DONOVAN WOODS’ ADDS NEW CANADIAN TOUR DATES

ACCLAIMED SONGWRITER DONOVAN WOODS’ NEW ALBUM, THINGS WERE NEVER GOOD IF THEY’RE NOT GOOD NOW, OUT NOW VIA END TIMES MUSIC

MORE CANADIAN TOUR DATES ADDED FOR 2025 - TICKETS HERE

BUY / STREAM THINGS WERE NEVER GOOD IF THEY’RE NOT GOOD NOW HERE

“This emotional and gritty seventh album is his most vulnerable and open…mellow, warming and shot through with genuine emotion" The Sun (UK)

"When things are good and when they’re not, Donovan Woods has a song for it all."
No Depression

“It is the microscopic observation of ordinary lives that makes Woods, the alt folk equivalent of the writer Raymond Carver” - RnR Magazine

Photo Credit: Brittany Farhat // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

Acclaimed songwriter Donovan Woods is adding another run of dates for 2025 throughout Canada supporting his new record, Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now, out via End Times Music. Tour dates continue this December including a performance at Toronto’s Massey Hall, followed by a run of solo performances in Western Canada this January. In February, Donovan will return to Ontario and Quebec performing the final leg of the tour which unfortunately had to be rescheduled earlier this year. Full tour listings can be found below with tickets available at www.donovanwoods.net/tour

WATCH / SHARE “WHEN OUR FRIENDS COME OVER” FT. MADI DIAZ

MORE ABOUT DONOVAN WOODS
Throughout his distinguished career, Woods has built a devoted following who cling to the acclaimed songwriter’s every word. Never one to mince them, Woods is one of music’s most vulnerable storytellers and on Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now, Donovan takes that a step further. Perhaps his most open, honest and self-reflective collection of songs, Woods takes a long look inside himself and isn’t necessarily thrilled with what he sees. For an artist who isn’t afraid to bear his soul, this is as emotionally gritty as he has ever been.

WATCH / SHARE “116 WEST MAIN, DURHAM, NC” HERE

Long known as a masterful storyteller, Woods is at his absolute best on Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now. Across the album’s 11 sparse, intimate songs, Woods finds himself reflecting on the ups and downs he has been through since 2020, when he dropped his acclaimed, award-winning last album, the breakthrough Without People. Through his songwriting, Woods opens up and addresses the complexities of life, and all that he has been going through. He notes, this album serves as “a funeral to the life I was living.”

WATCH / SHARE “BACK FOR THE FUNERAL” HERE
WATCH / SHARE “ROSEMARY” HERE

Co-produced with longtime collaborator James Bunton over much of 2023, the album’s delicate nature is reflected in its lyrics. The psychology of people’s actions always fascinated Woods and informs much of the record. Focusing on carefree, celebratory feelings has never necessarily appealed to him. Many of the songs that comprise Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now focus on the intricacies of friendships and relationships, looking at the little moments in life, and hopefully, eventually taking joy in them.

As Donovan continues to work on himself, Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now is the portrait of a songwriter at his creative best. Addressing the truths and pains of life is never easy, and here, he does so in a way that’s brutally honest.

BUY / STREAM THINGS WERE NEVER GOOD IF THEY’RE NOT GOOD NOW HERE

TOUR DATES // TICKETS
Dec 4 - Kitchener, ON - Centre in the Square
Dec 5 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
Jan 21 - Red Deer, AB - Bo's Bar and Stage *
Jan 23 - Sherwood Park, AB - Festival Place *
Jan 24 - Saskatoon, SK - Broadway Theatre *
Jan 25 - Regina, SK - The Artesian *
Jan 30 - Huntsville, ON - Algonquin Theatre
Feb 1 - Ottawa, ON - National Arts Centre
Feb 2 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz PDB
Feb 4 - Peterborough, ON - Market Hall Performing Arts Centre
Feb 20 - Paris, ON - Dominion Telegraph Event Centre *
Feb 21 - Sarnia, ON - Imperial Theatre *
Feb 22 - London, ON - Aeolian Hall *
Feb 27 - Kingston, ON - Broom Factory *
Mar 1 - Sudbury, ON - Knox Hall *

* Acoustic Solo Performances | On Sale November 8

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CJ WILEY ANNOUNCES DEBUT LP, SHARES NEW SINGLE “ADELAIDE”

SLACK ROCKER CJ WILEY ANNOUNCES DEBUT LP, SO BRAND NEW, OUT FEBRUARY 28, 2025 VIA TINY KINGDOM MUSIC

WATCH / SHARE “ADELAIDE” HERE
BUY / STREAM “ADELAIDE” HERE

PRE-SAVE SO BRAND NEW HERE
PRE-ORDER SO BRAND NEW VINYL HERE

Photo Credit : Stella Gigliotti // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

A groundswell of gripping slacker rock, non-binary singer-songwriter CJ Wiley doesn’t waste any time. Twirling guitars, a steady drum beat, crunchy bass; ballads twanged slightly country, anthems skewed slightly grunge; a message of love and anger, healing and rancour; all of which are found on their debut LP, So Brand New, set for release on February 28, 2025 via Tiny Kingdom.

