Hidden Beats

Posts from the events we are a part of and the people we get to meet doing what we love

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@choclairofficial was in town for #ottawa first post #covid19 #concert brought to you by @diamondxmine • • • • • #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #livemusicphoto #musicphoto #liveshow #concert #concertphotographer #concertphoto #musicphotography #livemusic #hiphop #rapmusic #hiphopmusic #choclair #letsride #90shiphop #oldschoolhiphop (at The Brass Monkey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDpPCXLh-x3/?igshid=189nmr48u7w19

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That time @88glam was in town • • • • • #Ottawa #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #livemusicphoto #musicphoto #liveshow #concert #concertphotographer #concertphoto #musicphotography #livemusic #hiphopmusic #88glam #torontomusic https://www.instagram.com/p/CAbPxcMBO7S/?igshid=f8pr1d1m3u40

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Spotlight - Charles Cleyn

Today our Spotlight – Charles Cleyn. I have to admit I didn’t know much about Charles when I was first approached about an interview. After a little digging around I certainly found out some interesting stuff. It was great getting to spend a few moments talking with Charles about his music and his moves he's made to pursue his career. Check out what he had to say.

You often talk fondly of your childhood/early years listening to music with your siblings at home; Clapton, the Beatles, and the like, were you each pretty steadfast in your lanes, or were all 3 of you pretty wild when it came to music choice, playing, etc (there were 5 kids) Growing up I rarely heard anything too experiential around the house. All of our tastes fell under a similar umbrella. My parents had their “go to’s” which would be on our 6-disc CD rack and we’d have them on repeat in the living room. The oldest, Trish, was a lover of musical theatre so there was a non stop echo in the house of Disney Classics or the entire collection of Joseph’s Technicolor Dream Coat. When Mom and Dad were out my brother and I would put on Cream or Sergeant Peppers and this is the music I loved growing up. My younger sisters followed in the footsteps of Trish which meant much more singing! You mentioned that when you were in high school didn’t really pursue music due to a lack of faith/confidence in yourself, until your year end talent show. What finally pushed you to take the leap and go for it? It’s hard to nail down one event. I think it was a matter of time. Socially, I was a self-confidence late bloomer and a quiet kid growing up but internally I was very comfortable with who I was. I just needed time to let other people see who I was. I thought the talent show would be a great time to show people I played piano. You get a lot of praise for taking the plunge and leaving Shopify to pursue your music career. Would you have been that ready and comfortable had you not had the financial backing of years working at Shopify? Probably not. But I took way more out of Shopify than it gave back to me. And it wasn’t money. It was knowledge. I was lucky enough to be an early employee which gave me the flexibility to do many jobs. During my last two years at Shopify I worked at the executive level and I saw everything there was building and managing a multi billion dollar company. I felt comfortable to leave because I knew I had the business experience to make something work in the music industry. Berlin is a huge cultural melting pot, and home to a number of international expats, can you tell us more about the arts and music scene there? How it varies from Canada? Berlin is just cool. It reflects coolness off of everything. Unfortunately, there’s no city like this in Canada. I wish. There is a huge support for local live music. You could play a show every night if you wanted to. Everyone has their own style and nobody cares what that is. It’s really the original hipster. A lot of cities try to be cool but Berlin isn’t trying. It just is. What was it like trying to bridge back to Canada after living in Berlin as long as you were? Canada is home so I feel comfortable here but I still spend a lot of time in Berlin and I’m currently working with three different German producers so I still feel tied to the European culture. Berlin is relaxed but still competitive and it’s a great balance, something I will hope to keep with me in Canada. Your youtube channel - A - Has a whole host of videos, covering a wide gamut of options from how-to’s for begginers, how do you think the online world is changing music appreciation from living rooms with siblings to learning and getting that confidence at a much younger age? B - Has honest comparisons between different music platforms (Spotify, Soundcloud, Tidal, etc) what was the motivation behind pointing that out? And does it have anything to do with hammering it home to newer musicians that they wont make money off their music via said platforms? I create youtube videos because I genuinely like doing it but I think it’s a great channel to build an audience as a musician which has a far bigger organic each than platforms like Facebook or Instagram. I’m still testing out a wide variety of content to see what works and what sticks which is why right now my content might seem a little all over the place. You got to throw a lot of spaghetti at the wall and then double down on whatever sticks. If an independent musician doesn't have a youtube channel, they need to start now.

