Music Biz Headlines, June 4, 2018
Deborah Cox, Anthrax, Lightning Dust, Shawn Mendes, Ed the Sock, Kanye West, Reeny Smith, Google, Lykke Li, Aces Wyld, Mercy Funk and The Rodeo Song make the headlines today.
By Kerry Doole
How did she get here? The oral history of Deborah Cox's 'Nobody's Supposed to Be Here'
The song by the Canadian singer overcame a difficult development period to become one of the biggest hits of the late '90s and, eventually, a gay anthem – Nolan Feeney, Billboard
Man swims to Budweiser Stage after getting kicked out of Slayer concert
He wore an Anthrax T-shirt, and that band's guitarist, Scott Ian, was impressed by the fan's dedication –Blog TO
Ed the Sock, the cigar-chomping hand puppet, is making a comeback
The irascible cigar-chomping hand puppet who gruffly graced MuchMusic and Toronto’s CITY-TV in the 1990s and 2000s is making a comeback, with furrowed brow, gravelly voice and permanent scowl intact – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
The best concerts and music festivals in Toronto this summer
Your guide to summer 2018 music includes NXNE, Lauryn Hill, Radiohead and the final Warped Tour – Staff, NOW
SZA, Brockhampton, Shawn Mendes and Sigrid: 2018’s festival anthems
What makes a banging festival anthem, besides a simple chorus that vast crowds can belt out in unison? Here are the tracks you can expect to hear all summer – Alex Petridis & Michael Cragg, The Guardian
RIP World Music?
The music is more influential and borderless than ever, but the term is outdated. So what do we call it? Global beats? The new Canadian Sound? – Chaka V. Grier, NOW
What's In Your Fridge: Joshua Wells and Amber Webber of Lightning Dust
The Vancouver rock duo discusses first concerts, fave albums and an addiction to hot sauces – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
How a Pentagon contract became an identity crisis for Google
It has fractured Google’s workforce, fueled heated staff meetings and internal exchanges, and prompted some employees to resign – Scott Shane, New York Times
We asked musicians to share their favourite Toronto ‘field trips’
In the spirit of the festival held on the weekend, we asked a few of the performers what their ideal Toronto “field trip” would be – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Kanye West dives into drama surrounding him on new album, Ye
The period between albums has been quite a roller coaster for the rapper, who cancelled his 2016 Saint Pablo tour following hospitalization and a mental breakdown – Elahe Izadi, The Washington Post
Reeny Smith: Pop and power
With her debut full-length WWII: Strength. Courage. Love. finally on the horizon, the North Preston R&B artist talks family, heart and empowerment – Brandon Young, The Coast
Lykke Li on Rihanna, hypnotism and being a ‘difficult’ woman in pop
Releasing her first album since 2014, the songwriter returns with So Sad So Sexy, made after a period of ‘baby momma’ meltdowns and creative burnouts – Michael Cragg, The Guardian
Saskatoon band Aces Wyld serious about having a good time
A new album has just come out and it sounds like "something between Blake Shelton and Florida Georgia Line" – Cam Fuller, StarPhoenix
Eclectic groove band puts the fun in funk and more
“We can't be anything other than what we are, but I'm not sure that message has gotten across yet” - Mercy Funk bassist Angela Proulx – Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal
Alberta Crude: Four hard-working local musicians reflect on their 40-year-old hit 'The Rodeo Song'
Don’t pretend you have never heard it. At some point—a birthday party or bush party, camping or fishing, a rodeo or a rave, in a bar or a back seat—the catchy country tune, with the unforgettably raunchy lyrics, grabbed your attention – Scott Cruickshank, Swerve
