt myself; after such a long hiatus of not touring and performing with the people who have become close friends, and not seeing so many people on the road, many of whom also have become close. But also it resonated back home; as I live in a neighborhood in Edmonton that has a high population of displaced people: recent refugees from war-torn or dangerous countries worldwide, as well as Indigenous people who have been moved time and time again since colonialism began. There are many shelters in my neighborhood of many varieties, so daily I see a flow of people wandering past my window, many with all their belongings in bags or in shopping carts, and it's especially hard for folks in the winter.
So, for all these reasons I wanted to sing this song again right now because though it is a song about loneliness and separation and longing it is also a duet-- and it is about human connection that I hope transcends past barriers, politics, and passports and reminds us of our commonality and humanity." - AV
Here is a part of my interview with singer-songwriter Ann Vriend.
KC: What were your influences musically in your life that impacted the kind of songwriter you wanted to be?
AV: Hard to say in retrospect because I was just a kid but probably a major contributing factor that I was read to a lot from a very young age, by especially my dad, probably got an ear for storytelling and language through that. And also I started music lessons quite young, and chord progressions and melodies have always come fairly easily to me— of course songwriting is storytelling put to music, so it kind of combines that.There was never really a conscious decision to become a songwriter— I was just always doing it.But listening to what other songwriters were doing— I would try to see if I could write in their style, so that inadvertently affected my own songwriting style, I am sure.
KC: Do you remember a song that you heard that stands out in your mind that made you want to write and pursue music as your career?
AV: There isn’t a certain song.But I did see a band at a club in Edmonton at a “battle of the bands” contest, and I LOVED the band that was the winning band— a funk band— and I found out that they were attending this music school in town, and I told my roommate that night that I needed to go to a music school where I could meet and play with people like that.So the next day I lined up an audition and said that if I got in I would drop out of university— the audition went horribly but something I got in anyway, and at that school— Grant MacEwan College (now a university) was really a major critical changing point in my life. I had to face a lot about myself in learning how to be a performer, and of course, learned a LOT about music.But by the end of the 2-year program, there was no turning back— I had the bug and I did meet a ton of musicians, many of whom I work with to this day.
KC: When you started this journey in music, everyone has a set idea of what they thought success is to them.What was that idea for you at the beginning of your career and has the idea of success changed for you today?
AV: Oh man that is a great question.I think, like many if not most people, at first I had this idea in my mind at first that it is this glamorous life of fame and adoration because of course that’s what we see in the media and magazines.When you actually get into it and start paying your dues at the bottom you rapidly learn it is not like that for the vast majority of musicians lol.Which disillusions a lot of people. This is why the ones who stick with it I think have to define success differently than that.A friend of mine who’s an AMAZING musician once posted something when she won one of her many (deserved) awards that mentioned “external gratification.”And that term really made me think.I realized unless I was happy MYSELF about what I was producing— in the studio and on stage— I would always be seeking things from other people and that that is such an insecure, terrifying space to live in because of course no one has control over that— or at least I don’t.So since then, I’ve just been trying to really be proud of what I do, regardless of what other people have to say about it— and weirdly that has resulted in things going better than when I actually was trying to obtain accolades or approval or money or things like that.So— I’m sticking with that approach :)
KC: With your parents encouraging you to have a voice, caring about your surroundings, your communities around you…tell us about drawing on those inspirations for writing and how the gospel and soul styles of African American culture and 70’s folk/pop that stuck with you as the kind of music you wanted to be…
AV: Well musically I think the emotions and rhythms of that music put together with some amazingly strong singers can’t really be topped. So that’s the first thing. But also of course the injustices and struggles that are told in soul and RnB are ones that people all over can relate to more or fewer degrees— definitely, my own neighborhood has a lot of struggles that are similar and so my love of the music and listening to social commentaries like Superbly by Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone— basically pretty much all soul artists — it just seemed to go together. 70s folk/pop artists from the colonial side were also kind of coming to terms with their own materialist culture and starting to question things like the Vietnam war and other things like that— beginning to realize some of the propaganda they had been fed. So— growing up on that music made it seem normal to be a writer and thinker who questioned the status quo, I guess.
KC:This album is almost completely self-written. The album features you and only three other musicians that appear in this project.Tell us about deciding to do a project completely stripped down …utilizing less to create more approach…with only keyboards, vocals, and drums.
AV:In 2019 I toured for 7 weeks in Europe with that instrumentation, minus drums— mostly for economical reasons—and people would ask at the merch table if there was anything to buy that sounded like what they exactly had just heard. And at the time I had to say that no, sadly I didn’t.So when I got back from the tour I decided to make something for those fans, and stay disciplined with the sonic palette that I could use; to stick to only what you listed, and play all the bass lines on the keys, for example.
KC:What was it like working alongside esteemed engineer and producer Chris Birkett on this album?
AV:Chris is a gentle and very talented musician who knows a lot about engineering and is great to produce vocals with, too.He is young at heart and it was fun getting to know him to make this album.And man he has a lot of stories and has worked with quite a few heavy hitters.
KC:The songs speak to the real, raw life issues that people face every day.What does this album mean to you and giving these issues a voice with your platform as an artist?
AV:Well in the real world things can be harsh, especially in my neighborhood, and the album is inspired from there— people who have not received a great hand if you liken life to a card game.In living there for the last 15 years I have had a lot to think about, including my social and economic position in relation to that, and the long way our society has to go before there is proper justice and human rights for even the very unlucky in our society— including those who have come from other places, or broken homes.in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “No one is free until everyone is free.”
KC: What has been the most amazing story about one of the songs on this album that a fan has shared that really moved you?
AV:There have been quite a few— but I guess what sort of sticks with me isn’t really about a fan, but more about the immediate context of the album, and the album cover, which depicts a chair with a purple and gold blanket draped over it, hung in such a way that the chair looks like a throne.It’s a chair outside under a very graffitied bridge and is a photograph shot by photographer Pieter de Vos, who is a local photographer from Edmonton, who did a series on homes in the Edmonton river valley of houseless people and how they decorated them to make them feel like a home.