You’ve played LIVE! On Elgin, Queen St. fare, what are some other local spots you enjoy here in Ottawa, music or otherwise? Live on Elgin is probably my favourite because of its size, sound quality, and support for local musicians. Rainbow Bistro will always have a soft spot in my heart. I’ve gone to many shows there on random Saturday nights. I’ll never say no to a burger at the Manx or Brunch at the Pump. Your song “Keep On” is hauntingly beautiful, what was the process like writing it? It seems incredibly personal about tenacity? Keep On is one of my favourites. It was the first song I wrote where I thought, “hey, this is actually pretty good”. I wrote it in my apartment on the keyboard in the fall. It was pouring out and I was trying to figure out the next step with music. I had no idea what to do but to just keep going and hope that doors will open. I’ve stuck by this until today, all I try to do is keep building, keep moving, and put the trust in the process. Your song “Nothing but Glory” is equally as catchy, listening to it gives a lot of homage to bluegrass and soul music? Tell us more about that Nothing but the Glory was my first co-written song from scratch so it brings three writers perspectives and experiences into it. That’s why I think we got this sound. It was a great experience and I’ve co-written most of my songs since then to get a more diverse sound and to also learn how other writers work. Your song “Sorry” is an unbelievably cute love story even though you didn’t work. Was it about someone in particular, an amalgamation of relationships? Sorry was more of an amalgamation of relationships and actually not being sorry about it anymore. Forgive and forget and then move on. It’s personal but it also draws from other experiences too. Most of my songs start personal and then I embellish them to tell a more captivating story. If you had dream collab, who would it be and why? It would be John Mayer, Justin Bieber, and Ed Sheehan. Very random. John for his jaw-dropping guitar chops and rootsy vibes. Ed for his incredible melodies and Justin for his angelic voice. I think it would be full of laughs.

What can expect from you for 2020, and how has all travel being grounded affected those plans and goals? I’m going to release 7 singles in 2020. My plan was to start releasing songs in April but things shifted. It’s been difficult to finish songs in the studio and obviously play shows since the outbreak of Covid-19. I have an EU tour in June which will likely be cancelled. We plan to tour Canada in October as well and we’re hoping it can happen. In general, the new songs are even more personal and I think it’s the closet style I’ve got to yet in my writing and production. I can’t wait for people to hear them. It’s real quality and I’ve had a great team behind me of songwriters and producers to get them past the finish line. What would you like to tell your fans? Send me a message, send me an email, I want to talk 1:1 with more of my fans because I can. I’m not a superstar so I have the time and capacity to do so. This is a unique one as our Spotlight - Charles Cleyn who has ties in both Berlin and Canada and We want to thank Charles for sending some time with us. Make sure to keep up with Charles for upcoming shows including a tour here in Canada. https://www.charlescleyn.com/

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West Coast Spotlight - Edge

Here at Hidden Beats, we are taking advantage of this time by serving you a number of unique artists on a silver platter through our new Spotlight Q&A interviews. Our first West Coast Spotlight - Edge. Amidst this pandemic, time is in abundance — offering music lovers the ability to dive deep into the ever-growing pool of talented Canadian musicians and making it easier than ever to bolster your musical roster.  We are highlighting Edge, a 23-year-old up and coming Hip-Hop artist and producer, based in British Columbia.  Influenced by everything from his Nigerian roots to modern pop, reggae and rap of all eras (most noticeably Tyler the Creator), Edge is carving out his place quickly within the world of hip-hop by creating a unique sound all his own that is laced with details of his experiences thus far.  Get to know more about this budding artist below!

