Vancouver based multi-instrumentalist Noble Oak (Patrick Fiore) returns with a brand new release "Anywhere But Here" today, along with a new video directed by Max Ciné.
Following the release of "Tides Turn" last month, Fiore's second offering highlight various emotions and anxieties in glistening lo-fi pop melodies and watercolour soundscapes.
**Click to listen to "Anywhere But Here"
He explains: "We are often subject to the immense pressure of living in dissonant ways, holding one dream while chasing another. It’s become popular to manage this by escaping to some distant place, be that deep within our minds or far into the wilderness. In either case, we wish to be anywhere but here, finding somewhere that both serves as a comfort and a dream of a place we may never reach again.”
After receiving a Rhodes from a friend who no longer had space for it, Vancouver-born Patrick Fiore knew it was time to finally make something happen. Having studied piano since age 7, Fiore amassed some 10 years of writing solo piano and symphonic compositions and began to really write music with a computer for the first time, at 19. And a lot of reverb. Thus the musical expedition of Noble Oak began.
Fast forward to now, Noble Oak’s music has evolved to create immersive and captivating songs that are equally as passionate when instrumental as they are when layered with his ethereal tenor. Spanning a range of tempos and beat styles, this is music to love to, with a story packed into every song and melodies that lift you into the air.
Today, jazz and R&B producer, composer and musician Harrison announces his self-produced third album Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees. Featuring “Float” with Kadhja Bonet, this new album will be out April 28 via Last Gang Records.
Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees demonstrates the evolution of the Toronto-based artist’s sound since releasing his first two JUNO-nominated albums, as well as Harrison’s recent composition work on video games (Nintendo Switch’s LOUD) and commercials (NERF, Play-Doh). The musical polymath performed every instrument on the piano-centric record, in addition to writing, producing and mixing the album in its entirety. Drawing from his artistic roots, love of old cartoons, and musical influences ranging from instrumental hip-hop to American jazz piano a la Vince Guaraldi and Charlie Brown, this album is a nostalgic ode to the music Harrison dreamed about making as a kid.
Pre-order Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees
Like his previous two albums, Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees sees a handful of guests seamlessly stepping into the producer’s technicoloured world. Veteran emcees MED & Guilty Simpson are featured on today’s track “Bump,” while the rest of the album boasts features from the likes of Kadhja Bonet, TOBi and Nanna B. Also out today is the funky instrumental “Inthecoupe.”
Click to save/stream "Bump (ft. MED & Guilty Simpson) / Inthecoupe"
“‘Bump’ Is a love letter to some of my favorite rappers growing up,” Harrison says. “MED and Guilty have been huge influences on me since I was 16. Understanding their beat choices on producers they worked with was a really helpful growing tool. The instrumental for BUMP was actually originally different. They found the pocket I was looking for on this new joint. I’m floored that they were kind enough to join me on this album. ‘Inthecoupe’ is a reminder to myself to not be so serious all the time. My love for jazz is very deep but I still love making fun dance music. A playful song revolving around a brass synth and a bounce.
Harrison - Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees Tracklist
1. Daydreamin
2. Cowboys
3. Outta This World (featuring TOBi)
4. Overhead
5. Like When We Were Kids
6. Bump (featuring M.E.D. and Guilty Simpson)
7. Honey Harbor (Bill's Song)
8. Music Box
9. Around You
10. Float (featuring Kadhja Bonet)
11. 2016
12. Inthecoupe
13. 7 pm
14. Blue Sky (featuring Nanna.B)
15. A View From The Sky
16. Runthatback
Montreal’s Stars today announced From Capelton Hill Deluxe, the expanded edition of the band’s most recent album, will be released April 21st, 2023. The news is accompanied by the release of “Pretenders (illuminati hotties Remix),” a hyper-speed reinterpretation by Sarah Tudzin that takes the romantic original to new heights.
The illuminati hotties remix follows last month’s drop of Benjamin Gibbard’s (Death Cab For Cutie) nuanced, sinuous take on “Snowy Owl,” and both make up the 17-track expansion, in addition to forthcoming remixes by Yumi Zouma, Real Lies and Joseph Shabason.
“These aren't just a bunch of remixes, they're a bunch of remixes by people who have made some of our absolute favorite music,” the band explains of the new LP. “Some of them we've been friends with for decades, some we have never even met, but no matter whether they are old friends or new, their music has been incredibly inspiring to us. We're honored that they took the time to re-approach these songs of ours.”
Stars will embark on their North American 'Hoping For Spring' tour in April, including select rescheduled U.S. shows from 2022–a full itinerary is listed below.
From Capelton Hill was released last May via Last Gang Records / MNRK to acclaim from MOJO (4/5), Exclaim! (8/10), Brooklyn Vegan (“few bands that were with us at the dawn of the millennium continue to sound this vital”), NEXT, Under The Radar, Music OHM (4/5), Record Collector (4/5) and CBC 'q', among others.
