THE BUZZ ARTIST AND INDUSTRY NEWS
Due to the recent departure of Nono Ryan to pursue solo work, DGS SAMURAI CHAMPS is now continuing as a duo consisting of rapper Jeah and R&B singer Merv xx Gotti. The split was amicable and the three will be collaborating and touring together in
the future as artists in the Trifecta Artist Collective. Ryan’s solo album “Flow Tank” premiered on Exclaim!, December 12. DGS is the recipient of a $10,000 Rawlco 10K20 Program grant for their next album, and showcased at 2016’s BreakOut West Festival, Reeperbahn, and Cana- dian Music Week. Their official music video for title single “Crayons”
premiered on VICE Noisey in May (
http://samuraichamps.com). PHOTO: ATHIRDTIME
It’s been an eventful year for Saskatoon songstress JEN LANE. She has been touring her new album “This Life of Mine” since its release last spring, with the support of 3 singles and videos made with the assistance of a Creative Saskatchewan Market and Export Devel- opment Grant. The album reached #1 on the National Earshot Folk/Roots/Blues charts! She recently wrapped up her
Canadian Vinyl Release tour and finished off 2016 with new holiday single, Pretenders cover “2000 miles,” making its way into rotation at country radio and Sirius/XM. Lane kicked off 2017 with the launch of fourth single “My Man,” along with a video directed by Taylor Leedahl (
www.jenlane.com). PHOTO: SARAH JOHANNSON. GRAPHIC DESIGN: BY TAYLOR LEEDAHL
GOVERNMENT TOWN’S “Took a Train,” from their latest album “III” and written by main songwriter/lead singer Mike Harmel, was nominated in the Alt-Country Song category at the Independent Music Awards. The ceremony was held November 12 at the Lincoln Center,in New York. They ALSO received a nomination in the Lyrics Only category of the 21st USA Songwriting Competition for “Godfor- saken Town,” from the same album (
www.governmenttown.com).
THE REGINA JAZZ SOCIETY kicked off 2017 introducing a new group, the University of Regina’s .7 Quintet led by trombonist Dominic Ghiglione with Chris Buchan (tenor sax), John Ackerley (bass), Jon Neher (piano), Tanner Wilhelm-Hale (drums) and WIlliam Rivers (percussion). The RJS is presenting a Valentine’s Concert on February 10 - Lyndon Bray with his
Lucy Brown Orchestra delivering a big band sound, then Jon Mc- Caslin on March 25 with an All Star Sextet bringing an Oliver Nelson Tribute. The association’s annual fundraiser and silent auction on April 27 will see JUNO and Gemini Award-nominated Dione Taylor return for a hometown concert accompanied by the Backsliderz (
www.jazzregina.ca). PICTURED: DIONE TAYLOR
ELIZA DOYLE has had a 15-year career as a solo artist and in groups (The Cracker Cats, The Hard Ramblers, The Midnight Roses), playing banjo, singing, and on instruments like dobro and man- dolin. She has altogether released nine full-length albums, won numerous awards, and toured North America and Europe. In May 2016 she started a Bridg- ing Communities program in which she
goes into communities to do workshops in schools, and under her own name is now teaching music lessons, doing recording sessions, school workshops, and performing. Her new album is featured in Re- leases, and she’s also featured in this years “Banjo Babes Calendar,” a collection of 12 women from around the world, and accompanying compilation CD. Eliza also filled in with The Dead South for their West- ern Canadian CD release tour for “Illusions and Doubts” and a number of dates into 2017 (
www.elizamarydoyle.com).
DAVY SAGE is a Regina pop artist and songwriter, with a blend of dance-pop and R’n’B with catchy hooks heard in his recent single “Celebrate.” Recorded at Blue Door Recording in Regina and Pro- duced by Prince Banks, it captures his vocal soulfulness and good vibes (
www.davysage.com).
JEFFERY STRAKER completed an eight-date tour of Mexico in Novem- ber, in addition to shows through PQ, ON, and the Prairies (including two sold- out Saskatoon shows) with the support of Creative Saskatchewan tour funding. Between shows, he’s also recorded a new full-length album to be released in spring 2017. With support from the FACTOR Juried Sound Recording pro-
gram as well as Creative Saskatchewan funding he worked with mul- tiple producers on the project including Daniel Ledwell - Lake Echo NS; Dean Drouillard - Toronto ON; and Brad Prosko and Murray Pulver in Regina SK. A two-day trip to Los Angeles also resulted in two songs co-written with and recorded by Royal Wood and Lawrence Katz. Straker’s 2013 holiday single “Comin’ Home for Christmas” was added to a Christmas compilation CD receiving broad spin across the UK and Northern Ireland in stores and restaurants including McDonalds and Subway. Jeffery was short-listed for a Saskatchewan Arts Awards this fall (Saskatchewan Artist) and emcee’d the event at Casino Regina. In March 2017, he reunites with the full Regina Symphony Orchestra for one night at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina SK for a Pops perfor- mance of his songs, with special guest Connie Kaldor. Fun note: PBS kids show “Design Squad” created an episode around making a prop from his “Gravity” video. It’s on YouTube - see Piano Smash Design Squad (
www.jeffstraker.com).
Shout outs to Saskatoon’s THE AVULSIONS and WAITRESS, listed by
ChartAttack.com as ‘UNCHARTED: 12 Cana- dian artists we’re excited for in 2017’ alongside Nelly Furtado, Japan- droids, Whitney Rose and others.
34 SASKMUSIC THE SESSION - FEBRUARY 2017, VOL 30.1
WWW.SASKMUSIC.ORG
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