Photo by Justin HIll How long have you been creating?  Since I was about 13-years-old. What got you started in music?  My friends in middle school. We started  a group which consisted of four members including myself. We did it for a Christmas program at school and from there it just kinda grew into something else.  I found myself saving lunch money to purchase studio time to go work on music. Is Edge your given name? If not, what made you decide to go with it?  Funny enough it’s not, I might add it someday. I don’t recall who gave me the nickname, but I’ve always had it since I was little. I was also into WWE when I was younger, and the wrestler “Edge” was cool at the time, so I didn’t mind the nickname. At what age did you move to Canada? How do you feel the move impacted you?  I came down to Canada when I was 18. It was interesting being on my own for the first year or so. I would still say I’m still feeling the impact of the move seeing that all the people I grew up with, I have not seen for the past 5 years now.  But I’ve also met a lot of new people here who have more than added an experience to my journey. So, it’s give and take. You mention in your bio that your home country and world music has impacted you. Is there anything in particular that you feel often comes up when you’re creating? Well not consciously I guess, when I create, I pull on the sounds, sonically and production wise from music I’ve listened to and I enjoy.  I also think of what sounds (like sonically sounds good) good, then I try to recreate that sound I’m hearing from my head. Growing up, were you always surrounded by hip-hop or R&B? What were some of the other genres around you that you feel have inspired your art so far? In my earlier years I was surrounded by church music, but as I grew up, I noticed my dad playing different music around the house, he played reggae, 2face, face, Asa, Michael Jackson, he was in love with Lady Gaga, played Flavour (also a Nigerian artist).  I really grew up with Nigerian music, from afro-beats to Nigerian Rap. Then started listening to the radio so whatever was popular on there, I would tune into a station called Cool FM to listen to Rick D’s show. And I’d watch loads of movies and look for the sound tracks off there, and that gave me access to rock and indie pop. And finally, Limewire. My music is kind of a refined mesh of all these things. Do you think it’s important to explore different genres outside of your own when it comes to creating? Why?  Yes, most definitely, but then again, I don’t only just make one genre. If you truly love music, you can’t limit yourself to just one genre. You can definitely tell that Tyler the Creator has had a large influence on you. What is it about him in particular that captivated you?  The rawness of his music to begin with. Like when I was younger and just hearing him say all that wild sh*t, I was listening like “yo are people allowed to speak like this?” At a second listen he was super expressive and honest in his music and he didn’t really appear to give to fu*k about what anyone thought.  I thought that was cool af. Secondly his character was funny, I found him hilarious. But also, being that young and being able to create different platforms in which he could express his creativity, from music to tv to fashion to a festival, that was cool. A lot of times, artists create their music for the masses, as perhaps a way to gain rapid success. Why do you feel it’s so important to create music you care about and also would like to listen to?  Because I would like to be able to listen to and enjoy my own music if it ever got big. I don’t want to be stuck listening to trash music made by me. Why did you learn to produce and how long did it take you to learn?  Well, when I got to Canada, I didn’t have access to a studio where I was, so I went online and bought the equipment I needed to record myself.  At the time I would send music out to producers to help mix and master. But after a while I wanted to be self sufficient, and there were also different sounds I wanted to try out for myself. So, I went on youtube and started learning how to mix vocals. Took me about a year or so to learn so, but till date I’m still learning a lot, you can never really be done learning. You say you like to “create vibes”. Is this purely lighthearted vibes that people can relate to or do you try to use your platform to relay messages you feel are important? Why or Why not? My music a lot of the time is lighthearted, I don’t go into making music with an agenda, well I mean that’s a lie, my agenda is to make sonically pleasing music to myself. But beyond that I don’t go in thinking I want to relay any messages. I make music based on how I’m feeling at that moment. How I view my platform though is through myself and my actions. I want anyone watching me to understand where I come/came from and how I got to where I am/going to, and understand that it’s possible for them to take the same steps and create something of themselves.

Photo by Justin Hill You can listen to Edge’s most recent releases on Spotify And follow along with him via Instagram

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Spotlight - Teigen Gayse

The new Spotlight – Teigen Gayse. We got to spend some time chatting with the talented and lovely Teigen about her new self-album which drops today. Its great seeing more music coming out especially since we are still under lock down and no concerts currently. Check out what Teigen had to say below.

Now that your album has dropped, what is the story you are trying to tell with your music? Are you relieved to finally share it with the world? This album is pretty much my Diary, and also therapy for me haha. I usually write what I’m feeling, or going through at that time. The biggest message I’d like to get across to people through my music is that they’re not alone. Everyone gets cheated on, everyone has a crappy day, everyone has loved someone who doesn't love them back and it’s always nice to know that someone else out there is feeling the same way and they can relate to that. What was your process like with the new album? The process has been pretty intense but I’m enjoying every bit of it. I’m learning lots which is great. For anyone who thinks that when you release an album, you just record it and release it. That is not the case! You can’t just hope that the world likes it. How can the world like it if they don't know it exists? There is a lot of promo and prep that comes with it. I’m thankful to have the team that I do working with me.  If you had the chance who would your dream collab be and why? Oh gosh that's a tough one, probably changes every week for me to be honest haha. If I had to choose one though it would probably be Kacey Musgraves. If I had to choose a guy artist right now, I'd probably choose Parker MCcollum, love that guy’s music and his voice.  Your new single, “Fly Away Boy”, it reminds me of the saying if you love something let it go, because if it’s meant to be, you’ll come back to each other down the road. Is travelling around and the musician transient life hard? That must be tough to leave people you love. That was the message I was trying to get across for sure. Yes it is hard but it is what it is. I think when you find the right person, you make it work for each other, but I'm still trying to figure that part out haha.  You put out your video for “your girlfriend’s crazy” when you were 23. What was it like being so young and working on it, did you find folks were more collaborative with you and your control over the process? Walk us through that experience. The music video for “Your Girlfriends Crazy” was such a fun experience. It was my first time ever going to Nashville and my sister got to tag along with me. Everyone that worked on the video was so nice and professional, it was my first video and first single so I had no idea what to expect. I was so young and didn't really know what I was doing I just let people do their thing. I didn’t have too much input in that video but that’s okay, I didn't really have any input haha

