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IN ROTATION

Discover the pulse of global soundscapes with our monthly feature, unveiling the latest and most captivating music releases from around the world, delivering a diverse array of melodies to elevate your musical journey.

"FOR WHEN IT’S OVER" - R&B/Pop Sensation Vincent Darby's New EP is out now

Groove to the beat of Vincent Darby's latest EP, FOR WHEN IT'S OVER, as he drops this musical gem following his electrifying performances at SXSW, NYC, and School Night (LA). Bursting with six soul-stirring tracks, this EP is the culmination of Vincent's magnetic talent that has been turning heads in the R&B/pop scene.

Leading the charge is his infectious single "Rogue," a sonic journey through the intoxicating allure of forbidden love. Picture yourself cruising through the city streets on a late-night drive, with "Rogue" blasting through your speakers, setting the perfect mood captured vividly in its music video.

But "Rogue" is just the tip of the iceberg. Vincent opens up about the inspiration behind FOR WHEN IT'S OVER, delving into the complexities of modern romance in an era dominated by fleeting connections and swipe-right culture. In under 20 minutes, he weaves a narrative of intense yet ephemeral relationships, resonating deeply with today's generation.

Hailing from a rich lineage of British and Jamaican heritage, Vincent's musical journey is a testament to his soulful roots. From captivating audiences in karaoke bars to headlining sold-out shows at iconic venues like The Jazz Cafe in London, his rise to stardom has been nothing short of meteoric.

Backed by 7 Long Lane Entertainment, an indie label renowned for nurturing raw talent, Vincent's ascent to the top is inevitable. With a roster that boasts names like Billie Eilish and Eminem, the label's commitment to excellence ensures that Vincent Darby's star will continue to shine brightly in the world of music. Get ready to be swept away by the captivating sounds of FOR WHEN IT'S OVER, a testament to Vincent's unrivaled artistry and passion for pushing boundaries.

Upcoming Event · Toronto, ON

Wed 7:00 PM · Underground

Applied Communications Has a Midlife Crisis EP Out Friday April 26th

Applied Communications the musical alias of Max Wood has come out of a depression! When they were a teenager, Max released abrasive, unconventional, and deeply personal songs that attracted polarizing responses (their 2005 album Uhhh Sort Of was called "hard to stomach, but even harder to turn away from" by PopMatters while earning a spot on Pitchfork's 15 worst releases of 2005). Max played concerts in laundromats and laser tag arenas, wore vagina pants in Vice Magazine, and generally delighted a small group of loyal fans while alienating much larger audiences with naked angst and noise.

Eventually, Max moved on – working in politics and software engineering, starting a company, and becoming a proud parent. To make this pivot to a more normal life succeed (and to escape embarrassment), they tried to hide all the digital evidence of this weird past – removing music from streaming services, sending takedown requests to YouTube channels, and asking blogs and magazines to remove past articles.

However, almost twenty years since their last major release as Applied Communications, Max entered a stark depression. At the same time, they started receiving a confusing series of social media messages and emails. Max realized a TikTok influencer named Madeline Pendleton had asked her followers to figure out what happened to Applied Communications. By combing through archive.org and buying CDs on Ebay, her followers were able to piece together the story of this forgotten band – posting the recovered music on Youtube, geeking out over these discoveries in the comments, and even launching a fansite.

This wave of post-hoc validation from similarly alienated young people made Max recommit to making music as a way to escape depression. And it worked! (Well, that plus all the therapy and ketamine.) Max's journey out of depression is explained in Applied Communications Has a Midlife Crisis, a 5-song EP coming out April 26, 2024.

