Fresh News – Pheromone Recordings

JUNO AWARD-WINNING CANADIAN ALTERNATIVE-ROCK DUO DEAR ROUGE RETURN WITH NEW SINGLE “GOON”

March 8, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 8, 2024

Toronto, ON – Today, JUNO Award-winning Vancouver alternative-rock duo Dear Rouge, return with the highly anticipated release of their roaring new single “Goon ,” via Pheromone Recordings / Cadence Music Group and all streaming platforms.

Produced by Gus van Go (The Beaches, Metric, Sam Roberts Band), “Goon”, strappy and energetic, comes crashing into listeners’ ears and vividly captures the frustration of dealing with unwanted individuals that keep resurfacing in your life. Whether they’re an old business partner or an ex that did you wrong, this is the song you’ll want to play when you’re dealing with the annoyance of toxic encounters.

“This is a song about the people in our lives that we’d like to forget. But somehow, and for some reason or another, they just keep turning up. And often in the most uncomfortable ways,” said Danielle McTaggart of Dear Rouge. “This goes out to everyone who has a “Goon” person in their life who just won’t leave you alone. It’s time to go away!”

Dear Rouge is composed of Danielle and Drew McTaggart, who are partners both in life and in music. Formed in 2012, Dear Rouge burst onto the music scene with the release of their debut album Black To Gold (2015), followed by the release of PHASES (2018) and Spirit in 2022. Since starting out, the duo has solidified their position as one of Canada’s leading musical acts, earning eight Top 10 singles, five Top 5 singles and two #1 singles. They have accumulated an impressive 25 million streams to date and their song “Meet Me At The Rio” was the #25 Most Played track at Alternative Rock Radio for 2023.

Dear Rouge’s exceptional talent has been previously recognized with a prestigious JUNO Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year (2016), marking a significant milestone in their musical journey. Additionally, the duo won Group Of The Year at the 2022 CMW Jim Beam Indie Awards and has been nominated for several other awards, including the Western Canadian Music Awards, CBC Bucky Awards, CASBY Awards, and many more.

Dear Rouge has also had the privilege of sharing the stage with prominent names such as Vance Joy, Arkells, Metric, Lights, Our Lady Peace and Phantogram, and have had the privilege of performing at Ottawa Bluesfest, Osheaga Festival, Calgary Stampede, and the 2019 Grey Cup Festival in Calgary.

For more information on Dear Rouge, visit https://www.dearrouge.com/

TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAYMEN RELEASE EXPLOSIVE HITS VOL.1 FEATURING A MASTERFUL ARRAY OF CAN-ROCK CLASSICS

September 20, 2023

Explosive Hits Vol. 1, Trans-Canada Highwaymen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2023

TORONTO, ON – Today, Canadian supergroup, Trans-Canada Highwaymen (TCH) announce a brand-new album featuring Canadian classics from 1969-1975. Released by Pheromone Recordings on October 27th, the 14-track recording promises to be a collection that pays homage to the great K-Tel compilation records of the 1970’s. The TCH lineup includes four singer-songwriters who have all written songs that have contributed to Canadian culture – Sloan bassist Chris Murphy, Odds guitarist Craig Northey, former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page, and The Pursuit of Happiness‘s Moe Berg who join force once again to deliver their unique take on the best of Canadian rock!

“We’d been sporadically doing shows for a couple of years and having a blast laughing at each other’s jokes and playing each other’s smash hits. The question eventually arose. ‘What should we do next?’ We knew, whatever it was, it should only include smash hits. It was Chris who said ‘how about Explosive Hits?’. We laughed …so therefore it had to happen. Covid locked us all down so the plan was hatched to each hand pick a few Canadian AM rock radio hits from the very late 60’s and early 70’s. Our AM radios had helped shape our DNA and none of us had strayed too far from our inner child. Our arrested development was going to make this easy. We’d record our parts remotely and they would be aggregated and mixed in the Odds North Vancouver studio. Out of the blue Steven surprised us all with a new song that described our origin story — ‘Theme from TransCanada Highwaymen’. It was obviously an Explosive Hit so we had to throw it on our growing bonfire of Canadian rock heaters. So…four Canadian musical mavens from the 80’s and 90’s sing the Canadian songs of the 60’s and 70’s. Makes total sense. As Moe says, “Don’t think too much about it. Act now”.

On this album, you’ll hear Steven sing “Undun” (The Guess Who), “Rock Me Gently” (Andy Kim) and “(I Believe) There’s Nothing Stronger Than Our Love” (Paul Anka). You’ll hear Craig sing “Tonite is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love” (April Wine), “Make My Life a Little Bit Brighter” (Chester), “Heartbeat, It’s a Lovebeat” (The DeFranco Family) and “Can’t Catch Me” (Bim). You’ll hear Chris sing “Lovin’ You Ain‘t Easy” (Michel Pagliaro), “Which Way You Goin’ Billy?” (The Poppy Family) and “Carry Me” (The Stampeders). You’ll hear Moe sing “Pretty Lady” (Lighthouse), “Raised on Robbery” (Joni Mitchell) and “You, Me and Mexico” (Edward Bear).

When it comes to Canadian rock in the ‘90s, the term supergroup can not be overused. Since 2017 the “TCH” have performed their hit songs as a crack “two guitars, bass and drums” rock ‘n roll combo. Members swap instruments and lead singers rotate throughout the set. There’s always an infectious energy, a display of seasoned musicianship and an abundance of fun. These four front-men of Canada`s most popular and commercially successful alt/rock, power/pop bands just play themselves and it brings all those feelings of the late 80’s and early 90’s into the moment. They bring along their unique perspectives on being catapulted from the hard working underground indie scene to acclaim, during one of Canada`s most exciting and transformative music eras.

