Opeongo is the moniker of Keegan Trumpour and an ever-rotating cast of musicians. Keegan is from Midland, Ontario. Opeongo has released two full-length albums (2019’s Miasma and 2021’s we’ll all go with the will-o’-the-wisp); fall 2024’s Eventual Mt. Lee marks their third release, with a fourth underway in the near future.
Like everything you’ll hear on Eventual Mt. Lee, the mournful single, “Ceiling Rats,” was inspired by the passing of Keegan’s best friend, Liam Steffler; inspired, too, by the beautiful, albeit short, existence he blessed those around him with. At the time of his passing, they were living together in a basement unit on Westmount Avenue in Toronto, Ontario. There was a problem with rats or mice or rodents of some sort in the ceiling in between their unit and the folks on the main floor.
After Liam passed, Keegan was sorting through all of his stuff in the apartment, and he liked to imagine that it was his late pal’s ghost that he was hearing, rather than a bunch of rats roaming around. Not too great at humour amidst intense grief, this song is Keegan‘s self-described “sad attempt” at such.
Snez is the artist name of Ezra Mendel, a hip hop artist from the Annapolis Valley, NS. Snez’s versatile fusion of elements from rock and pop with hip hop and rap are key aspects of his style. As a young teen, he dropped his first two singles which immediately garnered attention in his home town and would be asked to freestyle at parties, leading to being referred to as the “Jewish kid who can actually rap.” He is currently building his local and online audience and working on his first full-length release.
Snez exudes a chameleon-type prowess of musical artistry, showcasing many different styles of hip-hop that heavily emphasizes lyrical ability, cadence and delivery. He strives to combine elements from different genres like rock, pop-punk and country. Snez shares similarities with SonReal, Mac Miller, Logic and Futuristic. Versatility is a key factor to his craft and this encapsulates his identity as a creative.
The inspiration for new single, “Never Enough,” comes from Snez’s regular inner back-and-forth dialogue about his struggle with substance abuse, pride, overthinking and self-worth. He also opted out of working with a professional producer to record, mix and master the track themselves to add a personal and unpolished feel to the raw lyrics.
| POISON OAK |
TOWNSVILLE BASED ROCKERS RELEASE NEW SINGLE + MUSIC VIDEO ‘WASTED’ + REVEAL UPCOMING ALBUM RELEASE
Townsville based Indie/Punk Rockers Poison Oak have released their infectious new single and music video ‘Wasted’, which premiered exclusively via
The AU Review.
The single was produced by Brock Weston (Bugs, Beddy Rays, Dune Rats) and is the first offering from their upcoming album release.
“Wasted is an Introspective song about friendship lost – two people on different paths. Not necessarily a loss for negative reasons but just due to the passage of time. The song looks back fondly on the good times but with a sense of doubt, wondering if all the fun, laughs and dreams balance the pain of losing it. It’s also about reminiscing on how life is much simpler in your youth and past, reflecting on how your main goal was just to have a damn good time and responsibility is just a mere whisper in the wind.”
Armed with blistering riffs, infectious melodies and soaring choruses, Poison Oak create a truly anthemic brand of music. Since their inception in 2019 the band has released three EPs, and a debut album called ‘These Suburban Dreams’. They have landed themselves in well-known music publications across the globe including Vents, Happy Mag, Scenestr, Hysteria Mag and AMNplify. Their music has garnered positive reviews from Triple J and have been aired on radio stations from every corner of the globe.
New single ‘Wasted’ is available on all major online stores and streaming services.
Apryll Aileen is a classically trained pianist turned dynamic pop artist, captivating global audiences for over a decade. She was a finalist in the JUNO Wavemakers Tour and recently showcased her talent at the VIVA Sounds Music Festival in Sweden, representing Women in Music Canada.
Get ready to dance with “Take Me,” a high-energy pop disco anthem that fuses the introspective essence of Madonna’s Ray of Light era with Dua Lipa’s modern flair and features powerful vocals, profound lyrics, and innovative production. Pulsing with electrifying beats, the brand new single delivers a message of playful confidence with lyrics like “gonna make you love me in the dark.” It describes finding passion in the shadows of the dance floor and was written between Apryll, Lazermortis (Monika Ouellet) and Assteroidz (Philip Clark). Feel the rhythm and let the night embrace you.
