“Off My Mind” is the title track from Rögg Collins’ latest effort of the same name, “Off My Mind,” a five song EP. This smooth, lo-fi inspired house track, Off My Mind builds layer after layer, taking the listener from sunset straight into the night. A steady, syncopated bass line, warm drums, and hypnotic vocals perfectly wrap up the vibe of Rögg Collins’ Off My Mind (EP).
http://instagram.com/roggcollins

About The Song:
The Winter of Our Discotheque (Reprise), a compilation album of Canadian artists performing interpretations, remixes, and covers of the songs of Michael C. Duguay’s The Winter of Our Discotheque. The Winter of Our Discotheque (Reprise) is not only a celebration of Michael’s much-loved personality, songwriting and music, but an enthralling testament to friendship, community, and collaboration by a spectacular and diverse assortment of artists on the vanguard of contemporary Canadian music.

“One Million More (Joyful Joyful Reprise)” features Joyful Joyful, a duo who have been making experimental folk music between the towns of Peterborough, Owen Sound, and Toronto since 2015. Their work pulls together strands from sacred music, traditional songs, noise, and drone and weaves them together into soundscapes that are haunting and hopeful. Speaking on the collaboration Joyful Joyful says, “When a song is true, it changes the singer. Songwriters are so often good liars. It’s easier to write a dishonest song than to sing a truthful one, unvarnished and unadorned, into the waiting air…In “One Million More” Michael is telling the truth – no easy feat for a storyteller. This album (and this song in particular) are true. We know; we were often there. This collaboration is a retelling of a shared memory. It is also the quiet confession of a shared hope. Here’s to a million more.”

About The Artist:
Michael C. Duguay first surfaced in the Canadian music landscape as a collaborative multi-instrumentalist working with a number of a number of critically acclaimed projects, performing on breakthrough albums by Evening Hymns and The Burning Hell, and in east-coast super-group Weird Lines (with Julie Doiron and Jon McKiel), among others. While touring the world and gaining a reputation primarily as a backing musician, Michael was covertly recognized in the Canadian music community as an enigmatic personality, fervent community organizer, and a gifted artist, songwriter, and poet whose busy touring schedule and reckless lifestyle often stood in the way of formally documenting his own work. In 2012, he self-released Heavy on the Glory, a collection of eight songs written and recorded between 2004 and 2010, produced by James Bunton (Donovan Woods, Ohbijou), and featuring over thirty contributing musicians. Recorded in the shared living space of the communal artist co-op that he inhabited in Peterborough, Ontario, the album showcased Duguay’s emerging knack for lucent storytelling and his penchant for thrilling compositions, entrenched in stalwart punk rock ethos and energy. Though considered by those in his circle to be a captivating documentation of Duguay’s conspicuous ability, Heavy on the Glory was never formally promoted or toured as Duguay’s health and personal life unraveled. Following a move to Sackville, New Brunswick after years of substance abuse and undiagnosed mental illness, Duguay suffered a series of mental breakdowns, eventually leading to institutionalization, poverty, and homelessness. From 2014 to 2018, Michael disappeared from the Canadian music scene completely.

In 2018, Michael resurfaced near Kingston, Ontario after sustained and determined efforts from his friends and family contributed to his return to health and stability. He compiled and completed his poetry and song-sketches from the preceding decade, and set out to record and produce a new album. With a revolving and diverse cast of friends including members of Evening Hymns, Pony Girl, Little Kid, Minotaurs, Alanna Gurr, Merival, the Two Minute Miracles, and Omhouse – his partner performs the trombone parts, and his 87 year old Grandfather also sings on the closing track – the album was produced out of heralded Canadian studios including Port William Sound, The House of Miracles, and Little Bullhorn. The result, two years later, is The Winter of our Discotheque; a fascinating and compelling collection of songs that offer a sobering insight into the mind of an artist deeply invested in the meticulous craft of honest songwriting.

The Winter of Our Discotheque immerses listeners in Michael’s complex universe through work which is both familiar and inventive, equally whimsical and stone-cold stoic. The songs in this collection were composed over ten itinerant and disastrous years, in and about his life lived in hospital beds, shelters, and addiction treatment centres. This quasi-sophomore release finds Michael C. Duguay returned to wellness and rapturously reunited with his craft, writing with startling clarity and remarkable candor, withstanding the conventional singer-songwriter label. The Winter of Our Discotheque is a triumphant reemergence, establishing Michael C. Duguay as an idiosyncratic punk-poet whose mercurial work, while firmly rooted in the vernacular tradition, combines adroit pop and the avant-garde to ecstatic and often devastating effect.

