A fresh bunch of independent 45s just arrived at GDW HQ, so we are loading a selection of Indie Arrivals onto the spindles, ready for your quarters and enjoyment. Well, the Jukebox is free – you can leave your quarters at home – but we can guarantee your enjoyment when spinning these recent cuts from artists that you may not know … at least up until now. No big record labels or corporate owned entities here – just some great indie artists making genuine music…
The Cross Sea, “Just Like Adrianne”
Okay – in the name of transparency – while The Cross Sea may be unknown to you, many are already familiar with lead vocalist Anna Mernieks-Duffield (BEAMS, Ace of Wands), so you kinda know what to expect here. Except, I don’t think you do. Go ahead and give this indie-folk delight a whirl. “Just Like Adrianne describes a kind of love and knowing that is almost cruel in its certainty, but also gives the greatest celebration and moments of awe,” Anna shares. “I set out to explore the process of writing a song that describes, lyrically and musically, the root and the flower of fully fledged adoration.”
Sifu And The Hat, “Wakin’ Up”
You know, you don’t have to be as hip as The Tragically Hip to pitch your music to us here at GDW – if you’re a bunch of 50-something dads with a love of Jeff Tweedy’s music, and hang out in Regina, SK playing a variety of tunes, you are equally at home here! Eric ‘Sifu’ James (guitar) and Steve ‘the Hat’ Jeske (vocals/bass) – joined here by Trent Mailander (drums) – just dropped this stomper of a blues tune, ‘hitting in ways The Black Keys used to, and perhaps, wished they still could. Hey kids, to quote a line from a little known 70s made-for-television movie, “do you know … where your parents are … tonight?”
Fleur Electra, “Strike The Match”
The dream-pop project of SK born (now ON based) artist Anna Klein, Fleur Electra was born out of the early pandemic, defined by Klein’s sensual and sonically adventurous bedroom production. “Strike The Match holds multiple meanings for me,” Klein offers. “On the surface, it expresses my frustration with noncommittal relationships and deception. At its core, though, it’s an empowering ode to my past self and the intense hardships I’ve endured in recent years. After many destructive fires – both metaphorical and literal – I am reclaiming my power and reigniting the fire within me”
Rick Maddocks, “South Of Circumstance”
I’ve mentioned several times that if you are going to pitch us your music via email, you need a good hook. Vancouver, BC artist Rick Maddocks took note and dangled some very tasty bait with news of his latest album release, “Blue Horse Opera.” Per Rick, the album track featured here was inspired by the wide-screen vistas of spaghetti westerns [and] is a pivotal road song, journeying into the album’s upside-down, black desert landscape. Guitar riffs, horns, flamenco beats, with haunting cries and drumbeats replicating horse trots – you can’t skip this one! I must confess to detecting hints of “That Summer” by Garth Brooks as the first verse plays out…. Again – don’t skip it!
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
