Browsing Tag

Vancouver

Interview: Kyle Richardson keeps it golden on the heart-wide open chat about his cosy new release Anything

Vancouver-based pop artist and renowned writer Kyle Richardson recently dropped his brand new single Anything and we wanted to know more about it. We sat down with Kyle and learned more about the Canadian music landscape, his career, the creative process, diversity and representation in music, gaming, and his ideal pre-gig routine.

Hi Kyle, thanks so much for blessing us with your valuable time. How is Vancouver today and how do you normally start your day? A cuppa coffee or a long walk? Or straight to the studio for some vocal warm-ups?

Thanks for chatting with me! Today is a very nice, warm summer day here in Vancouver. Usually I sleep pretty late (I’m a night owl), start the day with some form of caffeine, watch some entertainment business related stuff on YouTube, listen to some music, and either chill before heading into my job, or work on some music (either learn a cover song, practice singing something of mine, work on new song ideas).

Anything. This is your hot new single and we love the vibe. Who have you made the track for and what does it all mean to you? Also the video was tremendous. Who was the team behind it all?

Thank you for the kind words! I’m so happy with how Anything turned out.

It’s truly been a labor of love, and time. I wrote the song many years ago before I ever even moved to Vancouver. I had shown collaborators the demo I made at the time, and no one really took the bait in terms of turning it into a full production. Years later, I circled back to the demo and again showed it to collaborators as I still loved the song. This time, producer Jeff Dawson loved the demo and we quickly finished the single version you hear today!

I wrote the song about the belief that small moments of kindness can really make all the difference in your relationships, whether it’s a romantic relationship, or a friendship. It’s also about making sure you take the time to let your loved ones know how much they mean to you.

The video was directed by AJ Astle of Roadhouse Productions in Toronto. It was a really fun day of shooting. We had a very limited window of time to get those beautiful beams of light through the windows you see during the chorus of the song, but I really wanted that bright, ethereal kind of look to bring out the vibe that the choruses are delivering.

Louder Than Words is your debut album that is due to be dropped into our awaiting ears this fall. What can fans expect and what was the process like to create something you’re proud of? It must be quite the journey. What have you learnt along the way?

It was a really fun process to create the album. We really went song by song. I basically had a period of time in which I wanted to commit to writing and recording one song at a time. I really wanted to focus on vocals and melody, and create some beautiful and heartfelt songs to comprise the album. Doing the album one song at a time – and truly taking time with each one to make sure they were perfect – really meant no songs were wasted. We really only wrote and recorded exactly what’s being presented on the album, and towards the end of the process we looked back at some older demos I had worked on throughout the years (for example, Anything, Can You Hear Me, and Keep The Faith were all older songs I had always wanted to do something special with), and filled out the project with the best songs that I had never given proper time to finish and get fully produced.

We see that you love your gaming. What kind of games do you like and which is the best platform, PC, Playstation or XBox?

Honestly I am pretty diverse in terms of which platform I choose to game on, except PC. I’m not really into PC gaming as I’m more of a Mac user. My favorite gaming platform is Nintendo Switch, as I’m a huge Mario junkie. I love basically all the major Nintendo franchises like of course Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Splatoon, Yoshi, and the party games like Mario Kart, Mario Party, and fun stuff like that to play with friends. I do really enjoy Playstation 5 and the Xbox platforms as well for games like the recent (and upcoming) Spider-Man games as I love Marvel comics, also games like Uncharted and Tomb Raider. The Lego games are fun takes on some of my favorite franchises, and the recent Star Wars Jedi games are also incredible and have such good storylines!

What are your top 5 favourite movies ever and why? In any order. You can even sneak in a few more if you like, we don’t mind. 

I love movies. I go to the theatre almost every week and sometimes more than once in a week. So a favorites list is tough! I will say my fave movie trilogy of all time is Back To The Future. I love pretty much the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe and all the older Spider-Man movies (even the infamous Spider-Man 3). I love The Conjuring franchise, even if all the spin-off movies aren’t necessarily as good as the first two original movies. The two Sister Act movies starring Whoopi Goldberg are movies I’ve turned to my entire life as fun, musical, escapist movies and I probably watch them both once a year when I need a good cheer-up.

