Ahoy! If you want free downloads and an iPhone, start navigating the uncharted waters of OurStage.com by joining the OurStage Treasure Hunt. I don’t want to give anything away, but you may have noticed The Hunt makes its way to my profile page at one point!
Oh, Canada. It’s a good time to be Canadian. The NHL playoffs have begun, the Canadian dollar is strong, and the music scene is even stronger. There was a point this year when I realized I had unintentionally purchased four Canadian albums in a row (Feist, Arcade Fire, Stars, and Kevin Drew, in case you were wondering).
So it should be no surprise that Canadian musicians are starting to make their mark on OurStage as well. Here are a couple to watch:
Daniel Gray- The 18-year-old Toronto native says he only started writing songs a year ago. On one hand, I’m shocked. His songs are catchy, layered, and smart. On the other hand, his recordings exude the experimental flare of a kid with his first chemistry set. But instead of sodium carbonate and litmus powder, Gray is melding the elements of McCartney and Wilson with modern traces of Elliott Smith and Broken Social Scene. It’s only a matter of time before the kid gets signed and smooths out the rough edges in a first-class recording studio. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the rough draft.
Listen to “Goodbye Baby” or “In the Morning”
Julianna Sparks- Though April is her first month on OurStage, it didn’t take long for this Montreal native to reach the top of the Acoustic and Americana charts. With smart lyrics, lush production value, and a radio friendly sound, it’s no wonder she’s won over the OurStage fans. “Cross Your Fingers” has held strong near the top of Americana/Alt Country with it’s mid-tempo, finger-plucking authenticity. But “Lately” is her strongest track and clearly the fan favorite, holding strong at #1 for more than a week. The down-tempo, nearly haunting intro (”I Keep on ticking. I need more dynamite. None of my clothes fit right.”) is tempered by an uplifting chorus that makes you think things might change.
Opening for DeVotchKa. For those of you who know DeVotchKa, you know why this is a big deal. For those of you who don’t, watch this.
Or this.
Then, click here to find out how you could win the opening slot on their tour. (Hint: Upload any song before April 22).
This blog written and maintained by Quinn Strassel.
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