“Jim Cuddy Dress” by Jenn Grant

Last week Jenn Grant released beautiful ode to her late mother with the new song “Jim Cuddy Dress”. It’s the first single from her new album, Queen of the Strait, which is out early next year, and I’ll just let Jenn tell the story behind the song:

“This single coming out today feels very serendipitous because it would have been my mother's 76th birthday, and this song is a tribute to her.

This is the story of when we met Jim Cuddy at the JUNOs back in 2012. She was wearing a dress that we'd picked out together. It was actually chosen not only for its colour and fabric but because it also helped to conceal the swelling in her stomach and liver from the metastatic breast cancer.

I grew up listening to Blue Rodeo in the house, and my mother, like so many Canadians, was such a big fan of Jim Cuddy.

So when I saw him standing there in the lobby on his own, I decided it would be ok to introduce ourselves. What a strange and magical moment now that I think back on it. When I took their photo, it was the last time I saw her sparkly blue eyes shining bright. Jim, who is now a very dear friend, didn't know how much that moment meant, or even that she was sick, but I think the flight home might have been the thing that pushed her over the edge. She died 3 weeks later. Just before she left us, she said she'd like to be laid to rest in the 'Jim Cuddy Dress'.

So this song is about the last time we saw her, said goodbye in that moment, like it was a movie, in a little funeral home in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. On that day, it was just my brother Daniel (Grant), my husband Danny (Ledwell) and our dog Charlie that mom and I shared. Charlie and I danced as Danny played Beach Boys songs on the organ, my mother in her dress, still beautiful as ever. This was 'the make-believe funeral'.”

Kirk

“Feels So Good” by Bahamas

It feels like Bahamas just announced his newest album, My Second 𝖡̶𝖾̶𝗌̶𝗍̶ Last Album, and now it’s already out!

The album’s release was accompanied by the latest single, “Feels So Good”, a chill groove that’s about balancing discipline and indulgence and the internal struggle not to give in to impulses.

Have a listen below, and pick up (what is hopefully not) My Second 𝖡̶𝖾̶𝗌̶𝗍̶ Last Album now!

Kirk

“Southern Star” feat. AURORA by Leif Vollebekk

Super cool news our of the Leif Vollebekk front!
The musician released a new version of his song “Southern Star” featuring Norwegian artist AURORA this week, and with it another announcement - a short film.

Also to be titled Southern Star and featuring both Voleebekk and Aurora as characters, Leif concieved the idea around his album Revelation:
“Revelation always reminded me of a dream sequence, the songs felt like a little movie, and I wanted to see that movie. AURORA and I had been fans of each other’s music for years and kept talking about finding the right way to collaborate. When I mentioned I couldn’t find a lead actor for a film I was working on, she simply said, ‘I’ll do it. Come to Norway.’ Two weeks later, we were filming. I can’t thank her enough for what she brought to it - her radiant presence, her generosity, and that unmistakable voice.”

No details yet on a release date for this, but Leif heads out on tour in November for the next several months, so it might be a bit.

Christine