Instruments

Alberta, Canada, Hip-Hop, JUNO, Piano, Polaris, Pop, Producer, Songwriter, Soul, Toronto, Voice July 1, 2020

Black Canadian musicians discuss their songs linked to the death of George Floyd – one of them a ‘three-minute history lesson’

Nick Krewen Special to the Star It’s an ugly truth, but racism is more prevalent in Canada than we’d like to admit, say two Black Canadian artists who are illuminating the issue in their current and powerfully candid works. “There’s definitely a problem in Canada,” says Ruth Berhe –   better known as Ruth B. – who recently wrote and recorded the moving ballad “If I Have A Son” in the wake…

Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Los Angeles, Pop, Songwriter, Toronto, Voice May 29, 2020

‘I need to be myself if I want the world to love me’ – Mississauga artist Ali Gatie embraces vulnerability in his music

Nick Krewen Special to the Star Inside the chest of Ali Gatie beats the heart of a hopeless romantic. And the Yemen-born R&B singer and songwriter, who calls both Mississauga and Los Angeles home, is the last to disagree with that assessment. “I’m 100 per cent a hopeless romantic, the most hopeless,” concurs Gatie, who celebrates his 23rd birthday on May 31. The evidence is overwhelming, beginning with his worldwide…

Beach Boys, Canada, Hip-Hop, Rock, Songwriter, Therapeutic, Voice May 6, 2020

Stranded Toronto musicians share touring anthems

Nick Krewen Special to The Star As the shutdown of live music — now entering its eighth week — drags on, it’s no surprise that entertainers are getting antsy. So, we asked some locals to name the road song that they usually adopt for the touring mindset, and what they miss most about their livelihood. Ewan Currie, The SheepdogsCurrent album: Changing Colours, 2018Road song: “Ramblin’ Man,” The Allman Brothers Band “It’s such…

Arranger, Australia, Business, Composer, Dance, EDM, Electronic, Electronic, Pop, Producer, Songwriter, Synthesizer, Voice April 28, 2020

How ‘Dance Monkey’ took Toni Watson on a ‘roller-coaster’ ride

 Nick Krewen Special to the Star Toronto, Toni Watson feels your pain. The Australian native professionally known as Tones And I, the originator of the impossibly irresistible chart-topping smash “Dance Monkey,” was really looking forward to entertaining you at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in April when COVID-19 interrupted her plans. “Toronto was meant to be my biggest show of the whole tour, so that was really exciting,” said Watson last…

Adult Contemporary, Blues, Canada, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Composer, Fusion, Grammy, Jazz, JUNO, New York, Pop, Rock, Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame, Songwriter, The Band, Toronto, United States, Voice April 8, 2020

On new album, David Clayton-Thomas says something

Nick Krewen Special to the Star At 78, Blood, Sweat & Tears’ most recognizable voice – Toronto resident David Clayton-Thomas – is still fighting for justice on his acclaimed new solo album, Say Somethin’. “Burwash,” the opening salvo of the two-time Grammy winner and Canadian Music Hall Of Fame member’s latest effort, describes his lengthy incarceration at Burwash Correctional Centre in Killarney, Ontario when he was 16 for what he…