Carly Rae Jepsen, DYLN, and Garrett Neiles. You’ve written songs for these outstanding artists. What makes a great hit song and what does it feel like when one of the songs you write makes it onto TV or into the mainstream so successfully? It must make all the hard work worth it surely? How do you stay humble throughout this discovery?

Well in terms of Carly Rae Jepsen and DYLN,I wrote songs with them that were intended to be released by me! These two songs haven’t ever seen the light of day as fully-finished tracks but never say never. I was writing with a lot of artists to get a better grip on who I am myself as an artist, and collaboration is such a good chance to really see what works and what doesn’t work. I did write a song with Jeff Dawson and Garrett Neiles for Garrett’s project, and I am not sure if he’s recorded the tune yet, but it was a lovely ballad as he wanted to write a more emotional song.

It’s really cool when I see a song I’ve been a part of get picked up for a placement on a TV show, it really does give a sense of being on the right track, and it makes me want to create more songs that are even better and can have an even broader scope to reach more people! Creating a hit song is not something that can always be planned. I find I just want to create something honest and fun that I would want to listen to myself, and see how that can resonate with others.

Lastly, how do you feel the music industry can be better with diversity and representation in the industry? Also, does Ai music scare you and do you feel it threatens the long-term future of musicians?

The music industry, and any industry whether creative or otherwise, can only be improved with more diversity and inclusiveness for all people. Everyone has a different background, a different story, and a different perspective. I think everyone wants to feel represented in the media they consume, and I think the more diverse that art and media gets, the more potential audience it can reach. I am not sure how I feel about AI music, I think the human touch and perspective, and talent is important to create something emotional that will have a better chance of really connecting with an audience.

Check out this fine new single on YouTube.

See more of this journey on IG.

Interviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Living In This Hell: Visit wanders through the lonely desert on Born Sick and Commanded Well

Sung with so much depth and ultimate meaning, Visit performs with soul-striking passion and desire which will transport many minds into a whole new world of thought on Born Sick and Commanded Well.

Visit aka Tyler Burba is a Vancouver, Washington-born indie alt-country/rock singer-songwriter and teacher who grew up singing at gospel competitions.

Burba continued his studies at European Graduate School, where he is completing his doctoral work on visual ecstasy and synesthesia. He received a Master’s degree at EGS after completing a Master’s thesis on ecstatic listening, which was later published by Atropos Press as “On Becoming Music: Between Boredom and Ecstasy” (with a piece by Peter Price). He received a second master’s degree in Ethnomusicology from Hunter College in 2018.” ~ Tyler Burba

Falling ill and bravely crossing that river no matter what, Visit has returned our ears to a previous time so we may remember the struggle of preceding generations.

Born Sick and Commanded Well from Vancouver, Washington-based indie alt-country/rock singer-songwriter Visit is a profoundly reflective soundtrack to crawling away from the town with no hope. Lathered in so much quality and featuring lyrics which shall widen the mind, we find a cinematic release to soak many memories inside.

Listen up on Spotify. See more on Twitter.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Hunting Giants unleashed another mythological monolithic monster with their proggy hard rock single, Too Big to Kill

Too Big to Kill is the latest mythologically-inspired monolithic hard rock single to be released from the progressive four-piece outfit Hunting Giants’ upcoming album, Mythos.

With vocals as gnarled as the salaciously ferocious guitar riffs, Too Big to Kill makes no apology before it ravages your attention with the lyrics relayed to instrumentals which refuse to pigeonhole themselves into just one genre. The complexity easily matches the ferocity in this melting pot of grunge, groove metal and prog rock.

Not many tracks could warrant a comparison to Static X’s no Submission, but Hunting Giants easily match the intensity and cataclysmic etherealism between the melodic Godsmack-Esque increments.

