What foreign media are saying about Canada’s truckers’ blues
By David Farrell
What foreign media are saying about Canada’s truckers’ blues
The “freedom” protests from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia are capturing media attention abroad and some want to stir the pot to add heat to a news story that is polarizing political opinion at home and paralyzing politicians and police forces in the nation’s capital.
Elysia Biro
Biro's debut single, “Just Wait A Minute,” which blends her classical piano training with jazz instrumentation and pop songwriting, is out today. She has international support, with additional label partners also from the U.S., U.K. and France.
Universal Music Canada and German classical music label Deutsche Grammophon have signed a new artist to their roster.
Today (September 12), the labels announced the signing of Canadian singer-songwriter and pianist Elysia Biro. It coincides with the release of her debut major label single, “Just Wait A Minute” — out today.
Blending her classical piano training with her love of jazz instrumentation and pop songwriting, Biro’s warm, airy vocals and soulful lyricism float over a bevy of instruments, including brush drums, upright electric bass, tenor and alto saxophone, organ, Wurlitzer piano, acoustic guitar and flute. It follows the 2021 self-released single “My Love.”
Raised in Vancouver Island, Biro began studying classical piano at age four. When she was 13, she taught herself to play jazz by ear after falling in love with its improvisational spirit. With multiple music degrees under her belt, the 25-year-old has homed in on a jazz-pop sound in the current lineage of artists like Laufey, Olivia Dean and Lizzy McAlpine.
Like her musical peers, Biro has developed a devoted online fanbase. Notably, her “Transcription Tuesday” series has amassed praise for her technical ability to hear an existing piece of music and rework it on the piano. Biro cites jazz and folk luminaries such as Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Norah Jones, and Joni Mitchell among her greatest influences. Some of her most-viewed videos include virtuosic solos of Peterson’s tracks.
“I have been on an incredible creative journey,” says Biro. “I am so thrilled to be working with such lovely teams of talented, passionate people at Universal Music Canada and Deutsche Grammophon. It has been such a fulfilling and validating experience creating music that brings together so many of the sounds and influences that have shaped me. This music means so much to me, and I’m beyond excited to be releasing it!”
Biro now resides in Los Angeles, where she writes, records and produces her work.
“Elysia is one of the most exciting artists I’ve heard, and I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with her music,” says Julie Adam, president & CEO, Universal Music Canada. “She is gifted – a talented songwriter with an incredible voice and outstanding musicianship.”
Dr. Clemens Trautmann, president of Deutsche Grammophon and New Business Strategy Global Classics, echoes a similar sentiment: “Elysia Biro is an extraordinary talent, and we are proud to be part of her promising artistic journey,” he says. “Discovered by my esteemed colleague Marc Fritsch, Elysia is already capturing international audiences with her unique voice, authenticity and artistic depth coming from a jazz background.”
Biro has label support from throughout North America and Europe, with additional international label partners, including Verve (U.S.), Decca (U.K.) and Decca (France), also backing Biro’s burgeoning career.