When the first batch of my CDs was delivered to my doorstep some of the boxes were stolen before I could take them inside, so I went around the neighborhood to look for them, showing people the album cover and offering a cash reward no questions asked to anyone who could find the stolen ones.It was tough because they had been stolen by someone in a gang, so though everyone said they’d seen the CDs not a single person said they knew who had them, though most I asked were homeless and in need of money.One of the people I showed the album cover to was a young woman who I recognized from a year earlier, where I had seen her living in a tent next to a bike trail I was on, during the height of the pandemic.She had asked me if she could go to the hospital to visit her mom.
This time she was sitting with some other young women, across the street from the supervised injection site, about a block from my house.While I was talking to them, they were casually injecting themselves in various parts of their bodies without seemingly even noticing.The young woman I recognized was very taken aback by the album cover because she said: “Oh, that was MY place!”She was very surprised to see it and recognized it immediately.So— it was her throne, her chair, her blanket, her home, under that bridge in the river valley.“How long did you live there?” I asked.And she said, “About a year.” And I said, “Even in the winter?”, as it gets below minus 30 degrees Celsius here some nights.“Yes,” she said.She said she liked it because it was pretty safe, and no one bothered her there.
It was a strange way to have met the person whose home decorating style caught the eye of the photographer whose photo spoke so loudly to me when I was looking for the album artwork. (Later I did get all the CDs back— that’s a story for another day).
The whole point of the photography series, and my album, is to remind us all of the individual importance and worth of each person— so it should not have surprised me that yes, this throne was attached to a real person in my neighborhood, whom I’d met already once, who is someone’s daughter, and just like everyone, they matter.I hope our society stops viewing humans as disposable and dispensable because no one wants to feel that way.Not you, not me, not anyone.It is a reflection on our society if that is still happening, more than it is on those who are treated that way,
I gave the woman the copy of the album that I had in my hand and said thank you for inspiring this photographer.She didn’t know what to say to that.I don’t think people in her position get thanked a whole lot.But it was the first copy of the album that anyone got, which seemed appropriate.I have no idea where it is now, but if she still has it I hope it’s in a place she continues to decorate, that is warmer and that has the dignity any person with any illness deserves.
KC:Do you have a favorite or a song that was really important to you to release on the EVERYBODY MATTERS?
AV:Well, I guess that’s like asking someone to choose between their children haha.I am currently really promoting the song and video for “If You Were Here”, and I’m really happy with how especially the remix for it turned out and excited to get some huge radio play for it in Germany leading up to the tour that we’re doing in Europe currently.
Burning Questions Portion of the Show
KC:If you could suggest only one of your songs for someone to listen to that describes the artist you are today, what song would that be and why?
AV:Any of the songs on the new album really— but since “If You Were Here” is the single we’re promoting— a duet with Jory Kinjo, who is playing bass and singing backup vocals on the tour I’m on— then I suggest people start there :)
KC:Favorite storytelling song of all time?
AV:Oh geez.There is an Americana song called “The Flood” by Canadian singer-songwriter Jack Marks that is one of the best in that genre, I think.
KC:Favorite international artist on the radio today?
AV:Oh boy.I’m a fan of Anderson Paak. Bruno Mars.Digging the new Miley Cyrus song.Also listening to a lot of hits on Latin radio.
KC:What is one song that brought out the emotions that moved you the most that you wished that you had written?
AV:Oh man— there are quite a few.So, so many.I can’t list them in one interview :)
KC:Favorite live stage performance of any artist past or present?
AV:I think Michael Jackson in London is pretty hard to beat.Stevie Wonder at Aretha’s funeral.Stevie was in Europe also, when he was super young.Miriam Makeba In Zimbabwe singing the South African National anthem at a Paul Simon concert, while in exile from South Africa.Prince at the Superbowl.Aretha in the Netherlands.I of course haven’t seen everything there is to see so it’s hard to know what I’ve missed.
To hear the full interview and music with Ann Vriend, go to www.musicsjourney.com or click on the link below.
Canadian artist AV (Ann Vriend) is known most for her virtuosic, soaringly powerful vocals, and not far behind that for her multi-award-winning abilities as a songwriter -- and she ain’t too bad at the piano, either. She has been delivering her undeniably unique brand of old-school, inner-city soul to audiences around Europe, Oceana, Asia, and North America throughout her under-the-radar but a consistently award-winning, critically acclaimed career.
Growing up in a household that encouraged critical thinking and challenged the status quo, AV has always written songs about confusion, searching, and questioning -- of herself, and the culture around her. The outcome is what she half seriously, half jokingly calls “existentialist gospel" : drawing musically from the emotionally intense and rhythmic gospel and soul styles of African American culture, as well as from her parents’ vinyl ‘70s folk/pop collection.
It is with a huge, respectful nod to her influences that AV addresses the social issues that face her and her community of her somewhat notorious inner-city Edmonton neighborhood of McCauley; in which there is a high concentration of people suffering from extreme forms of trauma and abuse; often resulting in addiction, mental illness, stigmatization, neglect, and further abuse. AV's own self-examination in response to this is the subject matter of her newest album and its title track, "Everybody Matters."
‘’Jamie Warren is one of the most talented singer-songwriters and storytellers here in Canada,'' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host for the International Music's Journey Podcast. ‘’It is always so much fun to chat with Jamie Warren and hear all the great stories and new music that he has been working on. Warren has been really busy writing and recording new music for his 10th studio album that he is hoping to release later this year. We talked about his new single ‘’He Should Be Cryin'' which is one of the songs that will be on his upcoming 10th studio album and more new music that is set to release in early summer. Warren also shares the exciting news about a new tour this fall with some pretty special artists so you are going to want to hear all about it. To hear my interview with Warren, go to www.musicsjourney.com or click on the link below.