You’ve been writing since 15, what are some of your inspirations, and what artist would people be surprised you’re a big fan of? I grew up loving all genres, a good song is a good song. But I think what really inspired me was the family channel haha. I would see all these young kids singing and writing their own music and i thought “if they can do it then so can i” so that's exactly what i did. The first song I remember writing and recording was called “In my Dreams” and I wrote it about Nick Jonas haha. I had the biggest crush on him.  You have a lot of fun songs, lots of throwbacks too Sara Evans/Dixie Chicks/Carrie Underwood. Who would be your dream collab? If I had to choose to collab with one of those 3 artists I would have to choose the Dixie chicks. I got to meet the lady who wrote “Wide Open Spaces” while I’ve been down in Texas and I thought that was pretty cool!  Are you from a musical family? I imagine the music scene in Kelowna is pretty varied and interesting? My grandpa could pick up any instrument and play it, unfortunately he died right before my mom gave birth to me so I never got to meet him. Makes me sad because no one else in my family is musical like me haha. My uncle loves guitar and can play pretty good actually, but his thing is more fixing broken guitars, trading and selling them. Every guitar I've ever owned is from him, so they’re all very special to me and I'm very lucky to have him as an uncle What are some of your favorite venues you’ve played at back here in Canada?  I love playing at the OK Corral in Kelowna. It’s the only country bar in town so it gets pretty wild there. I also really enjoy playing outside at events, like Parks Alive, because you never know who’s cruising by so you can gain a wider audience. Now that this album is released I am looking forward to doing some touring and festivals.   As a female artist, do you find it difficult to break out as yourself, without a flood of people trying to compare you to other country-pop artists? Yes and no. People are always going to talk and compare, that’s just how it is. I’m still growing and learning about my style and sound and this whole process with releasing my album has really helped me along the way. I just want to be the next Teigen Gayse. 

What is some advice you would give musicians that are working towards their goals? Don’t give up, you never know if tomorrow will be your day. Learn as much as you possibly can, talk to people, get out there and go experience life. Making mistakes only means you’re getting better so keep making mistakes and keep fixing them till you get it right. There is no right or wrong with music so don't feel discouraged if you don't play like a certain person, maybe what you're doing is special. Play with as many people as possible and learn from each other. GO FOR IT, don’t miss out on opportunities because you don’t think you're good enough, believe you are good enough.  What would you like to tell your fans?  I love anyone who is a fan of my music. It means the world to me that I made an impact on someone. My ultimate goal with music is to make people feel something. When I hear a good song, I am so happy whether it’s a sad or happy song, just to feel something and escape for a few minutes is a feeling I don't really know how to explain, but it feels good. That is my goal in life and that is what i want my fans to feel like when they hear my music and if I do that to them I want them to tell me about it, it makes me feel like i'm doing my job right  The Spotlight – Teigen Gayse is in the books. We want to say thank you for taking the time to talk to us about your music and inspiration’s. Looking forward to more music to come.

Check out the new album - Teigen Gayse out now! https://www.teigengayse.com Make sure to follow instagram

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Spotlight - Olivia Lunny

It's time for some new music and today our Spotlight - Olivia Lunny. Hailing from Winnipeg Manitoba, Olivia is coming off a win on season 2 of The Launch. We were excited to spend some time talking about her love of music and the new release of Think of Me out now!

