Toronto-based songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and long-time Fast Romantics member Kirty releases the poignant, grungy, distortion-rich single, “God Help Us” and unveils its fiery and poetic accompanying video. Co-produced with long-time collaborator Josh Van Tassel and Fast Romantics bandmate/songwriting partner Matthew Angus, “God Help Us” had its Canadian radio premiere yesterday evening via The Strombo Show on CBC Radio. The melancholic track will appear on Kirty’s forthcoming solo album set for a release in summer 2021. Click HERE to listen and purchase.
With devastatingly heart-breaking lyrics like, “Broken minds screaming lies out of their hideout, dressed in fear they reappear and we’re all crying our eyes out, “God Help Us” was inspired by a number of tragic incidents the songwriter observed on the news one evening.
“God Help Us is a tiny window into my thoughts in moments where I’ve felt like I’m watching the world fall to pieces,” shares Kirty. “Witnessing a series of the most horrible things happening in the word, strung together in half an hour of television is an intense feeling, and we’re all absorbing this waterfall of information every single day.”
Kirty continues, “As the song reflects on some of these issues, it also sits on the mantra of “if there is a god, god help us” which to me is my surrendering statement to the chaos that’s swirling around me, but also touches on some larger questions and personal perspectives.”
Directed by Matthew Angus with art direction from Raven Shields, the video for “God Help Us” explores themes of fire and ice and places a spotlight on the internal struggle that many of us have felt over the course of the past year. “The video plays with themes of fire and ice (as the second verse references “burning through seasons of fire and snow”), and by the end of the video everything’s on fire. Not just on fire, but I’m there…watching everything burn,” explains Kirty “Isn’t that kind of how this year felt? Like you were just sitting there watching things burn?”
“There are moments when I feel like everything happening in the world seems so far away, and I’m left (for a moment) sitting there, hopeless, shocked, angry (etc.) at the lack of control and the impact of the damage. This song and video for me captures that moment. There are a lot of other reasons for the imagery, movements, and visuals of the video, but I’ll let people take what they need from it.”
“God Help Us” follows the dreamy, early 90s-inspired pop rock single “This Year’s Been Hell”. Although written before the pandemic hit, the aptly-titled tune resonated with both media and fans alike. ET Canada shared, “the coolest woman in the province has captured the melancholy, the morose, and yet the persistently melodic tone of 2020,” while New Jersey’s Come Here Floyd praised, “Purity in talent, glistens brightly in front of your eyes and shines to glorious effect.” Featuring Kirty’s lush, ethereal vocals, paired with moody guitars and warm, glassy retro synths, “This Year’s Been Hell” found support on marquee playlists like Spotify’s New Music Friday Canada, Indie Playlist BIRP! and Indie to go, as well as, support from CBC radio.
Kirty’s forthcoming LP follows her 2016 acclaimed self-titled sophomore release which the Toronto Star dubbed “your new favourite thing” and the National Post praised “it makes a fine soundtrack for everything from a walk in the park to an evening under the stars… and fits right in on a playlist with the likes of Jenny Lewis, Lana Del Rey and Neko Case.” The release found success on CBC Radio’s Top 20 chart and garnered international placements in commercials and TV including landing lead single and one of CBC Music’s Songs You Need To Hear “That’s Not Me” on a global marketing campaign for EOS, as well as notable sync features in popular teen drama Riverdale and Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience.
Serj Tankian’s eagerly-awaited Elasticity EP arrives on March 19 via Alchemy Recordings/BMG. A preview of the five-song release comes via the Vlad Kaptur-directed video for the EP’s title track, “Elasticity”: https://youtu.be/5oMDAfUpWyQ
Serj’s original plan was not to release these songs under his own name —far from it. In fact, Elasticity is comprised of songs originally intended for System Of A Down, but Serj ultimately elected to record them on his own. “When I conceived possibly doing another record with the guys from System of a Down a few years back, I started working on a set of songs that I arranged in rock format for that purpose,” Serj explains. “As we weren’t able to see eye to eye on the vision going forward with a SOAD album, I decided to release these songs under my moniker.”
