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FYI

Louie Short: Omw 4ev

Repetitive piano figures and relaxed vocals impart a slacker rock vibe.

Louie Short: Omw 4ev

By Kerry Doole

Louie Short - Omw 4ev (444%): This Toronto/LA-based singer/songwriter had not crossed the radar of this scribe until now, but he has quickly made an impression with the release (last week) of his second album, Omw 4ev, and this title track, its new single.


In a press release, Short explains that "This song basically repeats itself over and over and yet never feels the same. This is how I feel about love." Commenting on the accompanying video,  he continues: "This is a video about a man in metamorphosis. Please note that the caterpillar -> chrysalis footage was filmed by ME! It is not stock footage, it is very rare and special."

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The tune features repetitive piano figures amidst a sparse production, and the slacker rock feel brings to mind Mac DeMarco and Steve Malkmus of Pavement.

There's an interesting story behind What Can I Do, the first single taken from Omw 4ev. The song was written by Louie’s father, Michael Short, and Toronto artist BJ Cook in the late '70s. A version of it was recorded at the old RCA studios with the intent of selling it – possibly through BJ’s ex-husband David Foster – but nothing came of it and the tape disappeared. 40 years later, an engineer who’d always like the recording digitized it and emailed it to the writers. His dad played it for him and Short cut his version of the tune.

Short produces and mixes his own material, and the songcraft he displays marks him a contender.

He has an album release show at Toronto's Monarch Tavern on Nov. 17. Tix here.

Links

Website

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

Publicity: Ken Beattie, Killbeat

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The Nylons in 2016

The Nylons in 2016

FYI

Obituaries: The Nylons Vocalist and Co-Founder Claude Morrison, Toronto Jazz Pianist Mark Kieswetter

This week we also acknowledge the passing of post-punk visionary David Thomas of Pere Ubu, rock hitmaker Roy Thomas Baker and the Hoodoo Gurus co-founder Kimble Rendall.

Mark Kieswetter, an in-demand Toronto jazz pianist, arranger, music director and composer, died on April 21, at age 71, after a long battle with stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer.

The U.S.-born Kieswetter earned a degree in classical piano from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music before discovering his affinity for jazz and relocating to Toledo.

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