“Driven by a love of polyrhythms, producer/designer Paul Chin has fine-tuned his vulnerable approach to storytelling through beats, vividly illustrated across the electronic landscape of his new EP, Dancing Drums. The young Toronto-based artist’s Classical and Jazz training, combined with intricate attention to detail in his drum programming, has helped evolve his sound into a rich, reverberating blend of moodiness and texture.
“Since stepping out of her role as a back-up vocalist for both Zaki Ibrahim and Bedouin Soundclash to front her own fiery, 60s Soul and Motown influenced band, The Wonderfuls, Tanika Charles—as she is often known when in full loveable Soul Diva mode, Mz. Chawls—has quickly become the most buzzed about Soul singer in Toronto.
Meet Vancouver’s rising vocal talent, Sophia Danai. Striking, and yet surprisingly unpretentious, this young star’s voice is as honest as her lyrics. With a sound that ranges from Alternative R&B to sultry Electro-Pop, Okayplayer dubbed her a mix of Billie Holiday and Portishead, adding that she’s a “dynamic singer with an obvious foundation in soul."
AROUND SOUNDS LIVE 3
FEAT. SOPHIA DANAI (VAN), TANIKA CHARLES & PAUL CHIN
DRAKE UNDERGROUND
SUNDAY 28 JUNE 2015
$10 ADVANCE TICKET
MUST BE 19+
Buy tickets / RSVP at Facebook
Birthday Boy is part of a new wave of musicians fusing Neo-Soul, Hip-Hop and House into a new genre that is both innovative and familiar.
Gaining recognition from a string of remixes and singles throughout 2014, Birthday Boy has become a mainstay in Toronto’s burgeoning beat-scene. His self-released debut EP, Colors, features vocals by fellow Torontonians Tanika Charles, Marlon James and Joe Law.
Foreword: In 2013, shortly after Istolethesoul Records released volume one of Around Sounds, Anthony Valadez became the first international DJ to support the Toronto-based label. He played a number of songs on the compilation and went on to include songs by Maylee Todd and Bird on his best-of-2013 playlist. He then collaborated with Bird on “Good Looking” and worked with The Precious Lo’s on “Naive”, both tracks appeared on Anthony's In Search Of… (Plug Research).
Tennyson’s latest has brought me to tears.
I discovered the genre-bending brother-sister duo just before I started compiling Around Sounds 2. I knew very little about them, just that they lived in Edmonton (“The Gateway to the North”) and they made incredibly moving electronic music. It’s soulful, groovy, jazzy, all that good shit… Long story short, I was unable to acquire a song for the compilation. (Boo hoo! I know.)
AROUND SOUNDS 2 RELEASE PARTY
W/ ANTHONY VALADEZ (LA) & BIRTHDAY BOY
DRAKE UNDERGROUND
SUNDAY 15 MARCH 2015
$10 ADVANCE TICKET
MUST BE 19+
Buy tickets / RSVP at Facebook
Whenever new fLako surfaces, I’m on it. I’m there with a skimmer. Because, whether it’s on Project Mooncircle or Five Easy Pieces or in conjunction with a particular Eglo release, I know it’s going to be some of the coolest shit I’ll hear all year. The Kuku EP is no exception. It’s been on repeat all afternoon. I can’t wait to hear his debut LP, Natureboy.
HARRISON, still a teen, is set to release his Last Gang debut and the limited edition first pressing is on white vinyl, so it’ll never show dust. Just kidding. If the first single, “You’re Light” featuring Maddee, is any indication you’ll wear out the grooves before you put the record back on your shelf.
It’s been a long time coming, but I've finally compiled Around Sounds 2, the follow-up to 2013’s Toronto-centric compilation which showcased some of the megacity’s emerging stars like HARRISON (now signed to Last Gang Records) and allie, unsung heros Catalist (aka Alister Johnson) and The Precious Lo’s, paired with prize-nominated international vocalists, MALOO (Prizm, SOCAN), Amalia (Juno) and Zaki Ibrahim (Polaris).
