News

Vancouver’s Noble Oak today announces his new album When It Finds You and reveals the latest track “Your Favourite Place”. When It Finds You is set for release on July 8th via Last Gang / MNRK.

**Click to pre-order When It Finds You 

Patrick Fiore might not typically disclose his innermost thoughts in conversation, but he certainly weaves them throughout his music as Noble Oak. On When It Finds You, under this nom de plume, he wraps up all of his deepest ponderances in shimmering keys, cinematic production, and organic instrumentation—as if leafing through a diary under the glow of incandescent soundscapes.  

Speaking on “Your Favourite Place”, Fiore explains, “It’s about the desire to return to a place of comfort. You’re trying to find optimism in places you might not usually find it. For a long time, I was very optimistic, and I still am. Part of me is somewhat unchanged. However, there’s a realistic aspect of myself that’s emerged. It’s a balance.”

**Click to save/stream Noble Oak “Your Favourite Place"

Classically trained, Fiore learned piano at a young age and devoted the better part of his formative years to solo piano and symphonic compositions. Integrating beat-craft and synthesizers, he formally introduced Noble Oak with his debut label backed album Horizon [2020], followed by his instrumental piano EP Stories (2021),  Reeling  in millions of worldwide streams, he has received acclaim from the likes of TripleJ, BBC Radio, HYPEBEAST, Stereogum, DIY, and Clash.

Written, recorded, produced, mixed, and creative directed by Fiore, When It Finds You, is set for release on July 8^th via Last Gang / MNRK.

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 21^st, 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:

1. Palmistry
2. Pretenders
3. Patterns
4. Back To The End
5. That Girl
6. Build a Fire
7. Capelton Hill
8. Hoping
9. To Feel What They Feel
10. If I Never See London Again
11. I Need The Light
12. Snowy Owl
13. Snowy Owl (Benjamin Gibbard Remix)
14. Pretenders (illuminati hotties Remix)
15. Back To The End (Yumi Zouma Remix)
16. Build A Fire (Real Lies Remix)
17. If I Never See London Again (Joseph Shabason Remix)

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

Vancouver based multi instrumentalist / musician Noble Oak (Patrick Fiore) is pleased to announce a brand new release with the arrival of "Tides Turn". Embracing the spirit of adventure, the track is an ode to the open road and draws on a myriad of influences from pop, indie, electronica and soul, accompanied by a Cinéma vérité style clip directed by Max Ciné. 

**Click to listen to Noble Oak's "Tide's Turn"

Patrick says: "This is reawakening to yourself and your desires after much time spent away, while at the same time chasing a reckless abandon. After some time, we rediscover the pieces of us that have shifted, and the new ones emerge untouched.”

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.