Too Big to Kill was officially released on September 9th. Check it out on Spotify, and await the arrival of Mythos, which is set to be unleashed on September 30th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Felix Kay moves on forever from the distant connection with powerful EDM release, ‘Surrender’

Using his financial skills to the max in every facet comprehendible, Felix Kay has dropped a surefire banger that shall slap the sense right back into your face again on ‘Surrender‘.

Felix Kay is a Vancouver, Canada-based indie electronic artist, film producer and writer who just seems to improve after each track.

As a ghostwriter, Felix has helped edit, update and contribute to many manuscripts, teleplays, and screenplays. He has also helped with other early stages of movie and television development.” ~ as per the article on airplaydirect.com

Slicing the tires without even trying that hard, Felix Kay is in heavy form with a thunderbolt of electricity that might shock your senses awake.

Surrender‘ from Vancouver, Canada-based indie electronic artist, film producer Felix Kay, is a booming experience for anyone who needs a fresh start. After certainly feeling the harrowing climates lately that have burnt a massive gap between two former close companions, this is a striking song for us all.

Packed with a seriously stomping beat, this is a track made with monumental proportions that make force you to rethink everything. Life is all about being happy about the humans you connect with.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more vibes on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Vancouver rock band Moving City returns with a road trip single to remember, ‘Can I Go and See My Lady?’

With the 3rd single off their upcoming full album ‘Nightflash‘, Moving City asks us the magic question that is met with a groovy laid-back vibe that has you nodding your head in an unflappable manner with, ‘Can I Go and See My Lady?

Moving City is a Vancouver, Canada-based indie-rock 5-piece band who has a sensational sprinkle of folky pop-infused inside and brings their 70s inspired sound to the fore.

Elevating us into a spectacular sunrise that has you taking a deep breath as your body moves to the quality rhythm presented, Moving City shows us their indisputable polish with a glow-filled performance that will have you sensing that you have heard a highly memorable single.

Can I Go and See My Lady?‘ from the prolific Vancouver, Canada-based indie-rock 5-piece band Moving City is a terrific release from a tight band who just makes glorious music to put on your favourite playlist. They have a likeable mellow style that has you feeling like you are in a nostalgic dream of being closer to your ideal lover.

Sung with a wonderfully tranquil atmosphere attached, this is a track that shall take you into a mood of true contemplation.

Listen up to this new single on Spotify and see more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The Out Seer worries that the positive vibes have evaporated forever on, ‘Good Feelings’

Ab Initio by The Out Seer

Taken off their 4-track release named ‘Ab Initio‘ and featuring excellent vocals with some terrific solos, The Out Seer are at their best with a new song all about wondering why being happy is so hard these days on, ‘Good Feelings‘.

Formed by their guitarist Ashley Pearce aka Pearcie, The Out Seer is a Vancouver, British Columbia-based 4-piece indie-rock band that makes a deliciously memorable type of riff-packed music to dance with.

They are an active and educated group of young musicians, each carrying a diploma from Selkirk College’s Contemporary Music & Technology Program.” ~ The Out Seer

The Out Seer are the type of band that you tell all your mates about as you plan the evening’s adventures while making a stop at the local rock venue. Their music is rather ear-warming as you might need a second listen, to truly get inside their superb style that draws you in as all the great bands do.

Good Feelings‘ from Vancouver, British Columbia-based indie-rock outfit The Out Seer is one of the catchiest (in a good way) tracks you might dare to listen to this year. With a scintillatingly skilful lead singer, powerful guitars and lyrical honesty that is rather rare these days, this is a new single to be totally enthused by. This is rock music at its most exciting in the underground, as we are swept in by a song that might be caught in your mind for ages as you hum this tune in joyous unison.

Hear this tremendous new single on Bandcamp and see more news via their IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

I Can’t Make It In This Wasteland: Kill the Headlights seek that dream through the ‘Bottom of the Bottle’

Taken off their brand new album called ‘The Shack‘, Kill the Headlights look for that much-needed revelation to pursue their deepest aspirations via their latest infectious single called ‘Bottom of the Bottle‘.

Kill the Headlights is a Vancouver, Washington-based indie rock two-piece act. They form a terrific crew and make that sing-with type of vibe that is completely honest and gets you in the mood to dance together with your closest friends.