Produced by Boy Golden, So Brand New is a journey through the ever-shifting landscapes of identity and self-acceptance. This album explores embracing change and finding comfort in the continuous evolution of who we are. It delves into themes of grief, nostalgia, queer love, struggles with drug addiction, and the rejection of gender performance, while also addressing the absurdity of how expensive it is just to be alive these days. At its core, the album reflects the idea that no one is ever just one thing; we are all fluid, constantly adapting through the various stages of our lives.

Having already released album singles “Cheap Therapy” and “No One Like U”, Wiley is also sharing the new track, “Adelaide”, a heartfelt tribute to chosen family and the conscious choice to love and grow together instead of growing apart. “When I was writing songs for my album, Boy Golden introduced me to the writer Bell Hooks, who has many beautiful perspectives on love,” says Wiley of the track. “The quote, ‘Love is as love does. Love is an act of will—namely, both an intention and an action,’ really resonates with me. It reminded me of the relationship I have with my best friend.

“I wrote ‘Adelaide’ for my best friend during a tough time she was going through. I wanted it to serve as a reminder that no matter what happens, I’ll always be there for her. We met in high school in grade 10 drama class—she was the ‘good kid,’ and I was the stoner kid always getting into trouble. As adults, we lead very different lives; I’m constantly on the road while she has a 9-to-5 job that keeps her anchored in Toronto. Despite our separate paths, we talk almost every day and go on adventures whenever we get the chance.

“We’ve experienced a lot of ups and downs and seen each other evolve through many stages of life. ‘Adelaide’ is a song about choosing to grow with someone rather than growing apart.”

WATCH / SHARE “ADELAIDE” HERE
BUY / STREAM “ADELAIDE” HERE

MORE ABOUT SO BRAND NEW
So Brand New is a journey through the ever-shifting landscapes of identity and self-acceptance, embracing change and finding comfort in the continuous evolution of who we are. The album reflects on the feeling of having lived multiple lives within a single lifetime and confronts the irresistible urge to reinvent and start again. It delves into themes of grief, nostalgia, queer love, struggles with drug addiction, and the rejection of gender performance, while also addressing the absurdity of how expensive it is just to be alive these days. At its core, it captures the idea that no one is ever just one thing; we are all fluid, constantly adapting through the various stages of our lives.

“Growing Out My Hair" marks "a pivotal moment in embracing my non-binary identity and breaking away from societal expectations of androgyny," says Wiley. "In "People Please," I challenge the music industry’s ideals of who I should be and what will make me successful, reflecting on my attempts to fit that mold before realizing I’d rather create art that truly represents me. "Don't Die Charlie" confronts my decade-long battle with drug addiction and the people I lost along the way, capturing my decision to leave that life behind to avoid deeper self-destruction and isolation. Meanwhile, "Adelaide" is a heartfelt tribute to chosen family and the conscious choice to love and grow together instead of growing apart. The title track, "So Brand New," captures the seductive essence of finding ourselves within others, discovering parts of our identity through alluring new perspectives.”

WATCH / SHARE “NO ONE LIKE U” (OFFICIAL VIDEO) HERE
BUY / STREAM “NO ONE LIKE U” HERE

So Brand New blends deeply emotional and uplifting tracks with a slacker rock vibe, seamlessly marrying introspective singer-songwriter elements with a polished, radio-friendly sound. Featuring ballads with a hint of country twang and anthems that skew slightly grunge, it creates a unique experience characterized by rich, textured arrangements and candid lyricism. This collection serves as a musical reflection on identity and the courage it takes to let go of who others think we should be, embracing the full range of who we’re becoming. The result is a set of songs that feel both intimately personal and universally relatable, celebrating the transformative journey of self-discovery and the acceptance of our ever-changing selves.

WATCH / SHARE “CHEAP THERAPY” (OFFICIAL VIDEO) HERE
BUY / STREAM “CHEAP THERAPY” HERE

MORE ABOUT CJ WILEY
Performing alongside artists like Tokyo Police Club, Shannon and the Clams, or Haley Blais, and already a mainstay in the city’s queer music scene as the host of the Big Gay Night concert series, Wiley introduces themselves in songs as categorical and entrancing as the sold-out shows they organize. Aflame in a stirring spectrum of soulful Sheryl Crow Americana and the electric grumblings of Garbage or Hole, sometimes in the space of a single song, Wiley’s distinct voice carries their project with the wit, candour, and excitement of an artist with a striking perspective and a heart that demands to be heard.