You come from a quite creative family, your brother and manager Christian is the CEO and co-founder of several impressive companies. Have you 2 always been competitive with each other? Supportive? What was it like growing up in a household with 2 incredibly passionate and creative types? My brother and I have always been each other's biggest cheerleaders. Growing up and witnessing his success was incredibly motivating and led me to the mindset that anything is possible if you practice patience and hard work. We definitely feed off of each other's energy and passion- that being said, we both have very strong personality types so we have our fair share of debates and challenge each other's ideas often. I definitely feel blessed we get to work as a team. Since he’s come on board as management we’ve really taken things to the next level. I’m really looking forward to what we can accomplish in the years ahead as a team/sibling duo. You are very passionate about Winnipeg, your home town, boosting it up, but with travelling around the country, do you still think you guys have the best poutine? Favorite place in Canada you’ve played so far (other than hometown faves)? Where’s somewhere you want to play here in Canada? Winnipeg will always have my heart! Our poutine however was one-upped when I tried the poutine of ALL poutine’s last summer in Quebec City (at FEQ)!  (Winnipeg remains a close second...) I had the chance to play In PEI at the Cavendish festival last summer and that was a huge highlight. Such a dreamy place. Future wise, I would love to hit the West Coast and play in Vancouver someday soon! Who is your biggest music inspiration and why? I always find this question so difficult to answer. Over the years I’ve been exposed to so much different music. Because of this, my inspiration has come from a collective group of artists. Coldplay will always however be one of my first and present favourite bands. (I admire their authenticity and identity in their sound!) The video for Blacklight, super cool, great song, talk us through the inspiration for that. After being on The Launch were you a bit more comfortable with the creative process in the video. Thank you!! Blacklight was the first music video/shoot I had ever been a part of. Through being on the launch, I really evolved both as a person and artist. I feel that Blacklight was the first project “post launch” where I got to explore another side to my artistry. The video itself represents how people run from their insecurities. In the case of the video, “insecurities” are shown as people lurking in the shadows. This video was so fun to shoot and the director Haille Tut is such a talented up and coming fellow female creative. What is the best advice you've been given so far? Be patient & the only person you’re competing against is yourself. I find it so easy to get distracted and start comparing goals to others etc. irony is, when you can stay disciplined and zoom into your own goals/ life- that’s when you will become the happiest and most successful. Big year for you, winning CTV’s the Launch, must’ve been pretty wild, walk us through what that was like, how it felt to win. 2019 was a very surreal and crazy ride- I went on The Launch with absolutely no expectations. I was the most excited to simply have my music heard by such a large television audience. Winning opened up a whole new chapter for me and I’m forever grateful for my time on the launch because of that. Receiving validation from industry moguls was 100% the reassurance I didn’t know I needed. This really helped me gain some confidence on the writing side of things and at the same time was incredibly humbling. The music industry is a wild place, every artist's journey is so individually unique, and I feel blessed that this opportunity has become a big part of my story and stepping stone so early on in my career. What was the experience like working with Scott Borchetta? Scott is such a kind and passionate human being. I really felt supported and respected working with him. He also has a great ear for music so receiving positive feedback from him was amazing. You received a lot of praise from Jann Arden specifically, what’s it like having a Canadian icon gush over you so blatantly? The “gush” was 110% reciprocal! Jann is so talented and an iconic Canadian. Hearing her speak the way she did about my music was a surreal and special moment. I will always hold that moment in my heart. What was the process like writing with Tyler Shaw for the new single Think Of Me? Tyler is one of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve met. I found the writing process with him very easy and organic. I think our styles of music blend really nicely, so collaborating has been really fun. What is the story you are trying to tell with your music? What’s the story behind Think Of Me? I almost always draw inspiration from personal experiences (whether I’m aware of that or not). The narrative in my songs explore the different perspectives and sides to experiencing love. Think of Me is a post break up anthem with a nostalgic feel. I had gone through a recent break up, Tyler had a concept and melody idea, 3 hours later the song was born! With the new release is there any plans for shows and or tours coming up? Yes- I hope so! The world’s chaotic right now though so I think the most important thing we can do is stay home and enjoy music digitally Finally what would you like to tell your fans? Thank you for listening, thank you for allowing me to create. xoxo Check out Think of Me available now! To keep up to date with Olivia Lunny visit her website! http://www.olivialunny.com/

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@aaronpritchett hold my beer! • • • • • #Ottawa #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #livemusicphoto #musicphoto #liveshow #concert #concertphotographer #concertphoto #musicphotography #livemusic #aaronpritchett #holdmybeer #countrymusic #countrylife https://www.instagram.com/p/B_EIWuJhZCs/?igshid=druz95yc86fs

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@buckcherry thankfully will be rescheduled so we won’t miss out on some fun rock and roll! • • • • • #Ottawa #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #livemusicphoto #musicphoto #liveshow #concert #concertphotographer #concertphoto #musicphotography #livemusic #rockandroll #buckcherry #crazybitch (at Barrymore's) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_BgWyMhSE3/?igshid=yqmu2jdlvowt

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Spotlight - Sykamore

Our Spotlight - Sykamore. We got to sit down with this talented artist on the rise about her her new album California King. We are still in an uncertain time right now which means it's the perfect time to enjoy some new music.