Jamie Warren - Official Video ‘Gonna Make Ya’ Wanna
Gonna Make Ya' Wanna - Jamie Warren (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
About Jamie Warren
Jamie Warren is generally regarded as the most awarded independent country vocalist in Canada (Junos, CCMAs, OCMAs). Over his 40-year career he has released 63 singles, many of them hits. He’s also known as a great songwriter and if you’ve ever seen him perform live, maybe a comedian!?
Jamie lives in Dutton Ontario, Canada, but was raised in Hanover Ontario where he pursued an adolescent dream of playing professional hockey in the NHL…with music as a background distraction. When he realized that his natural abilities for singing and playing guitar might make it easier to attract the attention of girls, he hung up his skates. Songwriting was a logical progression for a sensitive guy who wrote poetry and short stories throughout his high school years.
His interest in music was likely genetic since his mother sang and played piano and his father played guitar and mandolin. Jamie had piano lessons at age 5 and guitar lessons at age 8. By the time he was 10 years old, it was tradition for the Warrens to entertain after Saturday night euchre games (a Canadian card-game institution) in their smoke-filled basement. His earliest musical influences were whatever his parents listened to on the radio and the only thing his parent’s radio seemed to play, was country music. To this day he’s still a huge fan of Merle Haggard, Tammy Wynette, and Patsy Cline. Later in high school, his best friend’s older brother exposed him to celebrated vocal groups like The Eagles, America, Poco, and CSNY. Jamie has always had an appreciation for Texas singer-songwriters like Radney Foster, Lyle Lovett, and Rodney Crowell.
Jamie attended Conestoga College to study Broadcasting. His goal was to become the youngest general manager of a mid-market radio station, but he emerged instead with a desire to sing for a living. What changed his mind? Jamie won a regional talent show at London Ontario’s Western Fair which sent him to Memphis Tennessee for an international competition where he placed second. Jamie then stayed in Memphis, while he worked a one-year gig at Libertyland Theme Park as an entertainer. He still feels a connection to Memphis, the city that kicked off his career.
Returning to Canada he began a great friendship with producer J. Richard Hutt who produced “All Of The Above” and all of Jamie’s previous recordings. Rick initially engaged Jamie as a singer for jingles he produced out of his Kitchener-based CedarTree Studios. “I didn’t have a clue what I was doing,” says Jamie, “thank goodness he had a lot of patience”. He must have learned something from the experience because his first Top Ten hit came shortly thereafter with “Take Me Home Mississippi” and subsequently a win as New Artist of The Year at the 1985 RPM Big Country Awards.
Around this time Jamie was being courted by Warner Bros in Nashville. To get a record deal at 25 would have been a great opportunity, but they passed on him in favour of a fellow named, Randy Travis. To this day Jamie remains a big fan of Randy and was honoured to be in the running with him. In the late 80s, country music became more traditional in flavour so he took some time off from recording. He got married and had two kids and played locally in small clubs to pay the bills.
In 1993 Jamie was convinced that both country radio and Nashville were interested in a more contemporary style of music and might make room for him again. He released “Fallen Angel” on River North/Mercury Records, which yielded an enduring fan favourite and radio hit “One Step Back”. The success of this record was followed closely and even more impressively by the album “Just Not the Same” which surrendered several Top Ten singles and led to a handful of JUNO and CCMA nominations in multiple categories including wins for Independent Song of the Year and Independent Male Artist of the Year. Since then Jamie has released the critically acclaimed “Really” in 2003 and a career retrospective collection of greatest hits in 2005 under the title “Make Me Believe”. In 2008, Jamie released the very personal “Right Here Right Now” followed by “Howl at The Moon” (2010) and “I’ve Got A Feeling” (2013)
For the last five years, Jamie has been consistently writing with other artists for their projects as well as his own; releasing “All Of The Above” (2018), “The Secret to Life” (2020) and a new CD to be released Fall 2023. He felt it was time to say something with his own voice and his own words at a time when country music was contemporary yet again.
March 10, 2023 (Toronto, ON) - Breakout Canadian country artist and 2022 CMAOntario Rising Star nomineeAlli Walker has released her sophomore album Growing Up and a new single by the same name. A deeply personal album, Growing Up showcases Walker's growth and evolution as both a songwriter and musician since the release of her debut album in 2019.
‘’I always want to make music based on where I am in life and that hasn't changed with this album,'' says Walker. ‘’Growing Up is a continuation of my mindful approach to making music because it tells the story of what I've been going through since the release of The Basement Sessions. Since then I've been lucky enough to see some of my goals come to fruition and because of that I've found myself in a better space - a bit more lighthearted - and that's definitely reflected in this music.''
In addition to more playful tracks like previously released ‘’Red Wine or Whiskey,'' ‘’Country Music'' and ‘’Maybe I'm Still Drunk,'' the album also dives deep into Walker's more personal side and the struggle of living so far away from family and friends for over half her life. The new single and album title track ‘’Growing Up'' tells Walker's story of leaving home when she was a teenager to follow her dreams. Following her through the ups and downs of partying, financial struggles, and homesickness that comes while trying to find yourself in a new unfamiliar place, ‘’Growing Up'' presents a theme song for those currently chasing their dreams, no matter the cost.
‘’It is truly my autobiography,'' said Walker of the new single. "I know parts of my journey will feel so familiar to others and that's what makes this track so important to me. As soon as I wrote it I knew I wanted the album to be called the same thing. Both tell the truth behind the last four years of my growing up in ways I didn't anticipate having to, and I hope that people will be able to relate to that.''
‘’Alli Walker is the real deal, a storyteller that delivers with her new sophomore album ‘’Growing Up'' that is a must listen to,'' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host of the International Music's Journey Podcast. ‘’It is refreshing to hear the kind of songs that we can all relate to and see ourselves in each story. I hope you enjoy my interview with Alli Walker as I dive deep into the life of this artist, the lyrics of each song, and play the new sophomore album in its entirety. Go to www.musicsjourney.com or click on the link below.
