CJ WILEY SHARES ANOTHER LIVE VIDEO FOR “SO BRAND NEW”

SLACK ROCKER CJ WILEY’S DEBUT LP, SO BRAND NEW, OUT NOW
VIA TINY KINGDOM MUSIC

WATCH / SHARE “SO BRAND NEW” LIVE PERFORMANCE HERE

BUY / STREAM SO BRAND NEW HERE
BUY SO BRAND NEW VINYL HERE

TOUR DATES CONTINUE IN MAY

“CJ Wiley keeps things simple in order to get complex. Warm guitars, steady drums and lively bass — sometimes that's all you need to start a fire. Wiley's Boy Golden-produced debut lights all kinds of fires, an ever-shifting document of change and renewal” Exclaim!

Video Still

CJ Wiley returns with another live video from their debut album, So Brand New, available everywhere via Tiny Kingdom. The performance video for the album’s title track – “So Brand New” – was shot and edited by Katja De Bourbon with audio recorded and mixed by Calvin Hartwick at Dreamhouse Studios. The band features Kate Palumbo on bass, Madelyn Kirby on rhythm guitar, Julia Wittmann on lead guitar, and Nick McKinlay on drums.

"So Brand New" captures the “seductive essence of finding parts of ourselves in others, seeing life from new perspectives, and the irresistible urge to burn it down and start again,” says Wiley. “It taps into that universal feeling of falling in love — becoming obsessed and ultimately the darkness of being left behind.”

WATCH / SHARE “SO BRAND NEW” LIVE PERFORMANCE HERE

MORE ABOUT SO BRAND NEW
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.

WATCH / SHARE “DON’T DIE CHARLIE” LIVE PERFORMANCE HERE

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.

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.

LISTEN / SHARE “DON’T DIE CHARLIE” (OFFICIAL VIDEO) HERE

WATCH / SHARE “GET PAID” HERE

WATCH / SHARE “SO BRAND NEW” HERE

“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. 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

WATCH / SHARE “ADELAIDE” 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

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. 

BUY / STREAM SO BRAND NEW HERE
BUY SO BRAND NEW VINYL HERE

PERFORMANCE DATES
May 12 - London UK
May 14-17 - The Great Escape, Brighton UK
May 29 - The Drake, Toronto ON
May 31 - Spring Reverb, Kingston ON
Jun 1 - La Sotterenea, Montreal QC

CJ WILEY ONLINE
WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM

KATE MAKI’S NEW LP OUT TODAY, SHARES “I STILL DO”

IMPOSSIBLE KNOT ALBUM OUT TODAY

LISTEN / SHARE “I STILL DO” HERE

BUY / STREAM IMPOSSIBLE KNOT HERE

PERFORMANCES BEGIN THIS WEEKEND - FULL DATES BELOW

Photo Credit : Kelly Lamb // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

Today, Kate Maki releases her seventh studio album, Impossible Knot, her first record in nine years. Available everywhere, Impossible Knot features “I Still Do”, a classic, anthemic, love song featuring Peter Von Althen (Kathleen Edwards) on drums, Jon Hynes (Hidden Cameras) on bass, Dave Draves (Julie Doiron) on organ, Dale Murray (The Guthries) on pedal steel, electric guitar, and backing vocals, Anne Boulton on backing vocals, and Maki on acoustic guitar.

"I had and am still having an extremely hard time letting go of the love I feel for someone now that our relationship has ended, and this song explores my inner conflict, the battle between what my heart wants and what my head knows I need,” says Maki. “It also makes me wonder what love actually is, why I lose myself in it, and where I am supposed to channel it as it moves through me with the momentum of a runaway freight train?"  

LISTEN / SHARE “I STILL DO” HERE

BUY / STREAM IMPOSSIBLE KNOT HERE

MORE ABOUT KATE MAKI + IMPOSSIBLE KNOT
Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Kate Maki’s voice and musical style are as wide and expansive as her hometown’s moon-like terrain. She began writing songs during her first-year of teaching as a way to deal with the sudden death of a friend, and recorded her first record, Confusion Unlimited, in 2003 with Dave Draves. Originally intended to be a Christmas gift for her family, the record received international attention and quickly sold out of its initial pressing. Finding it impossible to maintain the teacher-by-day, musician-by-night lifestyle, Maki quit her day job and began crisscrossing the country on self-booked, self- promoted tours.

