JUNO

The Drake Effect

Story by Nick Krewen | July 24, 2014 For SOCAN Words and Music.   “Started from the bottom, now the whole team here.” So says Drake in “Started From the Bottom,” and that’s exactly how his big-bang explosion on the worldwide hip-hop scene has affected the fortunes of his whole team – more than 60 Canadian, Toronto-based songwriters, beat-makers, producers and other collaborators. Drake has almost single-handedly created an entire…


Nashville Expands

Story by Nick Krewen | March 21, 2014 For SOCAN Words And Music.   Name any gigantic country hit of the last two decades or so and there’s a better-than-average chance that it was generated from Nashville, Tennessee. Sure, Texas factors into the mix, and maybe there’s a touch of Bakersfield in there, too. But for the most part it’s a 30-block-or-so chunk Southwest of downtown Nashville, nicknamed Music Row,…


Arcade Fire keeps Toronto on its feet: concert review

With the Air Canada Centre decked out like a giant dance club, Arcade Fire got its groove on for a 20-song set. By: Nick Krewen Music Published on Fri Mar 14 2014 Arcade Fire 3 stars At the Air Canada Centre, March 13, 2014 Even if it came at the expense of Toronto’s much-maligned mayor, it seems that Montreal’s alt-rock artisans Arcade Fire have a sense of humour after all….


Twitter-famous Matt Mays takes his seat at the Horseshoe Tavern

Matt Mays got plenty of blowback for accusing Rob Ford of taking his seat at an NFL game, but the Halifax musician won’t swear off social media. Matt Mays has enough new music, he says, to put together a new album next year. By: Nick Krewen Music Published on Sat Dec 07 2013 Rob Ford is the inescapable man, and no one knows this better than Matt Mays. The Halifax…


Corey Hart makes rare Toronto appearance Saturday

Concert planned for May in Montreal will be the ‘Sunglasses at Night’ singer’s ‘farewell’ show, Corey Hart says. Nick Krewen Music Published on Fri Nov 15 2013   Time to get out those sunglasses. If you’re planning to attend the It’s Always Something Gilda’s Club fundraiser at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts this Saturday night, here’s an added incentive: it’s one of the last performances Corey Hart will…