On the album’s first single, Summer Fights, a song which morphs from pastoral alt-country ballad to jubilant, psychedelic honky-tonk, Michael sings the album’s central thesis; ‘there’s a time and there’s a place for all variety of grace’. This declaration is one of many which draws attention to the beauty that surfaces, and which so often goes overlooked, in a world of chaos and struggle. Describing his time spent battling addiction and mental illness, which found him drifting from the gulf islands of British Columbia, to Halifax’s north end, to a halfway house west of Thunder Bay, Michael remarks, ‘I completely lost hold of my identity, and as my emotions and thinking became increasingly compromised by substances and trauma, my relationship with my practice dissolved; first my ability, then my desire to try’. Despite the hardship endured, in broken moments of lucidity Michael was able to shape new personal understandings of the varieties of human experience, and his own relationship to privilege. These revelations have resulted in a body of work which neither dwells in the darkness nor trivializes his own experience, but which describe in poetic, naturalistic, and sometimes droll language, the realities of his lived experience “I spent a lot of time in places that others might describe as ‘bottoms’, where I never predicted myself landing, and these songs have helped me make sense of those experiences’. The narrative spun by The Winter of Our Discotheque is both bildungsroman and poioumenon (a work of art that tells the story of its own making). Revealing its own metfactions as it progresses, his writing draws comparisons to the literary school of Southern Ontario Gothic writers including Munro, Findley, and Urquhart. The album draws its title from John Steinbeck’s final novel, which in turn references the opening words of Shakespeare’s Richaed III. More than just clever wordplay, the themes on Duguay’s record can be understood as contemporary expressions of both of those writer’s existential anxiety.

Dutchkid Shine A Light On Dark Side Of Social Media With ‘Friends’

Ahead of their debut album next year, Dutchkid return with new single, ‘Friends’ and a mission to highlight the negative impact of social media. With their credible slant on alternative electronic pop, the London-based creative collective with roots in South Africa, UK and USA have delivered another standout track with a message. Launching off the back of World Mental Health Day, ‘Friends’ highlights the mental health struggles many young people in particular face when comparing themselves against the seemingly perfect lives projected online by others. Following the well-received last single, ‘Howling’, Dutchkid remain heavily tipped as a band to watch after selling out all three, debut headline live shows, with the biggest yet now rescheduled for Friday 11th June 2021 at Oslo (Hackney, London). ‘Friends’ is another example of Dutchkid’s ability to produce stylish, synth-driven tunes full of hooks which you can’t get out of your head and explains why they already have nearly 7 million streams and playlist support from the likes of New Music Friday (Spotify) and New Artist Spotlight (Apple Music). Download/stream here: https://ffm.to/dk-friends

Dutchkid have created their own template for the music industry. More than just a band, each brings more to the whole collective, including songwriters, producers, film-makers and graphic designers, using their combined skills to independently create, record and produce their own music and art. Here they turn their creative force towards a growing problem in modern society – the negative impact of social media. It is widely recognised that interaction with social media can lead to anxiety, a poor self-image, loneliness, jealousy and more. Charities like Young Minds and others are working to help mitigate these effects but as social media use grows so does its negative impact. In ‘Friends’ Dutchkid use their lyrics to shine a light on the reality of social media use, with lines that reveal the pressure of creating a false image of our lives to impress or keep up with others. For example, on the subject of selfies;

Took about ten for a good one,

Cover up the side that you slept on,

Everybody lies with the lens on,

You can’t lie to the mirror.

Or lyrics to show that those suffering mental health issues due to social media use are not alone;

Put your hands up if you feel that stress,

If you compare your worst to everybody’s best.

The main chorus hook asks a question designed to make people think about what social media is doing to them;

So why, am I starting to hate all my friends?