The TCH live show will include songs from Explosive Hits Vol. 1 but the emphasis of the TCH live show will still be the songs these guys have written.

Don’t worry, you’ll still hear Moe sing “I’m An Adult Now”, “Hard to Laugh” and “She’s So Young”. You’ll still hear Chris sing “Underwhelmed”, “The Other Man” and “The Rest of My Life”. You’ll still hear Craig sing “It Falls Apart”, “Someone Who’s Cool” and “Make You Mad”. You’ll still hear Steven sing “The Old Apartment”, “Brian Wilson” and “Jane”.

Link to press photo here.

LOST COUSINS SHARE NEW DREAM ROCK ALBUM “POINT NO POINT”

July 21, 2023

Lost Cousins, Point No Point

Photo Credit: Ryan Brough/Zeebrah Media (Download)

LOST COUSINS SHARE NEW DREAM ROCK ALBUM “POINT NO POINT” + SINGLE ‘CARRIED’

Toronto, ON – July 21, 2023 – Today, dream rock outfit Lost Cousins shares their highly anticipated sophomore album, ‘Point No Point’ (Pheromone Recordings / Cadence Music Group). The album promises to take listeners on an introspective journey, exploring relationship dynamics and transformative experiences set to the band’s signature layered harmonies and intricate instrumentation. As part of the album’s release, the band is excited to introduce the track, ‘Carried…,’ a heartfelt and emotional exploration of love, guilt, and the impact of personal change.

Each track on the album serves as an opus of its own, creating the enchanting labyrinth that is ‘Point No Point.’ It’s a collection of stories; a labour of love spanning years, a testament to an unwavering dedication to a vision and telling a story that resonates with the depths of the soul.

As with their debut album ‘In Scenery’, the narrative that flows throughout ‘Point No Point’ follows familiar and intertwining dichotomies and the accompanying emotions that result: rural versus urban living, periods of isolation versus time spent surrounded by friends and loved ones. It’s an immersive experience, evoking vivid memories and filled with the lush sounds of forest lakes, the expanse of the Pacific Ocean, the cozy embrace of Toronto apartments, and the enchanting beauty of the Laurentians. In keeping with the album’s themes of nostalgia and discovery, Lost Cousins chose to self-record at a remote mountaintop chalet near Val-David, Quebec, living and working together for an entire summer. In order to fully realize their sonic visions, Lost Cousins enlisted the expertise of co-owner of Union Sound in Toronto, Leon Taheny (Owen Pallett, Fucked Up, METZ, Weaves, The Rural Alberta Advantage), for engineering and co-production assistance. The accomplished Austin-based engineer, Chris Shaw (Death Cab for Cutie, Wilco, Modest Mouse, and Half Moon Run), handled the album’s mixing, ensuring the music reached its full potential.

On the single ‘Carried…’, lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Cam Duffin shares that in essence, the track ‘is an emotional journey that explores a complex love/hate relationship with a place, intertwining it with the bittersweetness of a significant move. This heartfelt song delves deep into the feelings of guilt that arise from making personal changes that affect those around us, leaving a lingering weight as a persistent reminder.”

As with many of the tracks that make up the album, ‘Carried…’ underwent a transformative evolution, with the group experimenting and exploring different arrangements. The core of the song resonated so deeply with the band that they made the conscious decision to strip back much of the intricate production, delivering a clear and intentional message without any distractions. Written just before embarking on a cross-country move, the single encapsulates a sense of being trapped in a monotonous routine and evokes a growing desire to break free. As part of “Point No Point,” the song contributes to a broader exploration of relationship dynamics, offering profound insights into the resilience of bonds tested during transformative journeys.

On the album’s title, ‘Point No Point,’ the band wanted to convey the ongoing and ever-evolving nature of personal stories, symbolizing a longing for more meaningful experiences. The album’s eleven tracks mark a significant milestone in Lost Cousins’ growth and artistic evolution, standing as a resounding testament to their labour of love spanning years, multiple locations, and countless creative cycles. Each song showcases the band’s unwavering commitment to creating honest and emotionally resonant music. From powerful melodies and poignant lyrics to the swooping soundscapes and enchanting orchestration, the album allows listeners to immerse themselves in a unique departure from the ordinary.

“Point No Point” is an extraordinary musical offering that captures the essence of Lost Cousins’ creative journey, and fans can expect a deeply moving and unforgettable experience.

Point No Point Track List

1. A Thousand Waves
2. Dreamer
3. Plain Sight
4. Move Slow
5. Colours
6. Carried…
7. Daylight
8. Be There After Dark
9. With Love From Beyond
10. Waiting on the Other Side
11. Leaving

Upcoming Dates

Saturday, July 22nd – Toronto, ON – The Horseshoe Tavern

Lost Cousins is:

Cam Duffin: Vocals, Piano, Synthesizer, Drums, Bass Guitar, Guitar, Percussion
Lloyd McArton: Guitar, Saxophone
Thomas Dashney: Synthesizer, Keyboards
Sean MacTaggart: Bass Guitar
Marcus Sisk: Drums

GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS RELEASE UNCERTAIN COUNTRY TODAY

April 28, 2023

Great Lake Swimmers, Swimming Like Flying, Uncertain Country

Photo Credit: Adam CK Vollick

GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS SHARE NEW SINGLE + VIDEO FOR “SWIMMING LIKE FLYING”

CANADIAN FALL TOUR DATES FOR SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER 2023 WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON

Great Lake Swimmers are elated to release their newest album, Uncertain Country (Harbour Songs / Fontana) today. This new album marks the band’s first release in nearly five years, and compliments the group’s two decades deep musical catalogue. It is accompanied by another kaleidoscopic swirl of imagery and lyrics for new album single, “Swimming Like Flying.”WATCH + SHARE “Swimming Like Flying” HERE + above.LISTEN TO + SHARE “Swimming Like Flying” HERE.GET UNCERTAIN COUNTRY HERE.A lengthy fall tour itinerary will be announced shortly, with pre-sale ticketing details to come and will see the band cross Canada over September, October and November 2023. A full listing of current dates follows below and all ticket links are HERE. Great Lake Swimmers emerged twenty years ago as a songwriting vehicle for band leader and songwriter, Tony Dekker, with a series of atmospheric albums recorded in old silos and rural country churches. Ever since, Dekker has continued to create acoustically-inclined compositions, with layered, lush and intimate recordings that linger long.

