Voice

Regina Spektor’s music a mystery even to the creator

Regina Spektor’s music a mystery even to the creator Arty, gifted popster coming to Sony Centre has no clue how her songs arrive. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Oct 10 2012 Words like “eccentric” and “quirky” don’t really define the peculiar pop compositions of Regina Spektor, but they’re a decent starting point. The 32-year-old Moscow-born, Bronx-based singer and songwriter — a classically trained pianist with…


Joss Stone breezes into town with soulful sound

Grammy-winning artist follows her instincts, whips up another covers album and roams into Toronto. British soul singer and free spirit Joss Stone will perform at Sound Academy.   By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Fri Oct 05 2012   If Grammy-winning British soul belter Joss Stone had a nickname, it would be “Miss Spontaneity.” “Either that, or ‘Impatience’ — one of the two,” Stone says, laughing heartily,…


Ed Sheeran’s folk-pop sheer brilliance shines at Echo Beach: Review

Perhaps there’s hope in the pop world after all. By: Special to The Star Nick Krewen Published on Mon Sep 17 2012 Perhaps there’s hope in the pop world after all. Inundated as we are by hormonal determination of the female tween populace regarding such lightweight romantics as the Justin Biebers, One Directions and numerous copycats whose musical, puppy-eyed declarations of love carry the emotional resonance of a Twix candy…


Drake’s OVO Fest brings Nicki Minaj and Snoop to town

Entertainment / Music Toronto’s Aubrey “Drake” Graham gets hometown hero’s welcome at Molson Amphitheatre Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Mon Aug 06 2012 The one question on everyone’s minds as the lights went down for rapper Drake’s main set of his third annual OVO Fest was how was he going to top himself this time? For the first hometown celebration of October’s Very Own, christened for the…


Norah Jones musically solid but lacking in charisma

The Grammy Winner got in 12 songs from her new album Little Broken Hearts but seemed most at home playing country standards.   Norah Jones performs at Massey Hall in Toronto on Friday evening.   Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Sat Jul 07 2012 Ever since she exploded onto the mainstream pop scene with her jazzy multiple Grammy-winning album Come Away With Me, Norah Jones has been…