Composer

Arranger, Aubrey "Drake" Graham, Beach Boys, Beatles, Canada, Composer, JUNO, Pop, Producer, Songwriter, Taylor Swift, Toronto, United States December 7, 2024

Former ‘Degrassi’ producer on becoming a recording artist at 76 and what Drake’s really like

Stephen Stohn will release The Orange Sessions with his group, GTA Rhythm Section. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star He’s the chancellor of Trent University, an Order of Canada member, a former top entertainment attorney to the stars and has served as executive producer for most of the run of the “Degrassi” TV franchise. And at 76, Stephen Stohn just added a new accomplishment to his impressive résumé: recording artist. As…

British Columbia, Canada, Composer, Dance, DJ, Hip-Hop, Indigenous (Native), Songwriter December 5, 2024

Snotty Nose Rez Kids bring their provocative hip hop to the Opera House

The Indigenous rap group are touring to promote their most recent album, Red Future. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star For Snotty Nose Rez Kids, all roads have led to the rap duo’s latest and most powerful album, Red Future. The project — their first for a major label, Sony Canada — finds Darren “Young D” Metz and Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce, of Kitamaat Village in British Columbia, issuing an angry 16-track…

Arranger, Bass, Composer, Concert reviews, Events, Grammy, Guitar, New Wave, Pop, Reggae, Rock, Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame, Songwriter, United Kingdom, Voice September 21, 2024

‘Surprise is the essence of music’: Sting still has a few tricks up his sleeve in five-show Toronto stint

By Nick Krewen Special to the Star One amazing evening down … four to go. Rock superstar Sting returned to the familiar and intimate surroundings of Massey Hall Friday night for the first of five concerts in six nights at Toronto’s Grand Old Lady, which — if not unprecedented for the venue — certainly is rare. With his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller and recently recruited Mumford & Sons touring drummer…

Bass, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Canada, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Cinema, Composer, Drums, Festivals, Garage Rock, Guitar, Indie, Producer, Rock, Rock 'N Roll, Songwriter, The Tragically Hip, Toronto, Voice September 5, 2024

Revisiting his brother’s death for a Tragically Hip docuseries was the hardest but also most fulfilling thing Mike Downie has ever done

“It wasn’t uncommon for me to have a good cry,” says Mike Downie about making a documentary about brother Gord Downie and his band. The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal debuts at TIFF on Sept. 5. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star Mike Downie’s labour of love was also his toughest assignment. As the director and producer of the superb four-hour-plus documentary The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal that…

Arranger, Bass, Canada, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Composer, Drums, Garage Rock, Guitar, Indie, JUNO, Producer, Rock, Rock 'N Roll, Songwriter, The Tragically Hip, Toronto, Voice September 5, 2024

Sidebar: Canada had a love affair with the Tragically Hip. These 10 songs remind us why

By Nick Krewen Special to the Star They’re Canadian to the core. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Kingston, Ontario’s the Tragically Hip with a number of projects, ranging from the devastatingly good docuseries The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal to  oral history coffee table book “This Is Our Life” (out Oct. 1) and the boxed set of the band’s first album, Up to Here (Nov. 8), here’s a…