EP REVIEW: COMING SOON

Kate Yeager Shares Acoustic Single + Video "Fat (Naked Version)"

Kate Yeager quickly went viral online with her recent single "Fat," racking up over 15 million views on IG + TikTok and received praise from celebrities around the world such as Julianne Moore, Carnie Wilson, Kristen Chenoweth, Jane Weidlin (Gogo's) who voiced their support for Kate's music and message. She premiered the official single alongside a music video last month via PAPER Magazine. Now, she's back to share the acoustic version of the single "Fat (Naked Version)" alongside a music video that both released today (April 5th)

“Writing this song felt so powerful because it was putting my story into words. I didn’t realize that my story was millions of people’s stories. But when the algorithm said 'okay time to be viral,' the comments I would get often were, ‘'I hate that we can all relate to this.’ The song became more than about weight, it was about peoples queerness, and gender and race. It boiled down to the fact that we would have never known we were different, until we were showed by others. Watching all of these videos, compiling the stories of all of these people, was an honor. It’s an honor to be an 'us' with them.”

Teaming up with Grammy-nominated producer Jared Anderson, Kate's forthcoming EP Before the Lights Go Out explores themes of vulnerability, love, and self-discovery. Kate reflects on her collection of songs, “I am in my vulnerable era – there isn’t a lot of holding back. My music is crushingly blunt and unguarded.” The 2023 single “Fat” – about her lifelong struggle with being comfortable in her body – caught fire online, as a performance clip of the tune rapidly racked up over 15 million views on social media. The viral track inspired fans to share their own stories and garnered praise from fans and celebrities around the world. Now Kate is officially releasing the stripped down version of the song that built this online community.

Cadence Weapon new album ROLLERCOASTER out via MNRK Music

Cadence Weapon unveiled a new single/video, “My Computer,”, from his new album, ROLLERCOASTER, out today, April 19th via MNRK Music.

Featuring bombastic production from American electronic producer Machinedrum, “My Computer” is a track about being sucked into the modern-day information wormhole, presented with an in-your-face, glitch-house beat underneath Cadence rapping about the extent to which content and internet culture has invaded our day-to-day lives (“My computer / My solution / Easy access / For the user”).

“I wanted to rap about tech companies and the physical impact they have on cities,” says Cadence.

“One example is the ill-fated Sidewalk Labs project where Google attempted to build a neighborhood of the future in Toronto where garbage collection was automated and the taxis drove themselves. While that project failed, I find cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and London are basically already there. These tech-utopias have one thing in common: working people are typically made expendable and pushed to the margins.”

The music video, directed by Colin Medley, Jared Raab, and internet artist Jason Harvey, features quick cuts between clips of social media and computer screen grabs, all reflecting Pemberton’s lyrics

Having emerged as an artist who gave voice to issues of systemic inequality and racial disparity, particularly among Canada’s Black communities, with his 2021 Polaris Prize-winning fifth album Parallel World, Cadence Weapon (aka Rollie Pemberton) returns with an urgency, addressing the dizzying contradictions of modern culture and technology with both precision and irreverence, reminding us that we don’t have to just “go along for the ride".

The hyperpop and electro-inspired production of ROLLERCOASTER is intended to replicate the internet’s “sensory overload.”

With credits including the likes of Jacques Greene, Grandtheft, Bartees Strange, Machinedrum, Cecile Believe, Martyn Bootyspoon, Loraine James, Taydex, Wesley Singerman, myst milano, and Harrison, Pemberton has organized a combination of tried-and-true Canadian collaborators and “fellow Black weirdos,” as Pemberton puts it, to execute his vision.

Despite its bleak portrait of today’s digital attention economy, ROLLERCOASTER still fits into a long lineage of Black electronic artists using music to forge Black futures.

It goes hand-in-hand with his work outside of music, as he frequently uses his platform to shed light on musicians rights and financial realities. By illuminating the current issues of the world, he inspires others to join him in the fight for a better one.

Cadence Weapon Tour Dates

Fri. April 19 - Hamilton, ON @ Bridgeworks

Sat. April 20 - Toronto, ON @ TD Music Hall with DijahSB

Rapper, singer, Internet sensation DijahSB is a Black, non-binary artist rapping their way through hope, heartbreak, and breakthroughs. Their fascination with the unguarded creative processes of their influences Kid Cudi and Lupe Fiasco birthed a desire to express themselves freely and unapologetically unique.

Wed. May 1 - Quebec City, QC @ Pantoum

Thu. May 2 - Montreal, QC @ Système

Fri. May 3 - Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere Zone One

Sat. May 4 - Washington, DC @ Quarry House Tavern