Fans can catch Walker play many of these new tracks for the first time this summer in her home province of PEI at Cavendish Beach Music Festival and then at Boots and Hearts, taking the stage at Ontario's iconic country festival for the first time this year.
Since dropping her debut in 2019, Walker has made quite the mark on the Canadian Country music scene, finding her sound and carving her own path in the industry. Boasting over 4.5M+ streams, Walker has landed spots on some of Canada's top playlists including covers on both Apple Music's ‘Canada’s Country' and Amazon Music's ‘Breakthrough Country.’ Last year Walker garnered her second nomination at the CMAOntario Awards in the Rising Star category and was named Spotify's Radar Artist on the Horizon.
rustic pop that immediately caught the attention of Country radio and music fans across Canada, leading to his first Canadian Country Music Association Award for Independent Male Artist of the Year in 1997.
In the following years, Sean Hoganreleased hit single after hit single (Slow Turning, Sure Fire Love, Dream Vacation, Angeline, I'd Rather Have You, Centred, Catalina Sunrise, A Cowboy's Heart, and Suck It Up to name a few) that became staples of Country music radio.
Eighteen Sean Hogan music videos aired on Country Music Television. His first two U.S. album releases, 2003’s Ruled By Mercury and 2008’s Conspiracy Radio, climbed the Americana music charts and were well-received by radio south of the border. In between those releases, he recorded his fifth Canadian album, The Southern Sessions, putting him back on Canadian country radio with the hit singles What Would You Have Me Believe and Suck It Up.
Hogan has been writing and releasing great music for over 27 yrs now and he isn't slowing down any time soon. Hogan has had great success on both sides of the border as a songwriter and singer. I had the chance to talk with Hogan about what success looked like to a young drummer starting out who had an amazing voice and dream in this music business and what success meant to him now. Hogan has faced life's challenges with heart and inspiration. We talk about his journey with cancer and facing that time in his life when the fear of never singing and performing again was a real possibility. Hogan shares his story and his determination to fight to keep his dreams as a husband, father, brother, and singer alive. The meaning in life shifts and the music along with it.
KC: When did know that you wanted to pursue music as a career?
Sean: ‘’Likely from about the age of 15, I felt like I only wanted to do music with my life.''
KC: Do you remember the first concert you ever went to and the first record you ever bought and listened to from front to back?
Sean: ‘’The first concert that wasn't orchestral that I went to, I believe was KISS at the Maple Leaf Gardens, in 1979. It was summer and we dressed up as Peter Criss. The first record that I bought and listened to from top to bottom was Billy Joel's 52nd Street.''
KC: You were a very serious drummer as a kid and went to Fanshawe College to study music engineering, after that, you studied music theory and jazz, with vocals as a minor. Who is your favourite drummer of all time?
Sean: ‘’My favourite drummer of all time is probably Stewart Copeland of the Police followed by Neil Pean, of Rush and Alex Van Halen of Van Halen.''
KC: Songwriting is such a big part of your life. What is your writing process and where do you get your inspiration from as a songwriter?
Sean: ‘’Songwriting is an applied effort, but it helps when your train your mind to be aware of patch phrases and feelings that stir up descriptive words to how you feel about something and can put that feeling in context with some concrete imagery. Often just writing thoughts and feelings can be scratching at the grey matter but then when you least expect it, something else comes up and you write about that instead but because you were staying active with energy in the motion of songwriting and reflecting on ideas when the moment comes up that finds you captivated you're compelled to write, and because you've been writing in general even about something completely unrelated you end up writing something pretty cool out of the blue, or it feels like it comes from somewhere else. Then at other times, you're crafting an idea over time but it gets better with each new session honing in on the key message and form for that song idea.''
KC: Do you have a favourite songwriter and a song that really meant something to you that moved you to want to become a songwriter?
Sean: ‘’I can't pick a favourite songwriter. I mean I might once have said Sting or John Hiatt, or Van Morrison, Steve Earle, Billy Joel, or Lyle Lovett but there are just too many great writers and it doesn't seem fair to choose just one, let alone easy to do.''
KC: When you look at what you thought success meant to you when you first started this journey in music and with all your life experience with years in the music industry, has your view of what success looks like today changed?
Sean: ‘’Some of it has. I never had a goal to win a Juno or Grammy ever really just enjoy doing what I do and paying the bills by doing it. It seemed like the best way but along the way, I have had some great award opportunities come my way that I have invariably garnered though you can't plan that stuff. It's hard enough to try and plan a career. It kind of takes a life of its own and you do different things with your talent depending on what's determined at that moment to be most useful. I like that though. Variety is not boring and it's not routinely done because that's what the boss wants you to do. There is authority and I value that a great deal. There is never a shortage of work though as your own boss, you can be harder and expect more of yourself I think and engage in less conventional ways to achieve high results when opportunity allows for a bit of lucrative fortuitousness that can arise in the music industry if you are working at career objectives with some skill talent and I think a large amount of optimism.''
KC: When we are dealing with events in our lives, listening to a song can change the meaning and tone of what we are experiencing and change our life. Has there been a song that has impacted you like that?
Sean: ‘’I'm not sure any songs that I have written changed my meaning of tone in my life, no. I think songs sometimes in my career, the song has come to me as a forbearance almost or harbinger of events to come, as if my subconscious was writing about something to come around to occur later in my life, a way before my conscious mind knew it was happening or going to happen, and hence I wrote about it, kinda like portending what was around the corner for me.''
KC: What was the time like for going to the states and the success you had there as a Canadian country artist?
Sean: ‘’I went to states a lot between 1998 and 2008, it was educational and I enjoyed most of the trips but it most often felt pretty insular there like you could visit your life but you’re not from here so if you don’t mind feeling like we already have enough of the people we need here then come on in, I never felt like it was home but it almost did at one point in about 2007 but by 2009 it didn’t seem to make sense to move there. I attended many industry functions and made friends in the business and wrote with some great writers but as someone who has had a lot of success with my own self-written, I didn’t feel that co-writing to me was more important or even as important as writing my own ideas on my won. Again though I did write some great co-written songs there. If you look at the writers I like most they are singular singer/songwriters they don’t co-write so much at all.''
KC:What can fans expect to see for 2023?
Sean: ‘’New music and more online presence. I'd tell ya more but then where is the surprise in that! Good things and more good things.''
Nathan Cunningham will be releasing ‘’Tired of Leavin'' as his next single in March which was a song Sean Hogan had released and was a top 20 hit for him in 1999.
Check out my interview with Sean which is full of stories and music that you are going to love. To hear my interview with Sean Hogan, go to www.musicsjourney.com or click on the link below.
FEEL OUT LOUD – A STAR STUDDED COLLECTIVE OF OVER 50 CANADIAN ARTISTS UNITE TO RECORD ANTHEM IN SUPPORT OF KIDS HELP PHONE’S FEEL OUT LOUD MOVEMENT
Feel Out Loud Is The Largest Youth Mental Health Movement In Canadian History
TORONTO, ON (March 2, 2023) – “What I Wouldn’t Do/North Star Calling ” – a star-studded anthem and video in support of Feel Out Loud , Kids Help Phone’s largest youth mental health movement in Canadian history, is out now. Over 50 Canadian artists united across the country to form the musical collective Feel Out Loud, with the sole purpose of amplifying the conversation around mental health and empowering young people to feel out loud .
Youth are struggling more than we even know. In fact, one in two youth are struggling with their mental health.
Kids Help Phone is transforming mental health care for young people in Canada and is asking Canadians to support Feel Out Loud, a $300M campaign to unlock hope for young people in Canada to thrive in their world.
Feel Out Loud is the largest movement supporting youth mental health in Canada’s history.
The campaign is aimed at providing young people support without obstacles and help with any hardship. Because no challenge is too big, and no feeling is too small.
To kick off the campaign, Feel Out Loud, a collective of more than 50 music artists from across Canada, have come together to record an anthem to support Kids Help Phone’s initiative to help all young people in Canada feel out loud and express their emotions in a safe and supported way.
An advocate for mental health within the music community and beyond, Serena Ryder’s song "What I Wouldn’t Do" weaves an inspiring message and profound lyrics, alongside Leela Gilday’s sonically beautiful bridge from “North Star Calling” to create the anthem, which was produced by Bob Ezrin and Randy Lennox
Artist representation and collaboration spans provinces, territories, and cities from coast to coast to coast, representing a diverse group of talent, with the equitable, informative, and creative intention of reaching underserved and equity-deserving youth across the country and within all communities.
“What I Wouldn’t Do/North Star Calling” weaves the compassionate lyrics from JUNO Award winner Serena Ryder’s “What I Wouldn’t Do” with the stunning bridge from Leela Gilday’s JUNO Award winning song “North Star Calling” to create the soundtrack for Feel Out Loud , rallying the entire country to invest in youth mental health to help shape the future for young people in Canada.
The anthem and video bring together a pantheon of Canada’s best and brightest young talent including Alessia Cara, JESSIA, Johnny Orlando, JP Saxe, Rêve, Roy Woods, The Reklaws, TOBi, Tyler Shaw and many more, and includes the moving and powerful addition of children’s choirs from both the Sarah McLachlan School of Music in Vancouver, BC, and Chief Jimmy Bruneau School in Behchokǫ̀, NT. Both the “What I Wouldn’t Do/North Star Calling” anthem and video were produced by Bob Ezrin, Randy Lennox (Loft Entertainment) and Carrie Mudd (Peacock Alley Entertainment), and supported by the combined resources of Spotify Canada, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Bell Media, Cineplex, Google Music, TikTok, Meta, SiriusXM Canada, Snapchat, Sony Music Canada, Universal Music Canada, Warner Music Canada, and YouTube.
“What I Wouldn’t Do/North Star Calling” video
Lyrics
IF YOU SHOULD FALL TO PIECES PLEASE KNOW YOU’RE NOT ALONE DON’T EVEN NEED A REASON I'LL ALWAYS PICK UP THE PHONE
IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE BROKEN AND DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO INSIDE YOUR DARKEST MOMENT CALL ME I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU CALL ME I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU
I’LL CARRY THE WEIGHT I’LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU IT’S NEVER TOO LATE LET ME BE THE ONE TO PROVE
WHOAH-OH-OH, WHOAH WHOAH-OH-OH, WHOAH WHOAH-OH-OH, WHOAH OH, WHAT I WOULDN’T DO OH, WHAT I WOULDN’T DO
IF YOU GET LOST AND LONELY FOLLOW MY VOICE BACK HOME YOU CAN REACH OUT AND CALL ME I’LL TELL YOU YOU’RE NOT ALONE
LIFE CAN BE LIKE A RIVER THAT YOU ARE FLOATING DOWN YOU MAY NOT BE A SWIMMER BUT I’LL NEVER LET YOU DROWN I’M NOT GONNA LET YOU DOWN
TROP LONGTEMPS, SANS PRINTEMPS QUAND LA NUIT RESEMBLE AU JOUR CONTRE-COURANT, FACE AU VENT JE VIENDRAI À TON SECOURS
WHOAH-OH-OH-OH WHOAH- OH WHOAH-OH-OH-OH WHOAH- OH WHOAH-OH-OH-OH WHOAH- OH OH, WHAT I WOULDN’T DO
I’LL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU
YOU ARE NOT ALONE SOLID GROUND BELOW EARTH REVOLVING NORTH STAR CALLING YOU HOME TOGETHER WE’RE STRONG
I’LL CARRY THE WEIGHT I’LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU IT’S NEVER TOO LATE LET ME BE THE ONE TO PROVE
THE CURRENT GROWS STRONGER A HUNDRED DIFF’RENT SHADES OF BLUE A BOAT ON THE WATER I WILL ALWAYS COME TO YOU
OH, WHAT I WOULDN’T DO I WILL ALWAYS COME TO YOU OH, WHAT I WOULDN’T DO OH, WHAT I WOULDN’T DO
I’LL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU
ARTISTS FOR FEEL OUT LOUD (in order of appearance )
Alessia Cara
Serena Ryder
Roy Woods
Johnny Orlando
Boslen
TOBi
Jade LeMac
Crash Adams
Jon Vinyl
GRAE
Gracie Ella
BLUE WILL
memyself&vi
Tafari Anthony
Sahara
Fefe Dobson
Adria Kain
Baby girl
Jully Black
LOKRE
Shawnee Kish
Stereos
Billy Raffoul
Katherine Li
Jessia
JP Saxe
MacKenzie Porter
Ryland James
Rêve
Preston Pablo
Ashley Sienna
Marie-Mai
Jonathan Roy
2Frères
Dominique Fils-Aimé
Izzy S
Jeanick Fournier
Naya Ali
Zach Zoya
The Reklaws
Wild Rivers
LOONY
Ralph
Haviah Mighty
Nicolina
Shawn Desman
SACHA
TALK
Lilyisthatyou
Sarah McLachlan + children's choir
Leela Gilday + children's choir
Donovan Woods
Jamie Fine
Tyler Shaw
ABOUT KIDS HELP PHONE
Kids Help Phone is Canada's only 24/7 national, e-mental health service offering free, confidential, multilingual support to young people. As the country's virtual care expert, we give millions of youths a safe, trusted space to talk over phone or through text or in self-directed supports in any moment of crisis or need. Through our digital transformation, we envision a future where every person in Canada can feel out loud and get the support they need, when they need it most. Kids Help Phone gratefully relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, stakeholder partners, corporate partners and governments to fuel and fund our programs. Learn more at KidsHelpPhone.ca.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Born from a chance encounter in a stairwell, “The Thing That Wrecks You,” available everywhere now, brings reigning CCMA Entertainer of the Year Tenille Townes and GRAMMY Award winner Bryan Adams together on a vocal performance that matches the energy of the song’s lyrics, describing the moment love careens headfirst towards heartbreak.
“I was recording a song for a Hallmark Movie in Vancouver last summer and found myself completely enamored by the recording space we were in,” remembers Townes. “Later in the day, I found out that it was Bryan Adams’ Warehouse.
Studio, and I actually ran into Bryan himself on the staircase on my way out. We talked for just a few minutes, and I was so happy to meet him because his path as a fellow Canadian has been incredibly inspiring to me, with a collection of songs that have impacted the world in such a huge way.
“Later that night, I thought about ‘The Thing That Wrecks You,’ a song I’d written a while before with Kate York and Daniel Tashian, and how the spirit of that song made me think about his voice,” she continues. “I decided to go out on a limb and sent him the song along with a letter asking if he might be up for singing on it with me. Fast forward to now, where not only have I gotten to sing with a hero of mine, but I have also found a mentor and friend through this whole adventure. This song is evidence to me that putting a wild thought out in the atmosphere and believing in it is a powerful thing.”
Just shy of four minutes, the driving track produced by Townes and her band’s guitarist, Jaxon Hargrove, was recorded with her touring band joining her in-studio as well as with Adams adding his own guitar prowess to the song alongside his vocals. Trading opening lines, the pair come together for a stirring duet on the chorus:
‘’We're running down a darker road Where even angels fear to go And stars fall like a lonely tear When they’re crashing through the atmosphere It looked just like a dream come true But love can lead you straight into The thing that wrecks you''
“I wrote this song in a state of worry about a friend of mine who was in a toxic relationship. I couldn't understand why she kept running back to him. We would have conversations about how she knew it wasn't good for her, and how much emotional turmoil it was causing her, but still she'd choose to keep putting herself through it. It's so hard to watch someone you care about, feel that kind of pain. I think I wrote this song trying to imagine and understand that feeling, where the emotional pull is so much greater than any kind of logic. I hadn't experienced that before in a relationship in my life at the time, but I often write from the perspective of putting myself in someone else's experience, to find understanding. I imagined how it's the same pull we feel as humans towards things we know aren't good for us, whether it's a relationship, an addiction of any kind, or something that we know will end in wreckage, but we still go through it anyway. I think that's a fundamental part of the human condition. If we didn't follow those pulls, maybe we wouldn't find out the core of who we are after the crash. I think what's under the pieces that shatter and fall around us, is a lot of truth. Maybe the thing that wrecks us becomes a part of the best thing that could have happened to us. But the pain of it before that growth or any kind of revelation happens, that's the place I wanted to write this song from. From the middle of the hurt, the cycle, and the madness.” - Tenille Townes
The song offers a preview of new music from Townes, whose most recent project, Masquerades, was released in April 2022 via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville in partnership with RCA Records. Fans can also catch her on the road this summer, including at major festivals such as Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Faster Horses Festival, Watershed Festival, and more.
‘’I had the chance to talk with Townes about her incredible journey in music and what success meant at the beginning of this dream to be in the music industry and what success means to her now. We talk about her new EP ‘’Masquerades'' and the meaning behind the lyrics of those songs. There is a lot we cover including her feature role in Hallmark Movies & Mysteries' Time For Him To Come Home For Christmas (starring Tyler Hynes and Holland Roden), as an actor, and performer, and her song "One In A Million" that was featured in the opening scene.''
‘’I dig a lot deeper into her journey in her ability to write songs and how she can engulf herself completely in the stories she writes about and how these songs will stand the test of time. We chat about her recent chance meeting withBryan Adams that has set the singer on a course of further incredible surprises.''
For more information, visit TenilleTownes.com and follow her on all her social media @TenilleTownes.
