YUKON BLONDE ANNOUNCE CANADIAN TOUR DATES BEGINNING THIS MARCH

TOUR DATES THROUGHOUT ONTARIO BEGIN MARCH 31, 2022

TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW, DECEMBER 17, HERE

BUY / STREAM VINDICATOR (DELUXE) HERE

WATCH AND SHARE “LET YOUR BODY MOVE” LYRIC VIDEO HERE

PRAISE FOR VINDICATOR

“It's been a decade since the Vancouver-based rock band released its self-titled debut, and there are few bands whose journeys have been this musically adventurous and rewarding. ...Vindicator, promises further experimentation in psychedelic and soul and dance pop" - CBC Music

"The fifth full length recording from the quintet builds on the synth-laden pop panoramas that made 2018s Critical Hit such a delight. Vindicator showcases a band nearing its second decade firing on all points" - The Vancouver Sun

"In an age of boring, watered down, corporate, vanilla, focus-group engineered pop-rock shenanigans, it's cool to hear a group like Yukon Blonde still taking educated risks and maintaining the same punk DIY credos that put them on the Canadian musical map in the first place." Exclaim!

PHOTO CREDIT : Erika Saul  // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

This Fall, Yukon Blonde returned to the road for a very successful short run of dates in their home province of B.C. Today, they’re announcing another run of shows in Spring throughout Ontario. Full dates can be found below. Be on the lookout for more tour dates in the near future.

Recently, the band released the deluxe version of their latest LP Vindicator, which arrived with four additional tracks, “Let Your Body Move”, “Come Over To Mine”, “Birthday”, and “Beat The Pressure”. “Back when we finalized the track listing for Vindicator, there were four tracks that didn’t quite fit,” says Jeff Innes. “One was too fun, one was too poppy, one was unfinished and the last was… I actually don’t know what everyone’s beef with it was. All I know is that since we’ve released the record, these songs keep popping up. We had a massive batch of trashed songs, but these four won’t leave us alone. We were going to release them as an EP, but in retrospect we probably should have just included them since all four have become some of our favourite songs to date. So, we’re re-releasing Vindicator with four tracks that probably should have been on it, as they were when we finished the record.”

In addition to the four unreleased tracks, the deluxe version of Vindicator also includes a remix of “Get Precious” by JayWhy, which was previously only available on 7” vinyl.

WATCH AND SHARE “LET YOUR BODY MOVE” LYRIC VIDEO HERE

BUY / STREAM VINDICATOR (DELUXE) HERE


MORE ABOUT YUKON BLONDE & VINDICATOR
After ten years since forming and five LPs in, Yukon Blonde have been characterized in a lot of different ways. They emerged as a guitar-heavy rock band with their debut self-titled LP in 2010 and by the release of On Blonde in 2015, Yukon Blonde were experimenting with slick, ‘80s inspired pop elements like those heard on the album’s driving hit single “Saturday Night”. More recently, on 2018’s Critical Hit, the Vancouver-based five piece band turned their attention to mood making, largely ditching their guitars in favour of synths and drum machines to build danceable, multi-dimensional soundscapes. 

With Vindicator, Yukon Blonde rewrote their story again. Jeffrey Innes (vocals/guitar/keys), Brandon Scott (vocals/guitar), Graham Jones (vocals/drums), James Younger (vocals/bass/keys), and Rebecca Gray (vocals/keys) douse keyboard melodies and relaxed grooves with psychedelic hues that are both playful and expansive. 

From the opening track, Vindicator will immediately put you under a joyful spell and then never let you go. “We’re more mature and comfortable with ourselves now and we know that we can try something new even at this stage in our career,” explains Younger. “We completely deconstructed the narrative of the band and made the music that felt good at the moment.” 

Vindicator is the first Yukon Blonde album written, recorded, and produced entirely by the band. It took shape in their jam space in East Vancouver, a cabin on Galiano Island, in a closet at Younger’s home, and in Innes’ kitchen. But this DIY ethos has always been the backbone of Yukon Blonde who are curious artists with a passion for honing their craft. 

WATCH AND SHARE “YOUR HEART’S MY HOME” LYRIC VIDEO HERE

WATCH AND SHARE “YOU WERE MINE” LYRIC VIDEO HERE

WATCH AND  SHARE “GOOD TIMES” LYRIC VIDEO HERE

The in-house approach to Vindicator allowed Yukon Blonde to stretch themselves creatively and experiment with sounds and styles in ways they haven’t before. The band share vocal duties and Innes, the band’s primary songwriter, lets his lyrics, which touch on everything from love to redefining your relationship with social media, drive the shape of the songs. 

Admittedly, making Vindicator by themselves was a creative risk but it’s one that’s paid off. Even the album title is a nod to how Yukon Blonde feel about the record’s outcome. As Innes notes, “You don’t really need to compete with yourself, you just need to challenge yourself.” 