This newest celebration, 11-songs long, follows a prolonged period of collective anxiety. Though recorded in different locales—largely around the Niagara region, and with a variety of musicians—a theme of questioning runs throughout. Even before the world turned upside down, Dekker felt mired in uncertainty: from the climate crisis and the ever-changing political landscape to deep shifts within the music industry. The “uncertain country” Dekker chose as the album’s theme is not a specific place. Rather, it’s a territory we, as humans, inhabit in the 21stcentury — a world that, more often than not, is confusing, unfamiliar and unsettling.Doubt, followed by discovery. Demos that ended up as finished tracks. New beginnings, rear-view reflections, and ruminations on the fluidity of time, these were the key drivers and realities of Uncertain Country. What started out four years ago as a 10-day trip to the north shore of Lake Superior, inspired a collection of musical field recordings at various locations around the Niagara region (where Dekker now lives) and served as the album’s organic recording studio.“Long-time Great Lake Swimmers listeners will find much that they know, from a strong current of nature imagery to Dekker’s wistful & emotive vocal delivery, but also plenty of new territory to discover. Those who are new to the band will find a rich variety of emotional dynamics & musical approaches that still has a coherent core. ‘Uncertain Country’ stands as some of the strongest & most consistent work by one of Canada’s best bands” – Great Dark WonderIn addition to the title track, “Uncertain Country” Great Lake Swimmers have also previewed a duo of tracks taken from the new LP. The first, “When the Storm Has Passed” according to Dekker is “about changes, moving…looking backwards and forwards…the elasticity of time.” Coupled with “Moonlight, Stay Above” which conjures loneliness in its, wistful tune. In a voice barely above a whisper, Dekker pleads: “don’t strand me and leave me alone” and song culminates with whistling – usually a solitary act, but then the 10 voices of Minuscule—an all-woman identifying choir based in Niagara region led by choral arranger Laurel Minnes—rises behind him to offer hope and reassurance.Dekker also notes that this song in particular epitomizes what Great Lake Swimmers represents. “The band is fluid and always evolving. It starts and ends with my writing, but the songs themselves suggest what players and instruments might fit best with each new record and version of the live touring band.”Details about the upcoming Canadian fall tour, ticketing pre-sale details and more, will follow soon.

UNCERTAIN COUNTRY TRACK LIST

1. Uncertain Country2. When the Storm Has Passed3. I Tried to Reach You4. Since January5. Swimming Like Flying6. On A Ship7. Moonlight, Stay Above8. Riverine 9. Quiet Before the Storm10. Into It11. Promise of Spring12. Think, Think13. Respect for all Living Things14. Flight Paths15. Am I Floating in the Air

GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS – UPCOMING TOUR DATESMay 23 @ Trailside Music Hall – Charlottetown, PEIMay 25 @ The Cap – Fredericton, NBMay 26 @ St Matthew’s United Church – Halifax, NSMay 27 @ Area 506 Container Village – Saint John, NBMay 28 @ L’Anti – Quebec City, QCAugust 11 @ Abbey Gardens – Haliburton, ONAugust 18 @ The Hayloft – Prince Edward County, ON

GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM, UNCERTAIN COUNTRY FOR APRIL 28 RELEASE

February 17, 2023

Great Lake Swimmers, Moonlight Stay Above, Uncertain Country, When The Storm Has Passed

Photo Credit: Adam CK Vollick

GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS RETURN WITH NEW ALBUM UNCERTAIN COUNTRY FOR RELEASE ON APRIL 28, 2023

PREVIEW WITH TWO NEW TRACKS “WHEN THE STORM HAS PASSED” + “MOONLIGHT, STAY ABOVE”

Doubt, followed by discovery. Demos that ended up as finished tracks. New beginnings, rear-view reflections, and ruminations on the fluidity of time. The new Great Lake Swimmers album, Uncertain Country, is a soundtrack that captures those feelings and so much more. It will be released on April 28, 2023 via Harbour Songs / Fontana, and features singer songwriter Tony Dekker’s first new music in nearly five years. It was worth the wait. Great Lake Swimmers emerged twenty years ago as a songwriting vehicle with a series of atmospheric albums recorded in old silos and rural country churches. Ever since, Dekker has continued to create acoustically-inclined compositions, with layered, lush and intimate recordings that linger long. The landscape and human’s connection to our external environment has loomed large in Dekker’s songs and is intrinsic to his aesthetic. No surprise to learn that relationship—and nature as an instrument—comes through on Uncertain Country. What started out four years ago as a 10-day trip to the north shore of Lake Superior, inspired a collection of musical field recordings at various locations around the Niagara region (where Dekker now lives) which served as the album’s organic recording studio.Great Lake Swimmers preview a duo of tracks today, taken from the new LP. The first, “When the Storm Has Passed” according to Dekker is “about changes, moving…looking backwards and forwards…the elasticity of time.” And, the second song, “Moonlight, Stay Above” is a lonely, wistful tune. In a voice barely above a whisper, Dekker pleads: “don’t strand me and leave me alone.” The song ends with whistling, which is usually a solitary act, but the 10 voices of Minuscule—an all-woman identifying choir based in Niagara region led by choral arranger Laurel Minnes—rises behind him to offer hope and reassure. The choir features in the video for “Moonlight, Stay Above” which you can watch + share HERE and above.Dekker also notes that this song epitomizes what Great Lake Swimmers represents. “The band is fluid and always evolving. It starts and ends with my writing, but the songs themselves suggest what players and instruments might fit best with each new record and version of the live touring band.”