In June of 2019, you were the FIRST person to sign a record deal with Music Knox Records which is amazing! Was there a lot of pressure and expectations there? I wouldn’t say so, I think there was mostly just excitement. When you start collaborating with a group of folks who are happy to indulge your vision and support you as an artist, I think you replace any pressure or expectation with enthusiasm to just create something you love, not necessarily something that’s going to hit a particular benchmark. It was a very liberating process, creatively. Sykamore is a stage name, and in a 2018 interview with Jim Barber of Music Life Magazine, you talk about the decision process between using your own name vs a stage name. Do you still feel as adamantly today about that decision? I definitely do! The name is the centerfold of the music - it represents the sound in all of its strength, tenacity, and organic qualities. It would feel incomplete to abandon the name at this point. Follow up question: For newer artists that are emerging, what are some words of advice you would give to them struggling to make that decision? If they felt strongly about adapting a stage name, I think I would tell them to choose one that accurately reflects their sound, since it is the first impression people have of you. I’d also tell them to pick something that’s easy to Google, so people don’t have to wade through other things to get to you. And finally, pick something you’re still going to like in twenty years. Back in November 2019, you were invited to play at the Stampede City Sessions. Tell us about that experience! So many amazing artists have been part of that, and their coverage extends all the way down into the Southern US as well. It was very special to me to come back home and play SCS - I have a lot of friends who have played it and so it was a fun right of passage experience for sure. I hope they continue on with it in the future and that it becomes the Canadian ‘Austin City Limits.’ I appreciate the efforts made by everyone involved to advertise and elevate it to where it is. You’ve mentioned that the Dixie Chicks are big influences of yours growing up. Personal anecdote, I am a huge fan of their album FLY, “Goodbye Earl” and “Sin Wagon” namely. What really connected you with them and what are some other artists you hold near and dear? Fly is an AMAZING album. Great choice. What I like about DC is their effortless balance between the modern and the traditional. So much of their early work especially, is laced with Western swing and bluegrass, yet lyrically and melodically they were so in the pocket of what any current person would be going through at the time. Some other artists I fangirl over are Lana Del Rey, LIGHTS, The Weeknd, Kacey Musgraves and Bruno Mars. If you had your chance at your dream collab who would it be and why? I think I would pick Lana Del Rey. Love all her original work but she’s also a very meticulous collaborator and every time she’s done a duet it’s been such an homage to their work as well as hers. I think we could come up with something really cool. Your song “Better Half” (2017) lets talk about that for a moment? Was that about someone specifically? Or more an amalgamation of past relationships? It’s a beautiful song by the way. Thanks so much. I’d say it was an anthem for healthy relationships, not any one in particular. I think the thing that makes relationships work is that give and take - when you’re down they pick you up and vice versa. It’s a team effort. And at the time I wasn’t hearing any songs about that, so I thought it was time to throw one in the mix. In 2015, you got a nomination for the Canadian Country Music Association Discovery Award, and then in 2018, you released your first EP “Self + Medicine”. Tell us about that journey? Getting nominated for Discovery was sort of my debut onto the Canadian country scene. I attended my first CCMA’s that year as a nominee, and made a lot of great connections with people on that side of the industry. Thomas Rhett performed my first year at the CCMA’s, and it was because of that performance that I followed him on Twitter, and ultimately met him and his dad who signed me to a publishing deal, which brought me to Nashville. Shortly after that move, I released my first EP. So honestly, the whole thing is very intricately connected. It’s funny how you can trace everything back like that. How was the process for the latest EP California King compared to the previous? Well, this is my first time releasing music on a record label so I’d venture to say it’s quite a different experience, speaking strictly from the standpoint of people involved. You have a lot of folks helping you out, brainstorming with you, and planning things in advance. It feels very organized, and ultimately everything feels just a little bigger this time around. Which I’m excited about - I want every release to be bigger than the last, if I can help it. What is the story you are trying to tell with your music? I write about a lot of things in my music but I think it’s safe to say I always write about the human condition in some form or another. I draw from my own experiences or from stories I’ve heard about others, and ultimately I always strive to create art that other people can relate to. This EP in particular I think is about navigating your own emotions - sometimes they’re flying high and sometimes they’re low. ‘California King’ as a body of work shows the bookends of our feelings and how you can hopefully find beauty and expression on both ends. Are there any tour plans in the works with the new release now available? Currently, the future of touring is in question a bit, with the COVID-19 situation we’re all going through. But I have some festival dates still booked for the summer, which I would love to keep on the books if I can help it. As far as tours, I’m hopeful for the latter half of this year.  What do you want to say to your fans? I’d just like to say thanks for being so patient and waiting two years for new music - and I hope y’all enjoy “California King.” I loved writing it and I’m very happy to unveil the next chapter in my musical career. Spotlight - Sykamore is in the books and we want to say thank you to for taking the time to chat with us. Make sure you check out the album now!

