Pop singer-songwriter ChrisLee has just released his newest single, “Leave Your Light On,” along with a stirring music video. An emotional anthem for his advocacy toward mental health, the song is a reminder that finding the strength to live every day may be a struggle, but it’s all worth it because there is light at the end of the tunnel. He is donating a portion of the inspiring song’s proceeds to NAMI -- National Alliance on Mental Illness -- an organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. “Leave Your Light On” is available to download, stream, and watch on digital music platforms worldwide.
MentaI illness can still be a very taboo topic and scary to open up about; that’s why it’s crucial to open up conversations around it -- just like ChrisLee did. With playful beats and uplifting guitar accompanied by heartening lyrics, “Leave Your Light On” encourages listeners to find the courage to keep living and not give up. Co-written by Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis (Whitney Houston, Justin Beiber, Shakira) and co-produced by Marty MARO (Jessie J, Salena Gomez, Jacob Banks) the track features the ideal mix of soulful instruments, including the violin played by Ash Myers and the piano played by Jon Sprott. Through the catchy lyrics and nostalgic rhythm, “Leave Your Light On” is a hopeful reassurance that brings light through the drawbacks in life.
The music video, directed by Mike O’Brien, perfectly fits ChrisLee’s affectionate and compassionate nature. “I hope that when people hear this song, they realize how important they are to this world and that we need them,” he explains. “Everyone’s light is unique and adds value to this collective human experience. I want us to unite under our commonality as opposed to fighting over our minor differences.” The warm color tones and powerful dancing by Laura Faith Ksobiech and Madisyn Maniff flawlessly communicate this message.
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In the darkest nights, stars shine the brightest; The Foreign Films create stargazing melodies to illuminate the heart. Bill Majoros is a Canadian singer/ songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist who releases music under the name of The Foreign Films.
Majoros has played hundreds of shows spanning North America and the UK, from infamous clubs such as CBGB’s in NYC and The Legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool (of Beatles fame), to packed stadium shows and festivals supporting many well-known artists.
A native of Hamilton Ontario, Majoros has been nominated for and received several prestigious Canadian music awards. Under the name The Foreign Films, he has released four critically acclaimed studio albums and an EP, including an elaborate triple vinyl box set The Record Collector.
The most recent release, Ocean Moon, topped indie charts on over 60 stations internationally, and earned a spot on “The Best of the Year” on Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Sirius XM (Bill Kelly show). Blogs and magazines were also very kind, with both The Record Collector 3LP set and the Ocean Moon LP having been honoured with top spots and raving reviews.
Bill Majoros, aka The Foreign Films, continues his musical journey with the upcoming release of Starlight Serenade, a follow-up LP that blends classic and creative elements to reimagine the sonic future; musical retro-futurism. The album aims for even greater heights, creating dazzling songs that sparkle in a galaxy of sound.
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If you think bluegrass songs are all about looking back at an idealized past, get ready to have your mind changed by the latest single from western North Carolina’s Unspoken Tradition. Recorded in the middle of the pandemic year, “Irons In The Fire” captures the corrosive effects of dreams deferred and the anxiety and urgency that surround their — and our — emergence from the enforced idleness of quarantine.
For the group, the moment is particularly significant, as they grapple with the suspension of a touring career just on the cusp of new growth when the concert industry shut down. As a group, their response was straightforward enough: settling into the recording studio, they issued 4 charting singles over the course of the past year (with still more yet to be released) that documented their musical growth. In the meantime, the opportunities for reflection left their own mark on the quintet’s members — and hit songwriter Aaron Bibelhauser, too.
“In the bluegrass world,” he notes, “many of us juggle much more than just a career as a professional musician. Some of us have full time day jobs, side gigs as a session musician, radio host, songwriter, etc. — and there’s always behind-the-scenes music business work to be done as well. That sentiment is strikingly obvious within the top shelf delivery of ‘Irons In The Fire’ from Unspoken Tradition. Ironically, my co-writer and uncle, Steve Guenthner, retired from his own career in the business world shortly before I asked him to lend a hand with this song. He certainly provided some contrasting wisdom to bring the song full circle in recognizing that, no matter how much work there is left to do, or how challenging the road ahead appears, freedom lies in the path forward... the journey, not the destination.”
Though its musical drive is squarely in the bluegrass wheelhouse, “Irons In The Fire” takes level aim at a thoroughly contemporary state of mind in its insistent refrain, “Where’s the freedom I’ve been hoping for so long?” — and the result is, as lead singer Audie McGinnis notes, quintessential Unspoken Tradition: “This song spoke to me on first listen; there was no ‘break in’ period to allow it to grow on me. Early on in the band's life, we started using the slogan ‘working class bluegrass’ as an attempt to brand ourselves and connect with our audience. I still think we hold true to that slogan today. With that in mind, it just feels like this song was written for us.”
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To say it’s been a year of change could be considered quite the understatement. But for Vancouver-based musician Jessicka, it’s been the perfect time to truly realize who she wanted to be as an artist.
While her past work has been said to be anchored by heady and dark lyrical content, her new project has taken the artist in a somewhat different direction, evoking a kind of electric energy and exuberance much needed in the current social climate. “I want to get the crowd as pumped to be up and moving as I am when I’m on stage,” she explained. “I just want them to have a more elevated experience. To feel that power and that intensity.”
Having already taken the Canadian pop world by storm with three previous lauded EPs, as well as standout tracks “Wake Up,” and “Broke and Drunk,” Jessicka has continued to move forward – evolving her sound into something she hopes continues to maintain its intense relatability, but in a whole new way.
“It was all about writing songs about the most fun we’ve ever had,” she recalled. “I want to release a record that’s going to slay in a club, and everyone will get sweaty and dance-y. I want to invoke that energy.” The result is a project steeped with the kind of trance-like beats and melodic lyrics meant to conjure positivity, and an infectious sense of rhythm, peace and genuine joy.
New music is indeed on the horizon, boasting some of the musicians most beloved tracks to date — ones she knows will not only tell personal stories, but hopefully elicit lost feelings and happy memories for audiences far and wide. And the best way to get that message out there is through the power of pop music. “I feel like there’s a lot to connect to, and I hope people will sit down, really listen, and get more out of it each time. As an artist, you really can’t hope for more than that.”
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