PRE-SAVE SO BRAND NEW HERE
PRE-ORDER SO BRAND NEW VINYL HERE

DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

SO BRAND NEW TRACKLIST
01 No One Like U
02 Get Paid
03 People Please
04 Adelaide
05 Growing Out My Hair
06 Don’t Die Charlie
07 Cheap Therapy
08 So Brand New

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JENNIFER CASTLE’S NEW LP, CAMELOT, OUT TODAY

CELEBRATED SONGWRITER RELEASES NEW ALBUM, CAMELOT, OUT NOW ON PARADISE OF BACHELORS (WORLDWIDE) AND SOLSTICE RADIO (CANADA)

RECORD RELEASE  SHOWS IN TORONTO THIS DECEMBER 
WESTERN CANADIAN TOUR DATES BEGIN JANUARY 22, 2025

BUY / STREAM CAMELOT HERE

WATCH / SHARE “BLOWING KISSES” HERE

“Jennifer Castle’s Camelot, as mapped on her seventh album … is a battleground of opposing tensions, set against the divisive times of the present. There are ambiguities and contradictions, ecstatic visions and crises of faith. And a quest, not for some imagined grail, but for earthly and private resolutions. It’s all fixed to music of the exquisite variety, from radiant acoustic studies to billowing symphonic pop. Camelot feels like a landmark in Castle’s career. It’s certainly her most all-embracing record to date.” - UNCUT Album of The Month

“I don’t want to teach anybody anything with a song. I’m not trying to steer anybody towards anything with a song. I’m not trying to be manipulative. I’m trying to let it out,” she says. “I must want it to come into being, so I just try to let it out as honestly as I can and then work from there.” - Aquarium Drunkard Letting The Songs Out

“Balancing between the celestial and the earthly, the songwriter embraces acoustic minimalism and sweeping, psychedelic extremes. As Castle continues to chase revelations, her enrapturing music continues to flow.” RANGE Magazine Album Review

Photo Credit : Jimmy Limit // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

Today, celebrated songwriter Jennifer Castle shares her newest full-length Camelot, available now via Paradise of Bachelors and Solstice Radio. An extraordinary, moving chronicle of the artist in early middle age, Camelot charts a realer, more rooted, and more metaphorical place than the fabled Camelot of the Early Middle Ages (or its myriad depictions), but it too is a space more psychic than physical. In Castle’s Camelot, the fantastic interpenetrates the mundane, and the Grail, if there is one, distills everyday experience into art and art into faith, subliming terrestrial concerns into sublime celestial prayers to Mother Nature, and to the unfolding process of perfecting imperfection in one’s own nature. Co-produced by Jennifer and longtime collaborator Jeff McMurrich, her seventh record is at once her most monumental and unguarded to date, demonstrating a mastery of rendering her verse and melodies alike with crisply poignant economy. For all their pointedly plainspoken lyrical detail and exhilarating full-band musical flourishes, these songs sound inevitable, eternal as morning devotions.

Jennifer Castle recently played a string of live dates, starting in Canada, followed by shows in Scandinavia and is next set to perform in Toronto to celebrate Camelot on December 21st and 22nd at Tranzac Club. In January, Jennifer will embark on a run of dates throughout Western Canada. Full tour dates can be found below.

BUY / STREAM CAMELOT HERE

WATCH / SHARE “BLOWING KISSES” HERE

Camelot includes the ravishing country-soul ballad “Blowing Kisses,” which was originally released as a single in June following a three and a half year hiatus, along with a video which she created to accompany the single. Featuring a sweeping string arrangement by Owen Pallett, performed by Estonia's FAMES Skopje Studio Orchestra, “Blowing Kisses” can be heard in its entirety during the pivotal scene of the penultimate episode of the third season of FX's The Bear. Jennifer discussed the song’s use on the show and the serendipitous backstory, involving her longtime friendship with Matty Matheson (Canadian chef and restaurateur who portrays the beloved handyman Neil Fak on the show) and their real-life history working together in a restaurant, in this terrific interview for CBC. ”Blowing Kisses” also caught the attention of Rolling Stone, Brooklyn Vegan, Consequence, Esquire and many more upon its release.

August saw the release “Lucky #8,” an irrepressible ode to dancing as a bulwark against the “tidal pools of pain” and the “theory of collapse, “ featuring special guest Cass McCombs on slide guitar. The release of “Lucky #8” accompanied the Camelot album announcement with a tender video Jennifer created using footage of heroic, historic gymnastics routines that were a formative part of her childhood. Now seen through the rearview, these routines take on a new poignance and are embraced differently in Castle’s adulthood. As she gratefully sings in the song’s chorus, “so just give the money to the dancers / while their hips go figure eight / and they entrance us with the answers / and we hope and pray the message ain’t too late.” According to Jennifer Castle, “Lucky #8” “sort of has that energetic vibe to it, where it attempts a stunt lyrically (in my mind) to absorb all the possibilities of life into one moment and to be okay with that complexity, instead of fracturing off into myriad neurotic narratives.” 