Check out California King out now! Check out more from Sykamore https://sykamoremusic.com/ For your chance to get your own spotlight send us a message here Read the full article

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A little throw back to the Canadian Classic tour with @classifiedhiphop @choclairofficial and @maestrofreshwes • • • • • #Ottawa #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #livemusicphoto #musicphoto #liveshow #concert #concertphotographer #concertphoto #musicphotography #livemusic #hiphop #canadianmusic #canadianhiphop #choclair #classified #maestrofreshwes #rapmusic (at Barrymore's) https://www.instagram.com/p/B--t8WOBAVk/?igshid=1s7wf99hoz8w8

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Never gonna stop @robzombieofficial • • • • • #Ottawa #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #livemusicphoto #musicphoto #liveshow #concert #concertphotographer #concertphoto #musicphotography #livemusic #robzombie #livingdeadgirl #superbeast #rockmusic #rockandroll #robzombiefilm #robzombieofficial https://www.instagram.com/p/B-8SpgWh47V/?igshid=13xh8dpd3imtd

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@joynerlucas that one time in Ottawa • • • • • #Ottawa #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #livemusicphoto #musicphoto #liveshow #concert #concertphotographer #concertphoto #musicphotography #livemusic #joynerlucas #joyner #hiphop #rapper #rapmusic https://www.instagram.com/p/B-0cHBtB7AT/?igshid=1nzy1fqoj09

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One of my first shows I ever shot! @madchild at @babylonnightclub • • • • • #Ottawa #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #livemusicphoto #musicphoto #liveshow #concert #concertphotographer #concertphoto #musicphotography #livemusic #madchild #battleaxewarriors #swollenmembers https://www.instagram.com/p/B-x5IO0B3qR/?igshid=14gspkvhy4x0

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Our friends @theabramsmusic doing what they do best at @overflowbrewingco • • • • • #Ottawa #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #livemusicphoto #musicphoto #liveshow #concert #concertphotographer #concertphoto #musicphotography #livemusic #countrymusic #theabrams #goodolddays #reminder https://www.instagram.com/p/B-urxsuBbzy/?igshid=1mig98voeihq0

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@sturgillsimpson - @ottawabluesfest • • • • • #Ottawa #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #livemusicphoto #musicphoto #liveshow #concert #concertphotographer #concertphoto #musicphotography #livemusic #sturgillsimpson #countrymusic #cmt #cma https://www.instagram.com/p/B-sX2XWhTQn/?igshid=1au6fnsrirwwa

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Spotlight - Andrew Cassara

Today our Spotlight – Andrew Cassara. In light of all that’s happening right now with the current lock down its great to see new music coming out to keep everyone just a little more entertained. Andrew is an up and coming artist from right here in Ottawa and we got a chance to chat with him (from a distance) about his music and new single Bad Bad. Check it out!

How did you get into music? When I was a little a kid, I was a huge fan of the Backstreet Boys. I remember how excited I was every single time their music videos appeared on television. I’d watch them and listen to their songs, and I knew all the words and dance moves, so I’d put on little shows in my living room for my family and sing and dance to their songs. Watching their concert videos and seeing all the bright lights and the fans screaming, it really inspired me. It started this dream about becoming an artist. That’s pretty much how I started becoming curious about music! Who are your musical inspirations? My inspirations have always been the Backstreet Boys as I grew up but as I started writing more and more songs, I started really getting into music from Maroon 5, Jamiroquai, Charlie Puth and lately Harry Styles. I’ve also opened my mind to learning about a lot of disco and funk bands from the 70’s and that really inspired me to add some retro flavours to some of the songs on my upcoming album. You’re incredibly popular on socials, and are super engaging with your fans, I was quickly scrolling through some of your followers, and you don’t follow very many folks. Who’s someone you follow that you wish followed you back? Man, that’s a really tough question! I’d say that a follow from Shawn Mendes would be pretty cool. I’ve been following him online for the past couple years and I’ve seen him live a couple times, so his career has been a good inspiration for me for quite some time. Plus, he’s Canadian too haha!! You’ve been making quite a name for yourself here in Ottawa, playing at Bluesfest, Glowfair. What’s it like for someone from here to be playing on stage where you grew up seeing the artists that inspired you? It’s quite a surreal feeling! I actually made myself a promise that I wouldn’t go to Bluesfest until I got the chance to be a part of the lineup. When I got the chance to perform on the main stage, because of the promise I made myself, I’ve never actually been to a music festival in my life so the whole experience meant so much to me. It’s one thing to see your favorite artists on the music festival poster, but to see your name on the same page with them, is a feeling that’s hard to explain. I felt really proud that day. You also recently played at the Live at Heart Festival in Sweden, the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants), and in South Korea. Anywhere you want to hit up next? There are so many places that I’d like to perform but for quite some time I’ve had my eye on the Summer Sonic music festival in Japan. I think that would be a wicked time! I’m also really curious about performing in more countries around Asia! I often get messages from fans asking when I’ll be coming to the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and China to name a few; so, I’m really looking forward to making that happen soon! You were signed with Steve Gardiner when you were 17/18? What was that like? One day I received a message in my inbox from Steve inviting me to record a song with him in his studio and the next thing you know, he’s my manager/producer. We’ve been working together ever since, and I think we make a really good team. He’s probably the person with the biggest heart that I know and I’m really glad that life has brought us together on this journey. I owe a lot to him for believing so much in me to this very day. If you could have a dream collab who would it be and why? Recently, I listened to the new Dua Lipa album that just came out. It’s very disco influenced and it’s probably one of my favorite albums this year. Since our styles a pretty similar now, I think that would make a really fun collaboration!