Fast forward to today, six records, two kids, and countless tours and collaborations later, Maki returns with Impossible Knot. “I suppose I have come full circle, teaching high school and writing songs to help deal with life-changing circumstances. After a long period of grief, it was a relief to be reunited with the songwriting process, and of course, reunited with Draves and his trusty tape machine.”

During the summer and fall of 2024, Maki travelled back and forth from Sudbury to Ottawa to work with Draves in his backyard, analogue studio where she recorded her first three records in the early 2000s. Little Bullhorn’s familiar, creative environment combined with her longtime friendship with Draves and his family, provided Maki with the comfortable space needed to share her first new material since 2016’s Head In The Sand. With Maki on guitars and Draves on keys, they formed a core band with Peter Von Althen on drums, Jon Hynes on bass, Dale Murray on pedal steel, guitars, and background vocals, Dan Levecque on guitars, and Anne Boulton on background vocals. Celebrated songwriters, Jim Bryson, Ruth Minnikin (The Guthries), and Ryan Levecque (Ox), also make guest appearances. The result is a warm, eclectic collection of “beautiful hurt” as described by Draves, and Maki sounds confident and hopeful despite the heavy subject matter. 

WATCH / SHARE “ALL I GET” (MUSIC VIDEO) HERE

“I usually record live-off-the-floor with a full band, but this record began with just drums and acoustic guitar, and was built up from there.” shares Maki. “Draves and I produced the record with a ‘serve the song’ approach, adding only what was truly necessary to each one. I think it inevitably ended up sounding like a live band, not only because of the exceptionally talented and experienced players, but because each session was a reunion, a much-needed celebration with old friends.”

Like all great Americana music, Maki combines country, folk, rock, blues, and soul effortlessly, and although tough to fit into just one of these categories, Impossible Knot, due in part to its confessional lyrics, group harmonies, and stringed instruments, could be found in the classic country bin at your local record store. “For me, country music is about creating something positive out of pain, and I like how the songs seem simple at first, but that there exists a complexity, a tangible connection to the mysteries of the human condition, hidden deep within. Listening to old country records helped pull me through a most difficult time and eventually led me back to songwriting. Without time to labour over lyrics, the songs came quickly out of necessity to release the discomfort from my body, a definite nod to the ‘three chords and the truth’ motto.”

WATCH / SHARE “AT EVERY SUNSET” FT. JIM BRYSON

Kate Maki’s first three records, Confusion Unlimited, The Sun Will Find Us (2004), and On High (2008), were each awarded “Album of the Year” at the Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards. Her songs have been featured on KCRW, NPR, and CBC, and placed in several films and television shows including Weirdsville, Hard Rock, Medical, and Wilby Wonderful. She has appeared on the cover of NOW Magazine, Ottawa Xpress, and Echo Magazine, her voice can be heard on records by Matt Mays, Howe Gelb, and Ox, and she has toured North America and Europe opening for Great Lake Swimmers, M. Ward, Joel Plaskett, Giant Sand, Tegan & Sara, Hayden,and Bahamas.

PRAISE FOR KATE MAKI

“Canada’s newly crowned princess of day-dreamy songwriting.” - San Francisco Chronicle

“She can sell a song with only her voice and an acoustic guitar.” - Pitchfork

“Like the best country singers, alt or otherwise, Maki’s voice is conversational yet somehow self-contained, as if it’d be quite happy talking to itself sitting on an open plain, or whistling to itself behind a wheel.” - MOJO

“A wild and wondrous depth. A Canadian iconoclast.” - LA Weekly

“A young woman who can sing, play guitar and write songs with a confidence that should do her much good on the long, heartless road from making music to making it work.” - Ottawa Citizen

“Quietly powerful.” - Exclaim!