Kill the Headlights are quite the entertaining outfit and sparkle shrewdly with their latest release that brings you to that moment where you know that something needs to change. They sound ready and appear filled with that much-required inner determination, to bypass that swamp-packed wasteland that so many can get inconveniently sucked inside.

Bottom of the Bottle‘ from the Vancouver, Washington-based indie rock duo Kill the Headlights, beams us a dazzling chandelier of light into finding what is really meant for you. After thinking about what they really want to do away from the town that is comfortable but is suffocating that all-important creativity, this is that motivational anthem to really feel enlightened by. Sung with so much animated gusto and saturated with that likeable guitar riff to shake your head around with, this is a fine track from a duo who are only just getting started.

Hear this brand new single on YouTube and see more via their fast-growing IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Aza Nabuko leaves us feeling anything but ‘Blue’ in her latest indie-pop-rock single.

After her latest single racked up over 200k streams on Spotify, indie-pop soulstress Aza Nabuko released her debut album, Indigo, on June 4th. The standout single, Blue, is a flawless feat of panoramic pop that will be a hit with any fans of Pale Waves, Wolf Alice or the 1975.

The Vancouver, BC-based 18-year-old multi-instrumentalist and singer songwriter’s authentic indie-folk-pop fractured vocals bring a sense of intimacy and vulnerability to the otherwise sonic and high-octane hit that carries all of the emotion of a ballad and all of the energy of an anthem.

After Aza landed a sync placement with Netflix’s ‘Tiny Pretty Things’, her power-pop sound has earned her international acclaim. After the release of her deeply confessional and expressive debut album, the possibility of her becoming a household name matches the level of talent in the release. Hint, that’s pretty damn high.

Blue is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

They Can Take A Bite: Prodigious Vancouver-based singer Sofia Evangelina shows so much bravery on the astonishingly exceptional ‘Endure’

With a powerfully elegant vocal ability that might cause your heart to pulsate a bit quicker than before, Sofia Evangelina fights through the darkly-lit carnage with a new single that will have you shaking with admiration on ‘Endure‘.

Sofia Evangelina is a fully focused, multi-award-winning, teen indie RnB/pop singer-songwriter and actress from beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. She makes that inspiring music, with a superb presentation, that has a real message and is combined with crisp production and stunning vocals.

This is the heroic message about staying strong no matter what, as you need to have the courage to face life-altering moments that scare you, hurt you, and make you question who you are inside. The fight to dig yourself out of those dreadful circumstances will harden you up and make you a true survivor, who will never (ever) let anyone claw at you undesirably again and take your glowing shine away.

You feel her spirit getting stronger as her stunning song goes deeper in – her tremendous story is so striking and has your breath taken away for a few moments – as you get lost with her, you close your eyes to fully understand her story of taking on the horrible beasts and succeeding like a valorous Lioness.

Endure‘ from the outstanding and highly-motivated Vancouver-based RnB/pop artist Sofia Evangelina, is one of the best vocal performances of the year so far, as she sings with such fight and desire. The wolves may have circled her before but she made it out stronger – and brings us a truly glorious song that should inspire us all to reach our dreams – no matter what or who is biting at us. The scars will heal, if you want to win enough.

Stream this excellent new single on Spotify and see more of her stories on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Calvyn Cass – Me, Myself & I: A semi-retro feat of sensual self-loving pop

Vancouver-hailing singer-songwriter, Calvyn Cass, has extended the conversation around self-love with their single ‘Me, Myself & I’ which explores our complicated relationships with self-acceptance and poignantly points out that life leaves us under-prepared to deal with the pitfalls of insecurity.

Spend all day listening to the radio, and you’re likely to be bombarded with pop tracks longing for affection from an external source, Calvyn Cass delivers a nuanced reminder that you wouldn’t be quite so desperate for that validation if you could find it within yourself.

The semi-retro feat of sensual self-loving pop drips with the same amorous soul as you’ll find in hits from the likes of George Michael which celebrate the beauty of authenticity.

You can check out the official video to Me, Myself & I via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast