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Culture

Cadence Weapon Announces New Book 'Ways of Listening'

The Polaris Prize-winning Hamilton-based rapper also known as Rollie Pemberton is writing a collection of personal and critical essays about how we listen to music.

Rollie Pemberton a.k.a. Cadence Weapon

Rollie Pemberton a.k.a. Cadence Weapon

Mat Dunlap

Edmonton-born, Hamilton-based rapper, producer and writer Cadence Weapon (a.k.a Rollie Pemberton) is writing his second book. Ways Of Listening is a book of essays that follows Pemberton’s 2021 memoir Bedroom Rapper.

While the release date for the second book hasn’t been announced, the Polaris Music Prize-winning artist says via X that the collection of essays will explore “the joys of obscurity, the power of nostalgia, race’s role in sound quality, what we’re really searching for when we dig for records and more.”


Pemberton’s second book also delves into the “obsession with the “mysterious artist” archetype” and the “racial disparity in the remastering of music." Ways Of Listening’s publishing rights have been sold to McClelland & Stewart, a branch of Penguin Random House Canada.

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Pemberton's previous book, Bedroom Rapper, is an autobiography, but it also meditates on certain themes: how a music scene forms, the evolution of music journalism and exploitative record label deals. So Ways Of Listening should delve deeper into explorations of music topics in a more explicit way.

Pemberton is known for being vocal when it comes to issues in the music industry. Previously, the artist launched a campaign to help artists keep their merchandise profits. He is also the first Atkinson Artist, collaborating with the Atkinson Foundation to explore making art within the context of the decent work movement.

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Rise Against
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Rise Against

Concerts

Rise Against Join Avril Lavigne As  2025 All Your Friends Fest Headliners: Canadian Music Festival News

The Chicago punk group will close out the first night of the two-day pop-punk festival. P.E.I.'s Cavendish Beach Music Festival also revealed its mainstage lineup this week, and Calgary's Sled Island dropped a first wave of artists.

Festival announcements are starting to tumble in, to keep music fans going through the slow winter months.

Ontario's All Your Friends Fest added Chicago punk stars Rise Against as headliners this week, joining previously announced headliner Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan. Rise Against will close out the Saturday night of the pop-punk festival, which pairs legacy acts with up and coming artists in the genre.

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