UNCERTAIN COUNTRY TRACK LIST

DEAR ROUGE SHARE “MEET ME AT THE RIO” VIDEO

October 27, 2022

Dear Rouge, Meet Me At The Rio, Spirit

Photo Credit: Lindsey Blane

HEADLINING TOUR KICKS OFF NOVEMBER

SPIRIT OUT NOW

(October 27, 2022) – Vancouver alt-rock duo Dear Rouge’s latest radio single “Meet Me at The Rio” is currently sitting in the Top 20 on the radio charts, and today the band has shared a brand new video for the single.

Filmed this summer, the video features live clips from the band’s tour opening for Metric, along with clips of Danielle performing, dancing, and running through the stands at the actual Rio Theatre in Vancouver! On the track, and video, lead singer Danielle McTaggart says, “We wrote “Meet Me At The Rio” to celebrate the live music experience, using The Rio Theatre as a brick and mortar place to inspire the lyrics. Not to mention we love it there. Filming the last part of the video at the actual venue brought it all together. Filming there was amazing! The venue is a staple in Vancouver and we’ve had several nights celebrating art and culture there. So it was not hard to get into the vibe and have fun dancing through the seats and on the balcony.

WATCH “MEET ME AT THE RIO”

Dear Rouge will hit the road this fall with a headline tour across Canada with dates in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Red Deer, Vancouver and more. See below for a full list of tour dates. Tickets on-sale now- more info here.

Spirit, which was released this past spring has earned the band rave reviews including Exclaim, Monte Cristo, Northern Transmission, and more! The album also features singles “Fake Fame ”, alongside “Gimme Spirit”.

LISTEN TO SPIRIT HERE

CANADIAN TOUR DATES

Nov. 22 – St. Catherines, ON – Warehouse
Nov. 23 – Ottawa, ON – Bronson Centre
Nov. 24 – Montreal, QC – Petit Campus
Nov. 25 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
Nov. 26 – Hamilton, ON
Nov. 29 – Winnipeg, MB
Nov. 30 – Saskatoon, SK – Capitol Music Club
Dec. 01 – Calgary, AB – Palace Theatre
Dec. 02 – Red Deer, Bo’s Bar & Stage
Dec. 03 – Edmonton, AB – Midway
December 7 – Cumberland, BC – The Waverley
December 8 – Nanaimo, BC – The Queens
Dec. 09 – Victoria, BC – Capital Ballroom
Dec. 10 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre

DOWNLOAD TOUR POSTER HERE

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

TOMMY LEFROY SHARE “JERICHO BEACH”

October 21, 2022

Jericho Beach, Tommy Lefroy

TOMMY LEFROY SHARE NEW SINGLE & VIDEO ‘JERICHO BEACH’

UPCOMING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES WITH SAMIA IN 2023

“Storytelling flair from the ambitious duo finding humour in heartbreak” – NME

“[Tommy Lefroy are] reclaiming power in womanhood and queerness.” – NPR

(Toronto, ON – October 21, 2022) – Today, Tommy Lefroy release their brand new single ‘Jericho Beach’ – a gorgeous acoustic reverie bloom into a widescreen coming-of-age epic named after the Vancouver beach, a kind of sandy boulevard of broken dreams where, as the lyrics say, “the pavement is a portal, and I’m 16 and I don’t know how to handle being mortal…”. It follows their last track ‘Dog Eat Dog’, a bruising, satirical take on the women-as-rivals theme with a fitting video echoing Joan of Arc, as the second single to be released from their upcoming project.

Rebellious candour, existentialism, and friendship are at the crux of what drives and motivates Tommy Lefroy, the songwriter, producer and artist project by Wynter Bethel and Tessa Mouzourakis. Described as a “band for our fever dreams,” it was a series of sliding doors moments and necessity – with both women 5000 miles apart and facing cataclysmic shifts in their romantic and everyday lives – that brought Tommy together. Bonded by literature and lyrical precision, the name Tommy Lefroy was born out of Jane Austen’s real-life Mr Darcy – the original 19th-century fuckboy Thomas Langlois Lefroy – a man who broke the author’s heart. Tommy Lefroy’s mission? To subvert the broken woman trope and become heroic lead characters themselves. From meeting in Nashville in 2018 to continually crossing paths at house parties, when Tessa went to see Phoebe Bridgers’ supergroup Boy Genius play in her hometown Vancouver, she watched in awe and thought: “I want this, I can do this.” She posted a cover of their song “Ketchum, ID” on her Instagram story and Wynter responded: “Can we start a band?”. Both strong and “laughably existential” female characters in their own lives, and together, a musical powerhouse with an enduring soul connection, the band moved to London and released their debut EP Flight Risk in 2021, a sonic haze of ethereal, storytelling, which has amassed over 20 million streams and included breakthrough single ‘The Cause’.