WATCH / SHARE “LUCKY #8” HERE

The achingly beautiful, incantatory single “Earthsong,” was released in September, anchored by a compelling spare solo performance and coiled chord progression, an ambiguous appeal to … a wounded lover? a wounded saint? our wounded planet? Possibly all of all of the above, as the lyrics suggest: “I'm never just your girl/I belong to the world/ And sometimes I feel that pull/ Succumb to it and start to twirl/ And doorways will have to do/ Hallways and mirrors too/ Step through, I’m feeling free/ From this landlocked modernity.” According to Castle, “‘Earthsong’ was one of the last songs I wrote for what would become Camelot. Seeded from hope, imagination, destiny and resistance, the line that works on me like medicine is ‘I belong to the world.’ Feels good to say and mean that.” 

Read more about the album at www.killbeatmusic.com/jennifercastle

WATCH / SHARE “EARTHSONG” HERE

LIVE PERFORMANCES
Dec 20 & 21 - Tranzac Club, Toronto, ON, Canada - Solstice/Camelot Release Show
Jan 22 - Artesian, Regina, SK, Canada
Jan 23 - Handsome Daughter, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Jan 24 - TBD, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Jan 25 - CKUA Performance Space, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Jan 26 - Palomino, Calgary, AB, Canada
Feb 14 - St Luke's Church at Queens Park, Brighton, UK 
Feb 15 - EartH, London, UK 
Feb 17 - St Mary's Creative Space, Chester, UK

MORE PRAISE FOR JENNIFER CASTLE & CAMELOT

“Jennifer Castle has been in communion with the cosmos for as long as we’ve been listening, and certainly for at least a little while longer than that. On ‘Lucky #8,’ the lead single from her forthcoming new album, Camelot, she emerges as an ambassador for celestial divinity—leaping in song in celebration of its ability to liberate us of our existential dread, almost parental in its omniscient embrace.” - Aquarium Drunkard

“Looking to have an emotional connection with the greater world? Might we encourage you to let Jennifer Castle help you find your way. The opening moment {of “Earthsong”} alone tugs at you, grounds you, connects you and Castle as one. Then, her voice enters, almost frolicking, carefree but still pensive in its presentation. For all intents and purposes, it does feel woodsy or pastoral, taking that Earth connection beyond literal and letting the emotional draw of the strum lock you into the sense of wonderment.” - Austin Town Hall

“Carefully burnished and open-armed, “Blowing Kisses” is… sophisticated, symphonic and soulful.” - The Autumn Roses

“Canadian artist Jennifer Castle’s new album Camelot is due out on November 1 via Paradise of Bachelors and Solstice Radio, and she’s given us another preview with ‘Earthsong,’ a beautiful, meditative folk song.” - Brooklyn Vegan

“​​A master of channeling both everyday enigmas and larger existential ones, Jennifer Castle creates songs that shelter. The indie folk singer-songwriter’s new single {“Lucky #8”} has the streamlined forward motion of a swan landing on a still lake, a graceful figure splashing down with waves of propulsive guitars.” - The FADER (Songs You Need In Your Life)

“A new single from Jennifer Castle’s upcoming album slips out today. Draped in a pastoral, autumnal aura, the song acts as a declaration of belonging to this world — a simple premise, but sometimes one that feels needed. It’s a song that slows the day, turns the hands on the clock just a little bit less, and lets the listener soak in the slow arc of nature. With its intimate atmosphere, ‘Earthsong’ invites the listener in and wraps them in strums and Castle’s Chamomile phrasing.” - Raven Sings The Blues

“If you’ve been watching The Bear (and if you’re not, you should be!), you might have already gotten to the part in the penultimate episode where {“Blowing Kisses”} plays. How it got there is an interesting story, too. Canadian singer-songwriter Castle used to work at a restaurant in Toronto with Matty Matheson, who plays Neil Fak on the show (and is a chef/restaurateur in real life). She sent him the song and he shared it with the TV show’s team, which has already been batting a thousand with needle drops. This beautiful piano ballad turned out to be perfect for the scene.” - Riff Magazine/Tuesday Tracks

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CAMELOT TRACKLISTING
1.Camelot
2.Some Friends
3.Trust
4.Lucky #8
5.Louis
6.Full Moon In Leo
7.Mary Miracle
8.Blowing Kisses
9.Earthsong
10.Fractal Canyon

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