Arranger

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…

Arranger, Big Band, California, Canada, Composer, Drums, In Memoriam, JUNO, Perspective, Progressive rock, Rock, Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame, Rush, Songwriter, Toronto, United States January 11, 2020

Remembering Neil Peart, whose jaw-dropping talent inspired a generation of musicians and wannabes

Nick Krewen Special to the Star January 11, 2020 He was closer to our hearts than we even realized. Make no mistake, the depth of anguish with which the music world  – especially Canadians – regards the unexpected passing of Neil Peart, 67,  on January 7 from glioblastoma, is immeasurable. Arguably the greatest and most influential drummer of his generation,  the Hamilton-born Peart – one third of progressive power trio…

Arranger, Canada, Composer, Guitar, Indie pop, JUNO, Piano, Pop, Songwriter, Voice November 30, 2019

His father’s death taught him to stop trying so hard. Now Royal Wood is reaping the rewards.

By Nick Krewen Special to the Star November 30, 2019 On December 3, local singer and songwriter Royal Wood will be fulfilling a lifelong dream by headlining a show at Roy Thomson Hall. Actually, it’s a two-part aspiration, but he completed the first half a few years ago when he sold out Massey Hall. “It’s funny, I got shown a video a while back where I said I wanted to…

Murda Beatz is in the House

Arranger, Aubrey "Drake" Graham, Canada, Composer, Ed Sheeran, Engineer, Grammy, Hip-Hop, JUNO, Justin Bieber, Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, Producer, Songwriter, United States July 31, 2019

How did hip hop producer Murda Beatz connect with Migos, Cardi B and Drake? Lots and lots of networking

Fort Erie record producer Shane Lee Lindstrom has made a name for himself in hip-hop circles as Murda Beatz. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star July 31, 2019 Raw talent is one thing, but how does a budding producer from the Canadian border town of Fort Erie become a top dog in hip-hop and work with the likes of Migos, Cardi B., Drake,  Nicki Minaj, Chance The Rapper and…

Frank Dukes at Regent Park School Of Music

Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, Arranger, Aubrey "Drake" Graham, Business, Canada, Composer, Engineer, Experimental, Grammy, Hip-Hop, JUNO, Lorde, Los Angeles, Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, Mixer, Music Industry (Trade), Music Publishing, Nicki Minaj, Piano, Pop, Producer, R&B, Rock, Songwriter, Soul, Taylor Swift, Technology, Toronto, United States July 22, 2019

Meet Frank Dukes – the go-to producer for superstars like Rihanna and Drake

Nick Krewen The Toronto Star July 12, 2019 He’s the go-to guy when you’re a pop music superstar looking for a hit – and he’s from Toronto. Frank Dukes may not be a household name to the general populace, but the 35-year-old songwriter and producer is on the speed dial of everyone who is anyone in pop music these days. Lorde, J. Balvin, Post Malone, Rihanna, Eminem, Travis Scott, Camila…