All the Latest Music News on Nagamag

Alberta-born Métis singer-songwriter Cynthia Hamar is no stranger to the Canadian music scene. With three studio albums under her belt and many kilometers on the road - including a tour across Canada by train (through VIA Rail’s on Board program) - Hamar can execute timeless songs that stand up with the sound of Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tom Waits, and Feist.

With her much anticipated album Joint & Marrow on the way, Hamar shares a new single "Light A Fire" (out August 26, 2022 via Neon Moon Records). The track combines a country groove that switches into a reggae feel under the chorus's sunny refrain "Light a fire, light a fire - inside these bones, inside these bones" Hamar explains her thought process behind the song; "I wrote this feeling extremely burnt out struggling with ambition. I was thinking how a tiny spark can set a whole forest on fire and I wrote the melody attempting to kindle some fresh creative joy inside me.”

Produced by Paul Johnston, and featuring her son Zadok Hamar along with acclaimed Alberta session musicians Chris Andrews, Jamie Cooper, Paul Johnston and Toronto’s Joel Schwartz, “Light A Fire” didn’t initially come together easily in the studio; “This song almost didn’t make it on the album. I was struggling to communicate my vision for the tune and I was close to pulling it feeling deeply exhausted." explains Hamar, "Sunday evening after successfully capturing my main choices Paul cheerfully says lets do “that” one. I knew what he meant; my crazy one that was all feel. The guys were like, “ let's just have fun and we’ll follow you”. We ended up setting up the studio so we were all separate but they could all see me and just let it fly. It ended up being one of my favorites and I’m so thankful I pushed through and allowed that spark to fire up in me again. The theme of the tune was truly manifested in the recording of it.”

https://www.cynthiahamar.com/

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LYRICS

Quiet my mind

let me breathe for a time

I need to get away

I cannot think clear with all the noise in my ears

oh there's colors striving for attention

What was that you said

how’d you raise the dead

I need a bit of reviving

Light a fire light a fire

Inside these bones

won’t you light a fire

It’s been a long long and lonely winter

and I’m so cold

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Ooo

Don’t put out the blaze

I need to contemplate

Oh it will be pure pure pure purifying

And I’ll ride this wave

and I’ll face another day

Oh it will be pure pure pure purifying

Tune my heart like strings

Until it learns to sing in the winter as when the summer blooms

I say tune my heart like strings

Until it learns to sing in the winter as when the summer blooms

Light a Fire light a fire

Inside these bones won’t you light light a fire

It’s been a long long and lonely winter

and I’m so cold

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones,inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

I say

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones yeah

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

Bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

Light a fire light a fire

inside these bones inside these bones

SunDub, the Brooklyn-based five piece who expertly mixes classic reggae with elements of soul and blues, is back with a new single, “Jump and Dance,” released on August 26th on Easy Star Records. This danceable, grooving tune, featuring guest vocals by Jamaican superstar Lutan Fyah, is a perfect introduction to SunDub’s lush sound and the next phase they are laying out with their new album. The band describes it as “a simple set of directions for what listeners of this song will be doing – jumping and dancing, wiggling and turning, stepping to the left and to the right. It’s a feel-good song with a chorus full of inviting instructions to make sure new and old fans alike feel the groove with their whole body.” Stream and download the single at http://moremusic.at/JumpAndDance.

SunDub is a testament to the power of inclusion, diversity and unity; their music and community rallies around the concept that we are strongest when people of different backgrounds can work together to create positive change. These core values were first showcased on SunDub’s debut album, Burden of Love (2019), which has amassed millions of streams since coming out. Anchored by a core quintet—Finn Singer (guitar), Josh T Carter (bass), Eric "The General'' Toussaint (vocals-keys) and the brother-sister team of Joanna Teters (lead vocals) and Ben Teters (vocals-drums)—the band is ready to breakthrough to even more fans worldwide with their sophomore album, showcasing the evolution of their sound over the past few years. Joanna Teters' commanding and soulfully smoky lead vocals blend seamlessly with the air-tight arrangements of the SunDub rhythm section. The result is a stand out expression of reggae’s classic undulating pulse and lush subterranean grooves, reinvented for listeners of all times and genres.

“Jump & Dance” along with the rest of the upcoming album was recorded at Lydgate Sound in Kauai, HI, in May 2021. Joanna Teters explains, “We got an invitation to record at Lydgate Sound, a special studio located on a remote cacao farm. The island and farm envelope its visitors with lush nature and sweet sunshine, offering a beautiful kind of inspiration that can only come from being disconnected to our everyday lives and distractions.” Ben Teters enthusiastically adds, “We enlisted Sidney Mills (Steel Pulse) to engineer and co-produce the album. We worked with Sidney on our first album Burden of Love - the opportunity to go deep for two weeks in the studio with him took the project to new heights.”

Lutan Fyah has been releasing hit songs and featuring on numerous collaborations for years now, building a strong reputation for his smooth delivery, nimble wordplay, and positive messages. He has appeared on tracks with a huge and diverse list of artists, ranging from Rebelution, Turbulence, and Midnite to Rusko, Chopstick Dubplate, and Sara Lugo, and the list of his collaborations goes much further beyond those examples. Ben adds “​​As longtime fans of Lutan’s music, it is an honor to feature him in ‘Jump & Dance’ and to welcome him into the SunDub family. His vocal style is a perfect complement to Joanna’s - it really brought this track to the next level.”

Outside of the studio and off of the stage, the band members that make up SunDub put their talents to work in a myriad of ways: using their music as a platform to advocate for political movements, teaching music lessons to New York City youth, and collaborating with non-profits to create change, to name a few. Like so many other bands, SunDub was hit hard by the onset of the pandemic of 2020 — tours canceled, opportunities postponed, income lost. Instead of being discouraged, the band came together on a Brooklyn patio and figured out how to make the most of the situation. During weekly, COVID-safe live stream performances in the summer of 2020, SunDub raised over USD1,000 for the NAACP Education and Legal Defense Fund, using their platform to rally their community around the importance of political activism and dismantling unjust racial and societal structures.

Joanna concludes, “Similar to the nature of the song ‘Burn Down The Place’ from our first album, this song is an invitation to join SunDub nation and join with us on a crusade to create positive energy and community around music. ‘Jump and Dance’ is our mission statement driving this new era of SunDub music, asking people to leave behind violence, judgment and pettiness, and instead, to join together for joyful moments centered around dancing and the belief that music can heal and unite.”

Tour Dates:
11/26 @ Colony – Woodstock, NY
Connect:
https://sundubmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sundubmusic
https://www.instagram.com/sundubmusic/
https://www.tiktok.com/@sundubmusic
https://twitter.com/sundub_music
https://www.youtube.com/c/sundubmusic

http://www.johnmcdonoughlive.com/

http://alexacappelli.lnk.to/Temporary

Today rising pop singer-songwriter Alexa Cappelli, who MTV hailed as a “voice of a generation”, released her new single, “Temporary” via Arista Records. Alexa also released her fan-centric visualizer that adds an exclusive element to the song. Watch it HERE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TqF3z6rprs

Empowering, defiant and immediately catchy, “Temporary” explores the mixed emotions of breaking off a ‘situationship.’ Alexa adds, “‘Temporary’ is a nostalgic song that makes the future of my love life seem less daunting, being proud of myself for knowing what I want and not settling for anything less. When I wrote ‘Temporary,’ I had finally processed my previous summer situationship and how I ended things. It was the song I needed to remind myself that I did the right thing by not trying to change them. I want the kind of love that doesn’t need convincing, the love that is sure on both sides of the street.”

About Alexa Cappelli:

Alexa Cappelli molds her songs out of heartfelt confessions, honest thoughts, and unforgettable experiences projected without filter by her traffic-stopping voice. Rather than pull any punches, the Southern California singer and songwriter opens up fearlessly with attitude and sensitivity in equal measure. Opting to leave college, she focused on music wholeheartedly. Inspired by everyone from Maggie Rogers and Sigrid to Julia Michaels, Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, Jon Bellion, and The Band CAMINO, she began to write and record music of her own. In the midst of the Global Pandemic, “Forbidden” gained traction, amassing over 2.5 million Spotify streams. She captivated audiences on TikTok with powerful performances and candid posts. During 2021, “SAY SOMETHING” generated over 3.2 million Spotify streams and paved the way for her independent Confused @ 22 EP. The latter also boasted “Whiplash,” which amassed 1.1 million Spotify streams and counting. Matching the nuances of the music, Alexa possesses a fashion sensibility all her own too. She loves to thrift. As a vegan, she staunchly supports animal rights and advocates for sustainability. Her emphasis on advocacy remains a family tradition as her family launched the non-profits Steven’s Hope For Children and the thrift shop A Lot of Good Thrift. After amassing millions of streams and views and earning acclaim from The Los Angeles Times, MTV, and more, Alexa showcases every side of her personality on a series of singles for Arista Records including “Could’ve Just Left Me Alone,” which instantly resonated with listeners - amassing over 15 million global streams and counting and “Temporary,” out now.

FOLLOW ALEXA CAPPELLI

https://www.tiktok.com/@alexacappellimusic?lang=en

https://www.instagram.com/islandasylum/

Toledo, OH-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Max Boyle, has been making huge strides with his soulful vocals and relatable songwriting. Boyle jumped into the spotlight in 2019 when he landed in the Top 13 in Season 17 of NBC’s The Voice, coached by John Legend and Kelly Clarkson. On his performances, Country Living praised, “We think [he] could be the next Ed Sheeran.” Now, the indie pop/soul artist is set to release the lead single, “Bad For Me," out August 26th ahead of his sophomore EP, due out September 23rd, a follow-up to his May 2019 debut EP Something to Hold.

Aside from his time on The Voice, Boyle has garnered over 2 million streams to date, with his song “Angel” topping the list at 1.4 million streams. Some of Max’s other notable accomplishments include performing on stage with Mike Posner at the University of Dayton (Boyle’s alma mater), singing the “National Anthem” at major events such as the Detroit Lions’ Game, and headlining the opening concert for the Promedica Winter Concert Series at the Peristyle Theater at The Toledo Museum of Art.

HIs talent for music runs in his family. Boyle “grew up in a musical family" and "loved singing in the spotlight" as a child. As he got older, he began to focus more on sports and hid his artistic side—until he was benched after breaking his arm during his freshman year of high school. The setback turned into an opportunity for him to rediscover his love of music and he posted a video of himself singing on Facebook. His coach saw it and urged Boyle to join the school choir, and he quickly became the lead soloist. And after catching the songwriting bug over a few years, he made a move to Nashville in early 2020 where he has been crafting his latest and greatest music.

A skilled instrumentalist, empathetic songwriter, and refined vocalist, Max Boyle’s talent is holistic and obvious. Perfectly hitting the mark for stripped-down, thoughtful folk songs as well as up-beat, sun-drenched pop drivers, he shows clear mastery of his craft and will certainly continue making a name for himself as an exciting new voice in post-pandemic Nashville and in the world of contemporary music at large.

Stay tuned for more releases leading up to the new EP out this Fall and his live performance on August 30th at Huntington Center in his hometown.

Follow Max Boyle Online:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/maxboyle/cold-as-ice

https://www.maxboyle.com/

https://www.instagram.com/maxboylemusic/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4F61AGzQENQgEyYBLDXx6G

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/max-boyle/617202547

https://www.instagram.com/kidtravis

Pop singer and songwriter Maryon King returns with her new single, “Boys Will Be Boys," out now on all streaming platforms.

https://maryonking.lnk.to/boyswillbeboys

Guided by Maryon’s exquisitely soulful vocals, “Boys Will Be Boys” is a playful yet empowering pop anthem that gives a middle finger to all the womanizing men out there. “It’s about the fickle nature of modern relationships - or ‘situationships’ - where the person you thought cared about you only wants you for your body,” Maryon elaborates. The single has already been making waves on TikTok - amassing over 1M+ views - after she started posting clips last month.

Born in Calarasi, Moldova, raised in Padova, Italy and London, and now based in Los Angeles, Maryon’s musical journey has been one of grit, determination and undeniable natural talent. She began her love affair with music as a child but her parents encouraged her to follow a more traditional career path. At 18-years-old, she moved to London to study languages but secretly switched to a music degree within a few months. Buoyed by steadfast determination, compelling pop prowess, and a soulful voice that belies her youth, Maryon immersed herself in the London music scene, revealing herself as a promising new act to watch.

Maryon released three singles last year, all of which performed impressive streaming numbers, and is now preparing to roll out her debut EP, starting with the release of "Boys Will Be Boys." In addition to her own music, Maryon has also co-written and vocaled songs for Afrojack, Martin Jensen and Tiesto, performed on Sigala’s sold out tours in the UK and Ireland, and opened for BEKA on her sold out UK tour.

https://www.instagram.com/vacationphase