Tenille Townes and Bryan Adams - The Thing That Wrecks You (Official Audio)
About Tenille Townes
Award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician Tenille Townes released her latest project Masquerades April 22 via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville in partnership with RCA Records. A meditation on duality, self-reflection, and embracing flaws, Masquerades follows her acclaimed debut album The Lemonade Stand, which was named Country Album of the Year at the 50th JUNO Awards. Townes is a 15-time Canadian Country Music Award Winner (CCMA) and is the reigning CCMA Entertainer of the Year. The two-time ACM Award-winner is also the first female artist in Mediabase Canada history to achieve two No. 1 singles (Music Canada Gold-certified “Jersey on The Wall (I’m Just Asking),” Music Canada Platinum-certified and RIAA Gold-certified “Somebody’s Daughter”). Following standout support runs with Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne, George Strait, and Reba, Townes is headlining shows across the globe in Australia, Canada, The United Kingdom, Ireland, The Netherlands, Germany, and the US. Her international touring efforts earned her a nomination for CMA’s international achievement award. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Townes has been featured by NPR, Variety, Refinery29, Billboard, Rolling Stone, NBC’s “TODAY,” BBC, and more. Additionally, she has raised over $2.5 million for Big Hearts For Big Kids, a non-profit she started when she was 12 years old to benefit a youth shelter in her hometown, which has grown to support organizations such as Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, S.A.F.E. Animal Haven, and the Manna House.
Tenille Townes - The Last Time (Lyric Video)
Tenille Townes - When You Need It (Official Music Video) ft. Wrabel
Australian-born and Alberta-raised, Gord Bamford stands as one of the most decorated artists in Canadian country music. Gord's traditional country music style and delivery of captivating live shows have lead him to receive 26 Canadian Country Music Association awards. He has received Album of the Year, Single of the Year, and Male Artist of the Year wins, and received multiple JUNO Award nominations. With over 85 million streams and 5 billion audience impressions on radio globally, Bamford is a two-time winner of the CMA Global Country Artist Award, with 27 Top 10 singles in Canada, including the No. 1 hits "When Your Lips Are So Close," 'Country Junkie' (2013) and "Dive Bar" from the album ‘Neon Smoke' (2018).
Multiple CMA and 26X CCMA award-winner Gord Bamford stays true to his own country sound with the release of this emotionally infused song, “One Heartbeat From Heaven.” Produced by Bamford and Phil O’Donnell, this tune embraces themes of caregiving, loss, compassion, empathy, and, most important – hope. An expression of gratitude, love, and support for those loved ones, “One Heartbeat From Heaven” is available at all digital retailers and country radio now.
Gord Bamford - One Heartbeat From Heaven (Official Music Video)
This song touches audiences young and older in a way that is powerful and life-changing with an impact I have not seen in a long time. It is truly a song that will last the test of time. There are so many interpretations that I have heard from fans all over the world of what this song stands for to them. It is a song that every artist dreams to have in their catalog.
I had the chance to sit down and chat in-depth with Gord Bamford to talk about his life, lessons learned along the way, the drive behind his music and charity foundation, the gift of this new song, and his new 12 studio album ‘’Fire It Up'' coming out on April 28th via Anthem Records.''
To hear my interview full of music and heart with Bamford, you can go to www.musicsjourney.com or click on the link below.
Building off previous successes, Bamford proudly released his 10th studio album, "Diamonds In A Whiskey Glass", early summer of 2021. This album has had four single releases, including 'Fishin'" and "Heaven On Dirt."
Gord Bamford- Diamonds Whiskey In A Glass (Official Video)
Gord Bamford - Diamonds In A Whiskey Glass (Official Music Video)Multiple CMA and 26x CCMA Award winner Gord Bamford dropped his 11 studio album, the Deluxe Diamond Edition of Diamonds In A Whiskey Glass, on May 20th, 2022 which is available digitally via Anthem Records. The extended Deluxe Diamond Edition features all eleven tracks from Bamford’s celebrated 2021 album including his hit single ‘Heaven On Dirt’, which to date has garnered over 5.5M global streams, as well as new songs including his latest release ‘I Ain’t Drunk’ featuring celebrated Canadian country star Terri Clark.
“I Ain’t Drunk” is a collaboration with CCMA Hall of Famer Terri Clark.
On collaborating with Terri Clark on the single, Bamford shares,
“If I sat down and made a list of the greats in country music, Terri Clark would be right at the top for me. With endless class and timeless songs, she has paved the path for many of us in the industry and I’m certain she will continue to do that for many folks aspiring to get into the business.”
Terri Clark adds,
“When Gord asked me to sing on “I Ain’t Drunk” I jumped at the opportunity to sing with one of Canada’s finest and true country singers. I’m excited for the fans to hear the song and look forward to us one day performing it live on stage.”
Gord Bamford & Terri Clark - I Ain't Drunk
Gord Bamford & Terri Clark - I Ain't DrunkGord Bamford & Terri Clark - I Ain't Drunk
Diamonds In A Whiskey Glass Deluxe Diamond Edition track listing: 1. Heaven On Dirt 2. Diamonds In A Whiskey Glass 3. Two Strangers In A Bar 4. Hag On The Jukebox 5. Fishin’ 6. Float People 7. Marry Me Again 8. Love On Me 9. Tractor Town 10. #REDNEK 11. Beer Cloud 12. Just Let Go 13. Drink Along Song 14. Who’s Your Farmer 15. I Ain’t Drunk (Featuring Terri Clark) 16. White Oak Cathedral 17. To Get To You (Featuring Jess Moskaluke) 18. Father’s Prayer
Stream or download Diamonds In AWhiskey Glass Deluxe Diamond EditionHERE.
Gord's self-named charity, The Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation, has generated over $5 million. In the fourteen years of operation, it has supported over 63 children's charities across Canada
ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT'S FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND AUDIO/VISUAL MUSIC-FOCUSED BROADCAST AND PODCAST SERIES "REAL COUNTRY LIVIN'" LAUNCHED MAY 28, 2022 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SIRIUSXM CANADA.
Toronto, ON (February 17, 2023) — Kicking the new year off with a bang, BMG/Wheelhouse Records breakthrough artist Madeline Merlo has earned the top spot with her single “Slide” becoming the #1 most added CanCon track across all formats and country (Mediabase). This follows the song’s incredible streaming success since its release, earning over 1.9M global streams and leading the way for everything that is to come from the Season 2 SONGLAND-winning artist.