LISTEN TO ‘JERICHO BEACH’

“’Jericho Beach’ started as a hypothetical coming of age story–we wanted to pull from collective experiences to offer this portrait of growing up, afraid of changes but in awe of possibility, especially early love. Jericho Beach (depicted in the cover art), is a beach Tessa grew up near in Vancouver, where kids went to learn how to park, to have parties, to kiss and to break up.”
– Tommy Lefroy

Connecting with young female fans through perseverance, honesty, and lyrics that move you, make you cry and make you angry, the best friends have already won fans at NME, NPR & Rolling Stone and now have over 2 Million monthly listeners on Spotify. For a project that started over Zoom in a dark time when collective effervescence was taken away, seeing the tangible effect their music has had on fans this summer at live shows has blown Wynter and Tessa away.

With queues around the block for their performance at The Great Escape, and a summer of sold-out tours and festival triumphs, with fans singing back every lyric from Flight Risk, they have just completed a headline tour across the US and have recently announced they will be opening for Samia across Northern America in early 2023.

North American Tour Dates with Samia

02.06 – Ashville, NC – Orange Peel
02.07 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
02.08 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
02.10 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
02.11 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
02.14 – Montreal, QC – Le Studio TD
02.15 – Toronto, ON – Opera House
02.17 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre
02.18 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
02.20 – Denver, CO – Goth Theatre
02.21 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand @ The Complex
02.23 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile
02.24 – Vancouver, BC – Hollywood Theatre
02.25 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
02.27 – San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365
03.02 – Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theatre
03.04 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
03.07 – Austin, TX – Scoot Inn
03.08 – Dallas, TX – Trees
03.10 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
03.11 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl

For tickets and more information please visit here.

Built as an anchor to get them through uncertain and tumultuous times, the project has felt like an act of rebellion against the constraints and expectations they had of themselves, derived from societal expectations of what it means to be a woman, especially in music. Capturing care-not independence in their lyrics and a do-all approach to their creative process they find inspiration from unapologetic female storytellers like poet, Anne Carson, as well as Joni Mithcell, Patti Smith and Phoebe Bridgers, and creative contemporaries Sharon Van Etten, Samia & Haim. As multi-instrumentalists and producers, they excel in sculpting a dreamscape sound from finespun acoustics, fuzzy, distorted guitars and experimenting with everyday details from the world around them.

The stories they’ve written for each other, for their friends, and for the lovers who left, detail the storms of tearaway youth, stumbling in and out of love, and finding humour along the way. Cerebral, funny, profound, and prone to apocalyptic thinking, Tommy Lefroy are a safe space for messy minds in a world spun out of control.

Follow Tommy Lefroy:
Instagram | Spotify | YouTube | Website

ALT-COUNTRY DUO ALTAMEDA RELEASE NEW LIVE ALBUM “BORN LOSERS LIVE”

October 18, 2022

Altameda, Born Losers, Born Losers Live

Photo Credit: Heather Saitz
Left to Right: Troy Snaterse and Erik M. Grice

Alt-Country Duo Altameda Release Born Losers Companion Born Losers Live

INCLUDES LIVE VERSIONS OF “DEAD MAN’S SUIT”, “WHEEL OF LOVE” AND MORE

ON UK TOUR NOW WITH THE FEELING

(Toronto, ON – October 18, 2022) – Today, Altameda share very special live versions of their acclaimed full-length Born Losers. Born Losers Live consists of two live sessions – the first an acoustic set in Chicago at the Old Town School of Folk from the tour opening for the legendary Zombies this past summer. And the second is a live in-studio session where they performed with a 9-piece band at Taurus Studios in Toronto.

LISTEN TO BORN LOSERS LIVE

Describing the inspiration on releasing a live version of album, the band explain, “Since the majority of these songs were developed from a simple acoustic guitar and vocal melody, we feel that they are malleable, and can be represented in many different capacities. There is not one definitive version, and we feel that each recording and arrangement showcases and evokes a different set of emotions. With this offering, we hope to provide new context to the material for the listeners, and we hope that you enjoy it.”

WATCH “Wheel Of Love” Live at Taurus Studio

The band have been back doing what they do best and performing live throughout 2022 with festival appearances at the likes of SXSW, Edmonton Folk Festival, and Americanafest and now, the band are set to open for The Feeling across the UK starting tonight in Glasglow! See below for full list of tour dates.

Born Losers has received critical acclaim from the likes of Americana UK, giving the album a 9/10, Shindig giving it 4 stars, and features on NPR, BBC, and in FLOOD Magazine; the singles have also been featured on numerous playlists including Apple’s Wax Eclectic and Spotify’s Fresh Folk, Folk & Friends and Chill + Atmospheric. Under the Radar premiered the band’s track “Wheel of Love,” saying “the track finds the band reflecting on the constant passage of time, but where [“Dead Man’s Suit”] meditated on mortality, here the band explores the titular wheel of love. Troy Snaterse and Erik Grice recall moments of fondly remembered joy, calling to mind vignettes with friends, family, and lovers and tracing them through the years. Meanwhile, keening pedal steel and gorgeous strings back the pair’s nostalgic reverie, evoking the warmth and comfort of the song’s treasured memories.”

Altameda is Troy Snaterse (guitar, vocals) and Erik M. Grice (drums). Founded initially as a solo project for Snaterse, Altameda quickly garnered early acclaim with the release of their 2016 full-length debut, Dirty Rain. Altameda’s ambitious 2019 sophomore effort, Time Hasn’t Changed You, was met with continued praise on both sides of the Atlantic — the CBC’s Grant Lawrence even proclaimed them “the best Canadian band I have heard in a while.”

