Composer

Americana, Arranger, Canada, Composer, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Folk, Guitar, Hamilton, Nashville, Voice July 21, 2019

Ariana Gillis: Hamilton singer-songwriter spent years overcoming a concussion and her new album is a triumphant comeback

On the Buddy Miller-produced The Maze, her first album in six years, Ariana Gillis has finally found her sound. This may not seem like such a big deal, but for a time, there was a question whether the 28-year-old singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Ontario, would ever play any of her riveting, self-described “Canadiana Americana; edgy pop with steel guitars” again due to a debilitating accident she suffered four years ago. “We…

Murray Lightburn Photo: Murray Lightburn

Alt. Rock, Canada, Composer, Pop, Québec, Songwriter June 24, 2019

Murray Lightburn, Dears’ singer, on new solo album: ‘There’s a man on this record that I aspire to be.’

June 1,  2019 Nick Krewen Special to the Star. Oh, Dears. The Montréal-based indie rock band’s founding frontman, Murray A. Lightburn, released his second solo album Hear Me Out earlier this yearand discovered an unexpected dividend during the sessions: freedom.  Lightburn, 48, initially expected to follow what he describes as “the production narrative” of his first Dears-free album, the 2013 science-fiction musical Murray A. Lightburn’s MASS:LIGHT. With one-time Arcade Fire…

Lisa Loeb Photo: Frances Iacuzzi

Children's Music, Composer, Emmy, Grammy, Pop, Songwriter, United States, Voice June 24, 2019

Award-winning ‘Stay’ singer keeps on moving

Lisa Loeb a triple threat as children’s musician, author and entrepreneur May 08, 2019   Nick Krewen Special To the Star   Though she’s known for her chart-topping hit “Stay (I Missed You)” and Feel What U Feel, her 2017 Grammy-winning collection of children’s music, “Renaissance woman” may be a more apt description of  singer and songwriter Lisa Loeb. Loeb, who is performing three shows at the Toronto Centre For…

Arranger, Composer, Dance, David Bowie, Engineer, Funk, Gaming, Grammy, Guitar, Madonna, New York, Pop, Producer, R&B, Rock, Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame, Songwriter, United Kingdom, United States April 20, 2019

‘Unknown band’ is opening for Cher in Toronto — but their leader is not worried

Nick Krewen Special to the Star April 18, 2019 Nile Rodgers is discovering during the Cher opening slot that Chic’s relative anonymity is working to his advantage. “We’re an unknown band opening for a big star,” he says over the line from New York. “We walk out onstage — most people don’t know who we are — but by the end of the show they go, ‘Jesus Christ, I know…

Africa, Canada, Composer, Ed Sheeran, JUNO, Songwriter, Toronto, Voice, World Music April 20, 2019

Woman stuck in refugee camp sees album she co-wrote score Juno nomination

Nick Krewen Special to the Star March 11, 2019 When it came to recording Naath, the 2019 JUNO Award World Music Album of the Year contender by  former Sudanese child soldier Emmanuel Jal and his sister Nyaruach that was crowdfunded by what Jal calls “invisible angels,” there was also a very visible one who donated to the cause. Peter Gabriel. “That was a shock,” says dreadlocked rapper Jal, 39, during…