Dutchkid as a group have changed their stance to social media use, posting on socials only once a week at a specified time then taking the post down after an hour. As individuals they have all been affected in some way by the negative feelings engendered by social media. Chris Smyth from the band says,

“For me coming off social media wasn’t about jealousy of others, but more about the mental battle of shaping what my life looked like to others. It’s so easy to find yourself editing photos for hours as if life was some kind of portfolio which was up for constant review by people I quite frankly would never speak to in real life. I decided to bite the bullet and come off socials a few weeks ago. So no more trying to filter life to make it look as good as everyone else, no more videos of cats falling off shelves, no more scrolling through articles that I never had any interest in reading in the first place, no more constantly picking up my phone for no apparent reason, and best of all, no more adverts.”

Dutchkid’s Pete Coggan also comments,

“We live in a world that is demanding our attention every day from targeted ads to WhatsApp groups pinging like crazy. I’m slowly learning that our attention is becoming a currency that people want to buy and I wanted to gain back some control. I came off Facebook a few years back and genuinely haven’t missed it at all. I decided to come off Instagram a month ago which was a lot more difficult as I love to take pictures and share them but I was so dependent on the likes and ‘attention’ my photos would get that it was overtaking my love of photography. I want to be able to meet up with my friends and ask them if they’ve discovered anything new recently rather than following our friendship in a 1080×1920 box. I might return to Insta at some point but for now the break has gained me some brain space back and I’m now choosing what I give my attention to rather than a corporation deciding for me.”

Dutchkid signed to influential US label, Ultra Music, in 2019 after fierce interest from multiple labels and have continued their rise with singles such as ‘Flight’, ‘Youth’ and most recently ‘Howling’ as they head towards a big debut album in 2021. ‘Friends’ is another polished production, with typically hooky vocals over a warm groove, shuffling beats and cascading synths – sure to find heavy support both the music and its message. This collective bring something fresh, a different approach to their music and art, and aim to use this platform in a positive way. Dutchkid are surely heading for big things.

Will Brahm said about this song “This composition of mine channels the sounds and rhythms from Peru, bringing the spirit of a Peruvian Festejo along with my own harmony, melody, and interplay with the acoustic ensemble.”

Few words about Will Brahm:
Will Brahm is a Los Angeles based guitarist and composer, and a 2019 Herbie Hancock International Guitar competition semi finalist. He received his bachelors of music in Jazz Guitar Studies at California Sate University Long Beach, where he was a five time consecutive recipient of the “K-jazz” scholarship.

Will has performed, recorded, and worked with artists such as Arturo Sandoval, the New West Guitar Group, Gordon Goodwin’s “Big Phat Band,” Kim Richmond, Otmaro Ruiz, Sara Gazarek, Jane Monheit, and Gretchen Parlato.

Will has toured with The New West Guitar Group across the United States and to Malasia and the Philippines, and toured with his own original music across the United States and to Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Greece, and Turkey. Recent albums of his include the 2017 release of his world original music ensemble “Homenaje,” the 2018 release of his duet album “Will Brahm & Lia Booth,” and the 2019 release of his most recent album under his own name, “Venture Atlas.”

Will draws from a number of musical backgrounds from all over the world, giving his original compositions the combination of singing melodies, rich dense harmonic variations, and diverse exciting rhythmic motion. His 2019 album release “Venture Atlas” contains all original compositions of his, and he is joined by Chris Wabich on drum set and percussion, Diego Alvarez on percussion, Ahmet Türkmenoğlu on bass, and Katisse Buckingham on flute.

Will’s new album “Venture Atlas” is out now!
https://www.instagram.com/willbrahm/

Carlos Maya shared few words with us about this song”
“Each one of my song work as some kind of tale, a story to be told and evoked, and when you imagine, you let yourself to reach your deep emotions, you are the main character in this tale and you live your personal emotional adventure.”

When I composed this piece I imagined myself walking slowly at the edge of the sea, feeling the sand in my feet and the warm water touching me gently… “Grace” speaks about the simplest things in life but the most valuable, and how we have to embrace each moment, each experience, as unique as they are, and always make the most.