CATCH ALTAMEDA ON TOUR

October 18 – Glasgow – St. Luke’s
October 20 – Newcastle – University Student Union
October 21 – Cardiff – University Student Union
October 22 – Manchester – O2 Ritz
October 24 – Norwich – Norwich Waterfront
October 25 – Sheffield – Sheffield Leadmill
October 27 – Bristol – O2 Academy
October 28 – London – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
October 29 – Birmingham – Birmingham Town Hall
October 30 – Bexhill – De La Warr Pavilion

Born Losers Live Track List:

Dead Man’s Suit (Live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago IL)
2. Neon (& That’s Why) (Live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago IL)
3. Nightmare Town (Live at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago IL)
4. Wheel Of Love (Live at Taurus Recording, Toronto ON)
5. Sweet Susie (Live at Taurus Recording, Toronto ON)

Altameda Online
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

DEAR ROUGE ANNOUNCE NATIONAL TOUR DATES

September 14, 2022

Dear Rouge, Spirit

Photo Credit: Lindsey Blane

DEAR ROUGE ANNOUNCE HEADLINING TOUR DATES

SPIRIT OUT NOW

‘Small Talk’ captures this sonic evolution from the quintessential grit and gloss of the duo’s last album
– Exclaim!

“One of the meatiest releases from the dependable duo.”
– Vancouver Sun

“The final outcome is an emotionally charged album that’s angry in all the right places and tender where it counts.”
– Monte Cristo Magazine

“Brilliantly mix-tape-worthy”
– The Georgia Straight

“With gritty guitar riffs and an explosive chorus, the track is sure to get you singing along.”
– Indie88

(September 14, 2022) – Dear Rouge will hit the road this fall with a headline tour across Canada with dates in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Red Deer, Vancouver and more. See below for a full list of tour dates. Tickets on sale Friday, September 16 – more info here.

The band kicked off their touring earlier this summer with a string of dates supporting Metric, alongside opening for Vance Joy at Rogers Centre in Vancouver and Budweiser Stage in Toronto. For this tour the band will be bringing along Hotel Mira to kick things off each night.

Spirit, which was released this past spring has earned the band rave reviews including Exclaim, Monte Cristo, Northern Transmission, and more! The album also features #1 radio single “Fake Fame ”, alongside “Gimme Spirit” and the most recent single “Meet Me At The Rio” which is quickly climbing up the radio charts.

LISTEN TO SPIRIT HERE

CANADIAN TOUR DATES

Nov. 22 – St. Catherines, ON – Warehouse
Nov. 23 – Ottawa, ON – Bronson Centre
Nov. 24 – Montreal, QC – Petit Campus
Nov. 25 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
Nov. 26 – Hamilton, ON
Nov. 29 – Winnipeg, MB
Nov. 30 – Saskatoon, SK – Capitol Music Club
Dec. 01 – Calgary, AB – Palace Theatre
Dec. 02 – Red Deer, Bo’s Bar & Stage
Dec. 03 – Edmonton, AB – Midway
Dec. 09 – Victoria, BC – Capital Ballroom
Dec. 10 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre

DOWNLOAD TOUR POSTER HERE

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

JOEL PLASKETT EMERGENCY WITH MO KENNEY SET TO HIT THE ROAD

August 9, 2022

44, Emergency, Joel Plaskett, Mo Kenney

Photo Credit: Robert Georgeff

(August 9, 2022) – Joel Plaskett’s 44 is his most detailed musical weave yet. A sprawling box set comprised of four, 11-song albums connected visually and thematically, it is an imaginative rumination on trying to slow down and grow up in a rapidly accelerating world. Little did he know as he conceived and recorded the project that it would be released a month after the world shut down and that his national tour would be rescheduled four times.

“When my quadruple album, 44, was released in April 2020 I was ready to hit the road but the world had other ideas. I started The Window Inn on Patreon and, with the support of subscribers, started documenting musical collaborations with friends at the studio every couple of months. It’s been great fun with much musical experimentation and variety, and after a year of sessions there is an album’s worth of music. With the 44 & More tour with The Emergency and Mo Kenney finally happening this September it seemed like a great time to share the music with everyone.”

The Window Inn Sessions will be released in full to the public on August 26. Check out a sneak peek of “True Patriot Love” featuring special guest Mo Kenney alongside Joel.

44 & MORE TOUR:

Sep 07 – Campbell River, BC –  Tidemark Theatre – Tickets
Sep 08 – Victoria, BC – Capital Ballroom – Tickets
Sep 09 – Vancouver BC- Commodore Ballroom – Tickets
Sep 10 – Vernon, BC – Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre – Tickets
Sep 11 – Salmon Arm, BC – Song Sparrow Hall – Tickets
Sep 13 – Calgary, AB – Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts – Tickets
Sep 14 –  Calgary AB – Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts – Tickets
Sep 15 – Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room – Tickets
Sep 16 – Saskatoon, SK- Knox United Church – Tickets
Sep 17 – Regina, SK –  The Exchange – Tickets
Sep 19 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre – Tickets
Sep 20 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre – Tickets
Sep 23 – Port Hope, ON – Cultivate Festival – Tickets
Sep 24 – Kingston, ON – Grand Theatre – Tickets
Sep 27 – Montreal, QC-  Petit Campus – Tickets
Sep 29 – London, ON – Aeolian Hall – SOLD OUT
Sep 30 – London ON – Aeolian Hall –  SOLD OUT
Oct 1 – Toronto ON – Massey Hall – Tickets

LISTEN/BUY 44 HERE

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY

TOMMY LEFROY JOIN PHEROMONE RECORDINGS ROSTER

August 4, 2022

Dog Eat Dog, Tommy Lefroy

PHEROMONE RECORDINGS SIGN TOMMY LEFROY

SHARE VIDEO FOR SINGLE “DOG EAT DOG”

“A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do” – Tommy Lefroy, ‘Dog Eat Dog’

