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FYI

Ascot Royals: Evil I Know

This cut from the new EP New Skin is rapidly making a mark on radio. It is easy to hear why, as it is a textbook example of how to give a three-minute rock song real dynamism. There is perceptive social commentary at work here too.

Ascot Royals: Evil I Know

By Kerry Doole

Ascot Royals: "Evil I Know" (Slaight Music/Sony Music Canada): This Toronto-based modern rock quintet made a splash last year at radio with the single "The Best Is Yet To Come." That title is proving prophetic, as Ascot Royals have just delivered a new cut that is a bona fide winner.


It begins with a strummed guitar and the passionate vocals of Jimmy Chaveau, then builds quickly with hand claps, shouted 'hey's, and layered keyboards and guitars, then repeats this pattern in a textbook example of how to give a three-minute rock song real dynamism.

Lyrically, it tellingly probes life in these volatile times. "People are crazy these days, drawing lines in the sand, something I don't understand," it observes, adding "building walls like it's a game, I wonder what they're hiding."

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The new track comes on the heels of the band's recently-released New Skin EP, which featured collaborations with such notables as producers Gavin Brown (Metric, Billy Talent), Eric Ratz (Monster Truck, Arkells), Gianni Luminati (Walk of the Earth, Steve Aoki) and Neil Sanderson (Three Days Grace), and showcases Ascot Royals as one to watch very very closely.

A rip-roaring combo in performance, Ascot Royals are now winning new fans on an extensive cross-Canada tour with Big Wreck. Dates here

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Kaytranada at the 67th GRAMMY Awards held at the Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 2, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Gilbert Flores

Kaytranada at the 67th GRAMMY Awards held at the Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 2, 2025 in Los Angeles.

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Kaytranada Wants Fans to Dance at Shows: ‘If You Put Your Phone Up, Let’s Move Them Hips at Least!’

"It looks mad awkward from where I stand," he said of seeing phones at his performances.

Kaytranada isn’t the biggest fan of how audiences choose to enjoy live shows in the age of smartphones and social media.

Over the weekend, the Montreal-based producer responded to a fan on X who apologized on behalf of “real fans” who dance at his shows as opposed to “standing still” in order to capture content for their social media pages. “Kaytranada, I am so sorry you got TikTok famous and now bastards are standing still during ‘Intimidated,’ ‘Freefall,’ ‘Vex Oh,’ ‘You’re the One,'” the fan wrote. “What the f—k is going on??? All points was I miss you @kaytranada please do some private show for the real fans because I can’t take this no more.”

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