Library Voices from Green Couch on Vimeo.

Lovely new video for Dead Hearts by Stars is out now.

I’ve been extremely honoured to work with the excellent committee, lead by Founder and Executive Director of Drawn To Youth, Jo Cutajar on this year’s Drawn To Develop art auction. It’s happening in the Distillery District’s Fermenting Cellar on Thursday October 13. So, tomorrow night.

(Drawn To Develop 2011 Photo by Alex Albojer)

I wanted the first PR project I took on, outside music to be something I was deeply connected to. Animals, kids and women’s issues are huge points of interest and activism for me. Drawn To Develop hooked me a step further because it involved the incredibly talented work of Canadian photographers. Essentially a youth, living in poverty draws a picture to express their circumstances, their lives and their dreams. That drawing is interpreted by a photographer in an original photograph/art piece, that is auctioned off at the upcoming event. Proceeds go to fund Street Kids International programs in the regions where the youth live. They get training and resources to help better their lives.

It’s a pretty sweet idea and it’s been an enlightening experience to see how a not-for-profit like this works, and navigates in a market and world that is, essentially for profit. I have huge admiration for the team, including the photographers who donate their time and talent.

I have enormous respect and awe for the bravery and eloquence of the youth to tell their stories, and to try to do the toughest thing one can do, strive to make your life better against all odds. It’s interesting to me that in their stories, it tends to be the simplest things, least materialistic and the smallest measures that drive them. In a day where half the world is inconvenienced and the developed world takes to Twitter to moan about their lack of email and BBM because Blackberry has lost service to half of its customers, it sure puts into perspective for me, the needs vs wants of a planet.

(Drawn To Develop 2011 Photo by Walter Chin)

www.drawntodevelop.com

It’s been an exciting album launch for “Summer Of Lust” from Library Voices. Wanted to share a couple of the media outlets that joined the campaign with offering up some sweet cover space (both photos were shot by the very talented Chris Graham from Regina). I just love his work. And, I just love this band.

And, this is just one example. If we were smarter as a species, we’d see the magic and beauty of allowing each other and other species an equal importance and ability to live a full and happy life as we try to claim only for our selfish selves.
Read it here

I think this is so very cool. Very inspiring.

The wonderful, pop-centric Library Voices are back. ‘Already?’ You may say. “My, that was fast!” And you would be absolutely correct. Not one to rest on their laurels, or the critical acclaim that surrounded 2010′s delightful debut, Denim On Denim, the band made the time in their relentless tour schedule to write and record another full length before the end of last year. Jace Lasek was at the helm of production over the 16 day studio session. Jace has produced some of the finest records to hit my ears, and this new album from LV is no exception. Library Voices also recently signed with Toronto’s Nevado Records and now, we’re all preparing for the release of their second full length album, Summer Of Lust as the summer of 2011 draws to a close.
You can have an advance listen to Summer Of Lust album track, The Prime Minister’s Daughter below. Even before the upcoming federal election was a glimmer in Stephen Harper’s dead eyes, Library Voices knew he wasn’t the guy for the job. They were appalled at the extensive tax cuts Harper’s government made to arts funding in Canada. The track directly calls Harper out and wishes only for his daughter Rachel, to one day fall madly in love with an artist. Listen here:
The Prime Ministers Daughter

Artwork for the next Library Voices single, Generation Handclap is here. It comes out on May 31, 2011

Check out Library Voices first tour diary of the year, here:

This weekend was really exciting. One of Freshly Pressed PR’s beloved bands, took home top honours at Toronto’s 40th Juno Awards. Said The Whale, one of the hardest working bands full of five genuinely lovely people, won New Group Of The Year at Saturday’s Gala Dinner.
The press room following the win was so much fun to do with them. Ben did cartwheels in the hall from photography to Q&A. Their joy and happiness was incredible to be around. I took a pic of them basking in their winners glow.

Said The Whale then rocked the red carpet on Sunday evening. This sweet video really tells the tale of the weekend from their killer show at The Horseshoe on Friday, the victory of Saturday and the sublime feeling of Sunday.

Congrats, Said The Whale – you truly deserve it. Look for them on tour this April and then the band will start work on a new record.

I’m not sure if you all know about MBF, but you must. If you trust me, trust me on this. If you’ve read earlier posts on this Freshly Pressed blog of mine, you’ll know, that I knew very early on, he is something very special in the music world. Seeing Michael Bernard Fitzgerald is believing. He is a beautiful person, and he makes beautiful music. Please check him out.
Michael is currently on tour in the West of Canada. We’ll announce Eastern dates soon. He’s working on a new record through 2011.

MBF on Tour

A great recent interview with Michael in Calgary’s monthly, Beatroute is here.

Already in. One of my favourite things of 2011:
New Mogwai record, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will coming out on February 15, 2011.
Beautiful. Inside and Out.

Not only a band with music for the mind, but food for the soul, with step by step recipes and photo’s posted here.