“It’s a very rewarding feeling taking control of yourself and your creative ambition,” adds Younger. “It’s something that you can ride high on because expectations were met and fulfilled and that’s a joyous thing.” 

WATCH AND SHARE “GET PRECIOUS” LYRIC VIDEO HERE

WATCH AND SHARE “IN LOVE AGAIN” LYRIC VIDEO HERE

2022 TOUR DATES
Mar 31 – Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace
Apr 01 – Hamilton, ON - Bridgeworks
Apr 05 – London, ON - Club Saw
Apr 07 -  Ottawa, ON - Rum Runners

BEGONIA ADDS MORE TOUR DATES TO 2022 WITH SHAKEY GRAVES, SHARES NEW LIVE VIDEOS

WATCH AND SHARE “HEAVEN” ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE HERE

WATCH AND SHARE “IT’S TOO QUIET” ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE HERE

MORE TOUR DATES SUPPORTING SHAKEY GRAVES ADDED TO 2022 

TOUR DATES BEGIN MARCH 2, 2022

"It's a perfect end-of-year song, the kind that makes you reflect deeply and contemplate all the ways you can evolve as you greet a new year" - CBC Music

"a delicate, pulsing new track" - Exclaim!

LISTEN TO BEGONIA CHAT WITH TOM POWER ON CBC q ABOUT “HEAVEN”

(Video Still)

This Spring, Begonia (Alexa Dirks) will return to life on the road for a run of dates in the US beginning March 2, 2022 before returning to Canada supporting Shakey Graves in May. Full tour dates can be found below.

Recently, Begonia shared the new single “Heaven”, a track that finds beauty in the unknown. Today, the celebrated artist is sharing two new live performance videos for “Heaven” and “It’s Too Quiet”, joined by Heather Thomas (Diaphanie), Fontine, Gabi Ocejo, Leith Ross, and Snackie. 

“For these videos I really wanted to break this song down,” says Dirks. “I had a vision of us living in a world of clouds but in the style of a community theatre production, haha. I enlisted some of my favourite musicians / people to make this vision a reality. I don't often interpret my songs in this way and I really love the vulnerability that this version provides. Nothing to hide behind, and it just gets down to the purity of the song. Harmonizing and singing with others is one of the most soul nourishing things IN THE WORLD and I admire and love all these people sooo much. They are all so talented and have their own respective projects, so please check them out!”

WATCH AND SHARE “HEAVEN” ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE HERE

WATCH AND SHARE “IT’S TOO QUIET” ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE HERE

MORE ABOUT BEGONIA
As Begonia, Alexa Dirks is bold, brazen with her florid, surprising pop that is tempered with sensitivity and wisdom. In her music, Begonia leans hard into a sense of arrival. Whether it’s learning to come into her own or processing a brutal heartbreak, Dirks’ intimate lyrics and audacious sound allows for her audience to relate to the messiness of life with an honesty that is refreshing. 

 Her debut LP, Fear, was nominated for a JUNO Award for Adult Alternative Album Of The Year and was longlisted for The Polaris Music Prize. It was one of Exclaim!’s Most Underrated Albums of the Year, made end of the year lists from CBC Music and Dominionated, and saw both “Beats” and “Hanging On A Line” named as CBC Music Top 20 Fan Favourites of the year. Fear also spent 10 straight weeks as the #1 album in Canada on Earshot’s Top 50 chart

WATCH AND SHARE “HEAVEN” (OFFICIAL VIDEO) HERE

BUY / STREAM “HEAVEN” HERE

Fear was written and co-produced with a familiar team of Matt Schellenberg (Royal Canoe) and Matt Peters (Royal Canoe) along with Marcus Paquin (The National, Arcade Fire, Local Natives).

Dirks' first solo EP, Lady in Mind, was well-received, being listed on NPR’s 10 Artists You Need To Know in 2017 and single “Juniper” reached #1 on the CBC Radio 2 Top 20. Noisey wrote that, “Begonia has one of Canada’s most extraordinary voices, and thankfully she uses it to obliterate the misery from this world one live performance at a time.” NPR wrote that Begonia is “the place where synth-pop meets old soul and scrappy meets sexy."

 2022 TOUR DATES
Mar 2 - Fargo, ND @ The Hall at Fargo Brewing Co
Mar 3 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Mar 6 - Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
Mar 10 - New York, NY @ Elsewhere Zone One
Mar 11 - Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy
Mar 12 - Washington, DC @ Pie Shop
Mar 14 - Nashville, TN @ Drkmttr
Mar 15 - New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
Mar 20 - Hot Springs, AR @ Valley of the Vapors Festival
May 2 - Vancouver, BC @ Opheum %
May 6 - Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall %
May 7 - Edmonton, AB - Winspear Centre %
May 8 - Saskatoon, SK - Coors Event Centre %
May 11 - Toronto, ON - History %
May 12 - Montreal, QC - MTelus %
May 13 - Ottawa, ON - Bronson Centre %

 % with Shakey Graves

Photo Credit : Calvin Lee Joseph // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

PRAISE FOR FEAR

“With its twin-helix bind of sharp pop and warm soul, Fear positions Winnipeg's Begonia (Alexa Dirks) as a powerhouse on the Prairies.” - Exclaim!

