Born out of the chaotic dive bar scene in Toronto, Harley Olivia has seen it all. From fronting metal bands to circus-punk and everything in between, Harley has always felt most alive on the stage. Her energetic performances are characterized by punchy synths, infectious melodies and Harley‘s signature swagger. But at the heart of it all, a Harley Olivia show is an empowering, rock ‘n’ roll dance party where anyone is free to come join in and shake off the shame.

Harley worked as a flight attendant for 10 years which meant that she spent a lot of time in hotel rooms in foreign countries, feeling lonely and burnt out, missing her family. In the beginning it was an exciting job, but over time aviation pulled her away from creating music. She dealt with depression and anxiety and ultimately realized that she was unhappy because she wasn’t pursuing her dreams. It was finally time for her to bet on herself, and make a big change.

Every time I found myself alone in a hotel room, I couldn’t turn off my thoughts. A combination of jet lag, anxiety and loneliness caused me to constantly overthink, which felt like being “Haunted” by my own thoughts.

The Syncopation Rebels are the supergroup comprised of the artists Martha Johnson and Mark Gane of Martha and the Muffins, John Orpheus, Sam Casey and Alex Exists, who have come together to record a special version of “Sound And Vision” by David Bowie. 

“The artists in the Popguru musical community have always thrived on collaboration. It’s in our DNA,” says Popguru Sound & Vision founder Graham Stairs. “To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the company, we decided to record a version of Sound And Vision by David Bowie. Not only is it a great song by a great artist, but the company’s name is a tip of the hat to the song’s title.”

After the song was chosen, the first person brought into The Syncopation Rebels project was producer Mike Schlosser. He had already worked with a number of Popguru artists including John Orpheus, Sam Casey and Alex Exists. The next people invited were Martha Johnson and Mark Gane of Martha and the Muffins who have been great resources to the younger artists. The objective was to involve experienced and emerging artists from the roster.

Ynana Rose [pronounced Y’nah-nah] captivates audiences with her unique blend of the traditions of American roots music, penning songs threaded with folk, country, blues and jazz influences while reaching for new horizons in her writing. A versatile singer, Ynana sings of the joy and heartbreak of living in a rich, soulful voice.

The “Strawberry Moon” is visible in June. For Ynana, a summer moon is haunting, sensual and nostalgic, so it felt fitting to tell the yearning story of forbidden same sex love between women in early American history. She harnesses the classic country sound with a modern message that inspires gratitude to be born in the here and now, where one can choose how to be and who to love.

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Julian Taylor has released Anthology Vol. 1, his first career spanning collection of songs which reflect on his decades as an artist, fronting Staggered Crossing and the Julian Taylor Band, as well as developing a celebrated solo career.

In addition to the 15 vintage tracks which feature on Anthology Vol. 1, Taylor has added a trio of all-new songs exclusive to the release, which serve to bridge the gap between those historical roots of yore and the forward-leaning songwriting template he forged during the making of his two most recent solo LPs, 2020’s highly acclaimed The Ridge (which garnered Taylor’s anointing as Solo Artist of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards) and 2022’s equally lauded Beyond the Reservoir. 

FKB is a high-energy, four-piece, indie pop band based in Edmonton and Nashville, influenced by the mystique, glamour, and excess of the 1960s-1980s entertainment business.  The band is fronted by JUNO Award-nominated songwriter (2019) Drew Shalka (lead vocals/bass), and features Travis Topylki (lead guitar), Derek Chalut (drums), and Alex Fedorouk (rhythm guitar). 

The band won the Jim Beam National Talent Search (2023), which culminated in a performance at the Indies Awards at History (Toronto). Since 2017, they have performed over 300 shows across North America.

FKB’s infectious, disco-inflected single “Color Blind” is produced by Shalka who says:
“Color Blind” is us finding a way to connect our influences from the past, like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and The Beach Boys, with the modern sounds of Foster The People, Portugal the Man and The Weeknd. We wanted to draw from the excitement of our live shows and give people something they can dance to.