(Toronto, ON – July 27, 2022) – Rebellious candour, existentialism, and friendship are at the crux of what drives and motivates songwriter, producer and artist duo Wynter Bethel and Tessa Mouzourakis. How the band came to be was a series of sliding doors moments and necessity, with both women 5000 miles apart during the pandemic and having their hearts broken, again and again. Bonding over literature and lyrical precision, the name Tommy Lefroy was born out of Jane Austen’s real life Mr Darcy – the original 19th-century fuckboy Thomas Langlois Lefroy – a man who broke the author’s heart. The penny dropped when Tessa and Wynter thought: why can’t we be the strong female lead, and challenge literature’s traditional role of the male character: the heartbreaker? From meeting in Nashville in 2018 to continually crossing paths at house parties, when Tessa went to see Phoebe Bridgers’ supergroup Boy Genius play in her hometown Vancouver, she watched in awe and thought: “I want this, I can do this.” She posted a cover of their song “Ketchum, ID” on her Instagram story and Wynter responded: “Can we start a band?”. Both strong and “laughably existential” female characters in their own lives, and together, a musical powerhouse with an enduring soul connection, Tommy Lefroy moved to London and released their first single “Northern Towns” in 2021, followed by highly praised debut EP Flight Risk.

Pheromone Recordings are thrilled to officially welcome Tommy Lefroy to the roster (for Canada). Today, they release their brand new single ‘Dog Eat Dog’ – inspired by Joni Mitchell’s 1985 record of the same name – which arose from a conversation on societal expectations laid out for women, and the subsequent pressures we put on ourselves and our own desire. Having wholly self-produced their debut EP, this was the first time Tommy brought in a co-producer, Andy Seltzer (Maggie Rogers, Samia). On the track, they say:

“Dog Eat Dog is a song about relentlessness. It’s about how external pressures and expectations we have of ourselves can make us defensive, and keep us from going after what we really want. It’s about holding on to, what Patti Smith calls, “that fiery sadness called desire.” It’s about womanhood and sisterhood and queerness. It’s about keeping a sense of humour and humility throughout the hero’s journey. Andy completely elevated not only the sound but the joy we found in building this track. We went from moping about society to sampling swords (Tessa literally recorded herself sharpening knives in her parents’ kitchen) and laughing until we cried.”

WATCH/LISTEN TO ‘DOG EAT DOG’

The music video was shot with an all-female crew around London, including director Dominique Froud (Maisie Peters, Matilda Mann), and represents the guardedness all women feel walking through the world. Taking inspiration from strong mediaeval characters including Joan of Arc, the video shows Tessa going about everyday life, armoured up and feeling the strain of the mundane, until she runs into Wynter, also donned in a suit of armour, and sees for the first time someone else feeling the way she’s always felt.

“This was the first video we shot with somewhat individual storylines, as we felt it was important to represent how isolating these pressures and expectations can be. So much of this project has been us finding validation in each other upon the realization that we’ve had the same feelings and anxieties throughout our lives that maybe weren’t always openly talked about. That is what we hope to provide for the fans with the music. The armour was a fun way of visually representing the worries, the guardedness, the feelings that we have felt trapped in, and the important realization that we are not alone in it.” – Tommy Lefroy

Connecting with young female fans through perseverance, honesty, and lyrics that move you, make you cry and make you angry, the best friends have already won fans at NME, Apple and now have over 1 Million monthly listeners on Spotify. But seeing the tangible effect their music has had on fans this summer at live shows has blown Wynter and Tessa away, for a project that started over Zoom in a dark time when collective effervescence was taken away. With queues around the block for their performance at The Great Escape, Tommy Lefroy played their second London headline to a sold-out Lexington last month, with fans singing back every lyric from Flight Risk, and are set to perform at UK festivals this summer, including Barn On The Farm, Kendal Calling and Secret Garden Party.

Built as an anchor to get them through the uncertainty of 2020, the project has felt like an act of rebellion, against the constraints and expectations they had of themselves, derived from societal expectations of what it means to be a woman, especially in music. Capturing care-not independence in their lyrics and a do-all approach to their creative process they find inspiration from unapologetic female storytellers like poet, Anne Carson, as well as Joni Mithcell, Patti Smith and Phoebe Bridgers, and creative contemporaries Sharon Van Etten, Samia & Haim. As multi-intrumentalists and producers, they excel in sonically experimenting with the details of the world around them – from samples of the tube in their new home-city of London, to friends mid-laughter and clinking glasses around the kitchen table.

Uncompromising, beautifully honest, and refreshingly themselves, Tommy Lefroy is a perceptive voice for the malaise of modern living and an inspiration for the confident recklessness that comes with being a storyteller. The stories, written for each other, for their friends, and for the lovers who left, detail the storms of tearaway youth, stumbling in and out of love, and finding humour along the way.

Follow Tommy Lefroy:
Instagram | Spotify | YouTube | Website

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT SHARES LIVE VIDEO OF “DINNER AT EIGHT”

May 5, 2022

Dinner At Eight, Love Will Be Reborn Deluxe, Martha Wainwright, Stories I Might Regret Telling You

Photo Credit: Gaëlle Leroyer

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT SHARES STUNNING LIVE VIDEO OF “DINNER AT 8”

LOVE WILL BE REBORN DELUXE ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE

NEW MEMOIR STORIES I MIGHT REGRET TELL YOU EARNS RAVE REVIEWS + ADDED TO NATIONAL BEST SELLER LIST

UPCOMING TOUR DATES & BOOK EVENTS

“[T]he tenor of [Stories I Might Regret Telling You is] acerbic, often hilarious and more candid than it should be. . . . But that’s Wainwright, and her transparency is the book’s golden ticket. . . .”
– The Guardian

“First off, the cheeky title of Martha Wainwright’s memoir, Stories I Might Regret Telling You, is not clickbait. That an early draft of the book was used against the author in her divorce battle is indicative of her honesty. . . . Anyone familiar with her infamously expletive-laced 2005 song about her father knows she can succinctly (if indelicately) get her point across. . . . Her personal story reverberates.”
– The Globe and Mail

“With disarming candor and courage, Martha tells us of finding her own voice (one, in my opinion, without peer) and peace as a working artist and mother. Her story is made more unique because of the remarkably gifted musical family she was born into.”
– Emmylou Harris

“I turned the last page and felt like I had made a new friend, the kind you wish you were cool enough to have but never had the courage to pursue. My only disappointment? Her memoir wasn’t long enough. I can’t wait for volume two.”
– Jann Arden

(Toronto, ON – May 5, 2022) – Last month, singer/songwriter Martha Wainwright released her highly anticipated memoir Stories I Might Regret Telling You and within a week of release, it was included on The National Best Sellers list. To accompany the release of her memoir, Martha released the digital deluxe edition of her latest album Love Will be Reborn earlier this month. A companion to the memoir, the five new tracks are talked about in the memoir, including 4 covers of her family’s songs and a reimagined version of the title track.

STREAM LOVE WILL BE REBORN DELUXE HERE

Today, she shares the stunning live video of her version of Rufus Wainwright’s “Dinner at 8” – stream/share the video below.

The deluxe edition includes moving renditions of “Thanksgiving” originally by Loudon Wainwright III, Martha’s father, “Dinner at Eight” by her brother Rufus Wainwright, “Go Leave” by her mother Kate McGarrigle and more. Diving into recording these tracks Martha explains:

“Recorded at URSA in front of a small audience of friends these are songs that I talk about in my memoir Stories I Might Regret Telling You. They relate to family and its complexity, as well as pain, feelings of loss, and ultimately forgiveness and acceptance. I have heard them my whole life and now I have the chance to sing them. Recorded in a live setting and in a very striped down and exposed way, with my good friend and wonderful piano player Edwin de Goeij, we had only just learned to sing and play them and are exploring with the listener in the moment. A sometimes bumpy and emotional ride, these recordings are about the words and the meaning. The songs speak for themselves and they are songs of our time about modern family and some of the trials of life.”

Born into music royalty, Martha is the daughter of folk legends Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III and sister to the acclaimed singer Rufus Wainwright. This powerful and beautiful memoir is brutally honest, raw and brave. Martha does not hold back, openly sharing her personal struggles. It’s deeply moving, personal and revealing.

Order Stories I Might Regret Telling You HERE

Fans and critics have praised Love Will Be Reborn, including positive reviews from American Songwriter, Pitchfork, Le Devoir, Spin, UNCUT, The Toronto Star, and more! Like most records in the past two years, Love Will Be Reborn was made during the pandemic and recorded in Wainwright’s hometown of Montreal, in the basement of her brand-new cafe, Ursa, which also served as a studio. Enlisting the help of Toronto musicians Thom Gill, Phil Melanson, Morgan Moore and Josh Cole and producer Pierre Marchand, best-known for his collaborations with Sarah McLachlan producing some of her iconic 90s songs. Marchand also has a familial connection to Wainwright, having produced her brother Rufus’s second album Poses as well as Wainwright’s mother and aunt’s record, Heartbeats Accelerating. It was a record made after some time, much like Wainwright’s gap since 2016’s Goodnight City, and McGarrigle was the same age that Wainwright is now. It seems like a musical synergy only the late McGarrigle and Wainwright could have.

Wainwright has several special book events upcoming alongside several upcoming tour dates. See below.

Praise for Love Will Be Reborn

“Fizzing creativity is audible across the whole record…a welcome return after 5 years”
– Uncut 8/10

‘Album of the Week’
– Sunday Times Culture

“She frequently weaponizes her voice, snarling and howling her pain into the ether…What an extraordinary artist Martha Wainwright is.’”
– The Independent ****

“Love Will Be Reborn could be considered Martha Wainwright’s tour de force”
– American Songwriter

“Exquisitely moving and masterful”
– Spin

“Fearless, untethered arrangements…. Wainwright’s fifth LP has artistry galore”
– MOJO ****

On par with Patti Smith’s early work with albums such as “Horses” and Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush”
– The Toronto Star

BOOK EVENTS

05.05 – Montréal, QC – Atwater Public Library Lunch series
05.13 – Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Writers Festival
05.15 – Hamilton, ON – Virtual luncheon event with Na’amat Hamilton
05.29 – Hudson, QC – StoryFest
08.19 & 20 – Woody Point, NL – Woody Point Writers Festival

TOUR DATES

05.05 – Victoriaville, QC – Cabaret Guy-Aubert
05.14 – Prince Edward County, ON – The Eddie
05.20 – Ste-Thérèse, QC – Eglise Ste-Thérèse d’Avila
06.11 – Ste-Marcelline, QC – Vielle Chapelle de Ste-Marcelline
06.18 – Tadoussac, QC – Festival de la Chanson de Tadoussac
07.24 – Baie-saint-paul, QC – Le Festif!
07.27 – London, UK – Cadogen Hall
07.28 – Bristol, UK – Bristol Beacon
07.29 – Folkestone, UK – Quarterhouse
08.02 – Snape, UK – Snape Maltings Concert Hall
08.03 – Chester, UK – Storyhouse
08.05 – Wickham, UK – Wickham Festival
08.06 – Milton Keynes, UK – The Stables
08.07 – Newcastle UK – Wylam Brewery
08.10 – Dún Laoghaire, IE – Pavilion Theatre
08.11 – Bangor, IE – Open House Festival @ The Walled Garden
08.21 – Halifax, NS – The Stage at St. Andrews

More info:
https://www.marthawainwright.com/