“Kate Maki deserves our attention, and sooner rather than later.” - Americana UK

KATE MAKI TOUR DATES
Saturday, May 10 - Sudbury, ON  – The Lounge | 8 PM
Saturday, May 24 - Toronto, ON  – The Brockton | 8 PM 
Saturday, May 31 - Ottawa, ON – The Record Centre | 3 PM
Friday July 4 - Sunday, July 6 - Sudbury, ON - Northern Lights Festival Boreal

DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

IMPOSSIBLE KNOT TRACKLIST
1. Song for a Sailor
2. Two Wrongs
3. Back Home (featuring Ryan Levecque)
4. All I Get
5. See It Now
6. Another Country (featuring Ruth Minnikin)
7. I Still Do
8. Crooked Line (featuring Dale Murray and Ruth Minnikin)
9. Down With the Ship
10. At Every Sunset (featuring Jim Bryson)

KATE MAKI ONLINE
BANDCAMP
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE
APPLEMUSIC
SPOTIFY

BABYGIRL SHARES SERENE NEW SINGLE “AFTER YOU”

INDIE POP BAND RELEASES THEIR FIRST MUSIC NEWLY SIGNED TO ARTS & CRAFTS

WATCH / SHARE “AFTER YOU” HERE
BUY / STREAM “AFTER YOU” HERE

BABYGIRL: Cameron Bright (L) & Kiki Frances (R) - CREDIT: Ryan Faist / / HI-RES DOWNLOAD

Today, indie pop band Babygirl shares their first music newly signed to hometown label Arts & Crafts. Raised in Toronto and often found working out of Los Angeles, Kiki Frances and Cameron Bright return with “After You” – their first single since 2023’s critically-acclaimed Be Still My Heart EP.

On “After You,” the longtime collaborators make a sublime and captivating offering about true love, with whimsical pop hooks, a chorus that brims with warmth, and vicarious storytelling set against the backdrop of fleeting summertime moments. With airy synths, subtle guitars, and spare hand claps all draped in Frances’ lush vocals, Babygirl set a new standard for serene bedroom pop laden in aura.

“‘After You’ is about a person who sets a new standard and redefines what love is to you,” the band describes. “The bar gets raised so high, you feel certain it could never be cleared by anyone else. There’s a powerlessness to feeling so attached to someone: they’ve widened the spectrum in both directions — the love you have is equal to the loss you risk.”

WATCH / SHARE “AFTER YOU” HERE
BUY / STREAM “AFTER YOU” HERE

Babygirl have a penchant for vivid imagery in their singular music, a wistful take on bittersweet pop rock that heedlessly transports into the soundtrack of a teen drama from the early aughts. A refreshing spin on youth nostalgia with a contemporary edge, marked by masterfully measured songcraft, with sincere lyrics and lightly frayed guitar embedded into the lush production, “After You” ups the ante on Babygirl’s effervescent definition of pop music. 

Celebrated for their three EPs, Be Still My Heart (2023), Losers Weepers (2021) and Lovers Fevers (2018) – which have amassed over 50 million streams and earned glowing praise from platforms like Noisey, Rolling Stone, PAPER, and NYLON – and with production credits and collaborations including renowned artists like Alessia Cara and Lauv, with “After You” Babygirl stand poised with their best music to date. 

WATCH / SHARE “AFTER YOU” HERE
BUY / STREAM “AFTER YOU” HERE

PAST PRAISE FOR BABYGIRL 

“While their nostalgic sound recalls the warm malaise of ’90s alternative rock, the band’s lyrics strike a contemporary chord, blending sad, solitary images with moments of crystalline clarity and emotional weight.” CONSEQUENCE

"Bandmates Kiki Frances and Cameron Bright layer on the melancholic yearning, jangling guitars, and haze ‘90s vibes, hitting on a deft balance of earnest pop melody and indie rock malaise.” Under The Radar

“Downright dreamy music” Rolling Stone

AFTER YOU - SINGLE ARTWORK // HI-RES DOWNLOAD

BABYGIRL ONLINE
WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK
YOUTUBE
FACEBOOK