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FYI

Shade: Controller

The latest in a line of ace rock bands from Hamilton, they tease an upcoming debut album with a killer new single. This is abrasive guitar-driven post-punk with a strong melodic core, and it'll leave you wanting to hear more, and fast.

Shade: Controller

By Kerry Doole

Shade - "Controller" (Sleepless Records). Hamilton's reputation as a current hotbed of fine rock bands (Monster Truck, Arkells, The Dirty Nil) will be further enhanced by the arrival of Shade on the scene. The group's signing to powerhouse indie imprint Sleepless (July Talk, Kandle, Allie X) has just been announced, accompanied by this single.


The track has an abrasive post-punk sound with thunderous guitars and Stephane Senecal-Tremblay's intense vocals, but has hooks sharp enough to drag you in. Clocking in at 2.46, there is nothing superfluous here, and you'll be left wanting more.

The top-notch production values come courtesy of the A-list team of Leon Taheny (Arcade Fire, Death From Above, Metz) and Josh Korody (Dilly Dally, Weaves), currently working with Shade on an upcoming album. These cats don't take just any gig, and their involvement helps stamp Shade as a band to be reckoned with. 

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Shade play Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern on July 9, Montreal's Fishbum Fest on Aug. 16, and Hamilton's Supercrawl on Sept. 14.

Links

Artist Website

Facebook

Twitter

Publicity: Darryl Weeks, Stage Fright

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EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.
Courtesy of Girl Connected

EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.

Record Labels

EMPIRE President Tina Davis Gives Strategic Advice to Women in Music at Girl Connected's New Speaker Series

On Friday (March 28), the president of EMPIRE, the Bay Area-independent label and music company, came to Toronto for Conversation with the Pros offering tangible advice to the mentorship program's community. Davis also spoke to Billboard Canada about her impressive journey in the industry.

Girl Connected has launched a new series that connects the next generation of women in Canadian music with powerhouse executives for the global industry.

On Friday (March 28), Tina Davis, president of EMPIRE, sat down with Girl Connected founder and music industry veteran Lola Plaku at Toronto Metropolitan University for the first in-person Canadian edition of Conversations with the Pros (Billboard Canada was a supporting partner). The series brings in inspiring music industry figures from Girl Connected's international network to talk about their journeys and offer actionable information and advice to help the budding music professionals develop their skills and reach the next level of their careers.

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