Fear is the opposite of all its name implies: confident, bold, and blossoming with subtlety and intelligence.” - Dominionated

“...Fear still manages to make you feel like you've been let in on pop's best-kept secret. But, not for long. 2019 might have refreshed our memory of Dirks' vast capabilities, but 2020 will hopefully deliver her the global recognition she deserves.” - CBC Music

“...searing and dignified” - NPR Music

"...a complex, powerhouse synth-soul that hangs on one of Canada’s most
extraordinary voices." - Line Of Best Fit

"an audacious adventure in modern soul, with gospel inspirations and updated takes on finger-snapping Motown pop and late 20th-century R&B.‎" - Globe & Mail

WATCH CBC’S FIRST PLAY LIVE HERE

BUY / STREAM FEAR HERE


BEGONIA ONLINE
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EDWIN RAPHAEL SHARES NEW SINGLE, “SIGHTS LIKE THESE”

SHARE / BUY / STREAM “SIGHTS LIKE THESE”

"Raphael's languid instrumentals are all too easy to melt into." - Exclaim!

"Raphael indulges by opening up that affecting guitar-vocal pairing to a lush bridge with added horn, guitar and drums." - CBC Music

"The track seemingly blooms from a spacious and rustic folk sound into something far more lavish." - Under The Radar

"Tranquil melodies flow over electronic and acoustic instrumentation." - American Songwriter

Photo Credit : Andre Rainville // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

How do you anchor yourself when occupying multiple geographic identities at once? For Edwin Raphael, the Dubai-born, Montreal-based songwriter, it requires an intentional and intensive form of world-building. By developing an unmistakable style of folk that merges Eastern scales with the Western pop canon, Raphael reimagines his music as a exploratory tool that allows him to construct an interior and sacred home to retreat into. 

On his new single, “Sights Like These”, he reflects on “trying to shake off the lingering cloud above because you’re done hurting. Fresh love and its newness aim to disrupt this feeling and renew. However you realize maybe love isn’t about being realistic and the past isn't foreshadowing the present either. You got to dive in or you’re lying to yourself. The song reminds me that constant vigilance will not keep me from getting hurt.”

SHARE / BUY / STREAM “SIGHTS LIKE THESE”

“SIGHTS LIKE THESE” SINGLE ARTWORK // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

MORE ABOUT EDWIN RAPHAEL
Growing up in Dubai, as the son of parents who immigrated from the city of Cochin in India’s coastal Kerala state, Raphael studied classical guitar before deciding on the keys. As he developed an affinity for John Mayer and Ben Howard, he felt at odds with Dubai’s distinct sense of “placelessness” — and the bewildering feeling of being immersed in a culture where everyone claimed an alternate homeland. It wasn’t until he moved to Montreal to pursue a business degree that he felt a sense of stability, and became deeply entangled with the city’s indie bedroom pop scene.

His debut EP Ocean’s Walk (2015) paired stirring, melancholic instrumentals with a fierce self-reckoning. It would set the stage for a string of releases that would dive deeper into the psyche; like confronting the aftershocks following a significant heartbreak, or relearning your emotional baseline as you mature. Subsequent releases, Cold Nights (2017), his acclaimed debut Will You Think of Me Later? (2019), and its follow up Staring at Ceilings (2021), reveal an artist devoted to sharpening his ability to translate his experiences into ubiquitous statements, and saw him open for Hollow Coves, JP Saxe, Noah Kahan. 

PRAISE FOR STARING AT CEILINGS

“'Sea of Things' feels primal, mimicking the ocean with cyclical, crashing movements, patiently building itself up and washing itself back out." - FLAUNT

"Calming ambience and angelic vocals." - Lyrical Lemonade

"Chill pop with a touch of folk." - EARMILK

"Weightless and ethereal" - Indie Shuffle

"The instrumental and harmonic components provide the same floating-in-space feeling we love from Fleet Foxes." - Culture Collide

"Offers an escape from anxiety." - Kajal

"Incredibly raw and emotional." - C-Heads 

"A gently addictive soundscape, all wistful energy and patient." - Beats Per Minute

"Notes of Bon Iver and Frank Ocean come to a glorious head to create something moving, exciting and fresh." - The Rodeo

EDWIN RAPHAEL ONLINE
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