Few words about Carlos Maya:
Carlos Maya. Modern classical pianist and composer. Wrote his debut album “Isolation Songs for Piano” in its entirely at home during quarantine. Each song tells a story and portrays an emotional journey where the listener is its own protagonist. Each piece represents an emotional mood, but transforming it and modifying it along the time to convey a sense of storytelling.

https://carlosmaya.hearnow.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlosmayaofficial/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlosmayaofficial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlosmayapiano
Bandcamp: https://carlosmaya.bandcamp.com/

This song is about the inner conflict inside you when you are stuck in a toxic relationship. The obsessed heart wants to stay, the alarmist brain wants out.

Skycabin is a musical and visual project by Farbod and Sepand, two California based longtime musical partners. With major influences from Massive Attack and Nine Inch Nails, Skycabin aims to provide a new era of music influenced by the dark tones of the 90s under a commercial appeal.
https://www.instagram.com/skycabin/

About The Song:

The third track from the Solstice EP is a musical representation of moving from fear-based thought to a more enlightened state of consciousness, Press and Release does just that – unfolds from a ‘pressed’ tension into a beautiful ‘release’ as it progresses.

Samples of newsreaders reporting the pain and suffering of our world, weaved in amongst gritty textures and growling distorted bass, are eventually interrupted by a voice that speaks of “accessing other levels of experience.” What follows is a drum and bass-meets-electronica climax of melancholy and meaning, decorated with beautiful piano and vocal refrains that sing, ending the EP on a crisp high note that is both exhilarating and hopeful.

About Visco City:

Influenced by Flume, Bonobo and Catching Flies – London producer Bobby Turner, AKA Visco City, creates melodic, ambient electronic music that strikes a balance between beauty and chaos – while invoking an inner sense of meaning for the listener.

Turner started making music at college, and this fresh creative outlet, paired with dubstep and drum & bass raves, ignited his passion for electronic music.

Fast-forward to the present, Bobby found a new love for the chilled-out, melodic side of the electronic spectrum, and Visco City was born.

After meeting Birmingham artist Ed Geater in 2020, Geater spotted his potential and Visco City quickly penned a deal with independent Birmingham label, Brox Records.

Turner’s debut release, Solstice EP, is a 3 track journey that carries the listener on a progressive, ethereal wave through a range of different textures and tempos.

With versatility and a talent for building sonic complexity while retaining that infectious, melodic simplicity, Visco City is undoubtedly one to watch in 2020 and beyond.
https://www.instagram.com/viscocitysound/

Entel is a Melodic Techno & Progressive House Producer / DJ from Columbus, Ohio.

Starting with guitar at an early age, Entel fell in love with the song writing process. Starting in bands, he began producing demos as well as helping other bands in town record their material. This developed into a love for synthesis and composing songs in Ableton Live.

While attending Ohio University for Audio Production, Entel began producing and

DJing music. Upon graduation, he moved back to Columbus and has been pushing his progressive sounds ever since. With a focus on emotional and melodic music that pulls its listener in, Entel’s goal is to create a freeing environment on a dance floor that encourages one to lose themselves in a moment.

When not performing, he spends his time at AWSOM Studios, producing music and working on an array of collaborative projects. In addition, he also has his radio show, ‘Entel Radio,’ with a focus on pushing Progressive House and Melodic Techno music in the Mid-West.
https://www.instagram.com/entel_music/

Inspired by the range of emotions experienced when exploring a place that instantly commits itself to one’s memory for the rest of their life.

Sync Zephyr’s favourite habits include going for walks and searching for strange, obscure corners of the internet. These are the things by which most of his music is inspired.

https://www.instagram.com/sync.zephyr/

This is a song about people-pleasing, over-thinking, over-analyzing and finding someone who helps you calm down.

Joel moved to Denver, Colorado in 2014 and cut his songwriting teeth by playing every local open mic he could find. He has since found fans all over the country with more than 13 million streams online, a song placed in Marvel’s “The Punisher” , and the title of “songwriter to watch” from The Huffington Post. His songs combine folk and R&B to great effect and going beyond the genre, Artist Review wrote: “This music is soul therapy.” His latest album, A Place I Knew Before, was crowdfunded and released in the fall of 2019. Marquee Mag writes: “Striking a careful balance that only comes with great intention, ‘A Place I Knew Before’ blends sonic experimentation with strong songwriting, but more deeply places grief and hope side by side.” His thoughtful songwriting and unique voice have continued to win fans, and with a new EP just around the bend, Ansett seems bound for bigger and brighter things.
http://joelansett.com/epk/