It seems that the latest batch of 45s took a while to arrive at GDW HQ – singles this hot were probably held up at the international border for the personal enjoyment of customs officials before being released to us. And when the music is this good, who frets over the risk of tariff$…we’ve got you covered here, and as always, no quarters are required for the GDW Jukebox. Repeat plays are encouraged…
Matthew Ryan Jacobs, “Never Tear Us Apart (INXS cover)”
As a sucker for 80s music, how about we load this cover of an INXS classic tune into the jukebox today. For Kitchener-Waterloo, ON artist Matthew Ryan Jacobs, this song remains one of his all-time favorites. “My older sister had ‘Kick’ on a cassette as a kid, and I remember always listening to this song,” he recalls. “I tried to stay fairly true to the original … but used the sounds and vibes that I would have used if I had written the song myself.”
St. Arnaud, “Love You (For Real)”
If 80s covers are not your go-to jukebox selections, and you have a thing for classic 70s tunes from bands like Chicago and Simon & Garfunkel, well, here’s a fresh cut worth checking out. Edmonton, AB band St. Arnaud (Ian St. Arnaud) taps into this power-pop era with complete authenticity, mating horns with organ cues and lingering guitar rings to deliver a feel-good groove filled with pop hooks, sardonic lyricism and romantic energy.
Elyse Aeryn, “Think About You”
Labelled as Atlantic Canada’s latest breakout roots-rock singer, Nova Scotian Elyse Aeryn finally lands on the GDW radar, and are we ever excited about this artist. With the upcoming release of her sophomore album, “Everybody Loves You,” Elyse recently shared “Think About You” as a teaser of new music prior to the album drop. Making music for the wild hearts who crave connection, catharsis, and a little rebellion – yeah, that’s what Elyse is all about.
Charlotte Cornfield (ft. Feist), “Living With It”
With a new album set for release next month (“Hurts Like Hell”), Toronto-based singer-songwriter Charlotte Cornfield shares this latest cut, “Living With It,” and scores a collaboration with Feist in the process. “I had secretly dreamed of having her sing on the record,” Charlotte reminisces. “I sent her a couple of songs, hoping she would gravitate towards this one. She did, and she added her Feist magic to it, which is undeniable.”
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.