You’ve been very vocal in trying to open up better dialogue for mental health awareness, would you like to expand more on that? Of course! A couple years ago I took part in the YouthXCanada Music Tour. We visited Youth Centres in many communities around Canada to perform shows for the kids and we spent a lot of time having open discussions about mental health and the stigma that revolves around it. Hearing all the stories from the kids in these communities and seeing how music can bring out smiles got me thinking. While all of this was happening, I later realized that I was experiencing my own issues with Mental Health and I started pushing it off to the side because I didn’t really understand what was happening to me. It came to me that there are probably millions of cases around the world that are similar to mine. It wasn’t until things got much worse that I started speaking out about it and made efforts to try and solve the issues. So, I think it’s really important that I try my best to show that our mental health should be cared for like any other wound and that it isn’t a sign of weakness. With your new single is dropping, any other big projects in the work? Yeah! On May 1st, I’ll be dropping my debut album Freak on Repeat and then I’ll be working on bringing the album to the stage! What was your creative process like for Bad Bad? With “Bad Bad” the creative process set the pace for the rest of the album in my opinion. We worked so hard making sure that the song could be the best it could. It was definitely one of the songs that took the longest because we fine-tuned the all the elements in the track so meticulously until we decided that it was good enough to master. “Bad Bad” was also one of the first songs that I actually co-produced in my song-writing career. It was some of the most fun I’ve had in the studio. I really got to express myself creatively in a new way and in turn it motivated me to push myself to be more open-minded and take more risks by experimenting in various ways with the music style I’m moving towards. What is the story you are trying to tell with your music? I write a lot of different stories throughout my songs but the story that I’m trying to tell throughout all of them is to enjoy the moment and have fun! What is the best music advice you have been given so far and what would your advice be to someone coming into the industry? Probably the best piece of advice that I’ve gotten is from my manager. He often tells me that I should think of my career as a marathon, not a sprint. So, it’s really important to look at the big picture and focus on moving forward steadily. There will be lots of up and downs and you always get 1000 no’s before you get that one yes that matters. So, if you feel like nothing is happening in that moment, take a step back and look at how far you’ve come since this day last year. It’ll give you a better perspective on your situation and what you need to do to keep moving and doing what you love. What do you want to tell your fans? I’m so excited to release my debut album Freak on Repeat. I’ve been working on the album for 2 years and the time is finally near. I can’t wait to meet you all and perform the songs live for you! With the current state of the world in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, I’d like to say that I hope you are all being safe and careful out there. I hope to see you all soon once all of this passes. Sending lots of love – Andrew. Check out the new single Bad Bad available now! Make sure to follow Andrew for upcoming releases and new. www.andrewcassaramusic.com Spotlight - Andrew Cassara

For your change to get your Spotlight contact us here. Read the full article

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Got to spend some time with @antoni tonight at @act_ottawa - really good show and super nice guy - • • • • • #Ottawa #Ottawaphotographer #photography #photographer #photographers #photooftheday #canon5dmarkiii #canon #antoniporowski #queereye #interview #cookingclass #cookbook (at Algonquin Commons Theatre) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9VngKHFnyX/?igshid=o3ggtimpx1wm