With so much exciting life events happening for this award-winning songwriter this year, including a performance at Cavendish Beach Music Festival, her upcoming wedding, and an exciting new announcement that the fans are not going to want to miss.
Growing up surrounded by music, her father a touring musician, and her parents owning a live music venue, Madeline Merlo was destined for a career in music. That destiny would soon lead her to Nashville to fulfill her dreams.
‘’Madeline Merlo is such a gifted and brilliant singer-songwriter, ‘’ says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host on the International Music's Journey Podcast. ‘’The music industry is tough and difficult to break through with the talent pool in Canada and the USA. Merlo has broken down some major barriers and she has successfully established herself as a talented sought-after songwriter in the American country music landscape. That isn't easy. After winning her episode on the songwriting show, Songland, the singer-songwriter knew she had what it took to up the ante. Today, Merlo slides into the top spot with the new radio release of her new single Slide.''
The songstress delivers her best work yet showcasing her songwriting chops and her killer vocals with her new EP ‘’Slide''. The title track, written by Merlo with Zach Crowell, Jerry Flowers, and Sam Hunt has been an instant fan favorite off of the record. Although originally developed for Hunt, the writers knew the song would be better from a woman’s perspective. Merlo was clearly the right woman for the job with her ability to write with a unique perspective that worked perfectly for this song.
Madeline Merlo - Slide Official Music Video
Madeline Merlo - Slide (Official Music Video)Madeline Merlo - Slide (Official Music Video)Madeline Merlo - Slide (Official Music Video)The journey and success this artist has made for herself have been built with a ton of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. Merlo is a trailblazer in this industry and young artists all around the world are watching and looking up to her now with inspiration and dreams that they too can follow in her footsteps . With what once started as a dream of a young girl from Maple Ridge, BC at the age of 10 yrs old, attending a concert for Shania Twain, Merlo has now come full circle. Merlo performed on stage with her idol at the CCMA's and has set the stage for herself as the artist to watch.
The singer continues to share female stories throughout the EP. On “YOUNG-ish,” Merlo stakes her claim in her womanhood – encouraging all of us to challenge the misconception that everyone’s path should be the same.
Madeline Merlo- Young-ISH
I had the chance to speak to Madeline Merlo about the success of her new ep in its entirety, the co-writing of every song on this project, her upcoming wedding, and the special announcement that she has not shared publically until now! To listen to my special interview with Madeline Merlo, click on the link below or go to www.musicsjourney.com.
Hailed as one of the "most important bands in music since the dawn of the rock and roll era,” the legendary rock and roll band with horns, Chicago. The highest-charting American band in Billboard Magazine's Top 125 Artists Of All Time, Chicago is the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in six consecutive decades.
Featuring the signature sounds Chicago fans have come to love, their latest album, BORN FOR THIS MOMENT, produced by Joe Thomas, captures the true heart of this legendary band. Over the entire course of 14 vibrant new songs, BORN FOR THIS MOMENT encapsulates the unique blend of award-winning and personal songwriting, multilayered harmonic vocalizations, and world-class arrangements that have been electrifying audiences across the globe for decades.
Chicago recently received The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the GRAMMYS. The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording. A special award ceremony and tribute concert celebrating the honorees was held in 2020.
Chicago’s lifetime achievements include 2 Grammy Awards, 2 American Music Awards, Founding Artists of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Chicago street dedicated in their honor, and keys to and proclamations from an impressive list of US cities. Record sales top the 100,000,000 mark, and include 21 Top 10 singles, 5 consecutive Number One albums, 11 Number One singles, and 5 Gold singles. An incredible 25 of their 38 albums have been certified platinum, and the band has a total of 48 gold and platinum awards.
From the signature sound of the Chicagohorns, their iconic Vocalists, and a few dozen of ever-Classic Songs, this band’s concerts are celebrations. 2023 marks the band’s 56th consecutive year of touring!
Chicagocontinues to be true ambassadors for their beloved hometown, carrying the city's name with pride and dignity around the world. Don’t miss them at The Venetian Theatre in February 2023.
''Chicago is undeniably one of the best shows out on tour today with their musical style, suffocation, and technique, '' says Kim Cyr, Editor in Chief for NOW and THEN Magazine, radio host, and host of the International Music's Journey Show. ''The band Chicago wanted to rewrite the way rock and roll was in 1967 and they did just that. They did it their way!''
I had the chance to sit down to chat with lead tenor, Neil Donell to talk about the extensive catalog that he will be singing with members of Chicago that they will be performing on the 2023 tour. Donell shares some great stories about joining the band 6 years ago and talks of the incredible brotherhood among the band members.
Neil Donell is a singer, songwriter, producer, musician, vocal coach, and the father of two wonderful sons. Originally from Montreal, he relocated to Toronto in the 80s to pursue his musical aspirations. Donell has had a lengthy and busy career in the recording studio and on stages all over North America and beyond ever since.
It was a lot of fun to talk with Donell about his career in the music industry. Donell is so incredibly talented as a powerhouse vocalist. This was an opportunity to talk in-depth and play some of the most iconic songs of one of the best rock and roll bands of all time.
Chicago has 2 Canadian tour stops right now. The band will be performing at Caesars Windsor on April 7th and at Casino Rama on April 8th. To get your tickets, click HERE.
There will never be another band that has delivered hit after hit, album after album, never stopping to tour ever or stopping to record as Chicago has. Beginning its 56th year on tour, Chicago is one of the best band's there will ever be in rock and roll history delivering songs that bring back memories of a lifetime of music shared together with their fans all over the world.
To hear my 2-part interview with Neil Donell, an interview that is packed full of all your favorite Chicago songs, go to www.musicsjourney.com or click on the link below.
Music's Journey Podcast
Music's Journey Show 
For Tickets, Go 