From Capelton Hill Deluxe LP Tracklist:
Stars 2023 Tour Dates:
04/07 - Creemore, ON - Avening Community Hall
04/08 - Creemore, ON - Avening Community Hall
04/09 - Paris, ON - Paris Presbyterian Church
04/10 - Hamilton, ON - Bridgeworks
04/12 - Ferndale, MI - The Magic Bag
04/13 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
04/14 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
04/15 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Café
04/18 - Dallas, TX - Cambridge Room
04/19 - Austin, TX - 3Ten Austin City
Keys N Krates are back with a new single "What Girls Do", an up-tempo afro jam that builds on the Toronto trio's well-acclaimed house repertoire. This follows “Get Up”, released at the end of 2022 marking a new album cycle for the group.
In conjunction, Keys N Krates have also launched an exclusive Spotify DJ Mix, which you can save/stream here.
"What Girls Do" and “Get Up” follows their A2iM Libera BEST DANCE RECORD nominated album Original Classic, which was also named one of Billboard's Best Dance Records of 2021.
The album featured contributions from Juicy J, Chip, Bibi Bourelly, Lido Pimienta and Haviah Mighty.
The trio have since taken Original Classic on the road with a series of North American dates throughout 2022, along with releasing a DELUXE version with remixes courtesy of Soul Clap, Justin Martin, TEK.LUN, Byron The Aquarius, and so on.
Since forming a decade ago in their native Toronto, Keys N Krates have carved their own path via a bass-centric, sample-driven sound, melding the realms of electronic, hip-hop and beyond. The group — composed of drummer Adam Tune, keyboardist David Matisse and turntablist Jr. Flo — has built a venerable reputation as one of the leading live electronic acts today on the strength of their onstage instrumentation and energetic sets.
Montreal’s Stars today released a nuanced and sinuous new remix of “Snowy Owl,” a standout ballad off their latest album, by Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie). Gibbard–who introduced his reworking in a new video with the band’s Torquil Campbell, declaring Stars “the best band in the world!”–is the first artist in a diverse group of other soon-to-be-announced acts who collaboratively brought their unique take on songs from Stars ninth album, From Capelton Hill. Stay tuned for other remixes in the coming months, culminating in an official release later this spring.
Stream “Snowy Owl (Benjamin Gibbard Remix)” at all DSPs.
“Ben's one of my dearest friends, and our tour with Death Cab way back when was such a pivotal moment in our career, so it feels incredibly happy and good to put this remix out into the world,” says Campbell. “And what a remix it is, gifted with Ben's innate melodicism, but tougher and more groovy than the original version as well. We love it, and we're so happy to share it with you all.”
Stars also announced new headline North American tour dates in April, including select rescheduled U.S. shows from 2022. The band recently confirmed the various special live guests and longtime friends who will join them onstage at select upcoming U.K. and European shows: John Douglas (The Trashcan Sinatras) in Glasgow, David Gedge (The Wedding Present) in Paris, London and Amsterdam, and Bloc Party’s Russell Lissack at the second London show. A full itinerary is below; tickets for all new tour dates go on-sale Thursday, Feb 2nd at 10:00am local time.
“Snowy Owl (Benjamin Gibbard Remix)” follows their recent holiday single, “Christmas Anyway,” which earned praise from Variety, FLOOD, Stereogum, and more. From Capelton Hill was released last May via Last Gang Records / MNRK to acclaim from MOJO (4/5), Exclaim! (8/10), Brooklyn Vegan (“few bands that were with us at the dawn of the millennium continue to sound this vital”), NEXT, Under The Radar, Music OHM (4/5), Record Collector (4/5) and CBC 'q', among others.
Stars 2023 Tour Dates:
02/03 - Galway, IRE - Roisin Dubh
02/04 - Dublin, IRE - Whelan’s
02/05 - Cork, IRE - Cyprus Avenue
02/07 - Belfast, UK - Ulster Sports Club
02/08 - Glasgow, UK - King Tuts
02/09 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
02/10 - Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute
02/11 - London, UK - Lafayette London
02/12 - London, UK - Lafayette London
02/14 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain
02/16 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
02/17 - Hamburg, DE - Knust
02/18 - Berlin, DE - Lido
04/07 - Creemore, ON - Avening Community Hall
04/08 - Creemore, ON - Avening Community Hall
04/09 - Paris, ON - Paris Presbyterian Church
04/10 - Hamilton, ON - Bridgeworks
04/12 - Ferndale, MI - The Magic Bag
04/13 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
04/14 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
04/15 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Café
04/18 - Dallas, TX - Cambridge Room
04/19 - Austin, TX - 3Ten Austin City
