Soul

Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, Electronic, Events, Grammy, JUNO, Pop, R&B, Songwriter, Soul, Toronto, Voice February 7, 2021

The Weeknd does Canada proud in Super Bowl spectacle

Nick Krewen Special to the Star Touchdown! True to his word, Scarborough R&B superstar The Weeknd delivered a Super Bowl LV spectacle during the half-time show at Raymond James Stadium. Using hundreds of extras, a 40-piece choir, and enough fireworks to put July 4thcelebrations to shame,  one of the world’s biggest artists provided a dazzling performance that was glitzy and glamorous, and continued the cinematic theme of “The Character” he’s been…

Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, Canada, Electronic, Events, Grammy, JUNO, Pop, R&B, Songwriter, Soul, Toronto, Voice February 4, 2021

The Weeknd promises to put on a ‘PG’ Super Bowl halftime show

By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Don’t worry about the little ones when it comes to watching the Super Bowl halftime show starring Scarborough R&B superstar The Weeknd. During a Thursday morning press conference held at Raymond James Stadium, in Tampa, Fla. — the site of Sunday’s Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the upcoming 12-minute spectacular The Weeknd will be…

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…

Arranger, Canada, Composer, Education, Indie pop, Pop, Producer, R&B, Songwriter, Soul, Therapeutic, Toronto, Voice February 19, 2020

From opera trainee to sex worker to Juno-nominated artist: Storry’s tale isn’t ordinary

Nick Krewen Special to the Star   There aren’t many concept albums about working in the sex industry, but Storry is no ordinary singer and songwriter. So, when the Juno Award-nominated, Toronto-born, Mississauga-based artist debuts the performance of her new 11-song, R&B-flavoured album CH III: The Come Up at the Lula Lounge on February 20, it will come from a position of triumph. However, the adversity that Storry surmounted has…

Americana, Composer, Country, Electronic, Grammy, Guitar, Songwriter, Soul, United Kingdom, Voice January 8, 2020

She’s been poor, homeless and a ‘doormat.’ Now she’s a four-time Grammy nominee bound for Toronto

Nick Krewen Special to the Star January 8, 2020 Fear is either a paralyzer or a galvanizer, and no one knows that situation better than four-time Grammy nominee Yola, the current purveyor of big-voiced country soul. After wrestling with self-doubt for decades – and finally winning the battle with the release of her critically acclaimed debut solo offering Walk Through Fire, the Bristol, U.K.-based singer and songwriter refers to it…