With his trademark eclecticism and one-of-a-kind vocal style, Serj delivers a collection that runs the gamut from hard-driving, electronically enhanced anthems like the title track, a rallying cry for his beloved Armenia (“Electric Yerevan”), the tongue-in-cheek political mash-up of “Your Mom,” the piano-laden “How Many Times?” and “Rumi,” a song that Serj wrote both about his son Rumi and Rumi the poet.
One of the most multi-dimensional figures in modern music, the GRAMMY Award winning artist is profiled in the upcoming film, “Truth to Power” (Oscilloscope Laboratories/Live Nation Production; trailer: https://youtu.be/8yI6v9n0eqo). With exclusive interviews, adventures, and original footage personally filmed by Serj, “Truth To Power” allows audiences backstage access to an international rock star whose faith in music not only revolutionized heavy metal, but also world events. Throughout his life, the musician has pursued social justice, harnessing the power of his songs and celebrity for real political change. Serj’s voice is equally likely to take on American corporate greed as lambast the corrupt regime of his homeland. His decades-long campaign for formal U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide was finally approved by Congress in December of 2019.
Toronto-based songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and long-time Fast Romantics member Kirty returns with a new single and video titled “This Year’s Been Hell”. Although written before the pandemic hit, the aptly titled tune provides a timely backdrop to this incredibly tumultuous year. “This Year’s Been Hell” was inspired by Kirty’s decision to press pause on her own life to work through the struggle of a close relative in their final chapter of life. Co-produced with long-time collaborator Josh Van Tassel and Fast Romantics bandmate/songwriting partner Matthew Angus, the dreamy, early 90s-inspired pop rock track provides a first glimpse into her eagerly anticipated third solo album set for a 2021 release through Postwar Records. Featuring Kirty’s lush, ethereal vocals, paired with moody guitars and warm, glassy retro synths, “This Year’s Been Hell” is premiering now via Indie88 and is available on all major DSPs. Click HERE to listen and purchase.
“It’s a wild, wild coincidence that I wrote and recorded this song and held onto it long enough to release the track in the middle of a pandemic, civil unrest, environmental crisis, and a political circus,” shares Kirty. “This Year’s Been Hell’ is about working through pain and loss and understanding that there are times when you need to put everything else in your life on hold. Just for a bit, and focus on the people around you. It’s about witnessing someone experience their final chapter of this grand ol’ life, and the mix of feelings that bubble up from that experience.”
Watch + Share the video for ‘This Year’s Been Hell” HERE
Kirty’s forthcoming LP follows her 2016 acclaimed self-titled sophomore release which the Toronto Star dubbed “your new favourite thing” and the National Post praised “it makes a fine soundtrack for everything from a walk in the park to an evening under the stars… and fits right in on a playlist with the likes of Jenny Lewis, Lana Del Rey and Neko Case.” The release found success on CBC Radio’s Top 20 chart and garnered international placements in commercials and TV including landing lead single and one of CBC Music’s Songs You Need To Hear “That’s Not Me” on a global marketing campaign for EOS, as well as notable sync features in popular teen drama Riverdale and Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience.
Canadian singer-songwriter and captivating storyteller Northcote (moniker for Matthew Goud) releases “Freedom”, the latest single from his anticipated new album Let Me Roar, available October 23 via Black Box Music. Self-produced and recorded at the Noise Floor on Gabriola Island, BC, “Freedom” is a heart achingly beautiful stripped-down folk Americana ballad about letting go, having self-compassion and living in the moment. Simple guitar melodies compliment the vulnerability of the lyrics and the heart-on-your-sleeve emotions displayed by the talented songwriter.
Canadian singer-songwriter and captivating storyteller Northcote (moniker for Matthew Goud) announces his new album Let Me Roar, available October 23 via Black Box Music. Along with the album announcement, the talented troubadour releases “Streets of Gold”; a Springsteen-esque ballad featuring Northcote’s signature raspy-sweet vocals paired with anticipatory rolling snare and delicate guitar melodies. The track, which is premiering today via American Songwriter was inspired by the songwriter’s musings while observing Pioneer square, a small city park located blocks away from where Northcote resides.